nor the sagacity of a British statesman of the old school, to discover, that when the Austrians crossed the Po, to take an unprincipled possession of Naples, they had, both in their rear and flank, their most powerful enemies; and that, had the Neapolitans been commanded by men, instead of automata, they would have given them sufficient occupation.

Genoa and Piedmont had declared themselves in favour of the same cause; and the Milanese only waited for a favourable movement, to join against the common enemy. If Austria had been so far worsted as to have been under the necessity of adding another to her numerous retrograde movements, the emancipation of Italy would have been ensured, and the total destruction of the invading army would have been the consequence.

As my work is of a miscellaneous description, that I may not fatigue the reader with too long a detail of the transactions which distinguish, as much as they disgrace, the nineteenth century, let me here withdraw his attention, for a moment, from the melancholy narrative, and introduce a short fable, which will be found extremely applicable to a certain event which has taken place in the American seas, at the instigation of one of the Northern powers; and the proceeding

which will, most probably, take place on the part of other branches of the Holy Alliance.

An old rat, who had long been on the watch for the unpacking of a case of provisions, which she intended to appropriate to her own use, summoned together a congress of voracious animals of her own kidney. Being assembled, she harangued them most philanthropically, and expressed her unbounded zeal for the general welfare. She solemnly assured them, that she entertained no selfish wish to participate in the common spoils, but was solely anxious to co-operate in bringing about such a reform as the times demanded; and that, such being the case, she should withdraw from the busy world, and claim no more, for her share, than what was barely necessary to supply the cravings of nature. Having concluded her harangue, she retired. One of the conclave, however, less credulous than the rest, followed on tip-toe the disinterested member of the longtailed sisterhood; when, lo! instead of putting in practice her boasted moderation, she was found snugly nestled in the middle of a huge Westphalia ham! I leave my reader to draw his own inference; only observing, that Russian rats are reported to have an amazing attachment to Indian crackers; Austrian rats to Swiss gru

yère; French rats to Parmasan; and English rats to Stracchino-e questo è vero, perche STRACCANO tutto il mondo, prima di comminciare le loro operazioni.

CHAPTER IV.

VENICE.

Oppressed Condition of the Venetians......State of the Laws framed for them by Planzit, the soi-disant Solon...... The Criminal Courts......Ignorance of the Judges......The Civil Courts...... The Court of Appeal......Delay of Justice...... Laws relating to Landlord and Tenant......Austrian Mode of collecting the Revenue..... Severity of the Tax-gatherers ......Mode of farming the Taxes to Middle Men......Depressed State of Agricultural Produce......Debased Condition of the Currency.

To return to the present condition of Venice, and her miserable inhabitants. No people in Europe groan under a weightier load of oppression than the Venetians. The laws by which they are governed are little understood, either by Plenzit, the soi-disant Solon, who framed them, or by those whose duty it is to put them in execution. From the many contradictions with which they abound, and their innumerable violations of common law and common sense, I

have been informed, that the gentlemen of the bar, Germans as well as Italians, waited upon the great lawgiver previously to their being acted upon, and solicited of him, for their own guidance, an explanation of the numerous obscure and equivocal clauses in which they abounded. The only answer they could obtain from the modern Lycurgus was--“ I have drawn up this code of laws. Apply but yourselves to the study of them, and their intent and meaning will become abundantly apparent."

This sagacious reply recals to my recollection a certain action, which was tried, some years ago, before the famous Lord Mansfield, respecting some cockets. These same cockets were found to be written in so miserable a hand, that his Lordship directed the writer of them to be sent for. When he appeared in court, the learned Judge asked him, whether he was actually the writer of these cockets? "Yes, please your Lordship," said the man. "Then," replied the Judge, "they are so illegible, that I have sent for you to explain them.""I am aware of that," rejoined the scribe; "but I am only a writer of cockets, my Lord, not a reader of them." So, like this sagacious cocket-writer, has Plenzit left his laws unexplained and unintelligibledoubtless for the more speedy redress and con

solation of the poor unfortunate Venetians, who are to be nurtured with the pith and marrow of these precious legislative enactments! This mutilator of the jurisprudence of the immortal Justinian has been heard to declare, that he could discover nothing in the Institutes of that great man in the least worthy of being retained.

This declaration of Mr. Solon Plenzit reminds me of those gothic barbarians of the present enlightened age, who modestly undertake to improve and render more perfect the writings of our divine Shakespeare; and who, the better to avoid a comparison of his immortal verses with their own vapid and disjointed trash, shrewdly take care, when they set' about metamorphosing one of his matchless plays into a senseless and despicable opera, to expunge the entire of the original. I have often wondered, that these impudent transformers of sterling comedies into miserable burlettas, should never, in their " sway of vanity," have fancied themselves qualified to fill the role allotted to the primo buffo.

In Venice, and throughout the Venetian States, all criminal proceedings are entirely carried on in writing: so that a man may be accused, tried, condemned, and even executed,