[Rome], Friday [end of March 1860].

My ever dearest Isa, I am scarcely in heart yet for writing letters, and
did not mean to write to-day. You heard of the unexpected event which
brought me the loss of a very dear friend, dear, dear Mrs. Jameson.[79]
It was, of course, a shock to me, as such things are meant to be....

And now I come to what makes me tax you with a dull letter, I feeling so
dully; and, dear, it is with dismay I have to tell you that the letter
you addressed under cover to Mr. Russell has _never reached us_. Till
your last communication (this moment received), I had hoped that the
contents of it might have been less important than O.-papers must be.
What is to be done, or thought? I beseech you to write and tell me if
_harm_ is likely to follow from this seizure. The other inclosure came
to me quite safely, because it came by the Government messenger. I think
you sent it through Corbet. But Mr. Russell's _post_ letters are as
liable to opening as mine are; his name is no security. Whenever you
send a 'Nazione' newspaper through him, it never reaches us, though we
receive our 'Monitore' through him regularly. Why? Because in his
position he is allowed to have newspapers for his own use. He takes in
for himself no 'Monitore,' so ours goes to his account, but he does take
in a 'Nazione,' therefore ours is seized, as being plainly for other
hands than his own licensed ones.

I am very much grieved about this loss of your letter and its contents.
First, there's my fear lest harm should come of this, and then there's
my own personal _mulcting_ of what would have been of such deep interest
to me. I am 'revelling'? See how little.

Robert wrote in a playful vein to Kate, and you must not and will not
care for that. He had understood from your letter that you and the
majority had all, like the 'Athenaeum,' understood the 'Curse for a
Nation' to be directed against England. Robert was _furious_ about the
'Athenaeum'; no other word describes him, and I thought that both I and
Mr. Chorley would perish together, seeing that even the accusation (such
a one!) made me infamous, it seemed.

The curious thing is, that it was at Robert's suggestion that that
particular poem was reprinted there (it never had appeared in England),
though 'Barkis was willing'; I had no manner of objection. I never have
to justice.

Mr. Chorley's review is objectionable to me because unjust. A reviewer
should read the book he gives judgment on, and he could not have read
from beginning to end the particular poem in question, and have
expounded its significance so. I wrote a letter on the subject to the
'Athenaeum' to correct this mis-statement, which I cared for chiefly on
Robert's account.

In fact, _I_ cursed neither England nor America. I leave such things to
our Holy Father here; the poem only pointed out how the curse was
involved in the action of slave-holding.

I never saw Robert so enraged about a criticism. He is better now, let
me add.

In the matter of Savoy,[80] it has vexed and vexes me, I do confess to
you. It's a handle given to various kinds of dirty hands, it spoils the
beauty and glory of much, the uncontested admiration of which would have
done good to the world. At the same time, as long as Piedmont and Savoy
agree in the annexation to France, there is nothing to object to--not to
object to with a reasonable mind. And it seems to be understood (it is
stated in fact), that the cession is under condition of the assent of
the populations. The Vote is necessary to the honour of France. I do not
doubt that it will be consulted. Meantime there is too much haste, I
think. There is a haste somewhat indelicate in the introduction of
French garrisons into Savoy, previous to the popular conclusion being
known. There should have been mixed garrisons, French and Piedmontese,
till the vote was taken. Napoleon should have been more particular in
Savoy than he was even in central Italy, as to the advance of any
occasion of the current charge of 'pressure.'

Altogether the subject is an anxious one--would be, even if less
rancorous violence on the part of his enemies were wreaked upon it. The
English Tories are using it with the frenzy of despair, and no wonder!

Lamoriciere's arrival is another proof of the internal coalition against
the Empire.

Now I must end, Robert says, or I shall lose the post. My true best
love, and Robert's--and Peni's.

Write to me, do, dearest Isa, and tell me if the MSS. sent were
_nuisibles_. The Excommunication just out is said to include the
Emperor.

Your ever loving
BA.