eloquence, in order to restore liberty to their enslaved country. Though the efforts of Galiano, Argüelles and Martinez de la Rosa were not crowned with success, they will ever be the pride of Spain. These gifted patriots, struggling against adversity and preserving their noble independence, deserve the admiration of mankind.[2] In concluding, I may say that the power of combining just and useful ideas, and expressing them extemporaneously in an appropriate language--the knowledge of man and of every thing which concerns him--a strong and well modulated voice, and dignified gestures, constitute what is called a _good improvvisatore_. Few succeed in all the multifarious qualifications of an extempore speaker--few are led by this unabated enthusiastic spirit resolved to meet and triumph over difficulties. This disposition of mind, however, must exist--for in mental contention as in war, "A vaincre sans péril on triomphe sans gloire." And every one that has witnessed the wonders of this art, will grant that if there be a talent by which the powers of man are exhibited in all their sublimity, it is undoubtedly that of the accomplished _improvvisatore_. J. H. [Footnote 1: It was in 1825 that Sgricci invited the literati of Paris to meet in a spacious hall, where he was to extemporize a tragedy. Every spectator was allowed to vote for the subject of the play, and the majority decided in favor of _the Death of Charles I_. A few moments afterwards, Sgricci explained the _dramatis personæ_, and began to deliver extempore a tragedy of about _fifteen hundred verses!_ That production was printed, and many passages are full of poetical talent. Francisco Gianni extemporized, during one year, every morning and evening, two pieces of poetry under the title of _Saluto del Matino_, and _Saluto de la Sera_. In order that the lovers of Italian poetry may judge Gianni's skill in extemporising, I will quote as a specimen, one of his productions. SALUTO DE LA SERA. Poca favilla gran fiamma seconda. _Dant. Parad._ cant. 1.