50 
NOBILITY OF NAPLES. 
plaints, upon feeling the pulse, and that he could cure every disease 
instantaneously. He found them proud and vain of their persons, 
and extremely ignorant, ' 
Among many ridiculous questions, they asked my interpreter,” 
says M. Lempriere, “ if I could read and write : upon being answered 
in the affirmative, they expressed the utmost surprise and admiration 
at the abilities of the Christians. There was not one among them 
who could do either ; these rudiments of learning are, indeed, only 
the lot of a few of their men, who on that account are named Talbsj 
or explainers of the Mahometan law.” 
It is melancholy to reflect on the situation of these unfortunate 
women. Being considered as the mere instruments of pleasure, no 
attention is paid to the improvement of their minds. They have no 
employment to occupy their time. Their needle-work is performed 
by Jew'esses ; their food is dressed, and their chambers taken care of, 
by slaves and domestics. They have no amusement but a rude and 
barbarous kind of melancholy music, without melody, variety, or 
taste ; and conversation with one another, which must indeed be very 
confined, uniforpi, and inanimate, as they never see a new object. 
Excluded from the enjoyment of fresh air and exercise, so necessary 
for the support of health and life ; deprived of all society but that of 
their fellow-sufferers, a society to which most of them would prefer 
solitude itself ; they are only to be considered as the most abject of slaves 
-—slaves to the vices and caprice of a licentious tyrant, who exacts, even 
from his wives themselves, a degree of submission and respect which 
borders upon idolatry, and which God never meant should be paid 
to a mortal. 
Nobility of Naples. 
The number of the high and low nobility is very great. “1 am 
assured,” says Dr. Moore, “ that the king of Naples counts among 
his subjects one hundred persons with the title of prince, and a still 
greater number with that of duke. Six or seven of these have estates 
which produce from ten to twelve or thirteen thousand pounds a 
year ; a considerable number have fortunes of about half that value; 
and the annual revenue of many is not above one or two thousand 
pounds. The inferior orders of the nobility are much poorer. Many 
counts and marquisses have not above three or four hundred pounds a 
year of paternal estate; many have still less ; and not a few enjoy the title 
without any estate whatever. These nobles, however, are exceedingly 
fond of splendour and show, which is seen in the brilliancy of their 
equipages, the number of their attendants, the richness of their dress, 
and the grandness of their titles. The finest carriages are painted, 
gilt, varnished, and lined, in a richer or more beautiful manner 
than has become fashionable either in England or France. They are 
often drawn by six, and sometimes eight horses. Before the carriage, 
it is the mode to have two running footmen, and, behind, three or 
four servants in the richest liveries. The ladies and gentlemen within 
the coaches glitter in all the brilliancy of lace, embroidery, and 
jewels. This finery is not confined to the persons within and with-^ 
