Naples

Nov 1

My dear Henry

You do not give me much information. – You have doubtless heard of our splendid eruption ^<1> & will be sorry to have missed seeing it – the Knowing ones say there is to be another soon the clouds & columns of smoke continue to be magnificent there is something awful & sublime in the way in which they curl & roll up to twice the height & bulk of the mountain & then stretch across the heaven horizontally for miles & miles. We are covered with Dust & ashes – but not the more penitent for that. If you have a mind to come & see clouds – I will not promise fire – now is the time – The mountain is lowered 200 feet. There is a Palmtree here near Posilipo hung with immense bunches of yellow dates – the botanic garden is in bad order but contains some good things. All the cactus tribe grow out of doors but are rare. Have you the Mimosas & Acacias out at Florence – they are very fine both here & at Corfù. I have not seen the true Bamboo –

Y^r Aff

W T H F S

W H F Talbot Esq

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Notes:

1. There was a notable eruption of Vesuvius in 1822. [See Doc. No: 01018].