PRIVATE AND PUBLIC POLICY.

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assisted by a clerk I received the coccoons, paid for them,and settled the wages of the men and girls on a Saturdayevening. This occupation pleased me much. My rideswere charming—the country a paradise, abounding in game—the girls, many of them, beautiful. The money, in goldand silver, was either brought from Naples by myself inMr. Bottalin’s carriage, or more frequently, in a basketcovered with fruit on the head of Cristofaro, the LazzaroniFacchino I have already named.

About three miles distant from Caserta , and eight frommy rustic abode, King Ferdinand had established a pet silkmanufactory, the foundation of which is so very curious ini its moral and political features, as to decide me on devotinga page to its explanation.

The admirers and supporters of despotism and irrespon-sible power, however violent and fanatic, in advocating theprinciple as applied to the authority of kings and ministers,and peradventure of their own, in all political and socialmatters over the community at large, are not such idiots inargument or, in fact, whenever their own personal interestsare concerned. All such men even make an unwitting con-cession, and do homage to truth and reason in the manage-i ment of their clubs, benefit societies, corporations, publiccompanies, and every association in which the property andthe interests of the many are to be entrusted to the com-; mand and directions of a more convenient few. Do weever hear of a despotic, irresponsible, perpetual, or heredi-tary president or chairman, or governor of any such bodies ?Do we ever hear of the governor, or chairman of any suchbeing charged with the nomination of his fellow authorities ?of those who are to audit his accounts, examine into his ex-penditure ? Do they elect their own temporary chiefs andofficers by open votes which render them liable to importu-nities, enmities, and reproaches'? No such thing; these