37975) 
ftacies at the warblings of a CASTRATO, 
unmans the fex, in order to charm the 
ear, and cuts off tne fource of popula- 
tion, to gratify the momentary longings 
of a debauched appetite? 
It has been afferted by a refpedctable 
traveller, that the defcendants of a na- 
tion which once enriched the world with 
feience and the arts. and afiorded. the 
nobleft monuments of human virtue and 
human {kill, notwithftanding the cruel 
yoke of the Mufulmans, itill call to mind 
the greatnefs of their anceftors. We are 
affured, they not uafrequently hint that 
they are fprung from thofe, Greeks who 
wee no lefs memorable in arts than 
arms, and not only-recapitulare the feats 
of ‘their progenitors, but aétually point 
out the {cenes of their glory. 
Notwith@andine appearances, this is 
precifely the cafe, and perhaps, im a ftul 
greater degree with the defcendants of 
the ancient Romans. Among them, too, 
firft arofe the free and independent little 
commonwealths of Europe, and the feeds 
of early liberty have not vet been en- 
tirely choked by the triple fervitude of 
civil, religious, and foreign domination. 
In addition to this, the foundations of a 
new republic have lately been laid in a 
claffic foil, and the names of Buona- 
PARTE, MaAssEN A, CERVONIT, &c. may 
ferve to remind them, in fome degree, of 
the Brutufes, the Catos, and the Scipios 
of -antiquity. 
MAssENA Is now about thirty-fix 
years of aye. He was born in Nice, at 
a period when it appertained to the 
Houfe of Savoy, into whofe fervice he 
entered at an early period of life. The 
reproach is not peculiar to the court of 
Turin, thats without fro/cé7/on, merit can- 
not make any progre(s. tlow many officers 
of talents in cur own country have beheld 
the baitard or levitimate fon of a lord 
taking rank and precedence of them, in | 
confequence of (uperior intereft? It was 
well obferved by an Englith fubaltern, 
“* that, in order to attain a rapid promo- 
tim, he would rather be backed by a 
rotten borough, than poflefs the military 
talents ef Turenne !”’ 
Massena became an enfign in the 
Sardinian army, and an enfign he might 
have remained to this moment, had he 
chofen to continue in that fervice. But 
a better deftiny awaited him, and in pur- 
fuic-of that, he threw up his commiffion, 
and entering intoa French legion, foon 
diftinguifhed himfelf. sen 
It was at the capture of Sofpello, that 
he firft developed his military talents, 
and it was entirely owing to him, that 
‘ 
Original Anecdetes.~-Maffena. 
Teer 
319 
vA 
Saorgio, in the campaign of 1794, yield- 
ed to the republican arms. For this fer- 
vice, he was rewarded with the rank of 
general of divifion. 
No fooner was BUONAPARTE appoint. 
ed to the command of the army of Italy, 
‘than the local knowledge, intrepidity, 
and experience of Massena, pointed 
him out as an able officer, capable of fe- 
conding his views, and advancing his 
progrefs. We accordingly find bim, in 
the {pring of 1796, acting a brilliant 
part, under the arms of that celebrated 
commander, at the battles of Monte- 
notte and Monte Lezino, againft the 
Sardinian army, in which he had for- 
merly ferved as an ob{cure individual. 
He was alfo prefent at the fucceifive 
actions of Millefimo, Dego, Mondovi, 
and Coffaria, in all which he diilinguifh- 
ed himfelf by the impetuous valour wirk 
which he attacked the armies under 
PrRoveyrRa and BEAULIEU. He was 
no lefs fuccefsful againft WURMSER, and 
contributed not a little to the capture of 
Wiantua. 
_After being the eompanion or the 
glory, ke has lately acted as the proxy, of 
his general, in whofe name he has repair- 
ed to Paris, in order to concert with the 
Direétory relative to the preliminaries of 
peace, and the removal of the victorioys 
rmies af the republic from fuch of the 
conquered provinces as are to be reflored 
to Aufiria. 
In confequence of the new and inte- 
refiing incidents that have lately happen- 
ed in Italy, Massena will probably re. 
turn to Lombardy. 
Venice, with her ancient greatnefs, 
feems alfo to have forgotten her ancient 
policy. But this is not all: the cruelty 
difplayed by her nobiles, can be only 
equalled by their improvidence. 
It is completely in the power of France 
to enfranchife their difcontented' fubjeéts, 
on the, Zerva Firma, from a government 
they deteft ; to leave the capital ia pot - 
feffion of only its fens and its marfhes ; 
to diffolve the Council of Ten, which is 
dreaded by all except thofe who exercife 
its odious prerogatives 5 and fo to humble. 
the fiate in the perfon of its Doge, that 
he fhall no longer be allowed even the 
mockery of *“* wedding the Adriatic !” 

[Thefe anecdotes will be REGULARLY 
CONTINUED, aad toe Condudiors re- 
quefi the affifiance of all perjons who, by 
a recent refidence in France, are qual~ 
jied to communicate original and intercf- 
ing facts. | | 
ORIGINAL 
