Milan 235 



5/A. In the morning, deliver letters to Signore Vassari and 

 the Messieurs Zappas, gentlemen in commerce, from whom I 

 might receive information relative to the exports, etc., of the 

 Milanese. At noon, to the society of agriculture (called the 

 Patriotic Society), which, fortunately for me, who am a member, 

 had a meeting to-day: the Marchese di Visconti in the chair, 

 with ten or a dozen members present, to all of whom Signore 

 Amoretti introduced nie. I never expect much from societies 

 of this sort ; but this of Milan was to-day employed on a button 

 and a pair of scissors : it seems they want at this city to make 

 the finer sorts of hardware, in order to rival those of England 

 and lessen the import which, in spite of every obstacle, is very 

 great: the idea orginates with the government and is worthy 

 of its little ideas ; a true peddling spirit at present throughout 

 Europe. An artist in the town had made a button and half a 

 pair of scissors, one half English and the other half of his own 

 manufacture, for which he claimed and had a reward. Similar 

 are the employments of societies everywhere! In England, 

 busied about rhubarb, silk, and drill-ploughs; — at Paris, with 

 fleas and butterflies ; — and at Milan, with buttons and scissors ! 

 I hope I shall find the Georgofili, at Florence, employed on a top- 

 knot. I looked about to see a practical farmer enter the room, 

 but looked in vain. A goodly company of i Marchesi, i Conti, i 

 Cavalieri, i Abati, but not one close clipped wig, or a dirty pair 

 of breeches, to give authority to their proceedings. We met, in 

 what was the Jesuits' college, in the Briare, a noble building, 

 containing many apartments equally splendid and convenient. 

 The Marchese Visconti asked me to his country seat; and the 

 Cavaliere Castiglioni, who has travelled in America with the 

 views of a natural historian, and who intends to print the journal 

 of his voyage, hopes to meet me soon at his brother the count's. 

 Milan has been represented as very dear, and may be so when no 

 thought is taken to save expense, ordering what you want and 

 leaving the bill to the host; but as such methods do not agree 

 with my purse, I pay by agreement for my room, dinner and 

 supper served in it, as there are no table d 'botes in Italy, 6 Hvres 

 of Milan a-day, or an ecu, equal to 4s. English. The pit, at the 

 opera, is 2 livres 5 sous, and coffee for breakfast 7 sous, in all 

 about 5s. 8d. a-day; but seeing buildings, etc., adds something. 

 I am very well served for this except in soups, which are detest- 

 able, for I hate macaroni and abominate paste. I have read so 

 much of the horrors of Italian inns that I am very agreeably 

 surprised to find them in the great towns, Turin and Milan for 



