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The Introduction and Transcription have been expanded and modified (17 July 2026) using information kindly supplied by Viviana Castelli, David Dixon, and Virgilio Ilari; their publicatons relating to Hugh Forbes are listed in the References at the bottom of this page. Wikipedia's "Unification of Italy" offers a brief introduction to the history of this period, often simply labelled as the Risorgimento, and which I do not attempt here.
I found the letter transcribed below in a large lot of old letters offered in a 2026 “postal history” auction. It comprises a large sheet of flimsy paper (we would now say Air Mail paper), folded into a letter with an address panel reading “Capitano Arcibaldo Forbes Poste Restante Turin Piemonte Italy”. The London despatch postmark read 22 JA 62 and there is a smudged TORINO arrival mark. The franking with a sixpenny stamp secured its classification as "postal history".
Archibald
Forbes was a son from Hugh’s first family, born 1833 he died in 1869; little appears to be
known about his life but it is clear from the letter than he is currently acting as agent
in Torino for his father. The “H” and “Horace” of the letter is Archibald’s
younger half-brother from his father’s second family, born ca 1842 who died
1868 in Japan, but who is currently in Torino which was capital of the new Kingdom of Italy
from 1861 to 1865. The capital was then moved to Firenze and, finally, in 1871 to Rome after the military victory over the hold-out Papal States.
It has been possible to establish the identities of
most of those referred to in the letter and their elationships to Hugh Forbes.
The letter opens with acknowledgment of receipt of a parcel from “Libertini” linked to “Mr Crawford 3 Essex Court Temple” in London, an address which suggests a lawyer but is also connected to a Corry family; Hugh's father had appointed William Corry to administer the trust through which Hugh and his siblings received their inheritance.
Libertini was an Italian nationalist who had been with Garibladi in Naples, is now in London, but will return to Italy and in 1861 was elected to the Italian parliametnt.
"Linton's" refers to the printer William J. Linton who was associated with Forbes and also the famous Italian nationalist Giuseppe Mazzini (1805-72) and so it is likely that the parcel contained material that Linton in his guise of radical journalist supporting the Italian cause could make use of; but Linton's main claim to fame is as a wood-engraver. He was English but eventually (1867) emigrated to the USA.
The next paragraph concerns a piano; this was bought by Forbes for his daughter though he was successfully sued for non-payment by the maker. The letter indicates that a belated settlement has now been made using trust money.
The
next, intriguing, paragraph refers to troubles associated with the
repatriation of volunteers from the campaign of 1860 which occasioned a mutiny in which Horace Forbes'sjaw was broken; the “Acerbi” no doubt
refers to Giovanni Acerbi (1825-1869) a soldier, politician and
supporter of the Risorgimento. “Incisa” is a surname known in Torino but not yet pinned down to a specific
individual.
In the next paragraph Hugh Forbes shows that he is pre-occupied with publication of his “Polish pamphlet” written in English in support of the on-going insurgent campaigns to end Russian rule in Poland. But he cannot send his pamphlet to the press until it has been read and approved by “M” who is Ludwik Mieroslawski (1814-1878), his fellow Garibaldino in the International Legion which participated in the 1860 March of a Thousand. His endorsement is important not just to justify the content but to enable fund-raising to support its dissemination. A postscript to the letter uses Mieroslawski’s full surname and confirms this interpretation of “M”. The “G” of this paragraph may well refer to Garibaldi.
Forbes is also preparing to re-publish his well-known and significant work on
irregular warfare for which he uses the short title Patriotic Volunteers.
There are two proper names which occur in proximity to this element in the
letter. One is the name of Giuseppe La Masa, a Sicilian rebel leader; the "lady" may be Forbes's second wife (common law) Ester Hermes with whom he may at this time have been estranged; the second name looks like "Muratin" but has not been further identified.
“Reynolds”
is George Reynolds a prolific author (he has a society which keeps his name and
work alive) and a newspaper publisher; there are people still alive who can
remember Reynolds News .
The
next paragraph then switches to North America. Forbes says that the feeling
against the “stone blockade” is very strong. That blockade was a military
strategy aimed at the southern Confederate states which involved sinking old
ships laden with stones and gravel to block their harbours and make them
unusable.
"The P of C" is probably the Prince of Carignano who belonged to a junior branch of the family of Victor Emanuele the Second, was close to him, and commanded the navy of Piedmont. Forbes's aspirations did not always align with the policy and strategy of the royal house as suggested by the "Watch what the P. of C. is about".
The
name which I have transcribed as “Zambini” is short for Calimacho Zambianchi, an associate of Forbes
Transcription
Addressed
to: Capitano Arcibaldo Forbes Poste
Restante Turin Piemonte
Italy
Datelined: 21 Jany. 62 7 P.M.
Postmarked:
LONDON JA 22 62 and unclear TORINO arrival mark
My
dear Archy
I
have recd. the Libertini parcel – Not able
longer to wait I went to Mr Crawford 3 Essex Ct Temple. He did not know of Libertini’s
being here – but the next day the parcel was sent to Linton’s. The box I get
safe yesterday but after much trouble & 7 shillings expense.
I
have acknowledged the safe rect. of the La Masa documents also the 3 papers.
Today I need No. 8 from you. I want the
agreement from Sicily which Interdonate was to have sent - or a copie conforme
would do equally well – but it is essential.
Respecting
the piano maker, it was an order payable a year ago & delayed merely in
consequence of the death of one of the trustees which caused a delay … the naming of another. Charges &c deducted
there was not quite enough to meet the order, but it has been settled.
The
account of Horace I always considered as more likely to be paid than my own –
yet if Acerbi has asked for another account for me I think Incisa will grant
it. The advance made by Horace for men’s rations may require some explanation.
The men were to have Sailors rations & pay – the rations being one
franc per diem - & grog – as Sailors. When they had no rations &
pay he provided their food & ration, & that is why it may appear larger
than the rations of soldiers. When in Dr [December] they were in a state of
mutiny & his jaw was fractured they only got the soldiers’ rations & no
pay. This caused the mutiny. Keep his claim separated from mine. His ship
arrived at Falmouth some time ago & where she has gone to discharge I
cannot ascertain though I have been to Lloyds. He suffered very much from the
cold, & all his teeth were loose. When he comes he will (if it be
practicable) be obliged to get into the hospital – that is unless I receive
from Turin some money to be able to pay the expenses of proper treatment for
his jaw.
Tell
La Masa & Muratin that I will correspond very soon that I am just
now finishing the republication of my Patriotic Volunteers & that it
will occupy me about one week more. Now I am laying a good foundation.
Reynolds, who has two weekly newspapers (one having a circulation of 200,000)
will invite early next week the proprietor of the daily London paper
(Telegraph) which has the largest circulation in the World. We shall dine &
pass the evening together & talk matters & things in general.
The
letter of La Masa I will send to its destination, first writing to be
sure that the address is correct & to ask whether the lady be coming to
London. It would be better for me to see her & talk on the matter.
I
am glad to hear that the documents have been sent to G [ Garibaldi?] should
they come back signed all right & should the pamphlet on Poland also be visé
& approuve I think I can get the means of its publication here –
nevertheless it would be infinitely better that M [Ludwik Mieroslawksi ] send
the means & I make no appeal till after publication. Yet if he cannot
do that I will use my manuscript & collect but then M. must send me
a short & clear order to that effect. The information by letter will be
sufficient for me.
It
was intended to have sent to Canada some 40,000 men but there will now be kept
there some 15,000. Troubles are not quite over there. The stone blockade may
give rise to serious difficulties with the Yankees, for if it were allowed them
to sink ships laden with stones at the mouths of rivers & harbours, there
would in a few years be no harbours open & consequently no commerce. It is
probable that all the Powers [?] will act
conjointly in this civilisation question, but England having a frontier to
protect must have a small efficient force on the spot - that is in Canada. Tell this to Muratin [?] The feeling here is
very strong agst. the stone blockade
So
soon as I receive the vise of the Polish pamphlet I will set to work earnestly
– till then I am paralysed. Thus I shall be in a condition to correspond &
to do many things.
Watch
what the P of C is about
Shew
Zambini the pamphlet on Poland
I
am sadly tormented about your pecuniary difficulties. What a fool that hotel
man must be. By taking your key & causing your delay & trouble he made
you lose time & he stood in his own light.
Mind
you get letters for yourself from the corresponding ladies of the ragged school
[?]
In
case of having more to add tomorrow I leave open.
Tell
M. [Mieroslawski]that though paralysed by not having the vise &c to the
pamphlet on Poland & the rest - nevertheless I am not idle & shall in a
few days make the acquaintance of the proprietor of the largest circulating
daily paper in the world. Try your
utmost to put my claims & those of Horace in a fair way before leaving
Turin - & then after I get the vise I shall soon want you - put something in hand for your expenses for
two or three weeks you must bring either from M. or from Intendenza.
Addio
Yr. Aff. Father H.F.
Wednesday
22 I have just recd. a letter from Mieroslawski dated 16 Jan. The documents 1
& 2 are not to his liking. He wonders why the pamphlet is not yet
published. I cannot do that till I have at least his visé & also a request
to collect funds for the publication – few words & clear or something like
this. [:] Considering the absence of funds in our Polish caisse in Genoa you
are requested to procure means from the friends of Polish independence in
England wherewith to publish & widely circulate the pamphlet on Poland with
a view to augment as speedily as possible the action of the little committee
already formed M. V. President
Acerbi's ship is ordered to Waterford – How is he to get to London?
References
Virgilio Ilari con Viviana Castelli, Vita e tempi del Colonello Forbes 1808-1892 (2022)
David Dixon, Rebel, Criminal, Patriot, Scapegoat: Hugh Forbes and Transnational Revolution. Forthcoming Louisiana University Press 2027
Wikipedia : Hugh Forbes (Soldier)
Wikipedia :
International Legion
Wikipedia :
Ludwik Mieroslawski
Wikipedia: Unification of Italy
Wikipedia: William James Linton
https://gwmreynoldssociety.com/2022/07/13/radical-rakes-the-friendship-of-g-w-m-reynolds-and-hugh-forbes/ [an article by David Dixon]
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