’February23，1848。
’Whenat7o’clockto—dayIwentout，Imetalargebandgoingroundthestreets，callingontheinhabitantstoilluminatetheirhouses，andbearingtorches。Thiswasallverygoodfun，andeverybodywasdelighted;butastheystoppedratherlongandwereratherturbulentinthePlacedelaMadeleine，nearwherewelive’
[intheRueCaumartin]’asquadronofdragoonscameup，formed，andchargedatahand—gallop。Thiswasaveryprettysight;thecrowdwasnottoothick，sotheyeasilygotaway;andthedragoonsonlygaveblowswiththebackofthesword，whichhurtbutdidnotwound。IwasasclosetothemasIamnowtotheothersideofthetable;itwasratherimpressive，however。Atthesecondchargetheyrodeonthepavementandknockedthetorchesoutofthefellows’hands;ratherashame，too—wouldn’tbestoodinEngland……
[At]’tenminutestoten……IwentalongwayalongtheBoulevards，passingbytheofficeofForeignAffairs，whereGuizotlives，andwhereto—nighttherewereaboutathousandtroopsprotectinghimfromthefuryofthepopulace。Afterthiswaspassed，thenumberofthepeoplethickened，tillabouthalfamilefurtheron，Imetatroopofvagabonds，thewildestvagabondsintheworld—Parisvagabonds，wellarmed，havingprobablybrokenintogunsmiths’shopsandtakenthegunsandswords。Theywereaboutahundred。Thesewerefollowedbyaboutathousand（Iamratherdiminishingthanexaggeratingnumbersallthrough），indifferentlyarmedwithrustysabres，sticks，etc。Anuncountabletroopofgentlemen，workmen，shopkeepers’wives（Pariswomendareanything），ladies’maids，commonwomen—infact，acrowdofallclasses，thoughbyfarthegreaternumberwereofthebetterdressedclass—followed。Indeed，itwasasplendidsight：themobinfrontchantingthe\"MARSEILLAISE，\"thenationalwarhymn，graveandpowerful，sweetenedbythenightair—thoughnightinthesesplendidstreetswasturnedintoday，everywindowwasfilledwithlamps，dimtorchesweretossinginthecrowd……forGuizothaslatethisnightgiveninhisresignation，andthiswasanimprovisedillumination。
’Iandmyfatherhadturnedwiththecrowd，andwereclosebehindthesecondtroopofvagabonds。Joywasoneveryface。Iremarkedtopapathat\"Iwouldnothavemissedthesceneforanything，I
mightneverseesuchasplendidone，\"whenPLONGwentoneshot—
everyfacewentpale—R—R—R—R—Rwentthewholedetachment，[and]
thewholecrowdofgentlemenandladiesturnedandcut。Suchascene！—ladies，gentlemen，andvagabondswentsprawlinginthemud，notshotbuttrippedup;andthosethatwentdowncouldnotrise，theyweretrampledover……Iranashorttimestraightonanddidnotfall，thenturneddownasidestreet，ranfiftyyardsandfelttolerablysafe;lookedforpapa，didnotseehim;sowalkedonquickly，givingthenewsasIwent。’[Itappears，fromanotherletter，theboywasthefirsttocarrywordofthefiringtotheRueSt。Honore;andthathisnewswhereverhebroughtitwasreceivedwithhurrahs。ItwasanoddentranceuponlifeforalittleEnglishlad，thustoplaythepartofrumourinsuchacrisisofthehistoryofFrance。]
’Butnowanewfearcameoverme。Ihadlittledoubtbutmypapawassafe，butmyfearwasthatheshouldarriveathomebeforemeandtellthestory;inthatcaseIknewmymammawouldgohalfmadwithfright，soonIwentasquickaspossible。Iheardnomoredischarges。WhenIgothalfwayhome，Ifoundmywayblockedupbytroops。ThatwayortheBoulevardsImustpass。IntheBoulevardstheywerefighting，andIwasafraidallotherpassagesmightbeblockedup……andIshouldhavetosleepinahotelinthatcase，andthenmymamma—however，afteralongDETOUR，Ifoundapassageandranhome，andinourstreetjoinedpapa。
’……I’lltellyouto—morrowtheotherfactsgatheredfromnewspapersandpapa……TonightIhavegivenyouwhatIhaveseenwithmyowneyesanhourago，andbegantremblingwithexcitementandfear。IfIhavebeentoolongonthisonesubject，itisbecauseitisyetbeforemyeyes。
’Monday，24。
’Itwasthatfireraisedthepeople。TherewasfightingallthroughthenightintheRueNotreDamedeLorette，ontheBoulevardswheretheyhadbeenshotat，andatthePorteSt。Denis。
Atteno’clock，theyresignedthehouseoftheMinisterofForeignAffairs（wherethedisastrousvolleywasfired）tothepeople，whoimmediatelytookpossessionofit。Iwenttoschool，but[was]
hardlytherewhentherowinthatquartercommenced。Barricadesbegantobefixed。Everyonewasverygravenow;theEXTERNESwentaway，butnoonecametofetchme，soIhadtostay。Nolessonscouldgoon。Atroopofarmedmentookpossessionofthebarricades，soitwassupposedIshouldhavetosleepthere。Therevolterscameandaskedforarms，butDeluc（head—master）isaNationalGuard，andhesaidhehadonlyhisownandhewantedthem;
buthesaidhewouldnotfireonthem。Thentheyaskedforwine，whichhegavethem。Theytookgoodcarenottogetdrunk，knowingtheywouldnotbeabletofight。Theywereverypoliteandbehavedextremelywell。
’About12o’clockaservantcameforaboywholivednearme，[and]
Delucthoughtitbesttosendmewithhim。Weheardagooddealoffiringnear，butdidnotcomeacrossanyoftheparties。Asweapproachedtherailway，thebarricadeswerenolongerformedofpalings，planks，orstones;buttheyhadgotalltheomnibusesastheypassed，sentthehorsesandpassengersabouttheirbusiness，andturnedthemover。Adoublerowofoverturnedcoachesmadeacapitalbarricade，withafewpavingstones。
’WhenIgothomeIfoundtomyastonishmentthatinourfightingquarteritwasmuchquieter。MammahadjustbeenoutseeingthetroopsinthePlacedelaConcorde，whensuddenlytheMunicipalGuard，nowfairlyexasperated，preventedtheNationalGuardfromproceeding，andfiredatthem;theNationalGuardhadcomewiththeirmusketsnotloaded，butatlengthreturnedthefire。MammasawtheNationalGuardfire。TheMunicipalGuardwereroundthecorner。Shewasdelightedforshesawnopersonkilled，thoughmanyoftheMunicipalswere……
’Iimmediatelywentoutwithmypapa（mammahadjustcomebackwithhim）andwenttothePlacedelaConcorde。TherewasanenormousquantityoftroopsinthePlace。SuddenlythegatesofthegardensoftheTuileriesopened：werushedforward，outgalloppedanenormousnumberofcuirassiers，inthemiddleofwhichwereacoupleoflowcarriages，saidfirsttocontaintheCountdeParisandtheDuchessofOrleans，butafterwardstheysaiditwastheKingandQueen;andthenIheardhehadabdicated。Ireturnedandgavethenews。
’WentoutagainuptheBoulevards。ThehouseoftheMinisterofForeignAffairswasfilledwithpeopleand\"HOTELDUPEUPLE\"
writtenonit;theBoulevardswerebarricadedwithfineoldtreesthatwerecutdownandstretchedallacrosstheroad。Wewentthroughagreatmanylittlestreets，allstronglybarricaded，andsentinelsofthepeopleattheprincipalofthem。Thestreetswereveryunquiet，filledwitharmedmenandwomen，forthetroopshadfollowedtheex—KingtoNeuillyandleftParisinthepowerofthepeople。WemetthecaptainoftheThirdLegionoftheNationalGuard（whohadprincipallyprotectedthepeople），badlywoundedbyaMunicipalGuard，stretchedonalitter。Hewasinpossessionofhissenses。Hewassurroundedbyatroopofmencrying\"Ourbravecaptain—wehavehimyet—he’snotdead！VIVELAREFORME！\"Thiscrywasrespondedtobyall，andeveryonesalutedhimashepassed。Idonotknowifhewasmortallywounded。ThatThirdLegionhasbehavedsplendidly。
’Ithenreturned，andshortlyafterwardswentoutagaintothegardenoftheTuileries。Theyweregivenuptothepeopleandthepalacewasbeingsacked。Thepeoplewerefiringblankcartridgestotestifytheirjoy，andtheyhadacannononthetopofthepalace。Itwasasighttoseeapalacesackedandarmedvagabondsfiringoutofthewindows，andthrowingshirts，papers，anddressesofallkindsoutofthewindows。Theyarenotrogues，theseFrench;theyarenotstealing，burning，ordoingmuchharm。IntheTuileriestheyhavedressedupsomeofthestatues，brokensome，andstolennothingbutqueerdresses。Isay，Frank，youmustnothatetheFrench;hatetheGermansifyoulike。TheFrenchlaughatusalittle，andcalloutGODDAMinthestreets;butto—day，incivilwar，whentheymighthaveputabulletthroughourheads，I
neverwasinsultedonce。
’AtpresentwehaveaprovisionalGovernment，consistingofOdion[SIC]Barrot，Lamartine，Marast，andsomeothers;amongthemacommonworkman，butveryintelligent。Thisisatriumphofliberty—rather！
’Nowthen，Frank，whatdoyouthinkofit？Iinarevolutionandoutallday。Justthink，whatfun！Soitwasatfirst，tillIwasfiredatyesterday;butto—dayIwasnotfrightened，butitturnedmesickatheart，Idon’tknowwhy。Therehasbeennogreatbloodshed，[though]Icertainlyhaveseenmen’sbloodseveraltimes。Butthere’ssomethingshockingtoseeawholearmedpopulace，thoughnotfurious，fornotonesingleshophasbeenbrokenopen，exceptthegunsmiths’shops，andmostofthearmswillprobablybetakenbackagain。FortheFrenchhavenocupidityintheirnature;theydon’tliketosteal—itisnotintheirnature。
Ishallsendthisletterinadayortwo，whenIamsurethepostwillgoagain。IknowIhavebeenalongtimewriting，butIhopeyouwillfindthematterofthisletterinteresting，ascomingfromapersonresidentonthespot;thoughprobablyyoudon’ttakemuchinterestintheFrench，butIcanthink，write，andspeakonnoothersubject。
’Feb。25。
’Thereisnomorefighting，thepeoplehaveconquered;butthebarricadesarestillkeptup，andthepeopleareinarms，morethaneverfearingsomenewactoftreacheryonthepartoftheex—King。
ThefightwhereIwaswastheprincipalcauseoftheRevolution。I
wasinlittledangerfromtheshot，fortherewasanimmensecrowdinfrontofme，thoughquitewithingunshot。[Byanotherletter，ahundredyardsfromthetroops。]IwishedIhadstoppedthere。
’TheParisstreetsarefilledwiththemostextraordinarycrowdsofmen，womenandchildren，ladiesandgentlemen。Everypersonjoyful。Thebandsofarmedmenareperfectlypolite。Mammaandauntto—daywalkedthrougharmedcrowdsalone，thatwerefiringblankcartridgesinalldirections。Everypersonmadewaywiththegreatestpoliteness，andonecommonmanwithablouse，comingbyaccidentagainstherimmediatelystoppedtobegherpardoninthepolitestmanner。Therearefewdrunkenmen。TheTuileriesisstillbeingrunoverbythepeople;theyonlybroketwothings，abustofLouisPhilippeandoneofMarshalBugeaud，whofiredonthepeople……
’Ihavebeenoutalldayagainto—day，andprecioustiredIam。
TheRepublicanpartyseemthestrongest，andaregoingaboutwithredribbonsintheirbutton—holes……
’Thetitleof\"Mister\"isabandoned;theysaynothingbut\"Citizen，\"andthepeopleareshakinghandsamazingly。Theyhavegottothetopofthepublicmonuments，and，minglingwithbronzeorstonestatues，fiveorsixmakeasortofTABLEAUVIVANT，thetopmanholdinguptheredflagoftheRepublic;andrightwelltheydoit，andverypicturesquetheylook。IthinkIshallputthisletterinthepostto—morrowaswegotaletterto—night。
（OnEnvelope。）
’M。LamartinehasnowbyhiseloquenceconqueredthewholearmedcrowdofcitizensthreateningtokillhimifhedidnotimmediatelyproclaimtheRepublicandredflag。HesaidhecouldnotyieldtothecitizensofParisalone，thatthewholecountrymustbeconsulted;thathechosethetricolour，forithadfollowedandaccompaniedthetriumphsofFranceallovertheworld，andthattheredflaghadonlybeendippedinthebloodofthecitizens。Forsixtyhourshehasbeenquietingthepeople：heisattheheadofeverything。Don’tbeprejudiced，Frank，bywhatyouseeinthepapers。TheFrenchhaveactednobly，splendidly;therehasbeennobrutality，plundering，orstealing……IdidnotliketheFrenchbefore;butinthisrespecttheyarethefinestpeopleintheworld。Iamsogladtohavebeenhere。’
Andthereonecouldwishtostopwiththisapotheosisoflibertyandorderreadwiththegenerousenthusiasmofaboy;butasthereaderknows，itwasbutthefirstactofthepiece。Theletters，vividastheyare，writtenastheywerebyahandtremblingwithfearandexcitement，yetdoinjustice，intheirboyishnessoftone，totheprofoundeffectproduced。Atthesoundofthesesongsandshotofcannon，theboy’smindawoke。HedatedhisownappreciationoftheartofactingfromthedaywhenhesawandheardRachelrecitethe’MARSEILLAISE’attheFrancais，thetricolourinherarms。Whatisstillmorestrange，hehadbeenuptotheninvinciblyindifferenttomusic，insomuchthathecouldnotdistinguish’GodsavetheQueen’from’BonnieDundee’;andnow，tothechantingofthemob，heamazedhisfamilybylearningandsinging’MOURIRPOURLAPATRIE。’Buttheletters，thoughtheypreparethemindfornosuchrevolutionintheboy’stastesandfeelings，areyetfullofentertainingtraits。LetthereadernoteFleeming’seagernesstoinfluencehisfriendFrank，anincipientTory（noless）asfurtherhistorydisplayed;hisunconsciousindifferencetohisfatheranddevotiontohismother，betrayedinsomanysignificantexpressionsandomissions;thesenseofdignityofthisdiminutive’personresidentonthespot，’whowassohappyastoescapeinsult;andthestrangepictureofthehousehold—
father，mother，son，andevenpoorAuntAnna—alldayinthestreetsinthethickofthisroughbusiness，andtheboypackedoffalonetoschoolinadistantquarterontheverymorrowofthemassacre。
Theyhadallthegiftofenjoyinglife’stextureasitcomes;theywereallbornoptimists。Thenameoflibertywashonouredinthatfamily，itsspiritalso，butwithinstringentlimits;andsomeoftheforeignfriendsofMrs。Jenkinwere，asIhavesaid，mendistinguishedontheLiberalside。LikeWordsworth，theybeheldFrancestandingonthetopofgoldenhoursAndhumannatureseemingbornagain。
Atonce，bytemperandbelief，theywereformedtofindtheirelementinsuchadecentandwhiggishconvulsion，spectacularinitscourse，moderateinitspurpose。Forthem，Blisswasitinthatdawntobealive，Buttobeyoungwasveryheaven。
AndIcannotbutsmilewhenIthinkthat（againlikeWordsworth）
theyshouldhavesospeciallydislikedtheconsequence。
Itcameuponthembysurprise。Liberalfriendsofthepreciserightshadeofcolourhadassuredthem，inMrs。Turner’sdrawing—
room，thatallwasforthebest;andtheyroseonJanuary23
withoutfear。Aboutthemiddleofthedaytheyheardthesoundofmusketry，andthenextmorningtheywerewakenedbythecannonade。
TheFrenchwhohadbehavedso’splendidly，’pausing，atthevoiceofLamartine，justwherejudiciousLiberalscouldhavedesired—
theFrench，whohad’nocupidityintheirnature，’werenowabouttoplayavariationonthethemerebellion。TheJenkinstookrefugeinthehouseofMrs。Turner，thehouseofthefalseprophets，’AnnagoingwithMrs。Turner，thatshemightbepreventedspeakingEnglish，Fleeming，MissH。andI（itisthemotherwhowrites）walkingtogether。AswereachedtheRuedeClichy，thereportofthecannonsoundedclosetoourearsandmadeourheartssick，Iassureyou。ThefightingwasatthebarrierRochechouart，afewstreetsoff。AllSaturdayandSundaywewereapreytogreatalarm，therecamesomanyreportsthattheinsurgentsweregettingtheupperhand。Onecouldtellthestateofaffairsfromtheextremequietorthesuddenhuminthestreet。Whenthenewswasbad，allthehousesclosedandthepeopledisappeared;whenbetter，thedoorshalfopenedandyouheardthesoundofmenagain。FromtheupperwindowswecouldseeeachdischargefromtheBastille—I
meanthesmokerising—andalsotheflamesandsmokefromtheBoulevardlaChapelle。Wewerefourladies，andonlyFleemingbywayofaman，anddifficultyenoughwehadtokeephimfromjoiningtheNationalGuards—hisprideandspiritwerebothfired。Youcannotpicturetoyourselfthemultitudesofsoldiers，guards，andarmedmenofallsortswewatched—notclosetothewindow，however，forsuchhavochadbeenmadeamongthembythefiringfromthewindows，thatasthebattalionsmarchedby，theycried，\"Fermezvosfenetres！\"anditwasverypainfultowatchtheirlooksofanxietyandsuspicionastheymarchedby。’
’TheRevolution，’writesFleemingtoFrankScott，’wasquitedelightful：gettingpoppedatandrunatbyhorses，andgivingsousforthewoundedintolittleboxesguardedbytheraggedest，picturesquest，delightfullest，sentinels;buttheinsurrection！
ugh，Ishuddertothinkat[SIC]it。’Hefoundit’notabitoffunsittingboxedupinthehousefourdaysalmost……IwastheonlyGENTLEMANtofourladies，anddidn’ttheykeepmeinorder！I
didnotdaretoshowmyfaceatawindow，forfearofcatchingastrayballorbeingforcedtoentertheNationalGuard;[for]theywouldhaveitIwasamanfull—grown，French，andeverywayfittofight。Andmymammawasasbadasanyofthem;shethattoldmeI
wasacowardlasttimeifIstayedinthehouseaquarterofanhour！ButIdrew，examinedthepistols，ofwhichIfoundlotswithcaps，powder，andball，whilesometimesmurderousintentionsofkillingadozeninsurgentsanddyingviolentlyoverpoweredbynumbers……’Wemaydropthissentencehere：undertheconductofitsboyishwriter，itwastoreachnolegitimateend。
FourdaysofsuchadisciplinehadcuredthefamilyofParis;thesameyearFleemingwastowrite，inanswerapparentlytoaquestionofFrankScott’s，’IcouldfindnonationalgameinFrancebutrevolutions’;andthewitticismwasjustifiedintheirexperience。
Onthefirstpossibleday，theyappliedforpassports，andwereadvisedtotaketheroadtoGeneva。ItappearsitwasscarcesafetoleaveParisforEngland。CharlesReade，withkeendramaticgusto，hadjustsmuggledhimselfoutofthatcityinthebottomofacab。Englishgoldhadbeenfoundontheinsurgents，thenameofEnglandwasinevilodour;anditwasthus—forstrategicreasons，sotospeak—thatFleemingfoundhimselfonthewaytothatItalywherehewastocompletehiseducation，andforwhichhecherishedtotheendaspecialkindness。
ItwasinGenoatheysettled;partlyforthesakeofthecaptain，whomighttherefindnavalcomrades;partlybecauseoftheRuffinis，whohadbeenfriendsofMrs。Jenkinintheirtimeofexileandwerenowconsiderablemenathome;partly，infine，withhopesthatFleemingmightattendtheUniversity;inpreparationforwhichhewasputatoncetoschool。ItwastheyearofNovara;
MazziniwasinRome;thedrybonesofItalyweremoving;andforpeopleofalertandliberalsympathiesthetimewasinspiriting。
WhatwithexilesturnedMinistersofState，universitiesthrownopentoProtestants，FleeminghimselfthefirstProtestantstudentinGenoa，andthus，ashismotherwrites，’alivinginstanceoftheprogressofliberalideas’—itwaslittlewonderiftheenthusiasticyoungwomanandthecleverboywereheartandsouluponthesideofItaly。Itshouldnotbeforgottenthattheywerebothontheirfirstvisittothatcountry;themotherstillchildenough’tobedelightedwhenshesawrealmonks’;andbothmotherandsonthrillingwiththefirstsightofsnowyAlps，theblueMediterranean，andthecrowdedportandthepalacesofGenoa。Norwastheirzealwithoutknowledge。Ruffini，deputyforGenoaandsoontobeheadoftheUniversity，wasattheirside;andbymeansofhimthefamilyappeartohavehadaccesstomuchItaliansociety。Totheend，FleemingprofessedhisadmirationofthePiedmonteseandhisunalterableconfidenceinthefutureofItalyundertheirconduct;forVictorEmanuel，Cavour，thefirstLaMarmoraandGaribaldi，hehadvaryingdegreesofsympathyandpraise：perhapshighestfortheKing，whosegoodsenseandtemperfilledhimwithrespect—perhapsleastforGaribaldi，whomhelovedbutyetmistrusted。
Butthisistolookforward：thesewerethedaysnotofVictorEmanuelbutofCharlesAlbert;anditwasonCharlesAlbertthatmotherandsonhadnowfixedtheireyesasonthesword—bearerofItaly。OnFleeming’ssixteenthbirthday，theywere，themotherwrites，’ingreatanxietyfornewsfromthearmy。Youcanhavenoideawhatitistoliveinacountrywheresuchastruggleisgoingon。Theinterestisonethatabsorbsallothers。Weeat，drink，andsleeptothenoiseofdrumsandmusketry。YouwouldenjoyandalmostadmireFleeming’senthusiasmandearnestness—and，courage，Imaysay—forweareamongthesmallminorityofEnglishwhosidewiththeItalians。Theotherday，atdinnerattheConsul’s，boyasheis，andinspiteofmyadmonitions，FleemingdefendedtheItaliancause，andsowellthathe\"trippeduptheheelsofhisadversary\"simplyfrombeingwell—informedonthesubjectandhonest。Heisastrueassteel，andfornoonewillhebendrightorleft……DonotfancyhimaBobadil，’sheadds，’heisonlyaverytrue，candidboy。Iamsogladheremainsinallrespectsbutinformationagreatchild。’
Ifthisletteriscorrectlydated，thecausewasalreadylostandtheKinghadalreadyabdicatedwhentheselineswerewritten。NosoonerdidthenewsreachGenoa，thantherebegan’tumultuousmovements’;andtheJenkins’receivedhintsitwouldbewisetoleavethecity。Buttheyhadfriendsandinterests;eventhecaptainhadEnglishofficerstokeephimcompany，forLordHardwicke’sship，theVENGEANCE，layinport;andsupposingthedangertobereal，Icannotbutsuspectthewholefamilyofadividedpurpose，prudencebeingpossiblyweakerthancuriosity。
Stay，atleast，theydid，andthusroundedtheirexperienceoftherevolutionaryyear。OnSunday，April1，Fleemingandthecaptainwentforaramblebeyondthewalls，leavingAuntAnnaandMrs。
Jenkintowalkonthebastionswithsomefriends。Onthewayback，thispartyturnedasidetorestintheChurchoftheMadonnadelleGrazie。’Wehadremarked，’writesMrs。Jenkin，’theentireabsenceofsentinelsontheramparts，andhowthecannonswereleftinsolitarystate;andIhadjustremarked\"Howquieteverythingis！\"
whensuddenlyweheardthedrumsbegintobeatanddistantshouts。
ACCUSTOMEDASWEAREtorevolutions，weneverthoughtofbeingfrightened。’Forallthat，theyresumedtheirreturnhome。Onthewaytheysawmenrunningandvociferating，butnothingtoindicateageneraldisturbance，until，neartheDuke’spalace，theycameuponandpassedashoutingmobdraggingalongwithitthreecannon。
Ithadscarcelypassedbeforetheyheard’arushingsound’;oneofthegentlementhrustbackthepartyofladiesunderashed，andthemobpassedagain。Afine—lookingyoungmanwasintheirhands;andMrs。Jenkinsawhimwithhismouthopenasifhesoughttospeak，sawhimtossedfromonetoanotherlikeaball，andthensawhimnomore。’Hewasdeadafewinstantsafter，butthecrowdhidthatterrorfromus。Mykneesshookundermeandmysightleftme。’
Withthisstreettragedy，thecurtainroseupontheirsecondrevolution。
TheattackonSpiritoSanto，andthecapitulationanddepartureofthetroopsspeedilyfollowed。GenoawasinthehandsoftheRepublicans，andnowcameatimewhentheEnglishresidentswereinapositiontopaysomereturnforhospitalityreceived。Norweretheybackward。OurConsul（thesamewhohadthebenefitofcorrectionfromFleeming）carriedtheIntendenteonboardtheVENGEANCE，escortinghimthroughthestreets，gettingalongwithhimonboardashoreboat，andwhentheinsurgentslevelledtheirmuskets，standingupandnaminghimself，’CONSOLEINGLESE。’A
friendoftheJenkins’，CaptainGlynne，hadamorepainful，ifalessdramaticpart。OneColonelNosozzohadbeenkilled（Iread）
whiletryingtopreventhisownartilleryfromfiringonthemob;
butinthathell’scauldronofadistractedcity，therewerenodistinctionsmade，andtheColonel’swidowwashuntedforherlife。
Inhergriefandperil，theGlynnesreceivedandhidher;CaptainGlynnesoughtandfoundherhusband’sbodyamongtheslain，saveditfortwodays，broughtthewidowalockofthedeadman’shair;
butatlast，themobstillstrictlysearching，seemstohaveabandonedthebody，andconveyedhisguestonboardtheVENGEANCE。
TheJenkinsalsohadtheirrefugees，thefamilyofanEMPLOYE
threatenedbyadecree。’YoushouldhaveseenmemakingaUnionJacktonailoverourdoor，’writesMrs。Jenkin。’Ineverworkedsofastinmylife。MondayandTuesday，’shecontinues，’weretolerablyquiet，ourheartsbeatingfastinthehopeofLaMarmora’sapproach，thestreetsbarricaded，andnonebutforeignersandwomenallowedtoleavethecity。’OnWednesday，LaMarmoracameindeed，butintheuglyformofabombardment;andthateveningtheJenkinssatwithoutlightsabouttheirdrawing—roomwindow，’watchingthehugeredflashesofthecannon’fromtheBrigatoandLaSpeculaforts，andhearkening，notwithoutsomeawfulpleasure，tothethunderofthecannonade。
LordHardwickeintervenedbetweentherebelsandLaMarmora;andtherefollowedatroubledarmistice，filledwiththevoiceofpanic。NowtheVENGEANCEwasknowntobeclearedforaction;nowitwasrumouredthatthegalleyslavesweretobeletlooseuponthetown，andnowthatthetroopswouldenteritbystorm。Crowds，trustingintheUnionJackovertheJenkins’door，cametobegthemtoreceivetheirlinenandothervaluables;norcouldtheirinstancesberefused;andinthemidstofallthisbustleandalarm，pilesofgoodsmustbeexaminedandlonginventoriesmade。
Atlastthecaptaindecidedthingshadgonetoofar。Hehimselfapparentlyremainedtowatchoverthelinen;butatfiveo’clockontheSundaymorning，AuntAnna，Fleeming，andhismotherwererowedinapourofrainonboardanEnglishmerchantman，tosuffer’ninemortalhoursofagonisingsuspense。’Withtheendofthattime，peacewasrestored。OnTuesdaymorningofficerswithwhiteflagsappearedonthebastions;then，regimentbyregiment，thetroopsmarchedin，twohundredmensleepingonthegroundflooroftheJenkins’house，thirtythousandinallenteringthecity，butwithoutdisturbance，oldLaMarmorabeingacommanderofaRomansternness。
Withthereturnofquiet，andthereopeningoftheuniversities，webeholdanewcharacter，SignorFlaminio：theprofessors，itappears，madenoattemptupontheJenkin;andthusreadilyitalianisedtheFleeming。Hecamewellrecommended;fortheirfriendRuffiniwasthen，orsoonafter，raisedtobetheheadoftheUniversity;andtheprofessorswereverykindandattentive，possiblytoRuffini’sPROTEGE，perhapsalsotothefirstProtestantstudent。ItwasnojokeforSignorFlaminioatfirst;certificateshadtobegotfromParisandfromRectorWilliams;theclassicsmustbefurbishedupathomethathemightfollowLatinlectures;
examinationsbristledinthepath，theentranceexaminationwithLatinandEnglishessay，andoraltrials（muchsoftenedfortheforeigner）inHorace，Tacitus，andCicero，andthefirstUniversityexaminationonlythreemonthslater，inItalianeloquence，noless，andotherwidersubjects。OnonepointthefirstProtestantstudentwasmovedtothankhisstars：thattherewasnoGreekrequiredforthedegree。Littledidhethink，ashesetdownhisgratitude，howmuch，inlaterlifeandamongcribsanddictionaries，hewastolamentthiscircumstance;norhowmuchofthatlaterlifehewastospendacquiring，withinfinitetoil，ashadowofwhathemightthenhavegotwitheaseandfully。ButifhisGenoeseeducationwasinthisparticularimperfect，hewasfortunateinthebranchesthatmoreimmediatelytouchedonhiscareer。ThephysicallaboratorywasthebestmountedinItaly。
Bancalari，theprofessorofnaturalphilosophy，wasfamousinhisday;bywhatseemsevenanoddcoincidence，hewentdeeplyintoelectromagnetism;anditwasprincipallyinthatsubjectthatSignorFlaminio，questionedinLatinandansweringinItalian，passedhisMasterofArtsdegreewithfirst—classhonours。Thathehadsecuredthenoticeofhisteachers，onecircumstancesufficientlyproves。AphilosophicalsocietywasstartedunderthepresidencyofMamiani，’oneoftheexaminersandoneoftheleadersoftheModerateparty’;andoutoffivepromisingstudentsbroughtforwardbytheprofessorstoattendthesittingsandpresentessays，SignorFlaminiowasone。Icannotfindthatheeverreadanessay;andindeedIthinkhishandswereotherwisetoofull。Hefoundhisfellow—students’notsuchabadsetofchaps，’andpreferredthePiedmontesebeforetheGenoese;butIsuspecthemixednotveryfreelywitheither。Notonlywerehisdaysfilledwithuniversitywork，buthissparehourswerefullydedicatedtotheartsundertheeyeofabelovedtask—mistress。Heworkedhardandwellintheartschool，whereheobtainedasilvermedal’foracoupleoflegsthesizeoflifedrawnfromoneofRaphael’scartoons。’Hisholidayswerespentinsketching;hisevenings，whentheywerefree，atthetheatre。Hereattheoperahediscoveredbesidesatasteforanewart，theartofmusic;anditwas，hewrote，’asifhehadfoundoutaheavenonearth。’’Iamsoanxiousthatwhateverheprofessestoknow，heshouldreallyperfectlypossess，’hismotherwrote，’thatIsparenopains’;
neithertohimnortomyself，shemighthaveadded。Andsowhenhebeggedtobeallowedtolearnthepiano，shestartedhimwithcharacteristicbarbarityonthescales;andheardinconsequence’heart—rendinggroans’andsaw’anguishedclaspingsofhands’ashelosthiswayamongtheiraridintricacies。
Inthispictureoftheladatthepiano，thereissomething，fortheperiod，girlish。Hewasindeedhismother’sboy;anditwasfortunatehismotherwasnotaltogetherfeminine。Shegavehersonawomanlydelicacyinmorals，toaman’staste—tohisowntasteinlaterlife—toofinelyspun，andperhapsmoreelegantthanhealthful。Sheencouragedhimbesidesindrawing—roominterests。
Butinotherpointsherinfluencewasmanlike。Filledwiththespiritofthoroughness，shetaughthimtomakeoftheleastoftheseaccomplishmentsaviriletask;andtheteachinglastedhimthroughlife。Immersedasshewasintheday’smovementsandbuzzedaboutbyleadingLiberals，shehandedontohimhercreedinpolitics：anenduringkindnessforItaly，andaloyalty，likethatofmanycleverwomen，totheLiberalpartywithbutsmallregardtomenormeasures。Thisattitudeofmindusedoftentodisappointmeinamansofondoflogic;butIseenowhowitwaslearnedfromthebrighteyesofhismotherandtothesoundofthecannonadesof1848。Tosomeofherdefects，besides，shemadehimheir。Kindaswasthebondthatunitedhertoherson，kindandevenpretty，shewasscarceawomantoadornahome;lovingasshedidtoshine;
carelessasshewasofdomestic，studiousofpublicgraces。Sheprobablyrejoicedtoseetheboygrowupinsomewhatoftheimageofherself，generous，excessive，enthusiastic，external;catchingatideas，brandishingthemwhencaught;fieryfortheright，butalwaysfiery;readyatfifteentocorrectaconsul，readyatfiftytoexplaintoanyartisthisownart。
ThedefectsandadvantagesofsuchatrainingwereobviousinFleemingthroughoutlife。Histhoroughnesswasnotthatofthepatientscholar，butofanuntrainedwomanwithfitsofpassionatestudy;hehadlearnedtoomuchfromdogma，givenindeedbycherishedlips;andprecociousashewasintheuseofthetoolsofthemind，hewastrulybackwardinknowledgeoflifeandofhimself。Suchasitwasatleast，hishomeandschooltrainingwasnowcomplete;andyouaretoconceivetheladasbeingformedinahouseholdofmeagrerevenue，amongforeignsurroundings，andundertheinfluenceofanimperiousdrawing—roomqueen;fromwhomhelearnedagreatrefinementofmorals，astrongsenseofduty，muchforwardnessofbearing，allmannerofstudiousandartisticinterests，andmanyready—madeopinionswhichheembracedwithason’sandadisciple’sloyalty。
CHAPTERIII。1851—1858。
ReturntoEngland—FleemingatFairbairn’s—ExperienceinaStrike—Dr。BellandGreekArchitecture—TheGaskells—FleemingatGreenwich—TheAustins—FleemingandtheAustins—HisEngagement—FleemingandSirW。Thomson。
IN1851，theyearofAuntAnna’sdeath，thefamilyleftGenoaandcametoManchester，whereFleemingwasenteredinFairbairn’sworksasanapprentice。FromthepalacesandAlps，theMole，theblueMediterranean，thehumminglanesandthebrighttheatresofGenoa，hefell—andhewassharplyconsciousofthefall—tothedimskiesandthefoulwaysofManchester。Englandhefoundonhisreturn’ahorridplace，’andthereisnodoubtthefamilyfounditadearone。ThestoryoftheJenkinfinancesisnoteasytofollow。Thefamily，Iamtold，didnotpracticefrugality，onlylamentedthatitshouldbeneedful;andMrs。Jenkin，whowasalwayscomplainingof’thosedreadfulbills，’was’alwaysagooddealdressed。’ButatthistimeofthereturntoEngland，thingsmusthavegonefurther。Aholidaytourofafortnight，Fleemingfearedwouldbebeyondwhathecouldafford，andheonlyprojectedit’tohaveacastleintheair。’Andtherewereactualpinches。Freshfromawarmersun，hewasobligedtogowithoutagreatcoat，andlearnedonrailwayjourneystosupplytheplaceofonewithwrappingsofoldnewspaper。
Fromhalf—pasteighttillsix，hemust’fileandchipvigorouslyinamoleskinsuitandinfernallydirty。’Theworkwasnotnewtohim，forhehadalreadypassedsometimeinaGenoeseshop;andtoFleemingnoworkwaswithoutinterest。Whateveramancandoorknow，helongedtoknowanddoalso。’Ineverlearnedanything，’
hewrote，’notevenstandingonmyhead，butIfoundauseforit。’
Inthesparehoursofhisfirsttelegraphvoyage，togiveaninstanceofhisgreedofknowledge，hemeant’tolearnthewholeartofnavigation，everyropeintheshipandhowtohandleheronanyoccasion’;andoncewhenhewasshownayounglady’sholidaycollectionofseaweeds，hemustcryout，’Itshowedmemyeyeshadbeenidle。’Norwashisthecaseofthemereliterarysmatterer，contentifhebutlearnthenamesofthings。Inhim，todoandtodowell，wasevenadearerambitionthantoknow。Anythingdonewell，anycraft，despatch，orfinish，delightedandinspiredhim。
IrememberhimwithatwopennyJapaneseboxofthreedrawers，soexactlyfittedthat，whenonewasdrivenhome，theothersstartedfromtheirplaces;thewholespiritofJapan，hetoldme，waspicturedinthatbox;thatplainpieceofcarpentrywasasmuchinspiredbythespiritofperfectionasthehappiestdrawingorthefinestbronze;andhewhocouldnotenjoyitintheonewasnotfullyabletoenjoyitintheothers。Thus，too，hefoundinLeonardo’sengineeringandanatomicaldrawingsaperpetualfeast;
andoftheformerhespokeevenwithemotion。NothingindeedannoyedFleemingmorethantheattempttoseparatethefineartsfromtheartsofhandicraft;anydefinitionortheorythatfailedtobringthesetwotogether，accordingtohim，hadmissedthepoint;andtheessenceofthepleasurereceivedlayinseeingthingswelldone。Otherqualitiesmustbeadded;hewasthelasttodenythat;butthis，ofperfectcraft，wasatthebottomofall。
Andontheotherhand，anailill—driven，ajointill—fitted，atracingclumsilydone，anythingtowhichamanhadsethishandandnotsetitaptly，movedhimtoshameandanger。Withsuchacharacter，hewouldfeelbutlittledrudgeryatFairbairn’s。Therewouldbesomethingdailytobedone，slovenlinesstobeavoided，andahighermarkofskilltobeattained;hewouldchipandfile，ashehadpracticedscales，impatientofhisownimperfection，butresolutetolearn。
Andtherewasanotherspringofdelight。Forhewasnowmovingdailyamongthosestrangecreationsofman’sbrain，tosomesoabhorrent，tohimofaninterestsoinexhaustible：inwhichiron，water，andfirearemadetoserveasslaves，nowwithatreadmorepowerfulthananelephant’s，andnowwithatouchmorepreciseanddaintythanapianist’s。ThetasteformachinerywasonethatI
couldneversharewithhim，andhehadacertainbitterpityformyweakness。OncewhenIhadproved，forthehundredthtime，thedepthofthisdefect，helookedatmeaskance。’Andthebestofthejoke，’saidhe，’isthathethinkshimselfquiteapoet。’Fortohimthestruggleoftheengineeragainstbruteforcesandwithinertallies，wasnoblypoetic。Habitneverdulledinhimthesenseofthegreatnessoftheaimsandobstaclesofhisprofession。
Habitonlysharpenedhisinventor’sgustoincontrivance，intriumphantartifice，intheOdysseansubtleties，bywhichwiresaretaughttospeak，andironhandstoweave，andtheslendershiptobraveandtooutstripthetempest。Totheignorantthegreatresultsaloneareadmirable;totheknowing，andtoFleeminginparticular，rathertheinfinitedeviceandsleightofhandthatmadethempossible。
Anotionwascurrentatthetimethat，insuchashopasFairbairn’s，apupilwouldneverbepopularunlesshedrankwiththeworkmenandimitatedtheminspeechandmanner。Fleeming，whowoulddononeofthesethings，theyacceptedasafriendandcompanion;andthiswasthesubjectofremarkinManchester，wheresomememoryofitlingerstillto—day。Hethoughtitoneoftheadvantagesofhisprofessiontobebroughtintoacloserelationwiththeworkingclasses;andfortheskilledartisanhehadagreatesteem，likinghiscompany，hisvirtues，andhistasteinsomeofthearts。Butheknewtheclassestoowelltoregardthem，likeaplatformspeaker，inalump。Hedrew，ontheotherhand，broaddistinctions;anditwashisprofoundsenseofthedifferencebetweenoneworkingmanandanotherthatledhimtodevotesomuchtime，inlaterdays，tothefurtheranceoftechnicaleducation。In1852hehadoccasiontoseebothmenandmastersattheirworst，intheexcitementofastrike;andveryfoolishly（aftertheircustom）
bothwouldseemtohavebehaved。Beginningwithafairshowofjusticeoneitherside，themastersstultifiedtheircausebyobstinateimpolicy，andthemendisgracedtheirorderbyactsofoutrage。’OnWednesdaylast，’writesFleeming，’aboutthreethousandbandedroundFairbairn’sdoorat6o’clock：men，women，andchildren，factoryboysandgirls，thelowestofthelowinaverylowplace。Orderscamethatnoonewastoleavetheworks;
butthemeninside（Knobsticks，astheyarecalled）wereprecioushungryandthoughttheywouldventure。Twoofmycompanionsandmyselfwentoutwiththeveryfirst，andhadthefullbenefitofeverypossiblegroanandbadlanguage。’Butthepoliceclearedalanethroughthecrowd，thepupilsweresufferedtoescapeunhurt，andonlytheKnobsticksfollowedhomeandkickedwithclogs;sothatFleemingenjoyed，aswemaysay，fornothing，thatfinethrillofexpectantvalourwithwhichhehadsalliedforthintothemob。
’Ineverbeforefeltmyselfsodecidedlysomebody，insteadofnobody，’hewrote。
Outsideasinsidetheworks，hewas’prettymerryandwelltodo，’
zealousinstudy，welcometomanyfriends，unweariedinloving—
kindnesstohismother。ForsometimehespentthreenightsaweekwithDr。Bell，’workingawayatcertaingeometricalmethodsofgettingtheGreekarchitecturalproportions’：abusinessafterFleeming’sheart，forhewasneversopleasedaswhenhecouldmarryhistwodevotions，artandscience。Thiswasbesides，inalllikelihood，thebeginningofthatloveandintimateappreciationofthingsGreek，fromtheleasttothegreatest，fromtheAGAMEMMON
（perhapshisfavouritetragedy）downtothedetailsofGreciantailoring，whichheusedtoexpressinhisfamiliarphrase：’TheGreeksweretheboys。’Dr。Bell—thesonofGeorgeJoseph，thenephewofSirCharles，andthoughhemadelessuseofitthansome，asharerinthedistinguishedtalentsofhisrace—hadhituponthesingularfactthatcertaingeometricalintersectionsgavetheproportionsoftheDoricorder。Fleeming，underDr。Bell’sdirection，appliedthesamemethodtotheotherorders，andagainfoundtheproportionsaccuratelygiven。Numbersofdiagramswereprepared;butthediscoverywasnevergiventotheworld，perhapsbecauseofthedissensionsthatarosebetweentheauthors。ForDr。
Bellbelievedthat’theseintersectionswereinsomewayconnectedwith，orsymbolicalof，theantagonisticforcesatwork’;buthispupilandhelper，withcharacteristictrenchancy，brushedasidethismysticism，andinterpretedthediscoveryas’ageometricalmethodofdividingthespacesor（asmightbesaid）ofsettingoutthework，purelyempiricalandinnowayconnectedwithanylawsofeitherforceorbeauty。’’Manyahardandpleasantfightwehadoverit，’wroteJenkin，inlateryears;’andimpertinentasitmayseem，thepupilisstillunconvincedbytheargumentsofthemaster。’IdonotknowabouttheantagonisticforcesintheDoricorder;inFleemingtheywereplainenough;andtheBobadiloftheseaffairswithDr。Bellwasstill，likethecorrectorofItalianconsuls，’agreatchildineverythingbutinformation。’AtthehouseofColonelCleather，hemightbeseenwithafamilyofchildren;andwiththese，therewasnowordoftheGreekorders;
withtheseFleemingwasonlyanuproariousboyandanentertainingdraughtsman;sothathiscomingwasthesignalfortheyoungpeopletotroopintotheplayroom，wheresometimestheroofrangwithromping，andsometimestheygatheredquietlyabouthimasheamusedthemwithhispencil。
InanotherManchesterfamily，whosenamewillbefamiliartomyreaders—thatoftheGaskells，Fleemingwasafrequentvisitor。