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the three estates recognised by the new Italian republic, holds its sittings here. It seems an inconvenient situation for the members, being not far distant from the frontiers, but imagine it was a compliment politically paid to this valuable acquisition. The Bolognese have been remarkable during the war, for their attachment to the democratic cause. Leaving this city, we rose immediately from the level into the Appennine Mountains, in which I may say we were enveloped all the way to Florence. The greater part of these little Alps is uncultivated, but frequently picturesque. As you approach Florence, within twenty or even thirty miles, you enter upon the olive plantations; still as you draw nearer, the cultivation becomes more and more beautiful, until you find the neighbourhood itself, a perfect garden. Every aspect of the little mountains is friendly to congenial fruits. The vine, the olive, the fig, and the mulberry, emulate each other to adorn this paradise. The country round Florence, is "the land flowing with oil and honey." Our intention was to have passed without delay, directly from Florence to Naples, but the impatience of curiosity would not permit us to leave Rome, without viewing those stupendous monuments of human genius and exertion, the pantheon, amphitheatre, and St. Peter's. I know not whether our eagerness was allayed or heightened by this first glance, such is the beauty, proportion, and grandeur of those masterpieces of architecture, but a cursory view was all we could suffer ourselves then to enjoy, and we immediately set out for Naples, where we arrived the 20th of March.

Notwithstanding the importance the French government now stamps on Paris; the delightful situation of Lyons, the compact regularity of Turin, the majestic beauties of Florence, or the modern elegances and sublime ruins of Rome, no town had presented to our notice such an interest as Naples. The first object that claims attention, is the crowded population in all the principal streets. A stranger on entering the city would naturally suppose it a day of great public rejoicing; on our enquiry what drew together such mul‹ titudes of idle people, we were told, that the streets were always as thickly thronged in fine weather. I can give no better idea of their numbers than by comparing the whole width of the street with the foot pavements of Cheapside, with this difference, that they are not in such a busy, bustling state, many groups are standing, in a conversation circle, some (Lazzaroni) are lying under the walls of the houses at cards; stationary beggars are very numerous; parties are sitting before the doors of coffee-rooms, taking ices or waters; but we observed that no newspapers were permitted to be there: nine-tenths of the people in the streets are men. The women pass much of their time in the balconies, which are in the front of almost every window. The press of people in the grand square, and in the Toledo-street, is exceedingly inconvenient. Whenever a carriage passes, the crowd is compelled to recede on each side like water before a vessel. Although a very great majority of the street idlers is composed of the Lazzaroni, whose number is incalculable, and whose means of livelihood are totally unknown, yet you meet at every step, lawyers, priests, or friars. The former are distinguished by a peculiar dress not unlike the costume of our counsellors. Without including those employed on inferior business, they reckon four thousand regularly registered. Such a multitude argues some radical defect in the civil jurisprudence, but at the same time affords a presumptive proof of the opulence of

Naples. If the lower classes are to be reproached with indolence, they may shelter themselves under the example of the numerous priesthood, whose main employment appears to be in parading the public walks and streets, and conversing with the people, with whom they seem to be on easy and familiar terms. There are three hundred religious establishments in this city, and if superstition is accompanied with less splendour than at Rome, it operates more grossly on the Neapolitans. You are sure to see a saint at the corner of every street, before which all bow, and many stop to offer some solemn ejaculation; and every shop has its Jesus, or Mary, or guardian saint, with an ever-burning lamp before it. In spite of this awful presence, shopkeepers, we were informed, are not unfrequently detected in knavish dealings. I don't know that religion and inactivity are naturally connected, but I am sure that the ceremonious parade of the Catholic churches, as well as the monastic institutions, interrupt the pursuits of industry. This creates some difficulty in reconciling the commercial, enterprising, and opulent state of Italy, during several centuries, with the prevalence of that religion at the same period. We are however, compelled by facts to admit the truth of this, because we find almost all the noblest productions of art, directed, in those flourishing times, to grace and dignify the Roman Catholic establishments. If we see the arts reach an excellence which excites our admiration, is it not in support of their cause? Where do we find the most perfect architecture ?---In the cathedrals and churches. Where are the best paintings ?---There. What are the subjects ?--Saints, Monks, and Miracles: and they have well answered the purpose of the priesthood---the most superb private palaces are now in possession of churchmen and cardinals, who still maintain their wealth and influence, in the decline of those powerful states. The only way in which I can solve the difficulty is, by admitting that the soil and climate of Italy, so congenial to population and subsistence, is capable of supporting with more facility a less active people, than the more western regions of Europe, or in other words, can maintain a larger portion of unproductive inhabitants.

The situation of Naples is not less peculiar than delightful. The body of the town lies immediately under a very steep and lofty mountain, which fronts the Campania Felix, and juts off to the right into the sea, terminating in an abrupt and picturesque rock, which seems to divide the greater part of the town from the lesser, on the side of Pausilippas.. So that to a spectator in the bay at the distance of a mile, Naples stands on two semicircular bays. But I shall better describe this when I speak of Vesuvius. The streets of Naples are well built, the houses tall, the public buildings elegant and nu. merous, and the pavement in a superior style to that of any other in Europe, of large flat squares of lava, across the whole width of the street; the port and public walks along the bay are delightful, as well from the clear distinct view of the many grand and distant objects as from the refreshing air of the sea. The squares are spacious more than magnificent, the one with the royal palace in it is the most elegant. Here, Russian soldiers had their daily parade, and always mounted guard. How abject the condition of the prince, and how precarious and uneasy the tenure of his crown, when compelled to rest the safety of the state on a foreign army! Yet the political state of Naples, at least of the public mind, required this measure, and four thousand Russians have been garrisoned there, ever since the expulsion of the French. The

necessity of such a defence does not arise from any disposition in the populace to rebellion, or in the troops of the government to revolt. The officers are the rotten part of the corps, infected with democratic principles, the King could place no reliance on them, at least, during the war with France. It is a curious fact, that in this country, during the shock of opinions, the Lazzaroni or lower classes, were the most loyal supporters of the crown, whilst the majority of the noblesse, and opulent merchants, were the advocates of Republicanism. Many of them, even princes, and some priests, carried their principles into practice, for when the French entered the Neapolitan territories with victorious arms, they absolutely fought under the Gallic banners; and, when the tide of success turned, (which may be chiefly ascribed to the English Mediterranean influence,) they fought most gallantly in defending the Castle, and the Convent of St. Elmo, against the royal forces, consisting principally of undisciplined Lazzaroni. They were at length compelled to surrender, aud the greater part fell victims to their ambition, and mistaken patriotism; some indeed contrived to escape—many died under the sword of the law---and other were barbarously murdered in the great square, with most savage cruelty, by an infuriated populace, whose extravagant revenge was stimulated by the ideal sanction of religion and authority; nor did their excesses cease there, for every notorious democrat who had not taken arms, was considered a lawful prey to their rage, and his dwelling marked for pillage. And as families or mercantile men commonly live in apartments, not in single houses, they fre"quently ravaged all the surrounding lodgings, as well as those designed. Notwithstanding the severe blow it received, the republican party in Naples is still of great consequence, and as the proprietors are the main column on which the state ought to depend, and the populace at all times, a very unstable support, it is not improbable that they will some one day, seduce the Lazzaroni, and disturb if not overthrow the monarchy. The character of the king strengthens this conjecture; his occupations are of the most trifling nature, and his amusements mean and vicious.

Our servant was an old soldier, full of anecdote, well versed in that impertant science, the knowledge of mankind, and very capable of pointing out to us, whatever was worthy our attention.

In our first sally we climbed the steeps of St. Elmo, where we found a melancholy forsaken Chartreuse monastery, with only six old bald-headed mooks, who are permitted to remain there whilst they live. On the death of the last, the king designs to convert it into a royal palace. We cannot bat admire his taste, for the building is already very elegant, and the situation one of the most delightful in Europe. You look down on the city, as it were from the pinnacle of an exceedingly high tower, and command a distant view of the Calabrian Mountains, which do not fall within my description of nearly the same scenery from the summit of Vesuvius. From this monastery are suspended signals, on the entrance of ships into the bay. All the interior ornaments remain. The chapel is a most superb building, which with the apart utents, is adorned with many fine paintings, by Spagnuoletto, Annibal Carracci, Guido, Mossi, &c.

(To be Continued.)

Printed and Published by RICHARD CARLILE, 62, Fleet-street, where all Communications, post-paid, or free of expense, are requested to be left.

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The Lion.

No. 24. VOL. 2.] LONDON, Friday, Dec. 12, 1828. [PRICE 6d.

FORGERY AND DEPRIVATION OF LIFE.

HUNTON, AND THE REVEREND PETER FENN.

If I were to argue against the social and legal system of putting offenders to death, I should take the ground, that death is neither a punishment to the individual, nor a satisfaction to the society that has been offended. The practice is a portion of savageness yet unextinguished by philosophy and civilization; and the principle is revenge unaccompanied with justice.

Revenge apart, punishment should socially define the moral restraint that is to moralize the offender, while it secures and satisfies the offended party. All that death to the offender accomplishes is, a security to society against his probable future offences, had he been allowed to live. It neither moralizes, nor satisfies, the individual executed or the society that is offended.

Punishment to the individual should define a state of life under a restraint that shall induce reflection by compulsory atonement, and whatever arrangement will produce that state of things, at the least expence and with the greatest benefit to society, is the penal desideratum. To deprive of life, is to put a stop to punishment and reformation, to restoration of property and satisfaction. The thief now makes his calculation, that as death is the end of life, his temporary success in thieving increases to a very high degree his possession of the necessaries and comforts of life. If it be a short life, it will be a merry one, is the sentiment with the determined thief. Newgate resounds with this sentiment, and the deprivation of life has never been a deterring example, has never moralized nor operated beneficially to the society; while it injures, by the infliction of very severe pangs on the innocent.

In the case of Hunton, the Quaker, executed for forgery on Monday last, the offending individual is not punished, his sensations are irrecoverably destroyed; while there befals his family, No. 24.-Vol. 2.

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and perhaps a very virtuous family, a most bitter and dreadful punishment, that attaches to each of them through life.

In the case of the Rev. Peter Fenn, I hope the salutary hint, which I gave a fortnight since, on his prospect of death, on the gallows, with all his clerical functions about him, will 'operate further to the extension of his life; not that his reverence is most admired by those who know most of him; but that his death will not be a proper atonement for his past offences.

Death is not a moral punishment, inasmuch as life is the all of man, and the deprivation relates to the surviving relatives, and not to the individual executed. In no other case than in national er civil warfare can the putting to death be morally and socially justified; and these states of warfare will not arise, as mankind throw off their savage natures, and improve by study and experience their social principles.

The question of forgery is, in a country whose commerce moves upon credit and paper-money, a matter for deep consideration. As a system of robbery, it is the basest, because the most facile, and least exposed to immediate detection; it is, therefore, more subtle, more cowardly, and more pernicious, than open and daring robbery. Its venialities, if the phrase may be allowed, consist of the absence of personal violence, and in being one among many other commercial frauds or robberies, that are not tangible by any other law than that between debtor and creditor. The fundamental error is the rotten system of credit and paper-money on which our commerce is founded and carried on, by which property, to a very great extent, is made to change hands, and to be possessed by rogues without the industry that can honestly acquire it, and to the deprivation of the honest industry or inheritance to which alone it can properly belong.

It is known among commercial men in the city of London, that forgeries to a very great extent pass current which are never exposed, that a very large portion of the bills current are forged bills, and that known forged bills find more facility in being discounted than other bills, where the presenting party has the least responsibility. The discounter feels the greater security while he can demand a higher amount of discount; for the dishonoured bill that is not forged is but a debt, while the dishonoured bill that is forged is death.

These are all so many fair, moral and weighty considerations, why the conviction for forgery should not be fatal to the life of the forger, but fatal to his character, until he has lived and made due atonement to the offended party for his offence.

RICHARD CARLILE.

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