Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1833-03-28
PROM TIRE NEW SoHx MIRROR
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF EUROPE
ny n. P. WILLIS.

Another short Acknowledgements fron
observation-disclosures
TassoniS bncket--a man going 10 er
ecittion--the duke of Hodena--Bolog
na--Austrian o6feers--the Appeninc
moonlight on the nlountaias--En
giish bridai--pariy--pictaresque sup
per, etc.
left Verona with the courier at sun
set, and was at Mantua in a few hours
| went to bed in dirty hotel, the best
in the place, and awoke, bitten at eve.
nv pore by fleas---the first | have en-
countered in Italy, strange as it may
seem, in a country that swarms with
them. For thenext twenty -four hours
Twas in such positive pain that my in
terest in ''Virgil's BIRTH place" quite Q.
vaporated. | hired caieche, and ira
velsed all night to Modena.
ISliked the town as drove in, and
after sleeping an hour or two, | went
out in search of "Tassoni's bucket, "
(Which Rogers says is not the true one,
and the picture Of "Gincrra." The
first thing | met was a man going to
execution. He was tall, exceedingly
handsome man; and thought, mark
ed gentleman, even in his letters. He
was one Of the body guard ofthe duke,
and had joined conspiracy against
him, in which he had taken the first
step by firing at him from window as
he passed. saw him guiIlotined, but
| will spare you the description. The
duke is the worst tyrant in Italy, it is
well known, and has been fred at eigh-
teen times in the streets So said the
clcerone, who added, that s.the d.
took care of his own" After many
fruitless inquiries | could find nothing
of ''the picture" and took my place
for Bologna in the afternoon.
| WIS at Bologna at ten the next
morning As felt rather indisposed,
| retained my seat with the courier for
Florence; and, hungry with travel and
a long fast, went into a restaurant, to
make the best use of the hour given
me for refreshment. A party Of Aus
TRAN officers sat at one end of the only
table, breakfasting; and here | expert
enced the first rudeness / have seen in
Europe. | mention it to show its rari- |
ty, and the manner in which, even a.
mong military men a quarrel is guard.
ed against or prevented. A young man,
who seemed the wit ofthe party, chose
to make comments from time to time
on the solidity of what he considered
my breakfast. These became at last
SD pointed, that | was compelled to rise
and demand an apology. With one
voice, all except the offender, immedi-
ately sided with me, and insisted on the
justice of the demand, with so many
apologies Of their own, that | regretted
noticing the. thing at all. The young
man arose, after minute, and offered
me his hand in the frankest manner;
and then calling for fresh bottle, they
drank wine with me, and | went back !
to my breakfast. In America such an
incident would be ended, nine times
out of ten, in duel:
The two mounted gems d'armes who /
usually attend the courier at night,
joined US as we began TO ascend the
Apprentices. We stopped at eleven to
sup ON the highest mountain between
Bologna and Florence, and | was glad
10 get to the kitchen-fre, the clear
moonlight was so cold. Twenty chick.
ems at least were turning on the long
spit, and sounds of high merriment
came from rooms above. A bridai par
ty of English had Just arrived, and ev-
cry chamber and article of provision
was engaged. They had nothing to
give us. A compliment 10 the hostess
and a bride to the cook had their usual
effect, however; and as one ofthe dra-
goons had ridden back mile or two
for my travelling cap, which had drop
ped of while | was asleep, ! invited
them both, with the courier, to share
my bribed supper. The cloth was
spread right before the fire, on the
same table with all the cooks para
phernalia, and a merry and pictur-
esque supper We had oft. The rough |
Tuskan flash Of wine and Etruscan
pitchers, the brazen helmets iormea on
the finest models Of the antique, the
long inoustacbcs, and dark Italian eyes
Of the men, all in the bright light Of
blazing fire, made a picture that Sal |
yator Rosa would have lshed. Wei
had time for a hasty song or two after
the dishes were cleared, and then we
went ga,ly on our way TO Florence.
Excus tae breviiy Of tins epistle,
but ! must stop here, or lose the OPP
portunity ofsending. Ifmy letters do
not reach you with the most regularity
il is no fault ofmine. Nou cannot mn
agine the difficulty ! frequently exPe-