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    I372 THE LEADER. [No. 508. Dec. 17, 1859...

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    propounded to the Select Committee on Ra...

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    LETTERS F R O M I T A L Y. (fUOM A CO . ...

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    Looking At Secondary Causes, However, Bu...

    under which Italy has ever since groaned , to a greater or less degree . In 1528 , Francesco di Luca , a member of the Corsini family and captain of the Guelph party , was one of that small but renowed band of men who defended their country with the utmost zeal and disinterestedness during the memorable siege of Florence . After the capitulation of the city , he was sent with others to the imperial camp as a hostage for the performance of the stipulated conditions . Upon the

    establishment of the principality he -was banished to the kingdom of Naples . He was afterwards declared a rebel , a price was set upon his head , and his property confiscated because , when the Florentines took up arms against the Medici , he quitted his exile to join their ranks . He . is said to have been among the flower of the free city of Florence . He loved it most disinterestedly , and was in return ardently beloved by the people for his exemplary conduct .

    In the seventeenth century many members of the Corsini family held offices connected with the grand ducal court . Octavius , Archbishop of Torso , was sent as Papal Nuncio to France by Gregory XV . The Imperial library of Paris contains a letter written by him to Louis XIII ., in which Corsini urges the king to continue the war against the Huguenots . He was recalled by Urban VIII ., and made Prefect of the Roniagna and Exarchate of Ravenna . Neri , his nephew , Archbishop of Damiata , afterwards CardinaL Nuncio to the Court of France in 1652 ,

    and Legate to Ferrara in 1688 , much distinguished himself , as also ' did Filippo , the son . of Neri . He travelled over Europe . with Ferdinand II ., rather as a friend than a courtier , and wrote an account of his travels . He loved and patronized letters and the arts , and was one of the most conspicuous of the Crusca Academicians . Lorenzo , the brother of Filippo , became Pope , under the title of Clement X . H ., and is equally celebrated in history as prince and pontiff . He was born April 7 , 1652 ; was made Cardinal , May 17 , 1706 ; Bishop of Frascati in 1725 ; and elected Pope in July , 1730 . His first care was to reform many of the abuses of the preceding reign , to replenish and restore order to the finances , which had been

    and emoluments he had enjoyed . before the change of government . Pius IX . made him a senator of Rome in 1847 and 1848 : In the exercise of' his functions he acquired the affection of the Roman populace , and the esteem of the Pontiff * who highly appreciated his intelligence and probity . On the Pope ' s departure for Gaeta , Don Tomimseo quitted office , and , although sympathising with the Liberal party , retired into private life . In 1 S 52 he returned to Rome , and became a member of the Financial Consulta . He died on the

    6 th January , 1856 , leaving four sons . Don Neri , Marquis of Lnjatico , was bora in 1810 , and early entered the Tuscan military ranks . His political life only began in 1847 . Major-General and Governor of Leghorn , he was one of those who warmly advised the Duke to grant a constitution before he was compelled to do so by revolutionary pressure . After the disquietudes of 1848 , he retired to Piedmont , and took no part in diplomatic business until the affairs of his country ajrain demanded his services early in the present

    year . The palace of the Corsini at Rome is well known to English visitors . It is one of the most beautiful buildings of its kind , is situated in the Lungara , not far from the Porta Settimana , and was built from designs b y Fuga . Among many pictures of value , its walls exhibit the "Ecce Homo ! " of Guercino ; the " Holy Family" of Bartolommeo ; Raffaelle's ¦ " Fbrnarina , " repainted by Giulio Romano ; "Paul III . when Cardinal , " and Murillo ' s celebrated " Virgin . "

    We can only hope that this illustrious family , some members of which still remain at Florence , will be as rich in descendants as it has been in ancestors , ever ready to promote the welfare and glory , not only of Florence , but of the whole Italian peninsula .

    nearly exhausted by the malversation of Cardinal Coscia , whom he caused to be confined in the castle of St . Arigelo and undergo a rigorous examination . The war , of which Italy was the centre during his pontificate , caused hini much embarrassment . The presence of the Imperial and Spanish troops was so great a burden upon the inhabitants of the provinces that ,, in order to lighten their grievances , he partly furnished supplies from his private treasury , and thus won the regard of his subjects . lie ably and honourably directed the church for nearly ten years ; had the reputation , of being pious , just , and beneficent , and died Feb . 6 , 1740 .

    The two nephews of Clement , Bartolommeo and Neri Maria , resided at his Court , and were distinguished personages in the eighteenth century . The former , disappointed in his expectations of the crown of Ptirma and of Florence , followed Charles III . to Naples , and was sent as viceroy to Sicily , where ho distinguished himself for his wisdom and ability during the prevalence of the pestilence . Neri had much influence in the

    eleotion of Benedict XIV . and Clement XIII . and XIV- He was an earnest opponent of the Jesuits , and had the reputation of being a Janscnist , which aeot perhaps maintains as large a proportion of Scriptural truth as is compatible with adherence to Romanism . In 1745 Charles III . recalled him to Naples , and chose him as president of the ministerial council . He was made a Spanish grandee of the first rank by Philip V . in 1739 . His death took place in 1752 .

    In the next generation Bartolommeo and Lorenzo were counsellors of state to Joseph II . nnd Pietro Leopoldo . From the former are descended the Corsini of the present century , Don Tommaseo and his eon , Don Neri , whoso untimely death has pust occurred ,. Tommaseo was appointed by tlie Grand Duke ambassador to the First Consul of the French Republic . He was also the am bassador of Maria Louisa of Bourbon , Quoen of Etruria , at Milan , at tho coronation of the Emperor Napoleon as King of Italy , and was a senator of Paris during the French empire . After the arrangement of Italian affairs , following the Oon-4 Tees of Vienna , Don Tommasoo returned to usenny , where he was reinstated in the offices

    I372 The Leader. [No. 508. Dec. 17, 1859...

    I 372 THE LEADER . [ No . 508 . Dec . 17 , 1859 .

    Propounded To The Select Committee On Ra...

    propounded to the Select Committee on Railway Communication , presided over by Mr . W . Jackson , and is reported in the blue-book issued by that Committee . It pi-oposes to unite the Great Western , North Western , Great Northern , and Eastern Counties by its line , and make a <* reat station in front of Fore-street , close to Moor ^ ate by which means we judge that a traveller irno-ht from the heart of the City , reach Paddington in twenty minutes . We think , also , it would fend to relieve the City of its over crowded traffic , liv the canal there is

    Regent's- portion no destruction of property . It also proposes to make a direct line by open cutting from the basin of the canal in the City-road to Fore-street ( some 360 yards from the Bank of England ) through propert y of the poorest description—the baek-shinis of Miltonstreet . By the map we see that from Cumberlandbasin the canal is only half-a-mile from Portlandplace , an extension of this portion , which by consent of the Government , could easil y be made would be a great boon to the west-end of London . The scheme of the Great Northern being for the exclusive use of one Company , is objectionable , and it must be very costly , as a great portio n of the property is valuable . But , knowing the locality of its terminus , we do not see how the traffic it brings is to be dispersed ; all the streets thereabouts are narrow and over-crowded at the present time . We understand this scheme is likely to meet with powerful opposition . Lastly comes the Central , or another sche me for using the Regent ' s canal ; but it offers no accommodation for either the city or west-iMitl traveller . The dock clement will cause the dock companies to oppose it : and as it presents no proposal to

    relieve London of the inconvenient trnfh ' e , it is not likely to meet the approval of the Hoard of Trade . Looking at the map of London and the-several plans in question we cannot but think -that a fusion of the Metropolitan and the City of London would accomplish all that can be ' desired . Let the former , abandoning its tunnel from Paiddington to King ' s-cros-s , nnd continuing its line from the Cattle-market to Yietoriu-rftreet and ttinithfield , join Mr . Bell ' s line at- Maiden-lane . Hy this means there may be three stations to supply the wants of the metropolis—viz .. * Moor ^ ate , Farringdon-street , and Portland-place ; nnd the street ? , we take it , would be released of a ho .-ft . oi" ^ Psul - dington 'busses , besides railway vans without count . I ^ M ^ M ^ IIIWHIIIWMIIW

    NEAV METROPOLITAN" RAILWAYS . We observe that there are several schemes to be laid before the Parliament next session , which have different modes of supplying what all must feel to be a great desideratum . It takes a City man , now , an hour to travel by omnibus from the Bank to the Great Western—as long as his journey from that station to Reading , forty miles , distant . 'Tis time this anomaly should be put aii end to . The schemes which we are now about to notice are on the north side of the Thames ; the southern side stations are more easily accessible . 1 st . The Metropolitan Railway , for the construction of which Acts have been already

    granted . 2 nd . The City of London Railway ( Mr . Richd . Bell ' s scheme ) . This proposes to purchase the Regent ' s Canal , and using the entire line of route to Limehouse , convert it into a railway , and , by a cutting , from the City-road to Moorgate . 3 rd . The Great Northern Railway proposition , to extend their line to Furnivat ' s Inu , and from that extension , in Gray's Inn-lane , a lino direct across to Tokenhouse-yard . 4 th . The Central Railway-, which proposes to convert the Regent ' s Canal into a railway ; and also to form extensive docks in addition to the one at Limehouse .

    In noticing these various projects , we shall limit our remarks to the point—how do they each provide for giving the Londoners ready access to the railway stations , and relieve the streets of the present overcrowded traflio ? The Metropolitan Company , although their Acts have been long obtained , have , as . yet , not put a spado into the ground , but we hear that they arc aoout to begin . The Corporation of London ib p ledged to ' give certain support to this scheme , as it embodies moans of joining the Cattle Market , at Islington , with the now Dead Meat Market , about to bo erected in Smithfield .

    I his railway is to begin at tho Groat Western station at Paddington , and proceed by tunnel along the New-road to King ' s-cross , and thence by open cutting to Victoria-street , at tho foot of Ilolborn-hill ; Now , tho tunnelportion wo take to bo the groat diilioulty of tho Companyit cannot bo loss than two miles andTtt-hajf—and would cause , during its formation , the entire disruption of the New-road i as wo suppose it oan only bo done by making a trench 5 for tunnelling this made subsoil is out of the question ; and we think few travellers would use this modo , instead of , as at present , by omnibus or other vehicle . The City of London Railway ( Mr . Bell's ) was

    Letters F R O M I T A L Y. (Fuom A Co . ...

    LETTERS F R O M I T A L Y . ( fUOM A CO . NTRIHL'TOH . ) Fl . OltKNCK . There is no usu in painting the- devil lihu-k ^ nnd by the same rule , even the Grand D-uke of Tuscany deserves his due . No good is done to the liberal cause , by denying plain fju-t .-, : in < l , however impressed you may bu with tlie prineiplcs of civil and religious freedom , nnd the inherent rights ot man , you ennnot deny that , in material rospocLs , Tuscany must have Leon a well-governed country . Of ' course , if a Liberal stranger looks ut everything through " Casa Guidi" window : * , lie will lorin a highly poetical conception of the wron ^ of Italy , but if he walks out along Uuj country nun Is alone , as I have done , I , ' thinking opinion * will be considerably modified . Theory is nil very well , but fact is better ; and I contend , in despite of nllguinaayers , that good roads , clean , well-furnished cottages , stout , healthy children , well-stocked farms , and absence of priests and beggnrs , arc . symp toms inconsistent with the existences oi lung-contnuicU m ' wgovernmcnt and oppression . t know tluu there are people who hold that material oonuortis a positive injury to a nation , unless combined with moral freedom . I have eou .-ituntly met tnivdlers who have gone through the . length oi'l' ranee , and witnessed the vast progress anil improvomciu going on in every part of the country , under tll ° present regifne , and yet only di'dnoe therofroi " , conclusions , as to the moral degradation <> lt » u French , . who thrive beiioath tliu ICinphv . All y oaii say is , that I don't agroo with them . <• ¦ <"'/ iVetats and paternal dospotiHinw are- \^' O' lm . things , undoubtedly , but national oomiort uim prosperity arc , atill more uurtaiuly , good thing ; ' - People may , or may not , agroo with tbeno vJu ^ a of mine , but the admission thut tlio Oniml ljuciu Government of Tuscany wan , for the bulk oi tno population , substantially a good one , in '' ol 11 '

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 17, 1859, page 16, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_17121859/page/16/