This institution had, in the time of Lorenzo de' Medici, subsisted nearly two hundred years, during which the office of Gonfaloniere, had been filled by a regular succession of twelve hundred citizens, who had preserved the dignity and independence of the republic, and secured to their countrymen the exercise of their rights. With this laudable jealousy of their own liberties, the Florentines did not, like the Romans, from whom they derived their origin, exert their power to destroy the liberties of others. They wisely repressed the dangerous desire of subjecting to their dominion surrounding states, nor aspired to the invidious honour of sparing the subservient, and overturning the proud; but, though a community of freemen, were content to be the first in those accomplishments, which the flatterer of Augustus affected to despise. (a)

There is however reason to conjecture, that the Florentine government, though sufficiently vigorous for inter

nal regulation, was inadequate to the exertions of exter-
nal warfare. The hand that may steer a vessel through
the tranquil ocean, may be unable to direct the helm amidst
the fury of the storm. It may indeed well be conceived,
that the delegated magistrates, being so extremely limited,
as well with respect to their number, as to the duration
of their power, would reluctantly determine on, and cau-
tiously engage
in measures, which involved the welfare,
and perhaps the existence of the community. According-
ly it appears, that on important occasions, it was custo-
mary for the magistrates to assemble the most respectable
citizens, from whose advice they might derive assistance,
and by whose countenance they might secure themselves
from censure. During the late dangerous contests, this mea-
sure had been frequently resorted to, and with such mani-
fest advantage, that Lorenzo, after the restoration of the
public tranquillity, recommended, and obtained the esta-
blishment of a body of seventy citizens, who in the nature
of a senate, were to deliberate and to decide on all the
transactions of government, as well in the affairs of peace,
as of war. This institution, for which he might have
pleaded the example of the Spartan legislator, was pro-
bably intended, not only to give a greater degree of
stability and energy to the government, but to counteract
the democratic spirit, which was supposed to have risen
to a dangerous excess (a), and to operate as a safeguard

Regulations in troduced by

Lorenzo.

VOL. II.

FF

against

(a) "All free governments," says Hume, very decisively, "must consist of "two councils, a lesser and greater; or, in other words, of a senate and people." "The people as Harrington observes, would want wisdom without the senate; "the senate, without the people, would want honesty."

Idea of a perfect Commonwealth.

Florentine

state.

against an abuse, which was the destruction of all the free states of antiquity-the exercise of the powers of government, by the immediate interference of the citizens at large.

At this period the city of Florence was at its highest Prosperity of the degree of prosperity. The vigilance of Lorenzo had secured it from all apprehensions of external attack, and his acknowledged disinterestedness and moderation, had almost extinguished that spirit of dissention for which it had been so long remarkable. The Florentines gloried in their illustrious citizen, and were gratified in numbering in their body, a man who wielded in his hands the fate of nations, and attracted the respect and admiration of all Europe. Though much inferior in population, extent of dominion, and military character, to several of the other states of Italy, Florence stood at this time in the first degree of respectability. The active spirit of its inhabitants, no longer engaged in hostile contentions, displayed itself in the pursuits of commerce, and the improvement of their manufactures. Equally enterprizing and acute, wherever there appeared a possibility of pecuniary advantage, they were the first to avail themselves of it, and a Florentine adventurer, though with doubtful pretensions, has erected to himself a monument which the proudest conqueror might envy, and impressed his name upon a new world in characters that are now indelible (a). The silk and linen fabrics manufactured

(a) Amerigo Vespucci who has contended with Columbus for the honour of the discovery of America, was born at Florence in the year 1451, of a respectable family, of which several individuals had enjoyed the chief offices of the republic. The name of Amerigo was at Florence a common name of baptism. For

tured by the Florentines, were in a great degree wrought from their native productions, but their wool was imported from England and from Spain, whose inhabitants indolently resigned their natural advantages, and purchased again at an extravagant price their own commodities. In almost every part, to which the Florentines extended their trade, they were favoured with peculiar privileges, which enabled them to avail themselves of the riches they had already acquired, and the superstitious prohibitions of the clergy against usury, were of little avail against a traffic in which the rich found employment for their wealth, and the powerful relief in their necessities. The consequence of these industrious exertions was, a sudden increase of population in Florence; insomuch that Lorenzo was under the necessity of applying to the pope, for his permission

to

an account of the controversy that has taken place respecting the pretensions of these eminent navigators, I must refer to Dr. Robertson's history of America. book ii. note 22. without however approving the severity of his animadversions on the respectable Canonico Bandini, who has endeavoured from original and almost contemporary documents to support the claims of his countryman. Band. vita di Amerigo Vesp. Flor. 1745. However this may be, it is certain, that about the year 1507, Vespucci resided at Seville, with the title of master pilot, and with authority to examine all other pilots; for which he had a salary assigned him; an employment, as Tiraboschi well observes, suitable to a skilful navigator, but far below the pretensions of a man who had first discovered the new continent. This employment, however, afforded Vespucci an opportunity of rendering his name immortal. As he designed the charts for navigation, he uniformly denominated that continent by the name of AMERICA, which being adopted by other mariners and navigators, soon became general. Tirab. Storia della Let. Ital. v. 6. par. i. p. 192. The memory of Vespucci is therefore now secured by a memorial,

Quod non imber edax nec aquilo impotens,

Possit diruere, aut innumerabilis

Annorum series, et fuga temporum.

to build in the gardens of the monasteries within the walls of the city. By his attention, the police was also effectually reformed. A contemporary author assures us, that there was no part of Italy where the people were more regular in their conduct, or where atrocious crimes were less frequent (a). "We have here," says he, " no robberies, no nocturnal "commotions, no assassinations. By night or by day

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every person may transact his concerns in perfect safety. Spies and informers are here unknown. The accusation "of one is not suffered to affect the safety of the many; "for it is a maxim with Lorenzo, that it is better to confide "in all than in a few." From the same authority we learn, that the due administration of justice engaged his constant attention, and that he carefully avoided giving rise to an idea, that he was himself above the control of the law. Where compulsory regulations lost their effect, the assiduity and example of Lorenzo produced the most salutary consequences, and banished that dissipation which enervates, and that indolence which palsies society. By forming institutions for the cultivation of the ancient languages, or the discussion of philosophical truths, by promoting the sciences, and encouraging the useful and ornamental arts, he stimulated talents into action, and excited an emulation which called forth all the powers of the mind. Even the public spectacles intended for the gratification of the multitude, partook of the polished character of the inhabitants, and were conceived with ingenuity, and enlivened with wit. The prosperity and happiness which the citizens thus enjoyed, were attributed to their true source, and Lorenzo received

(a) Philippus Redditus Exhort, ad Pet. Med. Laur. fil. inter opusc. Joan. Lamii. Delic. Erudit. Flor. 1742.