The Wilmingtonian., 1824-02-12
THE FISHER-BOY,

THE FISHER-BOY.
In the year | 647, there lived at Naples
. poor fisher-boy of the name Of Thomas
Anellc, vuigarly corrupted into Masani-
clio He was clad in the meanest attire,
went about barefoot. and gained a scantyl
livelihood by angling for fish. and hawk
ing them about for sale. Who could ina
CINE that the popu'sce we're to find in him
the being destined to lead them on to one
Of the most extraordinary revolutions re-
corded in history? Yet so it was.--No
monarch ever had the glory Of rising SO
suddenly to 40 lofty pitch Of power, ms
the barefooted Masaniello. Naples. the
metropolis of many fertile provinces, thel
queen Of many noble cities. the resort Of
princes, of cavaliers, and Of heroes.-Na-
pies inhabited By more than six hundred
thousand souls. sbounding in all kinds of
resources. glorying in its strength-th'.| d
proud city saw itself forced in one short
day to Weld to one Of its meanest sons,
such obedience as in all its history it had
never before shewn to the mightlest OF its
lege sovereigns. In few hours the FISH
er lad was at the head Of one hundred and
fifty thousand men in few short hour
there was no will in Naples but his: and
in a few hours, it was freed from all sorts
oftaxes, and restored to all its ancient pri
vileges. The fishing wand was exchang-
ed for the truncheon OF command, the sea-
boys's Jacket for clothes of silver and gold.
He made the town to be entrenched; he
placed sentinels to guard it against dan
ger from without; and he established a
system of police within, which awed tho
worst banditti in the world into fear. Ar.
mics passed in review before him; ever
fleets owned his sway. He dispen-ed
punishments and rewards with the like
liberal hand; the bad he kept in awe. th'
disaffected he paralyzed. the wavering he
resolved by his eKhortations, the boz
were encouraged by his indictments, aue
the valiant made more valiant by his ap
probation.
Obeyed in whatever he commanded, gra
tilted in whatever he desired. successful
in whatever he attempted, never was there
chief more absolute, never was there ar
absolute chief for time more powerful
lie ordered that all the mobiles and cava
liers should deliver up their arms to sucf
officers as he should give commissions I,
receive them.-The order was obeyed
lie ordered that men of all ranks shnult
go without cloaks, or gowns. or wild
cassocks, or any other sort OF loose dres
under which arms might be concealed
nay, that even the women, for the sam
reason, should throw aside their farthn
gales, and tuck up their gowns sOmewha
high. The orler changed ia an instant
the whole fashion Of the people. not ever
the proudest and fairest of Naples daugh
terra daring to dispute in the least the plea
sure Of the peoples idol. Nor was it owe
the high aNd noble alone that he exercis
ed this unlimited ascendency. The "ferc
democracy" were as acqulescent as the Il
tied few. On one ocsasion, when the pet
.ple in vast numbers were assembled. h
commanded with loud voise, that ever
one present should, under pain Of rebe
lion and death, retire to his home. Th
multitude instantly dispersed. On an'
ther he put his finger on his mouth to con
mand silence in moment every voic
was hushed.
The reign of this prodigy of power ws
indeed short; lasting only from the 7th I
the l6thof July, l647 when he pershe
the victim Of another revolution in affair
1t was a reign marked too with many .
trocious excuses, and with some traits
indescrihable personal folly; yet as lo
as it is not an every day event tor FISH
boy to become king, the story Of Mas
nielo of Naples must be regarded wi
equal wonder and admiration. as exh'1
ing an astonishing instance Of the gen
to command, existing in one Of the hu
blest situations Of life, and asserting
sscendency with rapidity Of enterpr
TO which there is no parallel in history
ARABIAN STORY.
r. isr rplafed that n youno mar of yra