“The O’D. on Canning has been going the round of the Italian papers, and I see one, the ‘Eco de l’Arno,’ has given a sort of series of extracts from the O’Ds. called Leverania. “I see Whiteside is in London. How I wish I could go over! I’d like to have a dinner with you both. You’d be greatly pleased with him. “I am told that the deadlock about the Education Bill is caused by the opposition of the Irish Catholic bishops, who insist on denominational schools--that is, having the whole grant for themselves. No bad idea after all. I wish every consul, with a bald back to his head, should have double salary. “My best regards to Mrs Blackwood. Tell her she’ll have her meals in peace this time in London, but it isn’t my fault after all.” _To Mr John Blackwood._ “Trieste, _April_ 12, 1870. “You gratify me much by what you say of these O’Ds. Failing health, broken spirits, a very sad home, and many uncertainties are hard to bear, but I believe I could face them all better than the thought of ‘Brain bankruptcy.’ To draw on my intellect and get for answer ‘no assets’ would, I feel, overwhelm me utterly. Your hearty words have, therefore, done me good service, and in my extra glass of claret--and I will take one to-day--I’ll drink your health. “I am distressed at not getting the _April No. of ‘Maga’_ yet; by some accident it has been forgotten or miscarried, and it is a great comfort to me to ‘cuddle over.’ “My poor wife is still suffering intensely, and too weak to undergo the operation, which is eminently necessary. She has at last, too, lost all courage, and, I might almost say, wish to live. Much of this depression is from actual pain, and all our efforts are now directed to allay that. I never leave the house, or, if I do, go beyond the garden. Of course, I admit no visitors, and scarcely remember the days of the week.” _To Mr John Blackwood._ “Trieste, _April_ 15,1870. “I think the title had better be ‘Personal and Peculiar.’ I have added and changed the conclusion, whether for the better or not you shall decide. There was some danger in saying more, and I might have found, if I went on, that, as Curran says, I had argued myself _out_ of my brief. “I have a half suspicion the Bill may break down after all,--not that it signifies much, since the Tories could not take office with any chance of holding it, but the mere failure would offend Gladstone, and even that would be a comfort. “I have no better news to send for this, and am low, low! “Don’t forget to send me ‘Maga’ for this month--April. “Have you read Dickens’ new serial, and what do you say to it? I am curious to hear. “We have a report here from Greece that the English Sec. of Legation and a whole picnic party have been captured by the brigands, and an immense ransom demanded.” _To Mr John Blackwood._ “Trieste, _April_ 23, 1870.