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LADY ANNE GRANARD.



CHAPTER XXIX.


Every one knows, that in the beginning of the present century the troubles of Italy were terrible. She had the most powerful enemy, the world had seen for centuries, without, and she had a discontented race within, who, by turns, opposed the enemy, or adopted his views, sensible that a great change was necessary for the country to which they were devoted, grieved that it should be effected by an enemy, yet unable to effect it themselves. Courageous, patriotic, yet vacillating, many of the noblest principles and the purest intentions, men of large possessions and ancient names, under the afflicting circumstances of the times, failed to render service to their unhappy country, but involved themselves in irremediable ruin. The proscribed and the conquered alike fled to England when ever it was possible; and England, though pressed on every side, bleeding at every pore, proved an asylum to those of every party, so they were the impoverished and the suffering.

Amongst other emigrants driven into this country at the beginning of the present century by the troubles