The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-07-30
NATIONAL INSTITUTE.
LETTER FROM C. EDWARDS LESTER, CONSUL OF
THE UNITED STATES FOR GENOA.
scuNrIFIc MEETINGS OF ITALIAN Swans.


SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS OF ITALIAN Swans.
WAsHMcros, July 20, lS45.
DEAR SIR: intended to have written, and will
write more fully, to the National Institute respect
ing the congress Of Italian savans, which held ii
last session at Milan. The proceedings of this
congress Of science are now probably regarded
with deeper interest than those Of any other in the
world. Il had, for long time, been proposed to
organize such an association in the peninsula; but
the Italian princes showed little favor TO the projects
they were too well persuaded of the dangerous ten
denotes of such associations as this
would necessarily be, Of the elements OF power ana
Of revolution--for every active mind, throughout
the Old World, is now turning its heated imagina-
ton towards change; its only hope Is IN slow or
rapid revolution In Italy, where more noble aspi-
rations have been dampened, more rebelions crush
ed, and where more martyrs have fallen IN the
of freedom, than in all the rest OF the world,
a congress of learned men was regarded with tile
deepest suspicion
they did not dare to meet, although they wished to
assemble only to advance the cause Of science and
art. At last, the Grand Duke Of Tuscany--that
enlightened and munifcent prince who has always
been the friend of truth and of liberty--came for
ward and removed every obstacle. With spirit
worthy of the days of the Medci, when Florence
was the university, the school of democracy, and
the literary paradise of the world, he forward
and called the learned men of Italy to assemble in
his capital, to hold their first congress. They
hocked up by hundreds from every part Of that
peninsula, and an enthusiasm was felt along the
banks of the Arno like the glorious days of Cosimo
and Lorenzo de Medici, when the Greek scholars
fled from the Byzantian ruins with their manuscripts,
TO take shelter under the powerful protection of
those noble princes. Those scholars made, too a
noble return for their generous patronage. They
wrote the names Of their patrons in letters of gold
upon the history Of the world. When these scien-
ziai met in Florence, every house there was thrown
open to them, from the palace of the Grand Duke
to the garnet of the poor scholar and for two weeks
Florence was scene of joy and festivity. The
Grand Duke had (among his ample and princey
cred all the relics Of Galeo--his manuscripts, his
instruments, and all his works. The shrine was
illustrated by the first artists in Florence, and her
hest native sculptor had cut classic statue Of the
great astronomer The Grand Duke opened the
doors, and led the way, followed by one thousand
learned men, who gathered around this hallowed
shrine to consecrate the temple to the memory and
the fame of the great prisoner who made the earth
90 round the sun.
In Florence where liberty held her earliest vigls
during the dark night of the middle ages--where
her fires were kept burning on purer and nober al
tars than had been built elsewhere--these scholars
gathered, consulted, spoke, and decided and the
of the Italian people; new FIRE seemed to be once
more kindled, which would rally around it the ex-
piring hopes Of PROSTATE people.
After the agitatons and the achievements of the
French revolution had passed, Italy had waited pa
tiently for day of deliverance. The consulate
came, and with it came day of hope. The magnif-
cent vision of the Napoleon empire appeared, and
the Italians, once more intoxicated with hope, Of
fered all they hadtheir brave arms and their gen.
erous enthusiasm--to the Corsican soldier. While
Napoeons star blazed on Italy, it was in the ascen-
dant; when he fell, she fell with him, and she fell
for more than one generation. The ancient despot-
isms which had stepped PROSTATE land in the tor
.por Of political death for whole century, again
erected their black thrones and all the hopes and the
dreams of freedom and of advancement were swept
away in single hour, by standing armies, an Argus
eyed police, and yigilant censorship. A political
death now followed, which cannot be compared to
any other death, except the death of Danies Inferno
"A death which is filled with torrents, and fortunes,
and gaspings, and struggles, over whose gloom no
Light flashes but the uncertain CLEANS Of urid hope.
Such has been the state Of Italy till lS40. And
now new period has come-a period when the
spirit of the modern age has breathed its light and
its hops over whole races and nations-when the
cruel burdens that have weighed down the race are
beginning to be unbound--when the letters that
have chafed away the CALLED limbs of man are be-
ginning to snap asunder.
But some one will say, What has all this to do with
the congress of Italian scholars, who meet in one
of the Italian capitals every year, The answer ia
soon given For the first time during century men
are allowed in Italy to assemble to discuss truth
to investigate scence-to exercise guardianship over
the interests and the rights Of men. This congress
constitutes a tribunal before which the claims of
Italians are to be heard, and by which they are
10 be decided
No one will conclude, from all this that these men
have issued any declaration of political independ-
ence, or attempted any bold overthrow of the des-
potlsms of their country. This would have been
fatal to all their hopes. They are watched, and
they know it. Not government in Italy but what
sends its spies to their meetings. and these spies
are seepess All that these scholars say and do and
feel, is known within the private cabinets Of all the
Italian princes. One false step-one rash measure
and the work of years would be lost But the
men who control this congress and its operations
will take care of the interests intrusted to them
They know that what they win slowly, they will
hold securely. The principles they discuss, the
doctrines they settle, they settle forever. But theil
real progress is not to be measured by their apparent
advancement. They gain more in the aggregate
however, than would readily be believed. Who
does not know the electric power of thought and
sympathy running along chords that vibrate through
congregated masses everywhere Who does moi
know That men feel more strongly, and speak more
boldly, when they gather by hundreds
All Italy feels that her cause is advocated and hel
rights remembered in this congress- She knows
too, this is national movement--confned to nc
section--to no province;-that the who go up to
these congresses assemble from under the SHOWS Of
the Alps, and from the quiet and dreamy shores Of
the Gulf Of Salerno. 1t is the first movement which
promises much hope to Italy; for it is the first
ment in the modern history Of Italy which has
gathered the leaders and reused the sympsthies Of
her whole people.
On my return, shall forward you the full result
Of the labors of these Swans The name of your
noble National Institute is known to them all
When they hear Of your achievements, they wonder
why It is that society of few years has wor
honors and fame abroad, that make sovereigns am
bilious Of being elected its members They do no
know that this splendid institution, which has mad
us known and honored where they have never heart
of our railroads and canals, was founded and ha
been nurturcd by the toll, the learning and the pa
triotsm of few men; while government who's
treasury is OVERLOOKING, and prides itself on it
endliness to art and to science, refuses it the ali
which such institutions claim right from tn
princes of the Old World.
Truly yours, with great respect,
G. EDWARDS LESTER.
FRANCIS MARKoE, ESQ.,,
Corresponding Secretary of the National Inst
tute, Washington.