August 17, 1841: Macchiavelli |
Wrote a letter today to Uncle James Hoole in London - have become quite tired of my companion who is a fat lazy Greek - snores in his sleep - and when awake always coughing and spitting - besides other disagreeable habits - - finished reading Macchiavellis prince - which is a very learned production - and evidently the result of much study - and a pity that he could not have come to different conclusions - the first person of any note that condemned the work appears to have Cardinal Pole, - who passed thro Florence on his leaving England at the time Henry 8th separated from the church of Rome - and with very few exceptions has been condemned ever since - tho his principles have by no means ceased to be acted upon by princes and governments - - in the 7th Chapter of the prince - Macchiavelli holds up the actions of Casare Borgia as worthy of imitation - who by deceit - and pretended friendship - induces men to become his auxiliaries in arras and confide in him, for the purpose of putting them to death - which in its results turned out favourable to Borgia for a time - -Chap X - The bad actions of men are mentioned and extenuated but not held up as examples of honest fame (?)
Chap XII - The putting to death of Cannignuola - their general by the Venetian senate a cruel and unprincipled act is here justified by Macchiavelli - - -
Chap XIII - Casare Borgio's cruelty and treachery in this chapter is defended and extolled as specimens of political Knowledge & sagacity -
Chap XIII - on military affairs - as reprehensible as are some of the preceding chapters so is this worthy of every attention - the precepts are unexceptionable -
Chap. XVI - reommmenda economy to the price (?) (May be prince - EF) but with some shew of liberality.
Chap. XVII - as military men the cruelty of Hannibal is approved of - and the humanity of Scipio blamed - says that the prince must consider men generally as ungratefull, changeable, deceitfull, avoiders of dangers and greedy of Gain - - -
Chap XVIII - Macchiavelli asserts that such is the wickedness of the people in his time- that for a prince to be humane, faithfull, honest and religious - he looses his reputation as well as his power - - but he must dissemble these virtues
Chap XX - on Fortifications - this chapter is replete with good sense - have the rulers of France decided on the fortreaaes of Paris - from these precepts?
The last chapter is a powerfull appeal to the house of Medici - to take up arras and restore unity to distracted Italy - and is full of patriotism - but in giving the people of Italy such a fine character he must have forgot what he said in preceding chapters of their wickedness and depravity - - -
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