Naples,
Feb. 11. 1823
It is fifteen days since I left you, & no letter from you! not a single line from any one of my family! & I have written you three <1> such long letters – We had a delightful day yesterday at Cuma, Baiæ &c; & I should have thought it perfect, if it had brought a letter from you, but Giovanni <2> came back with the usual tidings, quatre pour Monsr Nicholl, rien pour vous <3> – We meant today to have gone up Vesuvius, but it rains. William <4> means to accompany us back to Rome. We have a fine view from our windows, but do not see it often, owing to the thick weather – An old schoolfellow of mine wants me to go with him to Sicily, & return the end of April, which I should like very much. The bad weather will render it difficult for us to see in the limited time we propose, all the sights here. I am afraid we must give up Pæstum or Beneventum, or Ischia. I asked you in one of my letters to send me my telescope, which would be very useful – My love to all,
Your affte Son
W. H. F. Talbot
Jane’s <5> letters say that Giles <6> has safely arrived at Melbury. <7> I have received since I came here neither letter nor journal of any sort.Miladi
Miladi Feilding
Palazzo Ceva
Roma
Notes:
1. See Doc. No: 01048, Doc. No: 01049, and Doc. No: 01050.
2. Giovanni Percij.
3. Four for Mr Nicholl, nothing for you. Dr John Nicholl (1797–1853), MP.
4. William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways, 4th Earl of Ilchester (1795–1865), botanist, art collector & diplomat.
5. Jane Harriot Nicholl, née Talbot (1796–1874).
6. Giles Digby Robert Strangways (1798–1827).
7. Melbury, Dorset: one of the Fox Strangways family homes; WHFT was born there.