passes over the Appenine mountains, and by the tardy mode of travelling peculiar to the country, there being no public coaches, it requires six days. The highways in this neighbourhood are infested with banditti of the most ferocious character, and almost every day furnishes accounts of robberies and murders. On the 5th of January, 1819, they left Florence. The first three days were marked by no striking incident, but on the morning of the fourth, about dawn, their ears were accosted with a sudden discharge of fire-arms close to the carriage, which they soon found to proceed from the carbines of banditti. Previously to quitting Milan, our friend had taken the precaution to divide his gold, carrying part of it about his person, enveloped in a bandana handkerchief in the form of a belt, and the remainder in a portmanteau. He had also a number of Bank of England notes, which he carried in his pocket-book, with his passport, &c. The bandana soon attracted their attention, and its contents, 30 Napoleons, with his purse, &c. fell into their hands. His portmanteau being securely lashed to the imperial, escaped the plunderers, as well as his watch and pocket-book. It was within a league of Montifiascone where the attack was made. The robbers were interrupted in the height of their villainy, by the tramp of approaching horses, which proved to be the neighbouring peasantry commencing their daily toils; and retreated with precipitation to the impenetrable thickets of the Appenines. The travellers then proceeded on their journey to Rome, without experiencing further molestation.

On their arrival there, our countryman congratulated himself on his good fortune in having become acquainted with the Cavaliere V——, whose politeness and attentions were particularly grateful; and as Rome was the place of his residence, every object of interest and curiosity to be found there, was perfectly familiar to him. He introduced his American acquaintance to his father, who was a man of rank, living in splendour and opulence; and to his sisters, whose society the latter felt every disposition to cultivate. Thus various circumstances appeared to combine to render pleasant a residence in this celebrated metropolis, and to aid him in his contemplations among the remaining monuments of her former magnificence and power.

One morning having a leisure hour on his hands, our townsmen was engaged in his chamber counting his money, in order to ascertain the extent of his loss, sustained by the unwelcome visiters who had paid him their respects on the road; when the Cavaliere unceremoniously entered the room, and seeing a pocket-book in his hand, immediately inquired what he had lost. The fact was, that a 20 pound note of the Bank of England was missing, and as the pocket-book in which the notes were contained, was not discovered by the banditti, in their haste to make their escape, he concluded that it had been carelessly dropped at some time or other, and would never again be heard of; which he stated at once to his pseudo friend. The latter expressed some surprise, and evinced considerable embarrassment on the occasion. His quondam fellow tourist, however, made light of the matter, and endeavoured to change the conversation by stating, that he would ask the advice of his banker the duke of Torlonia, fortunately the only house in the habit of discounting English notes; and would also write to his banker in London, to have the payment stopped at the Bank of England. To this plan the Cavaliere strenuously objected, but said, that he knew a man in Rome, who would procure him the note if it was to be found; and in consequence of this suggestion, the application to the Duke was not made. Our traveller, reflecting on the circumstances connected with this interview, his being interrogated as to his loss before any intimation had been given that such loss had been sustained, the hurried and peculiar manner in which the inquiries were made, in addition to the fact that the Cavaliere was the only person who had seen them counted, and that he was careless of locking up his pocket-book, began to suspect, although his rank and standing might forbid it, that the gentleman knew something about the note. As the numbers of the different bills had been taken, there could not readily have been a mistake. A few days subsequently it was distinctly intimated, that the person to whom application had been made, knew where the note was. An interview with the conjurer was zealously urged, in the hope of visiting the thief with merited punishment. To this the Cavaliere replied, that he had pledged his honour that the affair should remain in profound secrecy, and that he would himself be responsible for the payment, and accordingly gave his note of hand for it payable in two days! After many days had elapsed without receiving the amount, the patience of our traveller was nearly exhausted, and under the influence of irritation, produced by the unprincipled conduct of this modern Roman, it was determined to disclose the whole transaction to his father. The subject was introduced with the utmost delicacy. The old gentleman, after hearing a detail of all the circumstances, coolly observed, that it was no business of his, and that his son would doubtless attend to it. He was then explicitly told, that respect for his supposed parental feelings had induced the reserve which he had witnessed; but as this reserve, it was perfectly apparent, was altogether unnecessary, the facts of the case should be made known, and the moral turpitude of his son publicly exposed.—The expression of this determination caused an immediate change of tone and manner; he was now all sensibility to the reputation of his son and that of his family, and gave a positive assurance that the money should be immediately forthcoming. Shortly after this conversation it was brought by his quondam friend, and was principally in various gold coins, which had probably been procured for him by a broker, on the lowest terms.

The family, in which our countryman resided, while at Rome, was highly agreeable; and the society of the lady, and her amiable daughters, was a source of pleasure to the gentlemen who lived in the house. On the evening of the day on which this affair was settled, he had taken his wonted seat in this interesting circle, which so delightfully reminded him of that which he had left at home, when the brother of the Cavaliere, who was invested with some office of dignity, entered in full dress. He very courteously and gracefully paid his respects to all the individuals composing the company, with the exception of the American, of whom, notwithstanding his being well acquainted with him, he took no notice whatever. He then intimated to the lady of the house, that he wished to speak with her in private. She accordingly withdrew, and very soon afterwards returned, and informed our tourist, that the gentleman desired to see him in the adjoining room. On entering, he was charged with attempting to sully the character of a family, which could trace its reputation and fame through a long line of noble ancestry; and that for this injustice, instant reparation should be made. He then drew his sword in a tempest of passion, but recollecting immediately, that his antagonist was unarmed, he sheathed it, and drew from his pocket a pair of pistols, with which he insisted they should fight without delay. By this time one of the party, alarmed by the noise occasioned by their altercation, hurried into the room, and on learning the cause which produced it, gave such explanations to the enraged Italian as were acknowledged to be perfectly satisfactory, as to the treatment his brother had received; and with a smile, which he could assume at pleasure, he took his leave. After his departure, the lady took occasion to caution our traveller against venturing out during the evening, assigning as a reason for this advice, that