ul criminal than an unfortunate
man, who had been surprised by a strong and almost irresistible
temptation. So congenial, at this moment, is the love of vengeance to an
Italian bosom, and though chastised in general by severe punishment, so
much are criminals sympathised with by the community.

_March_ 20.--I went with Miss Talbot and Mr. Lushington and his sister
to the great and celebrated church of San Domenico Maggiore, which is
the most august of the Dominican churches. They once possessed eighteen
shrines in this part of Naples. It contains the tomb of St. Thomas
Aquinas, and also the tombs of the royal family, which remain in the
vestry. There are some large boxes covered with yellow velvet which
contain their remains, and which stand ranged on a species of shelf,
formed by the heads of a set of oaken presses which contain the
vestments of the monks. The pictures of the kings are hung above their
respective boxes, containing their bones, without any other means of
preserving them. At the bottom of the lofty and narrow room is the
celebrated Marquis di [Pescara], one of Charles V.'s most renowned
generals, who commanded at the battle of Pavia.... The church itself is
very large and extremely handsome, with many fine marble tombs in a very
good style of architecture. The time being now nearly the second week in
Lent, the church was full of worshippers.

[While at Naples Sir Walter wrote frequently to his daughter, to
Mr. Cadell, Mr. Laidlaw, and Mr. Lockhart. The latter says, "Some
of these letters were of a very melancholy cast; for the dream
about his debts being all settled was occasionally broken." One may
be given here. It is undated, but was written some time after
receiving the news of the death of his little grandson, and shows
the tender relations which existed between Sir Walter and his
son-in-law:--

MY DEAR LOCKHART,--I have written with such regularity that ... I
will not recur to this painful subject. I hope also I have found
you both persuaded that the best thing you can do, both of you, is
to come out here, where you would find an inestimable source of
amusement, many pleasant people, and living in very peaceful and
easy society. I wrote you a full account of my own matters, but I
have now more complete [information]. I am ashamed, for the first
time in my life, of the two novels, but since the pensive public
hav