Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-08-20

l lnk tuc lhahuAt VI tlc uuls ullRnl us WBt
have baked myself with Monsieur Cabot, as
have sat where did. scorched internally by
the fire of Carlotta's eyes, and externally
melted by the sun.
The Indian patriarch, who sat opposite, wal
far more comfortable, because he had no fesf
to lose being little better than walking ana
tony. The sun and atmosphere had don,
their worst upon him. Brown as a mummy
with large, heavy, dark eyes, high cheek
bones, and mouth Of enormous capacity, III
had very mucli the air of scarecrow.
His wife had been handsome in her time
and the daughter was so STILL though she hat
reached, in single blessedncss, the alarming
age of two-and-twenty, after which woman
regards her chances of felicity gone in Italy
As papa formed my vis-a-vis, could not
ugly as he was, avoid entering occasionally
into conversation with him. He illustrated
strikingly the common adage, that one should
never trust to apprenticeship he coulC
talk like an angle, and had mind so stored
with knowledge, and was of a temper so fine
ly balanced, that, before we had travelled far
could hardly tell whether he or Carlotta was
the more fascinating person of the two.
What had first mistaken for heaviness in
his eyes, was an expression of extreme Sc
renity. If he had ever known the storms Of
the passions. Time, with his vast wings,
had now lifted him far above them, and pac.
ed him on that intellectual eminence where,
as Lucretius expresses it, ga man may look
down upon humanity, toiling, wandering, and
fretting below Strange to say, he had been
in the army, where lie had preserved, unabat-
ed, through manya campaign, his faith in
Providence, and his love in knowledge
Though he had married early in life, he had
had but one child, whom he seemed TO regard
a.
wife was what the French call une femme MULE;
that is, woman of no character at all.
| lnever could pretend to understand the
art of Irritation, and, OIL the present occasion,
most satisfactorily demonstrated my ignor-
ance. Instead of taking advantage of my
position to ingratiate myself with Carlotta,
| as any man of the world would have done,
entered into discussion with Signor Castrucci
on the character and writings of Machiayelli.
At first, considering in what country we were
travelling, he sedulously avoided politics; hut
as conversation begot mutual confidence, we
spoke out boldly on the affairs of Italy, both
past and present. On my referring to Machi-
avelli, he smiled, and said, ~ will tell you
an anecdote, from which you may perceive
how early in life | became attached to that
great author. received my education under
the Jesuits, who, as you know, watch over
their pupils with the utmost strictness, allow
ing them to read no books but such as they
themselves put into their hands. had an
uncle in the Town, close to which our college
was situated; and was sometimes permitted
to visit him. There, one day, OH a window
seat, found volume of Machiavelli's works,
in which Immediately became Interested
My uncle gave me the whole set, but caution
cd me against carrying it to the college, since
he assured me my preceptors would certainly
take it away. Ill tell you, said he, what
you shall do--you must have it bound like
the mass-book, and take it with you OCCASION
ally to church. 1t will then be mistaken for a
help to devotion; and while they are engaged
in their uninteligible rhapsodies, or useless
ceremonies, you can improve your mind
"of course, carefully followed this advice,
and read the works of the greatest Of Italian
writer's over and over till became familiar
with them all. One day, however, as one of
the holy fathers was preaching on the Chin
ese mission, happened to open my favorite
volume at the commencement ofthe marriage
OF Belfregor the caustic wit and dry humor Of
which pleased me so much that forgot where
was, and smiled again and again with delight.
IAN honest Jesuit, who observed my merri-
ment, thought it could hardly be excited by
book of devotion, and, approaching me
stealthly, like cat, looked over my shoulder
| and discovered the horrid truth. Then, sire
tching forth his long, bony hand he seized
upon the volume, as an eagle pounces upon
hare, and, thrusting st into his bosom, cast
on me menacing look. and returned to his
place in the choir. Up to that moment had
been intended for the ecclesiastical profession;
but, while my heart was boiling with indig-
nation, Imade up my mind, and walking out
of the church, went straight to my uncle's
! - coll 10,
"Love, acknowledge, had something to do
with my resolution. My uncle had very
charming daughter said he, smiling, and
turning towards his wife, who returned the
smile "and proposing for her hand, my
offer was accepted, though the marriage was
postponed for some time. MEANWHILE enter
ed the army, where | have risen to the rank
of General In due time married and you
perceive" added he, turning to his wife, and
then to his daughter, ''the whole of my
family"
:. You are more obliged to Maclayeli,'' !
Observed ethan most persons. Through his
aid you have escaped celibacy, and risen to
honor and distinction.
| Sgnor Castrucci bowed.
+" And now,' inquired, looking back from
this distance of time, do you think that the
notions you entertained of the Floreutine
statesman in your youth were correct 20
"Machiavelli, - he replied, twas essentially
revolutionary writer; he despised all the
established governments of his time, and
labored earnestly to subvert them by pro-
pagating those principles of expediency which
render men indifferent respecting the means
they employ to accomplish their ends he
esteemed liberty the greatest good that mon
can enjoy, and thought them justified in wad-
ing to ii through seas of blood. The princes
l af 1t
life, which they sacrificed in all ways to graft
fly their most despicable caprices. He there
fore counselled the people to follow their ex-
ample, and labored all his life TO undermine
the sentiment of respect for greatness which
| is one of the most fatal weaknesses incident
TO human nature. To dissipate this feeling.
he dwels on the crimes and folies of kings
and princes, and seeks to overwhem them
beneath load of contempt No man can rise
from the perusal of Machiavelli with the same
sentiment of loyalty with which he commence
ed it. His attack is conducted in the most in
sidious manner, for he often praises what he
wishes you to hate but is careful that his
praise should be calculated to provoke your
detestation.n
"Strange," interposed Carlotta, "that of
so great mans life so little, comparatively,
should be KNOWN
"Signora," replied Castrucci, t'the lives of
the greatest men the world has ever produced
have been obscure, like his. We see the Of.
fects their genius produced, but are unable
to measure the productive force; just rs, in
our own country, we behold a mountain
thrown up into the air by volcanic agency,
but never perceive the power at work.
81 have read the history of France OBJ
served Carlotta, "and what remains of the
letters-but should like to know much more
of the man who wrote Them"