Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1841-12-28
vi | S C. E L L A N Y :.
A WEEK IN VENICE.

A series of very interesting letters, I'M
der this title, is being published in the New
York American. From the second num-
Der we make the following extract:--
ST. Marks Cathedral is one Of the archi-
tectural illustrations Of history with which
Venice abounds. 1t has been the enduring
record for six hundred years Of the cap
ture Of Constantlnope. After that event,
Greek artists swarmcd in Italy, and seve-
raj Of them were employed in ornamenting
this church. 1t is, therefore, principally
in the Byzantine style, although some Of
its fnishings are pointed. Here is a min
CLING of heavy domes, minarets, aiguiIes,
bronze doors. mosaic pavements, Gothic
statues, round windows, frescoes and Co.
rnthan capitals, which makes a confused
tout ensemble that it is difficult to describe.
1t NAV be called indeed consecrated store
house Of spols The Treasury contains
the most valuable relics in the Christian
world; among the rest, the reputed original
manuscript of the Gospel of St. Mark. 1t
may be said, by the way, that Of all relics
gahcrers, the Venctians were the most ra-
pacious and successful. Every body knows
their early exploit, smuggling the dead bo-
dy Of their patron saint in a barrel Of
pork out of Egypt When they could not
buy relics they stole them. At the sack
of Constantinople, these articles were re-
gardcd as among the most precious booty,
and divided as carefully as gold and silver.
In this way, bit Of the true cross, the
arm Of St. George, the body of St, Simeon,
and phal of the blood Of the Saviour, be-
came the property of the Republic. After
this, the Emperor of the East mortgaged
the crown of thorns' to certain merchants,
for three or four thousand silver marks,
and this holy memento would have been
added to the rest, had it not been redeemed
by ST. Louis of France.
| shall not attempt to describe the Du-
cal Palace, although it is the most interest
ing spot in Venice, because artists and au-
thors have given to the general reader a
more exact idea Of it, than Of almost any
other public building in European idea
which, as in former case, | cannot hope
TO correct or enllvcn.
| did not leave the Piazza di San Marco
without ascending the Campanile and en-
Toying the view from its summit. mount
ed the broad paved walk, built around the
interior and inclining at SO small an ang lie
that horse may pass over it with ease.
At the top | was three hundred feet from
the ground. Vcnice lay at nay feet. a
thick collection, seven miles in circumier-
ence, Of red rooted houses spread over a
perfect flat surface, with many towers and
cupolas rising from their midst. Through
this mass the Grand Canal winds in the
shape Of the letter S, although | could not
distinctly trace it in its entire progress; IN
deed many of the other canals and the
streets were not to be traced at all, owing
10 their narrowness and the height Of the
houses. This dense collection of red roofs
is surrounded by water, Astounding in long
sandy flats and small islands. While /
was looking ct this view the sun went down;
the west was without a cloud, and it shone
like FURNISHED gold; the air was mild rs If
il was June and not October, while the at
mosphere was so clear that ncighborlng
objects seemed nearer than usual, and the
distant Friuian Alps which had been hard
ly revealed TO me before, appeared with
sharp and we'll defined outline in the hori-
zon-a fit frame for that golden picture
before me, so TitancsQue in its resples-
dent colorng.
After this days pleasant tour Of disco
very, put myself, rs in duty bound, into
the hands of an intelligent laquaiS de plaS,
and went with him, either on foot, or by
gondola, to every celebrated spot in or
near Venice. | have no intention of wea.
rying the reader with an enumeration Of
what we saw.
With the exception Of ST. Marks, the
singuartv Of which attracted my atten-
ton, | was not much impressed with the
architecture Of the churches, although that
of the Redecmer is considered the master
piece of Paadio. ST. Giorgio MagglorG,
one Of his marvels," and St. Giovannie
Paolo. the Madonna del Orto and the Fra
ri. have many beautiful decorations in the
pointed style. The exterior of some, and
the interior of most Of them, if remember
correctly, are full of the puerle exuberan-
ccs Of the cinque cueto manner, which is
nowhere so disgusting as IN place OF wor-
ship, and nevertheless abounds IN Catho-
lie churches throughout the continent.
can say nothing about the new paIa-
ces; Pencil and pen have been ndetatl-
gable in recording .heir beauties, and la
mentations for their decay thrown out In
all kinds Of poetry and prose. My guide
said that one of these structures was
brought by an Englishman who had it ia
ken 10 pieces, the stones marked, and the
whole pile regretted in his grounds at