Washington sentinel., 1854-01-07

boat, and found but one cabin passenger to
share the steamer with me. 1t was gloomy
sight to look into that prison of cabin, and
then to look out on the Mediterranean heaving
now in the storm. The sense of loneliness was
very oppressive, and busy memory brought no
relief. An hour or two out, and the vessel
rolled so fearfully that could find no place of
security but my berth, and there retreated for
the night, trusting the boat to Providence and
the seamen. Antonio came at my call, and sat
down by my side, to give me the pleasure of his
company, and deliver me from the trouble Of
thinking, by continuing his stories of low life
in Italy. One of the most entertaining chap
ers in this series would be the report of his mar
ratives that evening had heard of Baron
--, who is now one of the richest men in
this country, who was once a boot-black in the
establishment of the Duke of --; and find
ing that he was once fellow servant of Anto-
Mo- got his history, strange romantic, divert
ing even; for in fact the man has fought his
way up from servitude to royal honors, and
more than once has represented his government
at foreign courts the equal and companion Of
the very men whose horses he once groomed
And when Antonio had thus whiled away the
evening for me, he stretched himself upon the
floor close by, and slept soundly, while | slept
lightly and dreamed.
The morning came, and with it the sight Of
Civita Vecchia. The storm was past, the sun
was out, cool bracing morning, reviving to a
worn man. An hour brought US to anchorage
but more than an hour was spent in getting the
ordinary leave to come ashore. And when at
last the passports had been examined, and the
permission granted, system of plunder COM
menced-the like Of which have fortunately
not had since coming abroad. My own ser
want was not allowed to carry anything ashore;
but special porter for each mans effects, that
more might be demanded in the way of fees.
At the custom house at least three sets of men
were to be paid, and at the Diligence Office as
many, and they came upon me for two pauls,
twenty cents) apiece, until / told Antonio to
look about and if he could find any body else
who wanted two pauls, to give it to him, but
not to let any of them come near me. And to
crown the whole, the American consul de-
manded and received two dollars for certifying
to my passports, an infamous extortion which
record as the first instance in which have
had to pay an American official cent since
coming to the continent. But Civita Vecchia
is den of thieves. 1t is the site of the great
prison house where the criminals of the Roman
States are confined, and the people outside the
walls appear to be contaminated by the asso-
citation. Right glad was to be started off to-
ward noon in postchaise for Rome. At a
rafting pace we rode on through deeply un-
interesting country no towns, no villas, no his
torical associations to enliven the journey. At
each change of horses, which was every ten
miles, the postillions called for a fee, and this
we gave according to the freedom with which
they had whipped the horses, and at eight in
the evening we saw the dome of St. Peters
shining in the moonlight, and soon were stand
ing in the gates of the Eternal City"
IRENE EUS.