raw back the head,
notwithstanding it was held forward by the hair, the first head was
cut off close to the ears: the other two were taken off more
cleanly. It is better than the oriental way, and (I should think)
than the axe of our ancestors. The pain seems little, and yet the
effect to the spectator, and the preparation to the criminal, is
very striking and chilling. The first turned me quite hot and
thirsty, and made me shake so that I could hardly hold the
opera-glass (I was close, but was determined to see, as one should
see every thing, once, with attention); the second and third (which
shows how dreadfully soon things grow indifferent), I am ashamed to
say, had no effect on me as a horror, though I would have saved
them if I could. Yours," &c.

* * * * *

LETTER 281. TO MR. MURRAY.

"Venice, June 4. 1817.

"I have received the proofs of the 'Lament of Tasso,' which makes
me hope that you have also received the reformed third Act of
Manfred, from Rome, which I sent soon after my arrival there. My
date will apprise you of my return home within these few days. For
me, I have received _none_ of your packets, except, after long
delay, the 'Tales of my Landlord,' which I before acknowledged. I
do not at all understand the _why nots_, but so it is; no Manuel,
no letters, no tooth-powder, no _extract_ from Moore's Italy
concerning Marino Faliero, no NOTHING--as a man hallooed out at one
of Burdett's elections, after a long ululatus of 'No Bastille! No
governor-ities! No--'God knows who or what;--but his _ne plus
ultra_ was, 'No nothing!'--and my receipts of your packages amount
to about his meaning. I want the extract from _Moore's_ Italy very
much, and the tooth-powder, and the magnesia; I don't care so much
about the poetry, or the letters, or Mr. Maturin's by-Jasus
tragedy. Most of the things sent by the post have come--I mean
proofs and letters; therefore send me Marino Faliero by the post,
in a letter.

"I was delighted with Rome, and was on horseback all round it many
hours daily, besides in it the rest of my time, bothering over its
marvels. I excursed and skirred the country round to Alba, Tivoli,
Frescati, Licenza, &c. &c.; besides, I visited twice the Fall of
Terni, which beats every thing. On my