and imaginary ones' when I dine out Mr. Steadfast recounts. Scene-The Horns at Kennington, or the Elephant and Castle, where he wishes to insinuate that he is a welcome visitor. There has been one scene, I hope not to hear of a second-not that I think he is much improved by the rehearsal; and he may perhaps live to consider himself fortunate if his Much Ado about Nothing' concludes with 'All's Well that End's Well.'

"I am happy to hear that you are in favor with the speaker, for he is a man high in the estimation of the world, and whom I am sure you will always treat with marked respect, and, in return, be assured of receiving kind

ness.

B-, I am satis

"As your mother has resigned my bantling to Cfied she did not think it worthy of being healed; as Kemble said of Miss Owenson (Lady Morgan), ' Time was, Mr. Curran, when they strangled such reptiles in their birth.' If the poor baby dies a natural death, you may write its epitaph.

“Great events have happened here. Ferdinand is gone, and Francis reigns in his stead. The spies are sent to the right-about, and Abbé C——— is in the grumps. He has had a pitched battle with his dear Mary, and we are encouraging her to call him out.

"I have made an architectural plan of the Belvidere for certain purposes, and wished much that you had been here, as I might have put you en train. We are great friends with Sir Richard Church, and he has the charge of the plan-more of that hereafter. We have finished the billiard-table, and estab

lished a handsome library.

"The carpet, marble slabs, escritoire, &c., are taken from Lady B's large sitting-room, and the sofa has been covered, and arms added, and occupies the drawing-room. The billiard-room is the large room at the top of the marble stairs; two green doors have been moved from our rooms, and put up in the dining-room. The landau is repaired; the linings and hind seat taken off, and we have bought a carriage, saddle, and horses. We have found out the means of living better for less money, and as we are to remain, determined to be comfortable. The count is sitting for his picture to M. le Comte, who has succeeded à merveille. Lady Bis to sit to him, and I also. All we want is books. We have got permission from Medici for them to land. Before Mr. Hamilton went away, I asked him to dinner, and thanked him for his kindness to you. Sir William Gell has the gout. We have seen Saint Angelo's collection. He is a nice little man, and has beautiful things. I dine to day with M. Antrobus, the chargé d'affaires. You will say, what a resolution! I have written a second tale in three volumes, and am employed in a political and historical work. We leave this, I believe, for Rome in the beginning of April, when the chimney is to be built; from that I go to England. Write me word what you are doing, and tell me about your father, mother, &c. Give my kindest remembrances to both. Lady B Bgenerally speaks for herself better than I can speak for her. Gibbon's Decline

and Fall' is the thing at present.

Remember two things: this letter is for

you and not for St. James's Square, and that I am most truly yours,

"BLESSINGTON."

"Florence, June 21st, 1827.

"After a tedious expectation of your arrival at Pisa, we received a long letter, which deserves an answer, addressed Milan. It would give us great pleasure to see you before your pilgrimage, and we hope that it may happen. Whether you can catch us at Parma, or cross so as to meet at Turin, depends upon your own plans. If you have not seen Turin, you ought to see it, as an architect.

"I

I hope your father will have his usual success, and that your mother and her garden are as pretty as ever. Sir W. Gell talks of going to Egypt, thence to Syria. In Greece you will find Sir R. Church in high feather, and if you go to the Ionian Islands, our friend Sir Charles commands one of the most agreeable.

"Count D'Orsay is sitting for his bust to Bartolini, and I hear it is admirable. You must see it as you pass through. Mr. Hayter is also at full work at a new picture. A Mr. Salter has made an admirable copy of the Titian Madonna and Child. The plays have wound up with 'The Honey-moon' and 'The Maid of the Inn.? Our Charles played the young smuggler with good BLESSINGTON."

effect.

You would have been a wonderful addition.

"Paris, Hotel de la Terrasse, July 14th, 1828. "Oh! it is an age, my dear Landor, since I thought of having determined to write. My first idea was to defend Vavasour,'* but the book was lent to one friend or another, and always out of the way when the pen was in hand. My second inclination was to inquire after you and yours; but I knew that you were not fond of corresponding, so that sensation passed away. And now my third is to tell you that Lady B———— has taken an apartment in the late residence of Marshal Ney, and wishes much that some whim, caprice, or other impelling power should transport you across the Alps, and give her the pleasure of again seeing you. Here we have been nearly five weeks, and, unlike to Italy and its suns, we have no remembrance of the former but in the rolling of the thunder; and when we see the latter, we espy at the same time the threatening clouds in the horizon. To balance or assist such pleasure, we have an apartment bien decoré with jardin des Tuileries en face, and our apartment being at the corner, we have the double advantage of all the row, from morn till night: diligences and fiacres-coachmen cracking their whips -stallions neighing-carts with empty wine-barrels-all sorts of discordant music, and all kinds of cries, songs, and the jingling of bells. But we hope this is our last day of purgatory; for, though the skies are loaded with more * A novel, by Lord Blessington, entitled "Vavasour," in 3 vols. 8vo, Colburn, 1828; not very successful.-R. R. M.

water than one could expect after so much pouring, yet, midst thunder, lightning, and rain, we are to strike our tents and march.

"So much for us and Paris. What think you of public affairs? The Miguelites and Pedroites seem to talk bigly of war, but, by my honor,' they seem very chary of their flesh. Pauvres Diables of Portugal, they seem upon the eve of falling into a worse state than their Spanish neighbors, who have more room to run away from their oppressors.

Turning from the Peninsula to the island of Erin, we see the Roman Catholics, under the orders of their priesthood, defeating one of the most honest and honorable members of the Irish representation.

"It is not permitted to our Church to interfere at an election. Why should the members of another, which from its situation ought to be moderate, I should say humble, be allowed to preach the damnation of souls for the exercise of intellect? and what intellect could be so muddy as to see public or private service better performed by a lawyer, who, if he can take his seat, will not be listened to; or by a civilian, who has served the public, and Ireland in particular, for so many years, honestly and zealously? But a truce to Irish politics.

"Of French affairs it is needless to speak. The Chamber of Deputies seem to agree upon the necessity of economy; and there appears a probability of an advance in the system of liberality.

"In Greece, affairs seem asleep. Ibrahim is looking hunger in the face. What the rest are doing, no one seems to know. On the frontiers of Turkey, the trowser gentlemen seem to fight well behind their walls; but if the army follow the fashion of their sultan, and ride with long stirrups and English saddles, adieu to the effect of the cavalry. The Turk will no longer be a part of his horse, and his coup de sabre will be parried as easily as the thrust of a small-sword; but now my paper says halt—and so do you-and so do I: so all three are agreed.

"Adieu, and believe me ever truly yours,

B.

"P.S.-We are now fixed in 74 Rue de Bourbon. I leave Paris for En

gland to-morrow.”

Letter from Lord Blessington to W. S. Landor, Esq. :

"Saturday."

"MY DEAR MR. LANDOR, -As I am one of those unfortunates who never miss an opportunity of catching a cold en passant, I have been suffering these last two days, and do not think that I shall be early enough in the field to take the Palazzo Pitti before my departure. You will be suprised to hear that Benjamin Constant and two of his party have been at a card-party of his most Christian majesty, so that I think his most Catholic majesty will be left in the lurch, and that the Cross will triumph over the Crescent.

"But every thing political now gives way to the new administrations of England and France. Lord Lansdowne, they say, will be foreign secretary, and Lord Holland privy seal. The Bar is not pleased by the appointment of

Plunkett to the Rolls, with a peerage; but he will be a fine make-weight against Eldon in the next debate upon one Irish question.

"They talk of Lord Mountcharles coming here. I think he will be vice chamberlain. Sir J. Leach will not go to Ireland: he is wrong, for he would do well there, and get excellent claret, as well as agreeable society, both of which agremens, on dit, his honor has no objection unto.

"On Tuesday, the 15th, L—— N plays the 'Iron Chest.' I do not know yet whether I shall come over for it or not-I love plays so much, that I think I shall.

“Believe me very sincerely yours,

Letters from Lord Rosslyn to Lord Blessington:

BLESSINGTON."

[No date, but must have been written in 1829, immediately previous to the introduction of the Catholic Emancipation Act.]

"MY DEAR LORD BLESSINGTON,-Knowing the deep interest you have always taken in the peace and prosperity of Ireland, and the anxious zeal with which you have upon every occasion exerted yourself in favor of the repeal of the civil disabilities upon the Catholics, I take the earliest opportunity of apprising you of the present situation of that question.

"It has become of the utmost consequence to obtain the best attendance of the friends of civil and religious liberty, in order to give all possible support to the measure proprosed by the Duke of Wellington.

"I am persuaded that you will feel with me that the present is a crisis that calls for every possible exertion and sacrifice from those who have as strong feelings and as deep a stake in the peace and prosperity of Ireland as you have; and you can not fail to be aware that the object of the Orange and Brunswick Clubs in both countries is to defeat the salutary measures proposed by the Duke of Wellington, and, consequently, to endanger the security of all property in Ireland, and the peace of the empire.

"If you see this subject in the same light that I do, you will not hesitate to come over to take your seat; and I should venture to suggest to your lordship, if that should be your determination, that you should come before the second reading of the bill, and remain till after the committee; and if you will do me the honor to signify your commands to me, I will take care to give you timely notice of the day on which it may be necessary for you to be in the House of Lords for the purpose of taking the oaths, and will take the charge of seeing that your writ is ready. ROSSLYN."

"St. James's Square, 23d September, 1829.

"I write to thank you for your letter, and to express the satisfaction I feel in your promise of support to this important and interesting question; and I have no doubt that the public expression of your sentiments will do credit to your talents, and be of advantage to the great cause to which you have so long devoted your attention--the peace and prosperity of Ireland.

"I trust you will not leave Paris later that the 12th, for it is desirable that you should be in London by the 17th, to take your seat. Yours faithfully, "ROSSLYN."

No. XV.

LETTERS OF SIR WILLIAM GELL TO DR. FREDERICK FOSTER QUIN. "Rome, January 1st, 1823. "CARMO MIO CUGINO E DOTTORE,-I arrived here, notwithstanding my malady, and all the prophecies that I should not set out, somewhat better in health than when you saw me, though I was carried in and out of the carriage, and have not till lately been out without my arms round the necks of two servants. However, I now stumble over my garden with two canes as supporters, for without them, and particularly without high heels, I walk in the shape of the figure 7, in spite of the German doctor and his remedies.

"Mawbles* is in great glory, and is going to give two smole bolls to open the Cawnival. I believe she is very useful to society in all points of view.

"When you see Lady Mary Deerhurst, tell her I hope she is coming soon, and that there are a great many families here, besides her aunt, Lady Caroline, and that the world is very gay indeed. Lady W- I saw on the stairs yesterday, and she was dressed in a shroud of white satin, with a great deal of blonde lace, having bled herself with leeches till her face was all of the same color. We have at present a sort of melting snow here, but not so melting but that all my walks are white, all my lemons frozen to death, and all my geraniums retired into the next world. I fear much my lemon-trees will follow the fruit, and I have positively got out my skates this morning, that if the ice bears, as it will if it freezes again in the Villa Borghese, I may lend them to somebody who will show the Romans what skating is. Pray give my love to Miss Douglass, and Sir William and Lady Drummond. Most truly yours, my dear doctor,

From Sir W. Gell:

W. GELL."

"Rome, March 19th, 1823.

"MY DEAR DOCTOR QUINIBUS,-My cruel stars, and the tyranny of the two Miss Berrys, who will not be at all grateful for my exertions, force me to return to Naples in the beginning of April, sore against my will, as April and May are the only months when it is worth while to assist at Rome. I made them a promise so long ago to accompany them to Naples, that I was in hopes, indeed almost certain, that they would either have forgotten it, or hired a more active cavaliere servante to assist them in their projects; but it seems I am detected, and that I have very little hope left of being able to divert them from their undertaking. Have, therefore, your mind's eye upon the houses of your neighbors.

* Gell thus designated an English duchess, on account of her peculiar pronunciation of the word marbles, and the letter R in general, to which she gave the sound of W.-R. R. M.