Year: 1876

consisted in the fact that ia December last tile Gov
ornmeut made an advance to the Triuacria OF five
million francs-in December last, and the failure
took place in January. The Ministry did not make
this advance without the authority Of the Chamber.
A law was passed TO that effect the Ministry were
empowered to advance the money II inquiry should
show that the financial condition OF the Company
was sound and on condition that sufficient material
guarantees were given for the amount. The Gov
eminent did make inquiry of the Chamber OF Com
merce Of Palermo, and was assured by that body
that the condition Of the Trinacria Company was
perfectly satisfactory They also, according to the
terms of the act which was voted by the Chamber
took a mortgage for their five millions on the ships
belonging to the Company. But it is now stated
that the vessels in question could not be sold
for nearly the sum advanced and on the other hand
il is doubted whether the best mode OF ascertalnng
the position of the Company to inquire OF body
of gentlemen who are probably all more or less di-
rectly interested in the enterprise in question: The
Bank Of Sicily has been hit very hard by the failure
10 the extent il is believed, OF some six or seven
million francs. And it cannot be doubted that 1t
would have been great object with every CONNER
cial man in Palermo, and almost, one might say, in
Sicily to staye of the bankruptcy But in any case,
where, il is asked, can these millions have gone
And echo, rumbling in the empty Golfers, answers,
where indeedp Meanwhile ugly reports are fly
ing about as 10 sums paid to promoters out OF the
money the Government has been deluded into hand
ing over to the Company. There is a very general
outcry for Parliamentary inquiry, and no dOnbt
there will be one. But il does not at all follow that
the real truth Of the matter will reach the ears
of the profanum rllgus, especially since members on
the Left, Signor Nicotcra especially, were urgent
with tie Government 10 consent to the advancing
Of the money.


The Committee Of Inquiry appointed last Autumn
TO proceed TO Sicily there to investigate the causes
of tle lawlessncss Of tho island and the terrible
prevalence of tho Malta" has Just completed its
task and returned TO Rome. On this subject also the
public are expecting revolutions" though think
there can be very little to tell than we already
know from the many rcyelation-mongers who have
already spoken. We knew all about il before the
Committee started on its disagrecabie expedition.
But here as elsewhere information is not always the
object of q Parliamentary inquiry.


To these small matters of trouble and dmculty
the great matter of the purchase Of the railroads by
the State has to be added Day by day the opinion
gains ground that the Cabinet will not be able to
carry their measure. And if that be the case we
must have Ministerial crisis With what RESULT
Who are to be the "ins - when the present men are
out :" In reply TO that question win only quote
the answer which heard made TO a similar question
the other day BY an old and practiccd politician
here Italian Ministries" hc said, "are like
POpes at least in this respect, that until the breath
is fairly ont Of their body no human being can pred
icate anything as 10 their successors"


NJ John ROn Tilton will probably send couple
of large landscapes TO the proposed exhibition at
Boston of pictures, which, as l understand
il. is intended subsequently to pass on to
the Centennial at Philadelphia. l hope
that nothing will interfere with this purpose,
for the two pictures in question are among the


finest fnOt the finest works nc has painted. One
is n truly magnificent view Of Rome at sunset. The
point Of view is a hgi ground Oh the Ayentine,
which commands the perspective Of the river, with
It's various bridges. In the immediate foreground
there are couple OF CapUchin frars, who are stand
ing on Bit of old mosaic payement SOME very care
f,illy painted store pines and fragments of Roman
ruins | never saw picture which expresses SO
successfully The peculiar sentiment and tone OF feel
ing which Rome has special property Of giving rise
30 in the mind. 1t is "A work which must have cost
an immense amount Of labor, so rich is it IN
accurately studied details. The other companion
picture is in every respect marked contrast to
the view Of Rome could wei! be conceived. 1t ~
a view of TOTcelO, the ruined city standing ont
amid he sand banks and dcsOlatiOn of the iagOons
some laile or t0o from Venice, which is III thc
distance. All who have read Ruskn viii recollect
his enthusiastic description of this scene. or this
picture also, painted with wonderful knowledge
Of ,ic elects and specaitics OF plain-disaLoc ana
pheTc perspective, II may truly be sIid tat Il
Is poem. i. i, IbOLLoPE'