TALBOT1062

[written on the same sheet as a letter from Lady Elisabeth - see ]

Grande Locanda Letto
Villa di Londra Napoli
10 Maggio 1823. –

Mio caro Enrico ¹

I promised to write to you from Mola, but we were so tired when we got there, that we were obliged to go to bed directly. – We had a most beautiful view of the setting sun upon Gaeta, ² but could not see Vesuvious,[sic] as he was wrapped in clouds. – I remarked also as you desired me, the view of Lariccia, which I think, is anything but what Lady Morgan ³ describes it; & another very fine one from Velletri.- ⁴ We were all enchanted with Terracina, where we saw the sea for the first time since Leghorn, ⁵ & remarked a total change of scenery soon after; palm trees, quantities of orange & lemon trees, Indian figs, myrtles, &c, &c –

At Capua, we saw the remains of the ancient amphitheatre, ⁶ & I found there a curious blue flower, [illegible deletion] that grows in clusters. – We saw two very curious ancient tombs, on the way to Caserta, & I think the Kings palace ⁷ there, is the finest I ever saw. –

Then from, Aversa, we took the Strada nuova, ⁸ & arrived at Naples at about ½ past seven. The Isola Brittanica, & the tre Crocella, were quite full, so after waiting an hour in the dark, we got a gîte in the Villa di Londra ⁹ – I like the view of Naples much better than I expected I should, by what you told me; the bay, with the Isola di Capri, ¹⁰ the town & Vesuvius, is, I think, quite beautiful; but unluckily, the sun was st. –

Caroline

Mons^r H. W. F. Talbot
Poste restante
Roma