ntry by
your soldiers or by ours. Besides, this is an article which
so easily eludes the vigilance of the custom-house, that the
railways are already bringing it in daily, and you will soon
have a large stock on hand. And after all, where's the great
evil? All men who have studied us without prejudice, know
that French ideas are ideas of order and liberty, of
conservatism and progress, of labour and honesty, of culture
and industry. The country in which French ideas abound the
most is France, and France, Monsignore, is in good health."

CHAPTER XIX.

MATERIAL INTERESTS.

"For my part," said a great fat Neapolitan,

"I don't care the value of a bit of orange-peel for
politics. I am willing to believe we've got a bad
government, because all the world says we have, and because
our King never dare show himself in public. All I can say
is, that my grandfather made 20,000 ducats as a
manufacturer; that my father doubled his capital in trade;
and that I bought an estate which, in my tenants' hands,
pays me six per cent. for the investment. I eat four meals a
day, I'm in vigorous health, and I weigh fourteen stone. So
when I toss off my third glass of old Capri wine at supper,
I can't for the life of me help crying, 'Long live the
King!'"

A huge hog which happened to cross the street as the Neapolitan
reached his climax, gave a grunt in token of approbation.

The "hog" school is not numerous in Italy, whatever superficial
travellers may have told you on that head. The most highly-gifted
nation in Europe will not easily be persuaded that the great end of
human existence is to eat four meals a day.

But let us suppose for an instant that all the Pope's subjects are
willing to renounce all liberty,--religious, political, municipal, and
even civil,--for the sake of growing sleek and fat, without any higher
aim, and are content with the merely animal enjoyments of health and
food; do they find in their homes the means of satisfying their wants?
Can they, on that score at least, applaud their Government? Are they
as well treated as beasts in a cage? Are the people fat and thriving?
I answer, No!

In every country in the world the sources of public wealth are three
in number: agriculture, manufactures, and commerce. All governments
which do their duty, and understand their interests, emulate one
another in fav