opinion, have become almost inseparably blended; and much of that bloody colouring, which darkens the complexion of their general na tional character, may, properly, belong only to the Neapolitan. Still, however, the circumstances of the Sicilian government, from an early æra, serve to show, that the political attachments of the people have never been lasting, nor have they, in any epoch of their story, evinced that they possessed that resolute courage which has often enabled small communities to acquire im mortal renown, in their opposition to superior powers.

The Sicilians are rather a sly than a cunning race; perhaps no nation in Europe possesses so much naiveté. Loquacious and ingenious, they make more use of per suasion in their dealings than any other people. It is not enough that a Sicilian objects the high price of what he desires to purchase; he expatiates on the infe riority of the quality; recalls to recollection how long he has been a customer; enumerates, one by one, counting them on his fingers, the circumstance of unlucky bargains that he has had; flatteringly contrasts the opulence of the English with the poverty of the Sicilians; animadverts on the politics of the government; magnifies the value of his ready-money; insinuates that he may change his merchant; and often retires, and returns several times, before he offers his ultimatum. Nor in selling does he prac tise less address. There is not a single point of his wares that does not possess something extraordin ary, or beautiful: no other shop in the town has any thing like them; so cheap, or so excellent. If the

price be high, What will you. give? and it is seldom that a Si-, cilian refuses the offer of an Englishman.

The inhabitants of this island are, in the proper sense of the term, highly superstitious, but the dicta of ignorance are so interwoven with the creeds of popery, that many notions of vulgar supersti tion are regarded as essentials of religion. The only exception is a belief in the effects of the influ ence of evil eyes; and even over this, the priesthood have acquired jurisdiction. For they persuade the people to buy bits of blessed rags and paper, which, when worn suspended round the neck, have the effect, as they pretend, of neutralizing the malignancy. The influence of an evil look is instantaneous; and the person who happens to glance it, may be unconscious of what he does: it smites the subject with sudden malady, or impresses his mind with lugubrious images, and unfits him for the prosecution of premeditated intentions. It is useless to speculate on the fantasies of the human mind; but, in this case, the constant flickering of electricity in this climate, and the occasional breathing of pestiferous exhalations, from the vegetable corruption in the bottoms of the valleys, afford a plausible. reason for the sudden distempers and dejections which are ascribed to the aspect of ungracious eyes. The same superstition is well known in Scotland; but it is more generally prevalent among the Sicilians than the Scotch. Whether it is, among us, an imported or indigenous belief, cannot now be ascertained. Over all the ancient extent of the papal empire, there 2H 2

is

is a great similarity in the topics of vulgar credulity.

The Sicilians have, certainly, a very keen relish of humour; and, now and then, one may perceive in them a strong trait of peculiar ity, not individual but national, which, notwithstanding their ancient proficiency, is an assurance to think that they may yet attain some literary superiority which shall be regarded as original. A description of manners and customs, by a genuine Sicilian, other wise properly qualified, would equally surprise and delight.

SICILIAN NOBILITY.

From the same.

Of the character and condition of the Sicilian nobles I have uni formly received but one opinion. The time of by far the greater number is spent in the pursuit of amusement, and of any other object than the public good. The most of them are in debt, and the incomes of but few are adequate to their wants: many are in a state of absolute beggary.

One evening, as I happened to be returning home, I fell in with a procession of monks and soldiers bearing an image of St. Francis; and, not having seen any thing of the kind before, I went with the crowd into a church towards which the procession was moving. While reckoning the number of the friars as they entered, and having reached a hundred and seventy, all excellent subjects for soldiers, a weildressed gentleman came up to me, and, bowing, pointed to some of the ornaments as objects worthy of a stranger's curiosity; but, per

ceiving me shy of entering into conversation with him, and the procession entering the church at the same time, he walked, or was forced by the current of the crowd, away.

The idol being placed near the high altar, the crowd began to chant a hymn. As they all fell on their knees, and my tight prejudices and small clothes would not permit me to do the same, I turned into one of the side chapels, and, leaning against the railing of the altar, began to speculate on the spectacle before me, when the strangeragain accosted me. Somewhat disconcerted by the interruption, and by the forwardness of the man, I abruptly quitted my place. But, before I had moved two steps, he approached, and, bowing, said, I am the Baron M, and my palace is just opposite. At this instant the worshippers rose, and the procession turning to go out at one of the side doors near where we were standing, before I could retreat, I found myself involved in the crowd, and obliged to go with the stream. When I reached the street, I found the stranger again at my side. This is very extraordinary, thought I; and, without seeming to notice him, walked away. He followed; and when we had got out of the nucleus of the throng, he seized me firmly by the arm, and drew me aside. Enraged and alarmed at this mysterious treatment, I shook him fiercely from me. For about the time that one might count twenty, he seemed to hesitate; and then, suddenly coming back, repeated, in Italian, with considerable energy, "I, I am the Baron M. This is my palace; but I have nothing to eat!" I looked at

the

France and Spain, within the Straits, thirty per cent is given. All the profits, after paying all the capitalists, is divided on the same principle, and by the same rule, as a freight earned by charter. Losses by accidents of navigation are sus tained by the capitalists; but those arising from bad sales, fall on the captain and the crew, who are obliged to make good the deficiency. The first time that I visited this island, there was a vessel in the port, which, by an unsuccessful voyage, had incurred a loss of no less than four thousand pounds sterling; and this sum the crew and captain were then making good to the capitalists.

The Idriots never insure their ships or cargoes. The vessels generally belong to a great number of persons, and some of the capitalists have only five or ten pounds sterling embarked in one bottom. The value of their several shares is not of sufficient importance to induce the owners to think of insuring them. In the early period of their history, to purchase a cargo of grain, for it is chiefly by their trade in that article that the Idriots have acquired their wealth, was in some sort a public undertaking. The whole community was concerned in it.

The character and manners of the common Idriot sailors, from the moral effect of these customs, is much superior, in regularity, to the ideas that we are apt to enter tain of sailors. They are sedate, well dressed, well bred, shrewd, informed, and speculative. They seem to form a class in the orders of mankind, which has no existence among us. By their voyages, they acquire a liberality of notion,

which we expect only among gentlemeu; while, in their domestic circumstances, their conduct is suitable to their condition. The Greeks are all traditionary historians, and possess much of that kind of knowledge to which the term "learning" is usually applied. This, mingled with the other information of the Idriots, gives them that advantageous character of mind, which, I think, they possess.

The town is certainly a very extraordinary place. The houses rise from the border of the port, which is in the form of a horse-shoe, in successive tiers, to a great height, and many of them appear on the pinnacles of cliffs which would make a Bath or an Edinburgh garreteer giddy to look from. The buildings are all brightly whitewashed; and a number of windmills being, almost constantly, in motion on the heights, the effect of the scene, with the addition of the bustle on the wharfs below, is, at once, surprising, and uncommonly cheerful.

There are upwards of forty parochial churches in the town; and two of them are adorned with handsome steeples. Idra forms part of the diocese of Egina and Paros, one of the richest bishoprics of Greece. The nett income is estimated at upwards of six hundred pounds sterling. The episcopal residence is in Egina, but the bishop visits Idra every year. The population of the town is said to exceed twenty thousand souls; and I think it is not exaggerated.

There were, when I was there, no public schools but those of the parochial priests. Eight of the principal

principal inhabitants had procured an Italian master for their children, to whom they paid about seventy-five pounds sterling per

annum.

Though the poor are numerous, there is no public provision for them; but the charity of individuals is liberal; and many allot the profits of a share of their vessels, and even sometimes more, to be regularly distributed among the needy.

All goods, I may say every thing that is necessary for the subsistence of man, as the island produces nothing, pay here a duty of two and a half per cent. This serves as a fund for public uses; and for any extraordinary demands, which the exigencies of the sultan may require. In addition to this, every man capable of bearing arms pays about three shillings sterling per annum of tribute. The Porte is contented with this moderate tax, in consequence of the Idriots furnishing a number of sailors for the Turkish navy. They furnished two hundred and fifty sailors last year, whom they paid at the rate of about fifty shillings per man monthly. On some occasions, a subscription has been raised, to help the insufficiency of the ordinary revenue.

It can hardly be said that this little state, for such it deserves to be considered, as it is governed by rulers of its own choosing, and is rather under the protection of the sultan than subject to his immediate authority, has any laws; but it has many usages, which have all the force of laws. Litigated questions are decided by the magistrates collectively, whose awards are recorded in the chancery of the

city, and become precedents. Ordinary delinquents are punished by the magistrates; but greater criminals, after conviction, are sent to Constantinople, with the authenticated evidence of their offences. Property in houses is exchanged by documents, of which copies are lodged in the chancery; thus giving clearness and stability to the rights of proprietors, like that which is afforded by the institution of the Register Office in Scotland. For the security of the rights of property in vessels, a book is kept by one of the owners, and in it all that relates to the ship is recorded.

CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE OF THE ISLE OF MAN. From an Account of that Island by G. Woods.

The Manks are reckoned to be naturally of an indolent and credulous, often of a superstitious and gloomy disposition. I do not know of any one that has rendered himself eminent by a great proficiency, or useful discovery in the arts or sciences, by fire of genius or profundity of learning. Characters endowed with piety, benevolence, and other virtues, in general, I trust, less remarkable, have not been rare. I would particularise several, were I not afraid of omitting others of perhaps equal merit. Some of the women of the higher classes are well inforined and accomplished: most of the lower classes, civil and industrious. To these may be applied the character which one of the authors of King's Cheshire gives to the women of that country: they are usually,

says