WM. THOMPSON, ESQ. 
XIX 
strictly applicable.” Changes had in some cases taken place in the con- 
dition or in the habits and customs of a community. Thus, in Venice, as 
the journal informs us, “ The gondolas are greatly changed for the worse 
since 1826, the fine steel front being now only seen on old ones ; the mo- 
dern are simply bound with polished steel for a protection, and instead of 
the canopy overhead, a common awning is used, which in some is plain 
canvas, in others blue and white striped, and a few more tasteful, all as 
in British boats. In connexion with the fast disappearing gondolas, I 
could not but think of the changes in Greece and Turkey. Pictorially, it 
is a pity that it is becoming a more matter-of-fact world every day, 
though it is well that the human race is becoming daily more and more 
one great family. In the evening I saw a few gondolas, each rowed by 
two livery servants (a V Anglais). I could not hear any songs of gondo- 
liers this time, though in 1826 they were occasionally to be heard.” 
The changes, however, which the journal indicates as having occurred 
in the external world, are few compared to those which had taken place 
in the mind of its author. Fifteen years of the most active period of 
man’s existence had passed by, and had cast their mellowing influence 
both on his feelings and on his intellect. He had lived during that time 
among the intelligent inhabitants of his native town, and among the 
literary and scientific circles of Metropolitan Societies. His reading had 
not been restricted to Natural Science, but had embraced biography, his- 
tory, travels, poetry, and the fine arts. The journal in every page indicates 
his more mature and cultivated intellect ; and passages occasionally occur 
which breathe a comprehensive charity for his fellow-men, and a sympa- 
thy with their social advancement. There is, too, a discrimination in 
praise or in censure, which time and experience alone can give ; and a 
nice perception of beauty in form, outline, colouring, and aerial tint, 
which mark the artistic eye. To personal friends, therefore, it contains 
much that is interesting. Yet it cannot be denied that many scenes or 
incidents which are graphically narrated, are told as well or better by 
other travellers, such as the ordeal of a Turkish bath — the slave-market 
at Smyrna — a turtle chase in the iEgean, and the absurd annoyances con- 
nected with the Lazaretto at Trieste. The journal too is obviously a per- 
sonal and private record, not written with a view to publication. But 
while the insertion of it as a whole would not seem justifiable or judici- 
ous, a few extracts illustrative of the remarks which have just been made, 
may not appear out of place, especially if they be regarded as revelations 
made by Thompson himself of his own mind, perceptions, and feelings. 
Valence to Avignon, April 9th, 1841. — “ Never did I see the Almond 
in flower look so beautiful as to-day, when several large trees in full 
bloom were in their graceful beauty backed by dark-hued rocks.” 
“ Finally, to contrast the scenery of the Rhine and the Rhone, in vine- 
covered hills they are alike — the rivers are much on a par — the Rhine 
rather the grander — the Rhone more varied by the hills coming forward 
and again receding or folding in the most romantic manner back and for- 
ward. No verdure from grass or pasture is to be seen on the Rhone banks, 
the more Southern character of the vegetation being from ferns springing 
from a sterile soil. The Rhine has its numerous castles, but against these 
are the snow-clad mountains seen from the Rhone.” 
May 5th. — “ The setting of the sun, as we lay off Syra, was very grand, so 
many hues as the land displayed I never before witnessed. The island on 
which he sank was empurpled ; another displayed the ordinary distant 
blue ; those in the west were tinged with lilac. Immediately in the fore- 
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