which it has been very deficient; the pencil has never fhone in the hand of an excellent painter, nor the chiffel mimick'd life in that of a sculptor, who have been natives of this kingdom; and tho' perhaps amongst the ancient Romans there were none truly excellent in either of those arts, who were born Italians, yet the revival of letters and genius in Tuscany, has given birth to mafters in each way, which have excell'd all the modern world, and rival'd Ere the old.

MUSIC too has received its powers, and honors from the Italian genius, and no European nation has been the parent of artists in this study, who have merited any comparison with the musicians of Italy.

In this fcience alfo England has yet produced no great mafter, tho' at prefent the na tives are much advanced in the true taste and knowledge of mufic.

THAT the church has fpread her influence more or less over all the world, from the chair which receives our fovereign pontiff, is a truth which will admit of no difpute,

OF

OF what nation then could a man be born, where so much honor could be drawn from his place of nativity, as from the land of Italy; and tho' the English reproach us with the name of flaves, let them fupport their freedom as long as we did ours, and then we will allow them the merit of preserving that liberty which they affume. I have often reflected on the different conquests, which have been made by Italians over the face of Europe; we firft conquer'd the valour of all mankind by arms, then the understanding by letters; to which, and to our language, all Europe has been fubdued; the foul was fubmitted to religious influence, from the fee of Rome; the mufic, painting, and fculpture of Italy have obtain'd homage from all the nations of Europe: what is yet more fingular than all the other phænomena, fcience and letters have twice risen to their zenith in that land.

WHAT is there in nature in that spot which at different times imparted to man thefe excellencies, a thing unknown to any other nation upon the globe?

THE very remains of ancient Rome are a delight, which can never take place in this country; for, tho' buildings may tumble into duft in all nations, what land can boast to have produced fuch illuftrious inhabitants, whofe characters are constantly annex'd to the ruins of Rome? I am fufpicious the British fenate, fo fond of being thought to resemble the Roman, has produced no beings which can in any sense compare with those of ancient Rome. Where fhall we find a Brutus, Scævola, Fabricius, Regulus, Decii, Scipios, and Ciceros, in the lift of those who have fill'd the English fenatehoufe; will fir Thomas More answer to them all?

MITHINKS, a nation fettled into arbitrary power, is preferable to one which is breaking into that ftate, as a fterile land is preferable to a tempeftuous ocean.

THE moments which pafs in those deftructive times, are terrible to the inhabitants of thofe countries where they happen, I shall there

fore

fore as foon as poffible quit this island, before this Sampfon of a minifter în blindness, and mere brutal strength, pulls down the pillars of the conftitutions and buries himself and his fellow-fubjects beneath its ruins.

WHEN this calamity has happen'd, will there then remain the founds of dulcet har

LM mony, to foothe their diftrefs; the charms of painting and fculpture to fafcinate the mind, and withhold it from reflecting on its loft condition, as in the city where I drew my firft breath?

THE poor, poor, and and rich if any remain, will they then have that enthufiafm which warms the heart of penury in acts of devotion, that fpreads itself tho all Italy, will their distress awake their vows to heaven, and their fufferings recall the banish'd comfort of religion?

I FEAR, alas! it will not be prudent to remain. here; let me retire like the ftork, to other realms, before the everlasting winter of this land arrives. Expect me in Italy, and receive, me as ind

Minit fade in only ponied Your most devated and bumble ferpant LET

LETTER XLVII.

To the Reverend Father DOMINICO

I

MANZONI, at Rome.

Dear Sir,

MAKE no doubt of your having read the fiécle de Lovis quatorze, written by Monfr. de Voltaire, and being pleafed with his manner of recounting all that is neceffary in a reign to be known by men of true understanding, and just taste.

AMONGST other things, I could not avoid obferving two which relate to England; one of which does this nation much honor, and the other is by no means true.

THE firft is, what he fays relating to Henrietta, fifter of Charles the fecond; whom, after having given her the description and praise fhe merited, he affigns as the perfon who introduced taste and politeness amongst the women of Paris; beings who at that time, according to the picture which he has given of them, at the coming of the ΤΙ

queen