Florence was full of refugees from the political rigours of the papal government, who had for some time past found there an unmolested refuge.

But the aspect of the times was becoming more and more alarming to Austria, and the _Duchini_, as we called the Sovereigns of Modena and Parma; and pressure was put on the Duke by the pontifical government insisting on the demand that these refugees should be given up by Tuscany.

Easy-going Tuscany, not yet in anywise alarmed for herself, fought off the demand for a while, but was at last driven to notify her intention of acceding to it.

It was in these circumstances that Massino d'Azeglio came to me one morning, in the garden of our house in the Via del Giglio--the same in which the poet Milton lodged when he was in Florence--to which we had by that time moved, and told me that he wanted me to do something for him.

Of course I professed all readiness, and he went on to tell me of the critical and dangerous position in which the refugees of whom I have spoken were placed, and said that I must go to Lord Holland and ask him to give them British passports.