Ardorie edan gabe Nagoen eguna Dala guciz illuna. Picharra ongui bete bedi O! as I love could I but pour For howsoe'er his beams may shine, My bowl is sad and dry! O when ART. X.-Storia dell' Economica Pubblica in Italia, ossia Epilogo Critico degli Economisti Italiani. By GIUSEPPE PECCHIO. Lugano. Presso Giuseppe Ruggia e Co. 1 vol. 8vo. 1829. ΤΗ HE work before us has just reached this country, and we beg our readers' attention to its subject. In speaking of Chevalier Pecchio's book, we shall not enter into any discussion concerning principles of political economy. Our object is to induce our readers to its dispassionate perusal, that they may be enabled to compare the principles received, by the different schools of political economists of our own country with the sects in Italy, and thus throw additional light on particular and dark points in the science. The opinions of the economists of Italy are entitled to the deep attention of foreigners, inasmuch as they have often had great influence on the mind of the legislators of that country. In some cases, the economical principles which a writer supported, have been practically applied, and in others, the writers themselves have been statesmen. Carli, Verri, Beccaria, D'Arco, Caracciolo, Filangeri, Palmieri, Galiani, and others, were not only investigators in the science, but men who had a share in the government of their country, and judiciously and steadily adhered in practice to the principles which they had in theory advanced. Chevalier Pecchio's work is a most compendious book, and equally remarkable for brevity and clearness. In the year 1803, Mr. Custodi undertook to collect and publish uniformly, all the works of Italians on Political Economy; and this collection, which does honour to Italy, was completed in fifty volumes 8vo, in 1805. It is evident that very few persons, if any, are to be found so devoted to Political Economy, more particularly among foreigners, who will read fifty thick octavo volumes to know what opinions have been held at different times in Italy on this subject. Of these opinions, some are ridiculous, others exploded, others not needing any demonstration, others now quite commonly known, others wild, and a few (when compared with all the rest together) either undoubtedly sound, or such at least as deserve to be well examined and long considered before they can be either adopted or rejected. Now, although even errors may be instructive, yet, the infliction of the reading of fifty octavos, renders instruction too irksome to be relished and useful. The work of Chevalier Pecchio is an analysis of this amazing collection, in which some biographical notices are given of the authors, and a short account of their most remarkable opinions, interspersed with observations of the writer himself, either to render the author of whom he speaks more intelligible, or to compare his opinions with those of the writers of other countries chiefly our own. The rapidity with which these sketches are drawn, is equal to the perspicuity constantly displayed by the writer, and to the scrupulous fidelity with which he has taken care not to omit anything which it might be really important to know. His style is simple and clear, but lively, and full of brio, (to use a word which our musical friends will understand,) so that the work affords a most agreeable perusal. Indeed we know few books in which solid instruction is conveyed in so pleasing a manner. The very nature of Chevalier Pecchio's book prevents us from giving extracts from it, as well as from entering into particulars respecting any part of it which might serve to prove our general eulogy. Those who understand Italian, and who have any inclination to the study of Political Economy, will also find particular pleasure in reading the introduction to this work; it is drawn in a masterly manner. Chevalier Pecchio gives an outline of the economical state of Italy, more particularly from Charles V. to about the end of the last century, which terminates with a conclusion (and we think it is fully and fairly drawn from the premises) highly consoling for an English reader, viz., that liberty alone, without the assistance of political economy, and in spite of many errors, is enough to render states flourishing. Nor will it be of less interest to an English reader to see the comparison which Chevalier Pecchio draws between the Italian and English economists, and the general character which he gives of the Italian school. After having thus rendered the just tribute of praise to the author's work, we have to regret that in the same manner that he has given us an excellent account of the works on political economy from 1796 (to which period belongs the last of the Economists Economists included in Custodi's collection) up to our own days, he has not spoken of those Italian writers who preceded the first, included in the above-mentioned collection. We should have been particularly glad had an account been rendered of a most extraordinary man-Marino Sanuto Torsello, a Venetian nobleman, Dante's contemporary, and of his most curious work-Secreta fidelium Crucis—which, together with twenty-two letters from the same author to different persons of the highest rank, was published by Bongarsius at the end of his collection-Gesta Dei per Francos. Besides the economical opinions of Sanuto, there are two other points so remarkably resembling two of the most daring acts of Buonaparte against this country, urged by Sanuto, that we think it will not prove unacceptable to our readers, if we advert to this Venetian's old work. Sanuto's life, energy, and genius, were devoted to one single end-the conquest of the holy land. But the Venetian was not a fanatic like Peter the Hermit. He was undoubtedly a good Christian in his own way, and had for Peter the highest reverence; but he says that the road which the Hermit and Godfrey selected for the journey to Syria was good, because they were led by the hand of God. The Venetian, however, who was a man of the world, and who wished to go properly to work, and to render the conquest permanent, suggested quite different means. He was the fittest man for this: he had been five times into Syria, had visited Antwerp, Alsatia, Sclavonia, France, and probably this country; and was, moreover, a skilful sailor; so that to a powerful genius he united all the advantages of a deep, practical knowledge of men, of countries, and of the subjects of which he was speaking. He wrote his work with the intention of exciting the Christian powers to destroy the Mahometans, and gave a most ample and detailed plan for the attainment of this object. From the pay and armour of the lowest soldier and sailor, to the general plan of war both by land and sea, nothing is forgotten in Sanuto's book. Every object is treated in the most precise, detailed, and clear manner. The two principal means suggested by Sanuto for destroying the Moslems are the very same employed by Buonaparte against Englandthe possession of Egypt, and a continental blockade. Sanuto enters into many particulars to show the advantages which Egypt possesses, and how easy it is to become master of that country. His arguments are very strongly adduced, and supported with great erudition and powerful facts. The importance of Egypt Egypt to an European power forcibly struck the great Leibnitz, who sent a memoir concerning it to Louis XIV.* It is remarkable how those shallow historians and politicians who speak of Buonaparte's expedition in so contemptuous a manner, have forgotten that great philosopher's opinion. He affirmed as undoubted, that when Egypt was conquered by the FrenchIn Europa mira rerum conversio sequetur-and says in terms that that would be the best of all means to make war upon Holland (for which now substitute the word England as was done by Napoleon), as it would be the means of depriving her of the commerce with India-Hollandi ex Egypto commerciis Indicis nullo negotio depellentur, quibus omnis eorum potentia hodie nititur: et longe certius, rectiusque affligerentur quam possit maximo successu belli aperti. The proper manner of making war on the Moslems according to Sanuto, was to establish a blockade of all the Mahometan ports, forbidding not only every sort of direct intercourse with them, but giving also the power to punish those governments or private individuals who should connive to an infringement of the blockade. Moreover all kind of goods which might be proved to have reached any part of Chinstendom in spite of the blockade were to be confiscated.t This Venetian enters into the minutest inquiries concerning the commodities both of importation and exportation, from the East to the West; he gives an account of the expenses of transport, detailing the freight of vessels, the duties paid, the carriage by land; and he shows the most extensive statistical and geographical, as well as mercantile knowledge. As for political economy, he knew more of it than Buonaparte; for the latter wanted to prevent altogether the importation of any article ever seen by an Englishman, into the territories over which he ruled; whilst Sanuto contended that prohibitory laws will not prevent merchandises from finding their own market, although they may be conveyed by roundabout channels. This observation, when the time in which Sanuto wrote is recollected, does him great It is believed that Leibnitz's original memoir to the King of France, which was never printed, is now lost. See, however, 'A summary Account of Leibnitz's Memoir, addressed to Louis XIV., recommending to that monarch the conquest of Egypt, as conducive to the establishing a supreme authority over the governments of Europe.London, 1803. + Sanuto's measures appeared too harsh even to the commissioners appointed by Pope Clement V. to report concerning the merits of the work which the author presented to him. He suggested, for instance, that' omnes scientes hujusmodi violatores, sub pœna excommunicationis accusare teneantur. Here the commissioners observedHoc videtur nobis nimis durum, cum nullius status vel conditionis persona excipiatur. credit.* credit.* On the above principle Sanuto affirmed that the merchandises which came from India to Egypt, and then to Europe, will find their way into the latter country without any advantage to the Caliphs of Egypt, and on better terms for the consumers.† One of the earliest Italian economists, of whose works Chevalier Pecchio gives an account, is Antonio Serra, a Calabrese, who from a dungeon, where he was immured ten years, as a conspirator, had the courage to write a treatise ' on the causes which can make gold and silver plentiful,' which was published in 1613. A certain De-Santis had suggested to the Neapolitan government, that the only means of remedying the scarcity of money, which was then felt in the kingdom of Naples, was to turn forcibly and by direct laws the rate of exchange, which was against Naples, in favour of it! This idea pleased the government, and laws were published fixing the rate of exchange. It was against De-Santis' suggestions that Serra wrote his work, which undeniably contains propositions to which few would now assent. These may be accounted for partly by the infancy of the science-partly because, in despotic countries, to this day, writers are obliged to have recourse to some little frauds to publish truths unpalatable to the existing powers; but the book of Serra is, with all this, a very clever production. Chevalier Pecchio finds fault both with M. Say and with Mr. M'Culloch, as they have not, in his opinion, rendered justice either to Serra's book, or to Italy. Mr. Say says, 'L' Italie en eut (in political economy) l'initiative comme elle l'eut, depuis la renaissance des lettres, dans presque tous les genres de connaissance, et dans les beaux arts. Dès l'année 1613, Antonio Serra avait fait un traité dans lequel il avait signalé le pouvoir productif da l'industrie; mais son titre seul indique ses erreurs; les richesses pour lui étaient les seules matières, l'or et l'argent.' It is clear, however, that M. Say has not read Serra's book, or he would not have said that Serra considered precious metals as Secret. fidel. Crucis, lib. i. part i. cap. i.-Sicut aqua naturaliter labitur ad valles, sic mercimonia transferuntur ad loca ubi magis requiruntur...... Quando mercimonia coustringuntur et impediuntur taliter quod conduci nequerunt aliquo per unam viam ; mercatores ad utilitatem suam vigilantes cogitant, perquirunt et inveniunt viam aliam per quam illa conducunt ad locum ipsum. Nam dicitur negocians, negans ocium, quia non cessat investigare viam conducendi mercimonia ad partes in quibus major habetur de ipsis necessitas, unde amplius lucrari possit. Sanuto knew full well, as did also the commissioners appointed by the Pope to examine his work, that a great opposition would be offered to any plan which should tend to deprive the Western world of all the commodities of the East, and they were therefore anxious to remove such an impression. Accordingly, the commissioners said that it appeared to them-'inspecto opere diligenter... quod species et necessaria quae habemus de terris Soldano subjectis, aliunde habere possumus.' metals |