+ 
s 
ii4 
other large city of Ttaly. Thofe noble 
forms, thofe beautiful profiles, thefe 
charming ovals, which are here often met 
with, even among the lower clafles, are 
evident demonttrations that the people of 
Rome mvuft have once attained to a high 
pitch of cultivation, for the organic facul- 
ties to arrive at fuch perfection. Is was 
at Rome that the greatcft artifts of modera 
times, Raphael and Dominichino, found 
their originals ; and it isevident that they 
did not decorate them with imaginary 
graces. Fine female ferms are mott nu- 
merous among the middiing clafs of the 
inhabitants: and the fair fex is here com- 
paratively handfomer than the men, who 
are in general tco meagreand flender, and 
are deficient in that ftrength of figure, 
which diftingsithes a handfome man. The 
females, on the contrary, combine with 
that faicinating rotundity which is an ef- 
fential requifite of beauty, a noble figure, 
and the utmoft delicacy cf fhape ; only it 
is a pity that the figureof the Roman fe- 
males frequently deviates, after their 
bloom, in confequence of too great obelity, 
from the proportion of beauty. This muit 
be afcribed to the ina€tivity of their lives ; 
for, according to the cultcm of this coun- 
try, the women pay little attention to do. 
melitic concerns, and for want cf educa- 
tion, know not how to employ their minds. 
The Roman iagies manifeit a gracefulnefs 
in ther walk and getiures, and move along 
the ftreets with a digsiry which reminds 
you of the matrons of ancient Rome, and 
forms a ftriking contraft with the fhort 
tripping ilep of our fine ladies, fo thai an 
ultramontane temale would here be eafly 
diitinguifhed only by her gait. This gra- 
vity of deportment, which feems to accurd 
fo sl with the natural vivacity of the fex 
at Reme, muft only be regarded as the veil 
of decorum, which every dova Romana 
puts on, when fhe appears in public, and 
throws afide as icon as fhe is out of the 
ftreet. 
Thus you-may often fee a female, the 
gravity and correétnefs of whofe demean- 
our announce a Veftal, converted, a few 
minutes afterwards, into the moft wanton 
Bacchanie. Rofy cheeks and a blooming 
complexion, are as rare as hight hair ; 
but thefe deficiencies are not an injury to 
beauty. A noble figure, expreffive fea- 
“tures, and eyes full of fire, compenfate the 
want ot thofe charms*by a fuperior in- 
tereft. 
Nature has endowed the Roman with 
the happieft qualities. He poffeffes pro- 
found fenfibility, which rencers him tuf- 
Prefent State of Sceiety and Manners in Rome. {March }, 
ceptible of the higheft enthufiafm ; a fer- 
tile and fervid imagination ; a clear and 
acute underftanding. He is irritable and 
paffionate ; fatirical and witty in an ex- 
traordinary degree ; he has a delicate tatte 
for what is grand and beautiful, and an_ 
adinirable talent for mufic. His pliant 
hody is the willing inftrument of an active 
foul. Even among the lower claffes, not. 
withftanding ail their rudenefs and igno- 
rance, you meet with no tracesof that 
clownifh awkardnefs which adheres to the 
uncultivated inhabitant of more northern 
regions, and of which it is fo difficult for 
him to divetit himfelf, becaufe his lefs de- 
licate nerves aid more rigid fibres check, 
in an equal degree, the aétion both of the 
mind and body. The temper of the Ro- 
man is likewife of the happieft compofi- 
tion, cheerful and fereneas-his fky, as the 
nature which furrounds him, and every 
where Invites to pleafure and enjoyment. 
Moderate in the gratification of the 
coarfer appetites, he indulges to excefs 
only in thofe pleafures, in which the mind 
and the imagination can participate with 
the fenfes. : 2 
Thefe qualities appear to ftill greater 
advantage in the young females. As their 
domeftic education is equal to none at all, 
and no pains are beftowed on the cultiva- 
tion of the mind and heart; they are com- 
monly left entirely to themfelves ; but 
this deficiency is compenfated as far as it 
is pofiible to be by their good fenfe, their 
excellent underftanding and accurate judges 
ment. And if, under fuch difadvantages, 
that foul of beauty, female grace, be but 
imperfectly developed ; they however, dif- 
play a quicknefs of apprehenfion, a viva- 
city, an amiable franknefs, and a candour 
which is the more pleafing as it is purely 
the expreffion of unfophilticated nature. 
Thefe agreeable qualities cover with a 
friendly veil, the want of menta! cuitiva- 
tion, and the ignorance which is. in gene- 
sal more eafily forgiven the fex. As the 
education of females of the higheft rank is 
equally negleéted with that of the lower 
clafies, you perceive no difference between 
converling with a Roman principefa and 
a tradefman’s daughter. If the Roman 
females, in addition to their natural qua- 
lifications and great fufceptibility, had the. 
good fortune to receive fuch an education 
as is given to the greateft part of the fex 
in more northern regions, they would not 
only be enabled to d.fpute the palm of 
beauty, but likewife of every female ac- 
complifhment, with apy of their European 
filers. 
Te 
