Susa
25th October 1823
I slept at Asti the first night: the road offered nothing particular Alexandria is a dull looking town, situated low and strongly fortified. Next day was very fine, I had a good view of the Alps and got to Turin: in the afternoon I took a walk to the convent of the Capucins, from which there is a fine view – Tell Mr F. <1> the name of the English Chargé d’affaires is Mr G. Crawford Antrobus.<2> Today was cloudy & melancholy, the valley of Susa as triste <3> as possible, & altogether much too dismal to pay another visit to the triumphal arch – The Albergo del Sole is no more, it is turned into the prefecture: a thin coat of whitewash veils the glories of its full orbed Sun, which shines through it, as in an English November fog –
Lans-le-Bourg
Oct: 26th –
This morning when I opened my eyes, instead of heavy rain, which I expected, or portentous gloom, I was delighted to see a sky without a cloud, & so it has continued all day, so that I had a delightful passage over the mountain – It was about the same time of year when I crossed it last, which was Oct 20th 1821 as I see by consulting the Traveller’s Book here – The chesnut woods were clothed in their autumnal tints – the mountains capped with snow, but none on the road, nor on the little plain where the lake is –
The mistress of the inn here is in pretty good health, & returns you her thanks for your obliging enquiries – After dinner I took a walk to see the Sun setting on the snow.
I hope Genoa pleased you in its first appearance
Your Affte Son
W.H.F. Talbot
à Miladi
Miladi Feilding
Dame Anglaise
Gênes
Notes:
1. Rear Admiral Charles Feilding (1780–1837), Royal Navy; WHFT’s step-father.
2. Gibbs Crawford Antrobus (1793-1861), JP, of Eaton Hall, Chester.
3. Miserable.