Padua 251 



converse a little on the application of his science to agriculture ; 

 but that was not easy. Politics came across him, in which I 

 happened to mention the extraordinary prosperity of England 

 since the American war; and he took the clue, and conducted 

 it through such a labyrinth of admirals, generals, red-hot balls, 

 and floating batteries : — Rodney, Elliot, Necker, and Catherine, 

 with the Lord knows what besides, that I thought he meant to 

 make a tour as great as Mr. Wraxal's. He however gave me a 

 note to the celebrated astronomer, Signore Toaldo, to whom I 

 wanted an introduction, and whose observatory I viewed. He 

 assured me that he continues firmly of the same opinion, of which 

 he has always been, relative to the influence of the moon on our 

 seasons, and the importance of attending to the lunar period of 

 18 years. I begged the titles of his memoirs, as I had yet pro- 

 cured only his Meteorologia applicata all' Agricidtura ; he said 

 the others were difficult to find, but he would give me them. For 

 this generous offer I expressed my warmest thanks and readily 

 accepted it. On descending into his library he presented me 

 with the supplement to what I had; and also his tract, Delia 

 Vera Influenza, etc. After some other conversation, he told me 

 the price was 8 liri, and the supplement, 30 soldi. I was at a 

 loss to know what he meant by telling me the price of his book, 

 for to offer him money would, I feared, affront him. After some 

 minutes he again reminded me that the price was 9^ liri : on 

 which I took out my purse. The Vera hiflueJiza he said was 

 only 6 liri, but being scarce he must have 8 for it, which, with 

 30 sous for the other, made 9J livres. I paid him and took my 

 leave. There was not the least reason to expect Signore Toaldo 

 to make me, an utter stranger, a present of a farthing; but his 

 manner made me smile. I had left a letter yesterday at the 

 house of the Abbate Fortis, well known in England by his travels 

 in Dalmatia; to-day I received a visit from him. He has that 

 liveliness and vivacity which distinguish his nation ; was polite 

 in his offers of service, and entered into conversation concerning 

 the vines of his country. He travelled many years ago with 

 Lord Bristol and Mr. Symonds; and I was glad to find that he 

 spoke as handsomely of them both as I have heard them both 

 mention him. This is the third evening I have spent by myself 

 at Padua with five letters to it; I do not even hint any reproach 

 in this; they are wise, and I do truly commend their good sense: 

 I condemn nobody but myself, who have for 15 or 20 years past, 

 whenever a foreigner brings me a letter, which some hundreds 

 have done, given him an English welcome, for as many days 



