tary education, predilections, and habits, with all his affected speering at our mercantile pursuits, was far too clear and far-sighted ga statesman not to perceive and to value the true source of our power and greatness; and he encouraged in every possible way the establishment and the prosperity of manufactures in France, of which we are, at this moment, beginning strongly to feel the effects. At this very port, and even at Leghorn, which is comparatively free, the French merchandize is fast outstripping ours. In cloths especially, the proverbial staple of our country, the whole, or nearly the whole of Italy, is now supplied by France, to the almost total exclusion of our own. - C "A nation of shopkeepers" must always prosper and stand high, as long as there are few such, as long as other nations are kept interritorialism and backwardness, and are compelled to come to them for the means whereby to live. Thus was it that the commercial cities of Italy, in the middle ages, possessed power and wealth which we can scarcely reconcile either with their trifling rise, or their present decay, were it not for the solution of the riddle I have alluded to above. Genoa was one of the chief of these, and is a fair sample of them all, both in their points of admiration, and in their faults. Of these Jast, the chief and damning one of all, which indisputably hastened their downfall, by lessening their vigour of struggle with their rising competitors, is their chief merchants abandoning and becoming ashamed of the very means to which they owed all, in a word, of their being merchants. Commerce brought them riches, and these inspired sinto their heads all the fumes of so-called nobility, which are so absurd and baneful in every case, and so utterly fatal in theirs. They pay their hundred thousand francs to get their name inscribed on the Libra d'Oro, and then they point to the impassable gulf of nobility fixed between them and their fellows of yesterday! In the name of every thing that can claim even Scotch cousinship with common sense, whence has it arisen that it is reckoned more matter of honour to possess earth than what the earth yields? Whence can have possibly sprung that respect and consideration which, I must acknowledge, are almost universally attached to the possession of land? It can by possibility come from nothing but ancienté-mere, mere time. People were proprietors of land, when the corn, which was eaten raw, and the beasts, which were Beaten half-raw were all that the land afforded; and therefore landed gentlemen are of more ancient date than merchants and traders, the makers, namely, and the sellers of manufactured goods, But in all shadow of sense, the preference ought to be given to the latter for being a manufacturer or a merchant argues the possession at least of some skill, which is intellect, and necessitates the possession of some industry, which is virtue. But being the proprietor of land argues nothing at all except being the son of a proprietor of land, which is nothing at all; and as it exempts, by inherited wealth, the necessity of -3 working for acquired wealth, it frequently, very frequently, involves -the absence of both skill and industryof both intellect and virtue. 19 And yet, men are always proud of being the one, and nearly always sehalf ashamed of being the other! Such is the perversity of the human mind. And perhaps the fault is to be laid more to that general perveresity than to the individuals who are swayed by its for of all feelings ¡mplanted within us, one of the very strongest is the desire of conside ration; and if these great merchants found their consideration vastly increased by their becoming little lords, it is natural, though still lamentable, that they should do so. And yet it were to be wished, if not expected, that the Genoese should have been an exception to this. They were the great examples of the commercial system of their time every body wondered at and admired the things done by this small community of merchants—but the admiration ceased, and the wonder ceased, and the achievements themselves ceased, when these haughty and powerful merchants be came a knot of equally haughty but not at all powerful nobles. In exact proportion as the nobility increased, and the merchandises diminished, did the superiority and strength of Genoa dwindle and decline. This was much assisted, it is true, by the general reasons I have named above-but the internal causes were strong ones also. This is truly the verification of the folly of the stag in the fable, who was ashamed of his legs, which were his safeguard, and was proud of his horns, which were his death. But it seems there was always considerable inclination to play the magnifico in Genoa. The erection of one of its most beautiful and one of its most useful objects-the church and bridge of Carignano was owing to this. These were both constructed by a family called Saoli -not in fulfilment of any vow-not in consequence of any devotional feelings-but because one of its members did not like getting up early in the morning. It appears that a Marchese di Saoli sent one Sunday to the cure of his parish to beg him to say mass somewhat later than usual, as he was indisposed, and could not rise so early as the common time. To this modest request the cure sent back for answer, that if the Marchese di Saoli wanted mass said at his own hour, he must build his own church, and appoint his own priests-but, for him, he should perform the service at the appointed hour. The Marchese, in the pride of his wealth, took him at his word, and built the present church close to his own palace. It is very beautiful, being in the form of a Greek cross of admirable proportions, having a very elegantly formed cupola, and being ornamented with pictures and statues of considerable merit. The nephew of this marquis, to facilitate the coinmunication between the body of the town and his palace and new church, built a bridge across the ravine which separated them. This work, though we should not, perhaps, think much of it in these days of roads and bridges," was certainly one of considerable boldness and power for the time (the beginning of the 17th century), in which it was executed-being of considerable length and great height, having houses of seven stories beneath the arches. From the top of this church is a magnificent view of Genoa and the surrounding country, which, like that near Florence, is studded with a suburb of palaces. For this reason I almost prefer this view to the more celebrated one from the sea; for, from the latter, you see only the city, unless you go out so far as strongly to diminish the effect of the whole. When I 66% say a suburb of palaces," I do not mean streets -a fauxbourg-but palaces, each standing in the midst of its own garden, thus adding the beauty of intermingled trees and verdure. My Cicerone pointed out to me that which Lord Byron lately occupied I believe, from the man's manner, that the English ask for it more frequently and anxiously than for that which was the habitation of Andrew Doria. At the Ducal Palace there are the vestiges of the independance of Genoa. The state apartments formerly occupied by the Doge are now untenanted. In these rooms he remained during the two years of his reign, with the exception of the occasions of public processions. Four counsellors were the companions of this gubernatorial captivity, but these were relieved every month, while the Duke himself still remained within his gilded cage. Truly this must have been un triste metier. There were Piedmontese sentries at the gates, as the rest of the palace consists of public offices, and of the residence of the Governor. Some of these were Sardinians, a regiment of whom has been for three or four years at Genoa. They were mostly short, slight men, with very dark complexions, and sparkling eyes. I have often wondered at the very slight knowledge which exists of the island of Sardinia. I was told here that it is in a state of great barbarism. These men, when they arrived, were filthy to a degree to shock even Italians. Their language was almost if not quite unintelligible in Italy. 1 The man, a very intelligent one, who guided me, ventured a sort of cautious curse against their present masters, to feel the way as to how I should receive such tenets. On my not expressing myself exceedingly shocked at his hatred of foreign dominion, he began a lamentation and complaint on the part which England had played in the transfer of his country. Indignation, it was very evident, would have mingled strongly in what he said, were it not for his fear of giving me offence as an Englishman. The bitterness which he seemed to feel (for though a laquais de place is like " a courtier, a pococurante by profession," he really did seem m to f feel on these points-) for the loss. of the independence of his country was almost half caused by the fact. of its masters being its hereditary enemies, with whom they were almost always at war, and over whom they had often been victorious.. It was as if France had become the ruler of England, or England of France. I was pleased to find, however, that this man seemed to have some idea of where the blame was justly due-for, so far from impli cating our nation generally in this piece of flagrant and scandalous treachery, he acquitted even our General of blame. He seemed to know that Lord William Bentinck's proclamation was issued, by him at least, in all honesty and honour; he called him un brav' uomo (which in a French or Italian mouth conveys much), and said, that during his command in Genoa, he was universally respected and loved. No one could be more worthy of such sentiments than Lord William Bentinck-and he has proved it so in this instance; for it is understood that he has never ceased to feel the situation in which his Government placed him with reference to Genoa. What, indeed, could be more galling to a liberal and enlightened statesman than to be made the instrument of a Smithfield transfer of a whole nation to slavery? what could be more galling to an high-minded soldier, than to be made the mouth-piece of a treacherous and despicable lie? But it will never do to get upon the transfer of Genoa, for I have resolved, for this while, to make trêve à la politique. B. FABLE. THE BEAR, THE MONKEY, AND THE HOG. (From the Spanish of Don Tomas Yriarte.) A BEAR, whose hinder feet were train'desta 200 m laudje * Though rudely taught to rear and dance. fi do wybi Before an Ape he show'd his skill, Is bad;---and also to discern---` $ Is worse, when Folly dares applaud, cl We should not be dealing honestly with our Readers, if we longer delayed to notice the absence of the Indicator from our columns. While there was a prospect of the continuance of these papers, we filled up, in the best manner we could, the vacuum occasioned by their suspension; but that prospect no longer exists. This publication was set up chiefly as a vehicle for the resumption of the Indicator :— health and other circumstances now prevent anything like regular contribution from its Author; and we are therefore compelled, notwithstanding the very promising degree of support it has obtained, to discontinue it. -ill The present number is the last; and as it concludes the half-yearly Volume, a Title-page and Index are given to complete it. Our Subscribers may procure complete sets, or any single numbers, by giving orders to their booksellers, or by application to the publisher. In consequence of this discontinuance, the occasional Literary Notices" will be resumed in the Examiner Newspaper, particularly those of Lord Byron's forthcoming Works. LONDON:-Published by HENRY L. HUNT, 38, Tavistock-street, Covent-garden, and 22, Old Bond-street. Price Fourpence; or, if stamped for country circulation free of postage, Sevenpence. Sold by all Booksellers and Newsvenders in town and country. Printed by C. W. REYNELL, Broad-street, Golden-square. INDEX. HT (WAY CHOM THI THE INDICATOR.-My Books, 1, 17... William Lentile and Thomas Walt, 33....On the Suburbs of Genoa and the Country about London, 97, 113....On the Latin Poems of Milton, 129, 145, 161....La Bella Tabaccaia, 178....The Spirit Seer, 209, 225, 241. REVIEW OF BOOKS.-Don Juan, Cantos VI. VII. VIII. 6, 23....Sketches in Bedlam, 12....Hayley's Memoirs of Himself, 13....Characteristics, in the manner of Rochefoucault's Maxims, 27....Napoleon's Memoirs, 29, 310....Manuscript of 1814; by Baron Fain, 29....Memorable Days in America; by W. Faux, an English Farmer, 31. ....Historical View of the Literature of the South of Europe; by J. C. L. Simonde de Sismondi; translated by Thomas Roscoe, Esq. 37....Goethe's Faust; translated by Lord F. L. Gower, 38....The Fourth Number of the Liberal, 49....Ancient Spanish Ballads; by J. G. Lockhart, 58.... Don Juan, Cantos IX. X. XI. 65, 81, 105, 120.... Willan Stuart Rose's Translation of Orlando Furioso, 68....Flora Domestica, or the Portable Flower-Garden, 70....Memoir of John Aiken; by Lucy Aiken, 110....Popular Tales and Romances of the Northern Nations, 123....Memoirs of a Young Greek, or Madam Panam and the Duke of Coburg, 138....Count Las Casas' Journal of the Private Life and Conversations of the Emperor Napoleon, 150....A View of France, published in 1604, 193....Fulvius Valens, a Tragedy, 257....Adrastus, a Tragedy: by R. C. Dallas, 257....Matins and Vespers, with Hymns and Occasional Devotional Pieces, by John Bowring, 273.....Don Juan, Cantos XII. XIII. XIV. 289,305,321,337. Journal of a Ten Months' Residence in New Zealand, by Captain Cruise, 294.... Koningsmarke, the Long Finne, a Story of the New World, 325....Travels through Part of the United States and Canada, in 1818 and 1819, by John Duncan, 341, 353. Dr. Alderson's Essay on Apparitions, 362....Ultra-Crepidarius, a Satire on William Gifford, by Leigh Hunt, 369....The Fall of Constantinople, a Poem, with a Preface respecting the conduct of the Royal Society of Literature; by Jacob Jones, 373.... Landseer's Sabæan Researches, 376....Percy Mallory, by the Author of Pen Owen, 385....The Spae-Wife, by the Author of Ringan Gilhaize, &c. 401. POETRY.-The Author's Song, for the Poets' Catch Club, 16....Mysteries and Moralities, 32....Sonnet, partly suggested by a passage in Sacontala, 79,... To the Grasshopper, from Anacreon, 79....Sonnet to Minerva, 79....A Blessed Spot, 80....Stanzas to a Lady, 144....Eudoneirion, 160....Sonnet to Percy Shelley, 192....On Parting with my Books, 207... Stanzas, 207.... de 1972. To the Evening Star, from the Greek to an Insect, 207....L- Castle, 224....The Pope and Paradise, 253....Immortality, of Bion, 240....The House of Mourning, an Elegy, 287....Solace in Sorrow, 336....To the Dog which sleeps at the foot of the Titian Venus, 368....Stanzas to a Fly that had survived the Winter of 1822, 383..... From an unfinished Poem called the Labyrinth of Dreams, 399....The Bear, the Monkey, and the Hog, a fable, 412. MISCELLANIES.---Blackwood's Magazine, 15....Autographs, 48....King Richard I. a Troubadour, 61....Characteristics, 63....Judging of Pictures, 72....Eve and the Serpent, 75....Character of Burke, 76....French Court Etiquette, 85....Prince Hohenlohe-the Royal Touch, 87.... Academical Flattery, 88....The Holy Inquisition, 90.... Bashfulness, 91....Curious Coincidence-Roman and Tartarian Pontiffs, 168....The Inn at Upton, 204....Dr. Burnet's Apology for Moses, 215....Galileo on Tasso, 232.... Mr. Irving and the "Caledonian," 259.... Female Infanticide, 265.... The Neapolitan Bandit, 276....Jove and the Sinners, a fable, 302....The First Chapter of the Travels of Truth, 314....The Nightingale and the Crow, a fable, 315....The Sojournment of Jupiter, a fable, 315.... Country Church-yards, 348...Theory, 366.... The Cottage, 390 ....On Obsolete and Obscure Writers, 393....On Imitation in the Arts of Design, 406 ....A Few Words on Genoa, 408. 7 TABLE-TALK, consisting of Literary Chit-chat, and short extracts of a curious and amusing kind, with an original introduction or application; 93, 111, 126, 143, 158, 1 74, 189, 221, 252, 271, 285, 302, 319, 335, 380. CONVERSATIONS OF THE DEAD, No. 1. On Patronage of Art in Great Britain: Interlocutors, Reynolds, West, Barry, Opie, Sir Thomas Bernard, 43---No. 2. Same subject: Interlocutors, Sir Thomas Barnard, Opie, Barry, 185---No. 3. Same subject---Haydon and Turner: Interlocutors, Barry, Tresham, West, Opie, 200---No. 4. Same subject: Interlocutors, Opie, Tresham, West, 248.---Nos. 5 and 6. On the Morality of Paradise Lost: Interlocutors, Socrates and Milton, 279, 330. COMMON PLACES, 156, 172, 239, 268, 300, S16, 335, + 351, 378. |