XX MEMOm OF THE LATE 



ground some little islets looked richly green, and one strongly displayed 

 its grey sterile rocky barrenness. After sunset for some time the hues of 

 earth and sky were still more varied. Syra, which was purple a short time 

 before, assumed a dark rich oil-green, and strongly cut, whilst the water 

 at its base was no less strongly marked." 



Syra, May 9th. — " Dined with Mr. Wilkinson, the British Consul. 

 From the balcony of his drawing-room is the finest and most beautiful 

 view I have ever seen from a house situated in a town. It is placed at a 

 great height above the sea, and commands a view over several of the is- 

 lands, some of them at a considerable distance. The sea is beautifully 

 clear beneath, and several species of fish are seen feeding and gambolling 

 about. The hues of the sea-weed, too, are extremely pleasing to the eye, 

 the rich green of the Ulva so much exceeding that of any plants seen here 

 on land. Just below the balcony fishermen were engaged last night, with 

 torches of pine, spearing the fish that Avere exposed to view. Here the 

 water is shallow, and the fishermen waded ; Avhilst further out the sepia 

 or cuttle-fish hunters were engaged, and with a brilliant light placed on 

 a gridiron-like article, placed at the bow of the boat, looked most pic- 

 turesque." 



May 12th. — " At half-past five o'clock we left Smyrna in the Sesostris 

 French steam-packet for Constantinople. The " jable " of green waves up 

 to the quay was precisely as I have seen them represented in some of 

 Claude's paintings, and I think in some of Canaletti's fine Venetian 

 views." 



Delos, June 2nd. — " Never was I so struck with the appearance of utter 

 desolation as at Delos. At Rome, Athens, &c., the ruins connect the past 

 with the present and tell the tale of many centuries, but here all is past — 

 there is no present — not a human being claims the island as his home, 

 though still before us are the columns of one of the seven wonders of the 

 woi-ld, and well might the temple of Apollo (judging from its ruins) so 

 be called." 



Venice, July 2nd. — " Went to church [Santa Maria de Fraria], con- 

 taining Canova's tomb, the grandest monument I have ever beheld : de- 

 sign and execution are alike most admirable. Opposite to it in the church 

 is the tomb of Titian, with his simple surname inscribed on one of the 

 ordinary floor flags of the building. How strange this seems ! The gal- 

 leries of Venice teem with his sublime paintings, many of them in colours 

 rich and glowing, as they had just passed from the hands of their great 

 artificer. We are enraptured with them, and pacing over the floor of a 

 neighbouring church, start back with alfright on lifting our foot from a 

 common flag, to find that it rested upon and covered the name of Titian, 

 who sleeps beneath it. In Venice, however, should Titian rest. In many 

 respects is it of high importance that the mortal remains of the workman 

 should thus as it were go hand in hand with his noblest work. Thus are 

 the mortality and immortality of earth a striking lesson ! " 



" The first mournful reflections over on visiting such a tomb, do we not 

 feel the bodily and intellectual pulse beat quicker, and urge us on to the 

 best work of which we feel ourselves capable, before we are hidden be- 

 neath the flag-stone." 



Aldstatten, July 11th. — "The mountain rises steeply from the town, 

 and before proceeding very far, a most grand and extensive prospect was 

 presented. In the immediate foreground on the sloping mountain-side 

 all was of the loveliest Swiss character. Most picturesque cottages with 

 their pretty little gardens and numerous bees'-caps placed against the 



