Autograph letter signed : [Rome], to George Goodin Moulton-Barrett, [1860 April 18].

Responding to the critical reviews of her book Poems Before Congress; telling George that she was prepared for a reception of this kind and the only reviews that upset her are those, like the one in the Athenaeum, that entirely miss the point of certain poems; writing that in fact she is flattered by the attention the book is receiving: "Whatever may be the defect of that book, George, it is at least conscientious & honest--nor do I believe that it will fail to touch some generous chords in minds open to such an influence--Facts have been sacred things with me, & the very pressure of the time & the locality is on the verses"; recounting an anecdote about Richard Monckton Milnes's commentary on political matters, as relayed by Odo Russell; refuting George's doubts about her grasp of the political situation in Italy and criticizing the sources upon which he is basing his opinions; discussing the annexation of Savoy; pointing out hypocrisies in the English position on the matter; discussing the the ongoing process of Italian unification, and the decisions and actions of Victor Emmanuel, Louis Napoleon, and Camillo Cavour during it; defending Louis Napoleon: "What makes him hateful to all these fossil politicians is the fact which has recommended him to me--that he is the head in Europe of democratic progress & national ideas"; criticizing the Daily News for their coverage of Cavour and praising him, Azeglio, and Luigi Farini ("we have civic heroes here!"); expressing some reservations about Garibaldi; excoriating Henry Chorley (music critic of the Athenaeum, and one of the reviewers of Poems Before Congress) for not printing letters from her that clarified her positions and instead inserting a patronizing correction on her behalf; ending with further commentary on Italian unification: "Put in your head that Central Italy is only a nucleus of Italy that shall be."