Letter Giovanni to Achille 1851
Paris the 4 December 1851
My Dear Achille
I have just received the trimester (three consecutive months - rent??) for which I thank you very much.
I cannot express to you the sorrow which the recital of all the disagreeable things which have been put to your account has caused us. In your place I would have asked for an accounting of all the harmful remarks that he has allowed on our family; because your silence seems like a confirmation of what he has said. Coming now to the thing, I tell you that my father Marc Zani descended from the Doges of Venice, was one of the leading magistrates of the town of my birth, was for 10 years absolute master of the city of Bologna, with the title of Chancellor under Cardinal Archetti, the legate of Pope Pius V1. My father gathered to himself all the ministries of the interior and the exterior of the province, of commerce etc..
The coats of arms on which doubt is being cast, I saw them from my infancy in the entrance hall where in Italy the servants reside. These coats of arms were of a lion rampant looking at a bull equally rampant and facing each other; the latter were the arms of my mother and the other those of my father. As regards the name de Ferranti, I took it from my uncle, husband of my mother’s sister who left me a small inheritance, which unfortunately has been consumed like the rest.
I cannot believe that all this chatter originates from the family of …………… all the more so because your sister is in correspondence with Irma. You can tell your wife that she can boldly use her heraldic seal. As far as the particle “de” is concerned, excluded, he says from all Italian names, he is very wrong, because I have known particularly in Naples some great noblemen who have this particle, such as the Prince de Cordite who honoured me with his friendship, the Duc de Campo Chiaro, the Duc, now Prince de Rocco Romono, the Marquis de Gallo etc.
I renew my regrets, my dear Achille, and at the same time advise you to let the bad mouthers bark, for when one has done nothing wrong, one needs fear no one and can enjoy complete peace of mind.
I embrace you with all my heart with your mother and your sister.
Your loving father
GB Z de F
My Dear Achille
I have just received the trimester (three consecutive months - rent??) for which I thank you very much.
I cannot express to you the sorrow which the recital of all the disagreeable things which have been put to your account has caused us. In your place I would have asked for an accounting of all the harmful remarks that he has allowed on our family; because your silence seems like a confirmation of what he has said. Coming now to the thing, I tell you that my father Marc Zani descended from the Doges of Venice, was one of the leading magistrates of the town of my birth, was for 10 years absolute master of the city of Bologna, with the title of Chancellor under Cardinal Archetti, the legate of Pope Pius V1. My father gathered to himself all the ministries of the interior and the exterior of the province, of commerce etc..
The coats of arms on which doubt is being cast, I saw them from my infancy in the entrance hall where in Italy the servants reside. These coats of arms were of a lion rampant looking at a bull equally rampant and facing each other; the latter were the arms of my mother and the other those of my father. As regards the name de Ferranti, I took it from my uncle, husband of my mother’s sister who left me a small inheritance, which unfortunately has been consumed like the rest.
I cannot believe that all this chatter originates from the family of …………… all the more so because your sister is in correspondence with Irma. You can tell your wife that she can boldly use her heraldic seal. As far as the particle “de” is concerned, excluded, he says from all Italian names, he is very wrong, because I have known particularly in Naples some great noblemen who have this particle, such as the Prince de Cordite who honoured me with his friendship, the Duc de Campo Chiaro, the Duc, now Prince de Rocco Romono, the Marquis de Gallo etc.
I renew my regrets, my dear Achille, and at the same time advise you to let the bad mouthers bark, for when one has done nothing wrong, one needs fear no one and can enjoy complete peace of mind.
I embrace you with all my heart with your mother and your sister.
Your loving father
GB Z de F