Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1854-03-21

Letter IRON Hen. Robert Dale over.
We have tho pleasure Of reading q
lelter from Hon. Robert Dale Owen,
our Charge at Naples, to a friend in
this city, The letter was not intended
for Publication. but by tho kind per.
mission Of its owner We publish such por.
t!ons Of it as may interesting TO our rea.
ders: ..a... o.t....t.-
Naples, December 2l. 1853.
Thinking you will take an interest
ia hearing what / think Of this celestial
land Of song, and how I am situated
here, after q two months residence, | sit
down 10 address you q fcw lines.
One is usalIy disappointed in the first
aspect OF scenes, tho praises Of which
he heard from infancy; but | do nv,
think eny previous description can
cause disappointed in regard TO this
magniaccn, bay VI Naples. My win.
dows, in the I'd story Of ! palazso in the
principal street Of tho city, overlook tho
waters Of the bay; Vesuvius, usually
smoking little, on the extreme left,
then a high and rocky range stretching
along past Lorrento; in front, the rag.
Sed and picturesque Island Of Capt. and
on the right, part Of the town, its villas
rising on natural ampitheatre behind.
And, day after day, never tire Of the
scene. In truth, It is no two days alike.
With every aspect Of the heavens il
chsnges. Now the waters are still and
smooth as a mirror. bright in the lovely
Italian sun, dotted over with boats and
craft OF every size, usually with the
picturesque Latins rig; now clouds roll
up, and produce the most beautiful and
va'led effects Of light and shade, (some.
times the sea in deep shadow. and the
mountain range beyond georsously light.
cd up by the slanling rays OF the setting
sun;) and then again the tempest rises,
and the waves, with loud and ceaseless
murmur, break in long lines Of foam on
the shore. In all its aspects, Of storm
or Of calm, or (mors like this life OF
ours,) ol checkered shadow and sun.
shine, | never tire Of watching it. Just
opposite 10 where | live, ore public
grounds, extending hres.quaf,ers Of a
mile along the shore, and divided from
the sea only by low parape, wall; and
this is my favorl,e walk. Half the tree.
are still in leaf; and the grass is as fresh
and green as with US in April. A liz
tie fire morning and evening, is needed
and the Neapolitans scarcely use i,
at all. Indeed, many Of the best apart
ments here have no fire places. They
burn wood on andirons, as we do.
The annexed sketch will give you
some little idea Of the city Of Naples
(Napoli, as its inhabitants callit) The
point Of view is between Vesuvius anil
lbe city. On the extreme right, the
castle.like residence is the royal palace,
with noble grounds, 200 OF 500 acre.
in extent, around iD of Caps di Monte;
whence the views Of the city and We.
suvius are exceedingly fine. The plain
in the foreground is called the Campsg.
na Felice (hapPy country) from il
sroa. fertility. And if there were free
institutions here,-or even (what the
population is better prepared for) lib
efal constitutional monarchy, what {
happy country it might be! The peo
pie here seem 10 me TO resemble, ir
many points Of character, the Irish; the,
have an endless fund Of good. nature
they are light.hearted, excitable, quick
in all their emotions, careless Of the
morrow. TO marvellous degree; patient
under suffering; and (unlike some Of the
lrish) remarkably sober. have no,
seen man even partially intoxicated
since have been in this ci,y-of some
100000 inhabitan,; and they say one
may live years here, without seeing one.
oil drink light wines; and am not a,
all sure if Longwor,h, the Cincinnati
patron Of vineyards, is not doing more
in our country for temperance than any
temperance lecturer in it.
have beea received here with the
utmost courtesy, by king, ministers. and
diplomatic corps, and If l were not so
lonely, would6nd my situation agreea Z.
Bile. 1t is one Of much more labor and
responsibility than imagined il. .******
lhave been 10 Pompeii; and Of all |
have seen here. that city Of the dead has
interested me the most. About one.
third Of the original city, including some
10 or ~ streets, is entirely exhurned.
The houses nearly up to the first story,
the temples and other public buildings,
Tin ruins doubtless, but showing clearly
the original extent) the streets, the side
walks. the very stepping stones, are all
disclosed, almost as the Romans left
! them. The uncouth signs over the shop
doors, the very ruts, worn Sy the chariot
wheels in the streets, are still there
When the ashes and scoria from the tor.
rible Vesuvius covered all up, every.
thing Of wood was burned, but all the
rest remained. Skeletons were found
in many OF houses and shops; one Of a
woman clasping child; two of man
and woman, whe seemed to have died
in each others arms; one Of man with
the feet still fastened in the stocks.-
Tho visitation mus, have been awfully
sudden. Many Of the houses show ira.
ccs Of much luxury and magni6cencs.
l have also been to Baia, the favorite
bathing place of,he Roman pstricians,
famed for its luxury and the dissolu ute
character Of its inhabitants. In ito vi.