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more sensitive, they require good educa- | drag down her brother instead of raising tion for their guidance even more than him. they.

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"Has he anything to tell me about Walter Scrope?" said May to herself as she put a bunch of late roses into a vase for her father's room. He scarcely knew one flower from another, but he liked the feeling of care implied by the act, and the sense of art and love of colour were gratified; it pleases the eye and varies the thought of the sick even when they are unconscious of it. Presently she heard Tom's rapid stride, and he had taken hold of her arm almost before she had got down the garden steps.

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I found the Longmores staying at Stapleton, May," said he.

"So you told us," she answered rather wearily. "I believe they have felt Mr. Drayton's death very much, but they really do- Before, however, she could finish her sentence Tom went on

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"I'm sure I care for nothing but your happiness, Tom, and if she makes it, I shall be glad with all my heart. But it was a little sudden. I was rather startled. We had always talked of living together,” said she, with an anxious attempt at a smile.

"Well," cried Tom impatiently, in a somewhat aggrieved tone," and so we shall; and a great deal happier you will be with such a companion and friend. You wouldn't have liked at all to be tied always to me; besides I don't want you to be an old maid."

And the excellent Tom had almost persuaded himself, as he spoke, that he was marrying at a great personal sacrifice purely for the advantage of giving his sister a home.

"Tell me about it, dear," said May more cheerfully, pressing his arm and feeling that she had received the communication

a little ungraciously. "How did it all happen?"

She had always sincerely believed herself to be anxious for her brother's marriage, but somehow it is one of those things, charming in the abstract, which in the concrete are pretty nearly always, with the best intentions, sure to be a little distasteful and ill-timed.

....

till

His share of the performance was soon told, and May guessed the remainder pretty accurately. Mrs. Longmore had inquired tenderly after her "beloved brother's loved parish;" Sophia had followed it up more delicately. How did the dear little ones in the infant school go on, and how was old Betty Martin's bad leg? What a charming spot the Rectory was! Sophia did not believe that there was a more perfect place in England than her dear uncle's garden and lawn; and then she sighed, and said that she had not seen it since poor Tom, bewildered by his sudden conscientious conviction that the "dear little children" had been a good deal neglected since May was so much confined to her father's room, and knowing how much he was bored by Betty Martin's elaborate description of her woes, touched by the sadness depicted in the fair Peri's face shut outside her paradise, suddenly made up his mind, slept on it characteristically with his sensible temper, in order not to feel in too great a hurry - with the cautious manner some men have of doing rash things - eat his breakfast on it, proposed, and was rapturously accepted on the garden steps next morning before he started home.

"My darling child was born for a parish | tions were of the most voluminous and priestess," said Mrs. Longmore with a sob gushing kind on this occasion.

of delight; "and her uncle having left us his fortune, seems to make it so appropriate for her to live and do good in his own beloved parish; and my brother-in-law, the canon, has always said that there was no one better fitted interesting duties connected..." Mrs Longmore's emo

But I don't mean to marry her into the bargain, May, you may be very sure," said Tom one day in a sudden fit of decision.

May smiled her answer; it is more convenient when assent is all that is required, and you have not a very confident one to give.

ENGLISH malcontents, like those who sing the that of Austria or Russia. The representative "Marseillaise" in Trafalgar-Square, and are franchise may be more extended, property may greatly excited by the establishment of a Repub- be more equally divided, in one State than in lican Government in France, would do well to the other; but the principal difference in the clearly ascertain what are their real grievances. construction of the sovereign power is that in Do they lie in the form of government at pres-one State the chief is determined by election, in ent existing, or in the shortcomings of those the other by inheritance; that in one State the who hold government? If we look to the sani- office lasts for life, in the other only for a limtary condition and to the dwelling-houses of the ited time. Yet Austria, Russia and England poorer classes, to the adulteration of their food, are generally classed together as monarchies, to the tyranny and jobbery of local authorities, and together opposed to the United States as a all arising from the muddle of our domestic leg- republic. Monarchical institutions in a limited islation, we can well understand their dissatis- monarchy are also frequently opposed to repubfaction with their rulers; but if they are excited lican institutions, and the two are considered as against the form of our government, it may be incompatible. If at the Revolution the name of because they are led away by political terms the King of England as well as his power had applied without distinction to Governments dif- been changed, but he had nevertheless exerfering from each other very much indeed. It cised precisely the same influence in the constiis, perhaps, unfortunate, remarked the late tution as the Crown has exercised since that Sir George Lewis, that usage had sanctioned the time, the Government would have been called extension of the term monarchy to all States in republican, instead of monarchical, although which a king is chief-in other words, has the only difference would have been in the name identified monarchy with royalty; for, as the of the first person in the State. The professional mind, even of the most careful, is insensibly in- agitator of course will not take the trouble to fluenced by words, the idea is naturally sug- learn these things; they are worth consideration gested that there is a greater affinity between a nevertheless. commonwealth with a king and a genuine monarchy than between a commonwealth with a king and a commonwealth with a chief elected for a term of years. The difference between a State in which one person has the whole sovereignty and a State in which the legislative sovereignty is shared among a large number, of whom many are chosen by popular election, is immense. The maxims and acts of the two Governments and their influence on the community must be most dissimilar. But when we compare a Royal commonwealth with a commonwealth not Royal (or, in common language, a limited monarchy with a republic) the principal difference is that in one the chief is hereditary and for life, in the other elective, either for life or for a term of years. It is not that the forms of government differ greatly, or the powers of a king, and of a president, doge, or stadtholder; but the manner in which those powers are acquired, and the time for which they endure. For instance, the Government of England resembles that of the United States of America (barring the differences caused by the nature of a federal union) far more nearly than

Pall Mall Gazette.

THIS is said to be an age in which people are exceedingly averse from taking responsibility. Perhaps this statement is an exaggeration. Probably in all ages people were very much averse from taking responsibility. But still this aversion is likely to be greater in a thoughtful period, when men have found out how much there is to be said for every side of a question.

How comes it, then, that the fear of responsibility seems to have so little influence in restraining men from repeating injurious reports of others, for which they have really no ground but hearsay? Perhaps it would not be too much to say, that for one person in ten who would not invent a calumny, or knowingly add to it, there is not one in ten thousand who would hesitate to repeat it, without having the slightest real knowledge of the matter - not appreciating the responsibility they are thereby taking upon themselves. Arthur Helps.

From Temple Bar. THE BATTLE OF LEGNANO, A.D. 1176.

BY SIR EDWARD CREASY.

the question of how far Italy is naturally adapted for being the country of a strong united nation; and also on the question of which of her cities is best adapted for

try. Napoleon points out that the great defect in the geographical configuration of Italy consists in her length being too great in proportion to her breadth. This, in his judgment, has been a main cause of the calamities which she has endured, and of the subdivision of that beautiful country into a great number of weak states. He shows that a remedy for this evil may be found by Italy, if she devotes especial attention to her maritime resources, and makes herself a great naval

"THE Phoenix is a fable; but the resur-being made the capital of the whole counrection of a people may be a reality." So in our own time wrote Guerazzo, one of those fervid Italian patriots, whom it was the fashion to listen to with praises for their eloquence, and with a secret smile at their visionary enthusiasm. Such, indeed, has been the manner, in which the world has regarded aspirations for the independence and the greatness of Italy, from the days of Rienzi and Petrarch down to those of Alfieri, Carlo Botta, and Monti. But now before our own eyes, those aspirations have been accomplished. The vision of power. In his deliberate opinion, notwithfour centuries has become a reality. There is a free and united Italy, complete in her independence and in her integrity; save that her old capital has not yet become her heart's core. But we know that this consummation can be no longer delayed. Even in this present month is ending the monstrous anomaly of Rome isolated in sacerdotal servitude under French patronage, while all else, from the Alps to Tarentum, is self-governed and free. Certainly, before a few months, probably before a few weeks, possibly before a few days have passed away, Rome and Romagna will be Italian and not Papal, so far at least as re-advantageous a manner as the Italian pengards temporal dominion.

Even while deprived of her true capital, and while the natural centre of her national life has been clogged by anile pontifical despotism and foreign military force, the young kingdom of Italy has assumed and maintained a position of dignity and importance among the states of civilized Europe. If we predict for new Italy, when perfected and matured, a continuance and an increase of prosperity and power, we may do so on the authority not merely of enthusiasts and poets, who are apt "to mistake memories for hopes," but on the reasonings and calculations furnished by one who detested "Idéologues of every kind; and who was always most austerely practical when estimating the elements of political and military strength. This was the Emperor Napoleon, -Napoleon I., as he has been termed during the last twenty years, Napoleon, the Napoleon, as his name will be emphasized for ages to come. In the Memoirs dictated by him at St. Helena, the narrative of his campaigns in Italy is prefaced by clear and full descriptions of the geography of the scenes of action: and, while giving those descriptions, the ex-Emperor entered into

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standing the distinction that may be found between the north and south, Italy is essentially one sole nation. "The unity of manners, of language, of literature, must at some time-which sooner or later will arrive, reunite finally all her inhabitants under one government." A primary condition for the continued existence of that government will be that it shall become a maritime power, so as to maintain "its supremacy over the adjacent islands, and to defend its coasts." He adds in another passage the observation that-"No other part of Europe is situated in so

insula for becoming a great maritime power." He points out the large amount of the sea-board of Italy and her islands, among which he justly classes Corsica and Sardinia, as well as Sicily. He dilates on the excellence of her numerous harbours, among which he specifies Genoa, Spezia, Naples, Palermo, Tarentum, and Venice. Of these, Spezia ‡ should be her great war harbour for commanding the Ligurian seas; Tarentum for commanding Sicily, Greece, the Levant, and the coasts of Syria and Egypt.§

On the question of which city ought to be made the capital of the expected king

See, in Commentaires de Napoleon Premier, Tome i., p. 126 (Imperial edition of 1868) the sixth section of the "Description d'Italie.'

"L'Italie est une seule nation. L'unite de

mœurs, de langage, de litterature, doit, dans un tans sous un seul gouvernement. Pour exister, la avenir plus ou moins eloigne, reunir enfin ses habipremiere condition de cette monarchie sera d'etre puissance maritime, afin de maintenir la suprematie sur ses isles et de defendre ses cotes." Napoleon's Commentaires, Tome i., p. 127.

"La Spezia est le plus beau port de l'univers; sa rade est meme superfeure a celle de Toulon: sa defense par terre et par mer est facile."- Ibid, p. 130.

$"Tarente est merveilleusement situee pour dominer la Sicile, la Grece, le Levant, et les cotes d'Egypte, et de Syrie."- Ibid, p. 131.

dom of united Italy, Napoleon considers | Vasco de Gama took away; and the Italthe rival claims of Venice and of Rome, ians, if they are wise, will have most and decides in favour of the ancient Im- reason of all European nations, to hail perial city. He gives it as his opinion that "Rome is incontestably the capital which the Italians will one day choose."* That "one day" will probably have arrived before the words, which I copy, meet the reader's eye.

with gratitude the results of the genius and perseverance of the great FrancoEgyptian engineer.

No sane man expects that the world will ever see again a conquering and ambitiously aggressive Italy, such as she was, The advantages, which Italy possesses when the old Roman legions subdued and for becoming a great maritime power, have crushed all the once independent nations, been greatly increased since the time whose homes were around or near to the when Napoleon wrote his Commentaries. coasts of the Mediterranean Sea. What The opening of the Suez Canal will soon we hope to behold, is an Italy with the cause the greater part of the commerce civilization, the wealth, the splendour in between the Far East and Europe to re- art and science, the agricultural and comsume its ancient course up the Red Sea mercial prosperity, which some of her and across Egypt to the ports of the Medi- States attained four centuries ago; and terranean. The Italian Peninsula, which which, in the judgment of nearly the highstretches down from the mass of the conti- est modern authority, have scarcely ever nent of Europe across the centre of the or anywhere been surpassed or even Mediterranean, has the best possible geo- equalled. We wish the peaceful glories graphical position for becoming the chief of Medieval Italy to be restored, with the depôt of that commerce. Oriental trade addition of a strong central government, was, in fact, the main source of the wealth beneath which her combined resources and the naval renown of Venice, Genoa, shall be secure against attacks from either and the other maritime Italian States of Gaul or Germany, and which shall prevent the Middle Ages, before the voyages, which the growth of the civil wars and dissenthe Portuguese made round the Cape of sions which were the bane of the Italian Good Hope to India. The old line of Republics of the Middle Ages. Long as traffic across part of Egypt or Asia was those free States have fallen, deeply as necessarily a mixed system, in which land their populations have been down-trodden, carriage as well as water carriage was em- it is still to them that the possibility of a ployed. That mixed overland system of great Modern Italy is due. They, during commerce could not compete with the the centuries in which they flourished, line of traffic opened by the Portuguese, exercised an influence on the progress of in which cargoes were taken by the sea the human race which is imperishable. and in the same vessels from one terminus This brilliant period of Italian freedom of the whole journey to the other. The commenced with the successful resistance trade with the south-eastern parts of the which the Lombard free cities made to the world passed accordingly from the hands arms of the Emperor Frederick Barof Italian mariners and merchants to those barossa, when they defeated him at Leof the adventurers of Lisbon, and subse- gnano in 1176. It closes with the capituquently to those of the Dutch and the lation of Florence to the army of the English, who, after the Portuguese, applied Emperor Charles V. in 1530.† themselves to commercial navigation round Africa to India. But now the old direct

line is open by water from beginning to end. Merchant ships are already beginning to crowd along the Suez Canal to and from the chief ports, not only of the Indian and Chinese, but also of the Australian territories. A truly golden opportunity is offered to the new Italian kingdom for reviving commercial wealth and naval strength, in a degree tenfold greater than Venice, Genoa, and Pisa ever possessed them in the days of their very palmiest splendour. Lesseps has restored what

"Rome est, sans contredit, la capitale, que les Italiens choisiront un jour." -Napoleon's Commentaires, Tome i., p. 129.

The recollections of it have been imper

our own excepted, has even at the present time,
"We doubt whether any country of Europe,
reached so high a point of wealth and civilization
as some parts of Italy had attained four centuries
Macaulay's "Essay on Machiavelli."
agin
↑ Sismondi thus epitomizes the growth, the
splendour, and the decline of the Free Italian Na-
tion of the Middle Ages:-"Les dix premiers siec-
les qui s'ecoulerent depuis le renversement de l'Em-
pire d'occident, preparerent, par la melange des peu
ples barbares avec les peuples degeneres de l'Italie
Dans le douzieme siecle cette nation conquit sa lib-
la nation nouvelle qui devoit succeder aux Romains
erte; elle en jouit dans le treizieme et le quatorzieme
en y joignant tous les triomphes des vertus, des ta-
lens, des arts, de la philosophie et du gout; elle la
laissa se corrompre dans le quinzieme, et elle perdit
en meme temps son ancienne vigueur. Pres d'un
demi-siecle d'une guerre effroyable detruisit alors sa
prosperite, aneantit ses moyens de defense, et lui ra-
vit entin son independance."

ishable among the Italians, and have kept | They, in most cases, obtained charters or alive those qualities, which Byron pointed pledges, by which their titular sovereigns out as their national characteristics, when were bound to take up their abode, not he wrote of them that "the man must be within the city walls, but in palaces prowilfully blind or ignorantly heedless, who vided for them outside the fortifications. is not struck with the extraordinary ca- The increase of population and of wealth pacity of this people, or, if such a word is in these civic commonwealths was rapid admissible, their capabilities, the rapidity and continuous. They acquired full doof their conceptions, the fire of their gen- minion over the territories near them; ius, their sense of beauty; and amidst all they subdued the feudal baronage; and the disadvantages of repeated revolutions, they compelled the nobles to become the desolation of battles, and despair of members of the civic communities, and to ages, their still unquenched 'longing after reside for at least a specified part of the immortality,' the immortality of independ-year within the walls. While the aristoc

ence.

racy was thus brought down to the midThis last mentioned quality is even a dle-class level, much was done to raise the better guerdon for the revival of their na- mass of the population to a better positional greatness, than the unity of man- tion, than was enjoyed by the lower orders ners, language, and literature, on which in other parts of medieval Europe. SlavNapoleon relied, when he foretold the con- ery and serfdom were practically, though solidation of Italy and her elevation to the not formally, abolished by the Italian rank of an important European power. commonwealths, both within the towns, And it was this same longing for inde- and among the rural populations of the pendence which caused the first formation circumjacent territories. The peasantry of the medieval Lombard and Tuscan generally tilled the land on what is termed commonwealths, and which inspired their the Metayer system, under which the glorious resistance to the frequent at- cultivator and the landowner divide the tempts made by the German Emperors to produce of the soil iu agreed propor

reduce them to servitude.

tions. Within the towns manufactures The cities of Northern Italy had emerged flourished; and the artizans, by whose gradually, during the eleventh century, skilled labour the wealth of the Statewas from the subjection, in which they had principally created, were not only allowed been held by Otho the Great, and his two to carry arms, but were carefully trained imperial successors of the same name. to the use of them; and they exercised all The holy Roman Empire had fallen, after political rights, as freely and as fully as the death of Otho III., into confusion and the greatest merchants and capitalists. comparative weakness. Its chiefs found Literature and the fine arts were cultivated full occupation in the wars and rebellions, by many, and were honoured by all. that broke out northward of the Alps, and Public works of utility and ornament were in their long-continued disputes with the undertaken and executed in a lofty and Papacy. The Lombard cities were left liberal spirit; such as at a later time was generally to themselves; and, though shown and nobly expressed by the people they did not openly and avowedly re- of Florence, who, when they determined nounce the sovereignty of the Emperor, to replace their old church of Santa they became, in practice, self-governed Reparata with a new cathedral, ordered States. They chose their own magis- that the work should be executed with trates; they raised and officered their ". supreme and free-handed magnificence." own militia; they voted their own taxes; The decree states that the utmost grandeur they administered their own revenue; they and beauty shall be aimed at, because sent ambassadors to other States; they made treaties; they formed leagues, and waged wars, as they thought fit. One great object with them all was to get released from their liability to receive the Emperor and his troops within their walls when he visited Italy. So long as the Emperor retained, and from time to time exercised, the right of thus taking armed occupation, the citizens felt that they had no secure possession of their liberties.

This passage is near the end of the Dedication of the Fourth Canto of" Childe Harold."

"The most judicious in this city have pronounced the opinion, in public and in private conferences, that no work of the Commonwealth should be undertaken, unless the design be to make it correspond with a heart, which is of the greatest nature, because composed of the spirit of many citizens united together in one single will."

The dark side of this brilliant picture of

Cicognari, Storia della Sculture, 11, 147, cited in the note to Mr. Norton's translation of the Vita Nuova of Dante.

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