ture, the devil's in't if such proofs as we have given of both
can't furnish out something better than the 'funeral baked meats'
which have coldly set forth the breakfast table of all Great
Britain for so many years. Now, what think you? Let me know; and
recollect that, if we take to such an enterprise, we must do so in
good earnest. Here is a hint,--do you make it a plan. We will
modify it into as literary and classical a concern as you please,
only let us put out our powers upon it, and it will most likely
succeed. But you must _live_ in London, and I also, to bring it to
bear, and _we must keep it a secret_.

"As for the living in London, I would make that not difficult to
you (if you would allow me), until we could see whether one means
or other (the success of the plan, for instance) would not make it
quite easy for you, as well as your family; and, in any case, we
should have some fun, composing, correcting, supposing, inspecting,
and supping together over our lucubrations. If you think this worth
a thought, let me know, and I will begin to lay in a small literary
capital of composition for the occasion.

"Yours ever affectionately,

"B.

"P.S. If you thought of a middle plan between a _Spectator_ and a
newspaper, why not?--only not on a _Sunday_. Not that Sunday is not
an excellent day, but it is engaged already. We will call it the
'Tenda Rossa,' the name Tassoni gave an answer of his in a
controversy, in allusion to the delicate hint of Timour the Lame,
to his enemies, by a 'Tenda' of that colour, before he gave battle.
Or we will call it 'Gli,' or 'I Carbonari,' if it so please you--or
any other name full of 'pastime and prodigality,' which you may
prefer. Let me have an answer. I conclude poetically, with the
bellman, 'A merry Christmas to you!'"

* * * * *

The year 1820 was an era signalised, as will be remembered, by the many
efforts of the revolutionary spirit which, at that time, broke forth,
like ill-suppressed fire, throughout the greater part of the South of
Europe. In Italy, Naples had already raised the Constitutional standard,
and her example was fast operating through the whole of that country.
Throughout Romagna, secret societies, under the name of Carbonari, had
been organised, which waited but the word of their chie