a traveller's journal; ^89 



ill. ITALIAN METHOD OF RECKONING TH fi HOURS, 



A PRACTICE generally beheld by foreigners in 

 a falfe point of view, is the method obferved by the 

 Italians in counting the hours. It perplexes every new- 

 comer ; and; as the greater! part of travellers every 

 where chufe to follow their own way, and to adhere to 

 their own rules and cuftoms : fo it is natural for them 

 to fin d it a hardfhip, if all at once a conflderable por- 

 tion of their actions are entirely diflocated. 



The german princes have already introduced into 

 their italian territories the method of counting the 

 hours that prevails with us. The french dial, as it is 

 called, which to the comfort of foreigners, has long 

 been placed on the Trinita di Monte, will foon point 

 out to travellers, both within and without fide St. Pe- 

 ter's, their cuftomary hours. Our way of reckoning 

 will therefore gradually become more common ; though 

 it will continue to meet with great oppoiition on the 

 part of the populace ; and certainly they lofe by it a 

 proper national cultom, an hereditary mode of repre- 

 sentation, and an extremelv fuitable habit. 



How often do we hear travellers praifing the beauti- 

 ful country, the happy climate, the clear blue Iky, 

 the breathing gales, and the balmy air of Italy ; and 

 all this is for the mo ft part true, and not exaggerated. 

 But thence it follows_, that all who can pafs their time 

 in the open air, chufe to do fo, and enjoy in pleafure 

 or in bulinefs the genial breath of heaven. How many 

 workmen of various kinds are employed in the ftreets 

 and highways ? how many have fhops quite open on all 

 vol. 1. v fides> 



