immortalized that stirring period in the history of Genoa, the Dorias were equally great, patriotic and illustrious in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Again, if Andrea Doria delivered his country from the slavery of a French despot, and, like our own Anglo-Saxon of a new world, descended to the rank of a private citizen at a time when the gratitude of his countrymen would have rewarded his bravery with the tempting bauble of a crown, another Doria was found in the seventeenth century to place himself at the head of the people when they rose up against the Austrians who had obtained possession of Genoa, and with scarcely any other weapons than their knives and stones slaughtered four thousand of them, and compelled the remainder to save their lives by a timely capitulation.

Genoa, like the other republican states of old Italy, dates its origin from the fall of the Roman empire, when having placed itself at the head of a confederation of the free cities

and towns of Liguria, it continued to maintain. its independence with more or less éclat as an important naval and commercial power down to the invasion of Italy by Napoleon, when pursuing the same ill-judged policy as Venice, neutrality, it fell an easy prey to the crafty Corsican; and on his fall, in defiance of all existing treaties, was handed over like a bale of goods to the King of Sardinia.

It cannot be denied that the rights of Genoa, as an independent power, were treated with utter indifference by our own minister, Lord Castlereagh, who appears not to have entertained any great love for republics. Now, however, that commercial enterprize, a constitutional government, an unfettered press, and popular freedom, have replaced the oppressive fiscal regulations, censorship of the press, and all the other arbitrary laws formerly in force in Sardinia, surely the reiterated complaints of the citizens of Genoa at seeing their free republic annexed to the dominions of a despotic priest

ridden King will cease. Nay, we think they ought to be succeeded by congratulations, since it is evident, from the increased shipping, the commercial activity everywhere observable in the town, the renovating and repairing of so many old palaces, the number of fine hotels splendid coffee-houses, pleasure-gardens, and places of public amusement, which have so recently and so suddenly sprung into existence, that a new era of prosperity has dawned upon Genoa.

There are few towns in Italy that have produced more illustrious men than Genoa. Among these we must place in the highest rank Andrea Doria and the immortal discoverer of a new world, Christopher Columbus. Even in the present day, during the late unhappy insurrection, when the cry of Italian unity and independence flew from city to city, from state to state, there was no town in Italy that sent forth such a numerous host of zealous patriots, ardent warriors as Genoa, none that so lavishly sacri

VOL. I.

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ficed life and fortune on the altar of a country's freedom. Among these, Guiseppe Mazzini has earned a high position, and although we may differ from him in thinking the republican form of government is that best adapted to the wants and wishes of the Italian people, a predilection so natural to a Genoese, yet his very enemies admit that few men displayed a greater share of courage and perseverance during the recent difficult and dangerous crisis. We must also accord him the praise of disinterestedness, since he devoted his whole life and patrimonial inheritance to further the cause of civil and religious freedom; and when driven by French bayonets from his lofty station, as one of the triumvirs of the Roman Republic, he returned to the land of the stranger almost penniless.

CHAPTER VIII.

The Mediterranean steamers - Arrival at LeghornSome account of that town Austrian police ·

Annoyances of the passport system-Coasting voyage Swiss Passengers in the Neapolitan steamer officers and their recruits-Account of the Neapolitan and Sicilian insurrections-Dangerous tempest -Arrival at Naples.

THE rain again commenced to pour heavily, and having received accounts that the roads between Genoa and the Tuscan States were flooded and the rivers swollen, we reluc

tantly resolved to take our passage for

Civita Vecchia in the French steamer.

The