A manuscript journal recording John Henry Barrow’s nine-month Continental journey through France, Switzerland, and Italy in the immediate post-Waterloo period.
LWL Mss Vol. 279
Acquired March 2022
763 P632 779
Acquired October 2021
82 814Pl v.1
Acquired February 2020
Holograph diary of the author’s trip to France and Italy in a single hand describing the author’s Grand Tour two years after the end of the Napoleonic Wars : The hallmarks of a half pay British officer in the midst of a rather hopeless feeling peace. Clearly an admirer of classical architecture, he makes careful note of remaining classical elements in towns like Avignon and Lyon (“The town of Lyon is by no means handsome. The houses are much crowded and the streets narrow, and dirtier if possible than those of Paris”), and appears very much more affectionate towards what was there, rather than what is. He is nevertheless much struck by the wonders of Florence as he travels towards what his conspicuous classical education clearly regards as the ultimate destination: the city of Rome. In a rather pleasing exhibition of mingled scholarship and military professionalism, he spends a lot of time discussing the historical strategic qualities and shortfalls of many of his stopping points. The journal is erudite, vigorous and detailed.
LWL Mss Vol. 251
Acquired October 2019
Vol 1 -Traveller’s guide through the Netherlands — Vol 2- Traveller’s guide through Germany — Vol. 3 – Traveller’s guide through Italy — Vol. 4 – Traveller’s guide through France.
81 749 N89
Acquired August 2019
An account detailing posts and times for each section of the journey, with notes on inns, conditions of roads, places of note and numerous personal observations; quality of gardens, vegetations and art, the prevalence of goitres in one particular area, the need to obtain the correct paperwork to avoid one’s baggage being rummaged through, and the need to have luggage “plumbed” upon departure from Florence. Clearly written in the hand of Thomas Martyn, this particular tour can be found mentioned in Martyn’s entry in DNB: starting in 1778 he was accompanying his young charge, Edward Hartopp, on his two year continental tour, part of which was later published and made it into his “Gentleman’s Guide in his Tour Through Italy” in 1787 and “Sketch of a Tour Through Switzerland” of the same year.
LWL Mss File 149
Acquired April 2019
New and easy grammar of the English tongue for the Italians.
Mann, Horace, Sir, 1701-1786
Letter : Florence, to Lord Mountsuart, 1782 June 24
ALS to Lord Mountstuart and signed by the author, promising to give every attention to Count Brusaque and his lady who have also been recommended to Countess Colloredo, though she now lives “much retired.” He reports on the recent ceremony performed by the “Great Duke” in which he received customary “homage from subaltern towns and feudatarys of this Dutchy.” He also makes reference to recent naval activities, including the capture of two French vessels by Captains Parker and Jespersen on their way to Gilbralter and the anticipated appearance of a Russian fleet at Leghorn (Livorno) in the coming autumn which will, he predicts, have considerable change on public affairs.
Subjects (Library of Congress): Mann, Horace, Sir, 1701-1786; Bute, John Stuart, Marquess of, 1744-1814; Tuscany (Italy)–Foreign relations–Great Britain; Great Britain–Foreign relations–Italy–Tuscany.
Lewis Walpole Library new acquisition: July, 2010