From this city he
writes, with his characteristic simplicity: "I am very happy, and
have found my way into a dozen houses already. To-morrow I am to be
presented to the King, and when that ceremony is over I shall have my
hands full of engagements." From Turin he went on, by way of Milan,
Parma, Piacenza, and Bologna, to Florence, where, after three days'
stay, "to dine with our Plenipo," he continued his journey to
Rome. Here, and at Naples, he passed the winter of 1765-'66,[1]
and prolonged his stay in Italy until the ensuing spring was well
advanced. In the month of May he was again on his way home, through
France, and had had a meeting, after two years' separation from them,
with his wife and daughter. His account of it to Hall Stevenson is
curious: "Never man," he writes, "has been such a wild-goose chase
after his wife as I have been. After having sought her in five or six
different towns, I found her at last in Franche Comte. Poor woman!"
he adds, "she was very cordial, &c." The &c. is charming. But
her cordiality had evidently no tendency to deepen into any more
impassioned sentiment, for she "begged to stay another year or so.
Pages:
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162