Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-06-26
NATIONAL NTELLlGENCER
NOTES OF TRAVEL IN THE OLD WORLD.
Written for he National htelligeacer 6ya Citizen
Of Washington.

Last autumn, my way to the East made the trip
from Florence to Rome by Peruga and the Falls of Ter
nj and was so much pleased that have just repeated
it. accompanied by old acquaintance The road is
one of the best in Southern Europe and passes through
scenery unsurpassed by any in Italy for variety and beau
ty think may be set down affording better idea
of the general condition Of the Italian peasanry the an
cent and picturesque appearance of the interior
the varieties Of river lake. mountain and plain and all
that constitutes homenoons of that Italia which has
the fatal gift of beauty than any journey of the dis
lance through any other part Of Italy. As feowadven
turer says Of the Nle tits the Paradise of Travel The
Hours in it are dark and dirty; it abounds in beggars
soldiers and oil the denominations that exist subl-
nary paradise but it is very pleasant country travel
through for all that and it would require than Ma
hometan imagination to conceive of any thing in the way
Of climate or scenery more agreeable unlike real
y OF the two seasons spring and autumn, it is diff
cult to say which presents the greater attractions The
famous Claude tnts perfection in September
and 0ctober the air Of that delicious temperature when
one is insensbe of its existence by the health and
vgor il inspires the roadsides lined with vineyards
and rich fesoons of grapes fruits of all kinds give re-
freshment the traveller every stopping place there
Is quiet dreamy look about the old towns, with their
mosscOyered walls and ngy old towers hat harmonizes
well with the an yellow leaf of the seasons dogs
seem too happy to bark and men too lazy to work; in
short Nature pleasantly reposng after the tolls of the
summer and smiles goodhumoredly the wayfarer for
disturbing her slumbers. But sprng-spring in Italy,
when the fields green and the vines just budding out
when the trees putting their maiden robes and the
birds singing for joy; when the eshturned sod is moist
with renewed life and pure and the rosts of win
ter that still inger upon it, the air filed with the per-
fume of oets and wall flowers troops gay peasantry
auntng along the roads the cold winds and rains past
and long of bright skies and genial sunshine
comehis, after all is the for Italy. trip from
Florence to Rome in April is of perpetual
oyment it is forever after bright spot in the
brance of italian scenery and the pleasures of travel
foreign land The contrast too is altogether inspiring
after two months freezing in cold stone houses, with
feet Of gloomy street in front by way of prospect
1t is said that the Austrian authorities are not partial
to Americans My experience in getting through Leg
horn such to encourage belief in the statement
but the subsequent experience of getting away from Flo
satisfies that the authorities entertain the most
unbounded love for In truth, felt rather Aattered
at the desire which they manifested to keep there
How many times had to 60 to the police Office before
could exchange carte of soourn for my passport how
many places to call at to have it vised how many times
was too late too early, and had TO call again how
many paus there to pay; and how often had to
take off my hat and smile pleasantly in the presence of
official authority while in my heart there neither
love reverence, would be impossible tell Thanks
to the unconares Of the Grand Duke permission leave
asgraned last and the Apostocal authorities in
alteration of two pauls twenty CENTS generously gave
their my entrance into the Papa States Trunks
packed the bargain with the vetturno duly made
and contracts exchanged and all ready bright and
early at the appointed time-all but the vetturino
should have said because he, having found an English
family with longer purse, was on the way TO Padua
rrssissly at the moment expected him. From some
supernatural means Of communication between the
RIM of Florence recognised as the
teman who wished get off Rome but could Mt in
quence of the dupcy of Petro whom every body knew
to be dishonorable fellow and dscred to the profes
sion. My lodgings beset with perfect legion Of
vetturin offering their services and full Of the most un
bounded expressions Of sympathy and denuncations
the rascal Petro There not bystree that could
walk through without being bowed at and confdcnaly
whispered at concerning certain veura that only
ed nice party in il to make such show as never was
made BEFORE not such old hack as Pietro's which
could not possibly have reached Arezzo without breaking
down. Nor the horses like Petros, for his were
lame and blind, might have seen had taken notice
Of them; proof whereof horses without number were
brought Of stables close by and whipped round in such
way that il remarkable how escaped being run
over. Every attempt to make bargain brought such
crowds the spot and created such general excitement
throughout the neghborhood partly owing natural Gu
rosity and partly to my style Of Italian that had con
slant dread Of being seized by the authorities on som,
charge Of attempting to create revolution by dissent
mating republican doctrines in unknown tongue. Al
English artist Mr. Spence, arrested and put in ai
for skating the Arno and cutting such rare Aourshe
the ice attract crowds Of citizens on the quay
and bridges II time before the soldiers cou,
capture him. he had such strange way Of slipping on
Of their reach just enough make them fall
at last il only by threatening resort arms tina
they brought him to. mob in Florence occasion
ed by the escape Of canary bird from its cage Their
we're at least three hundred people in most dangerou
state OF excitement lest the bird should y from the cor
ner Of housstop and be seen again Whether thu
military forces Of the Grand Duke were called out 10 shoo
the little songste fghten IL deah with their drums
whether the crowd voluntarily dispersed am unabl,
TO say, inasmuch as went away upon ascerainng tn,
Of the excitement Without going into further CT
smpes Of the precaous tenure upon which one holds tb
liberty Of daylight in this country il will be enough Il
say that bargain concluded at last with one Angelo
Roman, who agreed to drive us, room rs feed us am
set down in any part Of Rome in days satsfacto
ry and in good condition forfeit his reputation as
vetturino, which not such a contemplate reputato
as Pietro had Petro was a Florentine, not Roman
il might be the cheat gentlemen in Florence b.
il not so in Rome.
At daylight, fine a morning as ever opened upo
fair Florence, up and ready to be off, But frs
good friends the padrona and his wife, who had qua