Thursday, November 30:
Still in Rome, until December 3, in persistently good weather and with continually fine impressions, including a visit to the Palazzo Colonna and a walk in the garden. R.'s spirits are only intermittently raised.
He has interested his own publisher in Mainz in the composer Sgambati, which gives him great delight. On the evening of the 30th, a soiree by Italian artists, fine songs by Sgambati, and a mandolin band. We made the acquaintance of the author of that unusual play, Nerone, Herr Cossa, who is a curious person: he does not reveal his address even to his best friends.
R. advises him and Sgambati to do something together, and especially recommends the Siennese subject in Sismondi. Made the pleasant acquaintance of Count Gobineau, the French ambassador in Sweden. Besides him, Princess W. observes, we would find French people everywhere very hostile to us, owing to the pamphlet.