GRAND CANAL, VENICE.

"She shall stoop to be

A province for an empire, petty town
In lieu of capital, with slaves for senators,

Beggars for nobles,-panders for a people."

FALIERO'S PROPHECY.

VENICE, the capital of the Lombardo-Venetian kingdom, and once the Queen of the Adriatic, is yet one of the most remarkable places in Europe. A city of this extent, built entirely on small islands, and having canals instead of streets, boats instead of waggons, and gondolas instead of coaches, is unique in its kind. It stands, according to some statements, on ninety, according to others, on seventy-two islands, separated from the continent by lagoons, and connected with each other by four hundred and fifty bridges, among which is the magnificent Rialto, the design of Michael Angelo, consisting of a single arch of noble proportions. Its houses-amongst which are numerous palaces, many of them decaying, and magnificent churches, adorned with precious monuments of mosaic-work, and with splendid pictures of the Venetian school-are mostly built on piles, and stand with their fronts towards the canals, which form spacious highways, the streets on the other side being scarcely passable by three persons abreast. There are here forty-one public squares; but one only, the Place of St. Mark, which is surrounded by beautiful arcades, and ornamented with two lofty columns, deserving of this distinguishing name. Here stands the church dedicated to that Evangelist, an ancient edifice in the Byzantine style, decorated inside with Oriental magnificence; and here, legends say, rests the body of the saint, which was brought from Alexandria, in Egypt, under the doganate of Giustiniano; and in front are placed the celebrated antique horses, once the ornament of Constantinople—afterwards, of Paris-but now again, of Venice. The original palace of the doges, at present the official residence of the Austrian governor, is in the Gothic manner. It contains the political prisons, beneath its leaden roofs; and from its side-wall springs the "Bridge of Sighs," which Byron has immortalized; but the Lion's Mouth, with the inscription, Denunzie Segrete, (Secret Informations,) is closed, the monster having been removed altogether. Saint Mark's library is rich in rare works and valuable MSS., and its contents have been elaborately described by the late Abbate Morelli, who was for some years chief superintendent. St. Mark's Place is the favourite promenade of the Venetians, and the rendezvous of all foreigners, as well as adventurers.

One of the greatest curiosities of the city is the arsenal, situated on an island, surrounded by lofty walls and embattled towers. It contains everything necessary for the immediate equipment of a fleet-deep docks, well-stored magazines, manufactories of

cordage and sails, cannon-founderies, and forges. Here the visiter is shewn a richlygilded galley, the "Bucentaur," in which the haughty doges of old, from the year 1311, were accustomed to sail out into the deep annually, on Ascension-day, throw a ring into the water, and thus "wed the Adriatic," a ceremony emblematic of the power of the republic over that glorious inland sea.

Exclusive of the patriarchal church, and twenty-nine other ecclesiastical structures, there are religious temples here belonging to Greeks, Armenians, and Protestants, besides seven Jewish synagogues. In the ancient church, "De Frati," a monument was erected, in 1827, to the memory of the famous sculptor, Canova, for which contributions were sent from many parts of Europe, and even from America.

Among the public institutions are the "Conservatorio di Pieta," where some hundred girls receive instruction in music, and the celebrated artificial flowers of wax are made; a "Conservatory of Music," with funds for the education of twenty-four pupils, which formerly produced many excellent performers; the imperial and royal library, an academy of fine arts, a school of navigation, an Armenian college, under whose conduct, as well as at a convent in the vicinity, a newspaper in that language is printed, which is much read in the Levant. The number of houses in Venice is stated to be thirteen thousand, and, of inhabitants, precisely ten times that number. Its principal manufactures are cloth, linen, silk, gold and silver cloths, masks, artificial flowers, gold wire, and other works in gold; soap, wax, theriac and chemical preparations; also, copper and brass ware, leather, catgut and wire strings.

In the manufacture of glass, Venice was formerly the instructress of Europe, but she is now surpassed by other countries; telescopes, spectacles, and beads, made here, however, are still very justly esteemed.

Although her manufactures have much declined, and her commerce still more, Venice yet remains one of the most important commercial places on the Adriatic. Upwards of a thousand vessels, under the Austrian flag, annually sail from this port, and twice that number of foreign vessels enter it; and the annual value of merchandise imported amounts to 35,000,000 lire, and upwards. The port is spacious, but the entrance difficult, on account of the shallowness of the channels and the constantly fluctuating sands. To Venice belong the islands of Giudeca, St. Giorgio, St. Helena, St. Erasmo, Il Lido di Malamocco, Michele, and Murano. These are inhabited principally by artists, manufacturers, and mechanics; and they constitute what may, with propriety, be called the suburbs of the city. Here, also, excellent vegetables are raised. Formerly Venice had neither fortifications nor garrisons, deriving its strength merely from its maritime situation; there are now extensive fortifications on the side opposite the mainland, and a numerous garrison defends the city. Social life here is almost extinct; and Venice, once the Queen of the Adriatic, is now but the lifeless representative of passed-away pride and prosperity.

The Carnival lends some gaiety to the scene; and the theatres are very beautiful and attractive; but the fine arts, for which this picturesque city was famed, find here no longer an asylum.