"The blow was stunning and unexpected; for I thought the danger
over, by the long interval between her stated amelioration and the
arrival of the express. But I have borne up against it as I best
can, and so far successfully, that I can go about the usual
business of life with the same appearance of composure, and even
greater. There is nothing to prevent your coming to-morrow; but,
perhaps, to-day, and yester-evening, it was better not to have met.
I do not know that I have any thing to reproach in my conduct, and
certainly nothing in my feelings and intentions towards the dead.
But it is a moment when we are apt to think that, if this or that
had been done, such event might have been prevented,--though every
day and hour shows us that they are the most natural and
inevitable. I suppose that Time will do his usual work--Death has
done his.

"Yours ever, N.B."

* * * * *

LETTER 491. TO SIR WALTER SCOTT.

"Pisa, May 4. 1822.

"My dear Sir Walter,

"Your account of your family is very pleasing: would that I 'could
answer this comfort with the like!' but I have just lost my natural
daughter, Allegra, by a fever. The only consolation, save time, is
the reflection, that she is either at rest or happy; for her few
years (only five) prevented her from having incurred any sin,
except what we inherit from Adam.

"'Whom the gods love, die young.'"

"I need not say that your letters are particularly welcome, when
they do not tax your time and patience; and now that our
correspondence is resumed, I trust it will continue.

"I have lately had some anxiety, rather than trouble, about an
awkward affair here, which you may perhaps have heard of; but our
minister has behaved very handsomely, and the Tuscan Government as
well as it is possible for such a government to behave, which is
not saying much for the latter. Some other English, and Scots, and
myself, had a brawl with a dragoon, who insulted one of the party,
and whom we mistook for an officer, as he was medalled and well
mounted, &c. but he turned out to be a sergeant-major. He called
out the guard at the gates to arrest us (we being unarmed); upon
which I and another (an Italian) rode through the said guard; but
they succeeded in detaining others of the