a community of freemen, they were content to CHAP. be the first in those accomplishments which the VI. flatterer of Augustus affected to despisem. introduced There is, however, reason to conjecture, Regulations that the Florentine government, although suffi- by Lorenzo, ciently vigorous for internal regulation, was inadequate to the exertions of external warfare. The hand that may steer a vessel through the tranquil ocean, may be unable to direct the helm amidst the fury of the storm. It may indeed well be conceived, that the delegated magistrates, being so extremely limited, as well with respect to their number, as to the duration of their power, would reluctantly determine on, and cautiously engage in measures, which involved the welfare, and perhaps the existence of the community. Accordingly it appears, that on important occasions it was customary for the magistrates to assemble the most respectable citizens, m Excudent alii spirantia mollius æra, Credo equidem, vivos ducent de marmore vultus, En. lib. vi. VI. CHAP. citizens, from whose advice they might derive assistance, and by whose countenance they might secure themselves from censure. During the late dangerous contest, this measure had been frequently resorted to, and with such manifest advantage, that Lorenzo, after the restoration of the publick tranquillity, recommended, and obtained the establishment of a body of seventy citizens, who, in the nature of a senate, were to deliberate and to decide on all the transactions of government, as well in the affairs of peace, as of war. This institution, for which he might have pleaded the example of the Spartan legislator, was probably intended, not only to give a greater degree of stability and energy to the government, but to counteract the democratick spirit, which was supposed to have risen to a dangerous excess", and to operate as a safeguard against an abuse which was certainly the destruction of all the free states of antiquitythe exercise of the powers of government by the immediate interference of the citizens at large. At "All free governments," says Hume, very decisively,"must consist of two councils, a lesser and 66 greater; or in other words, of a senate and people." "The people," as Harrington observes, "would want "wisdom without the senate; the senate, without the "people, would want honesty." Idea of a perfect Commonwealth. of the state. 1488. At this period the city of Florence was at c.HAP. its highest degree of prosperity. The vigilance VI. of Lorenzo had secured it from all apprehensions Prosperity of external attack; and his acknowledged disin- Florentine terestedness and moderation had almost extinguished that spirit of dissension for which it had been so long remarkable. The Florentines gloried in their illustrious citizen, and were gratified in numbering in their body a man who wielded in his hands the fate of nations, and attracted the respect and admiration of all Europe. Though much inferior in population, extent of dominion, and military character to several of the other states of Italy, Florence stood at this time in the first degree of respectability. The active spirit of its inhabitants, no longer engaged in hostile contentions, displayed itself in the pursuits of commerce and the improvement of their manufactures. Equally enterprizing and acute, whereever there appeared a possibility of profit, or of fame, they were the first to avail themselves of it; and a Florentine adventurer, though with doubtful pretensions, has erected to himself a monument which the proudest conqueror might envy, and impressed his name upon a new world in characters that are now indelible". The silk and Amerigo Vespucci, who has contended with Columbus for the honour of the discovery of America, was CHAP. and linen fabricks manufactured by the FlorenVI. tines were in a great degree wrought from their native productions; but their wool was imported from England and from Spain, whose inhabitants indolently resigned their natural advantages, and was born at Florence in the year 1451, of a respectable family, of which several individuals had enjoyed the chief offices of the republick. The name of Amerigo was at Florence a common name of baptism. For an account of the controversy that has taken place respecting the pretensions of these eminent navigators, I must refer to Dr. Robertson's History of America, book ii. note 22. without, however, approving the severity of his animadversions on the respectable Canonico Bandini, who has endeavoured, from original and almost contemporary documents, to support the claims of his countryman. Band. vita di Amerigo Vesp. Flor. 1745. However this may be, it is certain, that about the year 1507, Vespucci resided at Seville, with the title of master pilot, and with authority to examine all other pilots: for which he had a salary assigned him; an employment, as Tiraboschi well observes, suitable to a skilful navigator, but far below the pretensions of a man who had first discovered the new continent. This employment, however, afforded Vespucci an opportunity of rendering his name immortal. As he designed the charts for navigation, he uniformly denominated that continent by the name of AMERICA, which being adopted by other mariners and navigators, soon became general. Tirab. Storia della Let. Ital. v. 6 par. i. p. 192. The memory of Vespucci is therefore now secured by a memorial, Quod non imber edax, non aquilo impotens Possit diruere, aut innumerabilis Annorum series, et fuga temporum. VI. and purchased again, at an extravagant price, CHAP. their own commodities. In almost every part to which the Florentines extended their trade, they were favoured with peculiar privileges, which enabled them to avail themselves of the riches they had already acquired; and the superstitious prohibitions of the clergy against usury were of little avail against a traffick in which the rich found employment for their wealth, and the powerful relief in their necessities. The consequence of these industrious exertions was a sudden increase of population in Florence; insomuch that Lorenzo was under the necessity of applying to the pope, for his permission to build in the gardens of the monasteries within the walls of the city. By his attention, the police was also effectually reformed. A contemporary author assures us, that there was no part of Italy where the people were more regular in their conduct, or where atrocious crimes were less frequent". "We have here," says he, "no robberies, no nocturnal commotions, no 66 'to P Philippus Redditus Exhort. ad Pet. Med. Laur. fil. inter opusc. Joan. Lamii. Delic. Erudit. Flor. 1742. |