January 5.—­Went by invitation to wait upon a priest, who almost rivals my fighting bishop of Malta.  He is the old Bishop of Tarentum,[507] and, notwithstanding his age, eighty and upwards, is still a most interesting man.  A face formed to express an interest in whatever passes; caressing manners, and a total absence of that rigid stiffness which hardens the heart of the old and converts them into a sort of petrifaction.  Apparently his foible was a fondness for cats; one of them, a superb brindled Persian cat, is a great beauty, and seems a particular favourite.  I think we would have got on well together if he could have spoken English, or I French or Latin; but helas! I once saw at Lord Yarmouth’s house a Persian cat, but not quite so fine as that of the Bishop.  He gave me a Latin devotional poem and an engraving of himself, and I came home about two o’clock.

January 6 to 12.—­We reach the 12th January, amusing ourselves as we can, generally seeing company and taking airings in the forenoon in this fine country.  Sir William Gell, a very pleasant man, one of my chief cicerones.  Lord Hertford comes to Naples.  I am glad to keep up an old acquaintance made in the days of George IV.

He has got a breed from Maida, of which I gave him a puppy.  There was a great crowd at the Palazzo, which all persons attended, being the King’s birthday.  The apartments are magnificent, and the various kinds of persons who came to pay court were splendid.  I went with the boys as Brigadier-General of the Archers’ Guard, wore a very decent green uniform, laced at the cuffs, and pantaloons, and looked as well as sixty could make it out when sworded and feathered comme il faut.  I passed well enough.  Very much afraid of a fall on the slippery floor, but escaped that disgrace.  The ceremony was very long.  I was introduced to many distinguished persons, and, but for the want of language, got on well enough.  The King spoke to me about five minutes, of which I hardly understood five words.  I answered him in a speech of the same length, and I’ll be bound equally unintelligible.  We made the general key-tone of the harangue la belle langue et le beau ciel of sa majeste.  Very fine dresses, very many diamonds....

A pretty Spanish ambassadress, Countess da Costa, and her husband.  Saw the Countess de Lebzeltern, who has made our acquaintance, and seems to be very clever.  I will endeavour to see her again.  Introduced to another Russian Countess of the diplomacy.  Got from Court about two o’clock.  I should have mentioned that I had a letter from Skene[508] and one from Cadell, dated as far back as 2d December, a monstrous time ago, [which] yet puts a period to my anxiety.  I have written to Cadell for particulars and supplies, and, besides, have written a great many pages of the Siege of Malta, which I think will succeed.

[January 16-23].—­I think L200 a month, or thereby, will do very well, and it is no great advance.