"P.S. You are aware that Protestants are not allowed holy ground in Catholic countries."
LETTER 490. TO MR. SHELLEY.
"April 23. 1822.
"The blow was stunning and unexpected; for I thought the danger over, by the long interval between her stated amelioration and the arrival of the express. But I have borne up against it as I best can, and so far successfully, that I can go about the usual business of life with the same appearance of composure, and even greater. There is nothing to prevent your coming to-morrow; but, perhaps, to-day, and yester-evening, it was better not to have met. I do not know that I have any thing to reproach in my conduct, and certainly nothing in my feelings and intentions towards the dead. But it is a moment when we are apt to think that, if this or that had been done, such event might have been prevented,—though every day and hour shows us that they are the most natural and inevitable. I suppose that Time will do his usual work—Death has done his.
"Yours ever, N.B."
LETTER 491. TO SIR WALTER SCOTT.
"Pisa, May 4. 1822.