DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62267#0259
Dis.
THROUGH ITALY
2-19
by the libertine as a compensation and excuse;
but I conceive that notwithstanding- such perver-
sion of motive, they are, when generally observed,
a proof convincing and satisfactory of the sincerity
and activity of national faith.
But to turn from the exterior of religion to
practices more connected with its internal and
most essential qualities, and consequently better
adapted to the feelings of Englishmen in general,
I will venture to assert, that no country exhibits
more splendid examples of public benevolence,
or furnishes more affecting instances of private
charity, than Italy. Christian countries, in ge-
neral (for there are some exceptions) and our
own in particular, are not deficient in the num-
ber and endowments of public establishments for
the relief of suffering humanity ; but even in this
respect, whoever has visited and examined the
hospitals of Rome, Naples, Genoa, Venice, and
Milan, will readily admit, that Italy has the ho-
norable advantage of surpassing all the king-
doms of Europe in the number and the magnifi-
cence of her charitable foundations. To describe
these edifices in detail, would require a separate
work of considerable extent; and it will be suf-
ficient perhaps to inform the reader, that there is
no disease of body, no distress of mind, no visita-
tion of Providence, to which the human form is
liable, from its first appearance till its final de-
THROUGH ITALY
2-19
by the libertine as a compensation and excuse;
but I conceive that notwithstanding- such perver-
sion of motive, they are, when generally observed,
a proof convincing and satisfactory of the sincerity
and activity of national faith.
But to turn from the exterior of religion to
practices more connected with its internal and
most essential qualities, and consequently better
adapted to the feelings of Englishmen in general,
I will venture to assert, that no country exhibits
more splendid examples of public benevolence,
or furnishes more affecting instances of private
charity, than Italy. Christian countries, in ge-
neral (for there are some exceptions) and our
own in particular, are not deficient in the num-
ber and endowments of public establishments for
the relief of suffering humanity ; but even in this
respect, whoever has visited and examined the
hospitals of Rome, Naples, Genoa, Venice, and
Milan, will readily admit, that Italy has the ho-
norable advantage of surpassing all the king-
doms of Europe in the number and the magnifi-
cence of her charitable foundations. To describe
these edifices in detail, would require a separate
work of considerable extent; and it will be suf-
ficient perhaps to inform the reader, that there is
no disease of body, no distress of mind, no visita-
tion of Providence, to which the human form is
liable, from its first appearance till its final de-