The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1849-04-24
ITALY.

| Dr. Baird's lecture on Italy, delivered OIL
Wednesday evening, was very fully attended
and was one of the most interesting of this val
liable course Of lectures. Italy, being the cen
trail peninsula Of Europe. is capable, from it
position, Of exerting vast Influence on tina
continent Its history is, so to speak, largel
than that Of any other European nation, as i
extends through twenty-five centuries. Fo
twelve centuries, Rome was the centre of the
Pagan world, as it has since been the centre O
the Catholic world, and its history, in the pres
ent as well as the past is full of profound in
terest. Its territory is as large as that Of Great
Britain and ireland, and contains population
Of 22,0OO,OOO. There are about $4,000, 00C
of people in the world who speak Italian.
Italy is divided into several governments
At the South is the kingdom of Naples, or the
Two Sirilies, embracing the island of Sicily
containing population of 100000. North
of this territory are the Pope's dominions con-
tanning population of 100000. The pop
ulation Of Tuscany, to which the Duchy OF
Lucca is now annexed, is 100000; that OF
Modena, is 100000 and that Of Parma, about
100000. Lombardy, which, the finest coun-
try in Italy, has a population of about j,0O0,-
900 and Sardinia, including the island of that
name, has a population of about the same a.
mount.
These seven are the principal States i'll It.
ally. San Marine, consisting of three villages,
with a territory of twenty-one square miles,
and a population of 1000, is the most nsignfi-
cant republic in the world. 1t chooses its Of
fcers every six months. The principally of
Monaco has about 5000 inhabitants.
The valley of the Pc. POO miles long, and
80 miles wide, is one Of the finest countries in
Europe, being very level and extremely fertile.
The lands around Venice are flat and marshy,
rs is the case at the mouth of most of the riv-
ers, where rice is generally produced. The
valley of the Po is very populous.
The land on the peninsula part of Italy is
covered with mountains, and contains no
plains worthy of the name. Along the coast
are some little strips Of level land ten Or fif-
teen miles wide. Rome stands on the largest
of these level strips. The level country ex-
tends twelve miles to the north of the city.
and as far south as the Pontine marshes. The
southern part of this plain is almost entirely
deserted, owing to the malaria but if 1t were
properly cultivated this unhealthiness would
not exist. The Italian Islands, with the ex-
ception of Malta, are covered with mountains
The mountains in Italy are almost destitute
of forests. The country has been very much
injured by improper cultivation. The sides of
steep hills have been cleared of trees for the
purpose of cultivation, and the soil being ex-
posed to the action Of storms, has been wash
ed away, till nothing is left but sand and hills.
The Apprentices will not compare with the Alps
in height, but the scenery among them Is eX
tremely beautiful.
The productions Of Italy are extremely va
ried. and it is capable Of sustaining twice its
present population, if properly cultivated. 1t
has but few manufactures, and but little com
merce. This is owing to wretched legislation,
and the variety of governments into which
the country is divided. This latter circum-
stance has proved injurious to literature, for a
copyright in one country is of no force in an
other. The climate of Italy is very fine, and
the heat is no; so excessive as TO be enervat
ing. In the summer you are refreshed with
the sea breeze.
The Italians have as much talent as any
people in Europe. They are extremely hand
some, their complexion being generally olive,
and their hair and eyes dark The bust is
finely proportional, but their forms being
short, are apt to become too stout. Their wit
is proverbial, and in mechanical skill they are
unrivalled. They comprehend readily the
most difficult processes, and execute them in
the most skilful manner.
The masses of the people in Italy are ex-
tremely ignorant. Nothing has been done by
the government to promote education among
The people, except in Tuscany and Lombardy.
The present Pope attempted to do something
for education, and established night as well as
dav schools. Not one-folrth Of the children
of Rome, of the proper age, attend school.
The people of Italy ought TO be the best ed
ucated Of any in Europe, for there are more
men Of leisure among them. The three most
celebrated universities in Italy are Padua, Pa
via, and Pisa. The system of education is far
inferior to that of the Germans, being of the
order. They have made the most
proficiency in the natural sciences Italy has,
however, at the present time, many distin
guished authors.
The higher classes have been compelled to
seek for happiness in The cultivation of fine
arts. Two years ago, political discussions were
not allowed, and there was published in Rome
only very poor weekly newspaper. The at
tention which has been bestowed on the fine
arts has created passion for them which we
cannot easily comprehend. They regard their
great artists as worthy of a place beside the
greatest heroes. n ulstl1g ulSueu lldllall, WHOM
the lecturer visited, had in his study bust Of
Washington and one of Paganini, and it was
difficult to tell for which of these characters he
the greatest veneration.
Nothing but the Catholic religion has been
tolerated in Italy, though by the recent revo-
lutions the way is now opened for the spread
ing OF the Scriptures in that country. 1t has
been estimated that there are almost 5000
persons teonging to the ecclesiastical corps in
Italy Nearly all the land is owned by the
munasteries and the MOBILES.
Two years ago not government in Italy
had Il written Constitution, unless the repub-
lie of San Marine formed an exception Now
it is exactly the reverse. Tuscany and the
Papal States are making an effort to coalesce
and form republic. Austria would interfere
to prevent this if she could, but France will
not let her. France would protect the Pope
if that were an isolated question. but the flight |
Of the Duke CT Tuscany has complicated mat
ters. If England and France continue to
stand together as they have done, they can
preserve the peace of Europe. If Austria do
not interfere, Naples and Spain cannot restore