Notes of the visits to India of Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and Duke of Edinburgh 1870-1875-6 / by Sir J. Fayrer.

  • Fayrer, Sir Joseph, 1824-1907.
Date:
1879
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Notes of the visits to India of Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and Duke of Edinburgh 1870-1875-6 / by Sir J. Fayrer. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    15 Calcutta. He is going, via Turin, to Brindisi; sent messages by him to friends in Calcutta, whose children I had seen in England before leaving. The scenery after Culoz beautiful, passing through Aix les Bains, Chambery, and Modane, near which the tunnel begins, it took just 21 minutes to pass through the tunnel. The scenery on the Italian side is perfectly lovely; the day was clear, and the snow already thickly covers the higher peaks. We did not reach Turin till near 7 p.m. Went to the Hotel Feder, which seems excellent. We have a capital courier with us, who makes all needful arrange- ments; we dined at 8.30 p.m. At 10 I took a warm bath and went to bed ; took some diaphoretic medicine. Two of my companions, slightly ailing, required chlorodyne on the journey. I wrote my second letter home here. My face still worrying me from inflammation of the gum. The weather is decidedly cold. Wednesday, 13/A October, en route to Bologna. Beautiful bright morning ; glorious view of the Alps, with the range of snowy peaks and ridges. This morning we breakfasted at 8.30; drove with Lord A. P. and P. to see something of Turin. Saw the principal streets and buildings; noticed Cavour's statue and many others. It is a clean rather formal-looking little city ; very picturesquely situated. The air feels crisp and cold on this clear day, coming from the snows, which seem so close. At 9.40 a.m. we left for Bologna in a train with saloon carriages. There is a magnificent panorama of the Alpine chain from Monte Viso to the Simplon, Monte Cervino Rosa, Mont Blanc very clearly seen. Passed through Alexandria, Tortona, Piacenza, Parma. Lunched in our carriages; arrived at Bologna at 4.40 p.m. ; route picturesque all the way, though less so as one loses sight of the Alps; went to Hotel Brun and occupied the rooms that Bessie and I were in in 1872, when we were returning from India. Found Sir M. Costa, the musician, staying there; he dined with us. Wrote home by the midnight mail; I have received no letters yet except the one Charles brought me. D not very well; change of food and air the cause. The air bright, fresh and cold in the morning, became milder as we approached Bologna. The Hotel Brun is very good and comfortable; the weather changed in the evening, and it began to rain. Thursday, i^th October, Bologna.—After breakfast went with Sir B. Frere, Probyn, and Grey, to see the Academy, Pinacotheca, especially to see Raphael's St. Cecilia, which is a glorious painting. Thence to the old University, one of the earliest of universities, where Galvani Malpighi and other celebrities taught medicine. The lecture- room, lined with carved cedar, and pulpit and chair of the same wood, is very interesting, where these great professors taught. The walls of the quadrangle are covered with the coats of arms of students of all nations. Bought some photographs of the lady professors of former times; among other subjects, anatomy was once taught here by a lady; in Greek and jurisprudence they were no less famous. There are some very interesting recently-dis- covered Etruscan remains preserved in the museum of this institution, which were explained to us by a very intelligent, indeed highly-educated custodian, who went round with us. We then drove to the Certosa or Campo Santo, which is beautifully kept, and abounds in splendid monuments to great Bolognese and other Italians of distinction. Thence we drove to see San Michele —the palace is empty and