Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-01-20
FEMALE SOVEREIGNS.

In coming to comparatively modern IA
lines, We move in clear light, and are tn
able to read more fairly the political al
career !of our Christian Queens, than b
those of their sisters in royalty, who f
are half lost in the mists of antiquity. s.
We will, with Mrs. Jameson, begin
with the unfortunate but blameless i
Jace the First Of Naples. She was v
born in evil times. Italy was broken /
into a number Of turbulent and ill-goV- ]
erned States. Tkeirlprinces riyaled
each other in per6ditS and crime: cour-
age was the only virtue, and expedien-
cy the only law prefessed by these high |
horn banditti. Most of them lived and
died in strife, treachefy and blood.
The reign Of Jane,' the Beloved IL |
ses a green oris in this desert of sin and
death. 1t did not always escape the
i 6erv siroceo Of civil war, but the-hlastI
swept by, and the peace SO earnestly
courted generally prevailed. Robert,
J the Good King of Naples was no
e BILE exception to the usual character Of
: the Italian princes; and when his death
d in 1343, made his granddaughter and
e heiress, Jane, Queen Of Naples, Pied
mont and Provence, he left her a yet
d fairer Inheritance in his virtues and
honorable name. The first years
d after her accession were clouded by
l. misfortune and domestic treason, and
= by the pressure offerce and unjust wars
IS for in that day there were no peace il
J. Italy. Still for the most part of heI
!" long reign, she maintained in honour
ip able peace with all the world. Gentle
n discreet, and magnanimous, she wa
rs held, and justly,'la refine sans Pareille,
a in her age. Her people were happ
er her flag respected, and her kingdor
O. | advanced in honour and wealth durin
NO her rule. That she fell at last a sacr
Id | fee to the most Infamous treason doe
lie not deract fromi her own high qualitl'
lc- or the political truth that her reign,
ic- whole, was considering the era)em
nently prosperous, and productive
happiness to her subjects.
Jane the Second, neither for b
own character, nor the results oil h
sway, deserves place among
names Mrs. J. has embalmed In
ages. In folly aud crime she was
a par with the average oft princes
her time. 1t may be said she '
EAR: more timid andiess cruel than her co
petitors in tyranny-she has lett
trace on the troubled page OF ltal
history that proves her reign to n
-. been more fatal bee ause the sceE
was held by woman.
II the sex are forced to mourn
sorrow of the elder, and blush Tor
Younger Jane of Naples, they may
iusti6able pride to the purest and
blest name that ever give lustre
oam diadem-Isabella of CASTLE.
Which, the Kings Of Europe, un'
to comprehend, andincrednlous, L
nge ed coldiy on the eagle flights oil
oenius of Columbus-when even
husband, Ferdinand, refused to All
enterprise-the more expansive
Of Isabella made the daring vle'
the navigator her own. She asst
the responsibility of the first voya
discovery, sin behalf of her own
dom of Castillo and new woI ld
light, fountain of incalculable wealth.
be, cradle of family Of free nations
home and temple of true liberty
given to her decision and llberalltI
the rich youth Of America, Eu
Is trav- fonnd a new impulse, and froT
by the discovery science and civilization
!, selz :s9 a rapidly increasing diffusion OF
III wiz, WIN In the wreaths of public and I
' : ,i virtues that crown the illustrlous
f He of Isabella; blooms flower, n
he road less fragrant that it was frultles
neigh IS of more worth than all the lau
ge there her lord. 1t is her firm Oppose
a shrub the plans for enslaaing the lndl'
tn both dopted by Columbus, and her
anxious , hnt vain endeavors to suppres
: o ! ,no- rious persecution, and the use
! Ss : a1U snre IN the examination of crl'
ID seems The stern intolerant, spirit CT
E of him was too strong for her infiuenc
and the shows the enlightened justice
the root nr;nc;ples and taken altogether
for sup be fairly asked what reign oil
lns there times, can be compared in g.
,d no r. !. and utility to that fthe Queen
of Spain.
e ceases Next in our order co'lies
the jaws with whose memory we assoc
ity Of the that is gentle, lovely, accom- 2,
towards and unfortunate-Mary OF >
sees 'as'e This hapless Queen was
-. down by torrent OF events
sai ) PRIV ,bn The Scottish Reformation
= ever = an come as some vainly boast, a
lel repre- mo shower from heaven, but a
two mice n;f;less storm, that overthrow
the shrub ffroved whatever opposed
tuation the ,rhe enemies of Mary were c
You for tious, perhaps, in desolatlng
e sword their native lands; but i
d gay anu - he admitted that they were
81 subjects and remorseless pei
Mary's errors [and her gre
heinz merciful overmuch Y
! I l / recen. lated by geighteen yea rs q
= Westfeid, , roer, and violent death.lt q