"I have heard no more of the carabiniers who protested against my liveries. They are not popular, those same soldiers, and, in a small row, the other night, one was slain, another wounded, and divers put to flight, by some of the Romagnuole youth, who are dexterous, and somewhat liberal of the knife. The perpetrators are not discovered, but I hope and believe that none of my ragamuffins were in it, though they are somewhat savage, and secretly armed, like most of the inhabitants. It is their way, and saves sometimes a good deal of litigation. "There is a revolution at Naples. If so, it will probably leave a card at Ravenna in its way to Lombardy. "Your publishers seem to have used you like mine. M. has shuffled, and almost insinuated that my last productions are _dull_. Dull, sir!--damme, dull! I believe he is right. He begs for the completion of my tragedy on Marino Faliero, none of which is yet gone to England. The fifth act is nearly completed, but it is dreadfully long--40 sheets of long paper of 4 pages each--about 150 when printed; but 'so full of pastime and prodigality' that I think it will do. "Pray send and publish your _Pome_ upon me; and don't be afraid of praising me too highly. I shall pocket my blushes. "'Not actionable!'--_Chantre d'enfer!_[78]--by * * that's 'a speech,' and I won't put up with it. A pretty title to give a man for doubting if there be any such place! "So my Gail is gone--and Miss Mah_ony_ won't take _Mo_ney. I am very glad of it--I like to be generous free of expense. But beg her not to translate me. "Oh, pray tell Galignani that I shall send him a screed of doctrine if he don't be more punctual. Somebody _regularly detains two_, and sometimes _four_, of his Messengers by the way. Do, pray, entreat him to be more precise. News are worth money in this remote kingdom of the Ostrogoths. "Pray, reply. I should like much to share some of your Champagne and La Fitte, but I am too Italian for Paris in general. Make Murray send my letter to you--it is full of _epigrams_. "Yours," &c. [Footnote 77: An Irish phrase for being in a scrape.] [Footnote 78: The title given him by M. Lamartine, in one of his Poems.] * * * * *