The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1823-07-21
NAPOLEON AND CApoNI...ITALY.

mongst them may be recorded charac-
terislic conversation between Buonaparte
and descendant of the celebrated Cap.
2oni, the Italian patriot The name Of
Cappohi was long in Florence, what that
OF Russell still is in England,a watchword
of liberty. Agostino Capponi was the
William Russell of his country-bo,h
me, similar fates, having been engaged
in similar causes-and it is gratifying TO
be able to observe, that their descendants
appear TO be not uEmindTul OF the princi.
piles OF their ancestors. We learn from
lady Morgan's Italy, (and we give the
curious dialogue, not recoliecting TO have
scen it before) that when the Marchese
Gino Capponi Chen very young mani
was introduced a, The Tuilleries, Napo-
leon, who had passed by attendant kings
with but slight and transient notice,
was fixed by the recollections connected
with the name OF Capponi and pausing,
the emperor abruptly observed, "I know
your family" After Monuments pause
he added, "Yoar family have stirred up
revolutions
Capponi replied, formerly, sire.''-
The conversation continued as follows,
(Which lady Morgan states to have taken
place partly in French, and partly in bad
ltalianl:-
Observation-Disclosures, yes
There are no revolutions in Italy now
AT present you are very quiet. You are
the best subjects have. Things we're
different in Italy formerly. I have read
your history. l have calculated that
Italy might once have armed sixty thous.
and horse {; but do not know where
they could be found now. (rhen turn.
ing hia bark, untt apparently wrapt il
profound rehection.) Why are there
not sixty thousand horse in Italy now p
(He turned again without attending for
an answer, and repeated the same ques.
ton third time.)
Capponi.--l believe, sire, that Italy
never produced sixty thousand horse -
but as we were then at war on our own
account, we caused horse to be brought
from abroad, as your majesty now has
Them brought to France.
NapoleoD.-How did you manage to
grow so rich as you we're?
Capponi.-By trade, sire.
NapoleoD.--What trade did you carry
on
Capponi.-A direct trade with the Le-
want.
Hapoleon.-And how did you do this
Cat the same time entering into some de-
tails himself on this subject.) once
had some thoughts OF restoring this trade.
| am Tuscan, myself. We are descen..
ded from family of Condotheri. My
ancestors were the lords of San Miniato.
| had an old uncle there whom I saw
when | went to Tuscany. An old play
has been discovered in the library writ
ten by one of my family. II is, like all
the plays OF that age, licen,ious. Like
the CalaDdria of Cardinal Bibiena, and
many others. They are all of the same
stamp.
CappoDi. plays are in
that style, also.
Napoleon.-How Did Machiavel
write plays too What an extraordinary
man /! His Decades are admirable
When went to Tuscany took the road
from Modena to Pisloga, did not know
of any other. II was very bad one.
had some trouble in getting my troops
through it. Have I no. made you a
road to unite the two seas
CappODi. Your majesty has greatly
improved all the grand communications.
You have announced the design Of max.
ing new road to Romagna.
Napoleon here entered into details Of
the mode Of drawing the plan, and spoke
at some length on the subject of roads.
He then continued Your T,eoooid has