The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-12-06
at tho sane time French General, being no less
than the celehr>f ted General Iourdan

Milan is not an elegant or well built city it much
Resembles the cities OF France, and has not that air
of elegance and taste for which most OF the cities of
Italy, are distinguished being situated in plain
well watercd with numerous rivers, they have been
enabled to surround II with canals, which having
rapid current contribute to its saubrity, and fsc
tate its commerce. Its theatres vast and ele-
giant, and the lovers Of opera d-lare that the per-
formances are delightful. We went to the opera,
twice but not being vrtucsos, after yawning and
gaping for an hour or two, retired determined
for the future to trust the judgment Of the
lightened to the excellence Of Italian musick
One thing must commend in the Italian opera
houses, and which think proves that even the
fined Italians endure forever the delights Of
their own musick, and that is, the convenient
rangement of their own boxes They have elegant
silk curtins in front, which they occasionally drop,
and take game Of cards, CONVEX sation, supper
other rcfrcshment, and only come forward when
favouritc performer is upon the stage thus there
thirty or toty different parties talking or supping
at the same moment in the theatre, and it is only
when some distinguished Euuuch or some accom-
plishcd female singer are performing, that you find
general attention to the piece. There is one thing
in tho economy Of the city Of Milan peculiar TO il
and worthy Of imitation. In the middle Of the
street, and also just the ordinary distance Of the
wheels of a carrige are nearly arranged fiat pave
mcnts, so that the two wcels constantly run upon
them without the least noise or jolting motion a
carrige in Milan would last long again in any
increased
But the most interesting object in Milan is its
Cathedral i "a, next 20 ST. Peters at Rome, tic
largest in the world is wholly built within ard
without Of wiite polished marble it has been up-
wards of 800 years ia building, and Is yst iRcor.
plctc. Its chief peculiarly is the number Of its
statues Mr.. Addison, who it about century
ago, conf fues them az Il 900 and they have been
adding to them ever since some of them ceie-
bratcd and most cf them of respectable workman
ship. The bas relefs relating chiefly to the differ
ent parts OF ecclesiastical history are beautiful: on
the whole, the building is august and sublime its
size is imposing the nfntude of the statues aston
ish you and when you reflect, that, since success
sive generations have laboured in the erection of it.
and now slumber in peace, while it is yet unfinished
it produces combination OF ideas and feelings,
which approach to my notion of the sublime.
There is nothing else in Milan worth notice, cx-
cept number of fine churches, which you find in
every city of Italy, and Of the spendour of which
should vainy labCur TO give an American any idea.
The most magnificent architectural decorations Of
our country, insignificant, mean, arc truly
despcabe, compared to the sumptuous, and shall 1
say vain, extravaganza Of Italian architecture. The
celebrated picture of Leonardo da Vnci of the last
supper, the admiration OF the world for four centu-
ries is now in IT'S last stages-l am happy that saw
it even in these. The attitudes fine though the
colours are almost effaced. But ! find from my own
experience that taste from the fine arts is not nat
ur, it must he acquired and it only be obtained
Dy Studying TIE peSt HOuelS. nnu mVSeif frequent
y deceived, when judging according to what
thought good natural taste.
From Milan wem made little dctous to sec Paria,
for many centuries, the residence Of the Lombard
Kings, who the successors of the Roman En-
perours, and of courses during that time, the capital
of Italy. II has since been celebrated by the defeat
of Francis /. who was here made prisoner and by
its University, one of the most famousi in Europe.
II has all the marks of decayed grandeur, but It is
now small and insignificant compared to its former
splendour It's university is still respectable and well
supportcd--The buildings large and elegant. It's
anatomical school and collections admirable, and
its collections of natural history nferiour very few
in Europe We passed some pleasant hours in view
ing these curostes, and could not help rejecting
and blushing as reflected how much we are behind
Europe in the fine arts, in the sciences, and in estab
lishments which contribute to their perfection There
nearly twenty Universities in Italy, and each of
them has collections Of natural history, superionr to
all the publick and private collections in the United
States
In addition to which, in every great city here there
are twenty private collections shown for money super
iour to those of any of publick seminares It's
not that they so much richer more populous,
but We want the taste.
, Letter Esd to be concluded1