A Freak of Freedom ; or, the Republic of San
Marino. By J.
Theodore Bent. (Longmans.)—Sun Marino is certainly one of the curiosities of the world ; a little Republic which has preserved its independence for fifteen centuries, in the midst of powerful and rapacious neighbours, and which now presents in the nineteenth century a picture of modiaival life and institutions. Mr. Bent deserves well of the readers for whom he has prepared this interesting mono- graph, and of the little commonwealth which he describes. This indeed has already shown its gratitude by making him an "honorary citizen." The author leis done well in drawing out the somewhat complicated story of the relations between San Marino and the vari- ous Italian Powers, great and small, with which it was brought into contact, but the most interesting part of his volume is the picture of the little State as it is. Its chief magistrates recall the Consuls of Rome, and of Rome in its early days, for it is still the custom that one the two should he noble, the other a commoner. The name of " consul " seems to have been used at one time, though it has now been superseded by that of " captain." Its financial affairs are simple and satisfactory, the revenue being £4,500, the expenditure, £116 less. The army costs about 2330; and it is a good, sign of economical and profitable management that "public works" make by far the largest item, and that next to this comes "instruction." This last consumes about £700 per annum. The public health is cared for at a cost of about £800. Two doctors are paid by the State, and per- form their duties free of charge. San Marino shows its modesty, and probably its good-sense, by the provision that both the schoolmaster and the doctors must be foreigners, It has shown still greater wisdom, by refusing tempting offers for the establishment of a gaming-table.
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