The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-05-31

the United sttes could ever raise during the most
critical part OF our revolutionary war So longen,
| as degraded Holland possesses navy, which could
annihiate all the maritime force, which the u States
could create IN two years solong Switzerland,
even the half of Lombardy, furnish regular and
better organized troops than this nation SO long
as every literary academy of every city in Europe
produce learned men, than this extensive repub
lick, let in the name Of modesty and decorum, for
bear to boast of power or our knowledge, until
we have made little better OF the means, which
God and nature have given us for the improvement
of both
Before give you more detailed description of
this city, let me sketch out the few objects which at
tractcd my attention the road from Rome to this
place No country on earth, presume, is more
wretched than that part of the campania which you
traverse in leaving Rome for this city. From Rome
to Terracna, country of seventy miles in extent all
inhabited only by bufaloes or birds of the ocean, who
seek their food in these deserted marshes solitary
hut collection Of houses, which they call vill-
age, and then occur to add horrour to the most
melancholy scenery Poverty, famine, and disease
are strongly marked in the dresses and upon the
countenanccs Of the inhabitants There are, howev-
CT, one or two villages more elevated above the ia
tai exhaations of the marshes, where the inhabitants
drag out a less miserable existence. The sides of
the road lined with the ruins Of proud mausolea,
or prouder villas, the grand remains OF ancient
aqueducts, whose noble ard yet unimpaired arches,
extending far the eye can reach, form grand,
and at the same time beautiful perspective.
The first considerable village, about 80 miles from
Rome, is vectr situated on rising ground, which IS
better cultivated than the greater part this wretch
ed country 1t interestingto antiquarians as hav-
ing been the reputed birthplace residence offour
emperours-Augustus, Iiberius, Calgula, and Otho.
They PRETEND that the remains of the palace of the
last are still extant Whatever may have been its
former grandeur. it certainly has nothing imperial in
its present appearance On descending from Velle-
tri, you enter the famous Pontine marshes These
extensive morasses among the most disgust
ing and useless, though they formerly esteemed
among the finest parts of Italy julius Caesar began
the stupendous work of draining them, which was
completed by Augustus At oneperiod they were en-
compassed or covered bytwentyhree populous towns
and villages. Now not trace OF these towns
and villages is to be met with, and not single edi
fee is to be seen, except few publick houses erec-
ted by the pope for the protection and accommoda-
ton of travellers These marches forty miles in
extent and so sunken to produce exhalations IA
tai every species Of ANIMAL at certain seasons OF
the year At the time passed them although in the
midst OF winter, suphureous smell was so power
full that we obliged to shut up every window in
COACH and with that precaution, the effects Of it
were distressing.
(Le.ter IN to be continued