on the contrary, is "a chartered libertine," which spurns the restraints of mediocrity, and in search of excellence ventures into unknown regions of thought. Goethe and Schiller, owe the magick charm of their dramatick compositions, to the boldness with which they have ventured beyond the prescribed limits of invention, while the jejuneness of the French theatre proceeds from the slavery of established rules, which narrows the range of imagination, and impoverishes the sources of invention. The feeble impression made by the dramas of Shakspeare, when adapted to the French theatre, convinces me that it is incapable of lending ours any improvements. The wild graces and unborrowed charms of Shakspeare's muse, are no longer recognised, when decorated with the artificial embellishments of Parisian taste. How does it freeze an English or an American auditor, to find in these imitations the awful apparitions in Hamlet and Macbeth, and all those circumstances of matchless grandeur, by which Shakspeare gradually prepares the mind, for their appearance systematically suppressed, or narrated in a strain of pompous and frigid declamation; and to see the strength and harmony of Otway's verse sacrificed to

poetical exactness, and his impetuous torrent of overbearing cloquence, taught to flow in Alexandrine lines, and subjected to the inexorable laws of French prosody. As unwilling am I that our dramatick system should be forced into conformity with that of Italy. The "wood notes wild" of Shakspeare are far more grateful to my taste, than all the dazzling imagery of Metastasio, or the studied sententiousness and sentimental pomp of Alfieri.

I have dwelt the longer on the subject of the Italian drama, as it in some measure af fords a standard for estimating the literary taste, and moral genius of the nation, and the same reason may be assigned for the pre ceding remarks, on the disproportionate magnificence of the opera, which has a sufficient foundation in general opinions and manners, to throw some light on the moral and intellectual character of the Italians.

From what I have already said it may be inferred, that the manners of Trieste and those of the Italian cities, do not essentially differ. Its annexation, indeed, to Austria, should its present political relations prove permanent,

may in the course of time, lead to the in troduction generally of German manners and German opinions; but in all other respects at present, Trieste is an Italian city. Like all the other ports of the Adriatick, it contains a very mixed population, and displays a great variety of costumes. This intermixture of Asiaticks, Africans and Europeans, is not unpleasing to a mind, conversant with the Romances of the East, to which this infusion of foreign dresses and manners suggests pictures that have amused the fancy of childhood. Commerce has here brought together the sun-burnt Saracen, and the fair complexioned sons of the north. It is not unusual to see a rich Constantinopolitan merchant attended by a black page, attired in cashmere and muslin, mixing with the cheerful concourse, which in the evening crowd the haunts of fashion, and many "a malignant and turbaned Turk," is compelled to acknowledge the superiour charms of European society, and to prefer to the insipidity of the ensla-. ved beauties of the East, the social virtues and intellectual graces, which ennoble the sex in those countries, over which christianity sheds its moral influence.

Some of the villages in the neighbourhood of Trieste, are inhabited by a race of peasants, whose language differs radically from that of Italy, and has no affinity with the kindred dialects of the adjacent provinces. Their fair complexions and robust forms, too, are proofs of a descent from a more northern nation. In Trieste they are called Craniolins. The dress of the women is peculiar. Their heads are tied round with a white cambrick or linen handkerchief, with the corners thrown back on the shoulders. They wear a short tight jacket, that displays to advantage an elegant waist and pliant form, but the effect of which is spoiled by the heavy massive drapery, that falls from it as far as the middle of the leg. Scarlet stockings, which they take care to wrinkle about the ankle, terminated by broad round shoes with large buckles in them, conceal the beautifully turned ankle and slender foot, indicated by the elastick step and buxom air of many of these mountain nymphs.

The constant companion of these poor people, is a small shaggy species of ass, which is often seen before them, mounting with patient steps the steep and rugged

paths of the mountains, and carrying in its panniers, the whole stock of wealth employed in their humble traffick. On Sundays they flock in their best attire to the churches of Trieste, and spend their evening at the villages of Zauli, and St. Servelo. Their favourite exercise is a dance, which resembles more the brisk and vigorous measures of the ancient Pyrrhick, than the mazy and inebriating movements of the German waltzes.

I have mentioned, incidently, a general expectation at Trieste, of a visit from the Emperour Francis. The governor of the city was solicitous that this event should be marked on the part of the inhabitants, with the strongest expressions of good faith and devotion to their sovereign. The Italians, though insincere in their loyalty, were induced from motives of policy to concur in a measure which was likely to have important consequences of a publick nature.* He was met at a distance from the city

* At this time there was a hope prevalent among the Trestians, that the cabinet of Vienna would carry into effect the long agitated plan of concentrating the commerce of the Empire at Trieste.