The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1865-03-14

sn1 Newark, wtfye we pass lruar
acres of all marsh Ogly ~ th
plain lie a few iecf lower. "a tIat .H
tide sbosl3 always cover Il, and yo
have a good idea et ,he site q Venice
sith this exceptiou, however, that th
Venetian lagnne Is enoreousy y oxten
dcd, while long and narrow island
separate It fromihe Adriauc,anl form
secure bfeakwater from lhe violence
of he sea. The early settlers bull
6ra, 10 doubt. upon the higher IS
lands. which were more firm and arg
as their houses Multiplied, they nat
urany occupied all,he area which wa
above water, after which the city coul,
be extended oulY by redeeming lant
from the shallonsssa adjoining. Thu.
by degrees and under lhe stimulus o
commerce, Venice grew 70 be tie great
and powerful aud splendid city hat i.
was ia the days Of the Republic. I
am told thal tile foundations Of stone
and wooden piles which uuderlie rs,
! Venetian palaces, were laid atenor-
nous expense, | have heard some
figures mentioned. to represent this
cost, but they are so large that am
afraid to quote them. Venice is al.
yided into Two unequal parts by the
/ Grand Canal, The course Of which
through The city follows ne form Of
the letter S. This broad canal is three
hundred feet vide, and it is crossed
near its middle by tile famous Rialto
bridge, a splendid marble structure Of
one spacious arch Of more than ninety
feet. This remarkable bridge was
begun nearly three hundred years
ago, and So solidly was it built that it
stands to-day as firm as could be de-
sired The bridge is twen,y- four leel
above the water, and seyenty-two feet
vide. Il is divided lengthw &c into f7e
parts, adording three street. or passa.
ges, and Two rows bishops. Inthe best
days Of Venice The bridg. wa s tlron-
ged with passengers, thai there was
hardly any hour. of the day when you
could get along without any diiIicllty.
The area between Tie bends Of the
Grand Canal, and on every side Of it,
is cut up iuto narrower canals and
streets. The great buildings, pubic
Offices, everything representing wealth,
are placed on the canals, with access
in the rear 10 the narrow passages OF
pavement Which are called sireels.-
These passages aro exceedingly mar
roW and close; but they are lined
with shops, which are accessible, OF
course, to pedestrians. In fact, one
o"~ -~li' owe" large portion Of the
town through these SaeSIs, CROSSING,
the canals by bridges, which are met
with so constantly that Venice might
be called a city Of bridges. There
are nearly five hundred ofthem. But
whoever goes on solid ground in Ven
ice must 90 on foot, for there are no
horses or carriages, and no streets
wide enough for them to pass. The
gondola is the great institution Of We
nice. There are more than four thou
sand of these graceful boats. They
are very luxurious III their cushioned
and covered seats, and can fancy no
mortal who seems more contented
than gentlemen who are gliding along
in their gondolas, ,leaning back on theil
seats leisurely smoking their cigars.
There are no wells in Venice, ex
eept two or three experiments Of tic
Artesian sort. But these were ren.
dered useless By gases whichminglcd
with the water. The fresh water
which is used in Venice is brought
from the neighboringmainland in boats
and then pumped into vast cisterns
built under the public courts. These
courts, or little squares, are arranged
SO as to throw water toward the cen
tire. so that rain water IS collected, and
this, as well as the water brought. in
boats, is passed through enormous fl
tiers under the pavement. These cis-
terms are open to the public at certain
fixed hours, during which you will see
crowds Of women with copper kettles,
supplying themselves. Those who
neglect their opportunities when tie
wells are opened, have 10 put up with
a dry tea.ketlle till the hour Of water
comes round again.