The historian Galvaneus Flamma mentions them by name as one of the thirty-one commissioners appointed to treat with the Emperor, while the chronicler of the Counts of Angleria mentions Menaduxius de Molteno amongst those who aided and gave passage to Frederick when he attacked the Counts of Angleria, who claimed feudal lordship over them. These families, in common with their class, were eager to assert their independence of all feudal control ; their position would be almost analogous to the imperial knights found in Germany and Austria at the end of the last century. Flamma says they did not consent to the destruction of Milan, which followed upon the surrender to Frederick, but merely to the destruction of the counts. Crescenzi (di Pietro) tells us that the family of Molteno were friendly to the Emperor, giving passage to him as above, and that he confirmed the privileges, increased the titles, granted the bearing of the imperial eagle, crowned and named barons of the empire the families of Casati ... and Molteno.' A coat of arms with the imperial eagle crowned on a field of gold, has been handed down in the family to the present day.'

Fagnani, whose work is the authority on the nobility of Milan, and who wrote at the beginning of the seventeenth century, says : 'We have gathered from many ancient writings that the family of Molteno is a very ancient and noble

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family.'?

The family continued to take an important part in the

various leading events in the subsequent history of Milan. We find Georgius di Molteno appearing as the head of the great College of Advocates and Notaries at various times from 1403 to 1435. In 1448 Phillipus di Molteno was one of the thirty-six men who were added to the twelve ' leaders of liberty' of the Republic of Milan after the death of the Duke Philip Maria Visconti. In 1447, among the councillors

returned to the general council of the Republic of Milan, and elected as the best, wealthiest, and most useful citizens, and as loving the peaceful condition of their country,' appears Petrolus di Molteno. While among the 150 nobles elected for the purpose of preferring the oath of fealty to the eldest son of Galeas Maria Sforza, Duke of Milan, are found Petrus, Joannes, Christopher, and Henricus di Molteno, as well as Ambrosius di Molteno, all elected for various quarters of the city, showing that at this time they were a numerous and important family. About the year 1498 a Molteno is found in charge of the works in connection with the building of the cathedral. Mention is made of them in the works on the history of Milan and Lombardy at various periods ranging from the sixteenth century down to modern times.

The reader will remember that Italy was the first country in Europe during the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth centuries, in wealth, in literature, in art, in music, and all the forms of expression of the highest civilisation. It was the cradle of our modern civilisation, which spread itself northwards to France, Germany, and England. The subsequent history of Milan was an epitome of the history of Italy. Attacked by the French, the Spaniards, and the Turks, all at the same time, it succumbed. The French under Louis XII. took possession of Milan and held it for twelve years from the year 1500. It was again conquered in 1515 by Francis I. When Francis was defeated at the great battle of Pavia in 1525, Charles V. annexed it to the Crown of Spain, and so it remained until the year 1714, when it was handed over to Austria, who retained it until 1796. Upon their acquisition of Milan in the sixteenth century, the Spaniards took effective measures to suppress all national feeling and all aspirations for public liberty. The fortunes of the citizens of Milan decayed with the fortunes of their country. Their splendid spirit was sapped, and no career was left open to its sons; many sought freedom in distant lands.1

Mr. John Molteno died in 1828 at an early age, leaving to his wife the care of a young family. This lady was a woman of powerful character, and she courageously undertook the duty which now fell upon her alone. One who personally remembers her says: 'I recollect her as she was when about 70 years of age as a very beautiful old lady, erect and with a very fine bearing, nothing old about her; very dainty in her dress; a delightful memory in every respect. She was devoted to the little ones, and seemed to

The following authorities have been consulted, and further mention of the family will be found in them :

Galvaneus Flamma, the celebrated chronicler, born at Milan in 1283; his Chronicle was written about 1300. Angleriae Chronicon ejusque Comitum ab anno 606 ad 1280 ; & manuscript of the end of the sixteenth century in the Ambrosian Library at Milan. Gio. Pietro Crescenzio published his work upon the nobility of Milan between 1630-1640. Placido Puccinelli, Milanese historian ; lived about 1650. Giovanni Sitone di Scozia; he published his work on the Noble Families of Milan in 1705. Francesco Giuseppe Benaglia ; published his Elenchus Familiarum in Mediolani Dominio Feudis Juris. dictionibus Titulisque insignium in 1714. Fagnani; his Famiglie is in manuscript in the Ambrosian Library. It is the authority upon the nobility of Milan; three pages are devoted to the family of Molteno, written about the beginning of the seventeenth century. Its reference to the family begins thus : “ Moltenorum familiam satis vetustam et nobilem ex multis vetustis scripturis colligimus.” Giovanni Antonio Perocchio; Storia Sepulcrale, a manuscript of the seventeenth century. Giuseppe Allegranza ; Inscriptiones sepulcrales Ecclesiae Mediolanensis, 1773. Frisi; Memorie di Monza, 1790. Dictionnaire de Géographie de l'Italie et de la Lombardie, art · Molteno.' Pavia di Moriga ; History of Milan (Venice, 1591). Corografia dell'Italia, by Rampoldi, 1833,

• Molteno.' This is in the British Museum. Teatro Araldico, ovvero raccolta generale delle armi ed insegne gentilizie delle più illustri e nobili casati che esistarono un tempo e che tutora fioriscono in tutta l'Italia, da L. Tettoni e F. Saladini : Lodi, 1843. See • Molteno di Milano.' This work is in the Cambridge University Librar

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be always welling over with love, and not to know how sufficiently to give expression to it.'

Young Molteno, the subject of this narrative, received his education at the old Rectory at Ewell, that charming Surrey village so well known to frequenters of Epsom, where Dr. Harcourt presided over his studies. He exhibited a fine intelligence and considerable capacity, and several prizes fell to his lot. He was well grounded in arithmetic, while the usual stereotyped course of Latin grammar and recitation of Latin poetry was also looked upon as an important accomplishment, as it is to-day in most public schools. To the date of our death we can most of us quote from memory all the rules of Latin prosody, nominativus pronominum raro exprimitur,' and the rest, and so it was with Mr. Molteno; to the day of his death he could quote these rules as well as many passages from the Latin classics. His education was necessarily not prolonged, and he was placed in the office of Mr. T. Dennis, a ship and insurance broker, of Langbourne Chambers, next door to what subsequently became the offices of the Castle Line, so well known to South Africans. His duties brought him in contact with ships arriving from all parts of the world. Eventually it became a question as to what career he would adopt. There was an opportunity of an appointment in a bank, but the glimpse he had seen of the outer world by his contact with ships from every part had already stimulated his eager and energetic character, and it implanted in him a desire for greater freedom than life at a desk could afford.

The sea and ships had a great fascination for him. He was always eager to step on board a ship newly arrived and to learn all the news of the voyage, and of the country whence it had come.

His love of the sea was a strong characteristic all through his life; he was never happier than when on board ship, up on deck at all hours making out the points of the coast-line or the well-known lights. This characteristic was probably connected with his intense love of liberty and freedom—the pleasure we experience on seeing a wide and extended view is said to be largely made up of this sense of freedom.

Through Mr. J. M. Richardson, the publisher, of 23 Cornhill, a friend of his father, an introduction was secured to Mr. Johnstone Jardine, who was Librarian of the Cape Public Library. His duties would be to assist Mr. Jardine in the Library, but it was understood he would have considerable leisure, which he might employ in writing for one of the newspapers or otherwise. In forwarding him the letter of introduction Mr. Richardson gave him some sound advice, which holds good to-day : “You see therefore that much will depend upon your own assiduity and attention, but if you conduct yourself with the propriety I fully expect, and indeed rely upon, I am sure Mr. Jardine, to whom I have written to entreat it in the letter for that gentleman which you take with you, will afford you every encouragement in his power; in whatever situation of life you may be hereafter placed, never be satisfied with just doing what may be rigidly expected from you, but always do more--anticipate people's wants and even wishes, and you will soon become so necessary as to be sought after on all hands, and your advancement will be the certain consequence.' Under these very favourable arrangements, which

provided a home for him with Mr. Jardine and some fixed work, with an opportunity of further possibilities, Mr. Molteno proceeded to the Cape in the year 1831, having attained the age of seventeen years. His mother was extremely loth to part with him ; indeed, she never became quite reconciled to his self-chosen banishment to what she regarded as a barbarous country swarming with blacks. Day after day, when her son left, she would walk to some elevated spot, where she would gaze towards the sea over which he had passed, and we shall find