New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-04-18
rLoRarrurE mAporNAs.

The annexation OF Tuscany ia accomplished, aud
accordingly there is an end to the sovereignty OF tho
house of HspsbuIg Lorraine In that State. This
political solution may, however, be succeeded by au-
other complication. A Dics legal question may
arise concerning the ownership OF the celebrated
mAdopbas, and al the treasures Of art in the
Tribune, in the pefistyles and galleries OF the
Palazzo veccbo, in the gorgeous saloons of the Pa
lszzo Pitt in the Libraries and collections Of the Pa
lszzo Rlccndi.
The Medic as patrons and afterward sovere'gns
Of Floreoce and Tuscany, us Cardinals and PoPes
in Rome, accumulated, as their private property,
various objects of art which for centuries they spen-
didly supported ALI these dispersed in palaces and
villas OF Florence and Rome were inherited at TIE
beginning Of the eighteenth century by Cosmo Ill,
the last Mcclellan ruler Of Tuscany but one. His
health being very bad, he was advised to take
great deal of exercise. BY way of 10.
ducement for it, he gathered these yarioas
treasures of art, scattered IN Florence and
Rome, and placed them in the long galleries OF the
Pa'azzo Yscchio. Thus, among other works, the
celebrated Venus came from Rome to the FiOren-
tine Dteiuts, 10 poub"p hf"hy oNS~
objects of AIT in Holland and Belgium.
Cosmo III. left daughter, married to tie
Elector Palatne, and son, Giovanni Gas!one, in
whom the Me6iciSn direct line finally became ex-
tnct. very poor in health and in mind, Giovanni
was the true incarnation of a lineage dying out.
The war between France and Austria, Occasioned
partly by the Pragmatic Sanction, was drawing to
Al, cd hu fha AZ N
1875. Francis If Lorraine, husband to Maria TIE
Iesa of Austria, ceded Lorraine TO France, which,
in turn, among other promises made to Mara
Theresa, guaranteed to Francis the eventual inner
itance of Tuscany, after the demise of the incum-
bent Giovanni Gastone Austria thereupOn, sent
troops to Tuscany and took possession OF the fortress
es in Florence; and the Duke and the Senate were
OBJ ICED under the influence and dictation OF the
two powerful allies tn confirm the treaty end legal
ize the succession of the house of Lonaine-thOugh
it was not IN any way agnate or cognae to the Me-
dic The reyersion of the Grand Duchy of Tusca-
ny, considered as fef of the EmperOrs Of Ger.
many, was thus secured to the Hapsburgs.
But the unhappy last son of the Medici,
willingly or by force, transferred all his sll0dal-
that is private, not enfeOied-property TO his leu
dal successor. Giovanni died in 1881, aud Of
course FraEcis lost no time in securing the costly
inheritance Part of the alIodial property left by
Cosmo Ill. was in the hands Of bic daughter Anna,
Low widow of the Paatne. She resided in Flor
ence, ard died there iu 1743 leaving by will all her
allodial goods, such palaces aud ar:-treasures,
to the lucky Francis of Lorraine.
In virtue of these two acts and inheritances,
the prefent Grand Dukes may be legally
considered as private prOprietors of these various
objects Of art The question may arise as to how
far these treasures can be considered as national
property, or subject to cOnfscation. 1t mag thus
have to be settled by International as well asby civil
laws. At all events, some ndemnfcatiOn viii prob
ably be allowed to the losers But what sum of
money can pay for these treasures Certainly the
TUscans have not the means, if even they had the
viii or intention, to pay their runaway Grand
Dukes for property so invaluable.