helped us to spend our last evening at Casa Guidi. He is cultivated and high-minded. I like him much; and none the less that he brings hopeful accounts of the state of Piedmont, of the progress of the people, and good persistency of the King. It makes one's heart beat with the sense that all is not over with our poor Italy. I am glad you like Frederick Tennyson's poems. They are full of _atmospherical_ poetry, and very melodious. The poet is still better than the poems--so truthful, so direct, such a reliable Christian man. Robert and I quite love him. We very much appreciate, too, young Lytton, your old friend. He is noble in many ways, I think, and affectionate. Moreover, he has an incontestable _faculty_ in poetry, and I expect great things from him as he ripens into life and experience. Meanwhile he has just privately printed a drama called 'Clytemnestra,' too ambitious because after Æschylus, but full of promise indeed. We are hoping that he will come down and see us in the course of our rustication at the Baths, and occupy our spare bedroom.... As to Mr. ----, his Hebrew was Chinese to _you_, do you say? But, dear, he is strong in veritable Chinese besides! And one evening he nearly assassinated me with the analysis, chapter by chapter, of a Japanese novel. Mr. Lytton, who happened to be a witness, swore that I grew paler and paler, and not with sympathy for the heroine. He is a miraculously vain man--which rather amused me--and, for the rest, is full of information--yes, and of kindness, I think. He gave me a little black profile of you which gives the air of your head, and is so far valuable to me. As to myself, indeed, he has rather flattered me than otherwise--I don't complain, I assure you. How could I complain of a man who compares me to Isaiah, under any circumstances?... God bless you! Robert's love with that of Your ever affectionate and faithful BA. * * * * * _To Mr. Chorley_ Casa Tolomei (Alia Villa), Bagni di Lucca: August 10, [1853].