It wasn't just weather and transport. Many of the countries they visited on the 1793 tour of Europe were at war with each other, so getting the band from England to France without getting shot as spies was a big problem.
However, there was an informal arrangement where distinguished scholars and philosophers were allowed to come and go in neutral ships for genuine scientific purposes.
So a scheme was cooked up which involved Bill (who did after all know a bit about archaeology) posing as Sir William Hamilton, travelling to Paris to give a lecture on the Antiquities of Naples to the Academie Francaise. The band's instruments travelled in packing cases labelled "Classical Sculpture - Handle With Care", and everyone else posed as "Sir William's" retinue of servants.
They had no problem persuading Bill to do it once he was told that as part of his disguise he would be accompanied by a young groupie claiming to be Sir William's mistress Emma...
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009-02-27 18:29 by Green Lady.