DOI chapter:
Chap. IV: Return of the King to Naples - Rejoicings - Ornamental Buildings - Court - Character of that Monarch - of the Queen - Illuminations - Lazzaroni - Character of the Neapolitans - Return to Rome
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62268#0128
118 CLASSICAL TOUR Ch. IV.
still continues to enjoy the affection of his sub-
jects.
The queen is an archduchess of the imperial
family, sister to the late Queen of France, and to
the archduchess Christina, who once governed
the Low Countries. In countenance and man-
ner she resembles the latter; in spirit I believe
the former, and has always been supposed to have
a very considerable share in the management of
public affairs. That queens should have influ-
ence, is natural, and howsoever mischievous, per-
haps unavoidable ; but that they should be ad-
mitted into the privy council and take their place
at the board, is a phenomenon first witnessed I
believe at Naples, at the marriage of the present
queen. As the sex is very generally, without
doubt unjustly, supposed to be influenced by per-
sonal considerations, and guided rather by the
feelings of the heart than by the dictates of the
understanding, every obnoxious and unsuccessful
measure is invariably attributed to queens, where
their influence is visible and acknowledged.
Thus has it happened at Naples: every amelio-
ration of the laws, every indulgence in govern-
ment, are supposed to flow from the natural and
unbiassed goodness of the monarch, while every
unwise regulation or oppressive measure is con-
stantly ascribed to the predominance of the
still continues to enjoy the affection of his sub-
jects.
The queen is an archduchess of the imperial
family, sister to the late Queen of France, and to
the archduchess Christina, who once governed
the Low Countries. In countenance and man-
ner she resembles the latter; in spirit I believe
the former, and has always been supposed to have
a very considerable share in the management of
public affairs. That queens should have influ-
ence, is natural, and howsoever mischievous, per-
haps unavoidable ; but that they should be ad-
mitted into the privy council and take their place
at the board, is a phenomenon first witnessed I
believe at Naples, at the marriage of the present
queen. As the sex is very generally, without
doubt unjustly, supposed to be influenced by per-
sonal considerations, and guided rather by the
feelings of the heart than by the dictates of the
understanding, every obnoxious and unsuccessful
measure is invariably attributed to queens, where
their influence is visible and acknowledged.
Thus has it happened at Naples: every amelio-
ration of the laws, every indulgence in govern-
ment, are supposed to flow from the natural and
unbiassed goodness of the monarch, while every
unwise regulation or oppressive measure is con-
stantly ascribed to the predominance of the