lling, it is requisite to bend the body backwards and
step upon the heel. By observing this precaution, the worst that
can happen to one is to sit down involuntarily once or twice,
without danger to life or limb. In twelve minutes we had reached
the spot where our donkeys stood. We reached Resina during the
darkness of night, having spent eight hours in our excursion.

My last trip was to the Castle of Caserta, distant sixteen miglia
from Naples, in the direction of Capua. It is considered one of the
finest pleasure-palaces in Europe, and I was exceedingly pleased
with its appearance. The building is of a square form, with a
portico 507 feet long, supported by ninety-eight columns of the
finest marble. The staircase and halls in the upper story alone
must have cost enormous sums, as well as the chapel on the first
floor, which is very rich and gorgeous. The saloons and apartments
are decorated in a peculiarly splendid manner with a multiplicity of
frescoes, oil-paintings, sculptures, gildings, costly silk-hangings,
marbles, etc. A pretty little theatre, with well-painted scenery,
is to be found in the palace. The garden is extensive, particularly
as regards length. A hill, from which a considerable stream rushes
foaming over artificial rockwork into the deeper recesses of the
garden, rises at its extremity. Scarcely has this river sunk to
rest, flowing slowly and majestically through a bed formed of large
square stones, before it is compelled to form another cascade, and
another, and one more, until it almost reaches the castle, near
which a large basin has been constructed, from whence the water is
led into the town. Seen from the portico, these waterfalls have a
lovely appearance. From Caserta we drove ten miles farther on to
the celebrated aqueduct which supplies the whole of Naples with
water. It is truly a marvellous work. Over three stupendous arched
ways, one above the other, the necessary quantity of water flows
into the city.

This was my last excursion; on the following day, the 7th of
November, at three in the morning, I left Naples. Apart from the
delightful reminiscences of lovely natural scenes, I shall always
think with pleasure on my sojourn in Naples in connexion with Herr
Brettschneider and his lady. I was a complete stranger to them when
I delivered my note of introduction, and yet they at once welcomed
me as kindly and heartily as though I had belonged to their family.
How many ho