SISMONDI's ITALIAN REPUBLICS.
THE history of the Italian Republics is the history of a number of illustrious corporations. They derived their origin from the Ro- man tnunicipium ; an institution which the successive hordes of barbarians, who overran Italy from the fifth to the ninth century, had continued for the sake of more readily levying contributions. On the consolidation of the German empire, many towns in the North of Italy obtained, from their Lords or from the Emperor, permission to erect walls and arm their citizens; a plan which several cities along the coast adopted, either previously or about the same time. The disjecta membra of the local magistracies gave them governments. The fortifications and train bands, how- ever contemptible in modern eyes, were sufficient to protect the townsmen from the plunder of the brigands, rather than soldiers, which then infested Europe. No sooner was a partial security of life and property established, than the auri .sacra fames was de- veloped; wealth, as usual, began to accumulate, and the advan- tages of climate, soil, and situation, favoured its rapid acquisition. The rivalry consequent upon the number of states, and the emu- lation which naturally sprang up between the members of such small communities, sharpened the ingenuity and developed the personal qualifications of the citizens. The proximity of the country to Constantinople and Alexandria—the great emporiums of the Eastern trade—enabled the Italians to supply the West of Europe with the more precious commodities, receiving in return raw products, which they converted into finished manufactures. By possessing the relics of ancient art and literature, the Italians were enabled to cultivate their minds and form their taste, not only in the fine, but in the mechanical arts; circumstances which gave them an immeasurable superiority over the "barbarians beyond the Alps." Superstition also added to their wealth; and crusades, pilgrimages, presents, and "fees," poured considerable capital into Italy during the darker ages. The causes of the decline and fall of Italy are equally palpable. The nobles were infected by the lust of ruling : faction (the beset- ting sin of small communities) and an oligarchic ambition some- times enabled a close Town-Council, as at Venice, to triumph over the citizens—sometimes ended, as at Milan, in enabling the Mayor to lord it over both; and the interest of the few being sub- stituted for that of the many, the smaller states were quickly sub- dued by the ambition of the oligarchies or despots which ruled the larger. The citizens of the more commercial states were " practical men"—enemies of free trade, and advocates of mono- poly ; they were always ready to fight for their doctrines, the practical maintenance of which gave rise to ruinous wars. The discovery of America, and of the passage to the Indies by the Cape, destroyed the foreign trade of the Italians, and in effect an- nihilated their marine, by the superior seamen which were formed in those distant voyages. Their wealth tempted the rapacity of the neighbouring nations, which had been gradually advancing in power and civilization. Internal dissensions, made more intense by the number of states, the vices of the rulers, and—with all deference to M. SisMONDI—the cowardice and effeminacy of the people, rendered the conquest of Italy an easy task. The Press and the Reformation perhaps gave her the coup de grace: the one by the information which it generally diffused; the other not only by the wealthy followers of which it directly deprived the Romish Church, but also by the revulsion it occasioned in certain opinions of the pious,—who, however fast they might henceforth hold their faith, seem to have held their money faster. SISMONDI'S history of these Republics should occnryva'pdize,int every " small but select library ;" for the information it contains can- not elsewherebe procured, at least without considerable expense both of time and money. As a work, it is scarcely worthy the reputa- tion of' the author. In abridging a history of so many states, and extending over so long a period, the better mode would have been,. to treat it by masses, only naming actors or touching upon events when they brought about extensive changes. This he occasionally. does, and in a masterly manner. But he too often aims at describ- ing events which, however considerable in themselves, had little- effect upon the fate of Italy ; and,wanting space for the amplifica- tion necessary to render them interesting, he is led to a mere enu- meration of names and dates. This not only wearies, but be- wilders the reader; who is overpowered by the number of details, whilst the result of the whole escapes. It also occupies space which might be better cfilled. The rise and progress of Italian architecture is dismissed in a sentence. The other fine arts are barely noticed. We learn nothing of the origin, improvement, and perfection of the various manufactures, from which Italy, and eventually Europe, derived so much of wealth and civilization. The reader of SISMONDI will not know that printing was ever in- vented, much less that it was indebted to Italy for many improve- ments; and that, by more rapidly enlightening other nations, it probably exercised an influence upon her destiny. Not equally scanty, though far from complete, are the notices of Italian society; a social state "very curious, and perfectly unique." The noble, proud of his ancestry (and with some reason, for he dated far beyond " the Conquest") and looking with anger yet with envy on the merchant-prince or the burgher-statesman. The ecclesiastics, neither saints nor prophets in their own country, mingling in all the turmoils of the time, and becoming princes, warriors, courtiers, gallants, and tyrants. Artists "greater and less." The " greater," the men to whom Italy is indebted for her glory through all time, and for the portion of wealth which she yet receives from the mo- dern pilgrim to the monuments of their genius. The " less," the manufacturers and craftsmen, taking precedence according to the opinion of their importance; and subdivided, we believe, like our " worshipful companies," into successive grades. To these let us add the sojourners from every part of the Western world—pilgrims for salvation, tourists for fashion, merchants for gain, and adven- turers for gain and glory—and we have a series of subjects, which, to do justice to, would task the knowledge of SISMONDI and the genius of Scow. In our opinion, however, it is in these notices, sometimes merely indicative, sometimes more full, that the chief charm of SISMONDI'S work consists. They display that almost unconscious knowledge which is only found in contemporary au- thors, or in men who have by long study become deeply imbued with the spirit of their age.
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