462 
means in his power to persuade them, 
that, though the cultivation of the fields 
does not produce such immediate or im- 
mense gains, as maritime commerce, yet 
that it affords a much more perma- 
nent and frequently a more certain ré- 
source. 
The following event soon justified this 
principle. In 1764, a dreadful scarcity 
Occurred in a part of Italy, and was par- 
ticularly felt in the kingdom of Naples. 
The foresight of Borgia, however presery- 
ed the whole duchy of Benevento, from 
this scourge. 
The means he employed for this pur- 
pose, were extremely simple; and which, 
. 1n similar circumstances, it is the duty of 
every magistrate to adopt. An enlight- 
ened economist, he prolubited under the 
most severe penalties the selling of warm 
or new-baked bread; as he knew from 
experience, that it requires a much great- 
er quantity of bread in this state to satisfy 
the appetite than of that which has been 
kept for a few days. The object of this 
wise decree was to lessen the avidity of 
the people for this necessary article of 
diet; and the event justified his expecta- 
tions. : 
The ivhabitants of Benevento were as- 
tonished and grateful at-having thus lived 
ina state of comparative abundance in 
the midst of famine; and the senate as 
the interpreter of their wishes, deter- 
mined to commemorate this event bya La- 
tin inscription upon marble, which was 
placed upon the outward facade of the 
town-house. 
Not content with having rendered the 
Beneventines happy by his wise adminis- 
tration, he also contributed to the splen- 
dour of their city bythis attention to the 
antique monuments, and particularly 
by writing its history, for the comipo- 
sition of which he collected the most au- 
thentic materials. The zeal he displayed 
for the honour of the Beventines, and his 
anxious desire to add to their glory pro- 
cured from them a fresh testimony of their 
gratitude. They caused an inscription to 
be placed in the senate-house, expres- 
sive of their sense of the high honour he 
had conferred on them. . 
The manner of his life, when in power, 
at Benevento, may serve asan example to 
all governors. Wisely careful of his time, 
he never lost it by frequenting festivals, 
and places of public amusement. Whiolly 
devoted to the duties of his ‘station, he 
was censtantiy occupied with the meaiis 
of rendering his administration. useful. 
The firmness of his character; and still 
Aecouni of the Infe of Cardinal Stephen Borgia.  [Dee. 1, 
more the purity of his manners, gave him 
an absulute ascendancy over the minds of 
the people; which he had not much dif- 
culty to maintain. Vigilant in the con- 
duct of public affairs, precise, but frank 
in his answers, exact in keeping his pro- 
mises, whether written, or verbal, he con- 
ciliated the respect and esteem of the 
great, who, convinced of the justice of his 
views, and the solidity of his principles vo- 
luntarily concurred in any measures he 
proposed for the good of the country, 
He experienced, on their part, neither ob- 
stacles nor jealousy. 
Though active in the detection of 
crimes, the natural mildness of his charac- 
ter sometimes impelled him to moderate 
atid soften the punishment of the guilty: 
but it was only when this measure could 
be attended with no danger to society; 
for he never lost sight of the. words of 
Polybius: “ It is by rewards, chastise- 
ments, or punishments, that just and wise 
magistrates preserve cities, states, and in 
a word the human species from general 
anarchy.” 
No sooner had he returned to Rome 
than he was nominated secretary to 
the Congregation of Indulgencies and 
Relics. ‘This new dignity, more ho- 
nourable, than iaborious, allowed him 
time to resume his studies. It was at 
this period, that he conceived the project 
of a great work, and began to collect the 
materials neGessary for its execution, 
Full of this idea, he travelled to se- 
veral cities situated on the shores of the 
Mediterranean and Adriatic seas, exa~- 
ainined their annals with care, and col- 
lected in this excursion more than tliree 
hundred records, not previously known, | 
by the help of which he proposed to com- 
pile “ The Maritime History of the Ec- 
clesiastical States.” 
In 1769, he published the third and last 
volume of his History of Benevento. 
' The following year he was appoint 
ed Secretary to the Propaganda. This 
office, which required constant acti- 
vity and great capability of research, af- 
forded a still more favourable occasion of 
displaying his genius. Witha view to in- 
struct himself concerning the duties of his 
situation as well as to extend his know- 
ledge, he studied and investigated the. 
archives of the congregation, and was em= 
ployed six successive years im arranging © 
some dissertations calculated to throw 
much light on the history and records of. 
the Latin church. gate 
Christianity, it is well known, prevail< 
ed for several centuries in the East. Bor- 
ui De eG NE REN: Ss - Sas 
