Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-04-27

orounization as States, u euu.l rights OF person and
property respected UnGcr I'll: constitution Of ire
Union, Is incumbent on tie proper Legislative autho-
rity thereof.
The F]loren1ine Art Galleries.
The new arrangement Of the Italian DuchleS,
under the rule of Victor Emanuel, has opened
discussion concerning the real ownership Of
the art treasures in the galleries Of Florence,
furnishing agreeable gossip to Foreign Cor
respondents and paragraph writer's in the
New York journals. The parties 10 this con-
test arc the vg,nosed Duke Of Tuscany, claim,
ing them as private property-backed of course
bv Francis Joseph, and the lately entrancs,ised
people Of Northern :italy-reprcscnted by the
Sandman government. He claims hat tho
Medici family, to whom he is the lawful heir,
purchased and collected the most valuable OF
these wonders, with private means, to crafty
personal wishes and tastes, and that, while ru-
Ter of Tuscany, he exercised control over them
only in his private capacity, and allowed them
to be publicly exhibited only as the Duke OF
Deyonslire exhibits Chatworth's or the Mer-
chant Princes Of cur own country sometimes
display their private works Of art as L gratui-
ty. Now, about the ultimate destiny OF the
Florentine galleries there can be no doubt.
Suits may be instituted 10 recover them;
Ferdinand Of Tuscany may protest, and even
Austria, with its iron hand, may attempt to
grasp them, but it will all hc in vain. Tho
worlds verdict will control and settle the matter
to its own satisfaction; and even If this were
wanting the people Of Italy would stand u
them with as much enthusiasm rs they would
by their religion, and Victor Emanuel could
rally more lcgions to defend them, than around
his standards in any other cause. Indeed.
there arc already examples enough in the his
tory Of these things to establish the worlds title
to q controlling voice in the disposition oil
such matters. When the great Napoleon
moved the bronzcs and pictures Of Italy
and the East to Paris, as 4 reward to the
French people for their glorious triumphs,
public sentiment and outside pressure drove
France to repair the injury, as far US was
possible, and the British Government has new
err yet ceased to hear the scorniul voice ana
feel the tingling lash Of the worlds indignant
verdict at Lord Elgin's authorized theft of tho
Eastern marbles. We take it, therefore, that
the organization of a joint stock company to
fence in Niagara or veil Vcsuvius, for private
ends. would meet with as much favor in
Christendom, as this effort Of a damaged
Duke and n lettering empire 10 control
for personal advantage these precious le-
gacies Of the great artists who lived
nearest the fountains of inspiration. As in the
wealth of fame belonging to their authors, the
people of the whole world have become share.
holders in these treasures, and any effort to
move or appropriate them to any other than
public uses will be successfully frowned down
and thwarted. The wonders Of the Ufzzi and
Pitt palaces may therefore be regarded as safe
to the traveller and student as long as the wall:
shall last and the marble and color remain.
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Direct Trade.
1t will be gratifying to our readers to learn
that tho Impression, which had to some extent
gone abroad, that the scheme for the establish
ment Of direct trade, between this city and
Liverpool, had fallen through, is altogether CT
roneouS.
A contract has been made with Mr.. Abra
ham, of Baltimore, for two ships. lie is now
ut work on one Of them in that city; and with
in the last day or two he has made arrange
ments for the establishment Of i ship-yard il
this city, where the business Of ship.buildins
will be commenced in q few weeks.
About 500, 900 have already been subScrib
ed by the present joint owners. No applica
tons have been made TO other cities in Virgins
to take stock in the company, but as they ar
equally interested in this new course of trade
there is no reason why they should not sub
scribe, and we have no doubt they will.
The two ships contracted for will be go
tons each, and will cost, when ready for sea
$4,000. The ship to be built in this city vii
cost 81, 900 more than the Baltimore vessel, o.
account of the increased expense to the buildc
in q new location.
The company propose to build four ships
that number being Indispensable to establish
regular line to Liverpool, $780, 900 more are re
required for the purposes and as soon as tina
sum is raised contracts will be made for tw,
more ships, one to be built in Baltimore ant
one here.
The ships will be double d licked, of the yer,
best materials, first class in all respects, lo
delled to suit the trade Of the river in draft o
water and otherwise, and with reference to thu
stowage Of tobacco. They will be 100 feet long
SO feet 0 inches breadth Of beam, and 81 fec
depth Of hold. Those now contracted for vii
be ready for sea in six months. This delay j:
unavoidable because it was found impossible t.
find ships Of a suitable kind ready built.
We hear much of the spirit, cntcrpris,
and wealth Of our city. We hope that tn,
encouragement which this project will recciv,
will afford proof that all thar has been said il
true and that every scheme which affords
prospect of establishing Southern conmerein
independence will be encouraged.