nding unconditional
disarmament, which was naturally refused. On the 29th Austria declared
war, and her troops crossed the Ticino--an act which Napoleon had
already announced would be considered as tantamount to a declaration of
war with France.

With regard to the tone of Mrs. Browning's letters during this period of
politics and war, there are a few considerations to be borne in mind.
Her two deepest political convictions were here united in one--her faith
in the honesty of Louis Napoleon, and her enthusiasm for Italian freedom
and unity. There were many persons in England, and some in Italy
itself, who held the latter of these faiths without the former; but for
such she had no tolerance. Hence not only those who sympathised, as no
doubt some Englishmen did sympathise, with Austria, but also those who,
while wishing well to Italy, looked with suspicion upon Napoleon's
interference, incurred her uncompromising wrath; and not even the
conference of Villafranca, not even the demand for Nice and Savoy, could
lead her to question Napoleon's sincerity, or to look with patience on
the English policy and English public opinion of that day. The instinct
of Italians has been truer. They have recognised the genuine sympathy
and support which England extended to them on many occasions during the
long struggle for Italian unity, and the friendship between the two
countries to-day has its root in the events of forty and fifty years
ago.

That Robert Browning did not entirely share his wife's views will be
clear to all readers of 'Prince Hohenstiel-Schwangau;' but there is not
the smallest sign that this caused the least shadow of disagreement
between them. Indeed for the moment the difference was practically
annulled, since Robert Browning believed, what was very probably the
case, that the Emperor's friendship for Italy was genuine, so far as it
went. But it may be believed that he was less surprised than she when
Napoleon's zeal for Italian independence stopped short at the frontiers
of Venetia, and was transformed into an anxiety to get out of the war
without further risk, and with an eye to material compensation in Savoy
and Nice.

It is also right to bear in mind the failing condition of Mrs.
Browning's health. The strain of anxiety unquestionably overtaxed her
strength, and probably told upon her mental tone in a way that may
account for much that seems exaggerated, and at times even hysterical,
in her expressions regardi