on the beautiful beach at the Chiaja, and, taking up one of these sansculottes, would throw him, with the greatest violence, into the water

(perhaps the only washing the fellow had ever received)—and would then jump in after him, and bring him safe on shore. It was this freak of his Neapolitan majesty which gave birth to the immortal Canova's two figures of Hercules flinging Lichas into the sea, now in the possession of the banker Turloni, at Rome. What, then, can rationally be expected from a nation which, for more than half a century, has been taught in such a school, and by such a preceptor?

"On the last night of the Carnival, Ferdinand would go to the beautiful theatre San Carlo, and, ordering a dish of maccaroni to be brought him, scalding hot, and mixed up with oil, cheese, beef-gravy and what not, from one of the upper boxes, when the pit was crowded with spectators, all attentive to the opera or ballet, he would throw the greasy mess, by handfuls, on his loving subjects; and those who wished to be particularly noticed by the monarch, would tumble head over heels, and scramble to pick up some of it to eat. All which the king would heartily enjoy, and would laugh most immoderately at those who appeared concerned and vexed at beholding the unctuous marks of royal favour on their holiday-suits.

"The queen, who would be sitting in her private box, would generally retire from the front, and now and then peep out, as if she was unwilling to shew herself until the kingly sport was all over. As soon as Ferdinand had entirely got rid of the contents of his dish, he would enter her majesty's box, which was immediately over the stage, and would there receive the most unbounded applauses for the feats he had achieved, and some of the Lazzaroni in the pit would hold up to him large pieces of the maccaroni; upon which he would make the queen step forward to share in the public approbation bestowed on these his princely amusements." Vol. II. p. 50.

We are surprised to find so little said of the celebrated Lady Hamilton in these gossiping volumes. The Italian life of that woman would form one of the most curious volumes in the compass of biography. Considering the lowness, misfortunes, and desperate associations of her early career, perhaps no woman of her time, nor of any other, exhibited a more singular rise, or more singular powers for sustaining the rank to which she had been so strangely raised. Her private conduct, from the time of her becoming a wife, was, we believe, unimpeachable, and her public influence was certainly directed with unwearied perseverance, dexterity, and good-will to the cause of England. We will not say that her services were ill requited, because we have a strong reliance on the justice of the English government, but it must be allowed, that whatever the private reasons of ministers might have been, they never divulged satisfactory grounds for refusing the pension, which Nelson

scarcely less than bought and bequeathed to her, by his last and greatest victory. The story here told of her marriage, exhibited artifice enough, (if it be true) but still an artifice far from unpardonable in her difficult situation, and with the fear of the king's attentions, and the hope of Sir William's alliance before her.

"However, to the kindness of the Queen of Naples, united to her own consummate address, had Lady Hamilton been indebted for her good fortune. The following anecdote, which was related to me by her mother, accompanied with much mirth at the deception so ably played off, has been frequently confirmed by Lady Hamilton herself, as well as part of it by Sir William, and may be depended on as a fact. Miss Emma Cadogan-for that was her name, at least the one which her reputed mother caused her to go by-when she first came to Naples, was sent by Sir William Hamilton, to be improved in her education, to a convent at Caserta. Walking out one day in the royal gardens, her personal charms attracted considerable notice. They became the subject of general conversation at court; and, among numerous other dilettanti, they excited the curiosity of a certain personage, who, as is usual on such occasions, employed some of his dragomanni to inform him the very next time she made her appearance the royal gardens.

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"One day, when Emma was taking a walk as usual with the female who had the charge of her, she was accosted by the personage in question. He was so completely struck with her for she was no less beautiful in form than she was engaging in manners-that he followed her and solicited a private interview, which was peremptorily refused. He, however, succeeded in gaining over the female belonging to the convent who attended her, to contrive to walk with her in a part of the gardens where they would be less observed; and he there made her very seducing offers. But she refused to listen to any verbal promises, and requested he would commit to paper the proposition which he had, viva voce, made her.

"Not in the least suspecting her intentions, the personage in question complied. As soon, however, as Emma was in possession of the desired instrument, she sought an interview with the queen. The opportunity soon presenting itself, Emma fell upon her knees before her majesty, and humbly implored her, with tears in her eyes, to condescend to hear what she had to communicate. To which the queen consenting, she assured her majesty, that she wished to seclude herself from the world, by taking the veil, provided Sir William Hamilton did not intend to marry her; by doing which she said she should escape the seducing temptations to which she was constantly exposed. That the queen might judge of the sincerity of her declaration, she artfully presented her majesty with the paper given to her by the abovementioned incognito; for such she represented him to be.

"At the sight of the document, which she instantly knew to be the

king's hand-writing, her majesty was delighted at seeing so young and beautiful a creature so disinterested, and virtuously preferring a life of seclusion to the pleasures of becoming the mistress of a monarch. Scarcely could Emma refrain from laughing outright, to think how completely she had imposed on her majesty, by making her believe that it was her intention to become a nun; though the tears were at the moment trickling down her cheeks. Which said tears, however, as she repeatedly told me, were occasioned by an onion which she had taken the precaution to conceal in her handkerchief, the better to enable her to carry on the farce.

"The queen had retired a few steps, for the purpose of reading the whole of the letter. During which time,' said Lady Hamilton, 'I was on my marrow-bones in the garden.' Her majesty then came up. to her, and commanding her to rise, assured her, that if Sir William Hamilton did not engage to make her his wife, within the space of four and twenty hours, she would provide for her a retreat in a convent, according to her wishes. Taking then a valuable ring from her. finger, her majesty presented it to the fair supplicant, in return for the confidence she had so disinterestedly reposed in her; and on reaching the palace, she sent immediately for Sir William Hamilton. "As might be expected, the result was in implicit compliance with: the wishes of a supplicating queen, in behalf of his amorosa. It is very probable, that Sir William only wanted a stimulus of this kind, to justify him in putting into execution an act which he had long meditated, and which he was only deterred from doing, from the fear of forfeiting the high favour which he enjoyed at court, and with it his situation, as well as a dread of the ridicule to which he should be subjected, from the disparity between the parties, both in point of birth and of years. But, having thus obtained the royal sanction, he got the better of every other scruple; and, sending for Miss Emma, informed her, in the presence of the queen, that she was now the wife of his choice, and should, without loss of time, be made so by law. At this sudden and unexpected piece of good fortune the young lady fainted with joy, and was not relieved until a sea of copious pearls, which some call tears,' came to her assistance.

"From that moment, however, Lady Hamilton, in consequence of her beauty, her talents, and her good conduct, enjoyed the esteem of every one who was acquainted with her, and became the confidential companion of the Queen of Naples; and even the old ruffiana, as the king used to call the mother of Lady Hamilton, was frequently sent for to make tea for her majesty at the palace." Vol. II. p. 66.

The following anecdote is worth recording, as a curious coincidence. It is not, however, unlikely that modern art assisted in this prophetic likeness.

Having mentioned the great man who, in the year 800, became emperor of the west by right of conquest, I must here be allowed to

relate a short anecdote. In the cathedral at Aix-la-Chapelle there is deposited, among other curiosities, a cameo of an onyx, about the size of a crown-piece, on which is a likeness, in basso relievo, of the son of Charlemagne, which really resembles Buonaparte, as much as if it had been intended for him, and far more than many of the portraits which he has himself sat for to Andrea Appiani, of Milan, who has painted him, at his own request, in all the striking stages of his career, and in all his imperial costumes. This cameo, when he was at Aix-la-Chapelle, Buonaparte had copied; and that copy was the identical medallion which he wore as the real likeness of Charlemagne. But that, however, was not the fact, as the original is still to be seen in that chapel; where the story was told to me by one of the keepers of the antiques. It must now be nearly a thousand years since it was executed.

"This cameo, on his arrival at Dresden, Buonaparte shewed as the head of Charlemagne. He told the Saxons, that in the year 803, they had submitted to his likeness, exhibiting it from his neck, around which it was suspended by way of triumph; as Charlemagne had behaved towards the people of Saxony with excessive cruelty. This Buonaparte did, in revenge for the insults they had offered to Lavalette, who had been his democratical ambassador, and for the little respect they had paid him, previous to his being made emperor of France, and raising the electorate into a kingdom. Ludovico Widemann, a Venetian nobleman who died in Russia, assured me he was present when this conversation took place at Pilnitz, the country residence of the king of Saxony; as did also Alvise Mocenigo, who was charged with the mission to the Pope, the anecdote respecting the coronation." Vol. II. p. 244.

Thus goes on the work, detailing incidents, observations, witticisms, and in some instances scandals. The author, the Marchioness Solari, an English woman domesticated in Italy till, whatever her heart be, her manners, conceptions, and remembrances, are thoroughly Italian, has evidently gathered together all the strange things that passed across her memory. Of these, some are extremely amusing, some probably false, many unquestionably true, and a few perfectly deserving of suppression. An English eye cast over a reprint of her book, would be of the highest use to its real value, and its general reception. It is, however, these drawbacks excepted, the most readable book that we have lately seen on Italy.

Sermons on the principal Events and Truths of Redemption. To which are annexed, an Address and Dissertation on the State of the Departed, and the Descent of Christ into Hell. By JOHN Henry HOBART, D.D. Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the State of New York, Professor of Pastoral Theology and Pulpit Eloquence in the General Theological Seminary, and Rector of Trinity Church, and St. Paul's and St. John's Chapels, in the City of New York. 2 vols. 8vo. London. Rivingtons. 1824.

We have transcribed the title-page of this work at length, that the reader's attention may be drawn to it, by a consideration of the distinguished stations and appointments held by the learned author on the other side of the Atlantic. The Sermons of a Professor of Pulpit Eloquence, alone would be novelties in their way; but the learned author is, it seems, Professor also of Pastoral Theology, a Minister of Churches and Chapels, and a Bishop. The style and manner of his Sermons, therefore, are but secondary considerations, even as the productions of a Professor of Pulpit Eloquence; the doctrines must be examined, if we would form a right judgment of his pastoral theology and episcopal competency; and in the two last particulars it happens that the publication comes before the world in the shape of an appeal, and we think a very interesting one; it would be doing an injustice to the Bishop not to state it in his own terms. The following, therefore, is the substance of the short Preface which accompanies these volumes.

"The publication of Sermons, in England, by an American Clergyman, may require explanation.

"It being deemed necessary by his friends, that the author of these Sermons should enjoy a relaxation from the duties and cares of an extensive diocese and parish, and for this purpose should visit Europe, he followed the example, as he presumes, of most clergymen under such circumstances, and took with him some Sermons; not with any intention of publishing them, but in order to be prepared to exercise the functions of his ministry, in any case, should the state of his health admit, in which this duty might reasonably be expected from him. On his arrival in England, he found that, in various publications, some of them extensively circulated, the charge is alleged against the great body of the Bishops and Clergy of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, of not faithfully inculcating the distinguishing doctrines of the Gospel; and the author is ranked by name