The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-01-02 00:00:00

TRAYELLSILS IN ITALY.

Florence, Dec. 17, 1822.
1 shonld have written to you long since, but, really,
in this part of the country—in fact, all over the contt•
nent—we seldom er ever 'know any thing, till we see it
either in the Frent4t or English papers. We have been
here for the last two months, and, with the exception
of the weather, every thing the sarne, day after day.
We have been greatly disappointed in the country (which
is chiefly meanlainons), the valleys are filled with rows
of poll es, overrun with grape vines, lied here and
there ploliFations of olive trees. Tlse weather .has cotn•
pletely disappointed me. On the Bih of _November, the
whiter motioned. with incessant rain`for six days—
(on the Apennines, that completely snrronnd the town.
it.alwaya, at this seistinilsnes6 ' when it rains here); the.
rain was succeeded bythree or four very cold days, these,
were succeeded by as many foggy days, and sultry; these•
were again succeeded by a continual rain, trillion In-t
terroission, fur fourteen days and nights: then erst had-
sleet, with cold wind, for a few days; since which we•
Aare. hsd=Acaoaytat raw, cold, cutting wind (similar to
'wliff we hove inlingland just before snow), which eon-
tinues at present. We can perceive from this town the
higher parts of the Apennines completely covered with
snow, and daily expect the lower parts, which closely in-
close this, to be covered also, and thee the cold here is
intense.
It is guile shocking to see the immense number of
English families that pass through *Lis town for Rome
and Naples. The postmasters inform me there are more,
by souse thousand:l this season than ever there has been
before since the peace. The good people of Rome and
Naples don't know how to ask enough for lodgings and
houses; at Rome you cahoot get a lodging under 251. a
montb,atid housed in proportion. At Naples, for houses
they demand from one hundred to one hundred and fifty
pounds a month. for lodgings in proportion; you can-
not (at least could not) get any thing decent, of only
two rooms, in the worst put of the town, the rest being
already let considerably higher, under fifteen pounds a
month ; but for some tame there has not been a lodging,
or house, to be got at even that extravagant price. A
great ions+ families have returned, all the way from
Naples, here for want of accommodation—so mach for
English folly !
as well as a great onetime more, have been com•
pletely deceived in respect to Italy (the robbery, impo-
sition, 84c., through the whole country, is beyond belief;
travel in whatever way you please, you are barefacedly
robbed every time you stop, or even open your month)
and intend leaving it immediately, if it is possible
• itheut danger to pass the Alps, never again to return.
Switzerland, on the contrary, is just the reverse, the
people are honest, thircoontry sublime, the mountainous
parts will repay tiny Ane for the journey from England ;
ID fact, it will bear seeing two or three times over. We
travelled over the greater part last summer, and intend
seeing it again before we retorts.
tan do spy thing for you in this part of the world,
pray give sea, line, addressed to me at Messrs. Donut,
Orin, stud Co., Florence, vie France. The only news at
present is the arrival here of the King of Prussia on
Satordaylast, She 14th, accompanied by his sons ;
the whole suite consisted of fire carriages ; they were
accomodased lato.Schneider's private Hotel. on the
Lungirno. , .
Last night, Lord Burghersh gave s grand ball, in ho-'
nour of the King of Prussia. The Grand Duke, and
all the nobility and gentry of Tuscany, weir present,'
together with 'lithe English residents. The- King of
Prussia arrived very early, and hail a long conference
with hie Lordship in private: he afterwards made his
appearance io public, bat only stopped ten or fifteen mi.'
notes ; in fact. be Left ,at hilf-pest nine., when. there
were hardly 6.117 *revs. issesibied; and,
.of Muse;
'greatly diiappclintet 'meet of the coinpany invited to'
Ames him. Port of his suite leave this day, snithe iii
expected. to depart in the course of tomorrow. Since he j
.ituts been herP,he. bus been very retired; when leatti9gl
or arriving at Isis hotel, he is so expeditions, that few pc's-
ple had an opportunity of seeing him for more than an
instant

Pftt— •
Tali? negir goof f,cts resaitini from thel
•
diiiefririte of the Stepping 'Mill in. 'our prison contactor,
to afford high 'eatiekettan. • Thaverninge fee. the last
.yeer hameautoahlett to, thee= !of 2621.17 a. 10d. As:
this twill has.benp in nee for a longer period probiblvi
thin any other, being one of the Mat erected on' tht,
principle', Mach satisfaction into be' derived •frotn they
report of the medical attendant of "this prison.; relative!
to the effect of this description of labour upon the, pel.,
annex's health ; hestatep, " the; .he has never egyeri.
enced a sines case where the stepping will was lire=
lotliefat. to' the 'health 'if neither 'doer 'be
.stitieipate nay :1)( levibesi thereontrary, of.opisiem,l
.:lisstit tends. meoicto tbit frelashl health of Us" ,prj+
°Qa,g1.7.7(. Beril 09ze."), A;*;