Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-04-07
31sn & Enk gartrhes OF an artist.
Nun Err VIII.

Csrniyalat Rome--being probably inferior. fw'
reserve my description Of the tier, for my next
i During my sisy in Florence, there vas a great
meeting 81 Learned and scientific men from all parts
| Of the world and had opportunity. at one OF
the brilliant soirees given them BY the city, Of SEE
| ing some OF the most celebrated men Of the day
/ Governor EVERETT. Win was spending the summer
with hi. fsmil, near Florence, was called upon 10
represent the United States in the assembly
/ Among the many public fetes, &c given in honor
Of the learned strangers, was the performance OF
Handefs Oratorio Of lie Creation by six hundred
musicians. Some parts were grand: some delight.
full but taken altogether, il was tiresomr, and
wen, home before il wa, finished. The power Of
the Orchestra was tremendous: but that style OF
music always worries me more than il pleases.
! saw a boa, race on the Arno, which was novel
aud amusing. About 10000 people we're collected
along the banks Of the river, which at this place
formed q besutiful shee, Of smooth water half u
oarges started galantly-ihe race was well con-
! tested. and most graceful exhibition. The goal
wa, pole. In the middle Of the river, sbou, 90 feet
high to the top of which were attached four ropes,
their lower ends being fastened two either side
of the river. As the winning boat passed, another
gun was fred at which signal four climbers started
up the ropes. Half the distance accomplished
before it was possible to judge who was foremost.
but at length 1.-TWO DER the rest superior rose"
As they neared the apex the excitement became
high; but when within twenty feet OF the flag the
prize il became evident that one gaining fast
He is already within few feet Of the top, and hs,
seized the tail Of the H,g with one hand. His un-
lucky haste has ruined him--,he other ~hirls up
his rope, and bears away the flag. amid the
shouts and acclamations of the spectators, leaving
however onethird of in the teeth of his mortified
rival. The victorious climber descends and pre-
sents the flag to the winning boat: and then the
crews and climbers finish the day with a merry
making.
In Tuscany, capital punishment is never inflicted:
the gaHies being Always substituted. Ga the day
whe tho convicts to the gallies, they are
fret exposed in front Of Tho city prison for some
hour, with large card tied about their necks, set
ting forth their names, ages, crime Of which they
have been convicted and their term Of punishment
saw two men exposed in this way; one, man Of
forty five, for ile-snd the other, twenty two, for
the crime OF manslaushcr. The thief with his
eyes closed, and his head sunk upon hi, bosom /;
the bearing of the other bold and reckless: jus,
what would have supposed, from the character
Of their crimes.
The Cdcina, or royal farms, which extend along
Arm, fur. al he
err gate Of Florence, contain some Of the mo,t de-
ligbtful drives and promenades tina, can be imogin
ed. They are thronged towards evening by all the
nobility and fashion no meet here to and be
seen. IL was here that | saw Lady Buiwer and
Mrs TIollope, who have been peregrina,ing Europe
together. There could not have been greater con-
,ras,. Lady d. is beautiful, and the other remind
ed me of wha, some one Gan American, suppo,e)
said Of her-an intellectual soc. have since
armed that these disting pushed personsses have
auarreled and parted. never heard the cause,
but it seems TO have amused the fashionable world
considerably. Mrs Troope is now in Rome, with
her son Augustus Adolphus Trollope, who looks a.
much like his name as i, is possible TO conceive
The Grand Duke sometimes gives entertainments
to the people at these farms. They commence al
sunrise and end at sunset after which il is thought
unwholesome to remain in the Caeina. On the oc'
cssion when ! was present, there were 10 or 49,
900 persons; but there WIS no appearance of
crow ding, and the feast during the ~hols day was
conducted with tho good humor and good order
usual in Tuscany.
Among other curious and beautiful things in the
Forsntine galleries, is q table of mosaic work;
composed of shells. precious marbles and metals,
which employed 25 workmen for % years to com
plete il. The Museum OF natural history 10 fine
and tina, part Of it relating to human physiology,
Unsurpassed. The preparations in wax are won
derfull, fine. There are three representations of
the plague In wax, which would not counsel one
of weak nerves to visit.
Loungng the other day in the gallery here,
overheard the following criticism on the Venus de
Mediei by an Englishman. He entered the room
with lady on his arm, and, on being made aware
that he stood in the presence of the fancied statue,
he commenced prai.ing it in ;he most extravsgant
manner. The Indy appeared piqued and insisted
that she bad seen more beautiful figures in nature,
and in modern art. Is il possible replied he,
4" that any can be so void Of taste as to COM
rare any thing modern with this perfect statue
look for instance at these arms and hands-was
there ever any thing modern that could equal their
exquisite delieacyi" al don't see their great
beauty" said tho lady. glanciog at dimPled hand
Of her own that would have made the goddess weep
with envy had she been looking that way. and
indeed have heard that the arms are the work Of
a modern artist" 90 nonsense-impossibe, no
modern could ever have conceived such beauty
The lady right. The statue was broken and
mutlated when 6rst discovered, and was repaired,
aud the arms added by modern. think myself
that the statue is humbug.
You may direct your next letter to Florence,
where expect to be in the course Of two months.
| think j, thnn probable that will proceed
Immediately from thence to Pari,, by the way Of
Venice and Switzerland
A bill has passed the Legislature OF
Nav York md heen annroyed hy the