110 
pofe it. The refearches it is intended to 
contain, though chiefly. limited to Britain, 
will occafionally deviate. Claffical re- 
mains, both politicaf and monumental, 
will be frequently confidered ; the narra- 
tives of hiftorians compared with the very 
fcenes of ation they commemorate (as 
~Polybius fcaled the {ummit of the Alps to 
trace the march of Hannibal) ; and fome 
pages will undoubtedly be devoted to the 
hiltory and iluftrious remains of Ancient 
Egypt. The comparative characters and 
progrefs of Architeéture, Sculpture, Poe- 
try, and Painting, in our own country, 
will be given in a fyftematic form, fepa- 
rated into zras ; one or two of our moft 
choice remains of Gothic art will proba- 
bly occtipy whole papers to themfelves 3 
and the uniformity of the work be fome- 
times varied with fketches cf antiquarian 
biography. 
Among the Effays and materials already 
affembled, the following are Jeading fub- 
jes 3 moft of which will make an early 
appearance ; 
«© Anecdotes of ancient pilgrimage.” 
*¢ Differtation on the libraty of the Pto- 
lemies, at Alexandria.” 
«© The liquors of our anceftors.”” 
«© Architectural hiftory of King’s Col. 
lege chapel, Cambridge.” 
‘¢ The progreffive intreduétion of table- 
greens and exotics into England.” 
«¢ The ftate of London under the Ro- 
ymans ; and, os 
6s The connection between certain Egyp- 
tian hieroglyphicks and’the Gcds of In- 
dia.” 
A plan of this nature, if executed with 
ability and care, canuet fail to meet fuc- 
cefs. How far it may deferve encourage- 
ment in the prefent inftance, will be fhort- 
ly feen. The endeavour to merit appro- 
bation at leaft is commendable. 
| : einen ey oe 
The Editor will feel much obliged to any gen- 
tleman whofe refearches may lead him to the com- 
munication of a memoir. 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
PICTURE of the PRESENT STATE of 
SOCIETY @7d MANNERS 72 MODERN 
ROME. By Cc. a. BOTTIGER. 
S much as this eity furpaffes the 
firft-rate capitals of Europe with re- 
gard to hiftorical and zfthetic impor- 
tance, fo far it is inferior to them in .the 
intercft excited by the activity and enjoy- 
ments of focial life im great towns. In 
this refpe&t Rome cannot fuftain any com- 
parifon with London or Paris, or even 
with Peterfburg, Vienna, or B -rlin, where ; 
2 
Prefent Stat of Society and Manners in Rome. {March f, 
either a flourifhing commerce collects alf 
the produétions and treafures of every 
quarter of the globe, or where the majefty 
of the throne is augmented by a {plendid 
court and an opulent nobility ; where ta~ 
lents of every kind prefs forward to the 
attraGtive goal of Honour and fortune; 
where, through the leudable emulation of 
genius, the arts and fcienees fiourithy 
while induftry and luxury, under the {cep- 
tre of ever-varying fica. extend. the 
circle of human enjoyments by a thoufand 
new inventions ; where the noblef& forms: 
of humanity are developed befide the moft 
difgufting images of the deepelt phyfical 
and moraldepravity. Amiudit fuch abun- 
dant variety, new fcenes are continually 
prefenting themfelves to the obferver ; and 
the painter of manners there finds rich 
materials for an interefting picture, 
What do we difcover of this kind when 
we turn our eyes to the ancient miftrefs o 
the world, enthroned on her feven hills ? 
No flourifhing trade; no fpirit of ufeful 
induftry, animates the languid members of 
this liitlefs body, plunged into the lethars 
gy of univerfal indolence. Rome’s ttreete 
are filled with faunterers, beggars, and 
priefts, and her market-places with 
wretched huckfters ; all around, the hors 
rible defotation of a fertile, but negle&ted 
country, attefts the profound flumber of 
induftry at Rome. Her ports, peopled 
rather by galley-flaves than merchants, 
are frequented only by the few veflels be~ 
longing to foreign nations which fupply 
the inhabitants of the Papal dominions 
with falt-fith for their fafts, and import 
foreign articles of luxury. Since the | 
commodities of the priefts have, ma great 
measure, loft their value abroad, the com- 
merce of Rome has been entirely pafiive. 
‘The ftreams of gold and filver which, a 
few ages fince, poured in fuch abundance 
from every country into the lap of the 
church, are now diverted, and flow ina 
very fcanty current from fome few dark 
regions to the welt. and north j and credu- 
lous pilgrims {eldom repair from diftant 
paris to pay their devotions at the ihrine 
of St. Peter. The ancieat {plendour of 
the Court of Rome is extinguifhed, toge- 
ther with the lightnings of the Vatican. 
Tie former licentioufnefs of its mapners 
has ceafed with the power to fin. The 
“diverfions and feftivities which diffufe 
fplendour over the refidences of temporal 
princes, which attraét to their courts the 
opulent nebility from the provinces, which 
collk&t the moft accomplifhed of the youth © 
of bsth fexes, and a multitude of aiftin- 
guifled travellers from foreign’ countries, 
~ are 
