£94 Italian literature. Fune i 4s 
tions fram each other. All mankind are brethreng and ought to be 
friends and fellow labourers in one common cause. They all ought te 
embrace each other cordially as brothers, and as friends. The time 
approaches when nations, itis hoped, will be emulous only to try 
who fhall be most forward in promoting the welfare of one another, 
from a firm conviction, that they will thus best promote their own 
hap pinefs and dearest interests.» This slight efsay will convince every 
intelligent reader, that an Erglifhmen and a Roman, think nearly in 
the same way, in all those great and leading principles which influence 
the conduct of man, in regard to religion, morals, and sound politics. 
Sir, To the Editor of the Bee. 
Tx consequence of the desire you exprefsed in a 
late conversation with me, to have an account of the 
society in Rome, distinguifhed by the name of Arca- 
dia, which is so little knownin this country, 1 now 
send the inclosed account of that institution, which I 
hope will not proye unacceptable to yom reader: at 
the present time. 
As the original intention of this society was to 
correct a false taste in literary compositions, which 
had long prevailed in Italy, I found it necefsary to 
give a brief account of the state of Italian literature 
for some centuries backward. ‘The Englith reader 
will probably not be displeased to see by what gra- 
dual steps a few private persons, by the silent opera- 
tion of reason, alone, have imperceptibly effected a to- 
tal change in the taste of the nation; they will also 
remark with pleasure the beneficial’ effects of mental 
enlargement in this case as well as in others. We 
are not at this day in Italy ignorant of the benefits 
that have been derived from the reformation effected 
by protestants, and are no strangers to the influence 
that the free mode of reasoning, introduced by that 
