New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-07-06
For The Daily Crescen
ETCHINGs OF FOREIGN TRAVEL.

acknowledge slight, that upon my arrival here
should have received intelligence from you, but shall
assume the truth of the old saying no news is good
news" and trust that all are well in the home and
happy circle where should even now be glad to be
with you. But think hear you say, what, with all
your longing and enthusiasm for foreign travel tired
already? No, not tired, but when day after day in
the slow numbering diligence, or in the rapid speeding
car or steamer, my has been ever onward and
my face turned away from home with all its treasures
of love and friendship which were momentarily be-
coming more remote, do you wonder that my heart
looks longingly backward. But, Notwithstanding,
have set my face steadastly to what is before me
soon in my Nile boat, with the banner of freedom
floating from the peak, shall be gliding on the bosom
of the ancient river toward Thebes the glorious city
of hundred gates, and if fortunate shall stand in
the shadow of the ruined grandeur of Cavnar and
Luxar, and look with the eye of imagination three
|. thousand years into the vista of the past.
Bnt to return to the living present wrote to -
from Venice giving some account Of trip so far,
and hope he will receive it, though the Austrians
are terribly afraid to let anything go to America lest
some account of the bayonet government, by which
alone they hold their power, should go forth to the
great world without. --l ...s. s
We reached Venice at night, and the silent gliding
in the evening stiffness through the narrow water
streets, had seeming.like mystery and was the
Venice of my imagination. But with daylight
change came DER it. The CRIME and midew of age
and long neglect was the face Of each old palace,
with its sculptured carved ornanented 'front.' and the
wing of desoaton seems to be broodng over the CITY,
may be mistaken, and truly hope am, for it stands
alone in the world. There is none other like it, 1t
grows upon you like face not beautiful but full OF
expression. 1t has fascination peculiarly Its own'
the charm OF association the memories of the grand
est pageants of the middle age of history.
The most of the canals quite narrow and the
houses rise tall and dark from them, SO tall in some
places that the tops seem nearly to meet and could
readily be crossed by single plank from house to
house. The Grand Canal, which is nearly as broad
as Canal street, passes through the city in the form OF
an S. and for portion Of the distance IS bordered by
the finest palaces in Venice. Tagoni, the famed dan
seuse has two here, has also the Duchess OF Berr
n Churches abound, none of them very remarkable
outwardly for architecture Cat least to my eye but
=. within filled with beautiful and precious marble por
+ phyry maache, etc., and possessing some very fine
paintings. In the Church of the Frav is the Peter
y Martyr by Titan, one of his finest works, and b.
ms some called the third picture in the world also
series of atorelievo sculptures in the purest Carer
Nd Sd marble Some of them extremely beautiful, AM
80 finely executed that the stone instinct witt
ter life and expression, and lace veil in one OF then
va seems as though it would move in the passing air.
IL The Church of the Jesuits shows the immens
" wealth and ambition of that body of sinners. In
rd whole interior is Carrera inaid with maachite, eve
to the chance rail at the head OF the church is t
nd grand altar and each sde and also on the sides
Tx the church, are smaller shnes, each in little chape
These are all of precious marbles brought from
parts of the world and, in some OF them, the race
the altar is set in Mosaic of Lapsis Lazull ana othe
precious stones and yet it is not in good taste, an
does not produce the effect that with such materials
sd it ought The church of the Scals has the riches
Of marble and porphyry columns OF any nave YET seel
and produces very beautiful effect.
The Church of St. Mark you have no doubt rea
e. descriptions of; its dome is really grand, and tt
sm whole effect of the church, with its rows of mmens
R. pillars, is imposing but its chief singularity OF sty
is the Mosaic work. The dome and ceiling are Co
cred with series of Mosaics representing Scriptu
history, Or should rather have said, illustrating
Some of them are said to be the finest works of tt
= kind in the world In this church are two s1na
o' twisted columns of alabaster, pure that the g
shines through them, which are said to have bee
:: brought from the temple Of Jerusalem.
I, of course visited the Doge's Palace, and in Il
Council Chamber sat myself down in the seat Whit
t. many of them have occupied, little imagining as th
sat there in the pomp and state of power that ie
ND centuries later their proud republic would be a
ped under the iron heel of tyranny, its glory
and tory and sitting in their seat republican, from
prouder republic than their own, risen in land
which they did not even know the existence
From the palace crossed to the dungeons over
os Bridge of Sighs and well might the poor fellow
the crossed that sigh for darker, more dreary and
0. cradle place than these cells could scarce be c.
uE ceyed Built of immense blocks of stone, some
MES them below the level of the water, only about
RE- feet square, and lighted only by lamp placed wi
IN IN out, the dull rays of which scarce penetrated
AC- darkness they must have been dolorous indeed.
the During our stay in Venice, the Emperor, Fral
" Joseph, made his first public visit, and an after
for was made to get up grand reception houses "
dressed by having rugs and pieces OF carpet h
RI from the windows and balconies, gondolas v
dressed in all Styles some few prettily and tastefr
set and for the most part, the contrary The gondo
RE- were in all sorts of costumes Persian, Arab, CIR
Inn a. Venetian, Harlequin etc. There were from tw
store twelve oarsmen in each boat, and presented
40. gay if net beautiful appearance.