"Ravenna, April 16. 1820.
"Post after post arrives without bringing any acknowledgment from
you of the different packets (excepting the first) which I sent
within the last two months, all of which ought to be arrived long
ere now; and as they were announced in other letters, you ought at
least to say whether they are come or not. You are not expected to
write frequent, or long letters, as your time is much occupied; but
when parcels that have cost some pains in the composition, and
great trouble in the copying, are sent to you, I should at least be
put out of suspense, by the immediate acknowledgment, per return of
post, addressed _directly_ to _Ravenna_. I am naturally--knowing
what continental posts are--anxious to hear that they are arrived;
especially as I loathe the task of copying so much, that if there
was a human being that could copy my blotted MSS. he should have
all they can ever bring for his trouble. All I desire is two lines,
to say, such a day I received such a packet. There are at least six
unacknowledged. This is neither kind nor courteous.
"I have, besides, another reason for desiring you to be speedy,
which is, that there is THAT brewing in Italy which will speedily
cut off all security of communication, and set all your
Anglo-travellers flying in every direction, with their usual
fortitude in foreign tumults. The Spanish and French affairs have
set the Italians in a ferment; and no wonder: they have been too
long trampled on. This will make a sad scene for your exquisite
traveller, but not for the resident, who naturally wishes a people
to redress itself. I shall, if permitted by the natives, remain to
see what will come of it, and perhaps to take a turn with them,
like Dugald Dalgetty and his horse, in case of business; for I
shall think it by far the most interesting spectacle and moment in
existence, to see the Italians send the barbarians of all nations
back to their own dens. I have lived long enough among them to feel
more for them as a nation than for any other people in existence.
But they want union, and they want principle; and I doubt their
success. However, they will try, probably, and if they do, it will
be a good cause. No Italian can hate an Austrian more than I do:
unless it be the English, the Austrians seem to me the most
obnoxious race under the sky.
"But I doubt, if any thing be done, it won't be so quietly as in
Spain. To be sure, revolutions are not to be made with rose-water,
where there are foreigners as masters.
"Write while you can; for it is but the toss up of a paul that
there will not be a row that will somewhat retard the mail by and
by.
"Yours," &c.
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