"I don't care the value of a bit of orange-peel for
politics. I am willing to believe we've got a bad
government, because all the world says we have, and because
our King never dare show himself in public. All I can say
is, that my grandfather made 20,000 ducats as a
manufacturer; that my father doubled his capital in trade;
and that I bought an estate which, in my tenants' hands,
pays me six per cent. for the investment. I eat four meals a
day, I'm in vigorous health, and I weigh fourteen stone. So
when I toss off my third glass of old Capri wine at supper,
I can't for the life of me help crying, 'Long live the
King!'"
A huge hog which happened to cross the street as the Neapolitan
reached his climax, gave a grunt in token of approbation.
The "hog" school is not numerous in Italy, whatever superficial
travellers may have told you on that head. The most highly-gifted
nation in Europe will not easily be persuaded that the great end of
human existence is to eat four meals a day.
But let us suppose for an instant that all the Pope's subjects are
willing to renounce all liberty,--religious, political, municipal, and
even civil,--for the sake of growing sleek and fat, without any higher
aim, and are content with the merely animal enjoyments of health and
food; do they find in their homes the means of satisfying their wants?
Can they, on that score at least, applaud their Government? Are they
as well treated as beasts in a cage? Are the people fat and thriving?
I answer, No!
In every country in the world the sources of public wealth are three
in number: agriculture, manufactures, and commerce. All governments
which do their duty, and understand their interests, emulate one
another in favouring, by wholesome administrative measures, the farm,
the workshop, and the counting-house. Wherever the nation and its
rulers are united, trade and manufactures will be found clinging round
the government, and increasing even to excess the population of the
capital cities; while agriculture works her greatest miracles in the
circuit which is the most immediately subject to the influence of
authority.
Borne is the least industrious and commercial city in the Pontifical
States, and its suburbs resemble a desert. You must travel very far to
find any industrial experiment, or any attempt at trade.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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