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.
Letters from Charles James Blomfield to Dr Emsley
Philip Bliss (bibliophile, librarian at Bodley and Registrar)employs a housekeeper (?) for PE in Oxford. News of friends, and asks for a job for his brother-in-law.
History of B's (anonymous) review of Monk's Hippolytus, and Monk's warm appreciation of it. Edmund Henry (Barker?) publicly criticises B, taking his attitude from Dr. Parr (who clearly lisped). Prepared to review PE's Oedipus if Monk doesn't get in first. Support for new journal (inc. PE's). PE's proposed visit to Cambridge. Authorship of preface to Porsoniana (Horsfall pp454ff).
Year per Horsfall. Proposal to print the collation of the Agamemnon in the Museum Criticum, if PE does not object.
Walpole seeks advice on a Roman inscription intended for his work (see preceding letter). In a PS he adds an inscription from the Troad mentioning Homer.
Copy of a letter from PE to Monk. He had indeed thought Dobree was the anon. author - and had only wanted a clear statement of what precise emendations were in question. Concludes with a wish for a personal correspondence. (v. Horsfall pp455ff on whole matter.)
E. Berens congratulates PE on Alban Hall. Elections for Camden Professorship have not yet taken place, but he hears the outcome is certain.
Written phonetically as with a cold in the nose. Advises PE not to use a handkerchief he left when playing cards a week ago. People poking their noses into Lord Melville's private affairs (last person to be impeached in the UK, in this year).
Work at Press. Cold in Bodleian makes it impossible to study there.