Dobbin, the family, with Colonel Burton's
blowpipes, retorts and other "notions," as his son put it, proceeded by
easy stages to Marseilles, whence chariot, chaise, horse and family were
shipped to Leghorn, and a few days later they found themselves at Pisa.
The boys became proficient in Italian and drawing, but it was not until
middle life that Richard's writing developed into that gossamer hand
which so long distinguished it. Both had a talent for music, but when
"a thing like Paganini, length without breadth" was introduced, and they
were ordered to learn the violin, Richard rebelled, flew into a towering
rage and broke his instrument on his master's head. Edward, however,
threw his whole soul into the work and became one of the finest amateur
violinists of his day. Edward, indeed, was the Greek of the family,
standing for music and song as well as for muscle. He had the finely
chiselled profile and the straight nose that characterises the faces on
Attic coins. Richard, though without the Roman features, was more of the
ancient Roman type of character: severe, doggedly brave, utilitarian;
and he was of considerably larger mould than his brother. In July 1832,
the family stayed at Siena and later at Perugia, where they visited
the tomb of Pietro Aretino. At Florence, the boys, having induced their
sister to lend them her pocket money, laid it out in a case of pistols;
while their mother went in daily terror lest they should kill each
other. The worst they did, however, was to put a bullet through a very
good hat which belonged to Mr. Du Pre. When their mother begged them not
to read Lord Chesterfield's Letters to a Son, concerning the morality of
which she had doubts, they dutifully complied and surrendered themselves
piously, and without a murmur, to the chaste pages of Paul de Kock. They
did not, however, neglect the art treasures of Florence; and at
Rome, their next stopping-place, they sauntered about with Baedeker's
predecessor, "Mrs. Starke," and peered into earthly churches and
flower-illumined ruins. Later the family journeyed to Naples, where
the boys continued their studies under Mr. Du Pre. As a clergyman, this
gentleman steadily inculcated in his pupils the beautiful principles of
the Christian religion, and took a sincere and lively interest in their
favourite pastime of cock-fighting.

Colonel Burton continued his chemical studies, and in an evil hour for
the family, purchased a copy of the quaint text bo