Silvio, an eminent Italian, celebrated for his genius and his misfortunes, was born at Saluzzo in Piedmont in 1789. His education, though irregular, was well adapted to develop his fine talents. In his father's house, which was furnished with all the luxuries of an easy fortune, his love for poetry was kindled by the sight of private theatres. In Turin, to which the family removed about 1795, his studies were prosecuted under a clergyman. At Lyons, where he resided with a wealthy cousin for four years, he tasted all the refining pleasures which affection could suggest or money could supply. At Milan, where he settled in 1810 as a teacher of French, he devoted himself to the study of the literature of his own and of other countries. Nor was the society in which he mingled in this last city less propitious to his mental culture. Monti and Foscolo loved and cherished him. Count Porro also received him into his house as tutor to his sons, and introduced him to the celebrated men, both native and foreign, who gathered round his hospitable table. Inspired and stimulated by all these influences, Pellico set himself to enlighten and elevate his enslaved countrymen, as well as to gratify his own aspirations. In a short time his tragedy of Francesca da Rimini delighted all Italy with its grace and tenderness. In 1819 he was the chief agent in establishing a national periodical called The Conciliator. About the same time, also, he consecrated his life to the cause of Italian freedom by enrolling himself in the revolutionary society of the Carbonari. It was this activity that brought Pellico under the relentless suspicions of Austrian despotism, and entailed upon him a long and cruel persecution. Arrested in October 1820 for political offences, he was lodged in the cells of Santa Margherita at Milan. Removed to Venice soon afterwards, he lay awaiting his trial in the dreary state prison called "The Leads." His trial came on in February 1822, and resulted in a sentence of death which was commuted for a severe incarceration of fifteen years in the fortress of Spielberg, near the Moravian city of Brunn. In that distant dungeon the weary term of durance passed heavily along, inflicting pains and agonies unspeakable. At length, when it had dragged the poor prisoner almost to death's door, it was prematurely brought to a close, by the command of the emperor, on the 1st August 1830. Silvio Pellico spent his remaining years in literary pursuits at Turin. He produced the tragedy of Ester d'Engaddi not long after his release; Le Mie Prigioni, Tre Nuove Tragedie, and the tragedy of Tommaso Moro in 1832; and his Opere Inedite in 1837. He also acted as librarian to the Marchesa Barolo. His death took place on the 1st January 1854 at Moncaglieri, the villa of his patroness near Turin. Of Pellico's account of his own imprisonment, under the title of Le Mie Prigioni, there have been