The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1809-04-11

tor the better or for worse but whio h by being
dishgured & falsihed, tend only to inurt
| those whom they are intended to console oil
n;ttter; we shall give short sketch of Sar-
dinian history, illustrative of its present for
time and Its relation to the bciliserent pow
ers.
The history of a petty power like Sardini-
a. IN the present day appears of much les:
moment than in any period Of the two pre-.
cedlng centuries; when the stale OF science
and the art OF war, were both alike unknown
TO the nations OF Europe. Science, in truth
| constitutes the power of modern times, be-
| cause with the study of tho scicncesis Conibi.
ned all other knowledge. The proiligi0us en-
aerprizes of Charles XII, of the earl Petersi5o.
rough. OF Cheva!ier Bayard. of G onsaivo dc
Go'dova, are no lcnser seen; they are s.,-
Perceded by new powers and protligies more
dependent on the inteller. than TN personal
ntrepidity and the exploit and fame of Vic.
TOR amodius, OF savoy, serve now, only to IL
lustrate the illusions of fortune and Che, re
yolutions of society. The history of the Sar-
diiiis!h monarchy Is serious icssoii 10 poll
tlcians; and to military men, as it once held
what has been called the balance of power
between France and Austria, and on more
than one occasion gave the prepoEderance to
one or the other. ...es
The island of Sardinia is about i3S miles
long, from North to South by SIS broad, stu
ated to the South of the island of Corsica,
IRON which it is separated only by the mar
row strait of st. Bonifabio. Cogliari, which
is the capital, is OH the south end, on bay
of the same name.-The island was called
Sardo by the Greeks, to whom it was -ub-
Jected, as well as to the Carthagenians, Ro-
mans, and Saracens; to Genoa, Pisa and the
papal power; by Which it was transferred to
the kings of Arragon, and remained attach
ed to Spain, until it was taken by British
force under j. Lake in 170S-it was coded to
the emperor Charles vi in 1713; recovered
ny the Spaniards in IVY, and in 1719 trans
ferred to the duke of Savor, who thereupon
assumed the name of the King of Sardinia,
In whichtamily it remained until the inf attn
atedimonarch, listening to the decisions of the
conferences at Payia in July, 1871, agreed
toJoln the coalition against France in conside-
ration of receiving the French province of
Dauphlny, and part of Provence, the coun-
tries OF lie Bresse, Beguy, and the Pays de
Gex. This compact, which was soon after
known at Paris, was the beginning of its i'll
fortune.
The union Of the house of Austria by mar
riage, with the house of Bourbon, had an i'm
portant effect ON the house of Savoy. Austria
looked to the extension of her power in Lom-
hardy over Piedmont. The marriage of the
brothers of Louis XVI--that is the two per-
sons who were called Monsieur & count D'Ar-
tots, who are now in England, with two prin-
cesses OF the house OF Savoy, originally in
tended to preserve to France the preponde-
rancy of the Alpine power, and CONSEQUENT
influence in Italy, led to the catastrophe of
the Sandman monarchy.
Soon after the French revolution commenc-
ed, the emigrants resorted to Turin, where
in the conrt of Emanuel W. they found that
refuge which was SO natural but so unfor-
tunate in its consequences.
The French minister Semonville, passing
as minister plenipotentiary to Constantine
pie, had been stopped in September, of the
year 1872, by Sardiuian troops, piunderetl Of
his papers and put in 4 state of restraint, re-
pugnant to the usage of civilized states.
Overtures had been made for powerful
armament against France ;; the house of Sa-
voy, allied to the Bourbons BY double tics,
embarked in it, and by treaty concluded
at London, on the 25th of April, 1898, by Lord
Grenville and the Count de Fronte, it was
solemnly agreed that the Sandman monarch
should furnish $4,000 men for the common
cause, and should receive from England. the
sum of one million IF dollars per annum,
payable quarterly; and that moreover, G..
Britain solemnly pledged her faith, aud gau-
ranteed the complete security, integrity and
| restitution, in case of capture, of all and e.
very part of the territories, then held By the
king of Sardinia, and not to make peace
without their entire restitution.
! Every power in Italy, but Tuscany and
Genoa. had at that time abandoned nentra
lity, and these were soon after forced from
| shat position by the British ambassadors and
fleets. The wax had scarcely cooled on this
treaty, of guarantee, when the people of Sa-
voy revoited, and required to be incorpora-
ted with France, which had taken place
Savoy assumed the title of the 84tIl depart
Ii1ont, and the name of Mont Blanc.
| The Court of Turin exhibited at this pc
ROD spectacle calcuatedto excite amuse-
meHt, were it not for the Affections which
were the consequences of its condition.
Charles Emanuel, in the 10Th year OF his age
subject to mental dcrangement and never
wholly sane, presented in his court the sin
guar spectacle of extreme fanaticism aud q
military mania he had sent to Italy for the
most celebrated performer on the violin
Pregnant, whom he appointed drum major
with the rank of Captain: Of such charac-
tiers was h:s court composed, which present.
ed the molly assemblage fpriests and soldi
ers--parades and preaching,
! The French Generals MonteSquiou, Du
mas and DOmyilon, had, in the winter o
| 1793, and the spring of 1894, scaled mount
Cents, and after defeating the Austrians ant
Sardinlans, vino opposed their passage, toot
the strong positions Of Saorgio, the Belvi