Manuscript, in a single hand, of a travel diary of the author's tour of Germany, Switzerland and Italy while first chamberlain for Caroline Amelia Elizabeth, queen consort of George IV. Sailing from Worthing in Sussex in attendance on her, Gell describes the topography of the countries he visits and illustrates it with maps and pen sketches, including mountain ranges in Geneva; an outline of the mountains of the Vosges and the different rock formations there; and a sketch of the Rhone. He discusses the effects on the countryside of the campaigns of Napoleon Bonaparte; describes Mont Blanc and the attempts to reach its summit; mentions the people he meets, in particular members of the Italian nobility as well as scientists and mathematicians; and visits museums and works of art. He also includes observations on rocks, mines, minerals, fossils, an insane asylum, a school for deaf mutes, and an epidemic of pellagra. and Sir William Gell (1777-1836) was a classical archaeologist and topographer. From 1804 to 1806 he traveled in Greece and the neighboring islands. In 1807, he was elected a member of the Society of Dilettanti and a fellow of the Royal Society. In 1811 the Society of Dilettanti commissioned him to explore Greece and Asia Minor, resulting in several publications on topography, including Geography and Antiquities of Ithaca and Itinerary of Greece. He was knighted in 1814, and died at Naples in 1836.
Alternative Title:
Journal in Germany, Switzerland & Italy.
Description:
At beginning of volume: itinerary of cities visited and distance in miles., At end of volume: list of notable Italians; and a list of English travelers at Naples in the winter of 1814-15., Binding: half calf over marbled boards. In gilt on cover: Journal in Germany. Switzerland. & Italy., Imperfect: pagination in volume after p. 125 excludes blank pages., and Pasted inside front cover: bookplate of Robert Edward Way.
Subject (Geographic):
Blanc, Mont (France and Italy), Germany--Description and travel, Italy--Description and travel, and Switzerland--description and travel
Subject (Name):
Caroline, Queen, consort of George IV, King of Great Britain, 1768-1821, Gell, William, Sir, 1777-1836, and Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821
Subject (Topic):
Geology--Europe, Nobility--Italy, Topography, and Travelers' writings, English
Manuscript, in two hands, of a commonplace book divided into three sections. The first section consists of an account of the Mordaunt's mission to the British Fleet in the Adriatic to discover how to capture the Dalmatian Islands from France. Traveling by water, he describes the passing scenery; when he lands on the islands of Fano and Lissa, he notes their populations and military fortifications; at Malta, he is impressed by the military fortifications and is forbidden to break quarantine despite the importance of his mission due to an outbreak of plague; and falls ill with fever at Palermo. Throughout, he also records business correspondence and conversations regarding political and military affairs. This narrative is followed, in a different hand, by copies of two letters from Mordaunt to Robert Mitford, one of which is labeled "Read to queen Charlotte by Mrs. Egerton," describing scenes from his travels; and one from L L. to an unnamed recipient. These letters are followed by a copy of a novel titled Adelaide; an excerpt from Lady Sydney Morgan's Book of the boudoir; and a list titled "Peregrinations of [?] Mitford," which lists the dates and mileage between towns visited.
Description:
Binding: full parchment. Written on spine: Journal., For information on the source of acquisition, consult the appropriate curator., Inside covers lined with green silk., On title page: Journal of John Mordaunt Johnson, H. M. Consul at Genoa. Commenced July 1812., Pressed flower laid in., Table of contents at beginning of manuscript., The final section of the manuscript contains a large number of prints and drawings. The prints include 8 genre engravings; 5 small engravings of American landscape scenes; and 3 colored engravings of women's dress fashions. Drawings include 8 pastoral scenes in pencil; 4 pencil portraits; 1 pencil bird; a portrait in colored ink; a pen drawing of Newminster Abbey; and 6 ink wash drawings of Welsh characters. The volume also contains a watercolor of a Chinese scene; a collage of pressed leaves and flowers, accompanied by a sentimental poem; the signature of L. Sterne; a fragment of a Chinese newspaper; pieces of the dress of the King and Queen of the Sandwich Islands, "who died in London 1824"; 2 silhouettes; a colored cat's head; and a pencil drawing of a dog and rabbit pasted inside the back cover. This section of the manuscript also contains numerous sentimental and lighthearted poems, epigrams, and riddles., and This list is followed 100 pages of poems, prefaced by a table of contents. The poems are primarily on such sentimental subjects as flowers and love, and many are written by "L. M.," including one titled Lines inscribed to the late J. Mordaunt Johnson, Esq. A poem titled The valley of roses is attributed to Mary Ann Browne, "in her 15th year"; other titles include Stanzas on the death of H.R.H. the Duke of York; On leaving Ireland; and The progress of love. This section also contains the epilogue to Richard Sheridan's The rivals.
Subject (Geographic):
Dalmatia (Croatia)--History, Military, France--Foreign relations--Great Britain, and Great Britain--Foreign relations--France
Subject (Name):
Johnson, John Mordaunt, 1776?-1815, Morgan, Lady (Sydney),--1783-1859., and Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816--Rivals
Subject (Topic):
English poetry--19th century, Epigrams, Riddles, Sentimentalism in literature, and Travelers' writings, English
