We walked about a little under the arcades. W. wanted some cigars and I an Italian book Minghetti had recommended to me, "Sketches of Life in Milan and Venice under the Austrian Occupation." I have been reading it a little to-night--what an awful life for Italians--a despotic, iron rule, police and spies everywhere, women even making their way into the great Italian houses and reporting everything to the police--the children's games and little songs, the books and papers the family read, the visits they received. The most arbitrary measures prevailed--no young man allowed to leave the city--no papers nor books allowed that were not authorized by the government--and when arrests were made, the prisoners, men or women, treated most cruelly. The Austrians must have felt the hatred and thirst for vengeance that was smouldering in all these young hearts. It seems all the girls and young women, even of the poorest classes, made themselves flags (tricolour) out of bits of anything (paper when they couldn't get anything better) and gave them to all the men, preparing for the "Cinque giorni" when many of them went down under the Austrian bayonets, giving their lives cheerfully and proudly for their country. Radetzsky must have been a monster of cruelty. How they must hate the white uniform and the black and yellow flag. The city is quiet enough to-night. I suppose it is not an opera night. It is only half-past ten and we are on one of the principal thoroughfares, but nothing is passing in the street. The hotel, too, is quiet, one doesn't hear a sound. I fancy most travellers go to the new hotel--the Cavour. We are quite satisfied here, and are most comfortable--the landlord very attentive. He and W. are becoming great friends--they talk politics (Italian) every night while W. smokes. Friday 7th.