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of public revenue. In a certain port of Sicily, some years since, when the poor were literally dying of hunger, in consequence of the scarcity of bread, a Danish vessel arrived laden with corn; it was proposed to sell a part of the cargo, as damaged, at a low price to the poor; to execute this was, however, impossible, the senate alledging that they had enough, and that the patrimony would suffer. They received official letters of approbation from the Tribunal of Patrimony at Palermo, and, after all, finished by buying the same corn at the low price before fixed on it: it was afterwards sold as dear as all the rest to the inhabitants.

Courts of Justice. It is necessary to say a few words on the courts of justice, civil and criminal. Of the first there are two, viz. the Tribunal Concistoro, and the Gran Corte. In each of these a lawsuit may be heard five times over, and the last decision is generally given in such undefined and equivocal terms, that it often is the cause of a fresh suit. The barefaced manner in which the judges sport with the happiness and property of the subject, must excite the indignation of every honest mind. The judge receives private visits from both parties, who go to inform his worship on the cause, and they are not confronted until it is brought to a public hearing, when there is so much falsehood to sift and disembroil, and the cause which was at first clear and simple, has become so puzzled, that it seems impossible to decide it. This occasions the necessity of putting off the hearing; and the judge at last decides by sending a written sentence, not from the tribunal where he sits, but from his own house; nor is it made public but by report. Hence it has not the effect of a decision pronounced in full court, and gives to the judge the facility of deciding rather according to his present interest than his own conscience.

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The salaries of the judges are trifling, and the fees are multiplied by the length of the suit; so that litigation is calculated here to ruin all, and vindicate none. Many lawsuits finish by a compromise between the parties, where the power and influence are nearly equal ; · when not so, the weakest must be cast.

In criminal cases, evidences are not taken as with us; a criminal sometimes remains in prison till he and his offence are totally forgotten, and the torture is still used to make him confess. The ordinary custom is to bind both the wrists together so tight as to stop the circulation, or to put the criminal into an arched dungeon, where if he does not confess or die in a few days, he gets off as innocent.' pp. 86—124.

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Such, Mr. Leckie assures us, is no exaggerated outline of the condition of Sicily; a country which costs Great Britain. three millions and a half annually, and employs twenty thousand of her best troops! Our readers will find, in a note, a circumstance or two illustrative of the gratitude of the Sicilian government for this interference of ours in their behalf*.

In a memorial recently addressed to the Board of Trade by the British Merchants in Sicily, we find them thus complaining of the restrictions and embarrassments to which our commerce in that Island is exposed.

The tariff is of the most flagitious and oppressive nature; affixing to English

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We shall now advert to a few of the circumstances for the knowledge of which we are indebted to Mr. Vaughan. He and his Italian original, enter into few details on the theory or practice of the government, unless, indeed, where the latter seizes an occasion to praise; for the Abbate is, like a very good subject, much in love with his government, and is very patriotically of opinion, that it contributes largely to the happiness of the Sicilian people. A few facts, however, drop out here and there, on which the reader can make his own reflections. The first occasion, as is very natural, where the Abbate mentions any thing which could be changed for the better, is where the arrow grazes himself.

From hence the ruins of the venerable castle of Vicari, its houses

commodities a rate of from to more on the estimate than on the same article of manufactures or of commerce the produce of any other country! Consequently the like advance is exacted on the duties; and, in many instances, it brings the actual duties that are paid to from 30 to 35 per cent. on first value, original cost; whereas the same kind of articles, not being denominated English, and entered at the custom house by a French, German, or Swiss Merchant, would pay no more than from 15 to 20 per cent.'

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The following recent occurrence, exhibits such dastardly oppression and profligate rapacity, on the part of our Sicilian friends, that we will not trust ourselves to express the scorn and indignation we felt on first perusing the account of it. On the 13th April, a Greek polacca bearing an Ottoman flag, commanded by Mr. Robert Campbell, a British subject, having a British license, bound for Malta, was captured near Capri, by three Sicilian privateers. After being robbed of their clothes and watches, and personally ill treated, the crew were forcibly put into a boat and turned adrift to the mercy of the waves. Fortunately, however, they reached Naples, where the Captain entered a regular protest against the piratical seizure of his vessel, with the American consul there. On the 14th of May he and his crew arrived at Palermo, where they found their vessel in possession of the captors, waiting for condemnation by the Tribunal of Prizes. On representation of their case to the British Admiral (Boyle) Mr. Fagan the British Consul, and Mr. Walsh the Vice Cousul-the captain and crew were sent on board their own vessel, to recover the license and other papers, secreted in a block. These being secured, they were placed in the hands. of Baron Estremola, of the health office. The captain and crew themselves, were remanded to their vessel to perform quarantine. Meanwhile the privateers alarmed at the unexpected appearance of the Greek crew, began to carry off stores from the ship before it was condemned, but were frustrated in their purpose by the British Admiral. It was not necessary, however, for these robbers to be very anxious to secure their booty; the officers of the tribunal of prizes being sufficiently eager to condemn it, on the bare deposition of the captors, during the quarantine of the crew, while they were unable to appear and prove their just property in it. This condemnation has probably taken place: since, when the last accounts came away, Mr. Fagan, by a royal edict, was suspended from holding any communication with the Sicilian government, in consequence of his exertions to procure redress for a British subject thus wronged, plundered, and confined like a criminal in his own ship. It is well understood that the privateers which committed this outrage with impunity, belong to persons so high in the state, that the arm of Justice, withered and shortened as it is, cannot reach them.'

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Well may the editor of the Newspaper (the Iris) from which copied this statement, exclaim, A government under which such acts are not only not punished, but tolerated and vindicated, must either be so weak as to invite destruction, or so profligate as to deserve it. Fall when it will, and fall as it may, its memory can only be despised and execrated,'

dispersed in motley groups, and the beautiful hill above it, had altogether a delightful effect. Signor Tommasi considered this prospect with particular complacency, but I own I eyed it askance, for I called to mind the intolerable vexations I suffer in those parts from the tax of the "Third Part" on my farm held under the Trinity. I endeavoured however. to forget these unpleasant ideas, by reflecting upon the consideration of his majesty the king, who has graciously ordered their abolition, and the zeal of the Marquis Ferreri, to carry into execution the royal intentions to the utmost.' pp. 11-12.

Mr. Vaughan adds, in a note upon the words third part,A tax upon corn, by which one third part of the produce of the land (an account of the whole of which is first taken) may be called for by government at the price it has established, notwithstanding any after rise in the market price. The vexation of this tax to the farmer, may be conceived by its effects upon the feelings of a dillettanti only, and one employed under the government.

Another note of Mr. Vaughan, gives us a sample of the su perstitions of the country.

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However the Abbate may seem to treat the doctrine of the Evil-Eye with an air of levity, it is universally attended to, and believed through the country; and perhaps more than elsewhere, at Palermo itself. It is a fancy or apprehension that the look or the presence of some particularly ill-omened person, brings ill-luck wherever it appears;—that person is called a Gettatore, literally a thrower (alluding to the eye.) As a guard against the threatening misfortune of the presence of the Gettatore, they carry a little charm called "Bona Fortuna," which is a small crooked piece of coral, generally like the horn of an animal, and pointed at the end; it is worn by the gentlemen at their watch chains, and by the ladies as an ornament; these they point at the unlucky object upon his appearance, to qualify the Evil-Eye. The king himself wears the "Bona Fortuna, and several English can attest the fact of having seen him point, when at cards, at a particular duke, well known at Palermo, who is supposed generally to to be a Gettatore,' p. 31.

The following fact is instructive in a general point of view: but addresses itself with peculiar force to a certain description of our countrymen, who delight in proclaiming the mischiefs of religious toleration.

The morals of the Ragusans are not reckoned the most pure. Certain quarrels keep discord alive among the best families; and besides that, the old and fierce contentions between the Church of St. Giovanni and St. Giorgio, do not fail to excite and foment discontent and ill-humour among all classes of people. These, there is no doubt, appear at present somewhat allayed, since the priests and leaders of both factions discountenance such disorders; but from the vehement and furious enthusiasm which still prevails amongst even the better sort, in respect to these rival parish churches, the fire seems to be hidden but for the moment. The administrator who, from the vicinity of his residence, frequented the church of St. Giorgio, to avoid the appearance of invidious partiality, also went to say his prayers at that of St. Giovanni: and it is inconceivable how much commotion, er

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rather fury, was excited among these parishioners. Men and women of every rank and description ran to celebrate the Administrator's approach; and neither candle, nor organ, nor bells, nor pateraroes, were spared upon the occasion: and it was curious to behold, how all, even the smallest gentry, exclaimed, and roared, and twisted, and jumped, at the raising the veil of the saint :"and with a thousand exclamations and gestures manifested the most fervent devotion and zeal. I, who at distance from Signor Tommasi, was returning from a chapel, remained altogether confounded at such a roaring and noise; and scarcely knowing what to think of it, felt a certain degree of alarm lest I should be taken for a parishioner of St Giorgio, which I had visited daily: therefore, exerting myself to the atmost, I called out with all my might and main "e Viva! St Giovanni.” pp. 109-110.

We may here see how utterly ineffectual is the rigour of an exclusive religion, in producing a thorough unanimity of belief or rather, how directly calculated it is to promote confusion and discord. We have people in England, neither few in number, nor low in place, nor small in power, who admire the harmony of only one form of religion, and look with a very evil eye' upon the diversity of forms. We wish it were possible to persuade them, that, in so doing, they are not only betraying a lamentable ignorance of human nature, but a most blind and stupid disregard of historical experience. Where, in England, do they meet with discord, among all the variety of sects and schisms, like that between the partizans of St. Giovanni and St, Giorgio? Let the uniformity they wish for, however, be once established, and, civilized, and polite, and knowing as we imagine ourselves, we should not have long to wait for the result. The fact is undeniable, that the virulence of theological controversy is, for the most part, exactly commensurate with the minuteness of the points in debate. Nor is it indeed to be wondered at, that the concussions should be more formidable, when the combatants have a narrower space to contend in, and the blows fall undiverted upon each other.

At p. 96, Mr. Vaughan has the following curious note on the word mal-aria.

The mal-aria is very prevalent in many parts of Sicily (and Calabria) particularly in autumn. It is hitherto little better explained than an unwholesome air, arising from stagnant water left by the torrents in the summer, or from exhalations, in certain parts, from the earth; this last is the more credited, since it is known that in certain houses the mal-aria shews itself on one side (even within the house) and not on the other. We have instances of this in the barracks and many of our quarters soldiers, where one side has been healthy, while the other has been sickly, and the men died rapidly. Of two companies of the 21st regiment, quartered at Venitico, in the same barracks, in 1808, forty in one of the companies were taken ill, of whom ten or eleven died; and the other company (alhough they entered by one door) in the other division, remained healthy; a proof, among others, of the extraordinary and deadly consequences of the

mal-aria, since, if care and attention could have saved these men, the indefatigable zeal of their most excellent commanding officer, Lieut. Colonel Adam, would have effected it. The same phenomena are to be observed

frequently at Rome.'

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On hearing such a fact as this, one cannot help being a little surprised. When the men were found dying from unwholesome air on the one side of the barracks, in the name of common sense and common humanity, why were they not removed? Could not the indefatigable zeal of their most excellent officer' command as much understanding, or as much effort as was necessary to effect this very simple remedy, but the British soldiers must be left to perish in such numbers for want of it? Mr. Vaughan assigns no reason why they were not removed;--and unless something is left out by Mr. Vaughan, which ought to have been stated, there could be no good

reason.

In one of the letters given by Mr. Vaughan, at the end of the volume, a pretty accurate idea is afforded, at least a comparative one, of the stage of society, at which, by the blessing of its goverment, Sicily has remained stationary. We shall insert the passage; just observing that there is more of good wishing, than of good thinking, in the latter part of it.

Perhaps the situation of Sicily is not wholly dissimilar to that of Great Britain, as described by judge Blackstone, in the reign of King William; and a similar remedy might have its effect. "We learn from the Saxon Chronicle, that, in the 19th year of the reign of King William, an invasion was apprehended from Denmark; and the military constitution of the Saxons being laid aside, and no other introduced in its stead, the island was wholly defenceless, which occasioned the King to bring over a large army of Normans and Bretons, who were quartered upon the land-holders, &c. &c. This apparent weakness, and the grievance occasioned by a foreign force, might co-operate with the King's remonstrances, and the better incline the nobility to listen to his proposals for putting themselves in a posture of defence; for as soon as the danger was over, the King held a great Council of the nation; and the immediate consequence was, compiling the great Doomsday-Book, which was finished the next year; when the King was attended by all the nobility at Sarum, where the nobles submitted their lands to military tenure, &c. &c."This latter part is already the case: the lands of the nobles are held by military tenure: and the state of the island very much resembles the former for which something should be done. Would it were possible that that which has been thought so desirable for Ireland would apply to this island! I allude to a Union. Doubtless there are objections; but, were it practicable, it would seem to legitimize our army and expense for the island; and, without a single question on the subject of religion, it would rivet the people (for it is what they most wish), and thus settle the King more firmly on the throne than he has been, from the state of things, since the loss of Naples :-and the island, by degrees, would begin to help in the expense-the constitution of the country, which

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