"
"We may therefore hope--myself and your numerous other friends in
this city--to see you here before long. Doubtless the tidings, which
I have been anxious to be the first to give you, will be very
shortly communicated to you in a more official manner. I fancy,
indeed, that I shall not have been able to be much beforehand with
the official announcement. Make your arrangements, then, I beseech
you, to give us as long a visit as you can steal from the grave
cares of watching over the interests of your beloved Ravenna. There
are many here who are anxious to renew their acquaintance, and, if
he will permit them to say so, their friendship with the Marchese di
Castelmare. And, if I may venture to do so, my dear friend, I would,
before closing my letter, whisper that, with due care and a little
activity, the present favour of our Holy Father may be but the
earnest of other things."
"The future, however, is in God's hands, and man is but as grass.
Nevertheless, as far as it is permissible to judge of the human
agencies by which the Heavenly Providence brings about its ends, I
should say that your Legate, his Eminence the Cardinal Marliani,
was, of all the present Fathers of the Church, one of the most
deserving of our regards and respect. Should you have a fitting
opportunity of allowing his Eminence to become aware how strongly
such have always been my sentiments, and how unceasingly I endeavour
to impress them on others, I should esteem it as a favour.
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