The Sicilian Mercury, of ...
Thie Sicilian xercir.y, of which we bave received a iiitiber under the date of the 1ltb ult., presents us with an instance of tyrannly at on2ee ludlicrous and o:lious. The Giovernor-Gencral of Sicily had been pleased to appoint, and the King of NAPLES to approve the appoaiitment of, three persons to act as Provisional Members of the Chamiber of Commerce at Palernie-a situation of no emoluinent. Two of those persons, it appears, LVNNZirTI and Rossi, had dleclined the intended honour, at first without assign- ing any determinate reason, and afterwards on the score or pretence of ill-lhealth : whereupon the Governor- General issues an adldress, expressing great indlignation that any sulbjects of his Neapolitan iMajesty should reject the Royal favour, and excuse themselves from the (luty of serving the State in any situation to which they mnay be raised by his Majesty: and not only so, but actually making the self-denying gentlemen, Rossi and LENZSTTI, accept and exercise the fiunctionss of the office conferred on them, whether they will or no. " Some," as Sr,AKSPErA says, " have greatness thrust upon them." All that we can say is, that if his Sicilian MNajesty be served in the other offices of State as lhe is likely to be served by these asoi7ants after dignity, lhe may certainly rirsi to thle zeal and fidelity of his servants, in any case o piublic emer- gency. Thc lhomely English proverb says, that " one " mal mnay lead thc lhorse to the pond, but an huntlred " cannot make him drink :" the CGovernor-General of Sicily has made kossi and LE-ENziTrri members of the Chamnber of Commerce, Ibut can he imake them dlo good in that station ?