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demonstrations of affection, to whatever extent it may be experienced: there may be wisdom in this restraint, for it undoubtedly has the effect of checking any symptoms of pleasure at meeting, or sorrow at parting, in those who perhaps feel disposed to indulge in either. Who can give free course to joy, or tears, in presence of those who, imitating the calmness of Stoics, declare that they are very glad to see us," or that they are sorry we are going away?" holding out, at the same time, two fingers of the right hand, not to press, but to be pressed, if it so please the person to whom the said two fingers are offered. Now, in Italy, one would be as much ashamed at not participating in the natural demonstrations of regard, as in England, people feel afraid of betraying them ; for here, neither coldness, nor the affectation of it, are esteemed requisites in high breeding. People have not the mauvaise honte of concealing that they have warm hearts, and are capable of strong attachments; while with us the outward and visible signs of such attributes are exhibited only by boarding-school girls, during the first months of separation from the "beloved Emma," or "dearest Amelia," with whom a girlish friendship, based on the unstable foundation of puerile confidence, and romantic notions, had sprung up.

ROME. Here we are again in the Eternal City, but only en passant, en route for Florence. The spring is far less advanced than at Naples-dear Naples !—and the place looks sombre after the gaiety of Parthenope. Our excellent friend Sir William

Gell is here, always a victim to rheumatic gout, and always bearing pain as no one else ever bore it.

I have been to the beautiful villa of Mr. Mills, on the Mount Palatine; it occupies the site of the Palace of the Cæsars, and is arranged with exquisite taste. The gardens are charming beyond description, presenting an unrivalled view of Rome and the Campagna, and containing some most interesting fragments of antiquity, seen to peculiar advantage, mingled with trees and flowering plants of luxuriant growth. The owner of this terrestrial paradise is worthy of it; possessing a highly cultivated mind, great suavity of manners, and qualities of the head and heart that have endeared him to all who know him.

Saw the celebrated Mrs. Dodwell to-day, whose rare beauty has rendered her an object of curiosity and interest. Fame has not exaggerated her loveliness, for it is surpassing; combining the most perfect regularity of features, joined to the most sparkling and various expression of countenance. If any defect could be found, it is that she is somewhat trop petite; but she is so finely formed and proportioned, that she cannot be called short, though below the middle stature. Her manner is naïve and vivacious, which adds to her beauty; her voice is clear and sweet, and her movements, though animated, always graceful. There is not a symptom of vanity or conceit visible in her, which greatly enhances the effect of her charms.

Mr. Dodwell is an antiquary du premier genre. Of an ancient and wealthy family in England, he has spent the greater portion of his life in travelling; of

the fruits of which, his Travels in Greece' furnish a good example, being a work replete with erudition and classical research. He is many years the senior of Madame, who is a Roman lady of noble descent. When Mr. Dodwell was showing us his fine collection of antiquities to-day, he directed our attention to a female mummy, declaring that the Egyptian dame must have been one of the most perfect beauties ever seen. At that moment my eyes were fixed on his beautiful wife, who stood by him, offering in her own person one of the most faultless models of loveliness ever beheld; and the arch smile that played round her lips seemed to say, that living beauties might be found to compete with the dead one.

It would be difficult to find two persons so disproportioned in age, and so dissimilar in tastes, living so harmoniously as Mr. and Mrs. Dodwell are reported to do, by those who best know them. The beautiful Roman respects the antiquarian pursuits of her sexagenarian husband; and he tolerates the love of dancing and amusement so natural to her years. I like them both in their different ways; him for his vast store of general information, and her for her beauty, her vivacity, and the originality of her mind. Yet it is a strange sight to behold this lovely Italian sylph, all youth and sprightliness, hovering round a grave, sober English antiquary, who seems wholly occupied by his collection; and more disposed to descant on the perfections of his mummy, than to dwell on the fine qualities of his wife. Nevertheless, he is fully sensible of them, and enjoys her playful sallies con amore.

Le Comte Alexandre de la Borde, and his son, Monsieur Léon de la Borde, dined with us yesterday: they are on their route to make a tour in Greece and Egypt. Sir William Gell and Mr. Dodwell, who were of our party, gave them much useful information. Le Comte de la Borde is a clever, well-informed man, fond of literature and science; and his son is highly educated and accomplished.

Mrs. Dodwell came in the evening, looking, if possible, more beautiful than in the morning; and it amused me to see how much the French men were struck by her appearance. of introduction to my old friend Lord Guildford.

I have given them a letter

Mr. Jerningham, the son of Lord Stafford, and Mr. B. Gurdon, were presented to us to-day. They are travelling together, appear amiable, and are very gentlemanly. It must be admitted, that nine out of every ten Englishmen one meets on the Continent are entitled to this commendation. I refer, of course, to those met in society.

March. The Italians are a very kind-hearted people, of which fact I have had many proofs. A new one was offered to me yesterday, in the interest and good-will evinced by some of them to a Mr. Moore, an Englishman, whose extreme delicacy of health requires a winter residence at Rome, and compels the necessity of total seclusion nearly the greater portion of the time. Mr. Moore is gentle, kind, and patient, and these qualities they can appreciate; but he is likewise well read in the literature of his own country, which, though it renders his society very agreeable to his compatriots, is much less attractive to

the Romans, who still regard foreigners and barbarians, as in days of old, as synonymous terms. Nevertheless, they display an interest in the health of this suffering forestiere, that must be soothing and gratifying to his feelings, and which, I fear, he could only hope to receive from near relations at home; for a long malady, which incapacitates the invalid from sharing the amusements of his acquaintances, is very apt to take from them the desire of contributing to his. We English are like the man who declined going to visit his friend in a prison, on the plea that he could not bear to see him in distress. We do not like visiting the sick, because we cannot bear to behold them suffering!

FLORENCE.Lord Normanby and Mr. Henry Anson dined with us yesterday; the latter is going to Egypt, and anticipates the scenes he is purposing to explore, with all the buoyancy of youthful spirits. He is a fine young man, and very popular here.

I know not what Florence could do without Lord and Lady Normanby, who entertain its inhabitants with theatricals, of which the Florentines speak with delight. They are much beloved here, and their departure, whenever it occurs, will be greatly regretted.

The Marquis de la Maison-Fort, Minister from France to the Court here, called on us yesterday. He is a Frenchman of the vieille cour, bien poudré, et bien élevé, fond of the fine arts, and passionately devoted to poetry; nay, a poet himself, of which we had a proof in some lines which he recited. He spoke to us in the highest terms of eulogium of M. de Lamar