The Yazoo Democrat., 1854-05-31

FLORENCE, March p, 1854.
Mr.. Marsh, the late minister resident, is
now at Rome with his family.
Among the English authors living here are
Mrs. Somervile, the Brownings, Charles Le-
yer, Mr.. Kirlzup, the antiquarian Mr.. Tenny-
son, brother of the poet-laureate, and who
has himself a volume Of poems now in press;
and Mrs. Irollope, who made her debut in
authorship through her libellous work on
America. Since then her prolific brain has
produced eighty-nine volumes of so so tales
proving that "weeds grow apace'-not
unproductively, however, for her, since she
has reaped therefrom an abundant pecuniary
harvest, and now occupies beautiful villa
built by herself and her son, who is also a
successful story teller. Mrs. Trollope has
one of the largest and choicest of the private
libraries in the city. The library room is an
expansive Gothic hall, the furniture being all
after the antique, and decorated with statuary
and paintings. In this hall she holds her
Saturday morning reception, and strange to
say, she affects Americans so much as to
hunt them UP and load them with hospitali-
ties. She is an affable, pleasant old lady Of
about seventy, and was probably more dis
gusted with her pecuniary misadventures in
the United States than with all the people
she rdiculed in her spleen.
Mrs. Somerville, is now about seventy
three years old-in an excellent state of pre-
al 20 oltco.o4l,a. = ,.,,,,orI-. Ia
woman. She rises early, deyotes her time
| till onto scientific study and writing, and
at other times occupies herself much with
sletching from nature, painting in oil, and
embroidery, thus showing that the pursuit of
mathematics is not incompatible with a love
for the fac arts. No living woman ever re-
ceived more fattering compliments from her
own government, and from great men of all
nations, than Mrs. Somerville; her bust stands
in the British Academy by the side of Sir
Isaac Nevton's and Baron Humboldt has
called her "the greatest of women" She is
perfectly simple and unostentations in her
manners. and never refers to her own labors,
which, notwithstanding the extensive circu-
lation Of her works, have yielded her small
pecuniary benefit. But she has pension
from the British crown, and lives here with
her husband, retired surgeon of the navy
and their two daughters going much into so
ciety, being welcomed everywhere and adj
mired for her quiet manners and agreeable
conversation. Mr.. Lever lives generously in
a palace; gives dinners sparkling with his
wit and wine loves horses like a true Irish
Englishman; rides on the cqscine with his
rosy checked daughters on either side Of him
and is literally ga good fellow" his con7er
sation being as full of humor as his Irisl
tales.
Mr.. Tennyson lives retired, though in easy
aud elegant circumstances, occupying fine
villa filled with choice books and paintings
The Brownings still occupy the Casa Guidi
and old palace; never go into society, bul
receive their friends quietly in the evening
Mrs. Browning is physically as frail as hel
mind and verse are strong; with such gentle
unpretending manners, and such pleasan
expression of face, that no one, to look at her
would believe that such force and passion
could come of such an apparently delicate
unperturbed nature. Mr.. Browning is aliv,
f with good nature and humor; full Of practi
t cal knowledge, and as plain and smooth il
talk as he is obscure and rough IN his writ
tings; in short, as is the casewith Mrs. Brow
ming, the very opposite Of the book-Brown
: ing. Mr.. Read, one of our American artist
now in Florence, has painted lately cabine
E portraits of both, and they are truthful like
nesses. They belong to a gentleman in Phi
adelphia, and will give all who see them
/ just notion of the originals.
Mr.. Reed is now engaged upon severa
: well conceived compositions, which will
+ him credit. Mr. Edwin White, Of Ne
: York, who has been some years studying j
a France and German, IS now here, paintih
: successfully; he has conceived a series I
q pictures on American subjects mostly scene
3 in the history of Puritans--tiaro Of which al
!. already done His chief work, however, is
e picture Of Columbus taking the sacramer
. previous to embarking on his expedition
search Of the new world. - =
I Mr.. Nichols, Of Connecticut, who has jus
Q left for Rome, painted, during his six month
soiourn, some fine-toned landscapes, two I
which are destined BY the purchaser E1fajc
! Kearneyl for a villa IN the vicinity of Newarl
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