JET. 27.] TOUR THROUGH ITALY. 303 



ascent gradual, among villas and views of the bay. 

 One odd conceit a large painting placed to represent 

 a villa or box ; not bad, for it actually passes in the 

 crowd of real ones. Entered a locked villa, and wound 

 along its slope. Came near grotto of Posilippo, but 

 high up in air, on a tremendous precipice of wall. 

 Over the entrance of the grotto, and, between this 

 and that, hollow corridors deeper still; over that 

 stands the tomb of Virgil ; our picture * like it, but 

 not quite like the situation, from not taking in its 

 chief features the precipices on both sides. In the 

 inside, inscription on stone opposite not much de- 

 faced, and only lost four words date 1504. 



A Russian gentleman and company dined in the 

 tomb, which is a decent little room with a good flat 

 floor, but the window overlooks the precipice of the 

 grotto road. Climbed up and cut pieces of the laurel 

 shrub, which has a delicious smell. 



I went along the brow, and had a noble view of 

 Vesuvius, the bay, and city; then wound up the hill 

 about a mile to the gate of a high villa on the other 

 side. Enjoyed a noble view of Mysenum, Baiae, and 

 flat between. 



Nov. 3. Took a caleche to Portici, with an order 

 to the Museo Reale ; very well worth the trouble. 



* By Buonaria, now at Brougham. This picture was brought, with 

 several others, from Italy by my father's grandfather, who visited that 

 country very early in the last century. He returned to England so im- 

 bued with Italian taste, that he rebuilt a large portion of High-head Castle 

 in the Italian style, and brought workmen from Italy to decorate the 

 interior. The household accounts at Brougham show that he spent 

 10,000 on this work an enormous sum in those days. 



