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180 From Rome to Naples.

of this Country, with the Hardships
of its several Governments, one can
scarce imagine how so plentiful a Soil
should become so miserably unpeopled,
in Comparison of what it once was.
We may reckon, by a very moderate
Computation, more Inhabitants in
the Campania of Old Rome, than are
now in all Italy. And if we could
number up those prodigious Swarms
of People that had settled themselves
in every Part of this delightful Country,
I question not but they would amount
to more than can be found, at present,
in any Six Parts of Europe of the same
Extent. This Desolation appears no
where greater than in the Pope's Ter-
ritories, and yet there are several Rea-
sons that would make a Man expect
to see these Dominions the best regu-
lated, and most flourishing of any o-
ther in Europe. Their Prince is gene-
rally a Man of Learning and Virtue,
mature in Years and Experience, who
has seldom any Vanity or Pleasure to
gra-