to Leghorn to meet Byron and Shelley, there to arrange preliminaries, and to set the thing at once in motion.

Shelley was eager, after so long an absence, again to meet his friend.

"As soon as I hear that he has sailed," he says, in the letter just quoted, "I shall weigh anchor in my little schooner, and give him chase to Leghorn, when I must occupy myself in some arrangement for him with Lord Byron.

Accordingly, on receipt of this intelligence, he was impatient to depart.

It was agreed that Williams and he should go together; and on the 1st July they were up at four in the morning, to get the topsails of their little yacht altered, and to prepare for starting.

By twelve o'clock a favourable breeze sprung up from the westward, and hoisting all sail, they took leave of Casa Magni-and went bounding, with light joyous heart, over the blue waves, which since his residence at Spezia had become Shelley's playmates.

Never was he in better health or better spirits than at this period. The near prospect of meet

ing his friend, the proud and generous consciousness that he could and would be instrumental in making his fortune-all contributed to fill him to overflowing with that youthful buoyancy for which he was remarkable when perfectly free from physical suffering; and with feelings as unchequered as the bright and cloudless sky above him, he bore out of sight of that mountain retreat that he was destined never to see

more.

Mrs. Shelley has given us a faithful record of all the circumstances connected with this eventful period, as well as the strange sensations which came over her when the poet last parted from her. She says

During the whole of our stay at Lerici, an intense presentiment of coming evil brooded over my mind, and covered this beautiful place and genial summer with the shadow of coming misery. I had vainly struggled with these emotions; they seemed accounted for by my illness; but at this hour of separation, they recurred with renewed violence. I did not anticipate danger for them, but a vague expectation of evil shook

me to agony, and I could scarcely bring myself to let them go."

Elsewhere Mrs. Shelley says, "I was to have accompanied him (Shelley), but illness confined me to my room, and thus put the seal on my misfortune."

CHAPTER XXVII.

Shelley's arrival at Leghorn-Critical state of Leigh Hunt's affairs-Exile of the Gambas-Proposed departure of Lord Byron-Settlement of Leigh Hunt at Pisa-Shelley at Pisa-His letter to his wife-To Mrs. Williams-Return to Leghorn-Sets sail from Leghorn-Darkness-Terrible suspense-Death of the Poet-Burning of his body.

WEIGHING anchor at twelve o'clock, they stretched across to Lerici to pick up Captain Roberts, and thence proceeded direct to Leghorn, where they arrived at half-past nine o'clock at night, having performed the whole voyage of between fifty and sixty miles in the short space of nine hours and a half.

Shelley and his companion were unable to disembark, owing to the existing regulations at the Health Office, which prohibited any one going

ashore after sunset; and casting anchor astern the Bolivar, which was lying in the harbour, they borrowed some cushions, and making up a bed for themselves, slept on board.

The first news that greeted their ears was anything but favourable to Leigh Hunt's interest. It was reported that the Gambas were again. exiled from Tuscany, that Byron was determined to follow their fortunes, and that the Bolivar was about to sail for Genoa-all of which on landing they found really to be the case.

Shelley found his friend comfortably lodged at an hotel in the town. On first meeting after so long an absence, they naturally talked over a thousand things, past, present, and to come; but through Shelley's characteristic impetuosity, Leigh Hunt observed, that though the same as ever in other respects, the tone of his mind was far less hopeful, as well it might be, than in former days.

Anxious to see his friend in possession of his new quarters, Shelley proceeded at once with him to Pisa, followed soon after by Lord Byron, who had devoted to Leigh Hunt's service the basement of the Lanfranchi Palace,which, under Shelley's di