378 



I T A L Y.' 



Statistic*, which is sometimes thought to arise from a natural 

 > ~nr >1 ^ gloominess of disposition. Though, in the pulpit, or 

 the theatre, anil even in common conversation, the Ita- 

 lians make use of a great deal of action ; yet Italian vi- 

 vacity is different from French ; the former proceeds 

 from sensibility, the hitter fro n animal spirits. The 

 inhabitants of this country have not the brisk look and 

 elastic trip, which is universal in France ; they move 

 rather witn a slow composed pace ; their spines, never 

 having been forced into a straight line, retain the natu- 

 ral bend ; and the people of the most finished fashion, 

 as well as the neglected vulgar, seem to prefer the un- 

 constrained attitude of the Antinous, and other antique 

 statues, to the artificial graces of a French dancing mas- 

 ter, or the erect strut of a German soldier. 1 imagine 

 I perceive a great resemblance between many of the 

 living countenances I see daily, and the features of the 

 ancient biuts and statues ; which leads me to believe 

 that there are a greater number of*the genuine descend- 

 ants of the old Romans in Italy than is generally ima 

 gined. I am often struck with the fine character of 

 countenance to be seen in the streets of Rome. I never 

 saw features more expressive of reflection, sense, and 

 genius ; in the very lowest ranks there are countenances 

 which announce minds fit for the highest and most im- 

 portant situations ; we cannot help regretting that those 

 to whom they belong have not received an education 

 adequate to the natural abilities we are convinced they 

 possess, and placed where these abilities could be brought 

 into action." 



Female " The present race of women of high rank are more 



counte- distinguished by their other ornaments, than by their 

 nance. beauty. Among the citizens, however, and the lower 

 classes, you frequently meet with the most beautiful 

 countenances. I will give you a sketch of the general 

 style of the most beautiful female heads in this country. 

 A great profusion of dark hair, which seems to encroach 

 upon the forehead, rendering it short and narrow ; the 

 nose generally either aquiline, or continued in a straight 

 line from the lower part of the brow ; a full and short 

 upper lip ; the eyes are large, and of a sparkling black, 

 and wonderfully expressive. The complexion, for the 

 most part, is of a clear brown, sometimes fair, but very 

 seldom florid, or of that bright fairness which is common 

 in England and Saxony. 



Lower class. " In the midst of all the idleness, (of Naples) fewer 

 riots or outrages of any kind happen than might be ex- 

 pected in a town where the police is far from being 

 Strict, and where such multitudes of poor unemployed 

 people meet together every day. This partly proceeds 

 from the national character of the Italians, which, in 

 my opinion, is quiet, submissive, and averse to riot 

 and sedition ; and partly to the common people being 

 universally sober, and never inflamed with strong li- 

 quors, as they are in the northern countries. If these 

 poor fellows are idle, it is not their fault ; they are con- 

 tinually running about the streets, as we are told of the 

 artificers in China, offering their service and begging 

 for employment ; and are considered by many as of 

 more real utility than any of the classes above men- 

 tioned. 



" The Italians are the greatest loungers in the world ; 

 and, while walking in the fields, or stretched in the 

 shade, seem to enjoy the serenity and warmth of their 

 climate with a degree of luxurious indulgence peculiar 

 to themselves. Without ever running into the daring 



excesses of the English, displaying the frisky vivacity Statistics. 

 of the French, or the invincible phlegm of the Ger- Sl ~~Y"""'' 

 mans, the Italian populace discover a species of sedate 

 sensibility to every source of enjoymerl*, from' which, 

 perhaps, they derive a greater degree of happiness than 

 any of the other. The frequent processions and reli- 

 gious ceremonies, besides amusing and comforting them, 

 serve to fill up their time, and prevent that ennui and 

 those immoral practices which are apt to accompany 

 poverty and idleness. 



" The stories which circulate in Protestant countries Italian 

 concerning the scandalous debauchery of monks, and monks. 

 the luxurious manner in which they live in their con- 

 vents, whatever truth there may have been ip them for- 

 merly,are certainly now in a great measurewithout foun. 

 dation." " From the inquiries I have made in France, 

 Germany, and Italy, T am convinced that this is usually 

 the case with those- peasants who belong to convent 

 lands ; (holding them on easy terms) and very often, I 

 have been informed, besides having easy rents, they 

 also find affectionate friends and protectors in their mas- 

 ters, who visit them in sickness, comfort them in all 

 their distresses, and are of service to their families in 

 various shapes." 



" Though my acquaintance with 'the Roman Catholic Clergy, 

 clergy is very limited, yet the few I do know could not - 

 be mentioned as exceptions to what I have just said of 

 the Protestant (as men of learning and ingenuity, of 

 quiet, speculative, and benevolent dispositions). It is 

 a common error prevailing in Protestant countries to 

 imagine that the Roman Catholic clergy laugh at the 

 religion they inculcate, and regard their flocks as the 

 dupes of an artful plan of imposition. By far the greater 

 part of Roman Catholic priests and monks are them- 

 selves mo't sincere believers, and teach the doctrines of 

 Christianity, and all the miracles of the legend, with a 

 perfect conviction of their divinity and truth." " The 

 accounts we receive of their gluttony are often as ill- 

 founded as those of their infidelity. The real character 

 of the majority of monks and inferior ecclesiastics, both 

 in France and Italy, is that of a simple, superstitious, 

 well-meaning race of men, who for the most part live 

 in a very abstemious and mortified manner, notwith- 

 standing all that we have heard of their gluttony, their 

 luxury, and voluptuousness." 



" The nobility, especially of Naples, are seldom call- Noblec. 

 ed to the management of public affairs; have little 

 temptation for their ambition either in the civil or mi- 

 litary establishments ; are generally regardless of lite- 

 rature, and devote their lives to gaming, gallantry, mu- 

 sic, the parade of equipage, the refinements of dress, 

 and other nameless refinements. 



" In attendance on public worship," says Mr. Eus- Religious 

 tace, * " the Italians are universally regular ; and, character. 

 though such constant attendance may not be consider- 

 ed as a certain evidence of sincere faith, yet every read- 

 er of reflection will admit, that it is incompatible with 

 either infidelity or indifference. These latter vices are 

 indeed very rare in this country, and entirely confined 

 to a few individuals of the higher class, and to some of- 

 ficers in the army." " Nor is the devotion of the Italians 

 confined to public service. The churches are almost 

 always open : persons of regular life and independent 

 circumstances generally visit some one or other of them 

 every day ; and individuals of all conditions may be seen 

 at all hours on their knees, humbly offering up their 



As our readers must prefer original testimonies on the contested points of the Italian character and condition, we here continue 

 ai far as possible to quote the language, though, obliged to abridge the remarks, of the writers referred to. 



