Arona, on the Lago Maggiore

July 22^d 1821.

I have changed my plan & mean to go to Milan, back to the lakes of Como & Lugano, over the S^t Gothard to the pont du diable, ^<1> so to C where I hope to find letters from you; perhaps to Appenzell & S^t Gallen, & home by Zurich. I am here in a land of vines & olives, figs, chesnuts & pomegranates – I have only had time to write one letter (which I hope you received) being generally too tired when I get to the inn. I have filled my herbarium so full on the Gemmi & the Simplon & in the Valais that I have hardly room for anything else. I hope you sometimes inspect those left at Berne. I have lost the key of my escritoire, ^<2> I think it must have been dropped on the floor of my room – I should like to have it searched for – There is a book I ordered from Lausanne thro’ M. Burgdorfer the bookseller, pray ask him if it is come – I mean to stop a day at Milan, or Mayland as the Germans have it, & shall have time to write you a regular account of my adventures after Kandersteg – I only write now to let you know where I am – My love to all,

Your Aff^te Son –

W.H.F. Talbot

A Miladi
Miladi Elisabeth Feilding

Poste Restante
Berne
Suisse

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Notes:

1. Gorges du Pont-Du-Diable, also known as The Devil’s Bridge, built through the collar of St Gothard in the Swiss Alps.

2. Writing desk.