Business letter from Sir William Gell to J Stracey, Berners St, London, banker. From Rome. Financial problems including those of Princess of Wales; `unfortunately we have neither common sense nor common honesty, so that advice is lost and hope is tired out'. Intends to get money by `digging in Emperor's palace where it is known no excavation was ever made' for porphyry, giallo antico, and all the marbles and granites that have become so scarce'. Gell's `great map' which the University [Cambridge] is to engrave is nearly finished. 8 May 1818