Naples
Nov. 8 – 1822
My dear Henry
Since I am to tell the truth – I must say there is no ground for expecting another eruption – I have been this morning to the Cav. Monticelli<1> a savant who is supposed to keep up the best understanding with the mountain & he says the eruption is at an end – but that the next one will be terrible Salvador also the Cicerone del monte Vesuvio <2> sends an almost daily report to Mr Hamilton <3> & they all end with L’Eruzione e finita. <4> There has been an enormous mass of lava thrown out but as it came forth from eight bocche, <5> it was too much weakened to reach the sea – a great deal flowed from the highest crater –
Even the magnificent clouds of smoke which have been at once our admiration & our annoyance are now gone, & there is only a mist of fine dust & ashes which hides the sun & looks as if it was going to rain – in short it is the opinion of every body that the climate is spoilt for this winter at least. Pompeii has been almost buried & the whole road to Pæstum strewed with deep ashes – They say a mass of rock salt has been thrown out this wants confirmation, but Monticelli is going to see it tomorrow. However if you are really prepared to set out let not this prevent you, for there will always be something to see at Naples & you & I might make a journey together in any direction you please. Only let me know decidedly your plans & intentions that you may not come here & find me gone to Pæstum, Benevento, or Avellino. <6> I have already written two letters to Lily <7> at Rome which I beg you will enquire for. I have just seen Tenore <8> – Editor of the Flora Napolitana – I intend to cultivate his acquaintance He has got an Account of the Troad <9> published at Milan by Webb <10> whom you know in Italian which I am very anxious to see – as I am sure it will be good – & it is said to contain a correct map which certainly was a desideratum. I expect an answer next Thursday –
Yr aff
W T H F S
If you should come you will be able to take back some attar of Rose fresh from Adrianople <13> for Lily – it is some of the veritable – for I saw it bottled myself. it is evaporating fast.
Henry Talbot Esq –
Rome
Notes:
1. Cavalieri Teodoro Monticelli (1759-1846), naturalist.
2. The Mount Vesuvius Guide.
3. William Richard Hamilton (1777–1859), British minister at the court of Naples 1822–1825.
4. The eruption is over.
5. Vents.
6. Paestum, Benvenuto, Avellino are towns in Campania.
7. Lady Elisabeth Theresa Feilding, née Fox Strangways, first m Talbot (1773–1846), WHFT’s mother.
8. Michel Tenore (1780–1861), Italian botanist & traveller, Flora Napolitana, ossia descrizione delle piante indigene del Regno di Napoli, e delle piu` rare specie di piante esotiche coltivate ne' giardini del Cavalier Michele Tenore (Naples: 1811–1815).
9. The region around the supposed site of Troy.
10. Philip Barker Webb (1793–1854), Osservazioni intorno allo stato antico e presente dell’ agro Trojano (Milan: 1820–1821).
11. Cappella Vecchia in the Chiaia quarter of Naples.
12. Canopus, a star low down in the sky, visible from parts of southern Europe.
13. Modern Edirne.