The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-05-10

ancestors having been raised 10 the pontfcal chair
The late revolution has, at Rome well in France,
placed coronet or rntre upon the heads of many,
who thought themselves born to humble fortunes The
most distinguished of this class the marquis Torlo-
MIA, now the greatest banker in Italy This man, at
the commencement ofthe revolution, which overthrew
the Papa throne, was in the humble Office of valet
but taking active part in favour OF the French, he
attracted their notice. became fayourte fteir
generals, the contractor for their armies, and thus
quired an immense fortune. With this property he
has already invested himself with marqpisate, aud
has purchased the reverson of dukedom II may
be well to remark here, that the titles in almost every
part OF Italy not personal but attached to the
estate $50 that any man may become duke even
prince, who has the and disposition to purchase
an estate for the purpose.
The Italian nobility in general, are not remarkable
for the splendour Of their equipages, the expen-
sveness Of their tables Their pride and luxury seem
to be confined to the magnifcence of their palaces
the value, number and antiquity OF the pantngs and
statues This taste undoubtedly owes as origin to the
fine specimens Of architecture and statuary, with
which their country had been enriched by the ancient
Romans, and vast many OF which have escaped the
ravages of time. As the modern Romans found that
their country the resort OF literary men OF all ma
tons, princ ally account of these remains of an
cien grandeur it is extremely natural that, poor
they were, they should place higher value upon
these objects, than upon and other qualifications IT
except the palace built by Louis XIV, at Yer
u
lodged, as twenty Of these Roman MOBILES.
The inerour OF their palaces perfectly responds to
the splendour of the exterour. The cabinets Of tse
mobiles frequently contain paintings and statues, which
would sell for millions while the proprictors are the
prey Of Jews and sharpers and almost literally wanta
coat
can give you one example of the prodigious value
of the collections Of some of these poor noblemen.
The prince Justiniani had sod it said four pic
lures out of his collection, to Lucen Bonapare, for
100000 dollars do not think that he had less than
or 600 fine pictures left. The Palais Borghcse con-
tains statues and paintings, which would sell in Eng
land for more than million sterling All the graft
tcation, which these noblemen derive from these
splendid establishments, is the praise and attention
bestowed upon them by foreigners, who still crowd
to Rome from every part of the civilized wor!a 1t is
said, that the present of Roman nobility is very
much degraded in character that they are Ignorant
and wholly destitute ofthose qualities, which can a.
lone render an aristocracy respectable.
The ecclesiastical police of Rome prohibits all pub
lick spectaclcs and amuseents, except ofa religious
nature, at the period of the Carnival. During the
short interval of fcstvity, the theatre is opened and
the Romans, by the extravaganza and folly OF their
amusements, endcavour to indemnify themselves tor
the restrictions under which they placed, during
the rest Of the year.
The Roman stage appears to me in very humble
stxc of advancement. Tedious operas in which every
principle of common and nature is violated, or
gross bufioonry, suited only the lowest tastes are
the things which Roman audience can alone relish.
Operas in all, languages, and ia every country, are
sufficiently stupid; but in France, you are in some
degree recompensed for the outrage done to probab
ity and good sense by the spendour of the scenery
and the taste and beauty of the ballet. At Rome you
are denied even these sources of relief Long rec-
tatives, without spirit variety, and still longer
songs and sonnettas exhaust the patience OF the most
meek, and you amused with the same dirty scene
ry, which never changes, and with iarleqnins Scar
amolches and jumping jacks, instead OF dnncers
Much has been said, too Of the other auscmcnts OF
the Carnival; but they are still stupid and rid
iculous, than their theatrical performances They
consist solely in odd and whimsical masquerade dress
es, in which almost all the inhabitsnts attire them
selves and parade the streets without the least ex
ertion OF Wit, or any attempt to support the charac
ters which they fantastcally assume. On the whoie
Rome, to stronger, would be most insipd and DIS
agreeable city, if he was not compensated by the I'M
mence number and value of the objects OF the fne
arts, with which it is enriched and by the magnifi-
cence of the remnants of antiquity, Of which the folly
and cupidity of the modern inhabitants cannot de-
prive him. Yours, &c.