BRITANNIA IN ITALY.
ITO THE EDITOR OP THE SPECTATOR.") SIR,—The reproduction of Flaxman'a model of a colossal statue of Britannia which you published some time ago brought to my mind on allegorkal figure of, I think, remarkable dignity and significance of which I now send you a photograph, taken from the original in my posseseion. It is one of the celebrated political cartoons in the humoristic journal milled Don Pirlonc, which appeared in Rome durieg the Roman Republic of 1899. These cartoons are now very rare; I have au almost complete set. Of course, the date and place of the issue of the design greatly inercose its interest. The sea at the buck suggests that Itnly then well understood the importance of England's sea-power to the cause of liberty. The legend, Legge c Forza, and the inscription beneath, La Forte Rritonnia, could hardly be better chosen to-slay. I may add- that every other European Power comes in for the most seething lapidation in Don Pirlones pictures.
I have also the earliest numbers of Mranini's organ, after the fall of the Republic, L'Italia del ropolo, printed at Lausanne, the possession of which in the years following was enough to send n man to prison, if not to execution. The first number (September, 1849) contains an address to the English people, which I have never seen reproduced in any work on that period. The address was written by Cherlea Dickens, and is signed by twenty-three notable persons, including Thackeray, Milner Gibson, Richard Cobden. T. S. Duncombe, J. Forster, W. Sheen, J. Stansfeld, and IV. H. Ashurst, Mansini's devoted friend. It appeals to the generosity of the British public for the exiles and to their sense of justice for honour to the fallen in Ell noble a cause.
I am glad to mention that it is within my knowledge that the extensive correspondence of Massini with the Ashurst family is in good hands, and there is hope of its seeing the light some day.—I am, Sir, Ix.,
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