CHARLES WATERTON, ESQ. ixxxiil 



thing else in the shape of adventures now 

 appears to me to be trivial and of no amount. 

 I here state, in the most unqualified manner, 

 my firm conviction that the liquefaction of the 

 blood of St. Januarius is miraculous beyond the 

 shadow of a doubt. Were I to conceal this my 

 conviction, from the public eye, I should ques- 

 tion the soundness of both my head and heart, 

 and charge my pen with arrant cowardice. 



During our sojourn in gay, but noisy Naples, 

 we had an adventure, as absurd as it was unex- 

 pected ; and it was so mixed up with affected 

 cleanliness, attempted extortion, and natural 

 history, that I cannot refrain from giving a 

 short description of it. 



I had a letter of introduction to the supe- 

 rior at the beautiful convent of San Martino, 

 situated on the lofty hill where stands St. Elmo's 

 stately fortress. One afternoon, whilst we were 

 enjoying a drive up to this well-guarded citadel, 

 I took the opportunity of delivering my letter 

 of introduction to the convent ; and, as ladies 

 are forbidden by the law to enter such esta- 

 blishments, it was arranged betwixt us that 

 they should continue their drive to the gates of 



the fort, and saunter there until my return 



e 2 



