Bedfordshire Archives Service Catalogue
  • Reference
    L30/14/370/8
  • Title
    From Henry Swinburne, Naples to 2nd Baron Grantham:
  • Date free text
    19 May 1777
  • Production date
    From: 1777 To: 1777
  • Scope and Content
    Sicilian Tour stopped due to Sir Thomas' poor health. Latter stopped at Bari, Swinburne went on to Taranto. Crossed Appenines by Avellina, country full of Filberd Deer[?] Volcanic hills covered with Chestnut Trees. Thence to Ariano via Forest of Bovina, Plains of Puglia, Foggia is the main town, famous as Entrepo_t of Corn and as having one of the greatest Fairs in Kingdom. Plain of Canna, no remains of antiquity. Studied Hannibal's History on the spot, "Livy did not know what he was saying when he gave his description of the Battle". Visited Barletta, mostly uninhabited due to incidence of Malaria in Summer. Thence to Bari. Exit Sir Thomas. Swinburne on to Monopoli and Estates of Prince of Francavilla. Received well. Harangued by Capuccino[?], Hand kissed by scholars & "tired to death by the Deputies of the Corps de Ville of Francavilla, [was] obliged to laugh alone..." Taranto; detailed description of ancient & present town. Variety and fine flavour of shell & other fish a great temptation to an Epicure etc... Remains of small amphitheatre and a pottery, heaps of fragments of Etruscan Vases. Brindisi; ruined and depopulated, hopes of revival with opening of new Port. Original port begun by Julius Caesar, blocked by seaweed and sand 30 years previously. Malaria occurred, population fell from 18000 to 4000. One of two Columns of the Faro remaining. Returned to Bari, didn't visit Lecce "where they would have eaten my favourite dog..." thence to Naples. Sir Thomas returned by sea. Swinburne glad to have seen that coast but it was barren of Curiosities, natural and artificial. Mr. [Tom] Pelham at Naples. Gone with Sir James Long to Pertum. "Everybody...very fond of him...the prettiest gentleman I know". Great Opera on San Fernando's Day & King's Camp at Portici will liven things up. English will all be gone before June. Wants copy of Mr. Thicknesse’s Travels through France & Catotonia. Sir Thomas praised in it and Consul of Barcelona abused. Swinburne mentioned as "equally agreeable". Had to be civil to "Vile Fellow" for fear of calumnies being written against him. Received Alhambra designs, progressing well in [Carlo] Noli the Engraver's hands. House of Curtoy's at Barcelona failed, is this true?
  • Level of description
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