Public A/airs. 821 



young King of Naples seems to follow the footsteps of 

 his father ; I hope in God that we may not protect and 

 defend him. How anxious we are to know what the 

 House of Commons will do ! Let us hope they will take 

 the liberal side ; but the conservative party seems to be 

 increasing. 



FEOM MRS. SOMERVILLE TO W. GREIG, ESQ. 



FLOEENCE, 22nd August, 1859. 

 ...... Public affairs go on admirably. A 



few weeks ago the elections took place of the members 

 of the Tuscan parliament with a calm and tranquillity of 

 which you have no idea. Every proprietor who pays 

 15 pauls of taxes (75 pence) has a vote. There are 180 

 members, consisting of the most ancient nobility, the 

 richest proprietors, the most distinguished physicians 

 and law} 7 ers, and the most respectable merchants. They 

 hold their meetings in the magnificent hall of the 

 Palazzo Vecchio - the Sala Dei Cinquecento. The first 

 two or three days were employed in choosing a president, 

 &c., &c. ; then a day was named to determine the fate of 

 the house of Lorraine. I could not go, but Martha went 

 with a Tuscan friend. There was no speaking ; the vote 

 was by ballot, and each member separately went up to a 

 table before the president, and silently put his ball into 

 a large vase. Two members poured the balls into a tray, 

 and on examination, said, " No division is necessary ; 

 they are all black," which was followed by long and 

 loud cheering. They have been equally unanimous in the 

 Legations in Parma and Modena ; and the wish of the 

 people is to form one kingdom of these four states under 



