Item 71 - Letter from Sir William Gell to Robert Pemberton Milnes

Naples. - Amused by Milnes' examples of Kestner's English, and adds his own; indebtedness to Torlonias; Milnes' prospects. Drove to Pozzuoli with Sir Walter Scott today; Scott confessed that he had reviewed a work on bridges without any knowledge of the subject; Gell's work on Troy was once badly reviewed by Sir William Drummond owing to a misunderstanding about an invitation. Scott was lively and in tolerable health; his speech little changed; 'I remember when the Lay [of the Last Minstrel] first came out he read it at the Priory, L[ord] Abercorn's, & the deuce a word did those of the company who were born south of Trent understand of it'. Milnes should enjoy more worldly pursuits while he has the chance. [Halley's] comet not expected to threaten disaster as it was largely transparent on its last appearance; recounts Scott's anecdote about Mrs __ and the 'supernatural' apparition of Dr Gordon. Odd behaviour of the Heydebrecks makes them hard to assist; Lord Hertford's recommendations for avoiding political fights when entertaining; reform and revolution in England; Rome; would like to force some good from Mezzofante.

Endorsed by Luigi Chiaveri.