Spezia. 339 



Gpezia is very much spoilt by the works in 

 progress for the arsenal, though nothing can change 

 the beauty of the gulf as seen from our windows, 

 especially the group of the Carrara mountains, with 

 fine peaks and ranges of hills, becoming more and 

 more verdant down to the water's edge. The effect 

 of the setting-sun on this group is varied and 

 brilliant beyond belief. Even I, in spite of my 

 shaking hand, resumed the brush, and painted a 

 view of the ruined Castle of Ostia, at the mouth of 

 the Tiber, from a sketch of my own, for my dear 

 friend Teresa Doria. 



We now came to live at Naples ; and on leaving 

 Spezia, I spent a fortnight with Count and Countess 

 Usedom at the Villa Capponi, near Florence, where, 

 though unable to visit, I had the pleasure of seeing 

 my Florentine friends again. 



We spent two days in Rome, and dined with our 

 friends the Duca and Duchesa di Sermoneta. We 

 were grieved at his blindness, but found him as 

 agreeable as ever. 



Through our friend, Admiral Acton, I became 

 acquainted with Professor Panceri, Professor 

 of Comparative Anatomy; Signore de Gasparis, 

 who has discovered nine of the minor planets, 

 and is an excellent mathematician, and some 



others. To these gentlemen I am indebted for being 



2 



