COMO-the ancient "Comum"-is situated about 80 miles to the north-east of Turin, in a fine valley, enclosed by very fertile hills. It is surrounded by a wall, guarded by very lofty towers. Miss Taylor thus describes her approach to it:-"The road from Monza* to Como passes through a beautiful and varied country. We first drove along narrow lanes, bordered with acacias, which, meeting overhead, formed a pleasant shelter from the heat of the noonday sun, while the grassy banks on either side were gay with flowers. Quitting these lanes, we entered upon an open tract of country; here fields of Indian At Monza, according to Mr. Loudon, is the finest garden scenery in Italy. VOL. XVIII. corn were spread around us, or barley already ripe for harvest, and sometimes flax, with its delicate and covered with noble Spanish chestnuts, seemed to close wavy flower. On approaching Como, the hills, around us: we watched in vain to catch a glimpse of the lake, until we stopped at the door of the inn." "It was begun in 1396, by the architect Lorenzo | shady plane-tree walk, the crystal canal, so agreeably degli Spazii. The architecture is by some called winding along its flowery banks, together with the gothic; but it differs materially from the rich charming lake below, which serves at once the purand elegant style to which we apply the name." poses of use and beauty? What have you to tell me Ten or fifteen other churches add very greatly to of the firm yet soft gestatio, the sunny bath, the the aspect of the city. The Duomo is reckoned the public saloon, the private dining-room, and all the third of the gothic buildings of Italy. It was the elegant apartments for repose, both at noon and production of various architects until the last cen- night? Do these possess my friend, and divide his tury, and accordingly partakes much of the pecu- time with pleasing vicissitude? or do the affairs of liarities of that of Milan. It is composed of white the world, as usual, call him frequently from this marble, and of mixed architecture. The front is light agreeable retreat?" Here he founded several instituand elegant: the nave is supported by gothic arches: tions for the encouragement of literature, and proved the choir and transepts are adorned with composite himself a munificent benefactor to the place. pillars; and a dome rises over the centre. This dome or cupola was completed about 1732, by Juvara. "The pilasters and other portions of the façade are covered with most curious emblems; some few masonic, the greater part religious, interspersed with texts and inscriptions, in a most beautiful gothic letter, reminding you of Melrose, and the 'Scrolls that teach you to live and die.' Many of these bas-reliefs are types; e. g., a fountain, a vine, a lily, a church upon a hill; all exceedingly curious, from the train of thought which they exhibit. Amongst the larger basso-relievos, the adoration of the magi, in the arch of the door, should be noticed; but the most remarkable ornaments of this front are the statues of the two Plinys, erected by the Comaschi of the sixteenth century to their fellow-citizens. They are, as it were, enthroned under canopies worked in the most ornamental style by Rodario. The "The other sides of the exterior are in a mixed style, approaching to that which in France is styled the renaissance,' but with more good sense and beauty, and enough of ornament to give great richness without overloading the general outline. lateral doorways, particularly that on the northern side, with fanciful columns, and angels bearing the instruments of the passion, are particularly elegant. Both these doorways are executed by Rodario. The arabesques, flowing, elegant, and light, interspersed with birds, animals, serpents, and children, are completely Raphaelesque. They appear rather moulded in wax than carved; so delicate, so tender, so morbido are they+." The church of St. Giovanni is adorned by pillars, supposed to have belonged to a portico mentioned by Pliny, as erected by Fabatus, his wife's grandfather. The church of San Fidele is very ancient. Strange sculpture of dragons, serpents, and lions has been employed to decorate it. On the exterior it remains nearly unaltered, but within has been considerably modernized. Three colleges, and public libraries, supply the means of education. Near the Duomo stands the town-hall, of red and white marble in alternate layers. Pliny the younger was a native of Como, and had villas on the shores of the lake: of which he frequently speaks in his epistles. "How stands Comum," says he, "that favourite scene of yours and mine? What becomes of the pleasant villa, the vernal portico, the + Murray's" Handbook for Northern Italy." One of the great attractions is a villa called Pliniana, now belonging to the marquis Carnarisi; so called from an intermittent fountain there, which was described by Pliny, and also because it is supposed that the villa itself occupies the site of one of his villas. He possessed many in the beautiful neighbourhood; but he describes only two, neither of which exactly corresponds with the aspect of the present Pliniana. "In many of the villas, on the lake of Como," says Wilson," it is most delightful to behold lofty crags frowning over the highly cultivated gardens; with hot-houses of exotic plants, neat terraces, and ornamental summer-houses, subduing the natural wildness of the situation." It is situated on the margin of the lake, at the foot of a precipice, from which rushes a cascade amid thick groves. Through these a serpentine walk leads towards the villa. At the back of the house the fountain bursts forth, and, passing through the under story, falls into the lake. There is a room so constructed as to command a view of the fountain. Pliny's description is inscribed in large characters in the hall, and is still supposed to give an accurate account of it. The elder Pliny described the fountain as rising and decreasing every hour, while the younger spoke of this as occurring thrice a day only. Mr. Eustace had the testimony of the inhabitants of the house, that now, as in Pliny's time, it takes place usually thrice a day: 66 usually, because, in very stormy and tempestuous weather, the fountain is said to feel the influence of the disordered atmosphere, and to vary considerably in its motions." This latter circumstance has given rise to a conjectural explanation of this phenomenon, which is hazarded by the Abate Carlo Amoretti, and is as follows:-" The west wind, which regularly blows upon the lake at twelve o'clock, or mid-day, begins at nine in the upper regions, or on the summits of the mountains. Upon these summits, and particularly that which rises behind the Pliniana, there are several cavities, that penetrate into the bowels of the mountain, and communicate with certain internal reservoirs of water, the existence of which has been ascertained by various observations. Now, when the wind rushes down the cavities above mentioned, and reaches the water, it ruffles its surface, and carries its waves against the sides of the cavern, where, just above its * The Italians, when they speak of a villa, do not mean the house, which is "palazzo," "palazino," or "casino," but the whole inclosure, containing, besides the small place appropriated merely to pleasure and show, a large garden cultivated for profit, and frequently vineyards, olive-grounds, and corn-fields."Loudon's Encyc. of Gardening. ordinary level, there are little fissures or holes. The, our little boat cut its way bravely through the clear water, raised by the impulse which it receives from the wind, rises to these fissures, and, passing through them, trickles down through the crevices that communicate with the fountain below, and gradually fills it. In stormy weather the water is impelled with greater violence, and flows in greater quantities, till it is nearly exhausted, or, at least, reduced too low to be raised again to the fissures. Hence, on such occasions, the fountain fills with rapidity first, and then dries up, or rather remains low, till the reservoir regains its usual level, and, impelled by the wind, begins to ebb again." The lake of Como is an object of peculiar interest. It is the largest lake in Italy, about eighty-eight miles in circumference, but in no part in breadth exceeding six. "Having quickly despatched our dinner," says Miss Taylor," we were glad to embark on the lake: See "Saturday Magazine," August 24, 1841. blue waters; and, as we turned a corner and lost sight of the town, the beauty of the lake of Como first opened on our view. The hills which encompass it rise perpendicularly from the water's edge. Here and there, on a terrace cut in their sides, a pretty villa is seated, sometimes seeming built into the water; and the gardens hanging in terraces above are rich in beautiful flowers. Higher upon the steep rocks are groves of chestnut; and a line, traced midway, marks the footpath beyond, leading to one of those clusters of white cottages which indicate the mountain villages. No carriage-road passes along the shores of this lake; and the villas are accessible only by water or on foot. The scenery at the further end of the lake is much more grand and wild in its features; but we had not time to penetrate into the recesses of the mountains; and, after enjoying our little excursion, we returned to the town." Biography. VISCOUNT EXMOUTH*. (See p. 413, col. 1.) the proud and well-earned rank of admiral viscount Exmouth. The brave sailor, of whose life we propose to No sight can be more pleasing, no occupation of place before you, gentle reader, the principal the mind more generally agreeable, than to behold occurrences, was born at Dover (where his father the gradual growth of excellence, to watch over commanded a post-office packet) in 1757. Being the progress of some great and good man from his a very weakly infant, and not expected to live, infancy to his grave-from the humblest begin- he was baptized on the same day. But he renings, it may be, to the very highest point of covered; and, before he was yet eight years old, human glory. We love to trace the growth even he had the misfortune to lose his father. His of the most common and ordinary minds. The mother then removed, with her six childen, to various steps of advancement, by which the help- Penzance, in Cornwall (for they were a Cornish less babe reaches the condition of a perfect man, family); and, three years afterwards, by an impruare objects of interest to all; nay, even in things dent marriage, she deprived her children almost of without life or reason, it is sweet to observe their their remaining parent, and threw them upon the gradual improvement, as every one who has world with very scanty means and very few watched with care the tree of his own planting or friends. At his first school, Edward gave proof the house of his own building can bear witness of his daring spirit; for a house, in which was a from experience. This natural feeling may be quantity of gunpowder, having taken fire, when gratified, many noble lessons learned, and much others were afraid to approach it, he went alone good example brought before our minds, if we are into the burning house, and brought out all the willing to attend to the events of the life of Ed-powder. Afterwards he was sent to the grammarward Pellew, whom we may follow through many school at Truro; where having had a dispute with years of danger, trial, and of glory, tracing him another boy, whom he had severely punished, to from the helpless condition of an orphan child to escape a flogging he ran away, and resolved to go The reader who may feel curious to know more respecting to sea. His grandfather wished him to be placed the life of this English hero, is referred to Osler's Life of Ex-in a merchant's counting-house; but it was well mouth" (published by Smith, Elder, and Co., Cornhill, London), that so bold and daring a spirit should be broken from which the present short biography has, by permission, been extracted. in by the hardships and discipline to be met with on board a ship. If the boy had remained ashore, he would very likely have turned out badly. When he dined with his grandfather the last time before he sailed, the old gentleman told him that he might be answerable for every enemy he killed, adding, "If I can read your character, you will kill a great many." "Well, grandpapa," was the boy's answer, who was not yet fourteen," and if I do not kill them, they will kill me !" It was in the year 1770 that young Pellew entered as a midshipman on board of the Juno." During the next five years he changed his ship several times, and had the happiness to sail with captain Pownall; whose kind and wise guidance was useful to the quick and determined, nay, we may almost say rash, character of the young midshipman. One of his frolics was to stand upon his head on the yard-arm+; and once he actually sprang from the fore-yard, while the ship was going fast through the water, and saved a man who had fallen overboard. This bold spirit was soon called forth in the service to which young Pellew belonged; and during the American war he gained promotion in the navy by as noble an action as ever a sailor was engaged in. The English had built some small vessels in a rough way, to cope with the Americans on Lake Champlain; and in one of these, the "Carleton," Mr. Pellew was serving. Having fallen in with an American squadron, containing fifteen vessels, carrying ninety-six guns, the "Carleton," being nearest to the enemy, attacked at once, though she carried only twelve small guns. But, unluckily, the state of the wind hindered the other English vessels from coming up to her assistance, and she was obliged to engage single-handed the whole force of the enemy: nothing but artillery-boats could be sent to support her. The first midshipman soon lost an arm; and the lieutenant was soon afterwards so badly wounded, that he would have been thrown overboard as dead, but for the interference of the second midshipman, Pellew, who now succeeded to the command of the vessel, and endeavoured to keep up the unequal struggle. A signal of recall was made; but the "Carleton," with two feet of water in her hold, and half her crew killed and wounded, was not able to obey it. At last she was towed out of action under a very heavy fire from the enemy; and a shot cut the towing-rope, when some one was ordered to go and make it secure again. Pellew, seeing all hesitate―for, indeed, it appeared a death-service -ran forward and did it himself. So bravely had the "Carleton" and her little crew fought in this action, that, with the help of the artillery-boats, one boat of the enemy was sunk, and another, the largest schooner they had, was destroyed, while the "Carleton" contrived, after all, to make good her escape. The young midshipman, under whose command this gallant action had chiefly been fought, was honoured with a letter from the first lord of the admiralty, and was made a lieutenant upon his return to England in 1777. He saw a great deal of service, and underwent all the hardships of a very unsuccessful campaign, under +Yards (of a ship) are those long pieces of timber that are made a little tapering at each end, and are fitted each athwart its proper mast, with the sails made fast to them, so as to he boisted up, or lowered down, as occasion serves.-Bailey's Dictionary. general Burgoyne, by whom he was at last sent home with dispatches. At this time a circumstance happened, which might have been the cause of perpetual grief to him. His younger brother, only seventeen years of age, had come out to join the army; and, in the thoughtless sportfulness of youth, knowing that he was not expected, he resolved to surprise his brother Edward. Accordingly, he fell in with him in the night, and when hailed, answered, "A friend!" "What friend?" exclaimed his brother; "tell who you are, or I'll shoot you!" "What! do you not know me?" "No!" said the other, presenting a pistol. "Your brother John!" This occurred in the spring; and, so uncertain is mortal life, especially in time of war, that, in the October following, the frolicsome youth of seventeen was cut short in his career of life-the youngest brother of Edward Pellew was amongst the dead that lay stretched upon the field of battle! Nothing could have served better to correct the natural rashness of youth-to blend prudence and forethought with activity and courage-than the severe trials, hardships, and misfortunes, which were undergone by our bold midshipman, in the American war. He was not employed in any active service for a year or two, which caused him great grief; and, in one of the first engagements in which he was concerned, he had the misfortune of losing his friend captain Pownall, under whom he was serving as first lieutenant. In an hour after the action began, the captain was shot through the body; and, saying to his young friend, "Pellew, I know you won't give his majesty's ship away," he immediately expired in his arms. The English ship was not given away; but the French vessel, with which she had been engaging, succeeded in escaping, beaten and dismasted, into the port of Ostend: a circumstance which added to the sorrow felt by Pellew for the loss of his friend and commander, captain Pownall. In 1780, the young lieutenant was again promoted to the command of a small vessel; but, having nothing but his profession to depend upon, he was much pressed for money to meet the needful expenses of his appointment. Mr. Vigurs, a tradesman in London, not only supplied him with uniforms-though he candidly told him that it was uncertain when he would be able to pay for them but offered him a loan of money; and captain Pellew accepted a sum, which made the debt 701. In a few weeks he received 1607. prize-money; and immediately, with the thoughtless yet noblehearted generosity of an English sailor, sent 1007. to his creditor, desiring that the difference might be given to the children, or, as he expressed it, to "buy ribands for the girls." In 1782 he was raised to the rank of post-captain; and, soon after this, peace followed; which left him without any active employment for the next four years, during which time he married, and lived first at Trure, and afterwards near Falmouth, in Cornwall. But he was not happy without active occupation, and found a life on shore very irksome to him. In 1786 he was appointed to the command of the "Winchelsea," which was stationed in North America, off the coast of Newfoundland; and here he was remarkable for his activity and the order he kept among his men. It was a frequent remark with them, respecting their captain, "Well, | patriotism, with all its elevating and endearing he never orders us to do what he won't do him- associations of country, homes, and altars, can self;" and they would often observe, "Blow throw a veil over its horrors and a glory around high, blow low, he knows to an inch what the its actions. Patriotism, which gives to victory ship can do ; and he can almost make her speak." all its splendour, sheds lustre even on defeat. It once happened, when his ship was in St. But he who goes forth to fight the battles of John's Harbour, Newfoundland, that captain another state, what honour can victory itself bePellew had been invited to dine with the go- stow upon him? or how shall he be excused, if vernor, on the 4th of June, the king's birth-day; he attack the allies of his own country, whom, as and he was on deck, dressed in full uniform, a subject, he is bound to respect? These were watching the men who were bathing. A lad, the feelings which led captain Pellew to refuse servant to one of the officers, was standing on the the offer of the Russian government; and it ship's side near to him, and said, “I'll have a was not long before his courage and abilities good swim by and bye, too." "The sooner the were called forth in defence of his own land, better!" said the captain, and tipped him into the during one of the severest but noblest struggles water. Instantly, he perceived that the lad could that this country, or any other, ever carried on. not swim, and quick as thought he dashed over- On the 21st of January, 1793, the French reboard in his full-dress uniform, with a rope in one publicans murdered their king, after he had hand, by means of which he soon got the boy on endured almost every kind of misery which the board again. If ever Pellew was frightened, it cruelty of a mob could invent or its lawless power was when he saw the lad struggling in the water; of brute-force could inflict. And twelve days but he never lost his presence of mind, though afterwards, the wretched nation, which had cast alarmed at the consequences of his having mis-off its God and put its king to death, declared war taken for truth what was merely a vain boast. Nor was this the only instance of his saving the life of a fellow-creature in the midst of the waves -many other cases might be named; and, in fact, whenever there was any danger, he was ready to risk his own for the preservation of an other's life. against England-a nation still continuing to fear God, and honour the king." This act of the French was quite unexpected, and took England and the English government by surprise; but instantly preparations for war were begun, and a signal made to call forth from retirement and domestic life many a brave and noble Captain Pellew remained on the Newfound-hero, besides him of whose actions I am writing. land station until 1791; and here it was that Captain Pellew was immediately appointed to a he was one day called upon to decide on a case in ship, which, from the scarcity of seamen, he was which the captain of a merchant-vessel had not obliged to man with Cornish miners chiefly. The acted strictly according to law in punishing one of order and discipline kept up in the mines of Cornhis men, though the man deserved a far greater wall, the habit of climbing, and of being exposed to punishment. "You have done quite right in dangers, the skill in wrestling which most Cornish coming here," said Pellew, to the man: 66 your men could then boast, all combined to render captain had no business to punish you as he has these miners more apt to become tolerably good done; and, that he may learn to be more cautious sailors than could have been expected. The first in future, we order him to be fined-a shilling!" action in which the powers of this crew of landsThe man, quite disappointed at this, was about to men were tried, was in an engagement between the leave the cabin; but, to his surprise, he was ad-"Nymphe," captain Pellew's ship, which had fordressed thus: "Stop, sir; we must now try you merly been a French frigate, and the "Cleopatra," for the theft;" and, the fact being proved, the a frigate still belonging to that nation. Pellew's culprit was brought to punishment. This story plan was to bring the vessels at once to close was told to the lord chancellor Thurlow, who action, and then to leave the result to the courage laughed heartily at it, saying, "Well; if that is of his men; to whose honour and spirit, as Cornot law, it is at least justice. Captain Pellewnishmen, he trusted to make up their deficiency ought to have been a judge." as sailors. Just before the engagement began, the About this time, the captain, whose means were English crew shouted, "Long live king George!" but scanty and his family increasing, made an and gave three good cheers; whilst, on the other unsuccessful attempt at farming; an employment side, the cap of liberty was hoisted, and the newfor which he was by no means fitted. He was fangled cry of "Vive la république!" ("the reafterwards offered a command in the Russian public for ever!") made itself heard. These renavy, which, however, he honourably, and for-publicans were superior in numbers, but not in tunately too, considered it to be his duty to refuse. The reasons for declining to enter into the service of a foreign nation, which his brother gave him, when consulted on the subject, are so good and sensible, that they may deserve to be repeated. Every man, it was urged, owes his services, blood, and life, so exclusively to his own country, that he has no right to give them to another; and he should reflect how he would answer for it to his God, if he lost his life in a cause which had no claim upon him. These high considerations of patriotism and religion are the true ground upon which the question should rest. War is too dreadful an evil to be lightly entered upon. Only courage, to the sturdy English sailors; and, after a fierce battle, the flag of the "Cleopatra" was lowered, and it became the prize of the brave captain and crew of the "Nymphe." The French captain (Mullon) was killed in the action; and displayed in his death a heroism worthy of a far better cause than that of the French revolution. He had in his pocket the signals; and, in order to prevent their falling into the hands of the English, whose knowledge of them would render them quite useless, he endeavoured to swallow them, even in his dying agony; but, by mistake, he devoured a paper containing his captain's commis sion, instead of that on which the signals were |