818 Mary Somerville. 



and we found the tranquillity as great when we drove 

 through the streets in the afternoon. The same quiet still 

 prevails, the people are at their usual employments, the 

 theatres and private receptions go on as usual, and the 

 provisional government is excellent. Everyone knew of 

 the revolution long before it took place and the quiet- 

 ness with which it was to be conducted. I am grieved 

 at the tone of English politics, and trust, for the honour 

 of the country and humanity, that we do not intend to 

 make war upon France and Sardinia. It would be a 

 disgrace and everlasting stigma to make a crusade 

 against the oppressed, being ourselves free. The people 

 here have behaved splendidly, and we rejoice that we 

 have been here to witness such noble conduct. No 

 nation ever made such progress as the Tuscans have 

 done since the year 48. Not a word of republicanism, it 

 has never been named. All they want is a constitutional 

 government, and this they are quietly settling 



FROM MRS. SOMERVILLE TO W. GKEIG, ESQ. 



FLORENCE, 29th May, 1859. 



Everything is perfectly quiet here; 



the Tuscans are giving money liberally for carrying on 

 the war. We have bought quantities of old linen, and 

 your sisters and I spend the day in making lint and 

 bandages for the wounded soldiers ; great quantities have 

 already been sent to Piedmont. Hitherto the war has 

 been favourable to the allied army. God grant that 

 England may not enter into the contest till the Austrians 

 are driven out of Italy ! After that point has been gained, 



