Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-10-14

house, and aQmltS refreshing cuTTent vi oil.
Several windows near the ceiling look into this
vast apartment, which serves i'm lieu of court,
and is rendered perfectly luminous by glazed
arcade, thrown open to catch breezes. through
it passed to balcony which impends over the
canal, and is twined round with plants forming
green festoon springing from two large vases
Of orange trees placed at each end. Here
established myself to enjoy the cool, ana oo-
serve, as well as the dusk would permit, the va
riety of figures shooting by in their gonooias.
As night approached, innumeraoe tapers
glimmered through the awnings before the WIN
dows. Every boat had its lantern, and the gon-
dolas moving rapidly along were followed py
tracks of light, which cleaned and played up
on the waters. was gazing at these dancing
fires when the sounds of music were waIteo
along the canals, and as they grew louder ana
louder an illuminated barge, nlieo WIN musi
Clans issued from the Rialto, and stopping I'M
der one of the palaces, began serenade, which
stilled every clamor and suspended all CONVEX
sation in the galleries and porticos; till; rowing
SLOWLY away, il was heard no more. The gon-
doliers catching the air, initiated its cadences,
and were answered by others distance whose
voices, echoed by the arch OF the bridge, &C
quired plaintive and interesting tone. retl-
red to rest, full of the sound and long after
was asleep, the melody seemed to vlbrate in my
ear.
AUGUST Sit was not five O'Clock before |
was aroused by loud din of voices and splash
ing of water under my balcony. Looking out,
| behed the grand canal so entirely covered
with fruits and vegetables, on rats ana IN
barges, that could scarcely distinguish wave.
Loads of grapes, peaches and melons, arrived,
and disappeared in an instant, for every vessel
was in motions and the crowds of purchasers
hurrying from boat to boat, formed very I've
w picture Amongst the multtudes, remark
ed a good many whose dress and carriage an
nounCed something above the Common rank;
and upon inquiry found they were noble We.
ntians just come from their casinos, and met
10 refresh themselves with fruit, before they re-
tired to sleep for the day.
Whilst was observing them, the sun began
to color the balustrades of the palaces, and the
pure exhilarating air of the morning drawing
me abroad. procured a gondola, and laid in my
provision Of bread and grapes, and was rowed
under the Ralto, down the grand canal to the
marble steps OFFS Maria della Salute, erected by
the senate in performance OF a vow to the Holy
Virgin, who begged off a terrible pestllence IN
1880. The great bronze portal opened whilst
was standing on the steps which lead TO IT, ana
discovered the interior of the dome, where
eXpatiated in solitude; no mortal appearing ex-
cept an old priest who trimmed the lamps and
muttered a prayer before the high altar, still
wrapped in shadows. The sun-beams began
to strike against the windows Of the cupola, just
as left the church and was waited across the
waves to the spacious platform in 'front.' OF 81.
Giorgio Maggiore, one OF the most celebrated
works of Palladio.
When nv first transport was little subsidized,
and had examined the graceful design OF each
particular ornament, and united the just pro-
portion and grand effect Of the whole in my
mind, planted my umbrella on the margin of
the sea, and viewed at my leisure the vast range
of palaces, of porticos, of towers. opening on
every side and extending out of sight. The
doge's palace and the tall columns at the en-
trance of the palace of st. Mark, form, together
with the arcades the public library, the lofty
Campane and the cupoas of the ducal church,
one of the most striking groups OF buildings that
art can boast Of To behold at one glance these
stately fabrics, so illustrious in the records OF
former ages, before which, in the fourlshng
times of the republic, so many valiant chiefs
and princes, have landed, loaded with oriental
spoils, was a spectacle had long and ardently
desired. / thought of the days of Frederick
Barborossa, when looking up the piazza OF st.
Mark along which he marched in solemn pro-
cession, to cast himself at the feet of Alexander
the Third, and pay tardy homage to st. Pc
ter's successor. Here were no longer those
splendid fleets that attended his progress; one
solitary galeass was all beheld. anchored op,
posite the palace of the doge, and surrounded
by crowds of gonGolas, whose sable hues con-
trasted strongly with its vermillion oars and
shining ornaments. A party colored multitude
was continually shifting from one side OF the
piazza to the other; whilst senators and magis-
trates in long black robes were already arriving
to fill their respective Offices
contemplated the busy scene from my peace
full platform, where nothing stirred but aged de.
voices creeping to their devotions, and, whilst l
remained thus calm and tranquil, heard the dis
tabt buzz of the town. Fortunately some length
of waves rolled between me and its tumults; so
that ate my grapes, and read Metastaso I'M
disturbed by officiousness or curiosity. When
the sun became too powerful, | entered the
nave.
The second volume relates to Portugal and
Spain; and is not less striking than the first
Beckford's delight in the beauties of Cintra on
this occasion, led him to his subsequent resi-
dence therein Y Amer.