MOUNT VESUVIUS.

365

and mental improvement as at Naples ? Every excursion,every walk, teems with delightful objects and interestingreminiscences. Tom Williams, Dixon, another goodfellow named Gill, and I, used frequently to spend tendays at Patria, — there in one of the rustic shooting boxes,called Pagliari, fishing, shooting all day, at night weenjoyed ourselves around our fine myrtle fire, and quaffingthe best Falernian wine, full scope was given to the pleasureof friendly conversation. Oh, happy days! No cares,plenty of money, no fear for to-morrow! When I wassatisfied and housed—when I was asleep—all my familywere so likewise.

Williams found means of passing for a Dane. The bene-volent Murat infused into his government the kindfeelings of his own good heart; so that the pretences forleaving men at liberty, although really well known to be| Englishmen, were connived at and accepted. Many wherethose who profitted by the same indulgence. Timmins wasan American, so were Dixon, Routh, [and Schwartz,—andGill of Bolton-le-Moors, called himself Gellert, the Germanpoet. These matters are absurdly trivial in themselves,I only name them as indicative of the benevolent spiritwhich presided in all things, during the government ofMurat.

One day I was shooting wild ducks at Patria, with myusual comrades Williams, Steuart and Dixon ; about daybreak as we were waiting at what is called “ La Posta,”looking for the ducks returning to the sea after they hadbeen sleeping amongst the reeds ; the birds all flew high asthey generally do in calm weather. 1 could not touch afeather, because my shot would not reach them ; im-patiently at last, I put a ball into my gun any how de-i termined to get up to the next that passed. Over camefour mallards, I pointed my gun, when Dixon hallooed out