The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-04-06
Savoy and Nice.

These possessions of Sardinia, for which
Louis Napoleon has a strong desire, are
just now considerably talked about. The n.
Y. Journal Of Commerce gives some light as
to their geography, and we copy from it as
follows -
"Thc mooted question of tho annexation
to France of the SarGinian posscssions, Sa.
voy and Nice, naturally draws tho attention
of the American reader to that portion Of
Northern Italy. The Duchy of Savoy bor-
dcrs upon France and Switzerland, and is
about the sizo of Connecticut. 1t abounGs
in tho most magnificent mountain scoucry
of Europe, and tho earth is 80 wrinklcd up
that we wonder that man can therc find
foothod. Monnt Blanc 80 often placed by
the popular mind in Switzerland, is tho cul-
minating point of Savoy. 1t is a country
rich in mineral ore and its fertile slopes
afford abundant pasturage to herds, and
some of its valleys contain luxuriaut vine
yards. The Ducbv OF Savoy contains more
than six hundred thousand inhabitants
nearly all of whom speak bastard French
and Italian, besides jaw breaking paiois Of
their own. Chambery. the capital, is n most
picturesque situation. 1t was here that 10
suph do Maislre, the celebrated diplomatst
and Vavies do Maistrc the equally celo-
brated author, (of "A Journey Around my
Chamber, &c..) wore born. 1t was in
Chambery, also. that our countryman. joel
Barlow, wrote his famous lines on 'Hasty
Pudding Tho Savoyards have been noted
in times past for their bigotry, ignorance
and q certain Haipe.ie and Simplicity OF
character. Since the constitution of Carlo
Albert, Savoy and tho Savoyards arc much
changed. Railways arc pushing through
tho lips; tho tclegraphic wiros stretch over
once inaccessible mountain passes tho press
free. unless in times of war, has had a
widor influence. because ten years of q
better system of education has prepared The
way FOR its ameiora,ing mission.
The Country of Nice is very small por.
ton Of tho Kingdom OF Sardinia, compre.
hended between the maritime Alps and the
Mediterranean, and between the rivers Var
and Andovcr. It is but little largcr than
the State o. Rhode Island, and has 25O, ,0OC
inhabitants.
Sheltered as it is by tho maritime Alps on
the north and east,it enjoys climate almost
like that of Naples. Its chief city, Nizza. or
Nice, is tho great resort of wealthy English
men, Russsrs, Americans aud Germans,
who 90 thither in winter to seek refuge
from the cold blasts of tho North. There
are vast hotels and boarding houses, con-
tainlng moro comfort and elegance than
similar establishments in other parts OF
Italy and also gardens, where the rose and
tho myrtle bloom by tho side of the lemon
and orange.
Tho river Var, the present limit between
Nice and France, is neither a now boun
Diary, nor was it decided upon since the
Christian Era. The river Var was fixed il
the first tiuie of tho Roman Emperor Au
gustus, as tho boundary OF Italy on IhC
North. AS VIC mentioned in former arti
clio, Nice and Savoy have both been parts o
the French Republic. and whom the FrencI
Republic was proclaimed in lS48. there wnl
an immediate overture made for the annex
alton of this portion of the ancient House o
Savoy; but Charles Albert rejected will
promptitude the suggestions of the poetic
statesman Lamartinc.