‘The Times,’ ‘The Times.’  Why, ‘The Times’ has intellect, but no conscience.  ‘The Times’ is the most immoral of journals, as well as the most able.  ‘The Times,’ on this very question of the Conspiracy Bill, has swerved, and veered, and dodged, till its readers may well be dizzy if they read every paragraph every day.

See how I fall into a fury.  ’Oh, Liberty!  I would cry, like the woman who did not love liberty more than I do—­’Oh, Liberty, what deeds are done in thy name!’ and (looking round Italy) what sorrows are suffered!

For I do fear that Mazzini is at the root of the evil; that man of unscrupulous theory!

Now you will be enough disgusted with me.  Tell me that you and dear Mr. Martin forgive me.  I never saw Orsini, but have heard and known much of him.  Unfortunate man.  He died better than he lived—­it is all one can say.  Surely you admit that the permission to read that letter on the trial was large-hearted.  And it has vexed Austria to the last degree, I am happy to say.  It was not allowed to be read here, by the Italian public, I mean.

Our plans are perfectly undefined, but we do hope to escape England....  Robert talks of Egypt for the winter.  I don’t know what may happen; and in the meantime would rather not be pulled and pulled by kind people in England, who want me or fancy they do.  You know everybody is as free as I am now, and freer; and if they do want me, and it isn’t fancy—­never mind!  We may see you perhaps, in Paris, after all, this summer....

Now let me tell you.  Hume, my protege prophet, is in Italy.  Think of that.  He was in Pisa and in Florence for a day, saw friends of his and acquaintances of ours with whom he stayed four months on the last occasion, and who implicitly believe in him.  An Englishwoman, who from infidel opinions was converted by his instrumentality to a belief in the life after death, has died in Paris, and left him an annuity of L240, English.  On coming here, he paid all his wandering debts, I am glad to hear, and is even said to have returned certain gifts which had been rendered unacceptable to him from the bad opinion of the givers.  I hear, too, that his manners, as well as morals, are wonderfully improved.  He is gone to Rome, and will return here to pay a visit to his friends in Florence after a time.  The object of his coming was health.  While he passed through Tuscany, the power seemed to be leaving him, but he has recovered it tenfold, says my informant, so I hope we shall hear of more wonders.  Did you read the article in the ‘Westminster’?  The subject se prete au ridicule, but ridicule is not disproof.  The Empress Eugenie protects his little sister, and has her educated in Paris.

Surely I have made up for silence.  Dearest friends, both of you, may God bless you!

Your affectionate
BA.

Robert’s love and Peni’s.

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