100 INVALIDISM AND ITALY. 



phrase, ' punches as in England ; ' so that I have no 

 reasonable cause of complaint. But you know the per- 

 versity of human nature ; for, as your mother used to say, 

 ' When Isabella was ill, nothing would satisfy her but 

 pickled mussels.' Well, 1 feel in regard to my ale exactly 

 as you used to do as to your pickled mussels, with this 

 painful distinction, that there is here no maritime Tibby to 

 minister to my wants. I have seen many a magnificent 

 mountain, and many a romantic old castle, 'holding its 

 dark communion with the clouds/ but I agree with Gray 

 in preferring to all of these, 



' The long-resounding ale, and fretted vault.' 



It was certainly a very noble idea to suppose the very roof 

 of the cellar adorned with stalactites of petrified foam from 

 the bottles and the barm of many centuries." 



The last of the series is dated Sept, 10, 1823 : — 

 " I don't know at all where I am going to at present. 

 I am now in my old friend Mr Smith's vessel, the Orion; 

 but as it is a matter of indifference to me which way she 

 turns her prow, I don't wish to disturb the silence of the 

 scene by asking impertinent questions. It is so calm that 

 we scarcely move. We lie somewhere between America 

 and the Laird of Lamont's, and have been for this last day 

 or two enjoying the only truly summer weather we have had 

 since I left home. 



