LIFE OF THE AUTHOR. lex? 



my once eastern sun, was inevitably approaching to its western re- 

 pose ; that future adventures would, of course, be scarce ; and that 

 mere common occurrences, incidental to retirement from a busy 

 world, would have little in them either to amuse or to instruct the 

 reader of them, whoever he might be. Under this impression I 

 thought, how happy I should be, in this sequestered valley, where 

 nature smiled, and all was gay around me. Here the pretty warblers 

 from the south, when Spring had called them back, would charm me 

 with their sylvan music ; and when the chilling blasts of Autumn 

 warned them to return to their own sunny regions in Africa, their 

 loss would be replaced by congregated ducks and geese, and even by 

 Cormorants, to change the scenery, and still bring joy. Vain 

 castles in the air ! devoid of all reality ! delusive as the quagmire's 

 treacherous surface. My roving spirit, ever on the watch for new 

 adventures, disdained a life so tame and unimportant. Even the 

 Roman poet's warning line of l Onavis referent in mare te novifludus] 

 had no effect upon me. So, having formed a plan of the campaign 

 with rny two dear sisters-in-law, Miss Edmonstone and Miss Helen 

 Edmonstone, I bade adieu to these regions of the North, and we 

 turned our faces once more to those of the smiling South. 



"We wended our way through fertile lands, and magnificent 

 scenery, till we arrived at the hill-surrounded town of Botzen. On 

 leaving Botzen, we shaped our course for Trent, Trent, so well- 

 known in ecclesiastical history. The road is nearly level, and winds 

 along the base of lofty mountains ; whilst the intervening land has the 

 appearance of a continuous vineyard. Recent rains had much im- 

 paired it in many places, and had forced down gravel and huge pieces 

 of rock into the cultivated plain, causing lamentable spoliation. Men 

 were standing ready, by order of the Austrian Government, to assist 

 arriving carriages ; but they refused our offer to remunerate them for 

 their labour ! 



" I only saw one solitary crow, and a small flock of finches, 

 throughout the whole of this day : birds, indeed, seem to be for- 

 bidden all protection in this portion of our earthly paradise, which, 

 as far as ornithology is concerned, may be compared to Ovid's 

 memorable description of Famine. 



" The railway to Venice is supported by such a length of arches, 



