Volume I Part 25 (1/2)
”Bagni di Lucca, _Feb_. 26, 1848.
”I have just returned from a most interesting but somewhat precarious journey--to carry despatches from our Amba.s.sador here to the general late in command of the Tuscan forces.* It was full of adventure and strange incident, and although the revolutionary [? movement] has been too rapid to make us more successful, the result has shown (which was a great object) the disposition of the government of England towards the fallen Grand Duke.
* General de Langier.
”I had a mountain range--one of the Apennines--to cross, with deep snow and glaciers. Sixteen hours' work to cross, of which only five could be performed on horseback, the remainder being on foot and by night--a night without a star too. This, with the consciousness that I had on my person a letter to a man for whose head 20,000 dollars were offered, made the attempt, to say the least, highly exciting. Well, here I am again, and, thank G.o.d, nothing the worse, save in some fatigue which a day or two will pull up.
”The revolutionary party here have conquered for the present--that is, they have acquired the ascendancy of terror, precisely as the French democrats obtained it by enlisting in their cause all the most infamous and degraded criminals of the State, and this by the pressing threat of a pillage and a sack deterring the quieter population from even a murmur. The Grand Duke has fled to Gaeta, his life being no longer safe at St Stephano; and as General de Langier's troops have all accepted service under the Provisional Government, all hope of return to his throne is lost, except from foreign intervention.
”On Wednesday night last the peasantry--who are all loyal to the sovereign--attempted a movement in Florence, but the civil guard closed the gates and prevented entrance, and after some hours of drum-beating and alarm-bells, quiet was restored.
”Piedmont would send 12,000 men to restore the Duke (six would do it) if Gioberti were in the ascendant, but the hitch is that the radicals of Genoa are themselves watching the Tuscan revolt as a matter for their own [guidance]; and now we hear that Naples is again in open revolt, showing that the whole outbreak of Rome, Tuscany, and Naples was a preconcerted rising, planned and matured by the Mazzini faction. I began to fear that the case is almost desperate, and that Monarchy, or, what is better, Order and Legality, are doomed for a season at least in this peninsula. Sir George Hamilton's efforts have been unceasing to avert the dangers, and to his skill and energy are owing even the length of peace we have hitherto enjoyed. If you think that these few remarks are of any interest, would you kindly send this to Sheehan, to whom I am unable at this emergency to write more fully?...
”I am anxiously looking for the reply to your proposition [to Curry].
G.o.d grant it may be successful. It would set my mind at rest, for some time at least.
”I am sorely afraid we must flit from this, which, if for no other reasons than the financial ones (and there are a score of others), will be a sad inconvenience to me; but I fancy we are about to have a taste of a _republica rosa_, for which I feel anything but inclined to be the witness.
”My wife and the weans are doing admirably. Although the events around us are very alarming, we have lived long enough among the population of this little locality to know and like the people, and, I flatter myself, are well thought of by them. My fear is only for marauders--the usual vagabonds who have deserted and are traversing the country in bands of twenty and thirty. These are really to be dreaded. It would, of course, be impossible to live long in a state of siege without suffering more than any residence would requite. If, therefore, the reign of anarchy here promises a continuance, I shall be off, but in what direction I know not. The Alps are impa.s.sable to wheel-carriages, and to horses save those in daily habit of pa.s.sing, so that Switzerland is cut off; and Lombardy, which is nearest, is not in the condition to make one seek it. France, besides, is on the eve of another commotion. _Que faire?_ Meanwhile we have good courage and light hearts--at least, so far as the danger goes.”
_To Mr Alexander Spencer._
”Baoni di Lijoca, _March_ 20, 1848.
”....I am low in pocket and in hope. Perhaps it were better, as you suggest, to draw near England,--but in reality it is as little my country as America.”
_To Mr Alexander Spencer._
”Bagni di Lucca, _April_ 21, 1848.
”I would suggest some compromise with Curry--[? a bargain] to superintend an edition which would give me a regulated share of profits, and spare me the mortification of being thrown upon the market in a disgraceful and unauthorised fas.h.i.+on.... If Chapman would give 800 I am quite ready to go half. I would go over at once, but really this is a nervous moment to leave a family in Italy. a.s.sa.s.sinations and pillage are too rife to make absence easy. Besides, with two monthly Nos. to supply and a very low exchequer, time and cash are grave obstacles.
”Natural smallpox of a most dangerous type is raging around us, and I fear that I must run away to Florence--which, with a big tail of men and maids, is something very formidable. I am the more inclined to yield to my fears and fly, but my poverty should influence me in incurring a considerable risk.
”The insurances are always in my thoughts.”
_To Mr Alexander Spencer._
”Casa Standish, Florence, _May_ 27, 1848.
”As to the under-sale [i.e., selling at reduced prices], so little was I aware of it that when in the January of 1845 Mr Pearce went to London from Templeogue to negotiate the sale of 'St Patrick's Eve' with Chapman & Hall, Mr Chapman's argument for offering a lower sum than I proposed was that 'Mr Lever's works were in some instances advertised at depreciated prices.' Pearce wrote to me word of this, and, indignant at what I believed to be a falsehood, I hurried in to Dublin and asked M'Glashan how such a story could get abroad? He said he couldn't conceive how, for he knew there was no truth in it. But his hesitation and confusion were extreme.
”If I could proceed against those parties who alleged having informed me [of the under-sale] I would certainly do so. The whole case is evidently now 'up.' I see no prospect of any benefit by further proceedings, and if you are of my opinion that an Equity suit would serve me, I would lie down under the wrong and leave it among the many hard rubs in life I have suffered. If I understand the matter aright, I have no share whatever in the proceedings of any sum to be obtained for the sale of these works or copyrights, and very small prospects of any payment of the debt they owe me. Be it so. Now, one last chance. If these works are to be sold by auction, will their probable price be above the sum Chapman would give? It would be well to communicate with him on this subject....