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


lands wealthiest son." the luxurious, the highly
educated, the solitary Beckford, here presents
us with letters descriptive, at period long gone
by, of the beauties the fair landscapes and other
natural phenomena of Italy,-scenes which-as
the preliminary advertisement IN referring u
human institutions, we'll says-while the old or
der of things, with all its picturesque pomps ana
absurdities," has disappeared, it is not IN Inc
mower of revolutions or constitutions to alter, or
destroy"
The singular being who now publishes, after
the lapse of half century, letters written IN the
heyday Of youth and brilliant hopes, is kown
only by report to the present generation by the
fantastic wonders of Fonthill Abbey. His east
ern tale of Vathek so highly praised by Lord
Byron has not, that We are aware, been re-puo-
lished in this country. 1t struck us when we read
it--many years ago-as quite as remarkable for
its pure and idomatic French, in which language
il was written, as forts lively picture of Eastern
manners.
II is among the agreeable impressions of past
days, TO have wandered in company with Mr..
Canning-then the British Ambassador at Lis
bon through the deserted halls, the doorlesS
apartments and rooHess galleries Of the beauti-
full dwelling which Mr.. Beckford had so pictur-
esouely embosomed amid the exquistey pictur-
esoue mountains of Cintra. Ithad long been I'M
tenanted. Its frescos had faded; and even In
that lovely climate the damps had cast down
the succeed ceilings beneath which, in other
DAYS. the Wanderer had dwet and revelled.-
All within was desolate; but without and around
Nature was beautiful, magnificent, and boun-
teous as ever. The contrast was striking; ana
il recurs not the less strongly to memory now,
from the reflection that the polished taste, the
fancy, and the gentle courtesy, oil the distlh-
puished orator and statesman whose remarks
we then--a traveller from distant land-lis-
tened to with so much delight-are numbered
too among the things that were.
But we are wandering from the matter before
us. These "Sketches" are by master hand;
they evnce throughout high refinement
quick and admirable perception of the beauti-
ful in art and in nature, and mind rich in
knowledge and instruction Venice with her
lagoons, her Rialto, and her bridge OF Signs
is materially speaking, the same now as when
Beckford saw her; but her population, her COM
merce, her mobiles, her wealth, and her crimes
how shrunk away. Hear Of Venice as ii then
was:-
Aueusr 2, 17S0-Our route to Venice lay
winding about the variegated plains had sur
viewed from Mosolente; and after dining at Ire
viso, we came in two hours and halfto Mestre,
between grand villas and gardens peopled with
statues. Embarking our baggage at the last
mentioned place, We stepped into gondola,
whose very motion was every agreeable, after
the iolts of chaise. We were soon out of the
canal ofthe Mestre, terminated by az isle which
contains a cell dedicated TO the Holy Virgin,
peeping out OF thicket, whence spire up two
tall expresses. Its bells tingled as we passed
along and dropped some paos into net tied
at the end of pole stretched out to us Tor that
purpose.
AS soon as we had doubled the cape of this
djminutive island, an eXpanse OF sea opened to
our view, the domeS and towers OF Venice rls-
ing from its bosom Now we began TO distin-
guish Murano, ST. Michele, ST. Georgia in Alga,
and several other islands, detached from the
grand cluster, which hailed as old acquain-
tances; innumerable prints and drawings hav-
ing long since made their shapes familiar. Still
gliding forward, we every moment distinguish
ed some new church or palace in the city, suf-
fused with the rays Of the setting sun, and re-
fiected with all their glow of coloring from the
surface ofthe waters.
Inc dlT WAS Culiu, TIC ohy SiouNiSSSt oAiN -
faint wind just breathing upon the deep, lightly
bore its surface against the steps of chapel in
the island Of San Secondo and waved the veil
before its portal, as we rode by and coasted the
walls of its garden overhung with fig-trees and
surmounted by spreading pines. The convent
discovered itself through their branches built in
a style somewhat Morisco, and level with the
sea, except where the garden intervenes.
We were now drawing very near the city,
and confused hum began TO interrupt the even
ing stilnes; gondolas were continually passing
and repassing, and the entrance of the Canal
Reggie, with all its stir and hustle, lay before
us. Our gondoliers turned with much address
through a crowd of boats and barges that block
ed up the way, and rowed smoothly by the side
of broad pavement covered with people in
all dresses, and of all nations.
Leaving the Palazzo Pesaro, noble struc-
ture with two rows of arcades and superb
rustic behind, we soon landed before the
Leon Bianco, which being situated in one of
the broadest parts of the grand canal COM
mands most striking assemblage Of buildings
have no terms to describe the variety of pill