1799-] 
The Mediterranean was fo infefted with 
corfairs and French privateers, that {carce 
a barchetta could pafs in fafety from one 
port to another—and the infurance on pro- 
perty was then at the rate of 30 percent. 
and upwards. I therefore found myfelf 
obliged to forego the pleafure and ad- 
vantage of a purchale, to have completed 
which, muft have been a matter of the 
highett gratification to any lover of the 
arts. 
About fix months fince, the prince ho- 
noured me with a letter, written by his 
fecretary in his name, in which he men- 
tions with the deepeit regret, that the pic- 
tures are gone, and that he had fold them 
to Mr. Fagan for 9,000 feudi. The ex- 
traordinary efcapes they have had in their 
conveyance hither, you are well acquaint: 
ed with, and I am ture, are as happy as I 
am, that, fince, to the regret of every 
amateur, they have been removed from the 
place of their actual nativity, the great and 
natural univerlity of art, they have at laft 
arrived fately ina country which knows 
how to appreciate their value. 
The princes Altieri, both father and 
on, had the misfortune to be blind: the 
elder, I was informed, loft his fight when he 
was about forty years of age, the younger 
when he was near twenty. ‘The pictures 
alluded to were, I believe, painted by 
Claude for the grandfather of the prefent 
prince, and were firft placed in the fame 
magnifjcent room in which they ever af- 
_terwards remained till they were fold to 
Mr. Fagan. There were alfo many other 
valuable pictures in the palace, and a large 
collection of antique ftatues and bufts, the 
latter of which were collected chiefly by 
the prefent prince, prior to his lofs of 
fight. Since that heavy affliction, he uled 
to take ftrangers round his gallery, and 
pointed out the various pieces, as they 
{tood when he was able to fee them. It 
was an affecting fight to fee two fuch il- 
luftrious charaéters, whole palace was the 
refort of taite and virtue, led about their 
own gallery by attendants, and capabie of 
enjoying the remembrance only of the 
beauties which adorned it. For my own 
part, when I refle&t on that circumftance, 
and add to it the diltrefled condition into 
which they have fince been reduced, I 
want words to exprels my feelings of 
commuleration and regret. 
Pam, sir, 
With great regard, 
Your faithtul humble Servant, 
CuarRLes Hearwcotre Tarham. 
= ey alae 
ham, Efg.™ 
* Henry Tre, 
Prefervation of Lives from. Fire. 
537 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
ONSIDERING the number of dif- 
mal accidents occafioned by fire in 
Jarge cities, where the houfes are high, 
crowded together, and conftruéted of com- 
buftible materials, it 1s aftonifhing that fo 
little precaution is ufed to preterve the 
lives of the inhabitants. Having lately 
looked over the chronicle of events in & 
periodical work, I was ftruck on obferving 
the number of lives loft, limbs broken, 
others impaled and bruifed in. attempting 
to efcape the flames ; and all this ina very 
fhort period of time.—A very fimple con- 
trivance might be ufed to prevent fuch 
fhocking difafters; but I fear this very 
fimplicity will operate againft reducing it 
to practice. It will appear fo trifling, fo 
deftitute of mechanical ingenuity, that the 
people will fcarcely be perfuaded to make 
a knotted rope, or rope ladder, part of the 
Jurniture in their apartments. But what 
would be the vaiue of fuch a fimple in- 
ftrument to a perfon furrounded with fire 
and fimoke? The pooreft houfekeeper 
needs not want fuch a convenience ; nor 
would the moft delicate lady hefitate a 
moment, whether to defcend the rope- 
ladder or be burned er buried alive. But 
fo the matter ftands, that, unlefs the lecif- 
lature do interfere, we fhall ftillb have oc- 
cafion from time to time to deplore, not 
only the burning of houfes, but their in= 
habitants alfo, becaule it was too much 
trouble to provide a bit of rope to fave 
their lives. Much ingenuity has been ex- 
erted to find. a method of extinguifhing. 
fires, to preferve property ; and furely the 
lives of perfons who lodge up two or three 
pair of ftairs are deferving of fome at- 
tention.— Government has with much 
propriety laid the ftage-coaches under pro- 
per regulations, becaule, by overlading 
thefe vehicles, fome lives were loft and 
limbs broken; perhaps the fubjeét now 
mentioned, is equally deferving of public 
regulation. 
In the cafe of fhipwreck, where num- 
bers are loft every day, the inattention of 
mankind to their own prefervation is truly 
aftonifhing.—fo prevent this difafter is 
impoffible; but lure I am, if the fimple 
contrivance of the cork jacket were univer- 
fally adopted, multitudes would be faved 
from drowning. I believe it will be 
granted, that hy far the greateft number 
of fhips are loft on a lee fhore. In this 
cafe fuppofe two vellels fivanded, of 300 
men each, at equal diffances from the 
land. One of thele fhips is provided with 
bark 
