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 Lamartine, whom the Marquise d'Esmengard has promised to make us acquainted with. Madame la Marquise is a bel esprit, knows every body and every thing in Florence; can tell where the finest picture is to be seen, and the prettiest cap or bonnet is to be purchased; talks on all subjects, and well on all; in short, is very lively and agreeable. Mr. Francis Hare is here, and is as clever and entertaining as ever. Lord and Lady Burghersh are in England; and Mr. Strangways officiates as chargé

d'affaires. He yesterday, in that capacity, witnessed the solemnization of a marriage between an English young man of high family and a soi-disant widow, of French extraction. This union has caused much surprise, and, it is to be feared, may ultimately occasion as much regret.

I have seen M. de Lamartine, and greatly like him. He is very good-looking and distinguished in his appearance, and dresses so perfectly like a gentleman, that one never would suspect him to be a poet. No shirt collars turned over, an apology for a cravat, no long curls falling on the collar of the coat; no assumption of any foppishness of any kind; but just the sort of man that, seen in any society, would be pronounced bien comme il faut. His features are handsome, and his countenance is peculiarly intelligent and intellectual; his manners are polished, and his conversation is brilliant and interesting. He has a presence d'esprit, not often to be met with in the generality of poets; and a perfect freedom from any of the affectations of manner attributed to that genus irritabile. The truth is, that though gifted with a very glowing imagination, and a deeply reflecting mind, Mons. de Lamartine has been called on to act a prominent part in the scenes of actual and busy life, which has compelled him to exer

cise his reasoning faculties as much, as his genius has led to the exertion of his imaginative ones: hence he presents the not common union, of a clever man of business, a well-bred man of society, and a poet; and appears to advantage in all the three roles. He is very well disposed towards the English; and no wonder, for he is the husband of an English lady, said to be possessed of so many estimable qualities, as to give a favourable impression of her compatriots. He has a little daughter, one of the most beautiful children ever beheld, with eyes lustrous and timid as those of the gazelle; and a countenance beaming with sensibility, and radiant with beauty. Imagination cannot picture anything more lovely than this child, on whom her father dotes. M. de Lamartine is exemplary in his domestic life; offering a proof of the falsehood of the opinion often expressed, that poets are not calculated to make good husbands.

The Marquise d'Esmengard, M. de Lamartine, Lord Dillon, and Mr. Strangways, dined with us yesterday. The poet improves on acquaintance, for he has a mind overflowing with information, and a fancy ever teeming with beautiful imagery; and all these rich, and rare acquisitions, gleam forth, rather than are displayed in his conversation, which never seems to have for object the desire of shining.

A deep religious sentiment is discoverable in M. de Lamartine, to which may be traced many passages in those poetical effusions, that appeal with such earnestness to the heart; but this sentiment is wholly free from bigotry, and has in it nothing austere or repulsive. Altogether, he is a delightful companion, as well as a very gifted poet; and is formed to be as much esteemed in society, as his works are admired in the study. He has asked me many questions about Lord Byron, and evinces an interest towards him, that goes far to prove, that he can make allowance for the infirmities of genius; which those possessed of less intellectual superiority, are so prone to comment on with severity.

April.-Lord Dillon dined with us yesterday, and in the evening, recited a considerable portion of his epic poem, entitled " Eccellino, the Tyrant of Padua." Some parts of it are spirited, and all are highly original; as might be expected from the writer, who is a man more formed to have lived in the heroic age, than in our common-place one; for he possesses all the generosity, high courage and chivalrous feeling, attributed to the preux chevaliers of those times. His countenance and air, too, partake of this character; and he gives me the impression, that he is as incapable of suspecting unworthy

motives in the conduct of others, as of being actuated by them himself. He is a zealous advocate of the philosophy of Kant, which he has long studied; but the warmth of his heart, and impetuosity of his nature, lead me to believe that he is more likely to admire the system of the German in theory, than to follow it in practice. Lady Dillon and her daughters (all, save one, still in childhood), offer in their handsome faces as fine specimens of the lilies and roses of their country as could be shown, and their complexions are the admiration of the Florentines.

Demidoff, the Russian Croesus, is here, living en prince, with a corps dramatique attached to his suite, to whose representations he invites, in the season, all who are presentable in Florence. He expends a considerable part of his vast revenue here; has a palace in which malachite (so rare with us, that we are only accustomed to see it manufactured in small pieces of bijouterie), is seen in tables, slabs, and vases of large dimensions, as much or more in use than marble is in England. This precious material constitutes a portion of his vast wealth, as do whole mines of platina. This singular man is said to unite two opposite qualities, -an ostentatious display of his riches, and a prudential forethought in the manner of the exhi