26 MARCH 1864, Page 14

CARLYLE, MAZZINI, AND MR. STANSFELD. To THE EDITOR OF THE

"SPECTATOR." SIR,-About twenty years ago the following letter appeared in the Times. It shows what opinion was then entertained by its distinguished writer of the character of Signor Mazzini. Mr. Carlyle is leas likely than most men to be anybody's dupe. His preferences are for strong governments, Rhadamanthine despotisms, &c., not for "Italian democracies" or Red Republicanisms. His judgment is not, than, biassed by the influence of a common

political faith. However reprehensible Mr. Stansfeld's official indiscretion, can we be surprised at his admiring friendship for the patriotic exile-who, if he did not originate, at least developed and propagated, the conception of Italian nationality which Napoleon III. has helped to realize-when the sarcastic, sceptical, anti: republican biographer of Frederick the Great could thus record his impressions of their common acquaintance?