1852-55 The middle of November found the travellers back again in Florence, and it was nearly three years before they again quitted Italy.

No doubt, after the excitement of the _coup d'etat_ in Paris, and the subsequent manoeuvres of Louis Napoleon, which culminated in this very month in his exchanging the title of President for that of Emperor, Florence must have seemed very quiet, if not dull.

The political movement there was dead; the Grand Duke, restored by Austrian bayonets, had abandoned all pretence at reform and constitutional progress.

In Piedmont, Cavour had just been summoned to the head of the administration, but there were no signs as yet of the use he was destined to make of his power.

Of politics, therefore, we hear little for the present.
Nor is there much to note at this time in respect of literature.