OPPOSITE to Buffalora lies San Martino. Here the Lombard brigadier spoke
of the Piedmontese carabineers, saluted me, and repassed the bridge.
“Let us go to Novara!” I said to the Vetturino.
“Have the goodness to stay a moment,” said a carabineer. I found I was
not yet free; and was much vexed, being apprehensive it would retard my
arrival at the long-desired home. After waiting about a quarter of an
hour, a gentleman came forward and requested to be allowed to accompany
us as far as Novara. He had already missed one opportunity; there was no
other conveyance than mine; and he expressed himself exceedingly happy
that I permitted him to avail himself of it.
This carabineer in disguise was very good-humoured, and kept me company
as far as Novara. Having reached that city, and feigning we were going
to an hotel, he stopt at the barracks of the carabineers, and I was told
there was a bed for me, and that I must wait the arrival of further
orders. Concluding that I was to set off the next day, I went to bed,
and after chatting some time with my host, I fell fast asleep; and it was
long since I had slept so profoundly.
I awoke towards morning, rose as quickly as possible, and found the hours
hang heavy on my hands. I took my breakfast, chatted, walked about the
apartment and over the lodge, cast my eye over the host’s books, and
finally,—a visitor was announced. An officer had come to give me tidings
respecting my father, and inform me that there was a letter from him,
lying for me at Novara. I was exceedingly grateful to him for this act
of humane courtesy. After a few hours, which to me appeared ages, I
received my father’s letter. Oh what joy to behold that hand-writing
once more! what joy to learn that the best of mothers was spared to me!
that my two brothers were alive, and also my eldest sister. Alas! my
young and gentle Marietta, who had immured herself in the convent of the
Visitazione, and of whom I had received so strange an account while a
prisoner, had been dead upwards of nine months. It was a consolation for
me to believe that I owed my liberty to all those who had never ceased to
love and to pray for me, and more especially to a beloved sister who had
died with every expression of the most edifying devotion. May the
Almighty reward her for the many sufferings she underwent, and in
particular for all the anxiety she experienced on my account.
Days passed on; yet no permission for me to quit Novara! On the morning
of the 16th of September, the desired order at length arrived, and all
superintendence over me by the carabineers ceased. It seemed strange! so
many years had now elapsed since I had been permitted to walk
unaccompanied by guards. I recovered some money; I received the
congratulations of some of my father’s friends, and set out about three
in the afternoon. The companions of my journey were a lady, a merchant,
an engraver, and two young painters; one of whom was both deaf and dumb.
These last were coming from Rome; and I was much pleased by hearing from
them that they were acquainted with the family of my friend Maroncelli,
for how pleasant a thing it is to be enabled to speak of those we love,
with some one not wholly indifferent to them.
We passed the night at Vercelli. The happy day, the 17th of September,
dawned at last. We pursued our journey; and how slow we appeared to
travel! it was evening before we arrived at Turin.
Who would attempt to describe the consolation I felt, the nameless
feelings of delight, when I found myself in the embraces of my father, my
mother, and my two brothers? My dear sister Giuseppina was not then with
them; she was fulfilling her duties at Chieri; but on hearing of my
felicity, she hastened to stay for a few days with our family, to make it
complete. Restored to these five long-sighed-for, and beloved objects of
my tenderness,—I was, and I still am, one of the most enviable of
mankind.
Now, therefore, for all my past misfortunes and sufferings, as well as
for all the good or evil yet reserved for me, may the providence of God
be blessed; of God, who renders all men, and all things, however opposite
the intentions of the actors, the wonderful instruments which He directs
to the greatest and best of purposes.
FOOTNOTES
{1} Piero Maroncelli da Forli, an excellent poet, and most amiable man,
who had also been imprisoned from political motives. The author speaks
of him at considerable length, as the companion of his sufferings, in
various parts of his work.
{2} A bailiff.
{3} A sort of scream peculiar to dumb children.
{4} Melchiorre Gioja, a native of Piacenza, was one of the most profound
writers of our times, principally upon subjects of public economy. Being
suspected of carrying on a secret correspondence, he was arrested in
1820, and imprisoned for a space of nine months. Among the more
celebrated of his works are those entitled, Nuovo prospetto delle Scienze
Economiche, Trattato del Merito e delle Ricompense, Dell’ Ingiuria e dei
Danni, Filosofia della Statistica, Ideologia e Esercizo Logico, Delle
Manifatture, Del Divorzio, Elementi di Filosofia, Nuovo Galateo, Qual
Governo convenga all’ Italia. This able writer died in the month of
January, 1829.
{5} The Count Luigi Porro was one of the most distinguished men of
Milan, and remarkable for the zeal and liberality with which he promoted
the cultivation of literature and the arts. Having early remarked the
excellent disposition of the youthful Pellico, the Count invited him to
reside in his mansion, and take upon himself the education of his sons,
uniformly considering him, at the same time, more in the light of a
friend than of a dependent. Count Porro himself subsequently fell under
the suspicions of the Austrian Government, and having betaken himself to
flight, was twice condemned to death (as contumacious), the first time
under the charge of _Carbonarism_, and the second time for a pretended
conspiracy. The sons of Count Porro are more than once alluded to by
their friend and tutor, as the author designates himself.
{6} This excellent tragedy, suggested by the celebrated episode in the
fifth canto of Dante’s _Inferno_, was received by the whole of Italy with
the most marked applause. Such a production at once raised the young
author to a high station in the list of Italy’s living poets.
{7} The Cavalier Giovanni Bodoni was one of the most distinguished among
modern printers. Becoming admirably skilled in his art, and in the
oriental languages, acquired in the college of the Propaganda at Rome, he
went to the Royal Printing Establishment at Parma, of which he took the
direction in 1813, and in which he continued till the period of his
death. In the list of the numerous works which he thence gave to the
world may be mentioned the _Pater Noster Poligletto_, the _Iliad_ in
Greek, the _Epithalamia Exoticis_, and the _Manuale Tipografico_, works
which will maintain their reputation to far distant times.
{8} The Count Bolza, of the lake of Como, who has continued for years in
the service of the Austrian Government, showing inexorable zeal in the
capacity of a Commissary of Police.
{9} The learning of Ugo Foscolo, and the reputation he acquired by his
_Hymn upon the Tombs_, his _Last Letters of Jecopo Ortis_, his
_Treatises_ upon Dante, Petrarch, Boccaccio, &c, are well-known in this
country, where he spent a considerable portion of his life, and died in
the year 1827.
{10} The Cavalier Vincenzo Monti stands at the head of the modern poets
of Italy. His stanzas on the _Death of Uge Basville_ obtained for him
the title of _Dante Redivivo_. His works, both in verse and prose, are
numerous, and generally acknowledged to be noble models in their several
styles. His tragedy of _Aristodemo_, takes the lead among the most
admirable specimens of the Italian drama. He died at Milan in the year
1829.
{11} Monsignor Lodovico di Breme, son of the Marquis of the same name, a
Piedmontese, an intimate friend of the celebrated Madame de Staël, of
Mons. Sismondi, &c, and a man of elevated sentiments, brilliant spirit,
high cultivation, and accomplishments.
{12} Don Pietro Borsieri, son of a judge of the Court of Appeal at
Milan, of which, previous to his receiving sentence of death, he was one
of the state secretaries. He is the author of several little works and
literary essays, all written with singular energy and chasteness of
language.
{13} La Signora Angiola.
{14} “Venezianina adolescente sbirra?”
{15} Tremerello, or the little trembler.
{16} Per capire che le lucciole non erano lanterne.
“To know that glowworms are not lanterns.”
{17} Buzzolai, a kind of small loaf.
{18} Odoardo Briche, a young man of truly animated genius, and the most
amiable disposition. He was the son of Mons. Briche, member of the
Constituent Assembly in France, who for thirty years past, had selected
Milan as his adopted country.
{19} Respecting Pietro Borsieri, Lodovico di Breme, and Count Porro,
mention has already been made. The Count Federico Confalonieri, of an
illustrious family of Milan, a man of immense intellect, and the firmest
courage, was also the most zealous promoter of popular institutions in
Lombardy. The Austrian Government, becoming aware of the aversion
entertained by the Count for the foreign yoke which pressed so heavily
upon his country, had him seized and handed over to the special
commissions, which sat in the years 1822 and 1823. By these he was
condemned to the severest of all punishments—imprisonment for life, in
the fortress of Spielberg, where, during six months of each weary year,
he is compelled by the excess of his sufferings to lie stretched upon a
wretched pallet, more dead than alive.
{20} The Count Camillo Laderchi, a member of one of the most
distinguished families of Faenza, and formerly prefect in the ex-kingdom
of Italy.
{21} Gian Domenico Romagnosi, a native of Piacenza, was for some years
Professor of Criminal Law, in the University of Pavia. He is the author
of several philosophical works, but more especially of the _Genesi del
Diritto Penale_, which spread his reputation both throughout and beyond
Italy. Though at an advanced age, he was repeatedly imprisoned and
examined on the charge of having belonged to a lodge of Freemasons; a
charge advanced against him by an ungrateful Tyrolese, who had initiated
him into, and favoured him as a fellow-member of, the same society, and
who had the audacity actually to sit as judge upon his _friend’s_ trial.
{22} The Count Giovanni Arrivabene, of Mantua, who, being in possession
of considerable fortune, made an excellent use of it, both as regarded
private acts of benevolence, and the maintenance of a school of mutual
instruction. But having more recently fallen under the displeasure of
the Government, he abandoned Italy, and during his exile employed himself
in writing, with rare impartiality, and admirable judgment, a work which
must be considered interesting to all engaged in alleviating the ills of
humanity, both here and in other countries. It is entitled, _Delle
Societa di Publica Beneficenza in Londra_.
{23} The Capitano Rezia, one of the best artillery officers in the
Italian army, son of Professor Rezia, the celebrated anatomist, whose
highly valuable preparations and specimens are to be seen in the
Anatomical Museum at Pavia.
{24} The Professor Ressi, who occupied, during several years, the chair
of Political Economy in the University at Pavia. He is the author of a
respectable work, published under the title of _Economica della Specie
Umana_. Having unfortunately attracted the suspicions of the Austrian
police, he was seized and committed to a dungeon, in which he died, about
a year from the period of his arrest, and while the special examinations
of the alleged conspirators were being held.
{25} Where charity and love are, God is present.
{26} The Devil! the Devil!