Rome,
May 13. 1823
My Dear Mr Feilding
William <1> & I made an excursion to Tivoli which was in great beauty – at first we had the ruin to ourselves, but presently came Ly Bute & her daughter with Sandon & Labouchere, <2> who were succeeded by five Italian Ladies & Gentlemen, & they by five German painters – The house could hold no more, when next morning came six carriages from Rome; most of which on seeing the state of affairs prudently went back again – Sandon’s party had come from Frascati thro’ Præneste on horseback – William and I climbed up the hill at the back of Tivoli, in hope of a view, & were not disappointed, for it looks down upon the upper valley of the Anio, with the towns of Castel Madama, Vico Varo, &c; the ruined aqueduct was a most striking object, illuminated by the setting sun – The ascent is not very long or tedious & the view is most interesting – William went to England yesterday – The Scropes <3> are arrived here, they say they met you on the Pontines, & were amused to see Baptiste <4> had an escort to himself. – I am sorry you will not meet them at Naples, as I am sure you would like them both very much. I have heard from Jane, <5> dated Padua May 6th – she seems to be getting on pretty well. I have not yet had a line from any one of you – Giovanni <6> says it is impossible I should till Thursday – I shall stay here 2 or 3 days longer – My love to all,
Yours ever affectionately
W.H.F. Talbot
à Monsieur
M. le capitaine Feilding
Poste Restante
Napoli
Notes:
1. William Thomas Horner Fox Strangways, 4th Earl of Ilchester (1795–1865), botanist, art collector & diplomat.
2. Sophia Frederica Christina Crichton Stuart, Lady Bute, her daughter, Sir Dudley Ryder, Earl of Harrowby & Viscount Sandon (1762–1847) and Rt Hon Henry Labouchere, Baron Taunton (1798–1869), politician.
3. George Julius Duncombe Poulett Scrope (1797–1876), geologist, magistrate & MP; and his wife, Emma Phipps, née Scrope.
4. A servant.
5. Jane Harriot Nicholl, née Talbot (1796–1874).
6. Giovanni Percij.