Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-04-10

ances OF passports and beggars, in country like this to
81 up IN the morning at Daylight drink your coffee pay
~ your bills, thank Heaven when you hrough jump
INTO the open diligence listen the lively crack Of the
posons whip and the rafting of the wheels you
xmried on out Of the Streets and then, when
miry beyond the gates, to snuff the fresh air you fly
ong the smooth roads by the seashore and watch the
nst gimmer Of the it lghens up the Eastern hor
son and trace out cities Of gold among the light clouds
thst hoat over the mounssns of Calabra and draw in
he fresh morning air again until you feel il woudft
yp up into the realms Of pure spirits Awildjoy thrills
tEough your blood at such tme-a gladnesy that you
arg born and in the world and capable Of feeling s beau
esf and you nwardly thank God for all the blessings
that life still contains amid the ruin and desoation
wrought by mans evil deeds What if that sun hasisen
for centuries batte-eds and scorched with hrst
he wounded and the dying and mingled its rays wtAthe
hames OF Etna and shed its softest evening glores
scenes of terror and death yet through the unfathomabe
ast in the alternate phases Of good and evil throughout
MA the wicked deeds that has wrDaght against man,
All the Hercs conyusions Of nature, it has shed Its
reys upon he human heasti il has cleered the
houseless and the homeless with its warmth; IL has
nouhed and penod the fruits Of earth for countless
generations it has filed millions Of souls with alteration
Of the Divine Creator and in its light and warmth and
sublime Beauties in oil the joy and gdness that sheds
that weare mortal here to be immortal hereafter.
Pardonthese little bursts Of enthusiasm pray you the
fact being unable get up any inspiration the subject
Of antiquities have to let and then the and
andstars by way Of experiment for when my
fellow-trayeers go into raptures old WALL
nasty picture, broken column, which fails to pro-
duce tie slightest effect upon me- begin to imagine that
there must be something lacking in head heart and it
onl soaring among the mountains and clouds that
canFeaze particle of enthusiasm
Leying Catania on the evening of our arrival from
SYRACUSE we passed in sight of the Cycopean and
afterark reached large town. distant from Catania
abou ten miles. Here stopped for the night much
t disgust of Portuguese friend who altogether
dsatproved of the hotel The days travel along
the ea-shore the most pleasant had enjoyed in
Sicily Here entered into more fertile region along
the base Of Mount Etna abounding in green valleys and
luxaiant vineyards, and dotted over with pretty little
tows and farms The road lined either side with
pleasant looking and picturesque Villas and the pcpua
ton lad much thrifty appearance than that of the
southern part of the island. At Ac Reale handsomely
situated town about half way between Catana and Mes
sina ur party took mules go up the ruins of Taor
nina about an hour distant up the mountain. My ex-
periece in mules was such to encourage another
trial. 81 walked again. The town of Taormina is one
Of the most picturesque old places in Sicily 1t was built
beliee in the time Of the Romans, also the 7sdto
Taorana which is the chief attraction Of the place
The ruins of the theatre short distance from the
town. and consist Of large amphtheatre the front walls
Of splendid edifce various pillars, and vaults and old
walls. For scenic effect have nothing in Italy or
any part Of Europe to surpass the Tearo d Taormina
surrounded as it is on three sides by immense rocks
towering mountains the peak of Etna in the distance
the whole line Of the Straits Of Messina and the
tss Of Calahria IN front stopped long enough to
pore the ruins and make sketches rather to the
noyance of my travelling friends who generally did he
admiration up in broken excamations and left to d.
the artistcal part while they pushed in search of fur
ther antiquities
On our arrival in Messina had the pleasure Of
ing fellow w-townsman, Mr. CLEMENTS, United States
Consul, from Washington, and it affords additional
pleasure acknowledge my Indebtedness him fol
many kind favors during my stay in Messina.
There is little to be in Messina that we got
through the day after arrival few churches,
Converts and old walls about the only sights in the
way of antiquities that the traveller called upon to
dure and after seeing these he may the time plea
sanity enough rambling about the neghborhood which is
full of fine scenery oungng about the wharfs where
he will enjoy something in the way of maritime life
shore The position of the town is scarcely less pctu-
rescue than that of Palermo and for all the evidences of
progress and civilization greatly preferred this neigh
borhood to any part of Sicily
cannot leave Messna without giving you adven-
ture in search Of the breach made in the walls of the city
during the last revolution This time my second visit
10 Messina) accompanied by an irish major from
India and old English gentleman returning from the
East both feowpassengers the steamer from Malta,
and very joya and agreeable travelling acquaintance
We had but three hours on shore, the steamer having
merely touched for passengers 1t was therefore, on
landing matter Of consideration in what way we should
snend our time profably. The Englishman was in
Of seeing the breach the risk Of every thing else
tbe major Of that happy and accommodating temperament
which renders capable Of enjoying all things equal
lv. and having on former occasion seen every thing
Mesna except the breach yielded against an internal
conviction that hole in wall is not an object Of pecu-
liar interest But habtual martyrdom makes a man
maenanmous and the old gentleman was bent upon see
ing the breach he had set his heart upon it ne had en-
ghtened us upon the historical points, and the breach
we must see Nor would he have guide, for he spoke
French and could ask the way The major too, spoke
foreign language; it was Guzerat Hindoo, and not
likely to very useful in the streets Of Messna but II
might come in play; and prided myself on speaking
Italian that say between you and myself species
poltan and English but chiefly Of English Iaianized
by copos additions of yowels at the end Of every word
Yielding however, to the superior zeal OF our Enghsh
friend Mr.. - we kept modestly in the rear whe ne
took the middle Of the main street. and Kept snarp
lookout for any integentooking man that had the ap
pearance Of understanding French Pdrles rons Franed
monsieur, said Mr.. - TO the very first man ne met
Mem " replied the man, "spracker de Deutch " Iaik
to him in Hindoo," said Mr., -. The major addressed
him accordingly in Hindoo "Mchf," said the man
May be he understands Italian, suggested the major
Parie Haliono p? said !" 81 signor, I'm POGO Dove
IL breeca in the Muro said l. going to the fun extent OF
my Italian. The looked puzzled but not wishing 70
appear ignorant, addressed me in such complicated
mixture of German and Scilian that had 70 stop him
length. I" ST. s, grafzid. ssWhat does he say IN
quired Mr.. I think he says the wall is somewhere
IL ~ L - 49, snnh hlo