“My letters were useful as far as I employed them; and I like both the place and people, though I don’t trouble the latter more than I can help She manages very well—­but if I come away with a stiletto in my gizzard some fine afternoon, I shall not be astonished.  I can’t make him out at all—­he visits me frequently, and takes me out (like Whittington, the Lord Mayor) in a coach and six horses.  The fact appears to be, that he is completely governed by her—­for that matter, so am I.[38] The people here don’t know what to make of us, as he had the character of jealousy with all his wives—­this is the third.  He is the richest of the Ravennese, by their own account, but is not popular among them.  Now do, pray, send off Augustine, and carriage and cattle, to Bologna, without fail or delay, or I shall lose my remaining shred of senses.  Don’t forget this.  My coming, going, and every thing, depend upon HER entirely, just as Mrs. Hoppner (to whom I remit my reverences) said in the true spirit of female prophecy.

     “You are but a shabby fellow not to have written before.  And I am
     truly yours,” &c.

[Footnote 38:  That this task of “governing” him was one of more ease than, from the ordinary view of his character, might be concluded, I have more than once, in these pages, expressed my opinion, and shall here quote, in corroboration of it, the remark of his own servant (founded on an observation of more than twenty years), in speaking of his master’s matrimonial fate:—­

“It is very odd, but I never yet knew a lady that could not manage my Lord, except my Lady.”

“More knowledge,” says Johnson, “may be gained of a man’s real character by a short conversation with one of his servants than from the most formal and studied narrative.”]

* * * * *

LETTER 333.  TO MR. MURRAY.

     “Ravenna, June 29. 1819.

     “The letters have been forwarded from Venice, but I trust that you
     will not have waited for further alterations—­I will make none.

“I have no time to return you the proofs—­publish without them.  I am glad you think the poesy good; and as to ’thinking of the effect,’ think you of the sale, and leave me to pluck the porcupines who may point their quills at you.

“I have been here (at Ravenna) these four weeks, having left Venice a month ago;—­I came to see my ‘Amica,’ the Countess Guiccioli, who has been, and still continues, very unwell. * * She is only in her seventeenth, but not of a strong constitution.  She has a perpetual cough and an intermittent fever, but bears up most gallantly in every sense of the word.  Her husband (this is his third wife) is the richest noble of Ravenna, and almost of Romagna; he is also not the youngest, being upwards of three-score,