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had only told him, and what never existed as an object of actual perception. So the creation of animals, where we see a horse's head rising out of the ground, half a cow, &c. by way of showing the act of creation, which, after all, can scarcely be conceived to have been performed in this gradual and progressive way-which gives us much more the idea of natural growth or development, than of the instant fiat of Omnipotence.

From Rome Mr Sass went to Naples, and seems to think himself lucky in escaping near Velletri from a terrible robber called Barbone, who makes that neighbourhood his residence. We suspect this robber is very generally to be met with in Italy as well as at Velletri; for we take him to be none other than the common Italian name for raggamuffin, which our traveller hearing used in one instance mistook for the proper name of an individual. His alarms, however, were not without foundation; for, on his way to Naples, he saw lying on the road a man only just murdered by robbers who had taken post behind a mound on the side of the road, and fired from that ambush on the unhappy traveller. On his return, too, he was himself in some jeopardy, though not quite so much probably as he apprehended. The following narrative is sufficiently lively and picturesque.

'Sleep had again nearly overpowered me, when suddenly I heard violent exclamations from the guards, with a confusion of other voices; fire-arms were discharged, and the carriage stopped. Immediately looking out, I saw several strange men standing about, while the soldiers, who had dismounted, with their pistols in their hands, had seized and were searching some of them. Suspecting the cause of this uproar, I took a pistol and instantly leaped out, thinking it better to stand there on my defence, than to remain and be murdered in the carriage. As I approached the scene of contest, I learned that these men, with some others who had escaped into the marshes, and on whom the guards had fired, were discovered lying in ambush by the side of a large stone hovel. A woman, who accompanied them, was at this moment dragged from a ditch, where it was supposed she had hidden some of their weapons. While the guards were thus employed, an elderly gentleman called from one of the carriages, begging of me to return, as he apprehended danger, these being a part of the brigands. Wishing to be doubly armed, I went back for another pistol, when I informed my fellow travellers of what was going forward.

By the time I regained the crowd, the guards were knocking loudly at the door of the hovel. No one answering, we set our shoulders to it, and burst it open. Our surprise may be conceived, when, on entering, we found a large fire, and men sleeping around it. Those nearest the fire instantly started up, making some show of resistance; but perceiving we were well armed, they hesitated, and sulki

ly answered our interrogatories as to the persons found on the outside, and of whom they disclaimed all knowledge.

The hovel, into which we had thus forcibly entered, appeared to be about twenty yards long and eight broad. The light emanating from one spot, the more distant parts were involved in a deep gloom. The scowling features of these men, with their style of dress, gave them a ferocity to which their beards and mustachios did not a little contribute; the light from the blazing hearth striking on the lower parts of their countenances, their lengthened shadows being lost in the distance, added to their demon-like appearance; while the lumber scattered about, and the recesses seen around, completed the picture of a den of thieves.

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Leaning against a projection, and ruminating on this scene, a heavy sigh was breathed into my ear. On turning round, I discovered a man close to me, apparently asleep. The gentleman who had so kindly cautioned me before, now joined me, and we indulged our curiosity in exploring this cavern. In going round, we counted nine men lying in different parts, who could hardly be distinguished in the gloom. Notwithstanding all the noise caused by the violence of our entrance and loud conversation, and although we pulled and pressed them to discover whether they were really human beings or lumps of wood, not one of these stirred, but lay with every appearance of a desire for concealment.' p. 226-229.

The French cleared Italy of robbers entirely, almost of assas sins: The restored Government of Naples treats with the former, and allows the latter to pursue their trade of blood. The king allows two hundred pounds a year to the chief of one band of robbers, for keeping one road in Calabria clear; and Mr Sass gives us an extract from a Naples gazette, published while he was there, which shows that this unworthy system of connivance, fit only for the middle ages, or for the feeblest governments of the East, is openly and shamelessly avowed. We are happy to find,' (says the legitimate organ of the restored dynasty), that the brigand chiefs are coming to the terms of government, and beginning to clear the roads of their companions.

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The admiration of Buonaparte which prevails in many parts of Europe, and which is quite natural and reasonable in Italy. seems to have smitten Mr Sass much too strongly; it is founded indeed on such a contrast as the above mentioned anecdotes furnish to his reign; but it is excessive, especially for an Englishman. Thus, speaking of the French picture of Austerlitz, he exclaims, that, to be sure, in the hero of that event, there is a subject to inspire any one;' and he inveighs against Blucher as a semi-barbarian. This love of the Ex-emperor extends to his family; for we find Murat designated as a lover of science and of the fine arts. ' Surely a man with a corporal's stock of knowledge, can hardly have merited this proud de

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scription; Buonaparte knew him better, when he called him a magnifique Lazzarone.' Similar fault have we to find, both in point of principle and of fact, with the wild unfounded assertion so confidently delivered in the following passage. • If

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we examine the history of the most celebrated nations and states, we shall uniformly find, that, from the moment they have become subject to any particular family, their decline ⚫ has commenced. I suppose it is because they have then an ⚫ unnatural existence.' (p. 252.)

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In closing this account of Mr Sass's volume, we must be permitted to remark, that after describing, in the Introduction, the extraordinary variety of accomplishments which constitute the painter, we are disappointed to find him betraying so frequently a deficiency in very ordinary ones. He hardly gives a single Italian, or even French expression right. We find him beset at the customs by douanieres; travelling in the Compagna di Roma; calling the inhabitants of a place tout is voleurs; praising Annibal Carrachi; passing through Pessaro, Boccano, and various other non-existing places. With ancient names he is quite as unlucky.-Not to mention Volcinium and the Volcians, we are introduced to a great man of antiquity by the name of Munatius Plancus; and the next time he appears, in case we should think the former spelling a slip of the printer, the right surname being given in the text, an unhappy erratum bids us be sure to read Plaucus for Plancus in p. 237. Indeed, Mr Sass is not to be trusted with writing his own Errata; for another of those luckless corrections desires us to change, in p. 335, 'c'est finis' into c'est finit. With this quotation, as applicable to conclusions, spell it which way you will, we take leave of Mr Sass-whose next tour we may reasonably expect more from. He seems to be an amiable man, with that fondness for his profession, which alone can ever lead to great exertions or signal success.

NOTE.

In our Review of Mr BROUGHAM's Speech on the Education Bill, we have omitted several things of much interest and importance, with a view to resume the subject in our next Number,—when we propose to give an account of the same Gentleman's admirable Letter to SIR S. ROMILLY on the Abuse of Charitable Funds.

QUARTERLY LIST OF NEW PUBLICATIONS,

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