Certainly the subject of the war is very absorbing; we are all here in a state of tremblement about it.
Dr.Harding has a son at Sebastopol, who has had already three horses killed under him.

What hideous carnage! The allies are plainly numerically too weak, and the two governments are much blamed for not reinforcing long ago.

I am discontented about Austria.

I don't like handshaking with Austria; I would rather be picking her pocket of her Italian provinces; and, while upon such civil terms, how _can_ we?
Yet somebody, who professes to know everything, told somebody at Paris, who professes to tell everything, that Louis Napoleon and Lord Palmerston talked much the other day about what is to be done for Italy; and here in Italy we have long been all opening our mouths like so many young thrushes in a nest, expecting some 'worme small' from your Emperor.

Now, if there's an Austrian alliance instead!...
Do you hear from Mr.Kingsley?
and, if so, how is his wife?
I am reading now Mrs.Stowe's 'Sunny Memories,' and like the naturalness and simplicity of the book much, in spite of the provincialism of the tone of mind and education, and the really wretched writing.