CARDINAL ALBANI RECOMMENDS BARON PICCOLOMINI TO SIR WILLIAM HAMILTON IN NAPLES ALBANI (Alessandro, 1692-1779, Roman Catholic Cardinal)

Fine Letter Signed, in Italian with Translation, to Sir William HAMILTON (1730-1803, Diplomat, Ambassador at Naples, husband of Emma) telling him that “Due to Podagna's long-standing inconvenience, I was not permitted, until recently, to meet with Dr. Giraldi and receive from him your most respected letter recommending him to me. I have therefore promised him my full assistance wherever he wishes to avail himself of it, and in your regard, you will always find me ready to engage in his service, as I have expressed, and as I will always do with the greatest commitment. I was extremely pleased to hear the good news of your health and that of your wife, Madame, to whom I ask you to convey my respectful compliments. Since in a few weeks, Baron Desta Piccolomini, a very distinguished gentleman, Cavaliere Romano, is moving to this capital to look after the interests of certain of his properties located in this Royal Domain, I hereby ask you to be generous with all your favours to him and to his wife, Madame Baroness, who is a lady full of spirit and possesses qualities that make her worthy of every distinction and courtesy, as yourself will recognise when the Baron sends you a letter from me. I extend to you and your wife my heartfelt thanks for all the favours you have bestowed upon the aforementioned gentlemen, and I am always ready to carry out your commands with the most respectful esteem...”, 2 sides 4to., Rome, 2rd June

Albani is remembered as a leading collector of antiquities, dealer and art patron in Rome. He supported the art historian, Johann Joachim Winckelmann and commissioned paintings from Anton Raphael Mengs. As a cardinal (from 1721) he furthered the interests of the governments of Austria, Savoy and Britain against those of France and Spain; he was a noted jurist and papal administrator in his earlier career. Upon his death he was the last cardinal created by Pope Innocent XIII.
Podagna is a wine from Calabria so I imagine that the inconvenience that he is referring to is probably gout.
Transcription
Per un longo incommodo di Podagna non mi è stato permesso senonchè negli ultimi scorsi giorni di abboccarmi col signore Dr Giraldi e ricevere da lui il riveritissimo di lei foglio col quale me lo raccomanda. Io dunque gli ho promessa tutta la mia assistenza ovunque vorrà prevalersene, e a di lei riguardo mi troverà sempre pronto ad impiegarmi in di lui servizio come me le sono espresso, e come farò sempre col maggiore impegno. Ho goduto sommamente di sentire le buone nuove della di lei salute, e di Madame sua consorte, alla quale la prego di rassegnare i miei rispettosi complimenti. Movendo fra qualche settimana trasferirsi in cotesta capitale il signore Baron Desta Piccolomini Cavaliere Romano di molta distinzione che deve accudire agli interessi di certi suoi dendi situati in cotesto Regio Dominio io fin d'adesso la prego di essere liberale di tutti gli suoi favori al medesimo ed alla Signora Madame Baronessa moglie che è una Dama piena di spirito e di tali qualità che la rendono degna di ogni distinzione e cortesia come riconoscerà Ella stessa allor quando le farà il Signore Barone capitare une mia lettera. Anticipo a lei, ed alla sua Signora copiosi ringraziamenti tutte le finerre che dispensevanno agli accennati Signori, e sempre pronto alla esecuzione de suoi comandi colla più rispettosa stima sono
Monsieur. Roma 3 Luglio 1773
Translation
Due to Podagna's long-standing inconvenience, I was not permitted, until recently, to meet with Dr. Giraldi and receive from him your most respected letter recommending him to me. I have therefore promised him my full assistance wherever he wishes to avail himself of it, and in your regard, you will always find me ready to engage in his service, as I have expressed, and as I will always do with the greatest commitment. I was extremely pleased to hear the good news of your health and that of your wife, Madame, to whom I ask you to convey my respectful compliments. Since in a few weeks, Baron Desta Piccolomini, a very distinguished gentleman, Cavaliere Romano, is moving to this capital to look after the interests of certain of his properties located in this Royal Domain, I hereby ask you to be generous with all your favours to him and to his wife, Madame Baroness, who is a lady full of spirit and possesses qualities that make her worthy of every distinction and courtesy, as yourself will recognise when the Baron sends you a letter from me. I extend to you and your wife my heartfelt thanks for all the favours you have bestowed upon the aforementioned gentlemen, and I am always ready to carry out your commands with the most respectful esteem.
Rome June, 3rd 1773

Item Date:  1773

Stock No:  43551      £775

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