65 



and Ischia still aud beautiful in the background. Sorrento is a 

 lovely place reached by a most beautiful drive. A reference was 

 also made to Baiae and its wonderful ruins. Pompeii was next 

 described. The city, as now excavated, shews a marvellous state 

 of preservation, and the streets, houses, shops and pubhc build- 

 ings are readily seen and traced. The public baths, Forum, 

 theatre, amphitheatre, and other of its marvellous remains were 

 touched upon, and a quotation from Bulwer Lyttou's " Last Days 

 of Pompeii," appropriately concluded an entertaining account of 

 the city " disinterred from its silent tomb." 



Speaking of the beautiful situation of Florence, the paper 

 quoted Coleridge, who addressed the fair city thus : 



" Florence, with the Tuscan fields and hills, 

 Thy famous Ai-no, fed with all the rills. 

 Thou brightest star of star bright Italy." 



The paper described her ancient palaces, teeming with priceless 

 treasures of art ; the celebrated bridge — Ponte Vecchio, with its 

 burden of jewellers' shops ; the famed drive through woods of 

 great beauty : and others of its characteristics. 



Venice was next noticed, aud Mr. Thompson admitted that the 

 charm and fascination of the spot had not been overdrawn. The 

 centre of Venetian life is the square of St. Mark's. It is the 

 morning promenade, the afternoon lounge, aud the evening ren- 

 dezvous. The fascinating facade of St. Mark's aud the lofty and 

 lovely Campanile, never failed to impress the visitor. After 

 referring to the unique scenes afforded by the Canals, especially 

 when the city is en fete, Mr. Thompson said that he had only 

 been able to touch the mere fringe of his subject. One writer 

 in speaking of his approach to Italy said, that as his ship neared 

 the shores, his heart palpitated with enthusiasm, and that if our 

 centmy was not so opposed to the manifestation of grand senti- 

 ments he could fall down on his knees on the soil and kiss it. It 

 is not to be expected that everyone should feel tlie same homage 

 and reverence, but we cannot be unmoved by all the grace and 

 beauty of which Italy is possessed. 



A capital selection of views of places enumerated in the paper, 

 shewn by means of the lanteru, followed : and then the members 

 inspected numerous photographs, paintings, and other works of 

 art which, Mr. Thompson had collected, to illustrate the subject. 



