Having now partaken freely of the rich intellectual feast which this venerable city affords, I prepared in the first instance to return to Florence, procuring passports for that purpose, and arranging with an intelligent friend, the Reverend C., to have the pleasure of accompanying him to that city.
But the nearer the moment of our proposed departure approached, the more intense did I find an inclination to visit Naples.
This disposition was confirmed by the opinion of Dr. Clarke, that the sulphurous vapour baths of that place would be serviceable to my health, although he strictly urged me not to continue there longer than a month, in order to escape the injurious effects of the malaria arising from the Pontine marshes, which would after that time become aggravated by the heats of summer.
Having thus been induced to alter my arrangements, I had my passports made out accordingly and secured my place in a cabriolet, which was to set out on the following morning.
I was provided with some letters of introduction, and amongst the rest, one to Mr. C., a gentleman whom I afterwards felt assured, as it proved, had been a most intimate friend of my own some years before, at which time we crossed the Atlantic together from North America to England.
I was delighted with the supposed recognition, and in the sequel it will be seen that the renewal of our friendship proved most gratifying and advantageous to me.
extract from The Narrative of a Journey through France, &c. (London, 1822) by James Holman FRS, pp.175-176, edited by Joe Rizzo Naudi.