Connecticut western news., 1874-03-27

THE GRAND DUKE ALEXIS BooK.-Tb, second volume of this superb book perban, the most magnificent that was ever issued from the Russian press, opens with gen , eral criticism of American institutions ant
 popular manners. It is refreshing to heal
 what an imperial prince has to say about
 the former. He believes that the soil of
 America naturally was destined for repub
 ,ican institutions There is an astonishing
 self-reliance about Americans, he writes,
 not without genuine enthusiasm and this,
 to the most casual observer, together with
 their wonderful, unparalleled information
 of the general principles of governr ent,
 accounts for their fitness for republican
 institutions The smallest school boy in
 the United States knows the names of the
 eminent Presidents of his country. No
 one can convince anybody that General Washington was not the noblest man ever
 placed at the head of any nation. Oftheir
 war with Mexico they are very proud, as
 well they may be, according to my opin-
 ion; for they routed large Mexican armies,
 well armed and intrepldly commanded, with mere handfuls of soldiers. was re-
 luctant to converse much on the recent civil
 war, as still found considerable feeling on
 either side; and l principally conversed
 with some intimate military friends on the
 great events in which they bore conspic-
 uous parts. Nothing could be more touch
 n bri1 xIo which these true heroes gave of exploits
 which the ancients would have immortal
 lzed in tablets of bronze. The infantry of America seems to suffer from some of the defects of the French too much elan and too much independence of the privates-still, very admirable material, But did not know why they were uni | formed in so unattractiYe amanner. Some ot the militia regiments in New York, and even in the West look prouder and nicer than the regular troops of the line. The artillery is we'll armed, although some of the guns l saw scene ed to have just issued from protracted campaign. The cavalry is splendidly mounted, and, from what | SN"3 The courts of the United States, it seems | to the Grand Duke Alexis, lack the solem- nifty which surrounds those of Great Britain | and other European countries. This he | writes, is the more singular, as the people | take the utmost interest in judicial proceed. ings, both criminal and civil. At first blush l it almost might seem as though nearly all | intelligent men in the country were law. yers, so well are they informed concerning the rudiments of the laws. Besides, they are born orators their fluency of speech has oftentimes excited my utmost suprise.'
 DISCOVERIES IN SIoILY.-The Journal 6es De6dts publishes an account of recent dis coveries made by an Italian, Signor Antonio Profeta- -Ranfaldi, among the ruins of the celebrated City of Erbita, near Aidone, Providence of Catania, ill Sicily, which was destroyed in the year 500. The most recent discoveries have been made in the small sepulchres which were in use among 'he Etruseans. Early in January last 'arcophagus, constructed without cement W oS ohSoIC IClSus AulS GOluO WAS COmpOSeQ | of hewn sandstone taken from the island luarries. Among its contents were the customary urns, lamps, amulets, arms, or 1amented vases of different sizes and stat lettes representing the gods or heroes, all manufactured of baked clay. Upon some { of the larger vases was the device of the otos, the symbol of the Lotophagi, who 2 lwelt in Sicily at a very remote period md among the ornamental vases found in other sepulchres some presented fragments of masks, invented, according to Homer, y Thespis, but more probably by the Egyp
 ans. Among other objects found were lies, bronze nails small knives, gold rings, pieces of money, and two well preserved
 kulls which were discovered among a lumber of bones which indicated that the I ! ace to which they belonged possessed powerful muscular development. These n 'ones, &c., will be sent to the eminent Pro- essor Mantegazza, in order that he may t determine the type of men who have lived n the island at different epochs. The
 cemetery is nearly a mile square, and the i of the site of Erbita have only
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