288 LEAVE THE TYROL FOR ENGLAND. 



far, far west the men who are to conquer the wilderness 

 and lay the foundations of the "last empire of the world." 

 We found the Tyrolese strict observers of the forms and 

 and ceremonies of the Catholic Church ; yet, unlike many 

 such, they had, in their hearts, a fervent feeling of real 

 religion, nurtured by communion with the sublime works 

 of the Deity. They were, also, the most loyal subjects 

 of the House of Austria ; and, it may be added, that the 

 many privileges granted them by the imperial government, 

 justify the attachment. They are the favorite subjects 

 of the emperor, and in his time of sorest need, he can 

 depend upon their fidelity. 



At the expiration- of three weeks, we bade adieu to the 

 hospitable Tyrolese, and started upon the return journey 

 to England. Crossing the Alps, we proceeded in rude 

 stages, to Venice, the city of the sea, "throned on a 

 hundred isles ;" the beauty of that famous city, surpassed 

 all that the stories of others had caused me to fancy. At 

 a distance, it seemed like a piece of enchanted work, 

 which, at the potent command of a magician, could sink 

 beneath the waves; and a moon-light ride through its 

 "watery streets," was a delightful realization of olden 

 dreams. At Venice, we embarked for Marseilles. The 

 voyage was prosperous and tolerably rapid. From Mar- 

 geilles we proceeded by railway to Paris, and thence to 

 Calais, where we embarked for England. Within two days 



