New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-08-18
Familiar Letter from Rome.
~ rcL:TIcs, SOCIETY. AEuUrrcTuiE' Ahfe' -
Private Correspondence 90.


~, c,,,.r,., los. the great events Of
the political world should place me TOO NUN - VIC
twilight Of your memory, VIII 90 "'s' na'e
- ~, 49, k,dncss to refrain frorn-I vii IN
a., Ia,,o, mon YOU This l might have been
tempted to do sooner II the huiioFoi quie' OF ia
l., Mad presented any thing to write about save
what had long ago been worn threadbare on both
s;dc. nv bookmakers and lesser dist1rbers o; the
peace Of the reading public. As Tor Social Pro
cress Political Regeneration alteration.
there ia no such thing-scarce imitation OF such
things, Only two scraps have come 70 M know
ledge with distinctness one in the Duchy Of Par
ma. where the people made disturbance because
the government did not keep down the price Of
bread the other at Pisa. where they broke the
windows of palace because it vas SAID the Je.
suits had bought it for school house From these
exploits you viii suspect that their notions of pub
he and private rights are neither very extended
nor clear
The old Popeis dead the Romans smile and tip
the wink when they tell Of 1t but there is not
shade Of excitement, not apparent thought Of
meddllng with the old ways Of the Government
another viii be elected next Sunday after "hich
there will be fireworks, and all will 70 on as be.
fore. There is no Anti-COn Law League no o.
Council, no Polk no Democracy OF Wing or Loco
Foco variety and yet Rome is not less NOISY and
filthy than New-York for the dogs bark. the men
bawl, the women scream the streets are swept
once week without sprinkling by day and night
all Rome is great priyy where the most indecent
exposure of the person is unnotced and to cap the
climax, almost every man and boy makes stink
with tobacco smoke in the streets the restaurants
cafes, and even in the Pope's palace.
You have read much. in prose and rhyme OF the
ancient city, and the remains of you have no
stomach for Nor VIII force more upon you.
for 1t is stupid superstition admire the
OF ancient Rome they seem to be admired
There arc some relics OF beautiful ornaments Dor
rowed from the Greeks but there is no appearance
OF a good general arrangement Of buildings or of
science in construction The buildings have nearly
all tumbled down IN less than half the time the
Greek temples have stood almost perfect and in a
quarter Of the timo the Egyptians have stood They
used brick in every building. with too much NOR.
tar, and merely faced the walls with stone. They
adopted arches instead Of the deep masses OF stone,
extending from point TO point OF support, which
give stability to Greek and Egyptian buildings and
the little stone they used was generally of per
isAablc quality. The Roman buildings were vast
and ponderous masses Of bad masonry, piled up
with great labor and little skill the Colse
UNI, one that is among the least diapidateo. is in
worse condition than the NcwYork Custom
House will be five thousand years hence, if it be
not pulled down
The modern palaces and houses are not neatly
finished within they have brick floors, in the
Vatican and the ceilings are not lathed and plas
tered, but show tho oists and boards Of the floors
above the josts generally hewn with axes, and ir
regular in their dimensions and distances. But
they are large, so that ono floor is sufficient for
family; and Ncw.York architect might take use
full hints from them TO produce economy in
ground rent and much finer appearance in the
streets than small houses make Besides, high
buildings give more shade. and make the streets
cool in Summer. And certain thickness OF wall
which Is necessary in high buildings, is OF advan.
tage to temper the heat in the day and the cold ut
night for comfort and chenpncss together, should
Judge that such buildings, OF about five stories,
would be far better than small ones far up town.
You would walk n shorter distance, over better
and cleaner sidewalks and pavements, aud
when once i'll your house YOU would not be o.igued
in going up and down stairs
In Venice. aud in few palaces here, very
S'N4'N'
of various colors shapes and sizes, in a iinc ce.
ment, An even surface is soon produced by pound
ing after which they rubbed down with grind
ing stones and polished, They stand well are easily
kept clean are more beautiful than the best car !
pets and are secure against fire. With the iron |
floor beams OF the English and the strong varieties
of slate this method of flooring would make houses |
nearly fire proof object which we ought TO think
about: for we have lost an immense amount by |
fires I have resided two years IN V enicc and |
Florence during which time | have not heard
of n single fire One was reported 20 me
which occurred in Florence years ago; the wooden
beams under the hearth where OF course they
should not have BEEN got on fire notice was sent
to the proper quarter, and two men came, one with
buckets the other with huge syringe upon his
shoulder which he discharged n few times through
the cracks, and all was right. | never could hear
of any other fire engine III Florence and do not
believe tho loss by fire is a hundred dollars per
year there
had almost forgotten Ratiaclle and Michel An
cello and the magnificent galleries OF statuarv and
paintings but YOU have other matters to think Of |
Won have Mexicans 10 thrash Loco-F ocos TO thrash
Domestic Industry 20 protect; whatcare you at home
for works OF this ornamental nature. when bellies
are 10 filed with roast beef, and works OF brick or
nortar usefulness attended TO; is there not more in
one old mortgage than in all the old masters
But Rafaelle trescoes III Tue atlcan are beau. |
,iful and almost alive The School o, Athens lacks
Gttls Of being the finest picture have seen; even
w color IFS least excellence II has superb gen
cral effect, and wants only true imitation in the In
diSiduaI parts The .Helidcras Drvenou' ofthe Tenn.
pie and the Iaccndio del Borso fire IN the suburb
are unrivaled and unapproachod--nothins have
soen can compare with them Tor dramatic effect and
truth of shape Had Ratfaec supcradded to his own
Inc powers OF Paul Ncronese, OF painting truly what
aver was before him. and dealing with his hueS as
y musical composer deals with his sounds he could
hove Seied ali rivalry until civilization IS far more
nSvonccd ms il is he is the painter whom we turn |
N again aud again. when even Titan fails TO
cxc;fr But Titian's excellence lay chiefly IN his |
coiorins, which is obscured by the dirt OF three
centuries. and Vet retains uncqualed power OF
pleasing Raffaelles excellence is unaffected by |
dirt. and his pictures now pleasing as ever.
think shall copy the three pictures have named
The more see OF the galleries here III Europe;
the more am persuaded that, II once the Amen,