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The Life and Letters of John Gibson Lockhart
Chapter 23: 1853-54
John Gibson Lockhart to Charlotte Lockhart Hope, 21 October 1853
INTRODUCTION & INDEXES
DOCUMENT INFORMATION
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Vol. I. Preface
Vol. I Contents.
Chapter 1: 1794-1808
Chapter 2: 1808-13
Chapter 3: 1813-15
Chapter 4: 1815-17
Chapter 5: 1817-18
Chapter 6: 1817-19
Chapter 7: 1818-20
Chapter 8: 1819-20
Chapter 9: 1820-21
Chapter 10: 1821-24
Chapter 11: 1817-24
Chapter 12: 1821-25
Chapter 13: 1826
Vol. II Contents
Chapter 14: 1826-32
Chapter 15: 1828-32
Chapter 16: 1832-36
Chapter 17: 1837-39
Chapter 18: 1837-43
Chapter 19: 1828-48
Chapter 20: 1826-52
Chapter 21: 1842-50
Chapter 22: 1850-53
Chapter 23: 1853-54
Chapter 24: Conclusion
Vol. II Index
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“Via Gregoriana, Rome, October 21, 1853.

“My dear Charlotte,—We arrived here in
370 LIFE OF J. G. LOCKHART.  
safety last Saturday night, although our passage from Marseilles had not been smooth, insomuch that we had to run for shelter to Elba, and I spent some hours in walking over Porto Ferrajo and its environs. The place is small but very strong, and (being Italian) very clean—as poor as possible; the market produced nothing that looked eatable but some tomatoes. A garrison of 700 or 800 men to watch over many political prisoners and the few natives. Napoleon’s palace in town not so big as Huntly Burn, and its garden abounding only in cannon and balls; a villa across a bay seemed somewhat more considerable.

“The Admiral” (he was staying with Mr. Robert Hay in Rome) “has a neat flat of some five or six rooms, some of them looking over a large extent of Rome, including St. Peter’s and many more fine things. I have a very tolerable room to the rear, and could not have been lodged better, I am sure, in this town. No woman servant at all. A man comes in to cook twice per day, all the rest done by the lad and my courier. Hay very kind indeed. As yet few or no fine folks here. Fanny Kemble and Mrs. Sartoris are near us, and dined with us one day, and Hay has drunk tea twice with them. In a short time there will be the Duke of Northumberland, Lord Northampton, and a world of grandees. At church on Sunday, behold Baron and Lady Parker, Lady C. Denison, Mr. D., and Dr. Locock, all bound for England from Naples.
ROME371
Miss Parker to be married to Colonel Lowther’s second son, and miladi enchanted. Jim looked very much shrunk, and, I think, generally changed for the worse. I have seen Dr. Pantaleone, who has, and I believe justly, a high reputation. He, after due examination, is of the same opinion as Brodie and Co.—that I am not suffering from any distinct disease, unless irritability of the mucous membrane, but rather from a general decadence of the vital powers, and I do not think his expectations of recovery are high; but I am trying a prescription of his, and you shall hear again by-and-by. Many days I am sick and helpless utterly, but on others able to enjoy a walk or drive, and yesterday was out for hours with Hay and a capital cicerone, Peter, lately our Minister here. The appetite much as before—that is, null.

“I wish you would write to Miss Joanna or Mrs. Ellis, and tell my report about myself; also to Cousin Kate, for this is the only epistle I venture on.—With love to you all,

“J. G. Lockhart.”