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Naples. Ship sailing this evening for Malta. Repeats (in case previous letters have not Arrived) that he has not heard from sister-in-law since November - and to pay the

Naples. Boarded the Ranger brig bound for Malta and Egypt (but didn't get to latter). Palermo - Trapani (3 nights at sea from Palermo!) - Malta - Messina. Voyage partly undertaken for the health of Lady Harriet Drummond, but her sea-sickness caused the abandonment of the original plan of going to Athens. PE not as sea-sick as he thought he might be - only sick so as to make a discharge on one day. Will ignore Malta and Sicily till they meet, because he needs to address a letter from his sister-in-law - but Valetta very pretty - after 20 odd years of rule the English have introduced cleanliness, but have yet to set up a church. Sister-in-law's poor health caused by the weather - but the spring in Naples was just as raw as in England. Thanks for offer to look after PE's exports from Italy. Miss B. (Bigge?) has married. Various business matters. Mrs Bedford has died - PE has not heard from Bedford the son, but he himself could not write to anyone after his own mother's death. Some gossip from Grote concerning the love affairs of one Diana. Comments on the will of Mr Carew. Plans to return to England via Rome, Florence and Venice.

Florence. Sailed from Dover on Saturday, 18th May, 1816, and sailed from Malta (for his return to England) on Sunday, 18th May, 1817. Left Naples on 1st June and arrived in Rome 4 days later. Intended to remain there 2 days, but bumped into the Miss Allens (v.271), so stayed until the 18th - in mourning due to death of nephew in Pisa in the spring, and also 1 of the 3 sisters - the 2 survivors and their mother are with their aunts in Rome. Trip to Tivoli - frequently mentioned by Horace, so PE bought a copy to take with him. 5 days from Rome to Florence - carriage overturned and PE tumbled into a ditch (without damage) - it will soon ne too hot to travel in the middle of the day. Much better pleased with Florence than in the autumn, having spent the interim in the filth and misery of Rome and Naples. Joined from Rome to Florence by Timothy Rogers of New York (whose brother Elmsley is named after PE's brother) - he had an affair with a married woman in Naples. Miss V (v.274) has found her man again - rich, good-tempered but such a fool (according to Mary King). Plans for his journey home - the Sothebys are in Venice, and he hopes to catch up with them in Heidelberg, and then persuade them to spend 2 or 3 weeks in Holland. Availability or not of various fruits in Italy. Letters PE found in Rome - more on the dishonest Roman postal clerk. Sending 3 boxes, mostly of books, from Leghorn - will need to pay duty on his return. Asks for name of Miss Bigge's husband (in the military?), and passes on good wishes.

Henry Bedford (Admiralty clerk) and his brother G.C.Bedford (Exchequer clerk - OW, and co-author with Southey of The Flagellant). NB References to Wynn tout court probably refer to Charles Watkin Williams-Wynn, very much part of the Southey set, rather than his elder brother, Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn.

Two letters are at Stafford Row from PE to his brother, who has gone to Godalming (to examine Norman remains). Since one letter follows the other by a day, he wonders if he should forward them. His mother is still at Ealing, and has been for five weeks.

Has some pears for PE, to be put into a tin or tinned vessel.

Postponing a visit from PE - brother Horace has had another attack in his bowels (OW - died in September 1807).

Horace is better.

Wynn (CWW - OW - and co-author with Southey and Bedford of The Flagellant) has had a second daughter - Bedford (not a family man) wishes to send him a mould for a son, bemoaning the probably wasted expense of rearing daughters. Southey is in town - proposes a joint visit to St Mary Cray.

PE's mother's health is precarious, so Bedford worries when he doesn't hear from him. Is weak and at home having been bled. Family news - 'Horace is at the Museum and makes his own tea there.'