Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-11-24

windows and doors for purposes OF light frequently
opening into one, and displaying piles of goods to
the passengers. Here, too. are all sorts OF trades
gong on-taiors and shoenakeTs at work, and X.
changing jokes across the street At IN. corners
are spread out piles Of roasted chesnuis and what
| seen to me TO be the halves OF baked squashes,
and varioos other eatables, the vendors OF which
make the heavens resound with their cries.
Here at book stand, see a translation into ltal.
| ian OF Loeke's discoveries in the Moon" and
| beside II, one of Redwood" n romance by al
| Signors Cooper" Upon every pillar and cons pcu.
| Gus wall, observe black edged pacard announc.
ing that Signor Jacnpi Jacoui (wlh all his tiilcs,)
died yesterday at o'clock, having previously re-
| eelved all the comforts Of religion" Throughout
| tins maze OF narrow winnings a busy population is
movIng-N quick, shifIy set of people-and the
women rather pretty, and picturesquely dressed in
gay coors, and wearing white lace wells or embroi
deTed muslns falling gracefully over their heads.
imagine al this, without single horse, carriage
dray and reflect little upon the importance OF the
use OF horses m contributing the sights and sounds
OF nsreei and some idea may be formed Of the sin
guar IMPRESSION which this glancing Of bright tints
and shutng of feet, and rusting cothes and clat
ter o. voices and ringing OF hammers and tolng OF
church bells, make upon a stranger stroling in the
MIDST OF this wilderness OF dark, narrow, crooked
lanes. aring wandered IN this region TO my hearts
content, ask my way back TO the Grand Canal, in
order TO take fresh departure. Emerging from the
eoseness and gloom of these intricate wndngs mos,
otsht ana gorgeous appears the broad sweep OF the
Gtand Canal, with ali Its historic marble palaces
oY giiy dressed people throngng the foot. path
beside II; while over the water the broad market
coats are tagging suggishly, and many gondoas
win snuerns prows, and rowcd by liveried SER
wants, dart swiftly along. Ga the Riao, stop for
moment to enjoy tie view; and seeing from
thence overlapping the roofs at my right, lofty
Camplni.e, which know from description to be
the Bell Tower ofSt Marks | set forth again a
voyage OF discovery towards that spot. Passing
through many dark winnings before, find my
way al length into broad, bright square, (secming
more bright and spacious from the contrasi) sur
rounded with the most imposing and yet familiar
architecture Here are the open paved area, the col
onade, the Dueal Palace, the Basica Of ST Marks,
the Bell Tower, the columns the three maSls the
winged Lion, the Port, the Lido-thlt same as.
sem5Iage Of objects which rise before our minds
eye whenever Venice is named which Art has so
otten lmlilted and poetry invested with an unfadng
charm. attempt IN these sketches little beyond
the humble task of scene painting, and knowing
now numerous are excellent views of this square
engraved from the works of the Canalett, Turner !
and Others, cannot hope TO add any life TO the
readers Idea OF II by description. lie, HIM be as.
sured, however that he will find 1t in reality more
oeauiiui than any image his fancy may nave drawn;
the most ptctuTe-lIke spot othis most pic urescue
city. And II lie have an eye for form and color
and have come abroad for the nober study OF human
character, this square will afford him much food Tor
thought II Is the Heart of Venice. Here" says
M.Nalery, ''shc pllpitateS still Her remote dis I
trets, even some OF her most ma sncent aaces aie
abandoned and n ruins She is almost corpse al. |
ready cod at the exircmiieS, ana preserving life |
and hea, no where butal the heart" There is here
an oriental air IN the appearance Of all objects fee
farther from home beneath these Grcades than have
yet iet m Europe This seems indeed the uniting
place Of East and West Turks and Armenians
smoke their pipes before these CAFES. One emOarks
at this Quay for Corfu and Smyrna. One over
hears familiar talk OF the Levan; and Asia Minor. |
There is something eastern, too, the architecture
We traces al, around OF those old Byzantine VIC
tories. Yes, this is the charm of this spot: 1t
preserves IN such disnciness the form and pressure
OF the ancient times OF Venetian glory. HIN.