The Sun.
London, England, 1853-01-17 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—l forward a letter that I received this morning
from Florence, by which you will see that poor Madiai is
still alive. I am, however, truly thankful that the in-
formation concerning his death has called forth two such
invaluable articles as those which appeared in the Times
yesterday and the day before. I thank you most sin-
cerely for the very able manner in which you have advo-
I cated the cause of the oppressed. Such sober, temperate,
and truly Christian articles cannot fail to produce a good
effect. If they do not abroad, where despotic rulers
have been blindfolded by priestcraft so that they cannot
" see the things which belong to their peace," I trust
that, at least, in this country, the mouths of those may
be stopped who, though calling themselves Protestants,
have been, for a long time past, playing into the hands
of the Pope.
Would that the case of the Madiais was the only
instance of persecution ! But you will see by the accom-
panying letter that many others are suffering for con-
science' sake ; and who can tell how many may be
pining away in prison of whom we know nothing ? . But,
as you justly observe, a day of retribution must come,
when all the deeds of darkness will be brought to light,
and God " will make inquisition for blood."—Your obe
dient servant,
London, January 15.

R. H. H.

"Florence, Jan. 8.
"I have been waiting to write to you day after day in
the hopes that I might be able to tell you that the
Madiais were free. Alas ! they are still in bonds, al-
though a week ago we were told that there was no doubt
they would soon be at liberty, for the Tuscan Ministers
are anxious to get rid of them ; but the Grand Duke,
with cruel obstinacy, would not yet allow this, though
he said he was prepared to grant them a commutation
of their sentence, but would not state when. We saw
Rosa on New-Year's-day, and found her in better health
and very cheerful, excepting when she spoke of her own
unworthiness in not bearing better the trials she had
undergone, and rejoicing rather that she was honoured
to suffer for the cause of Christ.
" The inspector had allowed her to give a little treat
on New-Year's-day to all the female prisoners—r-some
pollenta' and a glass of wine to each ; and this rare op-
portunity for the exercise of her generous and compas-
sionate feelings caused her great pleasure. I will de-
scribe to you her frightful costume, in which, nevertheless,
she looked well and dignified. Her chemise is of coarse
material like sailcloth, then she wears a knitted worsted
garment, over which is a brown duffle robe such as is
worn by the Franciscans. Over all is worn the livery of the
prison, i. e., a broad yellow and white striped coarse linen
material, the skirt tight as a sack, and on her head she
wears a close skull cap of the same fastened by a tape
under her chin, no hair being seen. She has coarse hose
and great thick shoes. I am not sure that I ever told
you, when describing her cell, that her seat was a round
stool like a milking stool, chained to the wall in a cor-
ner of the room ; and in the opposite corner is a small
footstool also chained, so that poor Rosa, when at work
upon her stool of repentance, cannot make use of the
second small stool to keep her feet from the cold brick
floor. She told us that when she was brought from
Florence, instead of being at once conveyed to Lucca,
they kept her a night and half a day in the common pri-
son at Pistoja, which she said was a most filthy place,
and the food they gave to her was too loathsome to eat.
I tell you all this, because I see some English papers
speak of the kindness with which they are treated. The
officials are as kind as they dare to be.
"About 10 days ago M. Colombe, the Swiss minister,
chaplain to the Prussian Legation, obtained leave
through the King of Prussia to visit once the prisoners.
When we saw him on his return he was so much
affected that he could not at first speak without great
emotion. He said he had never met with any one so
completely living above the world as this child of God,
Francesco Madiai. He said to M. Colombe that he felt
he had done with earthly things, as he believed it was
God's will that he should die for His cause, and he had
therefore tried not to think of his dear wife and her suf-
ferings, except when in prayer. He said `this blessed
season (Christmas) fills my heart with love to my Saviour,
ray friends, and my enemies, for whom I ever pray.'
"Persecutions are going on here. Thirty prisoners are
now in the Bargello on religious accusations. Guarducci
is still there. Another case, similar to the one of last
year, has taken place. A Bible reader was taken dan-

gerously ill ; his doctor (as he was bound to do) gave
notice to the priest, who hastened to the bedside of the
sick man. The latter thanked him for coming, but said
he had no need of his assistance ; that he had, he hoped,
made his peace with God, through the alone mediation
of Jesus. The priest was furious, and sent off for the
police, who now surround the house."