my analysis of the
"Principia" to be unexceptionable, and to be well calculated for
teaching the work, yet, _not being by a Cambridge man_, it cannot be
used! They are far more liberal at Paris, where they only are
waiting for my analysis of the second book; but I put off finishing
it, as I do still more my account of the "Mecanique Celeste." The
latter I have almost abandoned in despair after nearly finishing it;
I find so much that cannot be explained elementarily, or anything
near it. So that my account to be complete would be nearly as hard
reading as yours, and not 1000th part as good.... I greatly envy you
Siena; I never was there above a day, and always desired to stay
longer. The language is, as you say, a real charm; but I was not
aware of the preservation in which you describe the older manners to
be. I fear I shall not be able to visit Provence, as I should have
wished this winter ... but my plans are not quite fixed. The
judicial business in Parliament and the Privy Council will also make
my going abroad after January difficult. I don't write you any news,
nor is there any but what you see in the papers. The Tory
restoration approaches very steadily, tho' not very rapidly; and I
only hope that the Whigs, having contrived to destroy the Liberal
party in the country--I fear past all hope of recovery--may not have
a war abroad also to mourn for....

Believe me,
Yours ever,
H. BROUGHAM.

On going to Rome I required a good many books for continuing my work on
"Physical Geography," and had got "Transactions of the Geographical
Society" and other works sent from London, The Hon. Mountstuart
Elphinstone who was then at Rome, was an old acquaintance of ours. He
was one of the most amiable men I ever met with, and quite won my heart
one day at table when they were talking of the number of singing-birds
that were eaten in Italy--nightingales, goldfinches, and robins--he
called out, "What! robins! our household birds! I would as soon eat a
child!" He was so kind as to write to the Directors of the East India
Company requesting that I might have the use of the library and papers
that were in the India House. This was readily granted me; and I had a
letter in consequence from Mr. Wils