3. Report from the Director of Police at Bologna to the Director-General of Police at Rome (probably enclosing No. 4). "1819, 28th August (No. 16). "As a fitting continuation of the report which I had the honour to send to Your Excellency with regard to the well-known Lord Byron, I ought to tell you that, during this last week, there have been great changes in his projects. "The day after the last post, the noble Lord sent to me to provide a passport for a certain native of Trieste, whom he wished to send at once to Venice as courier. It was 8 o'clock in the evening. We had a little interchange of messages, for I was unwilling to furnish the Triestine with a passport without the guarantee of two people of substance. He maintained that the guarantee of an English Peer like himself was enough. After various letters, which did not succeed any better than the messages, the noble Lord was at last persuaded that the courier could not start without the guarantee of two substantial men personally known to me. The proper guarantees having been given, the man set out. Two days afterwards the domicile, which had been prepared in Casa Merendoni, was changed. My Lord has gone to live in the Casa Guiccioli. Yesterday evening I discovered that he is going to leave for Venice in a few days. "I have not failed to make use of indirect means of obtaining information concerning him; but nothing of consequence has come to my knowledge. This morning, for instance, the paper which I have the honour of enclosing to Your Excellency was given to me by a special agent of mine, employed upon business altogether different to that of Lord Byron. The document further confirms me in the opinion which I had formed from the information received from Florence about this Englishman. "If the Guiccioli remain after the departure of my Lord, I intend to intercept their letters, and, in case of any news, I shall make a point of informing Your Excellency of everything, etc., etc." 4. Report to Signor Pietro Bravosi, Agent of Police. "This morning, while walking with Professor Francesco Cardinali, who, as Your Excellency knows, is a friend of mine, we began to discuss the position of the employés of the late Government, who are still without employment. On this point he said to me: 'Keep up your courage, for, at the most, you will have only to wait two years, since there must be a change of Government,' adding that he had heard this from persons of great weight. "Having asked him whether such a change were credible, he answered that Lord Byron was one of those who had told him. "Then I asked him what nation, in such conditions, ought to hold predominant power, suggesting that, if the change took place, the influence of the French nation must necessarily prevail. He replied that the influence ought to be more stable than the French VI.] A CHANGE IN BYRON'S PLANS. 457 nation had been in the past, and declined to explain himself further. "I flatter myself that in a little time I could get more information, since I am considered to be one of their party, and often go to the booksellers' shop of Masi Brothers, as I was advised by Your Excellency to frequent places where he and many others of the same opinions are in the habit of meeting. "But I would ask you, for the present, not to make any open use of these conversations, and to treat them only as hints, for if anything of the matter became publicly known, I should be suspected, and to a certain extent compromised, and then I should no longer be of use to you as a confidential agent. "I have the pleasure to salute you, etc., etc. "Bologna, 26th August, 1819." 5. From the Director-General of Police at Rome to the Director of Police at Bologna, "Rome, Direction-General of Police, Assistant Department (No. 4484). "YOUR EXCELLENCY,-I agree in the opinion of Your Excellency that the departure of Lord Byron is a good opportunity for inspecting the correspondence of Count Guiccioli, with whom he has been on the most intimate terms. "I am anxious to know if the servant sent as courier by Lord Byron has been for a long time with him, or if he has been recently engaged; in this second case I should be glad to know his antecedents. "I sign myself with great esteem, etc., etc. "4th July (sic), 1819." 6. From the Director of Police at Bologna to the DirectorGeneral of Police at Rome. "1819, 8th September (No. 22). "I shall at once obtain the required information about the Triestine sent by Lord Byron, according to your honoured command of folio No. 4484. "This week the erratic Lord has again changed his plans. Instead of leaving for Venice, he has sent for his illegitimate infant daughter, whom he maintained there, and now he talks of going with the Guiccioli to Ravenna. This change in his domestic arrangements has been made, although, during the last week, he had moved into the Casa Guiccioli, as I had the honour to inform Your Excellency. But no sooner had the child come, than he returned to Pellegrino's Hotel, where he merely sleeps and dines. The rest of the day he spends with the Guiccioli. I continue to keep him under the strictest surveillance. At the present time, no one but Count Ranconi of Ferrara visits him, and he comes at 3 o'clock every morning (alle 3 ogni mattina). "With most respectful esteem and obedience, etc., etc." 7. Report to the Director of Police at Bologna. "Sub-Direction of Police (No. 7044). Bologna, 10th Sept., 1819. "YOUR EXCELLENCY,-Following the instructions given me to discover if the Triestine courier of Lord Byron will be in Bologna before the arrival of his master, I have been assured that this distinguished nobleman had formerly a Venetian in his service as courier, whom he dismissed some days ago, and that he then took as courier the aforesaid Triestine, who formerly served him as a groom. This man is a son of the Jew Finzi of Trieste, and they will both come to Bologna on the arrival of their master, and not before. "I have received Your Excellency's esteemed letter, dated yesterday, No. 8951, and I have the honour to sign myself with profound respect, etc., etc." 8. Report from the Director of Police at Bologna to the Director-General of Police at Rome. "1819, 15th September (No. 27). "In discharge of the duty imposed upon me by your respected folio No. 4484, concerning the information with regard to the Triestine courier in the service of, and despatched by, Lord Byron, I have the honour to assure you that this person was formerly in my Lord's service as groom, and he arrived in Bologna at the same time as his master. His padrone is a Triestine Jew named Finzi. "In connection with this matter, I must announce to you that, to my greatest astonishment, Lord Byron left Bologna on the 12th for Venice, in company with the Marchesa Guiccioli. "Three days before, the Marquis, her husband, left for Ravenna. I have not failed to ask the Director of the Post to send me all letters coming from Venice addressed to Count Ranconi, who with unfailing regularity used to visit my Lord at 3 o'clock every afternoon (alle 3 pomeridiana in ogni dì). "Full of profound obedience and humble, respectful esteem, etc., etc." 9. From the Director-General of Police at Rome to the Director of Police at Bologna. "Rome, Direction-General of Police, Assistant Department (No. 4504). (Most private.) "YOUR EXCELLENCY,-In my opinion the only mode of obtaining particular knowledge respecting the associates of the new Secret Society entitled Roma Antica, is to secure the aid of some individual VI.] INTERCEPTED CORRESPONDENCE. 459 who has the reputation of being a man of learning, and to induce him to enter this Society, taking advantage of the first vacancy that may present itself. "Following those lines which have given Your Excellency the knowledge of the existence of this Society, you could, with your usual sagacity, discover this man of learning, and the mode of introducing him to the members of the Society, amongst whom no other type of person could so fitly carry out the suggested plan. "I sign myself, with great esteem, etc., etc. "15th July, 1819." 10. From the Director-General of Police at Rome to the Director of Police, Bologna. "Rome, Direction-General of Police, Assistant Department (No. 4530). "No. of answer, 27. (Private.) "Subject: Measures for watching Count Ranconi in connection with Lord Byron. "The inspection of the postal correspondence of Count Ranconi with Lord Byron will be very opportune for the purpose of discovering if they are occupied in political matters; but it will be still more advantageous to have this latter person watched in his present abode in Venice, and thus to gain information concerning his attitude towards political questions in that place. "If the Director of Police, who is interested in carrying the matter out, approves of this proposal, I will await the result here, ready to co-operate with him in any urgency for the promotion of the well-being of both Governments. And in the mean time I sign myself, with marked esteem, etc., etc. "25th July, 1819." II. From the Director of Police at Bologna to the Director-General of Police at Rome. "1819, 29th September (No. 35). "I will do all Your Excellency prescribes in your most esteemed folio marked 4530, writing at once to the Director of Police at Venice to keep a watch upon the behaviour and surroundings of Lord Byron. "In connection with this, I ought to inform you that, according to the tenour of the information I gave to Your Excellency in my despatch marked 12, Lady Morgan has finally come here with her husband. I have not failed to keep an eye on their movements and conduct. Up to the present I cannot say more than that both show themselves to be most determined constitutionalists and reformers. They read one evening at a meeting the address that the Cortes of Spain made to Ferdinand VII. when, after his liberation from France, he arrived at the frontiers of his kingdom; the address is full of suggestion. Such is my duty in this emergency, and full of profound esteem, etc., etc." 12. From the Director of Police at Bologna to the General Directory of Police at Venice. "1819, 2nd October (No. 37). "On the 12th ultimo the English nobleman, Lord Byron, left this city for Venice. This person is a member of the Secret Society entitled Romantica. He is not unknown as a man of letters, and in his own country has the reputation of being a fine poet. Liberal opinions so entirely govern his mind that he passes, both in England and in many Italian cities where he is known, as one of the enthu siastic supporters of the reform party of Manchester and Salford. His large fortune gives him exceptional opportunities of carrying out his inclinations. "All the above circumstances were sufficient to determine this Directory of Police to keep a careful eye on this gentleman, who is especially dangerous because his abilities and abundant wealth enable him to assemble at his house persons of the most cultured class. "Therefore, my Government, having noted the actual residence of Lord Byron in your city, and his probable return to Bologna within the next few months, requires me to make a private application to Your Excellency, asking you to take steps to have him constantly watched during his stay, and to favour me with information until he removes from Venice. "In the assurance of obtaining this favour from Your Excellency, I hold myself ready to do the same in return for you in any other similar circumstance in the future. "I take this opportunity, etc., etc." 13. From the Director-General of Police at Rome to the Director of Police, Bologna. "Rome, Direction-General of Police, Assistant Department (No. 4530). "Number of answer, 35. "In re espionage over Lady Morgan and her husband. "YOUR EXCELLENCY,-The nature of the political views, which Your Excellency agrees with me have been expressed by the Morgans (husband and wife), who have recently arrived in this city, demands the most rigorous and careful supervision over them personally. I doubt not that Your Excellency will have already directed that this should be done, and therefore I await the expected results. "I sign myself, with marked esteem, etc., etc. "6th October, 1819." |