He left Milan for Florence, passing through the towns of Lodi, Plazenza, Parma, and Bologna, where he arrived after eight days journeying. Among the passengers in the coach with him, was a young gentleman of Rome, the Cavaliere V----, who was returning home after a two years tour in _South_ America and Europe. Between these two, as those who are strangers in any part of the world, particularly when travelling together, experience a community of privation and enjoyment, an intimacy was soon formed. The distance from Florence to Rome is 193 English miles. The road passes over the Appenine mountains, and by the tardy mode of travelling peculiar to the country, there being no public coaches, it requires six days. The highways in this neighbourhood are infested with banditti of the most ferocious character, and almost every day furnishes accounts of robberies and murders. On the 5th of January, 1819, they left Florence. The first three days were marked by no striking incident, but on the morning of the fourth, about dawn, their ears were accosted with a sudden discharge of fire-arms close to the carriage, which they soon found to proceed from the carbines of banditti. Previously to quitting Milan, our friend had taken the precaution to divide his gold, carrying part of it about his person, enveloped in a bandana handkerchief in the form of a belt, and the remainder in a portmanteau. He had also a number of Bank of England notes, which he carried in his pocket-book, with his passport, &c. The bandana soon attracted their attention, and its contents, 30 Napoleons, with his purse, &c. fell into their hands. His portmanteau being securely lashed to the imperial, escaped the plunderers, as well as his watch and pocket-book. It was within a league of Montifiascone where the attack was made. The robbers were interrupted in the height of their villainy, by the tramp of approaching horses, which proved to be the neighbouring peasantry commencing their daily toils; and retreated with precipitation to the impenetrable thickets of the Appenines. The travellers then proceeded on their journey to Rome, without experiencing further molestation. On their arrival there, our countryman congratulated himself on his good fortune in having become acquainted with the Cavaliere V----, whose politeness and attentions were particularly grateful; and as Rome was the place of his residence, every object of interest and curiosity to be found there, was perfectly familiar to him. He introduced his American acquaintance to his father, who was a man of rank, living in splendour and opulence; and to his sisters, whose society the latter felt every disposition to cultivate. Thus various circumstances appeared to combine to render pleasant a residence in this celebrated metropolis, and to aid him in his contemplations among the remaining monuments of her former magnificence and power.