JET. 27.] TOUR THROUGH ITALY. 297 



stands in a striking situation on the brink of a pre- 

 cipice, which looks over a beautiful valley. Thence 

 over hills of great height, with dreadful precipices 

 on one side ; and when in the midst of one descent 

 there began the grandest thunderstorm I ever saw. 

 It lasted an hour, and the lightning was the most 

 vivid I ever witnessed. The flashes disclosed at 

 each time a prodigious gulf on one side so clearly 

 that I could have counted the trees and stones. 

 The thunder echoed over the Apennines. After- 

 wards the lightning continued to flash at intervals, 

 but distant. 



Nothing very particular happened till., with scarce 

 any sleep from the jolting, we came in sight of the 

 Eternal City. The distant view is fine ; but all 

 Campagna di Eoma (this district of Eomagna) is 

 absolutely a waste of waving ground in heath, lean 

 grass, and scattered, stunted vegetation, with a cot- 

 tage, church and chapel, and crucifix here and there. 

 Met both yesterday and to-day vast flocks of sheep 

 and lambs. The shepherds seem an odd race of 

 peasants ; covered with hairy skins : dogs all crossed 

 with the wolf. View of Kome at a distance very fine, 

 from the unevenness of its foundations and the num- 

 ber of cupolas. St Peter's looks like St Paul's, only 

 on a gigantic scale. Passed the Tiber red, rather 

 than "flavus Tiberis "- by an old bridge. Passport 

 civilly looked at at the Porta del Popolo fine obelisk. 

 Came through the Corso ; passed Trajan's pillar and 

 some fine buildings ; arrived here in the Venetian 



