The Sun.
London, England, 1862-07-29 00:00:00

THE MARQUIS GRI3fALDI.

M. Drouyn 1
'Huys has lately delivered the fol-
lowing doge on the life and character of Joseph
Ceva Grimaldi, Marquis of Pietracatella, formerly
Prime Minister of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies,
before the French Academy of Moral and Political
Science, of which the deceased was a correspond-
ing member :
". A man whose existence had been consecrated to
politics, to science, and to the practice of the rarest
virtues, has just terminated his long career by his
death, at Naples. We hope to perform a grateful
task by retracing the history of the well-spent life
of the Marquis of Pietracatella, formerly President
of the Council to Ferdinand 11., King or the Two
Sicilies. Joseph Ceva Grimaldi was born at Naples
on the Bth of September, 1776. He was the son of
the Marquis of Pietracatella, Duke of Pescia, of
Montorio, of Bonefro, and of Marie Spinelli, of the
family of the Prince of Cariati.
" This ancient house, one of the most illustrious
of the Ligurian Republic, came originally from
Genoa. It was removed to Naples about 1545, and
at Naples, as at Genoa, history enumerates among
her greatest notabilities several names of the Ceva
Grimaldi. We will principally mention that of
Marsellus Ceva Grimaldi, lieutenant-general and
field marshal under Philippe V., who received on
the 6th April, 1709, the Grand Collar of the Golden
Fleece.
" The last Marquis of Pietracatella, a worthy de-
scendant of this noble line,"also aspired to obtain his
share of personal distinction. From his earliest
youth he exhibited a marked taste for the study of
useful sciences. His education, conducted by the
Pere Musci, who became afterwards Archbishop of
Manfredonia, developed the good instincts of the
pupil, and opened his heart to impressions of justice
and worth. The knowledge of the master was soon
reflected in the mind of the disciple. But, before
speaking of his literary productions, let us speak of
the politician, who, after having occupied succes-
sively several important offices, ultimately attained
to the Presidency of the Council under Ferdinand 11.
" M. de Pietracatella took no part in public
affairs under the reigns of Joseph Bonaparte and
Joachim Murat ; but he employed his leisure in
meditating on the works of celebrated men, and in
deriving inspiration from the study of great social
questions. Intimately allied by friendship with the
illustrious Count Ricciardi, Joseph Ceva Grimaldi
never ceased, notwithstanding the marked dissent
which existed between his political opinions and
those of his friend, to maintain that intimacy with
unwavering fidelity—a rare example of reciprocal
tolerance. The restoration of the Bourbons to the
throne of the Two Sicilies marked the hour of
the Marquis of Pietracatella's entrance into public
life. Nominated Governor of the Province of
Aguila in 1816; his wise and enlightened adminis-
tration speedily revealed that spirit of moderation
which enabled him to do good without offering vio-
lence to conscience or tyrannically seeking to in-
fluence opinion. Later, he became prefect at
Potenza, and at Lecce, where he equally contrived
to conciliate the love and respect of all classes of the
population.. The growing renown of the Marquis
de Pietracatella occasioned his summons to the
superintendence of the archives of the kingdom,
and in the course of 1820, to the Council of the
Chancellerie, both eminent positions, which he con-
tinued to fill even after the new political constitu-
tion granted to the kingdom in 1820.
" The erection of the Consulta—a liberal institu-
tion analogoua to our Council of State—coincided
with the ideas of the marquis, as they responded to
the requirements of the epoch. Named a member
of this new assembly, M. de Pietracatella was one
of those whose remarkable achievements most ably
utilised this institution.

" The qualities of the Marquis de Pietracatella
directed the choice of the prince naturally towards
him. Minister and Secretary of State without a
portfolio, since 1826, he was charged by Ferdinand
11. with the direction of the Ministry of the Interior,
which united within its sphere, besides the civil
administration, public works, agriculture, commerce,
and public instruction.

wive will not now recapitulate the wise mea-
sures then adopted, the important economies in-
troduced into the budget, nor dwell on the
spirit of conciliation which prevailed at this
epoch. We will only say that:the most far-sighted
dispositions then made are due to the Marquis
Pietracatella. Feeling the necessity of certain re-
forms, he respectfully advised the king in 1847
frankly to adopt the form of a liberal regime. He
then resigned his position as President of the Coun-
cil, and retired into private life.
ci The savant was as eminent as the statesman. We
observe him at the same time member of the agri-
cultural and encouragement' societies, honorary

president of the Pontiana Academy, and member of
the Academy of Sciences at Naples, where he occu-

pied, from 1842, the presidential chair. If his incon-
testible merit was honoured at home it was no less

acknowledged abroad. We find him a eorrespond-

ing member of the Academy of Turin, of the Histo-
rical and Geographical Institute of Brazil, of the
Scientific Institution at Washington, of the Russian

Academy at St. Petersburgh, and of the Institute

in France.

«A letter addressed to him by M. Mignet en-
hances the value of the man, whom our principal
learned body thought it an honour to associate with

its renown. It is as follows :

" Sir,—l address you in the name of the Academy,
the letter and the extract from the resolution, which
will inform you of your nomination as correspon'
dent; and I have the pleasure to add that in this
nomination there is something equally rare and

honourable. There did not exist this year any vacant

post for foreign correspondents, but the Academy
has created one for Italy, according it to your merit
and your works. (Signed) " MIGNET.

" Paris, Jan. 24, 1846.'
" This marked homage testifies to the profound
and diversified knowledge of the Marquis Pietraca-
tella. His works, after having appeared in several
separate editions, were collected in two volumes,
published at Naples (1847) by the Royal printing

press.
"In the first volume may be found his ' Con-
siderazioni sulle Opera Pubbliche'—a modest title,

under which is hidden groat erudition in history
and in political economy. His book, Sulk Con-
cessione delle Rendite Pubbliche,' is largely con-
ceived, and puts forth his ideas in support of this
principle, that a Government may reimburse the
capital of public funds without violating justice and
without betraying the rights acquired by the fend-
holders.

" The ' Considerazioni sulla Riforma dei Pesi e
delle Misure,' and the essay, Sed Dezio d'lntro-
duzioni dei Libri Stranieri,' secured to its author
the unanimous praise of practical and learned men.
The first volume includes several other very re-
markable economical works.
" In the second volume the grave economist itiY"