I understand that literature is going on flaggingly in England just now, on account of nobody caring to read anything but telegraphic messages.  So Thackeray told somebody, only he might refer chiefly to the fortunes of the ‘Newcomes,’ who are not strong enough to resist the Czar.  The book is said to be defective in story.  Certainly the subject of the war is very absorbing; we are all here in a state of tremblement about it.  Dr. Harding has a son at Sebastopol, who has had already three horses killed under him.  What hideous carnage!  The allies are plainly numerically too weak, and the two governments are much blamed for not reinforcing long ago.  I am discontented about Austria.  I don’t like handshaking with Austria; I would rather be picking her pocket of her Italian provinces; and, while upon such civil terms, how can we?  Yet somebody, who professes to know everything, told somebody at Paris, who professes to tell everything, that Louis Napoleon and Lord Palmerston talked much the other day about what is to be done for Italy; and here in Italy we have long been all opening our mouths like so many young thrushes in a nest, expecting some ‘worme small’ from your Emperor.  Now, if there’s an Austrian alliance instead!...

Do you hear from Mr. Kingsley? and, if so, how is his wife?  I am reading now Mrs. Stowe’s ‘Sunny Memories,’ and like the naturalness and simplicity of the book much, in spite of the provincialism of the tone of mind and education, and the really wretched writing.  It’s quite wonderful that a woman who has written a book to make the world ring should write so abominably....

Do you hear often from Mr. Chorley?  Mr. Kenyon complains of never seeing him.  He seems to have withdrawn a good deal, perhaps into closer occupations, who knows?  Aubrey de Vere told a friend of ours in Paris the other day that Mr. Patmore was engaged on a poem which ’was to be the love poem of the age,’ parts of which he, Aubrey de Vere, had seen.  Last week I was vexed by the sight of Mrs. Trollope’s card, brought in because we were at dinner.  I should have liked to have seen her for the sake of the opportunity of talking of you.

Do you know the engravings in the ‘Story without an End’?  The picture of the ‘child’ is just my Penini.  Some one was observing it the other day, and I thought I would tell you, that you might image him to yourself.  Think of his sobbing and screaming lately because of the Evangelist John being sent to Patmos.  ‘Just like poor Robinson Crusoe’ said he.  I scarcely knew whether to laugh or cry, I was so astonished at this crisis of emotion.

Robert’s love will be put in.  May God bless you and keep you, and love you better than we all.

Your ever affectionate
BA.

* * * * *

To Mrs. Martin

Casa Guidi:  February 13, [1855].