he night following? I know you have
consented to the party. Let me see. Don't have any one, this particular
night, to dinner, but let it be a summons for the special purpose at
half-past 6. Carlyle, indispensable, and I should like his wife of all
things: _her_ judgment would be invaluable. You will ask Mac, and why
not his sister? Stanny and Jerrold I should particularly wish; Edwin
Landseer; Blanchard; perhaps Harness; and what say you to Fonblanque and
Fox? I leave it to you. You know the effect I want to try . . . Think the
_Chimes_ a letter, my dear fellow, and forgive this. I will not fail to
write to you on my travels. Most probably from Venice. And when I meet
you (in sound health I hope) oh Heaven! what a week we will have."

FOOTNOTES:

[88] "Into which we might put your large room--I wish we could!--away in
one corner, and dine without knowing it."

[89] "Very vast you will say, and very dreary; but it is not so really.
The paintings are so fresh, and the proportions so agreeable to the eye,
that the effect is not only cheerful but snug. . . . We are a little
incommoded by applications from strangers to go over the interior. The
paintings were designed by Michael Angelo, and have a great
reputation. . . . Certain of these frescoes were reported officially to the
Fine Art Commissioners by Wilson as the best in Italy . . . I allowed a
party of priests to be shown the great hall yesterday . . . It is in
perfect repair, and the doors almost shut--which is quite a miraculous
circumstance. I wish you could see it, my dear F. Gracious Heavens! if
you could only _come back_ with me, wouldn't I soon flash on your
astonished sight." (6th of October.)

CHAPTER VII.

ITALIAN TRAVEL.

1844.

Cities and People--Venice--Proposed Travel--At
Lodi--Paintings--The Inns--Dinner at the
Peschiere--Custom-house Officers--At Milan--At
Strasburg--Return to London--A Macready
Rehearsal--Friendly Americans.

SO it all fell out accordingly. He parted from his disconsolate wife, as
he told me in his first letter from Ferrara, on Wednesday the 6th of
November: left her shut up in her palace like a baron's lady in the time
of the crusades; and had his first real experience of the wonders of
Italy. He saw Parma, Modena, Bologna, Ferrara, Venice, Verona, and
Mantua. As to all which the impressions conveyed to me in his letters
have been more or less given in his published _Pictures_.