564 THE DELIGHTS OF THE 



" After this," said he, in conclusion, " I returned to Porta Ca- 

 none. I was satisfied, for I had revenged my father's murder ! " 



What is most extraordinary in this great act of social insubordi- 

 nation is, that it weut unpunished, and was not even the object of an 

 investigation. The police made little stir at first ; but the gold and 

 jewels of the Varadelli distributed among them they were easily 

 silenced. As to Campofreda, he was accused of Carbonarism, and 

 proscribed in 1821 ; but he has since been restored to favour, and 

 only a few days previous to our acquaintance had been appointed 

 Inspector of Woods. 



These are facts of yesterday, and which I obtained from the first 

 sources. It is doubtless deplorable to be obliged to seek amid such 

 scenes for traces of the ancient courage of the nation ; but it is 

 among them that it seems to have taken refuge, and shall I confess 

 it ? I discover in the very ferocity of their inhabitants a savage gran- 

 deur that powerfully appeals to the imagination. When we consider 

 that what I have just related occurred in the nineteenth century, it 

 appears incredible. But such is Italy so radiant in beauty, so fertile 

 in contrasts, that she appears fated to dispel every idea of progress, 

 and to belie our loftiest hopes of European civilization. All the evils 

 that affect that ill-fated land proceed from a corrupt and feeble 

 government, which, like the poisonous tree, proves fatal to all who 

 repose beneath its shade. Occupied with these reflections, I took 

 the road towards Termoli, which, according to some old tradition, has 

 served Plato as a retreat. 



THE DELIGHTS OF THE DEEP." 



SHE stood lone and deserted on the shore, as the boat flew through the 

 waters to the vessel which was already under weigh. With bitter feel- 

 ings I watched her on my native strand, till her form was lost in the 

 distance. My eyes were even then rivetted to the spot : the very 

 buildings had a charm, hallowed, if I may use the term, by the 

 presence of one who had baffled with me the storms of life unwearied 

 and affectionate. In a short time I was alongside, and stepped upon 

 the quarter-deck of the good ship Mary, for Barbadoes : the captain 

 gave me his accustomed welcome, and in the same breath desired the 

 helmsman to lay her course to sea. The confusion on board a vessel 

 outward-bound is at all times annoying, but, above all, in a fresh 

 breeze and with a crowded cabin. The bustle of the sailors the 

 reeling of the novitiates, as the vessel lurches to the wave the 

 stowing away of boxes, packages, hat-boxes, portmanteaus, &c. c. 

 the half-sick faces of some, and complete sickness of others the 

 squeaking of the pigs, cackling of geese, screaming of the hens, in 

 short, the evident uneasiness of every animal unused to a sea voyages 

 makes so discordant a noise and disagreeable a melange, than Noah's 

 Ark can be nothing to it. 



