Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-11-09


| ofour recent communication with the Barbary
shore, we sailed for Syracuse where we an
chored for the second time, ON they'd of May
Though we contihucdin quarantine during oui
st:ix here, and OF course .sverc unable 70 visi
many remarkable antiquities OF the place, u
was still gratifying 10 behold TIE Theatre OF ~
many great events prominent in history, and 10
trace them with as much eNacmess as my feeble
resources would permit.
The view which presents itself from the har-
Dor of Syracuse has more of grandeur and sui'
biibiity than any 20 be possibly conceised.--Ihe
venerable heaps of hoary ruin, overlooked by
the snowy crest ofold h:tna, rejecting the r.
sing sun, form collection of sublime and love
" objects, transcendantly wonderful, and cal
cull,ed to inspire the dulest, most vapid mind,
with sentiments OF awe and reverence. When
bebeld this scene, / could scarce contain an en-
cla,na:ion of rapture and delight. Surely APT
Gus and exalted mind would have enjoyed the
most enviablc and holy pleasure IN the contem-
plation ofsuch objects. Added to all this; the
scene is graced with tints ola softer, l0velier
nature. A rich * almost Unreasonable meadow
presents itself, adorned with the finest cult vati-
on, &intcrsected bya streamon whose banks the
finest cattle in the world are ever grazing. In
deed, it is fairy spot; but, time, ambition and OPP
preston have soled it with their deepest tinge,
and all these beauties are lavislied on arace OF
corrupt and degraded wretches.
We sailed from Syracuse to Messina--of that
place and the view as you proceed up the Faro,
/ have spoken in previous letter; so we will
commence with Malta, OF which you have SO
often read-celebrated as the long and well-de-
Tended strong hold of the knights. 1t isuow in
the hands ofdiffercnt masters, who care as much
for them, as you or for Don Quixottc or his
Squire.--The fairy Island of Calypso [now Go
zol only 5 miles from Malta, tho by no means
corresponding with its former character cfflow-
cry banks, eternal spring, &c. &C. e.,
La Valette, the capital of the Island, and re-
sidence of the Governor, is second III strength
only to Gibraltar. was but afew hours ashore,
and had only an opportunity of visiting one or
two curiosities. The church of ST. Johns is
celebrated as having been one of the richestiu
Europe. 1t was built by the Knights of Malta,
and has twelve separate chapes, vicing with
each other IN spleiIdor and magnificence, and
allotted to the different nations to which some
OF fheirdistinguished Order belonged. All ITS
ornaments, such as statues, gratings, candle
sticks, &c. were formerly Of solid silver: But
IL was sud!y riflcd by the French, who carried
OFT, according TO the story of the Maltese, a fri
gate ballasted withits spoils. a gate and rail-
ing OF silver still remain around one of the al
tars, which, with many other ornaments, were
painted black to deceive the. plundcrcrs and
thus preserved. However, every thing falls
short OF the tapestry work, of whicht the execu-
ton is so exquisite, that it requires the incest
observation to distinguish it from the most del
icate touches Of the pencil. 1t is all crimson
velvet, representing the birth andm0st remark
able scenes i'll the history of our Saviour down
to his crucifiAiOn. The floors are all of the most
curious ard beautiful Mosaic, composed of the
tombs OF all the Knights whose remains are de-
posted, in which are inlaid thousand beauti-
ful and singular devices.-The palacei is hand
some and extensive building 1t has fine IL
brary, and one of the best armories in Europe.
These did not see however, have as good
Alright to mention things that | never saw, as
Sterne, who occupied pages with the descrip-
ton OF Calais, which he reached after dark and
left before daylight.
From Malta we sailed two days after we an
chorcd-steering for Palermo--otf which place
the Java, Erieand Ontarlojoined us-the latter
nj a mi IN
ed at Tunis and Algiers-At the latter place,
we received orders TO join Com. Shaw in Glib
ralrar. W e therefore made sail without anclo-
ring, and OH the 4th of July, anchored i'll Mala-
ga WedreSsed ship, manned the yards and fl
red salute IN cOmmemoratiOn of the glorious
event. Having caught 6 turtle two days before,
we made u mess forall hands and served a dou.
bic allowance Divine and .grog TO the crew.
When the loud peal of our cannon and the hear
ty cheers OF our brave fellows proclaimed amid
despOts and slaves a free, great and happy
people, MY soul swelIcd With AL enthusiasm,
01e glo,r or whichI would not barter for every
selfish enjoyment
| !, am pleased to find the prosperity ofthe navy
still incredsIng-Ih Dutch Admiral, to whom
lcarrIed several papers from the captain, told
me ice ranked the first in the world, and that
the American Navy was the finest profession for
youth that the world afforded. 1t is indeed,
GLORIOUS service; and am devoted to it, life
and soul.
Naples Buy, august u, 1916.
We have been at anchorhere since the 9th of
July, without the occurrence Ofany remark BILE
circumstances save an eruption OF Vesuvius on
the 7th.--W hat has been tnc nature or the result
OF Mr. Pinkney demands, we are left to conlec-
ture--Whateyer they are, II is reported among
US that the King has acquiesced in their justice
The squadron, with the exception of the schr.
Hornet, are all here, making a formidable APP
peaIance not altogether to the govt of the Ital-
rams. We expect everymoment to sail be-
leve only awaiting the decision of court-nar-
tial to be made public. Most probably, we shall
sail for messina, thence TO Syracuse for the ar
rangement of our hospital thence we shall paw
visit to the Barbary powcrs.-Our business
there being settled, evil go into winter-quar-
tiers, very probably at Syracuse-What ship
will return, l know not. My determine tioi,
still remains unaltered as to continuing i'm the
Mediterranean-There appears solittle proba-
bility of active service on the home station and
such service is evidently indispensable toin,-
prov ement, there can be no alternative than the
adoption ofso advantageous an opportunity.
have been highly gratified and delighted in,
visiting many of those curosities, which nv
short stay when we were here last summer pre-
vented my seeing.-Thc Kings palace at Por-
tIci, the ruins of Baia, the Museum, &C. sc.
were all sources ofrenewed pleasure and salts
faCtion.-The Palace was supcrbly decorated
by Murat, and shows amongst its finest orna-
ments his portrait, with that of Joseph Bona
parte, his wife and children-that of Napoleon
and his neutrality-suspicious. of exquisite execu-
ton. The apartments are all superb; that of
Madame Murat, with its furniture, particular
ly. The g5rdens are elaborated equal taste
and magnifcence.-'Ihc museum of Naples pro-
duces some rare collections in paintings and
sculpture-the former are modern, and from