226 
LETTERS FROM 
the unpleasant effluvia, pieces of lemon are 
sometimes laid on the burning charcoal. 
These diffuse an agreeable odour, but can 
produce no other good effect. 
Our unexpected visit to Syracuse had so 
exhaused our finances, that we were obliged 
to apply to Mr. Rose, the English consul, 
for a supply of money, which he very kindly 
granted us, on our showing him a letter of 
credit I had received from Mr. R-, at 
Malta, to a merchant at Messina. 
I believe that Catania is considered to be 
a beautiful city, and it certainly contains 
some fine buildings. To me it appeared an 
exceedingly dull place, but my opinion 
might have been influenced by the gloomy 
weather. But the view of Etna from this 
city is, indeed, surpassingly beautiful, and it 
is an object I should never be weary of 
gazing upon. It presented an unusually 
