, 1859-05-13
FLIGHT OF THE DCKE OF TUSCANY.
One Of the Results Of the War.


one oftlcmost liberal. Leopold H., Grand Duke
of Tuscany, Las, VIC learn By the latest in
telligcuce, brought By the Adelaide, fled from
Florence. fufurther particulars are given, and
though it WINS to ba naturally supposed that the
expatration Of the Grand Dake would be oEs
Of the necessary results Of IN Italian revolution
thu event has taken place sooner than we bad
rc:son to expect. As yet, until we hive addi-
tionai news, tls almost impossible to speculate
with propriety upon the causes which led TO the
premature flight, hut it cettal9lt :he*s the in
ninencc Of the great crisis in ltalian atlalrs.
Leopold IT,, Grand Duke Of Tuscany, is the
second son Of the Grand Duke Ferdinand ILL.,,
and was born at Florence on the third Of 0cto-
Der. l7s7. During his infancy lis fanly suf-
{ercd political rcrcrse:, being driven cut Of their
dpnlinions by the French. Retiring to Germany
his father cuused the young Leopold to be edu-
Gated, first ut Salzburg, and afterwards at Wurz-
burg. In lSl4 on the sall Of Napoleon, Flor
rncc was restored to the Grand Duke, and Leo
poId returned with the family to his native city.
In l>l7 he married Saxon princess, and, in
I~2f, on the deuth Of his father, succeeded to
thu ducaI cuir. During the troubles Of ls4S he
was again expelled but soon returned to his
capital, and on tile I'D of June, ls2o, Couven-
tiGu WI, signed by which ten thousand Austrian
troops should occupy Tuscany and support the
authority Of the sovereign.
Frequent vicissitudes proved to Leopold that
direct tyranny would eudanger his government.
Dut aS Sct00 nI tnt HO05S " A41Pob04 SAr AAA
the grandson Of German Emperor, his feelings
naturally incli4ed towards imperial rather than
republican traditions Indeed, whatever mil ght
have been his inclinations, the influence Of Aus-
tria was so decided thut he dared not be too
liberal. Yet be las certainly done great deal
for the moral anu material improvement OF Ius-
cany, than which no Italian country now e1hlb-
its greater evidence Of prosperity
Ii is chiefly to Leopold II. that the Tuscan
people owe their splendid roads, their substan-
tial stone bridges, their new railways, and many
Of their institutions Of education. The Traveller
is at once struck with the contrast between
Tuscany and the PapaI States, ia regard to these
international Improvements In the former ne
r'de3 by easy puths, crosses magnificent stone
bridg such never met IN thls country,
passes by cultivated fields aud through towns
where modern Improvements aEe constantly
takingplacc and where ethemonumental buildings
Of 1nediHvai ages are preserved with plous care
Crossing the boundary into the domains Of Plus
IN., lie finds the roads neglected, the fields un-
titled, old cathedrals falling to decay, and the
streams often impossible from want Of proper
bridging. In Florence, also, Leopold has been
projecting and carrying on Improvements that
reflect The highest credit on bis liberal taste.
The great cathedral, perhaps next to St. Peters,
the must magnificent Of Italy, and which has
been for centuries unfinished, he had under
taken to complete. Tic Church Of Santa Croce
that Pantheon Of Florence, wherein repose
the remains Of Michael Angelo, aud other great
men whose genius has shed such lustre on the
namc of Italy-had long offended the eye by its
imperfect front, and Leopold II. had coHmenc-
I'd erecting facade that was worthy Of the edi-
ice. The Lung 'Arno, :" tllc picturesque pro-
nIenadc Of Florence, Il noble street bordering
the east bank Of the .4rno, has been extended
and adorned with new palaces. Indeed, hud he
been allowed to perfect his plans, Leopold, II.
would have done for Florence what Napoleon
ILL., has already done for Paris,
As patron Of the Fine Arts, the Grand Duke
of Tuscany also deserves mention. Ry his
direction the Invaluable art treasures OF Flo
renee were freely thrown open to public inspcc-
tior, including The galleries Of his own palace.
lu religion he has exhibited considerable toler-
ance, Il, tile Protestant communities Of Pisa,
Lcghorn, and the capital city, will confess; al-
Mad,ai has prejudiccd against him many Protest
au1 countries.
In person the Grand Duke is rather prepos-
sesslng. lie is nov sixty-two years Of ape, but
louks much older. His lair is Of light gray
color, aud he >toops slightly while walking.
His counttnance betrays certain marks Of care
aud suffering, which ire attributed by many Of
his people IL domestic trials, cherished rela-
live being afflicted with insanity. Iu manners
lae is alablc and pleasant and was accustomed
Ia ride out daily in the Cascinc, sometimes in q
carriage, with the members Of lis family, and
sometimes horseback, Ills equipaEe being only
distinguished By t1ls respect with which tue
by:tanIcrs gaze upon it, from the more dashing
turu-out Of my Lord Noodle Of England the
wealthy Mr.. Smith Of the Cnited States, or the
Lesser lights Of tue Flurcn,iuc nobility. In the
more reticd parts of the Cascinc-the beautiful
wooded park that lies upon the banks Of the
aruo, but Il short distance from the city-hc
was often fond of strolling alone, and many
strangers ut Florence hare pissed him careless
lyby without Il thought. Those who recognised
him wuuld raise their hats, to which the Grand
Duke would respond by similar salute, there
being no further fornality Or etiquette in this
than what would mutually pass between the
President and citizen Of tue United States.
But with all these excellent qualities, Leopold
is not popular iu Tuscany. The presence Of tue
Austrian troops constantly irritate the people,
who do not think tile music ther gratuitously
afford to the public on the open space in front
of the Ducal Palace and in the Cascine, suffi-
ccnt reward for the unwelcemc presence of the
Tdttchi," Indeed, tue presence Of these
troops can never bc forgotten by the people, for
daily parade takes place ia the principal
streets. To Il stranger it is very interesting to
listen 10 thu music Of the band, and to see tile
well-trainea file OF soldlery passing along in
their picturesque costumcs-s0me with helmets
adorned with waving rlumcs, others with the
jauntv caps and feather Of tic Savoyard noun
taincers, while their well FURNISHED bayonets
cast l4htning-likc flashes Of liz int upon the
frowni,Ig walls of the palaces of the Ssrozzi and
Medici. To stranger this is all delightful
but then strangers do not have to pay for all
ll!is glitter and parade.
This, with other causes, has combined to make
Leopold II. unpopular. lie knew it, and was
prepared for any coming political event. He
has just returned from visit to the dying king
If Naples. when lie heard the rumble Of tile po-
litieaI earthquake, and timid aud nervous US lie
is, Notwithstanding Ills refined tastes and his be-
ucvoencc. he fled from Tuscany ut the moment
when she is in danger.
In this light Leopold Leaves the most beauti-
ful city Of Continental Europe, and the most
luxurious home that any living monarch has oc-
cupied Windsor Castle is graced with its bat
Elements and towcrs-the Palace Of the Tuil-
cries is rich in treasure and gorgeous with
everything wealth can command--thc Car re-
sides in hills whrre barbaric srleEdor is toned
by modern art-pius ~. looks from the VIM
| dows Of the Quirinal or the Vatican upon the
most classic ground the earth lnows-but none
| Of these regal homes can equal in luxurious de-
light the litti Palace of Tuscany. Its massive
walls. its peculiar architecture, its domestic
| position, arr ull unsurpassed. 1t contains some
Of the richest art treasures in the world In its
| marble galleries are the peerless Madonna della
| SeginIa Of Raphael, the Madonna Of Murlllo,
the richest sun1iGhts of Salyator Rosa and
Claude Lorraine, the Venus Of Canoya, and the
cherished souvenirs Of many OF the greatest
artist> of Italy. Behind the place stretch the b.
boil gardens, with their quantity trimmed To-
liayc, tllcir refreshing fountains and their rare
statuary, while from the higher terraces the now
e4iird Duke could enjoy the nublcst view the
! vicinity Of Florence affords. lu the distance,
| loundinS the horizon, arc the white peaks Of
the Aplrnines. while near by lies the'' fairest
ci,y Of ihc earth" Florence, with the Arno wind
inS thrnush It, spanned by bridges that are
themselves !. feast to the eve. Rising from the