I have visited in a gondola some of the islands, viz., Malamocco and St Lazare, where there is a convent of Armenian monks.

Why are the gondolas hung with black? it gives to them such a dismal funereal appearance.  They always resemble the bodies of hearses placed on boats.  I am not fond of gaudy colours in general, yet I do think a gondola should have a somewhat livelier color than black.

PADUA, 8th June.

Padua is not above ten miles distant from Fusina.  As I started from Venice at six in the morning I had a fine receding view of the Ocean Queen, with her steeples and turrets rising from the sea.  Venice has no fortifications and needs them not.  Her insular position protects her from land attacks, and the shoals prevent the approach of ships of war.  Floating batteries therefore and gunboats are her best defence.  The road from Fusina to Padua is on the banks of the Brenta the whole way, and is lined with trees.  There are a great number of villas on the banks of the Brenta, well built in the best style of architecture, the most of them after the designs of Palladio, the Prince of modern architects.

Padua is an exceedingly large city:  but its arcades and the narrowness of the streets give it a gloomy appearance.  There are however some beautiful promenades in the suburbs.  There are also the remains of an ancient Arena.  Padua is famous for its Seminario or University, which is a superb edifice.  The Church of St Anthony of Padua is of vast size, having six cupolas.  There are four organs in this church.  In the chapel of the Saint himself are a great many ornaments, among which are a crucifix in bronze and fresques representing the different actions and miracles of this patron Saint of the Padovani.  Probably as this city was founded by the Trojan Antenor they have transformed his name into that of a Christian Saint and called him St Anthony, just as Virgil has been transformed into a magician at Naples.  There is a fine view from the steeple of this immense edifice.  There is another magnificent church also in this city, that of St Justine, built after the designs of Palladio, the principal ornament of which is a painting of the martyrdom of the Saint by Paul Veronese.  But one of the greatest curiosities in this ancient city is the immense Saloon in the Palazzo della Giustizia.  It is, I presume, the loftiest and largest hall in the world that is supported by nothing but its walls, it being three hundred feet long, one hundred feet broad and one hundred feet high.  In the Saloon is the tomb of Livy, the Historian, who was a native of Padua.  The inhabitants of Padua dress much in black, seem a quiet, staid sort of people, and are very industrious.  I put up at the Stella d’Oro, a good inn.

VICENZA, 10th June.