Photocopy of a letter. Written from [Wooler, Northumberland].
She has now heard from the Meuricoffres direct, who do not exaggerate and the picture they give is terrifying: 'it means ruin, famine and death to the whole of south Italy'.
The soldiers especially the Bersaglieri 'are very devoted trying to save the poor peasants; and to dig out the dead and dying. Her niece Thekla from Neuchatel writes that the fine dust from the eruption has reached Switzerland. Laura Meuricoffre begs for their prayers.