[Rome—Thursday, 22 March 1860]
Thursday 22d Exquisite spring day. Drove in the Borghese Villa.
Dined with Mrs Stowe and had a grand time. Passed the evening at Macpherson’s. He talked much of Walter Scott whom he often saw as a boy and of De Quincey whom he knew later in life. He saw the latter one morning when he was recovering from a severe dose of Opium and a more suffering creature he never beheld. Macpherson himself had previously inclined to the use of Opium but De Quincey effectually frightened him away from it.
