“My DEAR FRIEND,” he writes:  “Whether I am ill or well it is always with equal pleasure that I see the trace of your hand.  Surely, I must have written to you since I sent the scenes of Anthony and Octavius.  But I am too apt to believe that what I ought to have done I have done.  You ask me what I think of the Neapolitan abominations.” [The allusion is to some one or other of the many acts of grievous tyranny which were at that time perpetrated by the Neapolitan Bourbon government in its terrified attempts to protect itself against the rising indignation of the people.] “We countenance them.  The despots are in Holy Alliance against constitutions.” [Surely, Landor’s old antagonism to former English governments led him into error and injustice when he accuses England of “countenancing” the tyrannies of the Neapolitan government.  How much Gladstone’s celebrated letter and English sentiment in all quarters contributed toward the overthrow of that tyranny was not then known as well as it is now.] “On the other side of this,” he continues, “you will find a few verses I wrote on Agesiloa Milano, the finest and bravest patriot on record.” [Agesilao Milano, whose name was just then in every mouth in Italy, was one of the numerous victims of Austrian severity, who had met his fate with admirable courage, and who willingly gave his life for his country.  But there was nothing to distinguish him specially from hundreds of other Italians who in those evil days did as much, and nothing save chance to distinguish him from the tens of hundreds who were ready to do as much had the lot fallen to them.  But the mention of this poor fellow in the letter is very specially Landorian.  No superlatives were with him strong enough to express his sentiments on aught that immediately moved his feelings either of admiration or indignation.] “The concessions in Lombardy,” he goes on, “are fabulous.  Thieves and assassins are turned out of prison with quiet literary men and brave patriots....  With kindest regards to your circle, ever your affec.

“W.  LANDOR.”

The verses on Agesilao Milano announced as being “on the other side” are there preceded by two epigrams on the object of his indignation above alluded to, which I suppress for the same reason that I have suppressed that portion of the letter referring to the same subject.  The verses on the young Italian patriot and martyr run as follows: 

  Sometimes the brave have bent the head
  To lick the dust that despots tread. 
  Not so Milano; he alone
  Would bow to Justice on the throne. 
  To win a crown of thorns he trod
  A flinty path, and rests with God.

T.A.T.

* * * * *

THE DEATH OF DOCTORS’ COMMONS.