you like, in the "Official Gazette." Take my advice and cultivate the art of speaking: it is a matter of great importance for men in office. If you go to Ravenna, tell Eraclito that I have a beautiful mare, so intelligent that, with a little education, she might almost learn to speak! Keep up the habit of going into society regularly, for you need to accustom yourself to live in the world in association with other people, and be sure to have a few minutes' inquiry with conscience each night as to what has been done in the day, and what will be most advisable for the occupation of the morrow. Don't indulge in changeableness, but adhere to the resolutions you have made. To will, consistently, is half the battle."

'Easter Sunday, 1866.-My dearest Eneas: I cannot let this day pass without writing you the assurance of my best blessing. It gives me satisfaction to see young men with real energy of their own to push their way in the world; but I have met with many inferior characters (the majority) who, instead of real capability, have mere self-sufficiency, leading them to despise the counsel of their elders, as though their experience amounted to nothing, and the world were a new engine, not an ancient fact. "Nihil sub sole novum." I have no wish to be a domineering, tiresome old man; and if it please God to give you an enlightened understanding, I know you will go on well without advice from me. For this I pray earnestly, as the first of blessings to be desired for you. As to your expenses, I can give you no better direction than the English maxim, which says, "Resolve not to be poor. Whatever you have, spend less.""

VII.

In spring of 1866 Italy, allied with Prussia, made war against Austria. Eneas was on leave at the moment, not expecting this sudden call; he went back immediately to Modena, passed his examinations, and was promoted to be an officer. When on finishing the course of practical instruction at Pinerolo he joined Victor Emanuel's Regiment of Lancers in Venetia, who would have thought the campaign could end so speedily? An armistice was concluded before our young soldier had even seen the enemy! From Saleto di Padova the Lancers made a forty

seven days' march to join the garrison of Foggia, and thus had the pleasure of exploring little by little a great part of our Peninsula. After short pause at Foggia, Eneas was sent to Lucera, where he found himself for the first time face to face with brigandage, that plague and disgrace of Italy, rampant as it was in the Abruzzi, and in the plains of the Capitanata, which were ravaged by Giordano's gang of robbers. Eneas found those districts so accustomed to this scourge as scarcely to complain of it, and their social condition seemed naturally productive of depredators. He said that the sight of fertile lands, ill-cultivated in some places, and in others not at all, while families almost destitute preferred to live by plunder rather than work for their bread, made it clear to his mind that the army might struggle with such a state of things, but could never uproot the vice, which was only to be cured by the advance of civilisation with unlimited time and patience. He and his Lancers had several encounters with Giordano's band; but being soon afterwards appointed A.D.C. to General Incisa, commanding the Genos division, he quitted the Capitanata-not without regret, as the service there had a certain charm for his bold, active disposition. His life at Genoa was pleasant, but in looking forward to the future, he felt doubtful what course he ought to pursue, as a military career in time of peace seemed too slow and idle to be satisfactory. He wrote his doubts to his father, who replied on April 19, 1868:

'True though it is that "Man proposes, and God disposes," we still must look ahead, especially at your age, when you stand as it were on the threshold of life. I have always had the idea that you two should each have a decided profession, which is a safe capital, not to be taken from you, and gives you independence. Occupation is the wholesome salt which keeps life sound and free from mould; whereas idleness in itself is a taint of corruption. A life of diligence tends to raise you above the ordinary level, your aim being ever upwards; and without such aim one would always stick at the bottom of the ladder. Your case is a special one, since you have determined on the military line, and have chosen the cavalry; the branch which is least to my mind, because of its being next door to idleness, both by

reason of the slow promotion, and the small amount of education required for it.

'I cannot add anything to what I have already said on this subject, neither would I desire to do so, knowing your temper to be naturally ardent and generous, yet by no means ready to be guided by advice, unless it fully agree with your own opinion. To try to persuade you against your will would be labour in vain, and you know it; just like the horses! But the things which I have said before are of such self-evident truth, that you will not be inclined to contradict them. Turn them well over in your mind, and choose freely the employment that you prefer; then, having made your choice, stick to it as an industrious

man.'

A few days later he writes again : 'You do well in keeping up your studies.

'The state of our country is such as to make it impossible to calculate what may be the best line to turn to in the future. All professions have their drawbacks, and in any case it will be the truest wisdom to have as many resources in one's self as possible. Among all the different affairs which I have had to deal with, I always found occasion to regret my never having studied engineering, and I should rejoice if one of you were to take to it. I think you might go forward in that study when you are on half-pay in a city like Florence.'

VIII.

It was finally agreed between my father and Eneas that he should resume the studies which his military campaign had interrupted, and prepare to enter on a useful profession, the exact nature of which was not yet decided, though there seemed no doubt of finding a desirable one, and my father founded great hopes on Eneas' talent and force of character. They both seemed to feel a happy confidence in the future at that time, and trusted that Providence would guide them to do the best. Fortune had been favourable to us latterly, in rewarding my father's labours with success. As an agriculturist, he had the satisfaction of seeing his improvements adopted with

general advantage all around Ravenna, and in many other parts of Romagna.

The annexation of Venetia also gratified his life-long aspirations for his country's liberties; and he could not but feel pleasure in the consciousness that his labours had contributed to the good result. His family were in health and happiness around him, my mother being the sunshine of our home, the animating spirit of all that was bright and useful. The exuberant spirit and exceptional strength of will which had originally caused our parents some anxiety in regard to Eneas was now turned in the right direction, and showed continuous improvement. He had profited by his chapter of experience, bad learnt to conduct himself discreetly in the world, and had made the firm resolution to become a laborious and useful character. It was about that time, in one of his happiest moments, that my father said, 'Pierino is my dear boy, but Eneas has the stamina.' Alas! where the hopes were highest, even there was the misfortune to fall

upon us.

CHAPTER XXII.

1868 AND 1869.

The spring of 1868 at Florence-Eneas goes to Nola, thence to Calabria-His letters descriptive of the brigands there-The Sila mountains-He is taken ill of fever- Returns to his family-Dies at Pisa-The distress of our parents.

I.

AT the expiration of his time as A.D.C. at Genoa, Eneas came to Fontallerta on leave of absence. Florence was a busy place then, with all the works going on to add to her beauty and grandeur as capital of the kingdom; and the circle of the city had again to be enlarged far beyond her ancient boundaries. In May Florence was the scene of great rejoicings for the marriage of Prince Humbert; and it became more than ever a favourite resort for Italians from every province, as well as for foreigners. I am bound in gratitude here to record that at this period the Florentines more than once called upon my father to be a member of their Municipal Council. He was commissioned to report to the commune upon the propriety or otherwise of completing the Viale de' Colli,' and for that purpose assisted Poggio, the engineer, in surveying those private grounds where is now the Piazza Michelangiolo. His astonishment was great when he came unexpectedly upon that matchless view, until then almost unknown to the public.

My father's report to the Council, July 17, 1868, was in favour of finishing the 'Viale,' seeing that the two main roads were already made; and afterwards, by many ornamental additions not contemplated at first, the work was carried out on a most magnificent and costly scale.

Eneas might now have left the army, in order to resume his studies; but after so long a leave of absence, it seemed due to