The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-03

In Italy, toward the going down OF the sun, the
ladies accustomed to repair 10 the balconies OF
their habitations and to occupy them until the even
the balconies are as frames, enclosing pictures
beautiful than any in the noblest galleries of the
Italian capitols.
Venice was the last OF the Italian republics Her
independence lasted only seventeen months. Her
surrender to Marshal Radetzky occurred ON the
22d Of August, l649 and on the 25th the Austrians
entered her gates According 70 General Hess, the
siege of Venice cost the Austrians l0, 900 men, be-
sides 10, 900 invalids and sick, and two millions of
forms in materials and restoration OF for
tresses. More than $4,000 passports were issued
by the Austrian Governor to emigrants wishing TO
leave the city. Greece the first country that
offered them an asylum. The government of Sar
DINA afterwards followed her example, and voted
the sum OF twenty thousand dollars az fund for
their relief In anticipation of the fall OF Venice,
private subscription list was circulated through the
kingdom of Sardinia in the month of June, and, in
the course OF short time, amounted TO upward OF
three thousand dollars. One subscription upon the
list was of somewhat singular character. II was
that of a cavalry officer who subscribed ten thou
sand francs, to be divided into one hundred dow
ries Of one hundred francs each, to be paid sever
ally 10 such young girls OF the Kingdom OF Sardinia
of good conduct as should become espoused to the
Venetian emigrants. The Neapolitan general
FiIangieri, in a proclamation addressed to the In
habitants of Sicily, styles their island ola terra di
Paradiso''-The land of Paradise.
Milton, il will be recollected solourned some
time in Italy, and passed through her chief cities
His immortal poem abounds with metaphors and
figures illustrative of the history, the mythology,
and the glory of this classic country. Let the vol
ume of Milton be opened at Avernus, Parthenope,
Mount Palatine, Fiesole, or in the vale of Vallom-
brosa, and its pages seem to speak as If baptized
afrcsh with the sacred elements Of inspiration
Virgil the bard of Mantua, has, il is true, sung OF
Italy in strains almost divine; but virgil was
Pagan, Milton a Christian.
The history of Mount Palatine is an epitome Of
that Of Rome. and embraces period of thirty three
centuries. The Palatine has been truly called the
throne and grave of Roman dominion. On il Rom
ulus founded Rome.
cannot express the emotions that felt when
stood upon the summit of this mount, and pondered
upon the prospect which fell under its command.
On that occasion memory revived her freshest re-
collections from Gibbons great work upon the De,
cline and Fall of the Roman Empire, and rehearsed
them for my instruction. Among other things, he
reminded me that il was upon this self-same hill
while musing among its crumbling columns and
fallen temples, that that splendid historian frst
conceived the design of writing his imperishable
production.
For miles and miles the vast prospect was fraught
with the lingering remains of fallen greatness; the
tombs of Caius Cestus and Cecilia Matela and
Scipio, the Coliseum, Palace of the Cesars, col
umns of Phocas, Trajan and Antoninus, Temples OF
Concord and Fortune, and Jupiter Stator, the To-
rum and triumphal arches of Titus, Constantine
and Septimus Severus, and myrads OF other objects
of monumental interest.
In the midst of so much majesty and subliInity
lett as ii was In 5pOTfn AT oohiHS out upon
shoreless ocean and listening to the moaning bill
lows of departed centuries, while about me were
floating the wrecks and ruins of mighty empires,
half buried beneath the surf.
The cathedral of Milan constitutes its browning
glory. This cdifice is SO lofty, towering and mag
nificent, that it would take the snow capped Alps TO
earth IL. lifetime might be passed in studying this
great temple There is history in its every stone
81. Peters, at Rome, occupied three centuries and
half in its erection, engaged the attention OF forty
Popes employed some Of the best architects OF the
modern world, and cost upwards of sixty millions
of dollars-a sum which, when consider the ia
cties that Rome possesses in marbles and bronzes,
does not exceed one third of the expenditure that
would be necessary TO build another like il in any
other capitol. With two exceptions, all Its affairs
are adorned with mosaic, the labor and expense
of which are almost incredible, each occupying
one man a average thirty five years, and cost
ing on an average fifty thousand dollars The Va
tican is another great wonder. IL is a palace OF
learning and sculpture. The Vatican and the
Cathedrals of Rome, Florence, Venice, and Milan,
may be compared TO the works Of Homer, Milton,
and Shakespeare they live not for day, but for all
time.