Florence is an unhealthful climate in the winter. The tramontane winds come down from the Appenines so sharply, that delicate constitutions, particularly those liable to pulmonary complaints, suffer invariably. There has been a dismal mortality among the Italians. The Marquis Corsi, who presented me at court a week ago (the last day he was out, and the last duty he performed), lies in state, at this moment, in the church of Santa Trinita, and another of the duke's counsellors of state died a few days before. His prime minister, Fossombroni, is dangerously ill also, and all of the same complaint, the _mal di petto_, as it is called, or disease of the lungs. Corsi is a great loss to Americans. He was the grand chamberlain of court, wealthy and hospitable, and took particular pride in fulfilling the functions of an American ambassador. He was a courtier of the old school, accomplished, elegant, and possessed of universal information. * * * * * The _refugee Carlists_ are celebrating to-day, in the church of Santa Maria Novella, the anniversary of the death of _Louis XVI_. The bishop of Strasbourg is here, and is performing high mass for the soul of the "_martyr_," as they term him. Italy is full of the more aristocratic families of France, and it has become _mauvais ton_ in society to advocate the present government of France, or even its principles. They detest Louis Philippe with the virulence of a deadly private enmity, and declare universally, that they will exile themselves till they can return to overthrow him. Among the refugees are great numbers of young men, who are sent away from home with a chivalrous devotion to the cause of the Duchess of Berri, which they avow so constantly in the circles of Italian society, that she seems the exclusive heroine of the day. There was nothing seen of the French exquisites in Florence for a week after she was taken. They were in mourning for the misfortune of their mistress. * * * * * All Florence is ringing with _the miracle_. The city fountains have for some days been dry, and the whole country was suffering for rain. _The day before the moon changed_, the procession began, and the day after, when the sky was full of clouds, the holy picture in the church of the Annunciata, "painted by St. Luke himself," was solemnly uncovered. The result was the present miracle of _rain_, and the priests are preaching upon it from every pulpit. The _padrone_ of my lodgings came in this morning, and told me the circumstances with the most serious astonishment.