treatise on the principles of government and nationality men, they have no wings to fly from God: war is his as applied to the affairs of Spain and Portugal during beadle, war is his vengeance." Act IV., Scene I.— the Peninsular War. -H. R.]

(campo) being given by a Count Maldo. The Camaldolensi, however, have spread wide as a branch of Benedictines, and may therefore be classed among the gentlemen of the monastic orders. The society comprehends two orders, monks and hermits; symbolised by their arms, two doves drinking out of the same cup. The monastery in which the monks here reside, is beautifully situated, but a large unattractive edifice, not unlike a factory. The hermitage is placed in a loftier and wilder region of the forest. It comprehends between 20 and 30 distinct residences, each including for its single hermit an inclosed piece of ground and three very small apartments. There are days of indulgence when the hermit may quit his cell, and when old age arrives, he descends from the mountain and takes his abode among the monks.

Page 325.

"What aim had they the pair of Monks?"

In justice to the Benedictines of Camaldoli, by whom strangers are so hospitably entertained, I feel obliged to notice, that I saw among them no other figures at all resembling, in size and complexion, the two Monks described in this Sonnet. What was their office, or the

motive which brought them to this place of mortification, which they could not have approached without being carried in this or some other way, a feeling of delicacy prevented me from inquiring. An account has before been given of the hermitage they were about to enter. It was visited by us toward the end of the month of May; yet snow was lying thick under the pine-trees, within a few yards of the gate.

Page 325.

"At Vallombrosa."

My companion had, in the year 1831, fallen in with the monk, the subject of these two sonnets, who showed him his abode among the hermits. It is from him that I received the following particulars. He was then about 40 years of age, but his appearance was that of an older man. He had been a painter by profession, but on taking orders changed his name from Santi to Raffaello, perhaps with an unconscious reference as well to the great Sanzio d'Urbino as to the archangel. He assured my friend that he had been 13 years in the hermitage and had never known melancholy or ennui.has been brought against him, in respect to the passage

In the little recess for study and prayer, there was a small collection of books. "I read only," said he, "books of asceticism and mystical theology." On being asked the names of the most famous mystics, he enumerated Scaramelli, San Giovanni della Croce, St. Dionysius the Areopagite (supposing the work which bears his name to be really his), and with peculiar emphasis Ricardo di San Vittori. The works of Saint Theresa are also in high repute among ascetics. These names may interest some of my readers.

The name of Milton is pleasingly connected wit Vallombrosa in many ways. The pride with which the Monk, without any previous question from me, pointed out his residence, I shall not readily forget. It may be proper here to defend the Poet from a charge which

in "Paradise Lost," where this place is mentioned. It is said, that he has erred in speaking of the trees there being deciduous, whereas they are, in fact, pines. The fault-finders are themselves mistaken; the natural woods of the region of Vallombrosa are deciduous, and spread to a great extent; those near the convent are, indeed, mostly pines; but they are avenues of trees planted within a few steps of each other, and thus composing large tracts of wood; plots of which are periodically cut down. The appearance of those narrow avenues, upon steep slopes open to the sky, on account of the height which the trees attain by being forced to grow upwards, is often very impressive. My guide, a

We heard that Raffaello was then living in the convent; my friend sought in vain to renew his acquaintance with him. It was probably a day of seclusion. The reader will perceive that these sonnets were sup-boy of about fourteen years old, pointed this out to me posed to be written when he was a young man.

in several places.

SUPPLEMENTARY NOTE.

[The Author's political Work on "The Relations of | are united, will have a firm mind, in whatever em Great Britain, Spain and Portugal," (referred to at barrassments he may be placed; will look steadily at p. 259, and in the Notes, pp. 377 and 389,) has become the most undefined shapes of difficulty and danger, of so rare a volume that I insert here the two following | possible mistake or mischance; nor will they appear to For his extracts, not only on account of the valuable truths him more formidable than they really are. expressed in them, but also as having an especial attention is not distracted-he has but one business, interest for the American reader. and that is with the object before him. Neither in general conduct nor in particular emergencies, are his plans subservient to considerations of rewards, estate or title: these are not to have precedence in his thoughts, to govern his actions, but to follow in the train of his duty. Such men in ancient times, were Phocion, Epaminondas, and Philopomen; and such a man was Sir Philip Sidney, of whom it has been said, that he first taught his country the majesty of honest dealing. With these may be named the honour of our own age, Washington, the deliverer of the American Continent; with these, though in many things unlike, Lord Nelson, whom we have lately lost. Lord Peterborough, who fought in Spain a hundred years ago, had the same excellence with a sense of exalted honour, and a tinge of romantic enthusiasm, well suited to the country which was the scene of his exploits."-Pages 54-5-6.

Treating of the qualifications needed by military men, as “heads of an army," Wordsworth speaks of,* intellectual courage *that higher quality, which is never found without one or other of the three accompaniments, talents, genius, or principle; - talents matured by experience, without which it cannot exist at all; or the rapid insight of peculiar genius, by which the fitness of an act may be instantly determined, and which will supply higher motives than mere talents can furnish for encountering difficulty and danger, and will suggest better resources for diminishing or overcoming them. Thus, through the power of genius, this quality of intellectual courage may exist in an eminent degree, though the moral character be greatly perverted; as in those personages who are so conspicuous in history, conquerors and usurpers, the Alexanders, the Caesars and Cromwells; and in that other class still more perverted, remorseless and energetic minds, the Catilines, and Borgias, whom Our duty is our aim ought to be-to poets have denominated “bold bad men." But though employ the true means of liberty and virtue for the ends a course of depravity will neither preclude nor destroy of liberty and virtue. In such policy, thoroughly underthis quality, nay, in certain circumstances will give it stood, there is fitness and concord and rational subordinaa peculiar promptness and hardihood of decision, it is tion; it deserves a higher name-organization, health, not on this account the less true, that to consummate and grandeur. Contrast, in a single instance, the two this species of courage, and to render it equal to all processes; and the qualifications which they require. occasions (especially when a man is not acting for him- The ministers of that period found it an easy task to self, but has an additional claim on his resolution from hire a band of Hessians, and to send it across the the circumstance of responsibility to a superior), princi- Atlantic, that they might assist in bringing the ple is indispensably requisite. I mean that fixed and Americans (according to the phrase then prevalent) to habitual principle, which implies the absence of all selfish reason. The force with which these troops would anticipations, whether of hope or fear, and the inward attack was gross-tangible-and might be calculated; disavowal of any tribunal higher and more dreaded than but the spirit of resistance, which their presence would the mind's own judgment upon its own act. The ex-create, was subtle - etirereal - mighty and incalcuistence of such principle cannot but elevate the most lable. Accordingly, from the moment when these commanding genius, add rapidity to the quickest glance, foreigners landed men who had no interest, no busia wider range to the most ample comprehension; but ness in the quarrel, but what the wages of their master without this principle, the ordinary powers must, in the bound them to, and he imposed upon his miserable trying hour, be found utterly wanting. Neither with- slaves; nay, from the first rumour of their destinaout it can the man of excelling powers be trust-worthy, tion, the success of the British was (as has since been or have at all times a calm and confident repose in affirmed by judicious Americans) impossible." Pags himself. But he, in whom talents, genius, and principle | 139-40.- H. R.]

How his spindles sink under him, foot, leg, and thigh! But whose rash hand (again I ask) could dare,

Of thy brethren a march thou shouldst sound through And even a title higher still,