Dona ft. 811 



to visit the Grand Duke of Tuscany. The people re- 

 ceived him respectfully, but without enthusiasm ; 

 nevertheless, Florence was illuminated in his honour. 

 The Duomo, Campanile, and the old tower in the 

 Piazza dei Signori were very fine, but the Lung' 

 Arno was beautiful beyond description; the river was 

 full, and reflected the whole with dazzling splendour. 



I made the acquaintance of Signore Donati, after- 

 wards celebrated for the discovery of one of the 

 most brilliant comets of this century, whose course 

 and changes I watched with the greatest interest. 

 On one occasion I was accompanied by my valued 

 friend Sir Henry Holland, who had come to Florence 

 during one of his annual journeys. I had much 

 pleasure in seeing him again. 



Political parties ran very high in Florence ; we 

 sympathised with the Liberals, living on intimate 

 terms with the chief of them. As soon as the proba- 

 bility of war between Piedmont and Austria became 

 known, many young men of every rank, some even 

 of the highest families, hastened to join as volun- 

 teers. The most sanguine long hoped that the Grand 

 Duke might remember that he was an Italian prince 

 rather than an Austrian archduke, and would send 

 his troops to join the Italian cause ; but his dynasty 

 was doomed, and he blindly chose the losing side. 

 At last the Austrians crossed the Mincio, and the 



