Venice. 257 



valued friend Miss Joanna Baillie. The second letter 

 was written several years later, and is nearly the last she 

 ever wrote to my mother. 



FROM MRS. SOMERVILLE TO WORONZOW GREIG, ESQ. 



VENICE, 21s* July, 1843. 



I most sincerely rejoice to hear that Agnes and 

 you have gone to the Rhine, as I am confident a little 

 change of air and scene will be of the greatest service to 



you both We are quite enchanted with Venice ; 



no one can form an idea of its infinite loveliness who has 

 not seen it in summer and in moonlight. I often doubt 

 my senses, and almost fear it may be a dream. We are 

 lodged to perfection, the weather has been charming, no 

 oppressive heat, though the thermometer ranges from 75 C 

 to 80, accompanied by a good deal of scirocco ; there are 

 neither flies nor fleas, and as yet the mosquitoes have not 

 molested us. We owe much of our comfort to the house 

 we are in, for there are scarcely any furnished lodgings, 

 and the hotels are bad and dear, besides situation is 

 everything at this season, when the smaller canals be- 

 come offensive at low water, for, though there is little 

 tide in the Mediterranean, there are four feet at new and 

 full moon here, which is a great blessing. We have now 

 seen everything, and have become acquainted with every- 

 body, and met with kindness and attention beyond all 

 description. Many of the great ducal families still 

 exist, and live handsomely in their splendid palaces; 

 indeed, the decay of Venice, so much talked of, is 

 quite a mistake ; certainly it is very different from 

 what it was in its palmy days, but there is a good 

 deal of activity and trade. The abolition of the law 



I 



