called 'The Dance'[74] was Madame di
Laiatico. The 'Court Lady' is an individualisation of a general fashion,
the ladies at Milan having gone to the hospitals in full dress and in
open carriages. Macmahon taking up the child[75] is also historical. I
believe the facts to be in the book: 'He has done it all,'[76] were
Cavour's words. When you see an advertisement and have an opportunity to
apply at Chapman's, do so 'by this sign' enclosed. I read of you in the
papers, stirring up the women.

Write and say how you are, and where you are.

[_Part of this letter is missing._]

Your ever very affectionate
BA.

I hope you liked the article on the immorality of luncheon-rooms in your
high-minded 'Saturday Review.'

FOOTNOTES:

[62] Prime Minister of Piedmont from 1849-52, and one of the most
honourable and patriotic of Italian statesmen.

[63] Subsequently English ambassador at Berlin, and one of the
plenipotentiaries at the Berlin Congress of 1878. Created Lord Ampthill
in 1881, and died in 1884.

[64] Now in the possession of Mr. R. Barrett Browning.

[65] The conferences for the arrangement of the final treaty of peace
were held at Zurich.

[66] Of Tuscany with Piedmont, which was voted by Tuscany in August.
Modena, Parma, and Romagna did the same, and so made the critical step
towards the creation of a united Italy.

[67] It was supposed that Napoleon contemplated constituting Central
Italy, or at least Tuscany, into a kingdom for his brother Jerome, and
that it was for this reason that the latter had been sent to Florence
with a French corps at the beginning of the war.

[68] Napoleon being opposed to the idea of a united Italy, Victor
Emmanuel did not consider it wise to accept the proffered crown of
Central Italy while a French army was still in the country and the terms
of peace were not finally settled.

[69] The new Duke of Tuscany. He had succeeded to this now very shadowy
throne on July 21 of this year.

[70] Not on account of bad riding, be it observed, but of daring and
venturesome riding.

[71] Mr. Chorley had dedicated his last novel, _Roccabella_, to Mrs.
Browning.

[72]

'Do you see this ring?
'Tis Rome-work, made to match
(By _Castellani's_ imitative craft)
Etrurian circlets,' etc.

(_The Ring and the Book_, i. 1-4.)

[73] Mrs. Browning is here quoting from her own preface to _Poems before
Congress_.

[74] _Poetical Works_, iv. 190.

[75]