Retrospect of French Literature—Miscellaneous. 
MISCELLANEOUS. 
«© 7) Isle WEschia, §c.” An Account 
of the Isle of Ischia, by M.G. HL. L. Ni 
colavius (a German), “Secretary to. the 
Chamber of Firances at Eutin. Naples, 
and all the adjacent territories, with the 
exception of the island. of Sicily alone, 
are now in possession of a branch of the 
house of Konaparte. But afew years— 
almost a few months— they acknow- 
Jedged a prince of the house of Bourbon 
for thelr sovereign; and it remains as 
yet a problem, whether they are likely 
to be worse governed : by a prince, 
considered by mauy as an adventurer, 
nay, an usurper, than by a legitimate 
monarch, whose title to the throne was 
indisputable, but whose conduct towards 
his subjects had not been stich as to en- 
sure either their loyalty or their aftec- 
tion. 
The little Isle of Ischia, which formed 
a portion of those dominions, 1s situate 
at the eastern extremity of the Gulf of 
Naples. It is about ten Italian miles 
in circumferenc 
the smallness of its extent, constitutes a 
bishopric, the prelate of which 1s suffra- 
gan to the see of the capital. It is di- 
vided into three distinct parishes; and 
lately possessed, notwithstanding its very 
limited dimensions, a convent of nuns. 
The isle, considered as one whole, has 
usually been described as a single moun+ 
tain, the form of which indicates an ex~ 
tinguished volcano. Many of its petty 
promontories extend into the sea, anda 
few villages are scattered along the 
coast. In the interior are to be found a 
number of separate habitations, which 
rise like an amphitheatre, until they 
have attained that height where human 
culture ceases to be productive. The 
whiteness of the houses affords an agree- 
_able contrast to the verdure of the vine- 
yards and the gardens, by which they 
are half concealed, so as to present a 
romantic appearance to the eye of tlie 
traveller. 
On the very summit of the mountain, 
and in the midst of a volcanic rock, a 
hermitage, consisting of a chapel and 
three cells, has been excavated. They 
are inhabited by an equal number of 
hermits, one of whom wanders through 
the island twice a-week. He brings 
home with him bread, oil, eggs, and 
whatsoever is necessary for the service 
of the altar. The inhabitants bestow 
every thing required with joy, and regu- 
larly make a pilgrimage to the chapel 
ence a-year. ‘Thither our author and 
; and notwithstanding 
a wotderful manner. 
‘luxury are ‘all banished. 
689 
his companions repaired, and were re- 
ceived. not only witit cordiality by the | 
anchorites, but treated with as much 
hospitality as their poverty would admit 
of. One of these,. a decrepit old man, 
however, paid no manner of attentron, 
either to them, or to any one: he was 
seen both night and morning on his 
knees, either before the chapel or the 
altar. His conduct excited their curi- 
osity, and accosting him at a favourable 
moment, they le rned that he was a 
German, who having left his native 
country at a very early period of life, in 
order to go on a pilgrimage to our Lady 
of Loretto, had never returned again: 
On being questioned as to his age, he 
replied, that he was born in the eish- 
teenth century, but could not tell how 
old he was, bemg unacquainted with the 
date of the present year | 
“ Jleaven is very propitious to this 
little isle,” says our traveller, “ where a 
cloudless sky, almost continmally prevails. 
The winters are mild, and the reptiles 
are destitute of poison : the very foun» 
tains are said to cure many .maladies. 
The old government, although not re- 
newned for its generosity, was accustom-= 
ed to exercise its benevolence in res spect 
to the mhabitants, for this little territory 
was exempt from imposts, while the 
king was used to pay it an yearly visit, 
for the purpose of bestowing Pee ont 
young maidens. 
“ An hospital is kept up at the ex- 
pence ofa charitable society, established 
in the capital: several hundreds of sick 
persons also obtain an asyluin’ there 
during the bathing season. Many ves+ 
sels are hired for the express purpose of 
carrying the .convalescents to. Naples, 
and bringing back new patients to the 
infirmary. ‘The lame who have been 
cured during their stay in the island, 
leave their crutches behind thei, which 
they are accustomed to consecrate 
either to the Madona, or some saint. 
“ The trees, bushes, and plants,which 
delight in volcanic soils, thrive here in 
Every where are 
to be seen groves of oak and of chesnuts. 
The orange, the fig, the pomegranate, 
é&c. are common in all the gardens. 
The myrtle and the box grow wild, and 
m great plenty. 
“ The inhabitants have something pe- 
culiar in their’ persons and ‘dress. 
Fashion has not as yet obtained access 
into this isle: the inventions of modern 
The earth 
feeds only asses and goats: the whole 
country 
