Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-04-06
DIR. VINES SECOND LECTURE.


Last night Rev DIR. Wines delivered, in the
basement of DIR. Weeds church, his second lee
ture-suhject, NAPLES and its environs, from
personal observation-with notices Of italian
scenery, art, life and manners"
IIo commenced by quoting that impassioned
die" IT. said the Doctor, the most curious
city, the most singular coast the most beauti-
full bay, and the most picturesque islands i'll
Europe can Justify such sentiment, then must
the bard be held guiltless of extravaganza
What varied and exquisite attractions!
climate where heavens breath smells sweet and
wooingly; the most beautiful interchange ofland
and sea; vigorous and luxuriant nature; all
the wonder of volcanic power; antiquities diff
fering from all other antiquities on earth; and
n coast which waS nnco tho fairy land OF poets,
and tile favOrite retreat of the great and the IL
lustrious of past ages. To the student of ma
ture-to the student Of art-to tho antiquary-
to the lover of music-to the man of leisure,
there is, perhaps, no residence IN Europe moro
tempting than Naples. So beautiful its neigh
borhoodl So delicious its climatel So bril-
liant aud serene its skies Before ii spreads
the sea with its boys, promontories, and islands;
behind it rise mountains and rocks in every fan
tnstc form, and always clothed with verdure;
on each side swell hills and hillocks, covered
with groves and gardens and orchards, blooming
with fruits aud flowers. Every morning gale,
springing from the sea, brings viSor aud cool
ing with it; every evening, breeze blowing
| from the hills and sweeping all the perfumes of
the country before it, fills the nightly Rtuos-
phere with fragrance.
DIR. Wines then went on to speak Of the
topography of Naples, stating that it stands
the site, and inhereits the name of ancient
Seapolis Also that it was among the earliest
of those colonies which the adventurous spirits
of the Greeks planted on the alluring shores of
Italy; and that the charming situations which
characterizes it, is one among the thousand
~
He dwelt upon its unriyalled natural advan-
tages, stated how long ago, at its beginning, it
rose rapidly TO wealth, power and splendor.-
Then lie contrnsted its present condition with
what it had been, saying that hardly vestige
now remained OF It's magnihcence and beauty.
Its temples, theatres, baths and porticOes have
been levelled by earthquakes, or destroyed by
barbariaus
A Florentinc gentleman Ind once said to the
lecturer, Florence ought TO have been at Ma
pics" 1t seemed TO him that the remark was
Just one. Inferior to Florence in palaces,
churches, public squares, fountains, promenadeS
and works of art, Naples has the advantage of
it in situation, climate, scenery, antiquities and
historical and poetical associations. And not.
withstanding the inieriority just named, the
capital of the two SicilieS is far from being
mean looking place. Its appearance is rather
Imposing than otherwise. The buildings, always
Of stone, are lofty and massive. The principal
streets are paved with large blocks of lava, cut
in the form of diamonds The magnificent
Strdda di Toledo, the principal thoroughfare of
the city; the extensive and well built quay; the
royal gardens; and the delicious promenRdes of
Me-gyllina and Santa Lucia, which spread along
the water and present long line OF massive
edifices--are sufficient of themselves to inpart
to any city air Of grandeur. Nothing can
be finer or more unique than the view present
ed by Toledo street. There il here an aspect Of
vivid animal existence, a brightness, life and
cheerfulness, in the highest degree imposing
Two continuous streams Of carriages are pass
ing in contrary directions while the crowd Of
pedestrians, having no benefit of side walks, re.
sembIe two currents struggling against each
other, and forming by their opposite actions
innumerable eddies. All sorts of employment
are going on IN the street, knitting, sewing,
spinning, tailoring, tinkcring. roasting cheSnuts
and frying Inaccaroni. Collections OF shells,
trinketS, an,ulctS, coral ornaments and other
articles of what the Italians call rirtu, arc
exposed for sale at every turn. II is impossible
at any time before midnight, to pass along this
great thorooshIare, without encountcring many
grotesque and lauShable adventures In ono
place you swept by the current, in another
you are whiried about by the vortex diver