LYTTON

starting have had any very deeply laid designs against the Laws of the land - that they themselves prevented her peaceable departure by sending 8 gendarmes into her bedroom, with muskets, and lodging her forthwith in gaol. That, at the speediest her trial cannot come on before the end of November... when if found innocent she will have been unjustly detained in prison for 3 months, and if found guilty is, under the present law, liable to imprisonment of from 5 to 10 years with labour in the Casa de Forza! Is not this taking a spear to stab a butterfly? The Gd Duke has been personally applied to both by Scarlett (who has been, it is just to say, most energetic and active) as well as by his own Ministers, (who disapprove of this proceeding) and others, but all in vain. I think it not improbable that the Legation will be withdrawn. I have been, for a short time, at the Baths of Lucca, and you would be astonished to know the number of Protestant Italians there. I believe more than half the inhabitants to be - not merely anti-priest-and-pope-ists but professing Protestants. All going on well at the Umbra Mina [?]. Mrs Wilson not so well, indeed, as I could wish to see her - she is thinner & eats little or nothing - I think change of air would have done her good had she been able to take it. Both Guido and the Baby, however, grow apace and are picture children. Your mother I think is looking very well, & always cheerful - write to me, my dear Arthur, when you have an idle hour and make me very happy by doing so... ending with the Latin phrase vive vale et tis memor mei (Long live and remember me), and a postscript that Your Anacreon... is guarded like the apple of my eye..., 2 sides folio