resentative press on one side of the border, and on the other, censorship, espionage, and persecution; here constitutional self-government, and there foreign domination sustained only by armed force.

While progress is thus evidently the watchword among the patriotic reformers of Sardinia, it is a progress tempered by wisdom. Thus the decree of the Chambers which suppressed the conventual religious orders, excepted the active Sisters of Charity. Among the more recent measures proposed or adopted are the construction of a railroad between Turin and Nice, the increase of the army, and the grand enterprise of a tunnel through Mont Cenis.

All the facts of the hour and all the prognostics of the journals do not, indeed, breathe encouragement. There are, in the circumstances of the present, the influences of the past, and the discordant elements of the future, opposing and ret

* The number of religious orders of males possessing property in the Terra-firma States affected by the first article of the said law is fourteen: i. e. the Agostiniani with shoes, the Agostiniani without shoes, the Benedettini Cassinesi, the Canonisi Regolari Lateranensi, the Carmelitani without shoes, the Certosini, the Cistercensi, the Domenicani, the Conventuali, the Minimi, the Filippini, the Olivetani, the Oblati, and the Servi. They occupied 66 houses; and when the commission took possession there were 557 priests, 215 lay brethren, and 9 serving novices and servants, giving a total of 781 persons, or an average of 11 persons to each house. The number of female religious orders in the Terra-firma States affected by the same law is eleven: the Agostiniane, the Battistine, the Benedettine Cassinese, the Canonichesse Lateranense, the Carmelitane without shoes, the Celestine, the Chiarisse, the Cistercense, the Crocifisse, the Domenicane, and the Terziarie Domenicane. They owned 46 houses, and numbered 1085 persons, of whom 814 were "coriste," or admitted nuns, 265 "converse," or persons in a probationary state, and 6 novices, or servants. They averaged 23 persons to each convent, or more than double the number averaged by the male orders.

The 66 convents inhabited by the possessing monks were found to contain 3,905 chambers, and to be of an aggregate value of 49,757 francs. From houses, lands, capital, and other sources, the gross receipts were 668,685 francs 63 cent.; of which about a sixth was in houses, and more than half in rural possessions to the amount of 4,932 hectares of land, the rent of which at the time of the promulgation of the law did not average more than 77 francs the hectare. Comparing the total of rural possessions with the number of families to which they belonged, there appears an average of 75 hectares to each family. The rent derived from capital and credits of various kinds amounted to 105,488 francs 21 cent., or about 1,596 francs for each family. The debts of all sorts contracted by the administrators of the male orders amounted to 216,640 francs 42 cent., so that the net rent, exclusive of the value of the monasteries, was 452,045 francs 21 cent.

rograde forces. The large number of educated refugees have overstocked the liberal professions in Sardinia; the favor extended by the government towards these unfortunate guests has often excited native jealousy, while certain restrictions, not applied to citizens, have equally provoked the discontent of the exiles. The expensiveness of the army and the beneficent schemes of the administration have frequently made taxation onerous. The ill-defined and somewhat incongruous liberty of the press and of public worship has led to serious, though limited disaffection. The sincerity of the state in her foreign relations, the disinterestedness of her purposes in regard to Italy, the motives and scope of her English and French alliances, have all been gravely questioned. "Sardinia," says a late British Tory journal, " duped by the lying promises of Russian aid against Austria, and duly informed of the course France meant to take, agreed to Russia's non

The estimated rent of the 46 convents occupied by the nuns in possession amounted altogether to 73,145 francs, or an average of 1,590 francs to each convent, a value equal to double that of the monasteries. Comparatively, the gross rent is still greater on the whole of the different categories of property, amounting to 514,609 francs 76 cent.; of which 292,870 francs is derived from rural possessions, to the extent of 2,783 hectares of land. The debts in five of the male religious orders absorbed a third of their gross income, while those of the female orders hardly exceeded a fourth. The net revenues of the latter were found to amount to 389,155 francs.

In the island of Sardinia the male orders affected by the law are seven in number, occupying 51 houses; and the female two, with 9 houses. The first comprehend 322 persons, the second 166. The estimated rent of the whole of the monasteries and convents so occupied is very small. There were attached to them 1,054 other buildings, and 3,260 hectares of land.

The houses of the Mendicant orders suppressed amount to 183, of which 136 are in the Terra-firma States, and 47 in the island of Sardinia. The total number of members of these orders is 3,135, of whom 175 are women and 2,960 men. Of the latter 1,709 are priests (sacerdoti), 983 laymen, and 268 either novices or servants. In general, the value of the convents of the Mendicant orders is found to be very trifling. They possess, however, other property, which produces a rent of 83,804 francs 36 cent.

There are 66 collegiate churches affected by the law, comprising altogether 650 canonries; so that there is an average of 10 canonries for each church, or about one for 6,500 souls. These canonries have a net rent varying from 150 to 1,800 francs. The smallest are in the province of Liguria, and the richest in those of Novara, Vercelli, and Turin.

As to the simple benefices, the commission has not yet been able to take possession of them, but they are calculated to number about 1,700.

fulfilment of the treaty"; and elsewhere, "Whether the renewed allegiance of France and Sardinia to the British side of the question be genuine or feigned, remains to be seen."

In these and many other speculations we find only what baffles conjecture rather than hope, and do not participate in the apprehension, often expressed by English writers, that Piedmont will be flattered into complacent error. We trust to the insight of her statesmen, the liberal sentiments of her Parliament, the discipline and valor of her army, the efficiency generated by prosperous activity, the purifying and elevating influence of public education, hospitality, beneficence, and religious discussion, the severe lessons of the past, the noble pledges of the present, and the vast interests of the future, to inspire, sustain, and enlighten national self-respect and fraternity.

Sardinia was the only Italian state which had the resources and the public spirit to take part in the war initiated by England and France to check Russian encroachments. Her capital alone, of the cities of Southern Europe, has grown in size, beauty, and population within the last ten years. All the states of Italy have contributed to the monument in process of erection there in honor of the Crimean heroes of Piedmont, and to the fund designed to purchase cannon wherewith to fortify Alessandria; while the cold reception of the Austrian Emperor on his recent visit to Lombardy, and the firmness and dignity manifest in Cavour's response to his minister's recent complaints, (a diplomatic note which has made an impression in Europe similar to that caused by Webster's response to Hülsemann,) indicate a unity of political sympathies, of which Sardinia is at once the nucleus and the exponent, which gives authority to Gallenga's final historical inference: "In his bold, confident youth, an Italian patriot may have rejoiced in the firm belief that his age was destined to witness the rearing up of the whole edifice of Italian nationality. He must now be thankful to Heaven, if, dying, he carry with him the conviction that the first stone, the cornerstone, is at least laid."

ART. III.

Histoire de la Maison Royale de St. Cyr. (16861793.) Par THÉOPHILE LAVALLEE. Paris: Furne et Cie. 1853.

"THERE are certain events," says Madame de Sévigné in one of her charming letters, "of which we cannot hear too many particulars." It is well for her fame that such is the fact. The wonderful fascination of her writings can scarcely be explained by the acknowledged beauty of her style. We listen with delight to her lively gossip and pleasing descriptions, not only because they breathe so tender an affection for her darling daughter, and sparkle with the brilliancy of the subtlest wit, but because they place us on so friendly and familiar relations with the Rochefoucaulds, the Condés, the La Fontaines, and the Racines of her age. An imperishable interest attaches to the circle of geniuses which surrounded the throne of the Grand Monarque. St. Cloud in its palmiest days could not assemble such a court as was gathered, like one family, in the spacious palace at Versailles. We are all curious to learn of the inner, and what may be termed the domestic, life of that royal household. We linger with pleasure over the sparkling pages of Madame de Sévigné, Madame de Lafayette, the Abbé de Choisi, and the sharp-sighted St. Simon.

With a kindred pleasure do we receive from M. Lavallée a picture of life at the Royal House of St. Cyr. Guided by his spirited history, we propose to give a sketch of that celebrated school, which was planned by Madame de Maintenon, founded by Louis XIV., protected by both of his successors, and finally destroyed in the storms of the Revolution. So distinguished are the names which appear in its annals, and so closely were its fortunes associated with those of the throne, that, in reading the story of its origin, prosperity, and downfall, we obtain an acquaintance with many of the illustrious characters of France, and pass in review the remarkable changes of an eventful century.*

*M. Lavallée has had access to the famous manuscript Memoires des Dames de St. Cyr, a portion of which La Beaumelle obtained in some unknown manner, and

The continuous wars of Lous XIV. impoverished thousands of his nobles. Before his time, they had sold their services to one feudal lord or another, and had fought, now for, and now against, their king. The possessions of the conquered party had been the lawful booty of the victors. But Louis XIV. completed the union of opposing factions, which was begun by Henry IV., and carried on by Richelieu. The discords of jealous dukes and of rival commanders were forgotten in loyalty to the monarch. A rigid military discipline was established. Unquestioning obedience and unwavering devotion were required from the officers. A large part of their life was spent in costly campaigns. Their pay was small. Their chief reward was the glory which they won. Their estates, deprived of their personal care, and burdened with heavy taxes, were declining in value. Thus many a gentleman, whose breast was covered with badges of honor, was reduced to utter destitution. Wounded officers were seen begging bread at the gates of the palace of Versailles. Their families were suffering in want. Their children were growing up in ignorance.

Policy, no less than gratitude, induced the king to relieve the distress of those gallant men, who had placed their property and their lives at his service. He therefore founded the Hôtel des Invalides, as a home for disabled soldiers, schools of cadets for the instruction of the sons of gentlemen, and the Royal House of St. Cyr, for the education of young ladies of noble birth.

The establishment of this last institution was due to the suggestion of Madame de Maintenon. The remembrance of her early misfortunes had doubtless quickened the kindly impulses of a heart, which was naturally inclined to charity. The striking vicissitudes of her life had acquainted her with many a trial and sorrow, and had taught her especially the value of early education and faithful training. She was born

wrought into his Lettres de Madame de Maintenon and his Memoires sur Madame de Maintenon. These are the works which Voltaire attacks so fiercely in the notes to his Siècle de Louis XIV. He would have been glad to see the positive proofs, which are now before us, that La Beaumelle made material changes in the letters, which he published as literal copies from the manuscripts.