666 



SARDINIA. 



numerous children are represented as dying around her ; the youngest clinging to her knees as 

 the most helpless. She encircles her with her armr, yet despairing to save her. 



At Rome, the Apollo Belvidere is preeminent lor grace and majesty. It has the calmness 

 so common and so impressive in the Grecian statues. He is represented as standing, and 

 watching the flight of his arrow, which he has just discharged. It is its greatest wonder, that 

 in looking at this cold and hfeless marble, the spectator is more moved than with anything that 

 has life. He sees before him liie creation of a sculptor formed on the conception of immortal- 

 ity ; the human form, and all that it can express, as it might have existed before evil reduced 

 it as the habitation of the fallen mind. Our conceptions of the dignity of human nature are 

 elevated in the presence of the Apollo. 



" A combination, and a form indeed, i 

 Where every god did seem to set his seal, 

 To give the world assurance of a man." 



The Laocoon is a group exactly described in Virgil ; it represents Laocoon and his two 

 children in the folds of the two serpents, in which they are still struggling. It was one of the 

 most admired groups of antiquity. The dying gladiator is a recumbent statue of a dying man 

 leaning upon his hand. It is justly held to be one of the best remains of antiquity. Next to 

 actual sight, the description of Byron gives the most perfect conception of it. The statues are 

 well nigh innumerable ; but our limits are already exceeded. On the Esquiline hill are two 

 colossal statues, each holding a horse of the same proportions ; on one is engraved the name 

 of Phidias, on the other, that of Praxiteles. In the capitol, is a bronze equestrian statue of 

 Marcus Aurelius, distinguished for good effect, though it has some individual faults. Sculp- 

 ture was, with the Romans as with the Greeks, associated not only with architecture, but it 

 was carried into every department of life. Vases, urns, sarcophagi, and familiar ornaments, 

 are numerous, and many of them are exquisitely sculptured. 



CHAPTER LXXX, KINGDOM OF SARDINIA. ' 



1. Boundaries, Extent, and Divisions. This kingdom takes its name from the island ot 

 Sardinia, yet the most important part is upon the continent. This portion forms the north- 

 western extremity of Italy, and consists of 4 principal divisions, namely, 1st. the Principality 

 of Piedmont, with Montferrat and a part of the Milanese ; 2<1. the County of Nice or Nizza ; 

 3d. the Duchy of Savoy ; and 4th. the Duchy of Genoa.* The continental portion is 

 bounded by Switzerland on the north ; by Austrian Italy and the Duchy of Parma on the east ; 

 by the Mediterranean on the south, and by France on the west. It extends from 43° 44' to 

 46'-' 20' N. latitude, and from 5° 40' to 10° E. longitude, being 200 miles in length from north 

 to south, and 135 in breadth. The Island of Sardinia, constituting the 5th division, lies to the 

 south of Corsica, and is separated from it by a narrow strait. It is 162 miles in length, and 70 

 in mean breadth. The continental dominions contain 19,125 square miles, and the island 9,675. 

 Total 28,800. 



2. Mountains. Sardinia contains several chains of the Alps, comprising the highest sum- 

 mits in Europe. The JMaritime Alps rise near Savona, and, extending west, separate Genoa 

 and Nice from Piedmont ; then bending north, they divide the latter country from France, 

 terminating near Mount Viso. Their highest summits do not much exceed 10,000 feet. The 

 Cottian Jllps extend from Mount Viso to Mount Cenis, separating Piedmont from France and 

 Savoy. Several of their summits rise to the height of 12,000 feet and upwards ; the loftiest, 

 Mount Olan, has an elevation of 13,819 feet. The Graian or Grecian Alps extend from 

 Mt. Cenis to the col or pass of Bonhomme, separating Aosta from Savoy. They have about 

 the same elevation as the preceding. The Pennine Alps separate Piedmont from the Valais 

 m Switzerland, and contain the highest points in the Alps, rising into regions of perpetual 

 snow ; Mont Blanc, 15,732 feet high, and Mount Rosa, 15,152. In this chain is the Great 

 St. Bernard, 11,000 feet high, remarkable for its hospice, which, standing upon a barren height 

 7,668 feet in height, and surrounded by an eternal winter, is inhabited by a few monks, who 



• The official political division is into 10 intendancies, Aosta, Nizza, Genoa, and Savoy : and 3 on the island of 

 8 on the continent; Turin, Coni, Alessandria, Novara, Sardinia; Cagliari and Sassari. 



