Introduction

THE first reports of the earthquake that struck the Naples area on 16 December 1857 came in The Timeson the 24th and 26th of that month. The first was a telegram from Marseilles, the second was a longer account which bore out Joanna's description (in her letter of 6 January 1858) of Neapolitans camping out in the streets or staying in their carriages rather than trusting themselves to buildings. It only became clear much later that half the villages in the Basilicata area south-east of Naples had been completely destroyed, and the number of fatalities, then estimated at 11–12,000, was almost certainly far greater. In spite of the devastation, Joanna and Henry remained in the area for a further five days, even making an ascent of Vesuvius which, in the circumstances, carried insouciance to the level of recklessness. They arrived back in Rome on Christmas Day.

There they remained until the beginning of April. This was initially to allow Henry to complete the various commissions he had undertaken before returning to England, but on 25 February Joanna suffered a miscarriage. In a letter to Matthias, dated 3 March, Henry describes the dramatic events which led up to it. Though they were both aware that Matthias needed their help and support in his continuing battle with their mother over the family businesses, it became impossible for them to return early. There was also the matter of finding somewhere to live. Matthias and Lilly kindly offered to rent them their house in Clifton Road for two months, while Matthias and family were staying in Richmond, to give them time to find a home of their own.

It is apparent from their letters that the newly-weds were somewhat self-absorbed at this time – insisting on four months rather than two at Clifton Road. The details of their own house-purchase – barely achieved when Joanna was poised to give birth to her first child – are exhaustively rehearsed, and their questioning of Matthias over the businesses, to the extent of indicating that all might not be well – an implication that almost certainly came from Henry – would have tried a less patient man.