DOI Kapitel:
Chap. VI: Observations on Ancient Names - On Roman Architecture - Defects of the Modern Style - Progress of the Art - Papal Government - Its Character - Consequences of the French Invasion and Preponderance of the present and future State of Rome
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62268#0259
Ch. VI.
THROUGH ITALY.
249
influence of human passions, impervious to the
horrors and alarms of war, and wholly conse-
crated to peace, benevolence, and humanity ; to
the study of religion, to the improvement of
science, and to the perfection of art.
CAMPAGNA DI ROMA.
One of the most striking objects in the ap-
proach to Rome is, as I have elsewhere observed,
that vast uninhabited, and in many places un-
cultivated extent of country that surrounds it on
all sides, and is called the Campagna. Its present
state of desolation is certainly singular, and na-
turally calls for inquiry. Some travellers attribute
it to the destructive influence of papal govern-
ment and of catholic superstition working here
as in their very focus, and with all their per-
nicious activity. It must appear fortunate in
the eyes of such observers, that causes which
strike the earth with barrenness and taint the air
with pestilence, have not also darkened the face
of heaven and involved Rome in clouds and
tempests. And singularly lucky it must be con-
sidered that their malignity is restricted to the
plains, and that while it extends on one side to
thirty it is on the other confined to twelve or
sixteen miles; that they sometimes spare certain
THROUGH ITALY.
249
influence of human passions, impervious to the
horrors and alarms of war, and wholly conse-
crated to peace, benevolence, and humanity ; to
the study of religion, to the improvement of
science, and to the perfection of art.
CAMPAGNA DI ROMA.
One of the most striking objects in the ap-
proach to Rome is, as I have elsewhere observed,
that vast uninhabited, and in many places un-
cultivated extent of country that surrounds it on
all sides, and is called the Campagna. Its present
state of desolation is certainly singular, and na-
turally calls for inquiry. Some travellers attribute
it to the destructive influence of papal govern-
ment and of catholic superstition working here
as in their very focus, and with all their per-
nicious activity. It must appear fortunate in
the eyes of such observers, that causes which
strike the earth with barrenness and taint the air
with pestilence, have not also darkened the face
of heaven and involved Rome in clouds and
tempests. And singularly lucky it must be con-
sidered that their malignity is restricted to the
plains, and that while it extends on one side to
thirty it is on the other confined to twelve or
sixteen miles; that they sometimes spare certain