of a Gallo-Greek of that name.  Who is she? and what is she? and how came she to take an interest in my poeshie or its author?  If you know her, tell her, with my compliments, that, as I only read French, I have not answered her letter; but would have done so in Italian, if I had not thought it would look like an affectation.  I have just been scolding my monkey for tearing the seal of her letter, and spoiling a mock book, in which I put rose leaves.  I had a civet-cat the other day, too; but it ran away, after scratching my monkey’s cheek, and I am in search of it still.  It was the fiercest beast I ever saw, and like * * in the face and manner.

“I have a world of things to say; but, as they are not come to a denouement, I don’t care to begin their history till it is wound up.  After you went, I had a fever, but got well again without bark.  Sir Humphry Davy was here the other day, and liked Ravenna very much.  He will tell you any thing you may wish to know about the place and your humble servitor.

“Your apprehensions (arising from Scott’s) were unfounded.  There are no damages in this country, but there will probably be a separation between them, as her family, which is a principal one, by its connections, are very much against him, for the whole of his conduct;—­and he is old and obstinate, and she is young and a woman, determined to sacrifice every thing to her affections.  I have given her the best advice, viz. to stay with him,—­pointing out the state of a separated woman, (for the priests won’t let lovers live openly together, unless the husband sanctions it,) and making the most exquisite moral reflections,—­but to no purpose.  She says, ’I will stay with him, if he will let you remain with me.  It is hard that I should be the only woman in Romagna who is not to have her Amico; but, if not, I will not live with him; and as for the consequences, love, &c. &c. &c.’—­you know how females reason on such occasions.

“He says he has let it go on till he can do so no longer.  But he wants her to stay, and dismiss me; for he doesn’t like to pay back her dowry and to make an alimony.  Her relations are rather for the separation, as they detest him,—­indeed, so does every body.  The populace and the women are, as usual, all for those who are in the wrong, viz. the lady and her lover.  I should have retreated, but honour, and an erysipelas which has attacked her, prevent me,—­to say nothing of love, for I love her most entirely, though not enough to persuade her to sacrifice every thing to a frenzy.  ’I see how it will end; she will be the sixteenth Mrs. Shuffleton.’

     “My paper is finished, and so must this letter.

     “Yours ever, B.