letter, and bid him expect one from me by the next post.
Mary and the babe continue well.—Last night we had a magnificent thunder-storm, with claps that shook the house like an earthquake. Both Mary and C unite with me in kindest remembrances to all.
Most faithfully yours obliged,
P. B. S.
TO HENRY REVELEY.
Florence, Nov. 17th, 1819.
My dear Henry,
I was exceedingly interested by your letter, and I cannot but thank you for overcoming the inaptitude of a long disuse at my request, for my pleasure. It is a great thing done, the successful casting of the cylinder—may it be a happy auspice for what is to follow! I hope, in a few posts, to remit the necessary money for the completion. Meanwhile, are not those portions of the work which can be done without expense, saving time in their progress? Do you think you lose much money or time by this delay?
All that you say of the alteration in the form of the boat strikes me, though one of the multitude in this respect, as improvement. I long to get aboard her, and be an unworthy partaker in the glory of the astonishment of the Livornese, when she returns from her cruise round Melloria. When do you think she will be fit for sea?
Your volcanic description of the birth of the cylinder is very characteristic of you, and of it.[1] One might*
- ↑ The passage in Mr. Reveley's letter referred to by Shelley was
as follows:—
"Friday, 12th Nov.
"The event is now past—both the steam cylinder and air-pump were cast at three o'clock this afternoon. At two o'clock this
