We have been at several _conversazioni_, which, in the principal houses, include every other amusement. A suit of rooms is thrown open; the largest for a promenade in summer, and dancing in winter; the next for music; a third for billiards; a fourth for fruit, ices, &c. and the rest for cards and dice. But, if only four or five people meet together, the Italians call it a _conversazione_. The Court has been at Castello Mare ever since we arrived. We mean to call there on our way out of the bay; and Lord Hervey, from whom we have received the greatest civilities, has promised to accompany us. His Lordship is one of the King's most intimate friends; and Lady Hervey, whose gentleness and good sense insure her the hearts of all those who have the honour to approach her, is particularly esteemed and respected by the Queen, and all the Italian nobility. I mentioned before, that the Spaniards ceded Naples to the Emperor, by the Treaty of Utrecht; but Philip V. of Spain's second wife, Elizabeth Farnese, heiress to the Duke of Parma, giving him a pretence for invading Italy, in her right, he made a conquest of Sicily and Naples: but the other European Powers obliged him to form them into a separate kingdom, and to give it to Charles, his eldest son by the Princess of Parma.--A. D. 1735. All Philip's children by his first marriage dying without issue, Charles succeeded to the crown of Spain, and resigned [Sidenote: A. D. 1759.] Sicily and Naples to his third son, Ferdinand IV. the present King, the eldest being an ideot, and the second becoming Prince of the Asturias, and heir to Spain. The government, being founded on conquest, is of course despotic. The King generally keeps up near thirty thousand men, who seem to be tolerable troops. The officers are obliged to have a public military education, and are astonished that this is not the case with us. The navy consists of three two-deckers, about a dozen frigates, and twenty galleys. They are at war with the Algerines, but seldom take a prize. The revenue of the King of Naples is near a million sterling. When supplies are wanted, his Majesty has only to issue an edict, mentioning the cause, and the manner in which they are to be raised. He generally says, that it is by the desire of his Council, which only consists of his principal Ministers, and the Queen, who is allowed a considerable share in the administration of the kingdom, from its independence being in a manner obtained through the female line, as I conjecture; for the short time I have been in this country has not permitted me to make myself master of its laws, which, as well as several other matters, I must pass over till my return. As to churches and convents, I will not detain you with any account of them; for they are nearly alike in most Roman Catholic states. Naples is in Lat. 40° 53′, Long. 14° 12′ East, and, by the shortest course, about a thousand miles from Gibraltar. LETTER X.