tween a few worthless wretches, who lived by the perversion of that justice, which they were paid liberal salaries to uphold. O, self-interest, self-interest, how fatal is thy influence! How often dost thou change the noblest of God's works; men who, but for thy accursed seduction, would have lived honourable and virtuous, and died spotless and revered to the latest posterity!

My reader may lay it down as a maxim, that when a man cuts his throat, he has nobody's interest at heart but his own. A painful reflection this, for public responsibility! In times of civil warfare and general commotion, many a suicide has been committed; but, there is no instance, in the whole history of ambition, of a mortal, in the flower of manhood, and in the possession of every earthly enjoyment, devoting himself to self-destruction, unless he has been detected in the act of attempting to usurp legal power, illegally. When sovereigns are merciful, and colleagues are discreet enough to maintain a prudent silence, the unravelment of the mystery becomes the business of history!

CHAPTER XXII.

VENICE.

Venetian Amusements...... Volo dal Campanile......Captain Manby......The Niccolotti and Castellani......Good news for Gourmands......List of Italian Delicacies......Glass Manufactory at Murano......Barano...... Venice the parent of other Maritime States...... The Venetians once the models of excellence, in dress, manners, and customs...... A solemn appeal to the Governments of Europe in behalf of the Jewish Nation...... With a Word to Mr. Hobhouse, the Representative for Westminster......And a Hint to Mr. Elliston of Drury-Lane Theatre.

GIOVEDI GRASSO, Shrove Thursday, was a remarkable day at Venice, for the exercise of many popular amusements. The most attractive was, "Il volo dal Campanile di San Marco." It was performed in the following manner. An immense cable was fastened to the top of the steeple, which was let down the whole of its length, until it reached the pavement. Both of its extremities being made secure, a man, who was paid for the occasion, after a small cord had been fastened round one of his wrists and another round one of his ancles, would slide down from the topmost extremity to the ground,

bearing a small flag in his hand; to the great delight and astonishment of the numerous spectators. To the "Volo dal Campanile," Captain Manby is indebted for his contrivance for saving the lives of shipwrecked mariners; only he has added thereto a basket, or cradle, in which a man is placed, and propelled forward, like the Venetian flyer of the Giovedì grasso.

The moveable pyramids and Moresco broadsword amusements were performed by the Niccolotti and the Castellani, two parties who took their names from the parishes in which they were born. The inhabitants of the said parishes were always, once a-year, opposed to one another in the performance of sundry feats of strength, on two different platforms, erected at a certain distance opposite each other. At the success or failure of any of their evolutions, violent applauses or hissings were vocife rated by the friends of one party, to the annoy ance of the other.

The amusements, or games, consisted in forming pyramids of twenty or thirty men, piled one upon another, beginning with three or four, and increasing the number, according to the figure intended to be exhibited; sometimes beginning with the greater number, and diminishing in size, to a considerable height, until

the whole terminated with a child, who would climb from one man's shoulder to another, until he had reached the top. When this amusement was over, another would commence. It was called "il giuoco Moresco," and was a sort of attack between the parties with the broadsword.

These diversions for the lower orders generally took place while the patricians were rusticating at their delicious villas, on the banks of the Brenta or elsewhere, in all the luxury of eastern splendour.

In imitation of the Romans, it was the uniform policy of the Venetians to keep alive a party-spirit between their subjects, and to ply them with amusements, that they might have no leisure for reflection. But in latter times, Venice has, in fact, possessed a numerous population, but no canaglia; and divided bodies are ever the most easy to govern, and the surest to be conquered. Subtraction is a favourite rule in the arithmetic of politicians, and all governments are tolerably perfect in their practice of it. The policy that unfortunately is so prevalent on the Continent, appears to be a close imitation of the doctrines of the Florentine Secretary, Machiavelli, who says, "With respect to the means of holding in subjection states

once accustomed to be governed by their own laws-destroy them, especially the nobles and the men of power; as they can never forget what they have been, and seldom or ever forgive those who have been the cause of their privations."

Though Venice produces nothing, no city in Europe is more abundantly or more luxuriously supplied with the necessaries as well as the delicacies of life. People often come to Venice from the Terra Firma, to enjoy fruit in the highest perfection. As it is brought thither by water carriage, it is not liable to be softened or bruised, and the beautiful bloom is thereby pre served as if it were still on the tree.

The Venetian poultry, too, is generally of excellent flavour. The fish also, which come from the sea to fatten themselves in the rich lakes that surround the city, are larger and better flavoured than in any other sea-port. The oysters of the Arsenal were an article of considerable profit to the persons engaged in raising them, and were the largest and besttasted in theworld.

As I have touched on the subject of eatables, I shall, for the instruction as well as consolation of our English gourmands, who may be thinking of paying a visit to Italy, here give them a