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LIFE OF COLONEL MACERONI.

even now. But as I did not explore and become perfectlyacquainted with Patria and the Maremme , until some yearsafter the period to which I am now referring. I shall, in orderto avoid repetitions and bring all I have to say on thatsubject under one head, defer any other notice of that (tome) agreeable subject to a future occasion.

About this time, a Neapolitan privateer belonging to oneCipriani, house steward to Saliceti , captured a beautifulEnglish armed cutter, belonging to the firm of Holland andWilliams, of Liverpool, and bound to Malta with a valuablecargo. The eldest son of Mr. Williams happened to be onboard as supercargo, and he was brought to Naples by thecaptors. My friend Tom Williams was a freemason, whichfound him great favour with the commander of the pri-vateer. Freemasonry in France, and especially in Italy andSpain , possesses far more of the original spirit of itsprotective institution than remains to it in England. Nosooner did Tom Williams, who also has the advantageof polished and distinguished manners — no sooner didhe make signal of his “craft” than all his personaleffects were restored to him. Cipriani provided for him ahandsome dwelling, lent him fowling pieces,—sent hima shooting, and, in fine, did all in bis power to make himcomfortable. From this moment Williams and I becameinseparable companions, and lived together all the timethat he remained at Naples, which I think was abouttwo years. I wish I could do justice to the numerousanecdotes illustrative of Tom Williams’s wit and socialqualities, conjoined with Dixon, Steuart, and another ortwo, he formed part of a squad that could hardly be ex-ceeded in the display of cheerful, well ordered hilarity, theuninterrupted enjoyment of life and friendly intercourse.Where, also, on the face of the earth is there a place wheresuch resources are to be found for combined amusement

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