was found treasured in his desk after his death.

The seal on Blagden virtues was set by Alfred Austin, a Victorian poet laureate somewhat disparaged by literary critics. For many years a guest of Bellosguardo he published Isa's poems in the late nineties with a preface praising her talents and moral virtues.

Another famous guest of Villa Brichieri was Frances Power Cobbe, student of ethical, social and theological problems and disciple of the great american preacher, Theodore Parker. She was the authoress of 'Italics', a clever summary of the italian way of life and in particular an appreciation of Florence. The novelist, Ouida, whose success razed the limits of fame and who excelled in stories with local colour also lived here after her ten years at Scandicci.

VILLA BRICHIERI-COLOMBI, AT BELLOSGUARDO.

... We ascend, by via di Bellosguardo, leaving behind us the imposing Fioravanti villa and Prato dello Strozzino (the Field of the Usurer), to Villa Brichieri-Colombi, rich in memories.

The great fortune of this mansion, situated only a few yards from the hill-top, is the enormous terrace, leading from the moderately sized rooms, which juts out over a striking panoramic view of the city and hills. Our attempt at a brief historical outlind brings to mind many outstanding names and events. Elizabeth Barrett Browning and her great husband spent a summer at Villa Brichieri and were often the guests of one of its most constant and sociable tenants, Isa Blagden. Here Elizabeth planned and partly wrote 'Aurora Leigh', perhaps her best poem, which is set in the neighbouring villa, Torre di Bellosguardo. The Brownings during their fifteen years in Florence (practically the whole of their married life) were the center of an Anglo-American society in Florence and the floating colony of Bellosguardo in particular aspired to enter the Browning's town house, Casa Guidi in via Maggio, as if it were a shrine.

On our frail chronological thread, among the many personalities who resided at Villa Brichieri during the nineteenth century, we find the Alexander family. Frances, the daughter, was an excellent artist and wrote simple stories of tuscan life. Ruskin, who addressed her as 'sister' did her the honour of pre-facing her books which appeared in editions similar to his own. He also bought her drawings and had some of them included in the Uffizzi collection. The child of two old Bostonians who had lived all their life in Florence, Francesca was a spiritual creature, a noble soul and a fine intellect. Ruskin shared her appreciation for the hills which, after his second visit, had converted him to a greater appreciation of Florence and its art; it was he who re-baptized her 'Francesca'. After many years of Florentine life at Bellosguardo this ingenuous and simple family met Giuseppe Gari-baldi, in 1867 the guest of the heroic Jessie White Mario. At the

On our frail chronological thread, among the many personalities who resided at Villa Brichieri during the nineteenth century, we find the Alexander family. Frances, the daughter, was an excellent artist and wrote simple stories of tuscan life. Ruskin, who addressed her as 'sister' did her the honour of pre-facing her books which appeared in editions similar to his own. He also bought her drawings and had some of them included in the Uffizzi collection. The child of two old Bostonians who had lived all their life in Florence, Francesca was a spiritual creature, a noble soul and a fine intellect. Ruskin shared her appreciation for the hills which, after his second visit, had converted him to a greater appreciation of Florence and its art; it was he who re-baptized her 'Francesca'. After many years of Florentine life at Bellosguardo this ingenuous and simple family met Giuseppe Garibaldi, in 1867 the guest of the heroic Jessie White Mario. At the