The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-12-13
AMUSING MISCELLANY.
originul Letters, from an american Traveller
in Eurohe, to his friends in this country.
LETTER TWENTY-THlRD.
(onci,ifl.d1 I

t.A 't.s Concluded
Although feel an ardent desire to arrive at the
description Of this most magnificent captai a. much
distinguished by its present spiendour rs by Its m.
Gent gre catess, this city, destined, fully believe,
from Climate some other unSl'~wn cause to be the
nurse of genius apd the patroncss OF the Hne arts,
yet think 1t proper to detail my tour through Italy,
because, although you may find this country better
described by many writer's yet my selflove hattcrs
me with the belief that you have never before been
90 interested in descriptions of this sort. There ID
something in the recital of those whom We know ini.
ately that seems to bring objects nearer to a., and
20 make US IN some degree spectators OF the scene.
Parma, for many years the irheritanee alone Of
NC royal family of Spain, who exercised sovereignty
rnder the title Of Duke Of Parma, is placed in that
most beautiful Of all plains, Lombasdy, watered BY
the finest rivers in the world, ntersectcd with canals
-ghicl carry refrcshment to every portion OF this
thirsty so II is not to be wondered ats then, that
Parma should produce the finest cattle, and most
daicious cLcesc, famed inevcry portion Of the world
kis q fact which may be relied upon, though con-
trsry 10 received opinion, that, ~ no country - rc-
CT, 90 none is bcrof cultivated than this part Of Ita
". Because the Campania o. Rome, and those parts
zen, unobseing or hasty travellers have represented
laly ~ being seneroliy ill.cuvated, and the peo.
pie q idle. But can positively state, from my own
cbservs&tuns that Lombardy the largest portion of
Nsly, is te best cultivated of any part OF Europe,
not excepting Great Britain, and that no people on
not rich The answer must be sought, and will be
found, in political causes. Fourteen millions paid to
France, en- expensive government 1t home, numerous
and most extyayagan. ecclesiastical establishments
these are the GAUGES TO which we may add, that
tic lands arc owned by lords, or by religious houses
the rents spent in supporting persons IN ceibacy and
idlcncss or in useless decorations Of churches, and
the poor abourer receiving but the remnant after all
these drains. These arc the natural and obvious
of the poverty Of the inhabitants notwithstanding
the fertility Of the soil and their extreme industry It
is generally supposed that Buonapare will establish
in Italy the two brothers, whom he has not provided
Cor in the Sepatus Consultum that he will make Je-
rome, Duke OF Parma and Lucien king OF Lonsbar-
dy- TINE will shcw,
Parma il q beautiful, End has been magnificent
city It's theatre was the largest and ncblest in Eau.
rope It's remains which you now sec, excite aston.
ishincnt H is three hundred feet long and proper.
tionaby wide. They were enabled to give naval
coarbats on the stage witt! tolerable dignity. It's
asadcmy OF sculpture and painting still respccta-
bic, and its library is extensive and rare. number
of Fresco paintings Of the great Corcggio :.,orn
t,;s city. icanuo, give you abctter idea 81 the
oS ono than by saying. that having painted for his
relation picture of the Virgin, it became so cele-
bratcd among The Catholicks, that the presents made
the picture soon enabled them to buy the house in
which Il was placed, andto convert Il into church,
where We had the pleasure to visit this celebrated
piece. If It had not acquired this reputation, 4,
saould not have thought It supcriour to several
which have scen.
from Pssma you pass to Modcna. through the
plain 70 LombssaS With the Appenine mountains on
your right, In fHll Slew. Mo6esa ID also the capital
Il another liulc state cf Italy, now amalgamatcdnto
tl,c Italian RsPubiok, oae of the creatures of the
late revolutoH It hes nothing H present worthy OF
notice. Soon after quitting Modenas You sssch No.
logna, once part Of the ylpal terrUsy. bat which
this same revolution has vtCocd from thc Pope. Coz
the benefit eventually a. B0onsparte's brother.
Bologna, next to Rome md Floeence. h one Of the
ost splendid cities Of Italy, mete especially In re-
hton To the hne sxts but e Ideferred my visit to
;ihess objects ~ ~ sessn sto! Rome when shall
,uef}ce the cc)skrus1 louu&afns 81 yohn De rb;or
IA i vf the ~ cclebssGed scucton ef tlse later
-. tetne kpss renaFk, that, Whether from the
ksak q shc climate q from some Other camse llthc
saRiAns ere mosp attentive 10 NE supply Of their