I would say something more of those whom we saw at Milan in 1816, and first of the Abate de Breme, to whom we were introduced by a letter from Madame de Staël. He was one of the most amiable of men, and the high station he had held under the French (he was one of the almoners, “aumonier vicaire,” of the Italian court of the kingdom of Italy) gave authority to his account of events in which he had borne a part, and which were, at the time of our visit, much more the object of curiosity than they are at this day. His father was Minister of the Interior for the Emperor Napoleon at Turin, and his family influence would have raised him to the highest dignities in the church, a profession, indeed, which at first he seems to have adopted of his own accord. He was offered a mitre three times, but refused to occupy a position not at all suitable to his taste, nor congenial with his opinions. There was, however, no laxity of principle, nor neglect of moral propriety, to influence his refusal, for he had a high character in every respect, and was so much esteemed that he was offered great promotion by the Austrians, to whom he was known to bear no good will.