is a large island in the Mediterranean sea, adjoining to the southern extremity of Italy, and extends from latitude $36^\circ 25'$ to latitude $38^\circ 25'$, and from longitude $12^\circ 50'$ to longitude $16^\circ 5'$ east from London. Its greatest length $210$ miles, breadth $133$, circumference $660$; its form triangular, the three angles being the promontories of Pelorium, Pachynum, and Lilybeum, or, as they are now called, the Faro, Capo Passaro, and Capo Boco. It is divided from Italy by the straits of Messina, reaching from the tower of Faro, which is the most northerly part of the island, to the Capo dell'Armi, or the Cape of Arms, the most southern part of Calabria. These straits, by the Latins called Fretum Siculum, by the Italians Il Faro di Messina, and by us the Faro di Messina, are between $12$ and $15$ miles over in the broadest places, and in the narrowest about a mile and a half; insomuch that when Messina was taken by the Carthaginians, many of the inhabitants are said to have saved themselves by swimming to the opposite coast of Italy. Hence has arisen an opinion that the island of Sicily was originally joined to the continent, but afterwards separated by an earthquake or some other natural cause. This separation, however, is reckoned by the most judicious among the ancients to be fabulous; and they content themselves with speaking of it as a thing said to have happened.

Anciently this island was called Siconia, Sicilia, and Trinzeria or Triquetra; the two former it had from the Sicani and Siculi, who peopled a considerable part of the country; the two latter from its triangular figure. Its first inhabitants, according to the most respectable ancient authors, were the Cyclopes and Locstrigones, who are said to have settled in the countries adjoining to Mount Etna; but of their origin we know nothing, except what is related by the poets. After them came the Sicani, who called themselves the original inhabitants of the country; but several ancient historians inform us that they came from a country in Spain watered by the river Sicopus. Diodorus, however, is of opinion, that the Sicani were the most ancient inhabitants of this island. He tells us that they were in possession of the whole, and applied themselves to cultivate and improve the ground in the neighbourhood of Etna, which was the most fruitful part of the island: they built several small towns and villages on the hills to secure themselves against thieves and robbers; and were governed, not by one prince, but each city and district by its own king. Thus they lived till Etna began to throw out flames, and forced them to retire to the western parts of the island, which they continued to inhabit in the time of Thucydides. Some Trojans, after the destruction of their city, landed in the island, settled among the Sicani, and built the cities of Eryx and Egesta, uniting themselves with them, and taking the general name of Elymi or Elymni. They were afterwards joined by some Phocenses, who settled here on their return from the siege of Troy.

After the Sicani had for many ages enjoyed an undisturbed possession of the whole of Sicily, or such parts of it as they chose to inhabit, they were visited by the Siculi, who were the ancient inhabitants of Ausonia properly so called; but being driven out from thence by the Opici, they took refuge in the island of Sicily. Not being contented with the narrow bounds allowed them by the Sicani, they began to encroach upon their neighbours; upon which a war ensuing, the Sicani were utterly defeated, and confined to a corner of the island, the name of which was now changed from Sicania into that of Sicilia.

About 300 years after the arrival of the Siculi, the island first began to be known to the Greeks, who established various colonies, and built many cities in different parts of the island; and it is only from the time of their arrival that we have any history of the island. The first of the Greeks that came into Sicily were the Chalcedians of Euboea, under the conduct of Thucles, who built Naxus, and a famous altar of Apollo, which, as Thucydides tells us, was still standing in his time without the city. The year after, which was, according to Dionysius Halicarnassensis, the third of the 17th Olympiad, Arebias the Corinthian, one of the Heraclidae, laid the foundations of Syracuse. Seven years after, a new colony of Chalcedians founded Leontini and Catana, after having driven out the Siculi, who inhabited that tract. About the same time Lamis, with a colony from Megara, a city of Achaia, settled on the river Pantacius, at a place called Trotium, where his adventurers lived some time in common with the Chalcedians of Leontini; but being driven from thence by the Leontines, he built the city of Thapsus, where he died. Upon his death, the colony left Thapsus; and under the conduct of Hyblon king of the Siculi, founded Megara Hyblaei, where they resided 245 years, till they... they were driven out by Gelon, tyrant of Syracuse. During their abode at Megara, they sent one Pamius, who was come from Megara in Achaia, their original city, to build Selinus. This city was founded about 100 years after the foundation of Megara. Antiphanes and Entimus, the former a Rhodian, the other a Cretan, led each a colony of their countrymen, and jointly built the city of Gela on a river of the same name, establishing in their new settlement the Doric customs, about 45 years after the founding of Syracuse. The inhabitants of Gela founded Agrigentum 108 years after their arrival in Sicily, and introduced the same customs there. A few years after, Zancle was built by the pirates of Cumae in Italy; but chiefly peopled by the Chalcidians, Samians, and Ionians, who chose rather to seek new settlements than live under the Persian yoke. Some time after, Anaxales, tyrant of Rhegium, drove out the ancient proprietors; and, dividing his lands amongst his followers, called the city Messana or Messene, which was the name of his native city in Peloponnesus. The city of Himera was founded by the Zanclean under the direction of Euclides, Simus, and Sacon; but peopled by the Chalcidians and some Syracusan exiles, who had been driven out by the contrary faction.

The Syracusans built Acrae, Chasmene, and Camarina; the first 70 years, the second 90, and the third 135, after the foundation of their own city. This is the account which Thucydides, a most judicious and exact writer, gives us of the various nations, whether Greeks or Barbarians, who settled in Sicily. Strabo counts among the ancient inhabitants of Sicily the Morgetes, who being driven out of Italy by the Oenotrians, settled in that part of the island where the ancient city of Morgantium stood. The Campani, who assumed the name of Mamertini, that is, invincible warriors, and the Carthaginians, who settled very early in Sicily, ought likewise to be counted among the ancient inhabitants of the island.

Before this period the history of Sicily is blended with fables, like the early history of almost every other country. After the settlement of the Greeks in the island, its various revolutions have been traced from their several sources by many writers; but by none with greater accuracy than Mr Swinburne. From his account of his Travels in the Two Sicilies, we have therefore taken the following concise history of this kingdom, which will at once gratify such of our readers as interest themselves in the fate of a generous people who long struggled in vain for freedom; and at the same time afford them a specimen of the entertainment they may receive from the very elegant work of the author.

"Aristocracy prevailed at first in the Greek settlements, but soon made way for tyranny; which in its turn was expelled by democracy. One of the earliest destroyers of common liberty was Phalaris of Agrigentum, who reigned 600 years before Christ: his example was contagious; a legion of tyrants sprung up, and not a commonwealth in the island escaped the lash of an usurper. Syracuse was most oppressed and torn to pieces by dissension; as its wealth and preponderance in the general scale held out a greater temptation than other cities to the ambition of wicked men. It requires the combined testimony of historians to enforce our belief of its wonderful prosperity, and the no less extraordinary tyranny of some of its sovereigns. These Grecian colonies attained to such excellence in arts and sciences as emboldened them frequently to vie with the learned and ingenious in the mother country; nay, often enabled them to bear away the palm of victory: there needs no stronger proof of their literary merits than a bare recital of the names of Archimedes, Theocritus, Gorgias, and Charondas.

"But the Sicilian Greeks were not destined to enjoy the sweets of their situation without molestation. Very soon after their arrival, the inhabitants of the neighbouring coast of Africa began to aspire to a share of Sicily. Carthage sent large bodies of forces at different times to establish their power in the island, and about 500 years before the Christian era had made themselves masters of all the western parts of it. The Siculi retained possession of the midland country, and the southern and eastern coasts were inhabited by the Greeks.

"About that time Gelo was chosen prince of Syracuse on account of his virtues, which grew still more conspicuous after his exaltation: had the example he set been followed by his successors, the advantages of freedom would never have been known or wished for by the Syracusans. The Carthaginians found in him a vigorous opponent to their project of enslaving Sicily, a project invariably pursued but never accomplished.

"Hiero succeeded his brother Gelo, and, contrary to the usual progression, began his reign by a display of bad qualities. Sensible of his error, and improved by experience, he afterwards adopted more equitable measures. At his death the Syracusans threw off the yoke, and for sixty years revelled in all the joys of freedom. Their peace was, however, disturbed by the Athenians and the Carthaginians. The latter plundered Agrigentum, and threatened ruin to the rest of the Grecian states; but a treaty of peace averted that storm. The Athenians, under pretence of supporting their allies the people of Segesta, but in reality from a thirst of dominion, invested Syracuse with a formidable land and naval armament under the command of Nicias; in consequence of a rash indigested plan, ill conducted attacks, and inadequate supplies, their whole host was cut to pieces or led away into captivity.

"Syracuse had scarcely time to breathe after her victorious intestine wars broke out, and raised Dionysius the elder to supreme command. Avarice, despotism, and cruelty, marked every day of his reign; but his military enterprises were crowned with constant success. He died in peace, and bequeathed a powerful sovereignty to a son of his name tainted with the same and worse vices, but not endowed with equal capacity and martial ability: in such hands the rod of tyranny ceased to be formidable, and the tyrant was driven out of Sicily by the patriotic party; but matters were not sufficiently settled for popular government, and Dionysius resumed the sceptre for a while, till Timoleon forced him into perpetual exile."

Liberty seemed now to be established on a permanent basis; but in Syracuse such prospects always proved illusory. Agathocles, a tyrant more inhuman than any preceding usurper, seized the throne, and deluged the country with blood. He was involved in a perilous contest with the Carthaginians, who obtained many advantages vantages over him, drove his troops from post to post, and at last blocked up his capital. In this desperate situation, when all foreign helps were precluded, and hardly a resource remained at home, the genius of Agathocles compassed his deliverance by a plan that was imitated among the ancients by Hannibal, and among the moderns by the famous Cortes. He embarked with the flower of his army; forced his way through innumerable obstacles; landed in Africa; and, having burnt his fleet, routed the Carthaginians in a pitched battle, and laid their territory waste. Carthage seemed to be on the brink of ruin, and that hour might have marked her downfall had the Sicilian host been composed of patriotic soldiers, and not of ungovernable assassins; discord pervaded the victorious camp, murder and riot ensued; and the tyrant, after beholding his children and friends butchered before his face, escaped to Sicily, to meet a death as tragic as his crimes deserved.

Anarchy now raged throughout the island, and every faction was reduced to the necessity of calling in the assistance of foreign powers; among whom Pyrrhus king of Epirus took the lead, and reduced all parties to some degree of order and obedience. But ambition soon prompted him to invade those rights which he came to defend; he cast off the mask, and made Sicily feel under his sway as heavy a hand as that of its former oppressors; but the Sicilians soon assumed courage and strength enough to drive him out of the island.

About this period the Mamertini, whom Mr Swinburne indignantly styles a crew of miscreants, surprised Messina, and, after a general massacre of the citizens, established a republican form of government. Their commonwealth became so troublesome a neighbour to the Greeks, that Hiero II., who had been raised to the chief command at Syracuse in consideration of his superior wisdom and warlike talents, found himself necessitated to form a league with Carthage, in order to destroy this nest of villains. In their distress the Mamertini implored the assistance of Rome, though the senate had recently punished with exemplary severity one of their own legions for a similar outrage committed at Rhegium. The virtue of the Romans gave way to the temptation, and the desire of extending their empire beyond the limits of Italy cast a veil over every odious circumstance attending this alliance. A Roman army crossed the Faro, relieved Messina, defeated the Carthaginians, and humbled Hiero into an ally of the republic.

Thus begun the first Punic war, which was carried on for many years in Sicily with various success. The genius of Hamilcar Barcas supported the African cause under numberless disappointments and the repeated overthrows of his colleagues; at last, finding his exertions ineffectual, he advised the Carthaginian rulers to purchase peace at the price of Sicily. Such a treaty was not likely to be observed longer than want of strength should curb the animosity of the vanquished party; when their vigour was recruited, Hannibal son of Hamilcar easily persuaded them to resume the contest, and for 16 years waged war in the heart of the Roman territories. Meanwhile Hiero conducted himself with so much prudence, that he retained the friendship of both parties, and preserved his portion of Sicily in perfect tranquillity. He died in extreme old age, beloved and respected both at home and abroad.

His grandson Hieronymus, forsaking this happy line of politics, and contracting an alliance with Carthage, fell an early victim to the troubles which his own folly had excited. Once more, and for the last time, the Sicracuses found themselves in possession of their independence; but the times were no longer suited to such a system; dissensions gained head, and distracted the public councils. Carthage could not support them, or prevent Marcellus from undertaking the siege of Syracuse, immortalized by the mechanical efforts of Archimedes, and the immensity of the plunder. See SYRACUSE.

The Sicilians after this relinquished all martial ideas, and during a long series of generations turned their attention solely to the arts of peace and the labours of agriculture. Their position in the centre of the Roman empire preserved them both from civil and foreign by the foes, except in two instances of a servile war. The capacity of their governors was a more constant and insupportable evil. In this state of apathy and opulence Sicily remained down to the 7th century of our era, when the Saracens began to disturb its tranquillity. The barbarous nations of the north had before invaded and ravaged its coasts, but had not long kept possession. The Saracens were more fortunate. In 827 they availed themselves of quarrels among the Sicilians to subdue the country. Palermo was chosen for their capital, and the standard of Mahomet triumphed about 200 years. In 1038 George Maniaces was sent by the Greek emperor with a great army to attack Sicily. He made good his landing, and pushed his conquests with vigour; his success arose from the valour of some Norman troops, which were at that time unemployed and ready to sell their services to the best bidder. Maniaces repaid them with ingratitude; and by his absurd conduct gave the Mussulmans time to breathe, and the Normans a pretext and opportunity of invading the Imperial dominions in Italy. Robert and Roger of Hauteville afterwards conquered Sicily on their own account, not as mercenaries; for having substantially settled their power on the continent, they turned their arms against this island in obedience to the dictates of zeal and ambition. After ten years struggle, the Saracens yielded up the rich prize, and Robert ceded it to his brother Roger, who assumed the title of Great Earl of Sicily, ruled the state with wisdom, and ranks deservedly among the greatest characters in history. He raised himself from the humble station of a poor younger son of a private gentleman, to the exalted dignity of a powerful monarch, by the sole force of his own genius and courage; he governed a nation of strangers with vigour and justice, and transmitted his possessions undisputed to his posterity. Such an assemblage of great qualities is well entitled to our admiration.

He was succeeded by his son Simon, whose reign was short, and made way for a second son called Roger. In 1127 this prince joined to his Sicilian possessions the whole inheritance of Robert Guiscard (see NAPLES, No. 23.), and assumed the regal style. The greatest part of his reign was taken up in quelling revolts in Italy, but Sicily enjoyed profound peace. In 1154 his son William ascended the throne, and passed his life in war and confusion. William II. succeeded his father, and died without issue. Tancred, though basely born, was elected his successor, and after him his son William III., who was vanquished by Henry of Swabia. During the troubles that agitated the reign of his son the emperor Frederic, peace appears to have been the lot of Sicily. A short-lived sedition, and a revolt of the Saracens, are the only commotions of which we read. For greater security, the Saracens were removed to Puglia 400 years after the conquest of Sicily by their ancestors. Under Conrad and Manfred Sicily remained quiet; and from that time the history of Sicily is related under the article Naples, No. 20, &c.

At the death of Charles II. of Spain, his spoils became an object of furious contention; and at the peace of Utrecht, Sicily was ceded to Victor duke of Savoy, who, not many years after, was forced by the emperor Charles VI. to relinquish that fine island, and take Sardinia as an equivalent. But as the Spaniards had no concern in these bargains, they made a sudden attempt to recover Sicily, in which they failed through the vigilance of the English admiral Byng. He destroyed their fleet in 1718, and compelled them to drop their scheme for a time. In 1734 the Spanish court resumed their design with success. The infant Don Carlos drove the Germans out, and was crowned king of the two Sicilies at Palermo. When he passed into Spain to take possession of that crown, he transferred the Sicilian diadem to his son Ferdinand III. of Sicily, and IV. of Naples, and it has ever since remained in the possession of the same family.

Sicily is separated, as we have already observed, from Italy by a narrow strait called the Furo of Messina. This strait is still remarkable for the rapidity of its currents and the irregular ebbing and flowing of the sea, which sometimes rushes in with such violence as to endanger ships riding at anchor. Anciently it was much more remarkable for Scylla and Charybdis, the one a rock, and the other a whirlpool, between which it was very dangerous to steer, and concerning which so many fables have been related by the ancients. Scylla is a rock on the Italian side, opposite to Cape Pylorus, which runs out into the sea on the Sicilian side. Mr. Brydone informs us, that the navigation of the straits is not even yet performed without danger. He also informs us, that the noise of the current which sets through the straits may be heard for several miles, like the roaring of some large impetuous river confined between narrow banks. In many places the water rose into whirlpools and eddies, which are dangerous to shipping. The current set exactly for the rock of Scylla, and would certainly have carried any thing thrown into it against that point. Our author, however, is by no means of opinion that the strait is so dangerous as the ancients have represented it; though he thinks that the strait is now probably much wider than formerly, which may have diminished the danger. There are many small rocks, which show their heads near the base of the large ones. These are probably the dogs described by the ancient poets as howling round Scylla. The rock is near 200 feet high, and has a kind of a castle or fort built on its summit with a town called Scylla or Sciglio, containing 300 or 400 inhabitants on its south side, which gives the title of prince to a Calabrese family.

The following account of these rocks and whirlpools is given by the celebrated naturalist Spallanzani. He informs us, that Scylla is a lofty rock, 12 miles from Messina, rising almost perpendicular from the sea on the shore of Calabria, beyond which is the small city of the same name. Though there was scarcely any wind, Spallanzani heard, about two miles distant from the rock, a noise like a confused barking of dogs, and on a nearer approach he discovered the cause. This rock contains a number of caverns, one of the largest of which is called by the people Dragara. The waves, when in the least agitated, rushing into these caverns, break, dash, throw up frothy bubbles, and thus occasion these various and multiplied sounds. He then perceived with how much truth and resemblance of nature Homer and Virgil, in their personifications of Scylla, had portrayed this scene, by describing the monster they drew as lurking in the darkness of a vast cavern, surrounded by ravenous barking mastiffs, together with wolves, to increase the horror.

Though the tide is almost imperceptible in the open parts of the Mediterranean, it is very strong in the strait of Messina, owing to the narrowness of the channel, and regulated by the periodical elevations and depressions of the water. Where the current is accompanied by a wind blowing the same way, vessels have nothing to fear, since they either do not enter the strait, both the wind and stream opposing them; or, if both are favourable, enter on full sail, and pass with such rapidity that they seem to fly over the water. When the current runs from south to north, and the north wind blows hard at the same time, the ship is resisted by the opposite current, and impelled by two forces in contrary directions, is dashed on the rock of Scylla, or driven on the neighbouring sands. The current, where it is strongest, does not extend over the whole strait, but winds through it in intricate meanders, with the course of which the sailors stationed to give strangers assistance are well acquainted, and thus able to guide the ship in such a manner as to avoid it. Should the pilot, however, confiding in his own skill, neglect such assistance, he would run the most imminent risk of being shipwrecked. In this conflict of the waters, it is useless to throw the line to discover the depth of the bottom, the violence of the current frequently carrying the lead almost on the surface of the water. The strongest cables, though some feet in circumference, break like small cords. Every expedient afforded by the art of navigation, is useless here. The only means of avoiding being dashed against the rocks, or driven upon the sands in the midst of this perilous contest of the winds and waves, is to have recourse to the skill and courage of the Messinese seamen.

Charybdis is distant from the shore of Messina about 750 feet, and is called by the people of the country Calofaro, not from the agitation of the waves, but from ξάρβης, beautiful tower, from the lighthouse erected near it for the guidance of vessels. When the current sets in from the north, the pilots call it the descending rema, or current; and when it runs from the south, the ascending rema. The current ascends or descends at the rising or setting of the moon, and continues for six hours. In the interval between each ascent or descent, there is a calm which lasts at least 15 minutes, but not longer than an hour. Afterwards, at the rising or setting of the moon, the current enters from the north, making various angles of incidence with the shore, and at last reaches the Calofaro. This delay sometimes continues continues two hours; sometimes it immediately falls in to the Calofaro; and then experience regards it as a certain indication of bad weather.

When Spallanzani observed Charybdis from the shore, it appeared like a group of tumultuous waters, which group as he approached became more extensive and more agitated. He was carried to the edge, where he stopped some time to make the requisite observations; and was then convinced beyond the shadow of a doubt, that what he saw was by no means a vortex or whirlpool.

Though he was convinced that there was no gulf under the Calofaro, as otherwise there would have been a whirlpool, which would have carried down into it the floating substances; he determined to sound the bottom with a plummet, and found its greatest depth did not exceed 500 feet. He was also informed, to his great surprise, that beyond the Calofaro, towards the middle of the straight, the depth was double.

When the wind and current are contrary to each other, and both in their greatest violence, the swelling and dashing of the waves within the Calofaro is much stronger, more impetuous, and more extensive. It then contains three or four small whirlpools, or even more, according to the greatness of its extent and violence. If at this time small vessels are driven into the Calofaro by the current or the wind, they are seen to whirl round, rock, and plunge, but are never drawn down into the vortex. They only sink when filled with water, by the waves beating over them. When vessels of a larger size are forced into it, whatever wind they have they cannot extricate themselves; their sails are useless; and after having been for some time tossed about by the waves, if they are not assisted by the pilots of the country, who know how to bring them out of the course of the current, they are furiously driven upon the neighbouring shore of the Lanterna, where they are wrecked, and the greater part of their crews perish in the waves.

If a ship be extricated from the fury of Charybdis, and carried by a strong southerly wind along the strait towards the northern entrance, it will indeed pass out safely; but should it meet with a wind in a nearly opposite direction, it would become the sport of both these winds, and unable to advance or recede, be driven in a middle course between their two directions, that is to say, full upon the rock of Seylla, if it be not immediately assisted by the pilots. It is likewise observed, that in these hurricanes a land wind frequently rises, which descends from a narrow pass in Calabria, and increases the force with which the ship is impelled towards the rock. Thus, the saying which became proverbial among the ancients—that "he who endeavours to avoid Charybdis, dashes upon Seylla," is, in a great measure, true.

In the straits, Mr Brydone informs us, a most surprising phenomenon is to be observed. In the heat of summer, after the sea and air have been much agitated, there appears in the heavens over the straits a great variety of singular forms, some at rest and others moving with great velocity. These forms, in proportion as the light increases, seem to become more aerial, till at last, some time before sunrise, they totally disappear. The Sicilians represent this as the most beautiful sight in nature. Leoniti, one of the best Sicilian writers, says, that the heavens appear crowded with a variety of objects, such as palaces, woods, gardens, &c. besides the figures of men and other animals that are seen in motion among them. Some treatises have been written concerning this phenomenon; but nothing satisfactory has been delivered concerning its cause.

Though Sicily lies in a warm climate, the air is healthful, being refreshed with sea-breezes on every side, and pro-It has at all times been remarkably fertile; but the era of its greatest prosperity was from the siege of Syracuse by the Athenians to the Carthaginian conquests. Then and long after it supplied with grain, in years of scarcity, all the countries upon the Mediterranean except Sicily, Egypt and the coasts of Asia, and Rome and Carthage land, Italy, continually. Even now, under all the impediments of Sicily, &c., superstition and bad government, its productions are, in quantity and quality, the best in Europe. Of the vegetable are grapes, wines, oil, fruits, tobacco, mulberry trees for the silkworm, cotton, medicinal roots, and sugar canes. The last of these flourish near Avola and Merilli. They are of an inferior quality to those of the West Indies, but their sugar is sweeter than any other. The animal production is similar to that of Italy, but the horned cattle are a smaller breed. The coasts abound with fish, particularly with tunney and anchovies; the export of which forms a very lucrative branch of commerce. There are mines of silver, copper, and lead, but none are worked. Near Palma are beds of the best sulphur; at the mouth of the river Garetta is found a yellow amber, preferable to that of the Baltic; and in every part of the island quarries of marbles, that have furnished materials for all the noble edifices of Sicily. The most beautiful are in the neighbourhood of Palermo, particularly the yellow, and those that resemble the verde antique, porphyry, and lapis lazuli. The population of the island in 1815, amounted to 1,655,000 souls; not as much again as the single city of Syracuse formerly contained.

Here are several rivers and good springs; but few of Rivers and the rivers are navigable, having but a short course, and mountains descending precipitately from the mountains. The chief are the Bantera, the Jaretta, and the Salso; of which, the two former run from west to east, and the third from north to south.

Of the mountains in this island the most noted is Mount Etna, now called Monte Gibello, or Mongibello, a volcano whose eruptions have often proved fatal to the neighbouring country. See Etna.

Were the Sicilians a cultivated people, among whom those arts were encouraged which not only promote and constitute the wealth and comfort of a nation, but also exercise the veriest, nobler faculties and extend the views of mankind, the circumstances of their government are such, that it might gradually be improved into a free constitution; but to this the ignorance, superstition, and poverty, of Sicily, the people seem to be invincible obstacles. The monarchical power in Sicily is far from being absolute; and the parliament claims a share of public authority independently of the will of the king, deduced from a compact made between Roger and the Norman barons after the expulsion of the Saracens. This claim is denied by the king, who wishes the nobles to consider their privileges as derived solely from his favour. Hence the government is in a situation which greatly resembles that of our own and the other kingdoms of Europe in the feudal times; there are continual jealousies and oppositions between the king and the barons, of which an enlightened people might easily take advantage, and obtain that share in the constitution which might secure

them from future oppression. In these disputes, the king has the advantage at least of power, if not of right; and several works, in which the claims of the Sicilian barons have been asserted, were publicly burned not many years ago.

As the sovereign holds his court at Naples, Sicily is governed by a viceroy, who is appointed only for three years, though at the end of that term his commission is sometimes renewed. He lives in great state, and, as the representative of the king, his power is very considerable. He presides in all the courts and departments of government, and is commander in chief of all the forces; he calls or dissolves the parliament when he pleases; and by him all orders, laws, and sentences, must be signed; and his office is far from being desirable, as it generally renders him the object either of the jealousy of the court of Naples, or of the hatred of the Sicilians.

The parliament consists of the nobles, the bishops, and abbots, and the representatives of 43 cities, which are immediately subject to the crown. Those cities which are subject to any of the nobles send no members to the parliament; in these the king has not much authority, and derives little advantage from them. According to the laws, the parliament ought to be assembled at the end of every three years; but the government pays little attention to this rule. The common people are in general very much attached to the nobles, and are inclined to take their part in all their differences with the court; but the magistrates and principal inhabitants of the cities which belong to these feudal lords, wish to get rid of their authority, and imagine that they should be less oppressed, if immediately subject to the king; these inclinations are not disagreeable to the court, and are encouraged by most of the lawyers, who are of great service to government in contesting the privileges of the nobles. Many of these privileges are now abridged; and the power of the barons, with respect to the administration of justice in their domains, was very properly limited by the viceroy Caraccioli, in the year 1785. The government of this nobleman was very beneficial to Sicily, as he, in a great measure, cleared the island of the banditti that used to infest it, and made several excellent regulations for the establishment of social order and personal security. He deserves the thanks of every well-wisher to mankind for having abolished the court of inquisition, which had been established in this country by Ferdinand the Catholic, and made dependent on the authority of the grand inquisitor of Spain. Its last auto da fé was held in the year 1724, when two persons were burned. At length Charles III. rendered it independent of the Spanish inquisitor, and abridged its power, by forbidding it to make use of the torture, and to inflict public punishments. The Marchese Squillace, and his successor the Marchese Tanucci, were both enemies to the hierarchy; and, during their viceroys, took care to appoint sensible and liberal men to the office of inquisitor: the last of whom was Ventimiglia, a man of a most humane and amiable character, who heartily wished for the abolition of this diabolical court, and readily contributed toward it. While he held the office of inquisitor, he always endeavoured to procure the acquittal of the accused; and when he could succeed no other way, would pretend some informality in the trial. The total annihilation of this instrument of the worst of tyranny was reserved for Caraccioli. A priest being accused to the inquisition, was dragged out of his house and thrown into the dungeon. He was condemned; but, on account of informality, and a violation of justice in the trial, he appealed to the viceroy, who appointed a committee of jurists to examine the process. The inquisitor refused to acknowledge the authority of this commission; pretending that to expose the secrets of the holy office, and to submit its decisions to the examination of lay judges, would be so inconsistent with his duty, that he would see the inquisition abolished rather than consent to it. Caraccioli took him at his word, and procured a royal mandate by which the holy office was at once annihilated. He assembled all the nobility, judges, and bishops, on the 27th of March 1782, in the palace of the inquisition, and commanded the king's order to be read; after which he took possession of the archives, and caused all the prisons to be set open: in these were at that time only two prisoners, who had been condemned to perpetual confinement for witchcraft. The papers relating to the finances were preserved; but all the rest were publicly burned. The possessions of the holy office were assigned to the use of churches and charitable institutions; but the officers then belonging to it retained their salaries during their lives. The palace itself is converted into a customhouse, and the place where heretics were formerly roasted alive for the honour of the Catholic faith, is now changed into a public garden. The cognizance of offences against orthodoxy is committed to the bishops: but they cannot cite any one to appear before them without permission from the viceroy; neither can they confine any person to a solitary prison, nor deny him the privilege of writing to his friends, and conversing freely with his advocate. The nobility are so numerous in this island, that Labat says it is paved with noblemen. The general assembly of parliament is composed of 66 archbishops, bishops, abbots, and priors, which form the Braccio ecclesiastico. Fifty-eight princes, 27 dukes, 37 marquises, 27 counts, one viscount, and 79 barons, form the militaire; and the demaniale consists of 43 representatives of free towns. Out of each braccio four deputies are chosen to conduct public business. The government was new-modelled while the British forces occupied the island; but the alterations introduced have since fallen to the ground. The government has resumed its old course, and the noblemen who supported the reform have been banished. See Russell's Tour, 1817.