Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-10-04
NATIONAL lNTELLIGENCER.
NOTES OF TRAVEL IN THE OLD WORLD.
Written for the National hateuigencer by Citizen
Of Washington
FLORENCE, AUGUST. 1851.

Five months ago sailed from New York for
Havre. Within that brief period have travelled
by and land upwards of eight thousand miles,
/ shall not pretend TO give you more at present than
a mere glance at the principal cities IN Northern
Italy through which have passed. with perhaps
few remarks about Florence, should find room.
And, first, word about the passport system,not IN
the way of complaint, but merely as an interesting
fact which ought 10 be known TO every American
When arrived in Havre | was little vexed-as
all travellers are-at the inquisitorial proceedings
of the custom-house officers. | thought 1t an ndig
nifty that strangers should have their last dozen of
cigars seized upon, confscated, (smoked, had al
most said) by the funconaries ofa sister Republic.
When the lady passengers were taken into the back
room and searched by the female inquisitor of the
Office, it severe trial to ones powers OF for
bearance; but thought it added insult to injury
when had TO pay commissioner for showing me
the police Office, and then pay somebody there for
taking my passport away from me and asking me
number of imperlinent questions. Thank God,
said to myself, America is a free country! we
ask people their names and professions, and some
times how much money they have, and where they
are going, and what amount OF business they do
annually in their particular line; but we do not ap
point officers with cooked hats TO demand writ
ten description Of their persons, make them pay
two francs for telling us their business. We would
decapitae any officer Of Government who would
rob foreigner much less fellow citizen, in this way
Since that period have visited several of the Mediterranean
pors and crossed the North Of Italy three times, besides
having learned good deal from the experience of Others
and tell you con6den,ially) have barely escaped pay
ing dolasto American consul for use through the
ssgscily Of my guide know Than dozen Americans
who compelled to pay this sum repeatedly Now, you
how liberal little experience makes one have learned
to ee quite grateful when not taxed by the officers Of my
Government and have fully made up my mind to blot
from my memory every thing detrimental to all gentlemen
with cooked hats and shining epaule throughout the Re
public of France including Louis Napoleon himself, to
whom shall send my compliments and do not know but
may drop line to the National Assembly, copgratuang
them upon the fact that while American only pays two
francs the Government of France for Havre, he
has pay dollars wherever he obtains the rise Of an
American consul In Austria had to pay nothing at all
in Prussi my only passport expense ihaler to the
French Minister Berlin, and gave that with good will
because thought in that posi- ion would charge
haler for his name unless very valuable, he
wanted The money and throughout Germany, Switzerland
and TyrolI believe my passport was not even asked for
is said that inasmuch of consus have sala
ry, they compelled waylay the traveller and demand
his money Of support. Is this So Mr. Secretary
Of State Can be possible Congress would permi, such
thing Has it really pass that persons who travel
merely for pleasure should be forced take pss which are
not necessary and made pay the expenses our COM
mercal representatives abroad But do not mean 10 be
eensorous am ready repair the injury done the feel
iogs Of any cnsu by handng him dollars express
ing my regret that be could not reconcile it delicate
sense Of honor to accept Of four,
think at Havre when off on his DEPRESSION.
After day pen, in looking the old churches and
- .Lu ILL tbz Loz,,
a valley of the Seine took the railway for Paris, where
arrived in six hours During pleasant sooun there Of
three weeks Of all that could be seen in short
q time spent days at Versailles; boanzed in the Jar
din des Panes morazed among tie t,mbs Of Pierre la
Chase philosophical in the Palais National the Luxen-
burg the Tueres and the Louvre and found food for
fecon in the National Assembly, and among the puppe
shows Of the Champs Elyees Paris city that cannot
be seen three weeks and done up in three nes sol leave
for the present in Of despair and proceed my
journey Crossing through France, by railway and diligence
80 Chaons there took the down the Soane
Lyons and, after day two in that gloomy old city, de-
scended the Rhone by steamer to Avignon As passing
remark have only say of the Rhone that very small
specimen of river however interesting from its historical
associations.
From Avgnon to Marseilles hours by rail- spent
three days Marseles waiting for the for Ieghorn
during whch time amused myself sailing about the harbol
and making foot excursions the monastery Of the Carhu
sian monks the bastdes Villas and the principal hills in
the neghborhood Leaving Masees O'Clock in the
afternoon morning in sight Of the classic shores
of Italy The coast from Savona to Genoa is lined with
beautiful vas and the snow-capped mountains percep
tbe in the distance. Two days in Genoa afforded
opportunity of visiting the churches the palaces, and public
gardens. all Of which very interesting especially the
beautiful churches of the Annuncaion and ST. Laurence
the palace Of the Grand Duke, the Dora Bab and Rosso
and the Vetts d Negro and public gardens From Genoa
by Leghorn occupies night, though the dis
any s,sy in Leshon reached Florence in three hours by
railway leaving Pisa for future excursion II was my in
enon esve all membranes Florence and spend the
months foot expedition to the lakes and
Of Sv ireand but long cherished desire TO travel
through the norh Of Italy, and the advantage Of joining
party Of Americans who about to the very route
which wished take, inducing give up the pedes
galleries Of Florence, and the appointed time took my place
in the for the Apprentices and the Adatc twas about
the middle Of May when set out tour,
poyeblaly delightful in northern Italy. Passing up along
The banks Of the Arno crossed PoLessn and
after began gradually ascend the Apfenines One Of the
party wall Cd with Of the way the summit which
reached in time to enjoy glorious My friend
poet and aris have it to him paint this
Of besufurepose You will recognise the picture when
you it by the golden tnge upon the mountain tops the
peculiar soness OF the sky the winding road lies below