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Pensione Palumbo, Ravello, prov. di Salerno. - Has been here since New Year, and will leave on the 27th to go to the Berensons at Florence for two weeks; will then return home after a few days at Pisa. There has been a 'chilly and rainy scirocco for the last three days', but he expects it to be 'fine and sunny again tomorrow'. Is mainly busy with his translation of Lucretius, which he would like to finish. Has now done all of books I, III, and V [of De Rerum Natura], half of II and some of the rest; has 'still about a third of the whole to do, and the dullest part too, unfortunately'. Thinks though that it is 'worth finishing'.

The headmaster of Eton, Alington, is here with his family; he is 'quite a pleasant man, and a scholar'. Robert likes his wife, 'who was a Lyttelton'; there are 'six children, from 7 to 20, who make a very pleasant family'. Has not been to Ravello for 'twenty three years', and greatly enjoys seeing it again. Spent a 'very interesting day at Pompeii, seeing the new excavations'; these were most interesting archaeologically though there was 'nothing very remarkable in the new paintings'. The frescoes at the Casa dei Misteri outside the town, however, which he had not seen before, seemed to be the 'finest classical painting' he has ever seen, and gave him 'some idea of what really fine Greek painting may have been'; they illustrate an 'initiation into the Orphic, or rather Dionysian mysteries' and he has photographs which he will bring on his next visit to Welcombe.

Hopes his mother is well and enjoying the milder weather. Bessie and Julian seem well, and have been 'spending two very full days in London'. Will write to his mother soon.

Pension Palumbo, Ravello. - Will leave here next Thursday, after almost a month, to go to the Berensons at Florence for two weeks. Last week there was almost continual rain for six days; at last it is fine again today, though still cold, with 'snow upon the higher hills'. Despite the bad weather, has done 'a fair amount of work'. Forgets whether his mother has been to Ravello, or to Amalfi; calls the views of both the mountains and over the sea towards Paestum and the Apennines beyond 'very wonderful', but thinks he prefers the beauty of Tuscany and Umbria.

The Alingtons are staying in the Ruffalo palace, and come to meals here in the hotel; he is headmaster of Eton, and is 'quite pleasant and friendly', but Robert likes his wife better, 'who was Hester Lyttelton' and is now middle-aged, with six children, four girls and two boys, all here. They are a 'very jolly family, and two of the girls are quite musical' and sometimes play the hotel piano and on the violin. There is also a 'young English painter' whom Robert likes, and 'two quite pleasant Americans, an invalid and his wife', so he does 'not lack company' when he wants it.

Bessie seems well, and Julian has enjoyed his holiday and now has returned to school. Will be back at home before the end of February, and hopes to visit his mother at Welcombe 'sometime this spring'. Hopes the weather has been good, and that 'the primroses and snowdrops are coming out'. There are 'plenty of wild narcissuses among the rocks' here, and 'the wild crocuses are beginning'.

Was sorry to miss seeing Julian at the concert; hopes he will be out of quarantine next Saturday when he comes with Bessie. They are going to hear [Pablo] Casals conduct in London if Bessie is well enough (she has a cold). Inviting Michael MacCarthy to visit some time in January; also, [Kenneth? or his father Alfred?] Cross says he will visit on the weekend of 7-9 January. Has bought a first edition of Dickens' "Bleak House" 'with the old pictures', which Elizabeth wants to read in the summer holidays. Went to visit the Headmaster of Eton [Cyril Alington] for a night recently, which was 'quite amusing'; corrected the sixth form boys' Latin verses, 'which were pretty bad', and Elizabeth 'played music with the Head's daughters, which was fairly good'. The Cloisters at Eton is 'quite a fine old mediaeval place', but Windsor Castle 'looks brand new'.

Julian 'must not be too much distressed at the dilapidations of the Exhibition', which are not getting worse; the Theatre and most of the buildings are all right; it is mainly the 'staircases, where the paper has curled up' due to time (he quotes Shakespeare) except 'one little building... next Low-Brow Hall, which once by night in the dark was destroyed by a certain giant's foot'. May be at the station to meet Julian next Saturday; if not, tells him to come quickly to get a seat near them as 'the Hall will be chock full'. Hears Julian will have another part, in the "Winter's Tale".

The Deanery, Durham. - '... your memoir of Gaselee is wholly admirable...'

Hannibal and Bonaparte, Germans are beginning to feel the British push, Cambridge doctors heading for Egypt, Cyril Alington made headmaster of Eton.