| Citation |
MG-A(G.767.002
29 Jan 1767:12,13 (1116)
Copy of a letter from Italy, wrote by Samuel Sharpe, Esq; .
. . [1 column, discussion of difference between living in
Italy and living in England] One may easily conceive how
limited a conversation must be, where men dare not speak on
the subject of liberty, politics, or religion; and where no
drama is exhibited, and very few writings, except of the
most ridiculous, abject, superstitious kind, are published.
. . [1 column]
It has always been said, that the Guardians of a pupil
King, endeavour to keep their ward in ignorance, as a means
to preserve their own power when he comes of age. The
Neapolitan regency seems to have adopted this golden rule.
Would you believe, that though the King is turned of
fifteen, and is contracted to a daughter of the Queen of
Hungary, his tutors suffer him to play with puppets, and are
not ashamed to let strangers and all the world see, in what
his principle amusement consists? In one of the chambers of
the palace, you find Punch and the whole company of
comedians, hanging upon pegs, and close to them is a little
theatre, where they are exhibited, not To the monarch, but
BY the monarch.
At Rome and Naples, during the holy week, there are
several religious, or, if you please, superstitious
ceremonies performed; and the King here, because he cannot
with propriety partake of the public communion, had, just by
Punch's Theatre, in the same chamber, a little piece of
scenery, as long as a dining table, which is to be lighted
up with candles, as thick as packthread; and here the
function, as they call it in Italy, of burying our Saviour,
is to be performed for his entertainment and devotion in a
few days.
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