Italia! Oh, Italia! with what emotions, evolved from considerations of the present as of the past, they approach thee! In a southerly sweep they note the position of the ancient Brundusium, and gaze upon Vesuvius, Pompeii and Naples. They move up the course of the “yellow Tiber,” and at last, they hover over the “Eternal City.” They descend into Rome! traverse its streets, visit its famed places and sanctuaries, examine its ruins, think of its noted dead, observe its new features and present people, and, more than all, ponder upon the meaning of its history, its situation and its attitude. It is not within the compass of this narrative to present the volume of feeling and thoughts of the sleeper. In the Vatican and in the fane of St. Peter’s, as he did after in St. Paul’s and in London, he ruminated on the religion of civilization, and on the new speculations of infidel philosophy. In the Coliseum he reflected upon the impulses and ways of the populace. In the Forum he analyzed the systems of law and the subtleties of eloquence. In Senate halls he eliminated the science, the experiments, the élan of statesmanship, in both State and Church matters. Within the classic area of the Seven Hills, Man had exhibited every phase of his nature, inclination and power. Here Humanity had been borne upon every wave of destiny, and had travelled upon every highway and byway of fate, on earth. Rome is the epitome of the world’s Past. Its mission is ended. Moving northward the aerialists glance upon Pisa, Florence, Milan and Mantua, the Po and the Adige. To gratify the curiosity of the American, they divert and descend to the point where the Rubicon was passed, and he thinks of Cesar, and of all the so-called Cesars, down to the last Czar and Kaiser. They visit, also, the plain of Marengo, which assured in power and prestige the true successor to Cesar, as _he_ had been to Alexander--the third that made a trio of the world’s mental and imperial masters. Inasmuch as the travellers were threading the animate gallery of the world, they gave but a glance at the art galleries of Italy. What was a marble Venus or Apollo--what was a painting of the Transfiguration or of a Madonna--what was the tower of Pisa or the cathedral of Milan, in comparison with what they had seen! _Immortal._--“Italy is still nearer to national regeneration, power and influence than Greece. The full power of modern enlightenment will ere long be felt there.” _American._--“The names of Cavour and Mazzini are already enrolled on the true roll of fame. And, too, the biographies of Rienzi and Lorenzo the Magnificent are peculiarly attractive.”