FROM THE SACRED GUARDIANSHIP OF CHISWICK, TO THE HONOURS OF SANTA CROCE, IN FLORENCE, THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF ITALY HAVE TRANSPORTED THE REMAINS OF THE WEARIED CITIZEN POET, 7TH OF JUNE, 1871. On the North side:— THIS SPOT WHERE, FOR 44 YEARS, THE RELICS OF _UGO FOSCOLO_ REPOSED IN HONOURED CUSTODY, WILL BE FOR EVER HELD IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE BY THE ITALIAN NATION. In speaking of Mazzini, mention has been made how the biographer undertook the delivery of a message which resulted in the departure of Garibaldi. The reader’s forbearance must be solicited for the abruptness with which one subject succeeds another, but at present we are relating a succession of occurrences, not deeply important, yet too interesting and too deeply connected with our narrative to be altogether omitted before entering upon sterner topics. The following note of invitation to Mr. Gladstone is of an amusing character:— “B. M., January 11th, 1865. “My dear Sir, ‘_Like a good fellow_,’ I will certainly dine with you on Tuesday, the 25th instant. There is an Italian opera buffa, in which a gentleman who wants to become a poet, and takes lessons as to the mechanism of verse from a poet, wishing to ask his master to dine with him, tries to convey his invitation in an hendecasyllable, and begins, _Volete pranzare meco oggi?_ (Will you dine with me to-day?) but it would not do, so he changed, _Volete pranzare meco domani?_ (Will you dine with me to-morrow?) it would not do either, and the poet suggested at once, _Volete pranzare meco oggi e domani?_ (Will you dine with me to-day and to-morrow) a very good line, and so it was settled. Now I have made a line for our dinner here, of which you must approve. _Pranzate meco il ventitre e quattro_ (Dine with me the 23rd and 24th.) The poetry is not good; have patience, and, ‘_like a good fellow_,’ come both days. Yours ever, A. PANIZZI.” Such was the natural humour of the man that, as in this instance, he seldom forebore from giving a jocose turn to his subject when opportunity afforded. The first written intimation of Panizzi’s serious wish to resign his high office is to be found in a letter to Mr. Gladstone, dated May 25th, 1865. “British Museum. “My dear Sir,