recall one spent at the Neapolitan minister's, in the Palazza Farnese, during which I was so agreeably entertained by a Ligurian count, that the evening hours appeared to me to be minutes. I have forgotten his name, but his conversation, full of striking and fine observations, brilliant and fluent like a continuous improvisation, I can never forget, and in order the better to retain it, I will note down a few expressions regarding Italy and the Italians.
“The Italian nation, composed of widely different
original races, has, nevertheless, through the superior
influence of climate and scenery, acquired a certain
unity, a certain character. The sun has, as it were,
amalgamated them into one nation; but it will still
require a long time for it to become mature. The
Neapolitans represent at once the natural life in its fullness
and the life of thought in its intensity. The former
is represented by the people in their everyday life and
songs—one often meets with improvisatori of both
sexes—the culmination of the sun-life. The wealthy
and high-born, on the contrary, love to occupy
themselves with learned studies, especially the philosophical.
The greatest philosopher of Italy, Vico, and in
recent times Galluppi, were Neapolitans. At the
present day the Neapolitan youths of the higher class cultivate
their studies for their pleasure and pastime, never
thinking at all of enlightening the world by that
means. The bias of the Germans toward the
Weltverbeserung is unknown to them. They love to rest
and to enjoy, and Germany's great Hegel even
strengthens this passion. ‘Questo Hegel, quanto e gra-
