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Leader (1850-1860), 17th December 1859, Edition 1 of 2, Page 1372, Untitled Article

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      under which Italy lias ever since groaned , to a greater or less degree . In 152 S , Francesco di Luca , a member of the Corsini family and captain of the Gruelph party , was one of that small but renowed baud of men who defended their country with the utmost zeal and disinterestedness during the memorable siege of Florence . After tire capitulation of the city , he was sent with others to the imperial camp as a hostage for the performthe

      ance of the stipulated conditions . Upon 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 . Oetavius , Archbishop of Torso , was sent as Papal Nuncio to France by Gregory XT . 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 Till ., and made , Prefect of the Romagna and F / xarchate of Ravenna . Neri , his nephew , Archbishop oC 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 JTeri . 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 , Tinder the title of Clement XII ., and is equally celebrated in history as prince and pontiff * . H e 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 refbi-m many of the abuses of the preceding reign , to replenish and restore order to the finances , which had been

      nearly exhausted by the malversation of Cardinal Coscia , whom he caused to be confined in the castle of St . Angelo and undergo a rigorous examination . The war , of which Italy was the centre during his pontificate , caused him much embarrassment . The presence of the Imperial and Spanish ti'oops 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 . He 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 , Bartolommco and Neri Maria , resided at his Court , and were distinguished personages in the eig hteenth century . The former , disappointed in his expectations of the crown of Parma and of Florence , followed Charles III . to Naples , and was sent as viceroy to Sicily , where he distinguished himself for his wisdom , and ability during the prevalence of the pestilence . Neri had much inuuenco in the election of Benedict XIT , and Clement XIII . and XIT . Ho was an earnest opponent of the Jesuits , and had the reputation of being a Jansenist , which sect 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 Bartolommoo and Lorenzo were counsellors of state to Joseph II . and Pietro Leopoldo . From the former are desoendotl the Corsini of the present century , Don Tominaseo and his son , Don Neri , whose untimely death has just occurred . Tommaseo was appointed by the Grand Dukes ambassador to the First Consul of

      the French Republic . He was also the ambassador of Maria Louisa of , Bourbon , Queon of Etruria , at Milan , at the coronation of the Emperor Napoleon as King of Italy , and v / aa a senator of Paria during the Frenoh empire . After the arrangement ^ of Italian affairs , following the Congress of Vienna , Don Tommaseo returned to Tuscany , where be wns reinstated in the oflicos

      and emoluments he had enjoyed before the change of government . Pius IX . made him a senator of Borne 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 appi'eciated his intelligence and probity . On the Pope ' s departure for Gaeta , Don Tommaseo quitted office , and , although sympathising with the Liberal party , retired into private life . In 1852 he returned to Rome , and became a member of the Financial Gonsulta . lie died on the

      6 th January , 1856 , leaving four sons . Don Neri , Marquis of Lhjatico , was born in 181 O , 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 again 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 by Fuga . Among many pictures of value , its walls exhibit the " Ecce Homo ! " of Guercino ; the "Holy Family" Bartolommeo ; Raffaelle ' s " Fornarina , " repainted by Giulio Romano ; " Paul III . whea 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 .

      Untitled Article

      NEW 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 bo put an cud 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 Furnival's Inn , and from that extension , in Gray ' s Inn-lane , a line direct across to Tokenhouse-yard . 4 th . The Central Railway , which proposes to convert the Rogont ' S Canal into a railway ; and also to form extensive docks in addition to the one at Limehouse . *

      In noticing these various projects , wo shall limit our remarks to the point—Jiow do they each provide for giving the Londoners ready access to the railway stations , and relieve the streets of the present overcrowded traffic ? The Meti'opolitan Company , although their Acts have been long obtained , have , as yet , not put a spade into the ground , but we hear that they are about to begin . The Corporation of London is p ledged to give certain support to this scheme , as it embodies means of joining the Cattle Market , at Islington , with the new Dead Meat Market , about to be erected in .. Smithfield .

      This railway is to begin at the Groat Western station at Paddingtori , and proceed by tunnel along the New-road to King's-croas , and thence by open cutting to Victoria-street , at the foot of Holborn-hill . JNTow , the tunnel portion wo take to be the groat didioulty of tho Ooinpanyit cannot bo leys than two miles and-a-half—and would cause , during its formation , the entire disruption of the New-road : as wo suppose 'it can only bo done by making a trench ; for tunnelling this made subsoil is out of tho question ; and we think few travellers would uso this modO j instead of , ae at present , by omnibus or other vehicle . Tho City of London Railway ( Mr . Boll ' s ) was

      propounded to the Select Committee on Railway Communication , presided over by Mr . " \ V . Jackson , and is reported in the blue-book ' issued by that Committee . It proposes to unite tlie Great Western , North Western , Great Northern , and Eastern Counties by its line , and make a "reat station in front of Fore-street , close to INIooro- ate by which means we judge that a traveller nu < rht from the heart of the City , reach Paddington in twenty minutes . We think , also , it would Tend to relieve the City of its over crowded traffic . Bv . 1 T"fc . . « I . . il - ¦ J 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 property of the poorest description—* the back-slums of Miltonstreet . By the map we see that from Cumberlandbasin the canal is only half-a-niile from Portlandplace , an extension of this portion , which by consent of the Government , could easily be made , would be a great boon to tho 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 portion 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 . AVe understand this scheme is likely to meet with powerful opposition . Lastly comes the Central * or another scheme for usinor the Iteif cut's canal ; but it offers no

      accommodation for either the city or west-end traveller . The dock element will cause the dock companies to oppose it : and as it presents no proposal to relieve London of the inconvenient traflic , it is not likely to meet the approval of the Board of Trade . Looking at the map of London and the several plans in question vc 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 timnol fronil siudington to Kinjjfs-cross , and continuing its line from the Cattle-market to Victoria-street and Sinithficld , join Mr . Bell ' s line at Maiden-lane . By ,, this means there maybe three stations to supply the wants of the . metropolis—viz ., Mbory ; iite , Farringdon-strcct , and Portland-place ; and the ttvvct ? , we take it , would be released of a huM of' Paddington 'busses , besides railway vans without count .

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      LETTERS F R O Al 1 T A L \ . ( FROM A CONTKlItLTOH . ) Fj . okknck . There is no use in painting the devil lilack ^ -and by the same rule , even the ( jirnud Puke of Tuscany deserves his due . No good is dom > to the liberal cause by denying plain fact s ami , however impressed you may bo with the principles of civil and religious freedom , and the inherent rights <> t man , you cannot deny that , in material iv . < nccts , Tuscany must have been a well-govonie . l i / oiinlry . Of course , if a Liberal stranger looks at everything through " Casa Guidi" windows , he will form a hiirhlv noetical conception of the wronu H of Italy ,

      but if he walks out along tlie country roails alone , as I have done , I think hi . s opinion : ! will be considerably modified . Theory In all very well , but fact is better ; and I contend , in depute «> f all guinsayers , that good roads , clean , wcll-furnirilieu ^ cottages , stout , Jiealthy children , wull-stockeil Jurnis , and absence of priests and bc ^ gara , are symptom : ) inconsistent with the existence of lon ^ -emumueu misgovcrnmont and oppression . I know tlnu there are people who hold that material comfort u a positive injury to a nation , unless eoinumou with moral freedom . I havo constantly met travellers who have gone through tho lony ; lli ofFnuicc ,

      and witnessed the vast progress and improvem * - ' "' going on in every part of tho country , under t »" present regime , and yet only < leiluee ^ tliorcfrom , conclusions , as to the moral do ^ radalioii ol y " French , who thrive boncath tho JCmpire . A" * can say is , that I don ' t agroo with them . Coup U ' otuts and paternal dospotiamq . nro w 1 ' ) ' , things , undoubtedly , but ; national coiafuvt »"" prosperity nro , still more certainly , good tiling-People may , or may not , agroo with tliotie , viuws of miuo , but tho admisHion that tlio Graml JJueiu Government of Tuscany'was , for tlio built ° * "j > onulation , substantially a good one , is tlio only

      Untitled Article

      1372 THE LEADER [ Ho . 508 . Dec . 17 , 1859 .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 17, 1859, page 1372, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2325/page/16/