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LIFE OF COLONEL MACERONI.

very admirers of despotic or hereditary authority; theseenemies to the secure vote by ballot; these canters aboutmanly publicity to their opinions, are even afraid to negativethe admission of a member to their clubs, except by sneakinga black ball into the ballot box! They all have their elec-tions of presidents and chairmen, or whatever they may callthem, for limited periods of office, by secret vote by ballot.Other officers similarly elected to hold the funds, and othersto examine into the accounts. In fine they are all Popesand despots in their political prescriptions for the great com-munity, but republicans when their own private interestsare concerned! But, it will be asked, have these folks nointerest or stake in this community which they wish to treatas slaves or brutes ? Certainly they have—they have someinterest or share in its spoliation and misgovernment,—aremedy is proposed—“ Hinc ille lacri/mce.”

The foundation of the so-called colony of Santo Leucio byKing Ferdinand , presents a singular instance of the morbidmoral inconsistency I have alluded to. Born, bred, feelingand acting as a stupid despot, he concocted laws and regu-lations for this little establishment of Santo Leucio, whichwould have done honour to a Franklin or a Bentham. Ofcourse the ideas were not his own, but it is sufficient forour purpose to know, that he approved of and adopted them.I am sorry to be obliged to give at length the royal decree,but I think it will be interesting to many of my readers.The pretence for it is whimsical, but the fact was good.

“ In the magnificent palace of Caserta , began by myaugust father, and continued by myself, I do not find thesilence and solitude requisite for meditation and the reposeof the mind; but instead, I am, as it were, in another cityamidst the woods, with the same magnificence and luxuryas in the capital. Seeking therefore for a spot at hand equalto any Hermitage, I have found that on the hill of Santo