, 1860-06-16
FOREIGN ITEMS.
TIE KINGDOM OF THE TWO sIc1LrE

TIE KINGDOM OF THE TWO SIC1L1ES.
The kingdom Of tho Two Sloilies comprises al
the southern portion Of the Italian peninsula,
from the southern boundary Of the States Of the
Church, and likewise the splendid island Of
Sicily. The latter contains about IL, 900 square
miles, the peninsula about 81 ,0oo; 80 that, to-:
gether, the area Of the Kingdom Is about large
as that of the State Of Louisiana. The popula-
ticn 1nay be roughly stated at 9,000.0 900. Of
which Sicily contains over two-probabiy not
more than quarter Of the population Of the
same region eighteen hundred years ago. This
kingdom, and these nine millions Of people, are
ruled by Francisco Secondo, q Bourbon, son Of
that king who Was known throughout the civil
lied world By the nickname of Bonba, in con-
sequence Of his fondbess for bombarding his
own cities. The occurrence at Marxala shows
that in this respect. the son treads dutifully in
the steps Of the father. No part Of the globe
has be-n more favored by nature than the king
dom Of the Two Sicilies. Blessed with aplen-
did climate, a large area Of very fertile land,
sea coast even more extensive, in proportion 10
the interior, than that Of the United States,
healthy air. and an admirably central position,
Sicily and Southern Italy were evidently intend
ed to be the garden aud the aranary Of the
Mediterranean. But nature w1s not satisfied
with supplying this happy region With the ordl-
nary products Of fertile countries. Besides
olives, fruits, which it can produce as abundant
" as anr ether part OF tbs world, the kagdom
of The Two Sicies contains sulphur, silk, and
mama, in quantities suf1ciant-if thu produc
ton were -x1se1y eucouraged-to afford a hand.
some public revenue. and to enrich large pop
citation. It eEjoys every variety Of climate;
snowy summ,ts On the Abruzzi look down upon
delicious temperate regions in the mountain
valleys and tropical pla.ns in Southern Sicily.
There WAS time when these advantages we're
appreciated by their possessors and turned to
good account. Before Rome, Tarentum aour-
ished aud riTalled the great cities Of Asia in
splendor. Authentic European history dates
Carthage tor the possession Of Sicily. From
the close Of that war down to the dark ages, 81.
cily was what God intended it to be-she garden
0! The Mediterranean. When fierce North winds
delayed the arrival Of Sic'lan ships at Rome,
rich men were forced to put up with plain food
| less prosperous. On tue hills where the long
struggles between Rome and Samnium, Rome
| and Embria, and laatly Rome and Hannibal had
| been fought out, countless docka Of sheap and
| goats vera fattened for the markets Of the I'm.
| perial Ci.J; the shore Was studded with -four
p:epty, happiness and iu1ury-such Is the PIC
iure ot Southern Italy which we find in tho his.
torians Of the pRlmy days Of Rome.
| What a change uoWl In the peninsular por-
tion Of the kingdom there IL but one town Of
| any size-Nsples; in Sicily two-Messlna aud
| pAleFWo-both monuments ot the past fh1hef
than actors in the movements Of the present
day. Of the 6. .o00, 900 Inhabitants about 40. 900
are prieste and monks, and probably .500, ,00o
dependent, directly and indirectly, on the
Church for support. The Church owns nearly
one.third Of Ill the land in Sicily. The foreign
trade Of the country has fallen away to mere
nominal proportions, and would have been ex-
.i1guishtd altogether but for the indignant Re
monstrancas Of foreign NATIONS. For years tbs
best men in the kindom hare been either driven
to foreign countries or kept in dungeons at
home. Tho government, sustained By Aus riau
troops and Austrian ira.esas. spp54sa to hare
deyoted itself exclusively TO- the extension oI
the power of the Jesuits, and the crushing oui
Of liberal ideas. The reports Of the travellers
who went through Calabria after the late earth
quake arc fearfq1ly. suggestive. In most in
stances the only relief obtained By the sufferer!
came from foreigners. The Eaglish aud Ger
mans raised lalge fund for The purpose. bu
refused to allow any portion Of it to be dibburs
ed by natlye officials. The a'moner OF th'
English fund-a man of gregt energy. ant
courage, went through the devastated region il
person with the money. In one place he va
attacked BY robbers; the nan who tried y
gerrote him, while coufederates clutched at hi
bag Of ducats, WAS the village cuza.e. Thi
was IN broad daylight. This is tha kingdom
end these the institutions which Garibaldi ha
gone to war to ove1throw.-Londoa Nsaos.