Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
An Account Of The Vicissitudes Of The Neapolitan Masonry;
able until now to procure this luxury at a trifling expense , which had become by habit a want to them , began to grumble ° and complain . T ey unted , according to the advice of several dissatisfied snuff-taking Masons am resolved to put , during the night , their snuff-boxes before the gate of the royal palace—and it was done so . ° Next morning it was reported to the king , that about 3800 snuff-boxes ad been found at the gate of the palace , and the prince , surprised at the unanimity in tins expedient , and having received the required sum commanded that the order which was given in regard to tobacco should
hetwJn L £ u TxT h R f ° lutl 0 n ' SOme relation was established between the French and Neapolitan masons . At this period , the ignorance in Naples being almost complete and general , there were but few educated persons ; and in consequence , a few Masons , who , seeing their poor country suffering on account of ignorance under the oppression of an imbecile king , of an impious and cruel queen , and of thieving and ETnT / f " £ ?* K ed t 0 ' u ir . P hiIos ° P hical objects , those of politics , which tent led to the liberty of their countryb of instruction of
, y means the more c ever ancl the more talented young people . As this class of enlightened persons were all applying—one to the civil law , another to medicine , others to public lectures in philosophy , law , mathematics , poetry , and literature , they were able , after a persevering labour , to form clubs and instruct a part of the young people of the middle classes , some unprejudiced nobles , ancl some ecclesiastics , who made themselves conspicuous m the cause of liberty .
superstition and ignorance of the people were the cause of so many disasters , which befell the human race . In 1798 , the republican French army under command of General Championet received orders to take possession of the kingdom of Naples . The government of Bourbon instead of taking measures to defend itself and to oppose the invadin ^ array , which was of little consequence , and might have been beateneven routed—took to fli ght after having emptied the treasury and boxes ot the stateand went to Sicilwith the
, y , king and all his family , leavine everywhere p acards which enjoined the people to keep themselves quiet as the French were coming as friends . Then the employees deserted ! their offices , and their chiefs were the first among them to leave the coast , imagining that the French were cannibals , who ivanted to devour them ; and the arsenals , magazines , manufactories of arms and ammunition , and all other public property , became a prey to the lower ordersIn this state of affairs
. , the Neapolitans of the middle classes took arms to preserve public order , and to prevent the disorder into winch the lower class mi ght have thrown themselves , who thought only of rapine . Those of the middle classes , armed , went through the whole town , even on the high roads , with the greatest perseverance , and they succeeded to maintain order until the French arrived at Naples The French general , informed ofthe state of affairs , assembled the few influential who out to him
persons were pointed , ancl they took measures to put the affairs of government in order again , already constituted as a republic A number of instructed persons , nearly all of them Masons were called to the patriotic chamber , and were given as chiefs to all branches of public administration . This new government , which was no more in opposition to the ri ghts of man , and the chiefs of which were the most distinguished persons of the land , made room for the patriotic and philanthro-phiiosopliical re-unions .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
An Account Of The Vicissitudes Of The Neapolitan Masonry;
able until now to procure this luxury at a trifling expense , which had become by habit a want to them , began to grumble ° and complain . T ey unted , according to the advice of several dissatisfied snuff-taking Masons am resolved to put , during the night , their snuff-boxes before the gate of the royal palace—and it was done so . ° Next morning it was reported to the king , that about 3800 snuff-boxes ad been found at the gate of the palace , and the prince , surprised at the unanimity in tins expedient , and having received the required sum commanded that the order which was given in regard to tobacco should
hetwJn L £ u TxT h R f ° lutl 0 n ' SOme relation was established between the French and Neapolitan masons . At this period , the ignorance in Naples being almost complete and general , there were but few educated persons ; and in consequence , a few Masons , who , seeing their poor country suffering on account of ignorance under the oppression of an imbecile king , of an impious and cruel queen , and of thieving and ETnT / f " £ ?* K ed t 0 ' u ir . P hiIos ° P hical objects , those of politics , which tent led to the liberty of their countryb of instruction of
, y means the more c ever ancl the more talented young people . As this class of enlightened persons were all applying—one to the civil law , another to medicine , others to public lectures in philosophy , law , mathematics , poetry , and literature , they were able , after a persevering labour , to form clubs and instruct a part of the young people of the middle classes , some unprejudiced nobles , ancl some ecclesiastics , who made themselves conspicuous m the cause of liberty .
superstition and ignorance of the people were the cause of so many disasters , which befell the human race . In 1798 , the republican French army under command of General Championet received orders to take possession of the kingdom of Naples . The government of Bourbon instead of taking measures to defend itself and to oppose the invadin ^ array , which was of little consequence , and might have been beateneven routed—took to fli ght after having emptied the treasury and boxes ot the stateand went to Sicilwith the
, y , king and all his family , leavine everywhere p acards which enjoined the people to keep themselves quiet as the French were coming as friends . Then the employees deserted ! their offices , and their chiefs were the first among them to leave the coast , imagining that the French were cannibals , who ivanted to devour them ; and the arsenals , magazines , manufactories of arms and ammunition , and all other public property , became a prey to the lower ordersIn this state of affairs
. , the Neapolitans of the middle classes took arms to preserve public order , and to prevent the disorder into winch the lower class mi ght have thrown themselves , who thought only of rapine . Those of the middle classes , armed , went through the whole town , even on the high roads , with the greatest perseverance , and they succeeded to maintain order until the French arrived at Naples The French general , informed ofthe state of affairs , assembled the few influential who out to him
persons were pointed , ancl they took measures to put the affairs of government in order again , already constituted as a republic A number of instructed persons , nearly all of them Masons were called to the patriotic chamber , and were given as chiefs to all branches of public administration . This new government , which was no more in opposition to the ri ghts of man , and the chiefs of which were the most distinguished persons of the land , made room for the patriotic and philanthro-phiiosopliical re-unions .