32

LIFE OF COLONEL MACERONI.

when such an isolated act of arbitrary and tardy amendswas regarded as a miracle ! Well does De Stendhal, theauthor of “ Rome, Florence , and Naples, in 1817,” observe,in speaking of the wretched eifects of Papal misrule,“ Pius VI. was a sovereign like Louis XIV. ; all that relatedto outward show went on well, but justice, that first want ofthe people, did not go on at all; only let any one givehimself the trouble to study Maceroni.”

Shortly after my arrival at Rome , Mr. Greenough camefrom Genoa with letters of introduction to my uncle. Ialso made the acquaintance of Mr. R. Smirke, Mr. ThomasMartyr, and Mr. R. Kay, all three students in architecture,i mention the names of these gentlemen, because I havesince known well how to appreciate the advantages I derivedfrom being thrown into their society, at that early age: Iwas thus enabled to keep up the practice of the English language, and what was of far more importance, I benefittedby their rational instructive communion, and good moralexample.

About this time, my uncle took me, with a relation, on atrip to the fair of Orvieto , where a multitude of idlers aswell as men of business wei’e assembled. I went out a gooddeal a shooting; but the chief amusements of the congre-gated company, added to the principal people of the town,consisted in a morning lounge, pic-nic dinners, the theatre,and above all, gaming (faro) in the evening. Amongst thevisitors, most distinguished for high play, was a Greek mer-chant, conspicuous for the beauty of his person, and thegaudy care with which he adorned it. Brooches, rings,chains, seals of value, he wore in profusion. We were theguests of a gentleman of the town, whose family consistedof six sons and five daughters. The sons were all sports-men, and daily escorted me to the best haunts of game inthe vicinity. The company at the Cassino, or assembly