Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-10-06
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.
EXPENSE OF LIVING IN ITALY.

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One lodges like a prince in Florence, pay,
like beggar. For the information of artists and
| scholars DESTROYS to come abroad, to whom ex.
act knowledge on the subjects important, I will
give you the inventory and cost Of my whereabout.
sit at this moment in window of what was
formerly the archbishop palace noble old edi-
fice, with vast staircases and resoundng arches,
and hall in which you might put dozen Of the
modern brick houses of our country. NV
chamber is as large as BALLROOM, on the second
story, looking out upon the garden belonging to
the house. which extends TO the eastern wall of
the city Beyond this lies one of the sweetest views
in the world. The ascending amphtheatre of
bills, in whose lap, lies Florence, with the tall
eminences OF Fiesoii in the centre. crowned with
the monastery in which Milton passed six weeks,
while gathering scenery for Paradise.
can almost count the panes of glass in the
windows of the bard's room; and, between the
fine old building and my eye, on the slope of the
hill, thirty or forty SPLENDID villas, half buried
in trees. MADAME Catalani's among them. piled
one above another on the steep ascent, with their
columns and pcrticoes, AS 1t they were mock
temples in a vast terraced garden.
do not think there is window in Italy that
commands more points of beauty. Cole. the
American landscape painter, who occupied the
room before me, took a sketch from it. For
neishbors, the Neapolitan ambassador lives on
the same floor, the two Greenoushs in the ground
rooms below, and the palace Of one OF the wealth
lest mobiles of Florence overlooks the garden, with
front of eighty five windows, from which you
are at liberty to select anv two or three; and i'm
aeine the most celebrated beauty of Tuscany be.
hind the crimson curtains-the daughter Of this
same noble bearing that reputation. She was
pointed out to me at the opera night or two
since, aud have seen as famous women with
less pretensOns.
Por the interior, my furniture is not quite up
on the same scale, but have clean snow-wnite
bed, calico covered sofa. chairs and tables
enough, and pictures three deep from the wall to
the floor
For all this. and the liberty of the episcopal
garden, pay three dollars month! A dollar
more is charged for lamps, boots. and service.
and dark-eyed landIady of thirty five, 'nends
my gloves, ana paws me two visits da, items
not mentioned IN the bill, Then for the feeding
--an excellent breakfast Of coffee and toast is
brought me for six cents; and. without wine,
one NAV dine heartily at fashionable restaurant
for twelve cents, and with vine, quite magnlh
Gently for twenty five. Exclusive of postage and
pleasures, this is all one is called upon to spend
in Florence. Three hundred dollars year
would fairly and largely cover the expense OF a
man living at this rate; and man who would not
be willing to live half as well for the sake of his
art, does not deserve to see Italy. have stated
these unsentimental particulars. because 1t is a
kind Of information believe much wanted. /
should have come to Italy years ago if had
known as much, and am sure there are young
men in our own country, dreaming Of this para
disc of art, in half despair, who will thank me
for it, and take up at once ''the pilgrims scan
dial shuon and sco!lop-shell. - Willis's Letters
Grom Europe. published in the n. Y Mirror.