The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-14
THE REDISCOVERY OF DANrL,s
REMAINS AT RAVENNA,

my search for the document that has furnished
materials for this article. They illustrate in a
very remarkable manner the interest taken in
literary and archaeological matters in the new
capital of Italy.
Having heard in England that Commission
had been appointed by the Italian Government
last year to inquire and report upon Dante's
tomb at Ravenna, the extraordinary redis-
covery of the poets remains, and their condition
shortly after my arrival in Florence at the be-
ginning of last winter, 1 made inquiries re-
specting the labors of the Commissioners, and
especially for their report, which incidentally
heard had been presented to the Italian Gov.
ernment and ordered to be printed.
Although my inquiries did not at first lead
10 any information whatever on the subject /
naturally supposed that had not gone TO the
proper quarters, though it might be reasonably
apprehended that every person in Florence, Of
even moderate education, would be more or
less acquainted with the lsbors and results of
such commission as this. But when applications
to gentlemen holding high official appointments
including the secretary OF the municipality OF
Florence, were equally fruitless, | confess that
my astonishment became as great as my dsap-
pontment, for not only did l fail IN seeing a
copy of the report, but could gam no fnteli-
gence whatever respecting its existence.
As matter OF course, expected to find the
document in NleussieuXs extensive and excel
lent library; but it was not there nor did COPY
i,
more generally called, National Library.
Itwould probably weary the reader were / to
relate all the incidents connected with my
search for this report. Enough, however, has
been said to show that intellectual activity
among the Florentines is still at a very low ebb,
and that though the printing presses in their
city have greatly increased In number, and
there doubtless are many signs that life's pulses
are beating quickly at this cent1e of the penin-
sula, the causes are more allied to politics than
TO art or literature.
AT length / received apparently authentic
Information that the object OF my search existed
in the Department OF the Minister Of Public In
struction. Acting on this, procured letter to
the Secretary. but this gentleman was at Turin
with his chief a not uncommon answer, blythe
way given you at present in Florence, the
official links between that CITY and Turin not
being yet wholly severely, and his deputy had
gone to breaklast-it was IL O'Clock. second
and third visit we're equally unsuccessful: the
secretary was still absent, and there was no
person attached to mis- department who could
give me any information.
Such was the condition of affairs, when. on
the occasion of my fourth visit, the secretary
and chief being still at Turin, made my wants
known to the porter who had answered my in
quiries, and whose intelligence was evidently of
no common order. Apprlsed of these, he pro-
ceeded to inform me that he thought there was
gentleman in an office on the upper floor of
the cidevant convent, who might be able to give
me precise Information. Accordingly, furnished
with mis- name, after having threaded several
labyr1nthlne passages, discovered his office.
teously, and after some delay-for he was not
quite sure where copies of the reports were to be
tound-klndly placed one in my hands.
Those who have been engaged in long hunt
for rare book, which has resulted ia finding it
on perhaps a small book-stall in an obscure
alley will best appreciate the delight that felt
when became possessed of the document, a
translation OF the principal portion of which is
subjoined. And, If my readers share my
opinion respecting it's great interest, they will
agree with me that it is most extraordinary that
n
IN Florence, at least by the educated class
among whom my inquiries were made. We
might almost be disposed to believe that
ByTon's lines
Ungrateful Florence! Dante sleeps afar,
Like Scipio, buried by the upbraidlng shore,
are still applicable to the citizens of this poets
native town. For what boots it erecting 8
colossal monumental statue of the Immortal
author of the "DlVlna Commedia" if they are
entirely ignorant of facts which should stI
them deeply.
AS my little history may entail criticism, it i;
right to add that, although the report bears the
date of the 18th of June, 1866, it was not printed
until the autumn OF last year, and, moreover
that it has not passed through a publishers
hands
Let us now turn to the report itself. It i.
preceded by the following preface: Referring
to the solemn and almost miraculous re
discovery of the remains of Dante on thu
9th May, 1865, the Minister of Public Instruc
tion, by command of his Majesty the King O
Italy, declares and appoints Commentators
Conte Giovanni Gozzadini, Conte Zasponi, Syndi,
of Ravenna Commentators Vanucci, Commen
datOre Professor Giulana, Cavaliere Professor
Paganuccl, Conte Cappi, Librarian of the Publ
Library of Ravenna, to be his Majesty's Com
missioners, and turtner appoints Conte Gozza
DIM President. These are to act in concert will
the municipality of the city of Ravenna, whicl
was loving mother to the Alighieri family il
time of trouble. And they are, moreover
hereby desired to draw up report Of thei
labors, preceded by copy OF their Officia
instructions"
'tEastStotioqs to the Commissioners appointed {
Inquire Into and Verify the Facts Relating
the RedtscooeTy of the Bones of Dante.
ITO collect, as far as possible, all information
whether written or traditional, relating to tn
sepulchre of Dante, and to the incidents cor
nected with the burial or removal of his rC
mains between the years 1921 and 1877, inclusive
ITO ascertain whether the bones of Dant
were removed in 1877 from the sepulchre i
which they were placed by the Frati Minor
and ii so, to discover the locality to which the
were conveyed.
ITO examine the wooden chest in the BracciC
forte sepulchral chapel, said TO contain th
bones of Dante, particularly for the purpose
ascertaining whether the chest bears any mark
by which il may be referred to the year 1877, o
TO any other year.
'gIo ascertain, as far as possible, whether tn
human bones in the above chest are such a
might have belonged to a man who ceased
live at the age when Dante died, and to e.
anime with great minuteness the Uranium, an
compare it with the cast taken from the mas
of Dante beQueathed by the MARQUIS TorrigiaI
to Florence, and preserved In the Regal Uh
Gallery. .
'OThe Commissioners are, moreover, invite
10 En I'M