Mary Rawson Bush diary of a trip to France and Italy manuscript.

Format:

Book

Manuscript

Author/Creator:

Bush, Mary Rawson, 1790-1841, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Voyages and travels.

Women travelers.

France--Description and travel--19th century.

France.

Italy--Description and travel--19th century.

Italy.

Genre:

codices (bound manuscripts)

Diaries.

Manuscripts, English -- 19th century.

Penn Provenance:

Sold by Antiquates Fine and Rare Books (Dorset, England), 2023.

Physical Description:

1 volume (120 pages) ; 13 x 22 cm + 4 notes

Production:

France ; Italy, 1822-1823.

Biography/History:

Mary Rawson and Major General William Bush (1790-1854) married in 1812 and were the parents of Sophia (1814-1881), Anna Maria (1815-1856) and Seddon William Sutton (1822-1842) Bush. The family lived in Maidstone in Kent around 1815. From November 1822 to March 1823, Mary and William Bush traveled from England to France, the Alps, and Italy, via a carriage, exploring the cities and countryside along their route.

Summary:

Mary Rawson Bush documents her trip (along with husband William) through regular entries in her diary in which she describes the cities, countryside, culture, and people she encounters. She began writing her travel journal on November 30, 1822, in Lyon; however, she began the trip prior to that date; claiming, on the first page, that she had been “too stingy to purchase a book before,” (page 1). The couple probably started their European travels at Calais, however, the first city mentioned was Saint-Omer, which they visited on November 12. From there, the Bush’s traveled to Arras, Amiens, and Chantilly, before arriving in Paris on the 16th of November. Remaining in Paris until the November 22, they visited the Champs-Élysées, the Opera Comique, and the Louvre. From Paris, they traveled to Fontainebleau, Lyon, Bourgoin, Savoy, Chambéry, and Montmélian. From December 14 to 20, the group visited Turin, Italy, then traveled through Alexandria, Marzano, Genoa, Buggiano, Prato, and Florence, before arriving in Rome, where they remained from February 11 to 24. During their stay, they visited St. Peter’s Cathedral, the Vatican, the Sistine Chapel, and the Corsini Chapel. While in Rome, William became ill and was treated by the Duke of Devonshire’s physician. They then traveled to Naples, with side trips to Herculaneum and Pompeii, before returning to Rome, from March 10 to at least March 15, when the diary is completely filled and concludes. It is unclear if the family continued to travel, but Bush indicated that she had a new book in which to write the next day. The volume's binding is paper over cardboard with leather on the spine. There are four seemingly unrelated notes laid in at the back of the volume. These notes appear to have come from another volume that was not oblong.

Cited as:

Mary Rawson Bush diary of a trip to France and Italy (Ms. Codex 2128). Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania.