Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-10-11
TIE sPAT nE WAR

There is fearful old story which most Of our readers
have already read and shuddered over Of prisoner who
fell into the power of enemy and thrust into
dungeon lighted with seven windows He counted them
on the first day OF his incarceration, aud when the fol-
lowing morning he but six naturally thought that in
the exc;sment of the day before he had made mistake
lie was however somewhat startled after another night
had passed TO observe, that not only another
dow missing but that his dungeon sensDly smaller
Soon there were but three windows then but tSo then
but one still the cell grew aud contracted
until last light aud space had both gone and the
lucky wretch crushed to death.
The present "Roman government" as it carefully
termed in the circular of Sardinia appears 10 be
very much in the condition Of this unfortunate prisoner
FIRST Bologna closed t then Ferara, then Rmi
nj Now hear that Pesaro and Perugia have depart
ed and thus the light Of the Papacy is becoming gradu
ally extnguished. Everything seems 20 threaten
pete annhlatOn of the prisoner, Plus TX, as tempo
| raj monarch
How many widows are yet left in the Papa dungeont'
How many cities vet own the PapsI sway They are
indeed few and unimporant At the latest dates Anco-
| ma il under bcmbardment and may expect by the
next arrival to hear bits surrender Built on crescent
shaped bay it b sheltered from the winds of the Adriae
by sharp rocky ridge and further protected by mole
built centuries ago by the Emperor Adrian. The City
of Magnificent Portals" fully deserves the title from
the richlycarved TO churches and other build
ings which may be found in almost every street, and
which have suffered less from the pers Of
I0efe are OF
| combination in AncOna which ofsr the most tempting
themes the artists pencil and is strange they have
been much neglected Italian painters, however sell
dom Interested in other than figure religious or his
torca paintings and American artists, to whom owe
the best pictures of Italian scenery do not TO have
reached this part Of the country.
| Ancona is accustomed TO bombardment IL was bonn
barded by the French in l79g the vivid account OF
which event may be found in the Corne of Madame de
Stae It has aso suffered similarly other occasions,
aud its Of houses rising alphabetically on the
slope of crescentshaped hils adapted expressly
for bombardng purposes and offer unusual facilities for
| shells and bombs TO work dire execution.
There are now remaining to the PapAl government
only few windows-mere loop-holes, in point Of fact
Viterbo still remains faithful It is inland place, OF
little Importance except as post for the diligence Spo-
eto and Fermo yet the Papi rule, but reduced in
deed must be the government which has point to them
as its chief provincial cities Rome and Cvita Vecchia
are the only two places Of real Importance which remain
| to the Pope.
Our readers may generally understand the method
by which the windows made 10 close and the prison
walls to contract. Two Sandman armies invading
the Papal domnions C1ini left the emancipited lega
tons of the Romagna entered the province Of UrbnC
lin which were born Rafael Bramante, aud Rossinil and
followed the Adtiatc coast through the large towns o
FanO aud Pesaro TO Ancona. At the time General
Fanti marched from Tuscany followed the of the
classic Tber through the prayince OF Umbra TO Peruga
where he captured Lamorceres garrison including the
same General Schmidt who rewarded by the Pope
for his brutaities in that city year ago. Proceedrg
southwardly the Of FOgno and Oryieto welcomed
him within their walls. Vterbo ia but few miles frou
Orvieto and there ia doubt but that Fant has march
ed on there Thus Rome is approached by Cialdni anC
Fant on the North, and Glrbadi on the South, anC
they have perhaps ere this met as friends and deveren
Ia the Eternal City.-K y Post