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Charybdis no longer dreaded and frightful only in the Goats'
Song. The South presents a busy but a mournful scene. Work-
men and ruins – the effects of an Earthquake – I think in the year
1783.

This Guard comes to us once in about three Weeks
and our other duties are now so easy that the greater part of the
Day is at our own disposal. This I contrive to fill up and I
therefore know not what it is to have a languid moment.

The Enemy on the opposite Coast are in force so small that
nothing is expected to be done this summer.

You will like perhaps to learn, my dear Mother what
Society that is in which we are placed. Altho in a great Army
we seldom see but our Regimental friends, our intercourse
therefore rarely extends beond our own little circle. We are
considered by all other Regiments as extremely proud, because
we are reserved – even in some degree to each other – 'Tis the fa-
-shion of the Regiment. Its characteristic is steadiness and
if one young man displays any inclination for rudeness
the cold countenances of the officers damp his ardour. We sit
but a short time after dinner, and are so abstemious that I do
not remember to have seen a single person tipsy at the Mess
during the time I have been with it. It is rather extraordinary
but we have not an Officer at all inclined that way. The
Commanding Officer, Colonel Sturt, tho a whimsical Man
never gives us any cause for complaint. He will always be
on good terms with one provided the duty is done, that he
is not troubled, and is spoken to whenever met. But this
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I rise early at five or Six o'Clock with an Italian exercise or some other thing.
and then walk to visit some Monks in a neighbouring Monastery; (for the
Nuns they will not permit us to converse with) altho' the Convent in
which we are quartered is surrounded with Nunneries. I keep up the
acquaintance of these old Friars because they are very civil, and I have
thereby an opportunity of practising their language. At nine I return
to breakfast, and exercise myself for half an hour afterwards with a
fencing Master – Having dismissed him I study till two o'Clock and at
that hour receive my Italian Master. He remains till 3 o'Clock, I am oc-
-cupied half an hour afterwards in making a correct copy of the Exercises
which he has corrected. By the time this is finished the first drum
beats for Parade. We are kept on the whole about an Hour. At five
we dine, and at ½ past six I rise from table, and take with my friend an
Evenings Walk. We are home about eight, and until bed time, I amuse
myself with reading. I have no regular hour of going to bed. Some-
-times 'tis early, sometimes late – as I find myself inclined. This division
of time is sometimes interrupted by Military duties, other circumstances
which cannot be calculated on. In a few Weeks more I intend making
a tour to Mount Aetna, with some of our Officers. I shall make a journal
of it for your perusal. Do you recollect my ever mentioning in my letters
a Mr. Colonel Woods of Hereford who amongst the other families was very
civil to me, and who used to speak in such high terms of me. His Son a
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