the man in red exactly in the middle: he had arrogantly placed his sword before him, with a sort of Spanish bravado, but the ball of my piece hit against his sword, and the man was severed into two pieces. The Pope, who did not imagine any such thing, was highly delighted and surprized at what he saw; as well be'cause he thought it was impossible that such a gun could carry so far, as that he could not conceive how the man could be cut into two pieces.' (P. 87.)

The hero's defensive operations, however, are rather aukwardly interrupted:

While I was firing, a cannot-shot fell near me, which hit a 'part of the battlement, so that its force was considerably spent: but a great mass, falling on my breast, stopped my breath, and I lay prostrate on the ground, but could hear what was said by the by-standers; among others, Signor Antonio Croce lamented me as dead, and exclaimed aloud, "Alas, we have lost our best support."

The castle of St. Angelo was besieged from the 6th of May to the 5th of June; during which time, slaughter and desolation, accompanied by every excess of impiety, rapine, and Just on the side of the Imperialists, devastated the city of Rome. For this picture of horrors we need only refer the reader to the sacking of Rome by Guicciardini, by Jacopo Buonaparte, and by Valdes. The Pope surrendered the castle with all its treasures, and remained a prisoner until the 9th of September; when, disguised as a merchant, he fled almost alone to Orvieto, having learnt too late the folly of relying on conventions. During the siege, Benvenuto had been employed by the Pope to melt down all his plate, and his gold and silver vases, to pay the soldiers; and he was afterward accused of having purloined a portion of the precious metals, and imprisoned in the same castle, whence he made his escape in a most daring and extraordinary manner.... The Pope, astonished at this exploit, sent to the governor of Rome, and said to him laughing, "This Benvenuto is a brave fellow: the feat which he has performed is very surprizing; and yet, when I was a young man, I descended from the very same place." His Holiness spoke the truth; for he had himself been a prisoner in the castle of St. Angelo for forging a papal brief, when he was abbreviator, in the pontificate of Pope, Alexander, who kept him a long time in confinement, and formed the resolution of having him beheaded : but luckily he chose to defer the execution till after Corpus Christi day; and Farnese, having discovered his design, induced Pietro Chiavelluzzi to come to him with some horsemen, and bribed several of the guards: so that, while the Pope was walking in procession on that day, Farnese was put into a basket,

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basket, and with a cord let down to the ground. It is, however, observed by Cellini that the precincts of the castle wall had not then been erected, only the tower; so that the Pope had not so many difficulties to encounter in making his escape as I had; and, besides, he was a prisoner for a real crime, and I on an unjust, accusation.'

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Though this representation may not agree with Cellini's own confession elsewhere, that he only put apart a small portion of gold-dust for the purposes of his art, the particulars of his trial on the occasion are not the less curious and amusing. Pier Luigi, the Pope's illegitimate son, whom our hero held in great detestation, hoping to recover the secreted wealth, persuaded his father to proceed against Cellini with great severity, and he was brought before the governor of Rome and other magistrates to undergo an examination.

6

They began first to examine me in an amicable manner, but afterward broke out into the roughest and most menacing terms, occasioned, as I apprehend, by this speech of mine: Gentlemen, you have for above half an hour been questioning me about an idle story, and such nonsense that it may be justly said of you that you are trifling, and there is neither sense nor meaning in what you say; so I beg it of you as a favor that you would tell me what you really mean, and let me hear something like sense and reason from you, and not these idle stories and fabulous inventions." "At these words the Governor could no longer disguise his brutal nature, but said to me, "You speak with too much confidence, or rather too much insolence: but I will humble your pride and make you as tame as a spaniel by what I am going to tell you, which you will find to be neither an idle story nor nonsense, but -such conclusive reasoning that you will be obliged to submit to it."' elloThis threat poor Benvenuto found to be verified, though his high spirit scorned to yield to the repeated persecutions of the ferocious and avaricious Pier Luigi, and the Pope; who immured him in a solitary tower, attempting to wring 'the secret out of him by means of starvation and oppression. After his surprizing escape, he threw himself on the protection of Cardinal Carnaro; who was induced by motives of interest to deliver him again into the Pope's hands, and he was a second time committed close prisoner to the castle of St. Angelo, and treated with the utmost severity by a crazy constable. In spite of the barbarities which he suffered, we are assured of his great resignation under affliction, and of a wonderful vision denoting his speedy deliverance. He also wrote a sonnet on his distress, which softened the heart of the constable; and at last he obtained his liberty. 28"Among some of the best scenes in which Cellini figured, we must include the exhibition of his statues before Madame todend D'Es

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D'Estampes, the king's favorite, and the court of France; together with his quarrel with that lady, and some of the car dinals; and his presentation of the Pope's gifts to the Emperor Charles V. The manner in which the Pope prepared him for the grand occasion, and schooled him as to the words that he should use, with Cellini's raillery and flattery of the Pope, is humorous and amusing.

"When I carried the book to his Holiness, he appeared to be highly pleased with it; consulting me respecting the excuse to be made to the Emperor for the non-completion of the work. I said that the most plausible apology was my being indisposed, which his Imperial Majesty would be very ready to believe on seeing me so pale and emaciated. The Pope answered that he was satisfied with the excuse, but desired me to add in his name that, in presenting his Majesty with the book, I at the same time made him an offer of myself. He then suggested the words that I was to pronounce, and the way in which I was to behave. These words I repeated in his presence, asking him whether he approved of my delivery; and he replied that, if I had but the confidence to speak in the Emperor's presence in the same manner, I should acquit myself to admiration. I replied that, without being in the least confusion, I could deliver not only those words but many more, because the Emperor wore a lay habit like myself, and I should think I was speaking to a human form: but it was quite different when I addressed myself to his Holiness, in whom I discovered a much more awful representation of the divine power, as well because of his ecclesiastical ornaments, which were heightened by a sort of glory, as on account of his vener able and majestic age; all which circumstances made me stand much more in awe in his presence than in that of the Emperor, The Pope then said, "Go, my good friend, Benvenuto; acquit yourself like a man of ability, and you will find your account in it." (P. 216.)

Cellini was accompanied in his mission by Signor Durante, the Pope's chamberlain, with a present of two fine Turkish horses..

We all went together; and, when we were admitted into the presence of that great prince, the two horses entered the place with so much stateliness and ease, that both the Emperor and all the by-standers were astonished. Whereupon Durante advanced in the most aukward and ungracious manner, and delivered himself in a sort of Brescian jargon, with such hesitation, and so disagreeably, that the Emperor could not help smiling. In the mean time, I had already uncovered my work; and, per ceiving that his majesty looked at me very graciously, I stepped forwards and expressed myself thus: "Sire, our Holy Father, Pope Paul, sends this office of our Lady as a present to your Majesty. It was written, and the figures of it were drawn, by the ablest man whom the world ever produced. He presents you

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also with this rich cover of gold and jewels, though it be as yet unfinished in consequence of my indisposition: on which account his Holiness, together with the book, presents me also, desiring that I should come to finish the work near your sacred person, and also serve your Majesty in whatever you require, as long as I live." To this the Emperor made answer: "The book is highly agreeable to me, and so are you likewise: but I wish you to finish the work for me at Rome; and when it is completed, and you are thoroughly recovered, I shall be glad to see you at my court." In the course of his conversation with me, he called me by my name, at which I was greatly surprized, as not a word had passed between us in which it had been mentioned. He told me at the same time that he had seen the button of Pope Clement's pontifical habit, on which I had designed such admirable figures. In this manner, we protracted our discourse for the space of half an hour, talking on many other curious and entertaining subjects. I acquitted myself, on the whole, better than I expected; so that, when the conversation came to a pause, I bowed and retired. The Emperor was then heard to say, "Let five hundred gold crowns be given to Benvenuto immediately.' (P. 216.)

These specimens will be deemed sufficient to give a tolerably accurate idea of Cellini's peculiar merits, by all those who know how to appreciate the genuine" spirit of his book," with all its defects and absurdities. The astonishing credulity, bravado, and coarseness in which it abounds, -its fiery and bold impressive character, and the marks of originality, genius, and humor every where abundantly manifested,

are attractions too powerful to be resisted; and we yield to their impression with the same luxurious feeling as to that of a first rate novel or romance. In such a light, indeed, and such only, ought we to view the personal achievements of Cellini: but on matters of more disinterested import we may generally consider his remarks as both highly curious and valuable. The friend and pupil of Michel Angelo, his productions and his treatises on works of art are far from being unworthy of that great and enlightened master: while his intimacy with all the first painters and sculptors, and his frequent interviews with princes, commanders, and prelates, afforded him a wide range of observation and experience, of which he has availed himself to give us a series of admirable sketches of society and manners, and of the secret character and opinions of the most celebrated personages in the sixteenth century. They little imagined, while allowing him such facilities of access, that they were sitting for their portraits, stooping from the formality and state-dignity of their rank, to have their peculiarities and failings down and conned by rote," in the hands of an adventurous artist. On the whole, we may say of this incommon and APP. REV. VOL. XCIX.

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entertaining work what Baretti and many of Cellini's contemporaries have said before us, that "no book is better worth reading in our language than the Life of Benvenuto Cellini, written in the Tuscan dialect." He is a real hero, who wins for himself a reputation, puts himself on a level with sovereigns, struggles even against the popes at Rome itself, and at Paris refuses to submit even to the influence of Madame D'Estampes, the favorite mistress of Francis I...

ART. XI. Histoire de l'Administration des Secours Publics, &c.; i.e. A History of the Administration of Public Charities, &c. / &c. By Baron DUPIN. 8vo. pp. 470. Paris. 1821. Imported by Treuttel and Co. Price 9s. sewed.

THIS

HIS general view of the charitable institutions in France betrays occasionally an air of gasconade, but altogether exhibits considerable research, and is digested in a clear and perspicuous method. One half of the work is occupied with details respecting hospitals for invalids; of which M. DUPIN examines in succession the antient and the present state, the permanent and occasional funds, and all the circumstances of internal administration. The second part comprehends the charities for foundlings; and the last gives the state of the poor-laws in France. The Revolution, as it caused changes in every part of the kingdom, and indeed gave a fresh tone to every thing in French manners and opinions, produced a new sera in their charitable institutions, particularly in their hospitals; and it cannot be doubted that much mismanagement was checked, and many abuses rectified, by the investigations which then took place. Still, the tide of popular opinion was so strong against all antient establishments, and especially against any thing which tended to perpetuate the mischiefs of priestcraft, that many benevolent usages were discountenanced as connected with superstition, and some entirely discontinued. The meritorious attendance of the nuns to comfort and relieve the sick was for a while wholly interrupted, and the severities which visited the abuses of abbeys extended in their effects to suppress the tender offices of humanity.

M. DUPIN speaks with great judgment and discrimination of the varying views of governments, together with the slow progress of the true science of legislation: he mentions several instances relating to the subject of his work, in which changes that have been rejected with scorn in one age, as fantastical innovations, have been adopted and recognized in another as valuable improvements; and he seems to indulge the hope that, as knowlege is advanced, the happiness of society will