Welcome to Henry's Travel Blog!
Although he kept detailed business papers, Missouri Botanical Garden founder Henry Shaw left little personal material for biographers to consider in analyzing his life. One of the few items which remain is a series of five journals. Following his retirement from the hardware business in 1840, Shaw traveled abroad and made notes, recollections, and even sketches in these small bound books. Join us as we chart Henry's journey to Europe and beyond.
 
Shaw's variable spellings, punctuation, and grammar, preserved throughout, are typical even for well-educated gentlemen in the 19th Century. Important note (4/14/09): The entries from March 11, 2009 through April 8, 2009, correspond to recently discovered text from Henry Shaw's journal. They will be posted online under the correct dates to preserve chronological accuracy.
 
   
   

Posted Online Saturday, October 24, 2009

January 27, 1842: Travels Around Milan

Breakfasted in my room - wrote letters to Uncle and Hohne & Co. of Venice. Went about among the tailors - find them as dear as Paris or London. Twenty percent above Trieste a paletot, colore Bigio and fashionably made is to cost me 150 francs.

Walked about in the corso della porta orientale and in the Bazar, dined at the Gran Brettagna. In the evening at the La Scala - Saffo again - nothing but Saffo wherever I go. The work of my friend Pacini is highly honoured, but cannot find the Belle regazze that he told me of in the calle del pesce -