xxiv 



AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



fine arts of Italy, have been already represented 

 so voluminously to our view by different and 

 indifferent English travellers, that there is 

 scarcely any thing remaining in these countries 

 from which a man may be enabled to glean a 

 handful of information sufficiently interesting 

 to be presented to a discerning public. With 

 Mrs. Starke in one hand, and the accurate 

 Murray in the other, who is there so untutored 

 or so blind that cannot grope his way into 

 every nook and corner where these indefatigable 

 pioneers have been before him ? Every part of 

 their works bears evident proof of deep research. 

 With their discoveries at our call, the fault lies 

 at our own door if we get into bad quarters for 

 the night, or are disappointed in the quality of 

 food by day; for these useful writers have 

 opened to us a safe and a savoury store of good 

 things in almost every section of continental 

 Europe. 



There is one part, however, of modern in- 

 formation from the pens of some of our English 

 travellers, any thing but pleasing or satisfactory 

 to about one third of her gracious Majesty's 

 subjects ; and on this point I would wish to lay 

 a little stress. I allude to the Catholic religion. 



