The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-07-11 00:00:00

PRESENT CONDITION OF THE ITALIAN STATES.

(From Seymour's Pilgrimage to Rome.)
IGNORANCE OF SCRIPTURE.
The ignorance of the population of Italy, both ecclesiastical
and Mies, respecting the Holy Scriptures, is complete and
total. I had heard from one, who had resided ten years in
Rome, that one copy of the sacred volume in the language of
the people could not be procured, unless in secret, in any book-
selling establishment at Rome. The surprise and incredulity
with which I heard this statement, determined me to test it,
and to judge for myself respecting what appeared so strange
an exaggeration. I soon ascertained the address of every such
establishment in the city, and commenced my tour of research.
I visited in person every shop, and in every shop was informed
that they had no copy of the Holy Scriptures in the language
of the people. I asked on every occasion, why they did not
possess so important a book, and on every occas4n they re-
plied, none permesso—" it is not permitted ;" or e prohibito—
"it is prohibited." The result was the fullest confirmation
of the statement which was made to me, for I could not obtain
a portable copy in the establishment of any bookseller in
Rome. I found two copies of Martini's edition in twenty-four
volumes, capable of being bound in eight or ten volumes, and
at the cost of 105 francs, or above four pounds sterling, equal
relativley to six pounds in this country. Under this price, so
truly prohibitive, the volume could not be procured, and on
suggesting the importation of a cheap and portable edition, the
various booksellers stated that the prohibition was designed
against the sale of the Holy Scriptures in any cheap or portable
form, the object being to prevent their circulation. Indeed so
great was the ignorance as to the nature of the Holy Scriptures,
though familiar with their name, that one of the most respect-
able booksellers there presented to me a copy of Calmet's
Dictionary of the Bible, and insisted that it was the Bible
itself, and I was obliged to leave his shop without being able
to convince him to the contrary I
ROMAN CATHOLIC SUPERSTITION.
The word Bambino, is simply the Italian for child, and has
reference to the childhood of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom
the term is constantly applied. Any image or picture of our
Lord in his early age is so designated •, but as the child Jesus
is emphatically R Bambino—The Child, to designate Him as
over and above all else ; so among the multitudes of images
and pictures of the childhood of our Lord at Rome, there IS
one, so known and remarkable beyond all others, that it is
styled emphatically Il Bambino—The Child. I allude to the
Bambino of the Capitol—the Bambino of the church and con-
vent of Ara cern at the capitol.
The Bambino is a small doll, made of wood, and about two
feet in length, not unlike, except in its attire, the dolls made
for the amusement of our children in England or France.
On its head is a royal crown of gold gemmed with rubies,
emeralds and diamonds. From its neck to its feet, it is wrap-
ped in swaddling-clothes, according to the custom of swathing
infants on the continent. The two little feet are seen project-
ing beneath, so that the face and feet of the image are alone
visible. The swaddling-clothes swathing the arms, the body
and legs, deprive the image of all form, but make some com-
pensation by-the magnificence of the jewels with which they
are covered. There are princely rubies, and precious emerseds,
and brilliant diamonds, tastefully arranged to decorate the
whole, so that the Bambino is a blaze of splendour. What-
ever may be the value of the little wooden doll, which is thus
magnificently gemmed, the swaddling-clothes, which envelope
it, are worth several thousand pounds sterling money. It is
universally propagated and believed among the lower classes,
that if a woman is in her confinement and the time of her
delivery is at hand, the presence of this Bambino laid on the
bed at her feet, will insure a safe delivery 1 It is also univer-
sally propagated and believed among them, that if any person
is so extremely unwell that final recovery would stein doubtful,
the presence of this Bambino will resolve the doubt, for
recovery or death can always Le determined according as the
face becomes flushed or pale on its introduction ! The preva-
lence of such notions leads the friends of the sick to send for
the Bambino. The monks will not permit its presence unless
' at a considerable cost, and the result is that many a family is
• hopelessly impoverished by the money they give, and the con-
; vent is enriched by the money it receives. Ignorance may
palliate all this on the part of the people, but no language can
be too strong as applied to the priests, and monks, and church
which sanction this.