The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-05-13
THE FLIGHT OF rna DUKE or TUscANY.

Tho advices By the adelaide snuouuced that IN
Tuscan army demanded Of the Duke 70 ioin pr.sc,
| and Sardinia, and declare war against Au,eri.
and that hs declined, but innediateIy took a I.h.
The irst government thsre1ors, ovseshrown by m,
present Europsan couvulsiou 10, sisgulsr enough
ono Of the most liberal. The New Yosk Post hs,
tho following In relation to the fugitive Duke: ii
Leopold H., Grand Dute Of Tuscssy, 10 the o.
Sond Son Of the Grand Dake ferdinand III, and
Buriug his infancy his family suffered poIisics
feverses, being driven out Of theft doninions By
the Rrench. Rstfing to Germany. his fathes
caused the young Leopold to bs educated, f1rst :,
Salzburg aud afterwards st Warzburg. In 1914
on the fall Of Napoleon, Florence was restored 20
family to his native city. In 1917 be married .
Saxon princess, and Ia 1924, on the death of his
father, succeeded to the ducsl chair During the
troubles OF lS4S be was again expelled. but soon
1850. sconvension was signed BY which ten thou,
sand Austrians troops should occupy Tuscany and
support the authority Of the sovereign. -
Frequent vcissitudes proved to Leopold that di
rect tyranny would endaneer his government, but
- scion OF the house of Hspsburg, and the erands
son Of German emperor, his feelings naturally
inclined towards imperial rather than republican
traditions. Indeed. whatever might have been bis
inclinAtions, the influence Of Austria was 90 decis
ded that he dared not be too liberal Yet he Ger.
tainly has done great deal for the moral and ma
terial Improvement Of Tuscany, than which no
Italian country now exhibits greater evidence of
Prosperity. It 10 chiefly to leopold H. that the
Tuscan people owe their splendid roads, their sub.
stantial stone bridges their new railways and many
OF their institutions Of education.
As patron Of the fue arts, the Grand Duke of
Tuscany also deserves mention By bis direction
thefnvauab;e art treasureGof Florence were freely
thrown open to public inspection, inciudisg the
galleries of his own pslace. In religion he baa
exhibited considerable tolerance,as the Protestant
communities of Bisa, Leghern and the capital CITY.
will confess; although the persecution, 10 bis do.
maay Protestant countries.
10 person, the Grand Duke is rather prepossess.
Ing. He IL now sxty-two years Of age, bat looks
much older. His hair 10 Of light gray color.
aud be stoops slighly while walking. His coun-
tenance betrays certain marks of care and suffsr.
Ing. which are attributed By many of his people TO
domestic trials, cherished relative beng af3ist
ed with insanity. In manners be 10 fsble and
pleasant, and was accustomed to ride out daily ip
tho Cascine, sometimes in O Carriage. with the
members Of his family, ard sometimes bor.eb.cL
ms equipage being only dstingui BY the
respect with which the bystanders rage unon n
from the more dashiug turn ont of nv Lord Noo.
1.e, OF Eogiand, the wealthy Mr.. Smith, of the
nited States, or the lessor lights of the FIoren
tine nobility. wv
In the more retired parts of the C,scina- IN.
beautiful wooded park that lies upon the b.nt
OF the Arno, but short distance from the city-
.ooo v. ofotituS bt0ne, and mADy
strangers at Florence have passed him o.rsI...y
by without thodsht. Those who recoon;vad
him would raise their hats, to which the Grand
pnke would respond by similar salute, there
being no further formslty or etjouette In This n
what woaid mutually pass between the Prasidans
and . citizen Of the United States.
But with all these excellent auAlitiea I.onold q.
not popular in Tuscany. Tho presence of Anstri.n
troops constantly irritated the people, Who do NOT
shnk that the music they grAtuitously IF ,rd IN
the public on the open space In front of the Dncs
Palace ana IN tho Cascine, sufficient reward for
the unweicome presence of the "Tedeschi. y In.
deed, the presence of these troops can never be
forgotten BY the people, for daily parade tai A.
place IN the principal streets. To stranger IL ia
very Interesting to listen to the muuic of tina ba nI
and to see the we'll trained drille of sodiery nass
| ing along in their picturesque costumes-some
with helmets adorned with waving plumes other,
with the jaunty caps and feather Of the Sayovard
mountaineers, while their we'll FURNISHED bs yonet,
| cast lightning like flashes of light upon IN,
| frowuing walls of the palaces Of the Strozzi AND
Medici To stranger this is all deiishttpl-bu
| then strangers do not have to pay for all tb
| glitter and parade.
This. with other causes, has combined to max,
Leopold II unpopular. He knew il, and was pr,
pared for any coming political event. He had JUS
| returned from q visit to the dying King of Naples
| when he heard the rumble of the political earth
| quake, and timid and nervous as he 10, uotwith
| standing his refined tastes and benevolsnce, b.
| fed from Tuscany at the moment when she 10 Il
| danger. 10 this flight Lsopod leaves the mos
| beautiful city Of continental Europe, and the mos
| luxurious home that any living monarch has ec
cupied. o.. --.-.- s.---