14 TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



the labyrinth of canals, to those noble buildhigs 

 which remain as monuments of the time when 

 Venice, in possession of the sovereignty of the 

 Mediterranean, brought to the markets of Europe 

 all the treasures of the East. Its present state 

 bears testimony to the instability of all human 

 splendour. But every thing great and glorious that 

 the commerce of the world could produce, is pre- 

 served in the architectural monuments in the square 

 of St. Mark ; which the art of Tintoret, Paul 

 Veronese, and Titian, by their warm and vivid 

 colouring, adorned, in the decline of the republic, 

 like the parting beams of the setting sun. 



From the top of St. Mark's we enjoyed the de- 

 lightful prospect of the plain of Lombardy, 

 stretched out between the Alps and the Appen- 

 nines, and so richly adorned with cities and 

 universities. A view of this country involuntarily 

 calls to mind trie immortal poets and artists whom 

 its romantic natural beauties have inspired, and 

 fills the soul of the observer with the most pleas- 

 ing and sublime sensations. In us it excited a wish, 

 to see at least the neighbouring city of Padua, and 

 its once celebrated university. Half a day's jour- 

 ney brought us to that antique place, where we had 

 the pleasure of becoming acquainted with pro- 

 fessors Brera, Caldani, and Bonato. In the botanic 

 garden, which formerly, under Guilandinus, so 

 greatly contributed to the reputation of the univer- 

 sity, we were struck with some trees, originally 

 brought from the East, and which have now grown 



