Memoirs Of The Freemasons Of Naples.

sider ^ . d it a means of obtaining that which they most coveted ; the shouts of the infatuated people , therefore , responded to the vociferations of the insurrectionists . An intimation was now brought to the King from the head-quarters of the insurgents that they demanded a free constitution , similar to that which had been adopted in Spain . Preparations were made to oppose and reduce

this spirit ; but it was discovered , on sounding the disposition of those troops who had not yet declared against the Government , that they all in heart were imbued with the same sentiments , and belonged to the Carbonari or other secret clubs , and , therefore , could not with safety be led against their comrades . This state of

things was reported to Eerdinand ; he , therefore , gave way , and declared his assent to the condition proposed . Couriers were sent off early in tho morning to the troops to announce this change , and papers were exhibited on the walls of the cit y declaring the King ' s intention to publish a constitution , or form of free government , in seven days . The general appearance of the city during the interval between the parley with the troops and the King ' s resolution to accede to their wishes was most

singular . Every face was marked by anxiety , and denoted the expectation of some dreadful event . When the joyful news was known , nothing was to be seen or heard but the most lively testimonies of pleasure . Groups paraded the streets with shouts of" Viva , Viva !" and these were by no means of the lowest or lower

• classes ; nobles , officers , and priests all joined in the exultation ; and , it happening to be on the birthday of the hereditary prince that the announcement was made , a general illumination followed . After much negociation , the King nominated the Duke of Calabria ( hen- apparent ) his "V icar-General in the

Kingdom of the Two Sicilies ,-and ceded to him all the rights attached to what is called the Alter etjo , or , as the act of cession expresses it , "the exercise of every right , prerogative , pre-eminence , or faculty , in the same manner as they would be exerised by His Majesty ' s own person . " The reason assigned for this measure was the

state of the King ' s health , who said he had come to the determination " to lay down the burden of government until it should please God to restore to him the health necessary to sustain it . "

But this did not satisf y the insurgents ; they demanded the promise and signature of the King himself ; and towards the evening of the same day was issued another proclamation , in which the King confirmed the promise of the Prince , his son , and pledged his royal faith to take the oath to the Constitution before the Provisional Junta , which was about to be formed . Alongside of this proclamation was posted up a decree of the Prince , ¦ containing the following articles : —

" 1 . The Constitution of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies shall be the same as was adopted for the Kingdom of Spain in 1812 , tmd sanctioned by his Catholic Majesty in March , 1820 , except such modifications as the national representation , constitutionally convoked , shall think expedient , in order to adapt ifc to tho particular circumstances of the States of his Majesty .

" 2 . Wo reserve to ourselves the making and publication of all the arrangements which may be useful in facilitating and hastening the execution of tho present decree . " On the 14 th of July , the oath was taken b y the King and the hereditary Prince , with the attendant ceremonies , and amidst universal demonstrations of joy from the

population of Naples ; not , however , without some disturbances caused by members of a republican club . Thus had the Carbonari obtained all they desired , and it would be injustice on our part ( though we have dis-

Memoirs Of The Freemasons Of Naples.

tinctly proved the wide difference that existed between their principles and that of the Ereemasons ) were we not to record their character at this period . A much respected correspondent of the Gentleman ' s Magazine has an article in the August number of 1820 , in which he speaks of the Carbonari thus : — "The society is called ia Carbonari & i \ ABarraclic ( Market )

; is the name given to their meetings . Tho society is ot once political and religious ; their principles arc founded on the purest maxims of tho Gospel ; the members promise obedience to the law , and respect to those who worthily administer justice ; they vow eternal hatred to tyranny , and this hatred is the greater , because they consider our Saviour as the most ) deplorable and the most illustrious victim of

despotism . The Carbonari aro distinguished by their degrees . The object of tho Institution is to purge the Appenincs of the rapacious wolves which infest them ; the wolves signify the oppressors of the people , and all the agents of Government who aro guilty of arbitrary acts . The spirit of liberty and evangelical equality is observed in the sittings of the Barrache ; the purest morality is

inculcated in them ; and it would bo easy to name judges , attendants , commissaries , and syndics , who , only since their initiation , have given exanrples of justice , courage , and benevolence . Abruzzo and Calabria have been witnesses of the most astonishing conversions ; the banditti who infested the mountains have quitted the musket for the spade , so greatly had they been edified by the Sacred Word . The

Carbonari have been alternately courted by the French , by Murat , and by Perdinand , as their purpose served ; many enlightened men have joined them , and there are now above 300 , 000 in the Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily . Thoy have rapidly spread all over Italy , and some are to bo found in Prance , Spain , and Germany !" { To be continued . )

Stray Thoughts About Books.

STRAY THOUGHTS ABOUT BOOKS .

BY DIAGOKAS . The eighth century seems to have been for Europe generally the darkest period of that ni ght which followed the overthrow of the Eoman Empire , the irruption of the Lombards into Italy , and the Saracens to Prance

and Spain ; and the trifling and frivolous character of the studies followed by the clergy greatly contributed to the decay of literature . Charlemagne , when labouring to revive learning among his subjects , had to seek for teachers far and wide . Erom the seventh to the eleventh century the state of affairs was such that man } ' of the

highest rank and most eminent position could neither read nor write ; many of the priests did not understand the breviary they were compelled to recite , and even dignified ecclesiastics were unable to subscribe the canons they had assisted in promulgating . The signatures of even noblemen and kings were denoted ba

y cross , from inability to write , hence the phrase signing instead of subscribing a document . A great scarcity of books was both the cause and consequence of this state of society . The Saracenic conquest of Egypt ( seventh century ) effectually prevented the export of Papyrus , andthereforeuntil the discovery of linen paperabout

, , , the tenth or eleventh century , parchment was the only material for books , which was very expensive aud frequently scarce . Even the Papal library , about the end of theseventh century , was so badly furnished with books , that the Pope sent emissaries to various parts of Europe to collect them in order to supply the deficiency . King

John of Prance left eight or ten volumes at his death as a foundation for a royal library , and considered it a munificent gift even for a king . Several monasteries