regard because it evinces how essential freedom is to the success of every kind of trade, every exertion of industry, and to the truest interests of society. Notwithstanding the product of this fruitful island was far greater than the consumption, yet the government, to raise a revenue, had ordered rates to be paid for licences to export which excecded the abilities of the farmers. Hence it arose that, in the midst of abundance, the husbandman and his landlord were reduced to poverty, for want of a market for their staple commodity: hence also the want of capital for every branch of manufacture, and an almost total want of energy: and, to complete the train of evils which have arisen from these causes, monopolies have been erected by such as were able to purchase licences of exportation; who have thus been able to demand excessive prices for the corn which they had bought at a cheap rate, and to starve the inhabitants of the most luxuriant island in the world. Such were the general causes of an insurrection which, after rendering the country a dreadful scene of anarchy and tumult near twelve months, was at last suppressed by military force, assisted by the interposition of the archbishop of Palermo; who promised to solicit his majesty for forgiveness of the insurgents and redress of their grievances.-In consequence of the representations made to the court of Madrid, the government thought it advisable to adopt a lenient line of policy. A general pardon was forthwith published. And the people were gratified with the appointment of a new viceroy and commander in chief. a 1774 a ITALY. HAVING dispatched this important affair which had hung so heavy on his mind, Ganganelli devoted himself to the discharge of his duties as a pontiff and a sovereign prince. He was thus worthily employed, treading the path of true glory in acts of beneficence, piety, and public utility, when he was seized with a disorder which, after a few months, put a period to his 1774 1774 his life in his sixty-ninth year. +*-A more striking example of the inefficacy of an exalted station for producing happiness can scarcely be conceived. He ascended the papal throne with every talent that could do honour to it, and every circumstance that could lead him to anticipate a happy reign. He was admired by all who approached him; and his friendship was courted by all the powers in Europe. He was endued not only with the sterner virtues which command respect, but with those mild graces and kind affections that are seen to spread a calm over the minds of men, and dispose them to enjoy all the rational pleasures of life. But how different was the result from what might have been expected. He was tormented during his whole pontificate with the affairs of the jesuits: and his last moments, when he was sinking under a most painful malady, were embittered with the apprehensions that arose from his having incurred the enmity of that order: and he died regretting the loss of that tranquillity which he had enjoyed in retired life. If he was not revered by the zealots of the church of Rome, his memory will be held in honour by men of sense and virtue, as one of the most liberal and enlightened pontiffs that ever filled the papal chair. 1774 GERMANY. AMONG the expedients which the emperor employed to promote the happiness of his subjects and the prosperity of his states were the concessions made + September 21. The body of the deceased pope, we are told, bore strong appearances of poison, which corresponded with several symptons, observed before his death. "A herpes struck in," says Caraccioli, "which some people supposed the cause of his death, could not have produced a "burning heat in his throat, stomach, and bowels; nor could it have caused frequent colics, 66 nauseas, convulsions, absence of mind, and intercepted respiration, and so great a degree of "emaciation, that he was scarce to be known for some time before he died: nor would his body, "the moment he expired, have been seen to swell, turn black, fall to pieces, or spread such an "infectious smell, (though he was reduced to a skeleton) that there was no coming near it. What6: ever declarations have been made contrary to the account here given, were extorted, to the end "that no one might be accused: but the facts above are not the less certain on that account."— Caraccioli's Life. 156. made by him to the protestants; a proceeding which was honoured with the censures of the zealots of the church of Rome.-A disregard of such censures displayed, in this instance, that firmness of mind which is essential to the success of every great and laudable enterprise; which will ever have for its opponents those contracted spirits who have no other standard by which to judge of the merit of an action but their own interests and prejudices. It would be pleasing, could we give the same commendation to the emperor's foreign as his domestic policy. On the contrary, his present conduct leads us to remark the ill consequences attending the practice introduced among the chief powers of Europe of keeping vast standing armies on foot; the imperial and Austrian forces amounting, at this time, to 235,000 men. The power hence arising of oppressing their weaker neighbours aggravates the evil arising from the diminution of useful labour. This was notoriously seen at this time; when a body of the emperor's troops entered the borders of Venetian Dalmatia, and possessed themselves of several towns and districts. Some obsolete claim was found to serve as a pretext for the violation of the law of nations: and the republic, having nothing but expostulations to oppose to an armed force, was constrained to submit. b 1774 PRUSSIA. FREDERIC'S new dominions opened a wide field for improvement, which good policy and a desire to reconcile the inhabitants to his government recommended to his particular attention.-The country apportioned to his majesty was naturally fruitful; but laboured under all the calamities that arise from ignorance and the want of a well administered government.As the necessary foundation for all other social advantages, he instituted courts of justice in different parts of western Prussia, now called Pomerellia. He caused trading companies to be erected, for the introduction and encouragement of several branches of commerce and manufactures; and established 1774 1774 established ports, to facilitate commercial intercourse.-He was at a vast expence in rebuilding villages and towns which were gone to decay; especially Culm and Bamberg, where the loftiest houses were fallen into ruins; without doors, windows, or roofs.-Moreover, that he might create in the people a desire to raise themselves from their present wretched state of barbarism, the king instituted schools throughout the province, allowing salaries to the masters, who were appointed by the government; and founded a college at Culm for the education of fifty young nobles.-And such was the effect of these improvements on the national wealth and prosperity, that the revenue of western Prussia soon amounted to 2,000,000 of crowns. These were the benefits with which the people were soothed under his despotic government. 1774 DENMARK. THE only occurrence deserving of notice in the history of Denmark, this year, is the marriage of prince Frederic, his majesty's half brother to the princess Sophia Frederica, niece to the duke of Mecklenburg Schwerin; by which the bond of union among the protestant states was strengthened. a 1774 SWEDEN. GUSTAVUS, having placed the domestic affairs of his kingdom on a firm footing, turned his thoughts to the means by which he might give the Swedish state its just weight among the European powers. Reflecting that, notwithstanding it was a period of profound peace, the rival potentates were straining every nerve to increase their martial force, as if Europe were at the eve of a general war, he attended closely to the augmentation and improvement of his army and navy; determined, if possible, to restore the honour of the Swedish arms, to place them on a level, in point of discipline, pline, with the troops of those German princes who were most distinguished for their skill in warlike affairs; and to prove, if occasion should require, that his subjects were worthy descendants of those men who had shared in the warlike achievements of his great ancestor, Gustavus Adolphus." In the mean-time, the king adopted various expedients to preserve the national peace and advance its commerce. Among these, he used means to confirm the friendly intercourse which, at present, subsisted between his court, and that of Petersburg-He also dispatched a small squadron to the African coast, to do honour to the emperor of Morocco, and sent him rich presents in testimony of his esteem.b But how difficult is it for an absolute monarch to conciliate the confidence of his people! We are informed by the historian of the revolution in Sweden that, in order to extend the foreign trade of the kingdom, and induce the Swedish emigrants to return, Gustavus granted Marstrand, a trading port, the privileges of a free city, and invited persons who were liable to punishment, as offenders against the law, to settle there. But not even the attractions of their native country could induce men of that description, who had left it, to avail themselves of the king's invitation: on the contrary, many men, under pretence of going to Marstrand took their departure thence for foreign countries. This disaffection to his majesty's government, after all the pains which he had taken to gain popularity, is, in some measure, accounted for by a fact mentioned by the same author: that Gustavus, on a visit to Abo in Finland, received a great number of complaints against the cruel oppressions committed by the nobles; but that the fear of losing the attachment of the offenders, or some other motive, prevented him from redressing the injuries of his subjects. C RUSSIA a Ann. Regist. 26. b Sheridan. 38. с Idem. 251. a Idem. 277. 1774 |