and at the same time so much interest in life, also I have been so well, that I shall be sorry when we go out of harbour again with the spring breezes.  We like Mr. Tennyson extremely, and he is a constant visitor of ours:  the poet’s elder brother.  By the way, the new edition of the Ode on the Duke of Wellington seems to contain wonderful strokes of improvement.  Have you seen it?  As to Alexandre Dumas, Fils, I hope it is not true that he is in any scrape from the cause you mention.  He is very clever, and I have a feeling for him for his father’s sake as well as because he presents a rare instance of intellectual heirship.  Didn’t I tell you of the prodigious success of his drama of the ‘Dame aux Camelias,’ which ran about a hundred nights last year, and is running again? how there were caricatures on the boulevards, showing the public of the pit holding up umbrellas to protect themselves from the tears rained down by the public of the boxes? how the President of the Republic went to see, and sent a bracelet to the first actress, and how the English newspapers called him immoral for it? how I went to see, myself, and cried so that I was ill for two days and how my aunt called me immoral for it?  I was properly lectured, I assure you.  She ’quite wondered how Mr. Browning could allow such a thing,’ not comprehending that Mr. Browning never, or scarcely ever, does think of restraining his wife from anything she much pleases to do.  The play was too painful, that was the worst of it, but I maintain it is a highly moral play, rightly considered, and the acting was most certainly most exquisite on the part of all the performers.  Not that Alexandre Dumas, Fils, excels generally in morals (in his books, I mean), but he is really a promising writer as to cleverness, and when he has learnt a little more art he will take no low rank as a novelist.  Robert has just been reading a tale of his called ‘Diane de Lys,’ and throws it down with—­’You must read that, Ba—­it is clever—­only outrageous as to the morals.’  Just what I should expect from Alexandre Dumas, Fils.  I have a tenderness for the whole family, you see.

You don’t say a word to me of Mrs. Beecher Stowe.  How did her book[18] impress you?  No woman ever had such a success, such a fame; no man ever had, in a single book.  For my part I rejoice greatly in it.  It is an individual glory full of healthy influence and benediction to the world.

[The remainder of this letter is missing]

* * * * *

To Mrs. Jameson

Casa Guidi, Florence:  March 17, [1853].

Thank you—­how to thank you enough—­for the too kind present of the ’Madonna,’[19] dearest Mona Nina.  I will not wait to read it through—­we have only looked through it, which is different; but there is enough seen so beautiful as to deserve the world’s thanks, to say nothing of ours, and there are personal reasons besides why we should thank you.  Have you not quoted us, have you not sent us the book?  Surely, good reasons.