ich a free and open press
has taken hold here, that the newspapers are ordinarily habitually
cried in the streets until near midnight!

(M63) Among other objects of his keen and active interest was the
preservation for its established uses of the famous monastery founded by
St. Benedict thirteen centuries before at Monte Cassino,--the first home of
that great rule and institute which for long ages played so striking part
in the history of civilisation in the western world. He now visited Monte
Cassino in the company of Padre Tosti. The historian of this venerable
nursery of learning was his friend long before now--they met first at
Naples in 1850--and he had induced Mr. Gladstone to subscribe for the
reparation of the tomb of the founder. In 1863 Dean Stanley visited the
monastery with a letter from Mr. Gladstone: "It secured for me not only
the most hospitable reception, but an outpouring of Padre Tosti's whole
soul on pope and church, and Italy and Europe, past and present, in an
almost unbroken conversation of three hours." In 1866, it seemed as if the
hand of the Italian government were about to fall as heavily on Monte
Cassino as on any other monastic establishment. Mr. Gladstone besides
doing his best with Ricasoli and others, wrote a letter of admirable
spirit to his friend Sir James Lacaita:--

It seems, he said, as if one of the lamps of learning were put
out; much promise for the future extinguished; and a sacred link
of union, with the past broken. If it be asked why Englishmen
should speak and feel on this Italian subject, my answer would be
this: that the foundation and history of Monte Cassino have the
interest for us which the Americans of the States feel in Alfred,
in Edward III., in Henry V. They are part of the great current of
Italian civilisation which has been diffused and distributed over
all European lands. Much of my life has been devoted to the
promotion of public wealth, and of that vast exterior activity
which distinguishes the age; but I am deeply anxious for the
preservation of all those centres, not too numerous, at which the
power of thought may be cultivated, and the inner and higher life
of man maintained. It has, as you know, been pressed upon me that
I should endeavour to make a respectful appeal to the Italian
government on this subject through the medium of a discussion in
the House of Commons. But I shr