The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-11-07
NATIONAL INSTITUTE PAPERS.
Letter from RobERr WIcKurrr. Jr, Charge
d1Baires Of the United States 10 lSardi,ia.
HISTORIC HINTS ON THE CONSTITUTIONS
OF FLORENCE
Tunls, Sept, 25th, 1874

HISTORIC HINTS ON THE CONSTITUTIONS
OF FLORENCE.
TuRis, Sept 25th, 1874.
| DEAR Sin. The minds aud memories of men cling
with hlia iondness around those spots consecrated
az the past abode Of genius, learning and the arts
The haze of antiquity indeed slightly wells the halo
Of their existence, but like mellow cloud il only
increases the effugence Of the orb, whose lustre i,
strives in vain to dim. Athens and Rome were the
two eyes of the ancient world, and their example
and learning the pure fountains which quaf
the thirst and purify the thoughts Of modern mind
They were indeed the cradles of ancient lore, and
vain is the prelenson that would aspire to rival thei
excellence. Next however TO these old and venera-
BILE seats of science and the arts, in all that charms
the fancy, touches the feelings and sways the mind,
| of men, the city Of Florence claims the PALM
Seated In sweet repose either side Of the Arno
and huggng in its fond embrace both banks Of that
classic stream, nature intended il as the capital OF
pleasure and of plenty. Over that charming city
the heavens seem to span wider and deeper arches
the sun shines gayly, as if ambitious with its
gorgeous rays 10 please its favored inhabitants, and
the breezes Of the ocean, softly than elsewhere
blow its walls leaving sweet odors and special
balm on their wings. Her royal merchants surpass-
ed the princes Of their day n wealth and power her
churches and ca,hedrss yielded only to the temples
of classic Greece the palaces and gardens of her
citizens eclipsed the mansions of royalty; literature
and science took up their new abode and the arts
their fresh startingplace within her walls, and her
power was felt far beyond the limits of her small
domain.
The little republic, however, has long since been do
stroyed her commerce has long since fled her arm
hangs poweress and etered by her side and the yoke
of the foreigner is upon her neck Dante no longer
pours forth his mournful but immortal strains Vii
ani and Varch longer zen the chronicles Of their
country Guiccardini longer blends the character
Of statesman and historian together; Machlavelli no
longer guides the helm of state in the gardens oil the
Rucela discourses the youth of Florence on the les
sons of wisdom, the principles of patriotism, the
maxims of liberty, and the glory of republics. Pc
trarch has ceased TO MARBLE his sweet notes in the
language of Virgil and Boccacio, TO fix and perfect
the more melodious tongue of Tuscany. The halls
in that City Of Flowers ring more with the mirth
Of Pulci her councils have ceased to listen with re-
luctant belief to the sublime discoveries Of Calico.
Some traces Of her ancient power may still be seen
some monuments of her former glory still stand The
silent but grand cathedral the almost deserted but
magnificent churches enriched and adorned with all
the embellishments of the sister arts the palaces,
gemmed with all the beauties of architecture, paint
ing and sculpture; the public libraries loaded not
only with the riches of the West but the spols OF the
East the grand galleries, filled with the master
pieces of every school and the most precious relics Of
every age the splendid collections Of stauary, where
modern artists even from the other side of the Ohio
rival every chisel but that of Ceomenes all are
living witnesses of her grandeur in the days OF the
| Republic and under the reign Of the Medlci Like
| some lovely woman snatched from life in the day
dawn of exisience--like Medora stretched on the
aside she lies indeed covered with her shroud bu
in death her features are still, charming; her beau,,
still divine, and from the grave beams forth
sweet and angelic smile.
The city of Florence, at first called Villa Arnna
owes its birth TO that wise policy Of the ancient Ro
mans, which led those conquerors Of mankind Il
plant colonies in the countries which they had sub
dued On the top Of the neghboring mountains on,
Of those had made nest and laid the foundations o.
| the ancient town of Fiesoi The merchants and ira
dcrs finding that the summit Of the hills was not Sc
suitable place for the sale Of their commodities al
the plains beneath, built warehouses and markets OF
the banks of the Arno for the greater
their commerce. Other houses not only for business
but for habitations, reared, and in a very
short time thriving and prosperous city made ii.
appearance. After the civil wars between Marus
and Sylla between Caesar and Pompey between
those three Roman citizens who slew Caesar and IN,
other three who wished TO ayenge his death, many
soldiers sent coonists TO Fiesoli, and som,
OF them fixed their abode in the Villa Arnina. Flo
renee continued TO flourish under the Roman Empire
but like the rest Of Italy was inundated by the Nor
thern bordes. IL is spoken Of by Frontnus and b,
Pliny and every one recollects the famous enbass,
with regard 10 the overaowipgs Of the Arno, which
il sent to the Roman Senate and which is narrated
by Tacus. Is was entirely destroyed by Totilo, bu
was afterwards rebuilt 10y Charemagne. Slbse
quenry governed by the descendants of the King o.
France, by the BerengavIi, and by the German En-
perors, but few rays OF hope beams OF liberty IL.
umed the dark night of ITS vassalage. In the ele
yebtb century it had however, acquired sufficient
power to destroy Fiesol and reduce to suijecton a
city which had been It's parent but then only it,
rival.
In that age the Papal power began to increase ant
that OF the German Emperor to decline, and all Itsl,
rang with the rivalry f the two great and contend
| ing powers From the furious humors and fore,
struggles Of the Guephs and Ghibbelines, the cit,
for long time continued free. But in our bo
dies observes her great historian and Secretary in
6rmtes which come late IN life the most danger
Gus and deadly, Florence, which continued the
longest exempt from the factions Of Italy, mos
afflicted by their fury. The frat division which
sprung up in the city IS remarkable not only foe the
peculiar and char cteristc circumstances bch pro-
duced it, and the number and the power Of the two
factions hat split the city and ranged the people on