The excursion is thus mentioned in “Thraliana”:  “28th May, 1784.—­Here is the most sudden and beautiful spring ever seen after a dismal winter:  so may God grant me a renovation of comfort after my many and sharp afflictions.  I have been to London for a week to visit Fanny Burney, and to talk over my intended (and I hope approaching) nuptials, with Mr. Borghi:  a man, as far as I can judge in so short an acquaintance with him, of good sense and real honour:—­who loves my Piozzi, likes my conversation, and wishes to serve us sincerely.  He has recommended Duane to take my power of attorney, and Cator’s loss will be the less felt.  Duane’s name is as high as the Monument, and his being known familiarly to Borghi will perhaps quicken his attention to our concerns.

“Dear Burney, who loves me kindly but the world reverentially, was, I believe, equally pained as delighted with my visit:  ashamed to be seen in my company, much of her fondness for me must of course be diminished; yet she had not chatted freely so long with anybody but Mrs. Philips, that my coming was a comfort to her.  We have told all to her father, and he behaved with the utmost propriety.

“Nobody likes my settling at Milan except myself and Piozzi; but I think ’tis nobody’s affair but our own:  it seems to me quite irrational to expose ourselves to unnecessary insults, and by going straight to Italy all will be avoided.”

The crisis is told in “Thraliana”: 

“10th June, 1784.—­I sent these lines to meet Piozzi on his return.  They are better than those he liked so last year at Dover: 

  “Over mountains, rivers, vallies,
  See my love returns to Calais,
  After all their taunts and malice,
  Ent’ring safe the gates of Calais,
  While delay’d by winds he dallies,
  Fretting to be kept at Calais,
  Muse, prepare some sprightly sallies
  To divert my dear at Calais,
  Say how every rogue who rallies
  Envies him who waits at Calais
  For her that would disdain a Palace
  Compar’d to Piozzi, Love, and Calais.”

“24th June, 1784.—­He is set out sure enough, here are letters from Turin to say so....  Now the Misses must move; they are very loath to stir:  from affection perhaps, or perhaps from art—­’tis difficult to know.—­Oh ’tis, yes, it is from tenderness, they want me to go with them to see Wilton, Stonehenge, &c.—­I will go with them to be sure.”

“27th June, Sunday.—­We went to Wilton, and also to Fonthill; they make an admirable and curious contrast between ancient magnificence and modern glare:  Gothic and Grecian again, however.  A man of taste would rather possess Lord Pembroke’s seat, or indeed a single room in it; but one feels one should live happier at Beckford’s.—­My daughters parted with me at last prettily enough considering (as the phrase is).  We shall perhaps be still better friends apart than together.  Promises of correspondence and kindness were very sweetly reciprocated, and the eldest wished for Piozzi’s safe return very obligingly.