L30/14/315/22

From Thomas Robinson (2nd Baron Grantham after 1770), at Turin to Beilbu Porteus.

13 Jan 1759

From: 1759 To: 1759

Refers to letters to his father at Whitehall for a full account of his journey. Describes his passage through France; Dijon, Rheims & Lyons. Roads and weather good. Burgundy particularly beautiful. Journey from Lyons through Savoy to Turin. Entry into most romantic part of Savoy on a road called the Crolde, cut through a mountain. Quotes Latin inscription carved on Clock at beginning of road, 1670. Theatrum Sabardia & Pedumont in the Publick Library. See there that "with Justice might be applied to Charles Emanuell what Juvenal says of Annibal." Roman Triumphal Arch at Susa, elevated to Augustus, thought to be first of sort, Trophis only weeks earlier. Drawing Master called Bourza who travelled with Wood & Dawkins to Balbec & Palmyra and took all those "delightful views" etc. Count Perron persuaded him to attend Grantham. Has great learning, read: Thucidides, Demosthenes, among ruins of Atherns, Xenophon, Herodotus in Asia Minor, Strabo, Diodorus & Pausancas. Pleased to find in Turin what he could hardly of expected to find in Rome, beneficial in the case of "Crass ignorance...among all ranks", the women however, are "amazingly handsome...". Carnival about to begin, Opera, Balls, Masques etc.. Opera this year is bad but theatre very fine. Its darkness detracts from its beauty but King has weak eyes and cannot bear strong light. Describes King as very civil, about 50, stooped etc. Very religious, makes for a sombreness at Court. His sons; Duke of Savoy, very amiable and Duke of Chablais, reserved. The three Princesses, well behaved and handsome etc... "The Politicks of this place are very Prussian & as Antigallican as your stoutest Briton can possibly be". Currently living at Academy. Mr. Houblon of St. John's College there. Let Wogan of Emanuel know that Houblon has written. Dancing at 7 a.m., riding at 9 a.m., fencing at 11 a.m., dine at 12.30 p.m. Opera at 5 p.m. then Court retires to various Houses and Societies. Three Ladies are always at home, visits two more often than other, one has always the best company of the male sex, the other sees more of the females. Town beautiful, approves of architecture in preference to "those grotesque flights of a perverted Gothick & Chinese Imagination". Current season prevents excursions into surrounding countryside. Describes town and what he can see of countryside - extraordinary differences. Compares town with Lyon. Comments on the language, "is no language at all...No Grammar or Ortography...a kind of Italian curdled into a German Accent". Goes to Mass at Chappelles for sake of Musick. Has a master for the Violoncello. Please write with any Cambridge news "private history...scandalous anecdotes”. Compliments to Jos. Wigley. Compliments to Skinner from Houblon & Lypiatt, asks Skinner to toast in Lypiatt's name next time at Office Club, the Countess of Riguelmy's health, a handsome and agreeable Lady. Compliments and regards to the Lodge & the Combinassion [?], Vice Chancellor, Proctors, Moderator, Taxors etc... of our Body. Also Emily Shipwith, Tavistock, Bunbury.

item

Bourza,
Wood,
Dawkins,
Perron,
Perron, Count,
Houblon,
Wigley, Joseph,
Skinner,
Lypiatt,
Riguelmy,
Shipwith, Emily

France, Italy, carnivals, opera, Bunbury