Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1835-01-14
COMMUNICATIONS.
REcoLLEcTIoNs OF ITALY.-No. l.

fine weather, books, conversation, studying TIA
Ian and endeavoring to converse in that beauti-
full language with Florentine lady,-altoge-
Their made my time at sea pass away agreeably
enough.
l shall never forget the vivid emotion win
which first gazed upon the distant blue shores
Of the Old World; and as we sailed slowly along'
with the rugged coast Of Africa on our right,
and the vine-covered hills of Granada on our
left, fell into pleasant romantic reverie oil
DAYS of DID, thought of the fierce, swarthy
Moors, with their glittering sabres, and their
rich armour,-and Of the naughty Spaniards,
in their shining steel: thought of those days oil
chivalry, when the heroes Of the Cross and the
Crescent performed prodigies of valor: and
thought, also, of Don Quixote de la Mancha,
and his proverb- speaking Squire. Yet, not
withstanding all these fine waking dreams,
could not keep off sleep, which "covered me like
a blanket" about two hours after midnight
When we passed the frowning rock and strong
fortress of Gibraltar-alas! "a painter, and an
ardent lover Of the sublime,) was asleep, and no
one awoke me. What was my disappointment,
when on going on deck early in the morning,
only had a,parting, distant view OF that stupen-
dous rock A succession of alternate Gains ana
head winds made us heartily sick of the Medi-
terranean. and we hailed with transport the
first blue indication OF Italy.
What a scene of beauty presented itself as
we approached those shores! The superb city
the blue mountains-the beautiful bay, formed
combination Of objects, peculiarly fresh and
welcome to our eyes, after so long voyage.
How novel and delightful. yet how vague and
indefinite, were my feelings on approaching
for the first time, the Garden Of Europe-the
nurse of science-the reviver of buried learn
ing-the birth place Of heroes, philosophers, po-
cts, and painters,-she whohad conquered, L.
lumined, and beautiied the world-mghty in
arms; great in science and learning lovely in
all the loveliest arts Of civilization and refine
ment! This rhapsody is of Italy in gene
rail- or rather Of Rome, when Rome was the
queen of the world and not of the birth place
Of Columbus During our stay OF fifteen days
in quarantine, amused myself much, with the
captains spy glass; looking at the objects around
US On the point forming the extremity OF the
crescent to our left, arises the lighthouse; fur
Their on, to the right, extends the fortress, with
the sentinel pacing to and fro, cannons pointed,
drums rolling, soldiers parading: in short, with
all the characteristics of an European fortress
A high, strong wall Of stone is built up from the
water, and extends all round the harbor. AS
we lay in the harbor, we had good view of the
fine palaces, gardens and terraces, situated in
the environs of the city: among the most love-
ly objects were the Dorian palace, with its beau
tifu arcades, and the luxuriant gardens ad-
joining gardens rising above gardens,-the
diversified colors and foliage of elms, oaks;
pine, cypress and other evergreens, orange,
lemon, fig, and olive trees,-and the beautiful
vines thickly clustered, with their luscious bur-
dens and curiousy extending over their arch
ed trellices festooned from tree to tree; splen-
did>villas; lofty and magnificent palaces; pic
turesque churches and converts, on various ele-
vations; and various other ct ceteras;-forming
altogether one Of the richest combination OF Oh
iects ever saw. On our left extended The city,
with her magnificent palaces towers and domes.
Carriages-with rich liveries soldiers, priests,
friars, women, porters, donkeys, and mules
were continually passing and repassing along
the street nearest the wall overlooking the sea;
and, above all, the mild. the glorious, warm,
deep blue sky Of Italy.
Ona bright sunny, fiesta day, it was delight
full to look around and give myself up to the
genial influence of the weather and the scenery;
to look at the vessels, with their various flags
floating in the balmy breeze, and the boats, gay
with life, and often with female beauty, gliding
in all directions over the lucid waters. 1t was
pleasant to hear the sound ofmirthfll voices and
cheerful songs, mingling with the Ginning Of
church bells, and the rolling of drums from the
fortress, and the strains of wind instruments;
and, at night beneath the mild radiance of the
moon, to hear the full, deep chorus of many vo-
ces, (Halian voices) by distance mellowed DER
the waters deep. Here, too, also, were the plea
sures of taste (and We happened to arrive at the
season Of fruts.) On the day after our arrival,
the Captain received present from an English
merchant Of very large basket heaped with
variety Of fresh viands, consisting Of fresh beef