The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-03-22
LETTER FIRST.
Florence, Fe6nary IL, 1905

my friends have right to expect that
should say something. If have not COL
lccted any new traits in their characters at
least / ought 10 be able to say, whether ike
prophets they have died without honour in
their own country, as it is certain many of
them lived in it without comfort. / ought to
say, whether, were, and when, their country
has erected braZen or marble monuments 10
the memory of men, whom other n-tions
have agreed to place among the most distn-
g,ished of mankind. Few cities can boast of
having enrolled more ilustrious persons a.
mong their citizens, than Florence. Cosmo
and Lorenzo di Medic;; Leo X. of the same
ilIustrious stock Dante Torricelli G.li-
leo Michael Angelo, or Agnolo Machia-
vel Americus Vespusius, have all of them
in their vlrius departments contributed TO
create splendour around this city, before
celebrated for the early revival, and since, for
the unremitted encouragement, of the fine
arts. In the church Of Santa Croce they have
erected SO many monuments 10 the distn-
guished gcniuses of Italy, that it has been
very properly called the {" Westminster Alb
bey' of Florence. In visiting these testimon-
les Of gratitude to the dead, or rather these
splendid proofs of the vanity of the living, we
are irresistibly led to lcok more accurately in
to their biography, than when we consider
them at distance and although l have no
doubt that you are in general acq quainted with
the characters Of these iiustrous men, yet it
may afford you an hours amusement to re-
trace some anecdotes and traits in their his
tory. know of no man in ancient or moa-
orn days, whose fate was more extraordinary
than that of Calico. You we'll know the
opposition which he met with while alive
ia propagating those doctrines which all men,
since he is dead, concur 20 acknowledge to
be correct.
Viviani, who styles himself his last pupil,
was so impressed with his merits, that whilst
he did not dare openly to erect inausoleum
to his memory, he built large palace, in the
front of which he placed the bust Cf this
philosopher and in the ornaments of the g.
cadc he contrvcd 10 i.troducc his most i,n-
portant discoveries. Not content with this,
he ordered by his win, that monument
should be erected, which was afterwards
executed in 1888, and placed in the church
of Santa Croce, opposite to that of Michael
Agnolo. Ii is surperb marble sarcophagus,
supported by Astronomy and Geometry, the
sister sciences to which Calico Was most at
t4chcd.
The execution of thehcnourable intentions
of Vivi.lni was suspended for long time by
the continuance of the slme absurd preiutlices
which had embittered hc life of Calico
This great man, srut phi!osophick, if ever
man deserved the title had encountered all
the jealousy and persecution, which men,
supcriour to their own age, are wont to ex-
perience.
His works had beer condemned by the
in1uisition. Pursued HIMSELF and thrown
into prison, after six years confinement, he
was not permitted to come out till he had
abjured what all philosophers now know to be
correct, as to the revolution of the earth
around the sun. Huing. survived this huml-
iation, he died in l642, at the age of 78 years
his iabours, his merit, his distinguished pu-
pills, the favour even of his sovereign, his
unmcrited sufcrinss, could not procure him
respite even in his last moments Bigotry
and superstition, the offspring of igno"a "ance,
were leagucd against him.. 1t was solcmnly
debated in the ecclesiastical courts, whether
he could dispose of his goods by testament,
and whether The church would grant him
christian seppturc. This last point was set
tied agaisnt him, and being suspected of hav-
ing rclaped into his former errours, of the
rotundity and revolution Of the earth, he was,
as heretick, inferred in profane earth. 1t
required all the the credit and wealth Of Vivi-
ami to erect i'm the midst of Florence a
monument to his memory. 1t was afterwards
decided hy the grave theologians, that his
ashes might be removed to sacred ground,
bus without any mark of distinction or honour,
and it was not till after a solemn Judicial de-
cision, that they were permitted to, place his
remains in the monument designed to cover
them. There does not remain (says writer)
any trace ofthc theological hatred against this
Great man, except an index Of books hrohib-
lied, which was renewed under the pontiicate
of Benedict XIV, in 1888. The dialogue,
which constituted his chief crime, together
with the works OF Bacon, Copcricus, KEEP
Ter, Descartcs, cd Foscarnini, pupil OF Cali
leo, were BY that pope still prescribed.