(b. c.1763), o. s. of William Throckmorton Bromley of Baginton, War; suc. fa. 1769; Ch.Ch. Oxf. 1780.
1782 - 4 [dep. London 25 Jul. 1782] Turin (6 - 19 Nov.), Florence (2 Dec. 1782 - 15 Jan. 1783), Rome (23 Jan. - Feb.), Naples (10 Mar. - 2 May), Sicily (May), Naples (Jun.), Rome (27 Jun.), Florence (Oct. - Dec. 1783), Milan (by 20 Jun. 1784)
Bromley travelled in the care of Charles Parker, an accomplished classicist, who found him difficult. 'He is filled with high notions of his own Consequence', wrote Parker, and must learn 'to behave himself properly'. Although Parker had devised a careful itinerary he did not 'wish him to conform to it farther than was pleasant to Himself. He told me that he did not find that Pleasure in travelling which he expected, & that he wish'd the time was over'.1 Parker was particularly upset when Bromley declined invitations from Lord Cowper and Horace Mann in Florence. Bromley and Parker were together in Rome in February 1783, parted company in Sicily in May, and were reunited in Rome on 27 June, when young John Ramsay called on them; a few months later they appear to have separated for good, Bromley going off to Florence with James Dawkins.2 On 13 December 1783 Bromley and Dawkins were dining at Robert Merry's with John Parkinson and others, before going on to Horace Mann's; six months later Parkinson met Bromley and Dawkins in Milan with Mrs Hannah Long.3 On 10 July 1784 Parker wrote from Vienna: 'My quondam Socius I hear is gone straight to England from Milan. I suppose his Guardians have called him back. Mr Dawkins a friend of his, is come here, he says he has fits of low spirits, that are very frightfull. I feel heartily sorry for him'.4
1. Parker letters MSS, B 2070 (2 Dec. 1782). 2. Ramsay jnl.MSS (24 Jan., 26 Feb., 27 Jun. 1783). 3. Parkinson jnl.MSS (13 Dec. 1783, 20 Jun. 1784). 4. Parker letters MSS, b 2113.