The political condition which has for ages precluded the
Italians from the criticism of the living, has concentrated
their attention to the illustration of the dead.

Byron's visit was in 1818. Of this we may quote more on the appearance
of Mr. Moore's second volume of the Poet's Life. Meanwhile, let us add
the following graceful paper from the _Athenæum_, June 12, 1830: the
subject harmonizes most happily with the classic title of that
journal. It will be perceived that the tourist is familiar with Mr.
Prout's drawing, or the original of our Engraving.

At Monselice we took another carriage, and dashed off to the
Euganean Hills, to visit Arquà, the last dwelling and the
burial-place of Petrarch. The road, in the feeling of M'Adam,
is antediluvian, or rather post-diluvian, for it is little
better than a water-course; but it passes through a country
where I first saw olive-trees in abundance, vines in the
luxuriance of nature, and pomegranates growing in hedges. The
situation of the little village is perfectly delightful--of
Petrarch's villa, beautiful. The apartments he occupied
command the finest view, and are so detached from the noise
and annoyances of the farm dwelling, though connected under
one roof, that I think it not impossible he made the addition.
There are four or five rooms altogether, if two little closets
of not more than six feet by three may be called rooms; yet
one of these is believed to have been his study; and in his
study, and at his literary enjoyments, he died. Every thing is
preserved with a reverential care that does honour to the
people; and his chair, like less holy and less credible
relics, is inclosed in a wire-frame, to prevent the