colder and more dangerous all over Italy yet at Venise they undress to their Shirts so pass the Evening uncovered in their Gondola's or in walking by the Canals without perceiving the least of inconveniencies The greatest part of such who find themselves convinc'd by experience and who are loath to admit the Air to be naturally good in such a situation attribute the cause of this healthfulness to the great number of Fires that must continually be in so compact and populous a City for my own part I do not deny but that the great number of Fires may for a time resist the bad Effects of an ill Air but I am perswaded besides the accustomed moderation of their Hearths at Venice that it is scarcely to be believed that the ordinary Fires of a Town can have so much in-influence as to alter the nature of the Air and render it healthful in all times of the year It may be believed with more probability that the continual salt Vapours of the Sea with which this Air must abound preserves it in one constant quality and more easily hinders those various inonveniencies as being less subject to receive the thick exhalations of the Earth which are undoubtedly of a more suffocating nature consisting of corrosive Salts that abound in most Grounds which have a greater force and disposition to corrupt the goodness of the Air than the strongest influences of the most malevolent Planets so allowing that the nature of the place renders the Air of Venice subject to frequent alterations yet nevertheless it preserves it self without altering the quality However to speak truth the Climate is not very agreeable in Winter for as this City is every where open so it is consequently exposed to all Winds this season is so cold and troublesome here that I may say as it is hotter here than it is at Paris so one feels a more sharper cold but indeed it is not of such long continuance to which may be replied that it is not so easy to keep off the Cold here as it is in many other places for whatsoever Care one uses in closing the Curtains of the Gondola yet they can never be so close as the well fix'd Glasses of a Coach Yet the pleasure of Venice in the Summer does amply recompence the inconveniencies of the Winter for during the greatest Heats you are no sooner in your Gondola but you are sure to enjoy upon the Canals even at Noon-day a most agreeable refreshing Air but it is most commonly Two Hours before Sun set that one begins to be sensible of those delightful Breezes that are yet infinitely more pleasant in the Evening at which time you enjoy the pleasure of the Water without disturbance frequently meeting extraordinary good Voices and upon the great Canal extraordinary fine Concerts of Musick which the Gallants of the City have in Boats to Serenade the Ladies and Nuns who are much pleased with these Diversions They are so extreamly fond here of these Nigh Concerts that upon the least notice of them ' the great Canal is oftentimes not large enough for those great number of Gondola's that come to partake of the Diversion the liberty of the Night and sweetness of the Air equally inspires with desire both Sexes to pass away endeshabille the Evenings upon the Water every one endeavours to avoid being known so you find a mighty silence in the midst of this great concourse fully and quietly enjoying the pleasure of the Musick and the most agreeable Delights of the cool Breezes Of the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea and Lagunes of Venice I will finish this first part with the observations I have made upon the Ebbe and Flood which are very considerable both in the Lagunes and City of Venice The Tide does regularly Ebbe and Flow Twice in Four and twenty Hours which keeping the Water ever clean and clear in the Canals is one of the greatest conveniencies and those extraordinary advantages that Venice enjoys in her Situation as likewise one of the most particular things worthy of a Stranger 's observation There are two reasons of admiration in the Ebbe and Flood of the Lagunes at Venice The first is because we have not thorougly penetrated into the general causes of the Sea 's rising and falling the second is seeing there is scarce any appearance of either Ebbe or Flood in the whole Mediterranean and Adriatick Gulph yet that of the Lagunes at Venice is very great as likewise regulated to certain times I shall not amuse my self and the Reader by reporting the many extravagant opinions of several Authours in relation to the general causes of so extraordinary a matter Some do only entertain the curiosity of their Readers with Fables and others with such improbable and abstruse reasons as merit no consideration here Among the Philosophers of the present Age Galileas hath very ingeniously attributed it to the motion of the Earth making it appear as a necessary consequence to the reasons he alledges for it Not to detain my self upon a matter that may be difficult to render apparent I shall think it sufficient to observe here that the Ebbe and Flood does answer exactly to the motion of the Moon falling every day like her 50 Minutes later than the preceding the Tides being higher in the new and full Moons than in either of the other quarters as also the same difference between the Equinoctial and Solstice it is much to be suppos'd that the Body and motion of the Moon are the real causes of the Ebbe and Flood as likewise those many various accidents that attend them As the Opinion of Monsieur Descartes is satisfactory with all the probability that can be desir'd in reference to this Wonder that hath for so many Ages kept the World in Suspence so it is reasonable we should admit it for the best at least until Reason or Experience shall make those Discoveries that may afford our Judgments more Natural and Sensible Arguments of the contrary So allowing this to be the general Cause of the Ebbes and Floods one may in Course come to the Reason of those in the Lagunes at Venice It is impossible that the Cause which produceth the Flux and Reflux of the Ocean should have those Effects in that vast Masse of Water without making any Impression upon those of the Mediterranean but the reason why it is not so very apparent must be attributed to the manner of the Tides flowing in the Ocean which is throughout that Sea between the Tropicks and Poles from the South to the North Whereas the Mediterranean lying considerably on this side the Tropick and only a sort of a great Canal from the East to the West and very small of breadth in comparison to the Ocean so it is not to be imagin'd that the Flux and Reflux can be very sensible there as well because this Sea is very narrow in breadth from North to South as likewise by reason of the distant situation from the
are usually possess'd by Nobles of the first and Second Orders that Scruple not to attain unto these Employs by others that are inferior to them and the less being there are besides the advantage of Thirty Ducates a Month Salary many opportunities of bringing themselves into consideration among the rest of the Nobility by the means of their entrance into the Senate and several other advantages which their Offices give them of attaining the principal Employs The Nobles of rich families that are desirous of the merits that are acquir'd in this Office make use of their utmost endeavors and deepest intrigues to attain unto this Magistacy without passing the other two Councils of Forty which are the usual steps to that of the Criminal but these Offices the rich Nobles infinitely esteem beneath them Of the method of proceeding in Criminal Cases UPon the committing of a Crime at Venice iâ— looks as if they applied themselves more to procure the necessary proofs of the fact than to secure the offenders And after they have got those proofs they send the Captain Grand to force open the door of his House which is searohd in much order and upon this Officers reporting that he could not find him he is Summon'd to appear at such a time more or less ample according to the enormity of the crime during which time the Criminal is safe provided he appears not at the publick places of St. Mark and Rialto he may likewise desire three farther Prolongations of time and if he sees it will not be easy to prove his innocency or to extricate himself out of the affair by the favour of a Protector he provides for his sasety by the lightness of his heels which is no very difficult matter if he hath the assistance of a Noble whose Gondalo will Transport him out of the State setting him upon the Coast of Ferrara or else the first Gondalo Lands him upon Terra firma from whence he can easily get out of the State of the Republick From whence it proceeds that the Major part of Criminals are at Venice condemn'd by contempt this being what they call Bandire but the sentence of Judgment is accompanied with these or other circumstances proportionable to the crime That the condemn'd can never purchase his favour as it is practis'd at Venice that he who kills him within the States of the Republick shall have such a Summ which shall be payed double if he kills him in another Country And if the crime does any ways sensibly touch the Republick they add to this reward the power of pardon to another Criminal that so they may deprive the Offender of all means of Security Yet it happened notwithstanding the Sentence of the Council of Ten against the young Mocenigo for shooting of Foscarini as before observed was accompanied with all the rigour that is usual in the greatest offences against the State the Betrayers of their Country and the intacco di cassa which is the Embezelling of the Publick Treasure that this Noble had his pardon and was re-establish'd in his Estate and Nobility When the Offender is in prison and his case ready to be heard the Avogador orders it upon what day he pleases at which time the Criminal is brought to the feet of the Judges where he alledges all he can against him exaggerating the crime with all the Circumstances that can render it odious always concluding with the merits of a very vigorous punishment In all these publick Actions as likewise in the Speeches that are made in the Senate and in the Great Council the Nobility and Lawyers are to speak no other than the Venetian Language excepting in the Introductions of their discourses where they may make use of the pure Italian if they can or otherwise this affectation would undoubtedly cause a ridiculous Emulation which must at length render them unintelligible to the Publick Besides the natural Language is most consistent with the dignity of the Nation which of late times is much improved in regard to what it was for I have observed that in their Pleadings they affect a masculine stile which words and expressions have much of the Latin Tongue and likewise seem to have a greater force and Energy than those of the Tuscan The Counsel for the Party replies to all the heads of the accusation in short he Employs his whole force and runs through all the figures of Retorick in his pleading to move the Judges to pity he even descends from the chair where he speaks throws himself at their feet with the Offender his wife and his Children all in tears to implore the mercy of the Bench. This Melancholly Spectacle which resembles the custom of the ancient Romans inspires so much pity to the Assenbly that it even causes tears from the most obdurate Natures There is always a great Number of People at these Criminal causes who sit on each side and upon the steps of the Tribunal that is very much raised from the Floor but it is very Surprising to see the most part of them that come hither out of curiosity sitting in masks between the Judge and the Criminal It is one of the Privileges of that Venetian Liberty which this Republick so mightily boasts of After the Council hath spoke every body retires and then they ballot the Opinion of the Avogadors against that proposed by the Judges which is the most moderate so the plurality of balls decides it they do moreover determine by ballotation all the Circumstances of the Punishment and in this manner these Judges pass Sentence of Life and Death without being oblig'd to express the Reason of their Opinions or without knowing who is either for or against the Criminal as they are the Masters and Sovereigns so no Body examines if they have the Necessary knowledge or taken their degrees in the Faculties of the Law to render them Capable of these Judicatures But they Judge according to their Laws as do the Officers in an Army according to the Military Statutes their conscience and their Natural Lights are the Principal Rules of their Judgment The greatest Inconveniency in the Justice of Venice is the great length of time before they proceed to the Trials of Criminal Matters usually letting the offender Lie and Rot in their Miserable Prisons for to Expiate as they say some part of their Crime by this long Punishment Yet what seems to me more Rigorous are the frequent condmnations to dark Prisons for Eight Ten or more Years and often for Life for the Hideousness of their Prisons which are almost under Water is certainly something more Terrible than Death it self Moreover the Republick having great occasions for Slaves Sentence of Condemnation to the Galleys is pass'd for very small Crimes But the abuse that reigneth at Venice of shewing Favour for Money must certainly be a very Dangerous Maxim Notwithstanding the considerable Profit of the invention which brings Great Treasures to the Republick yet it is an Encouragement to
great numbers of them are tumbled into the Canal who notwithstanding their being cloathed do seem no more concern'd than if they had fell upon Straw Such as do not Fight on these Occasions use their utmost Endeavours to excite their Parties to behave themselves Gallantly The Venetian Gentlemen encourage the Contenders by sometimes promising them to Reward their Courage It has several times happenned that some of these Nobles have been so zealous for the Reputation of their Factions that through Indignation to those of their Party that have not behav'd themselves to their Minds they have gone from the Bridge and stripping themselves of their Vests have espous'd the Party with the best of their Endeavours by their Example inspiring Courage to the Vanquish'd and bringing them off with Victory or at least by having more Honourably contended for it The Battel-Array is a General Engagement that is made between the two Factions but with all the necessary Precautions that can be taken between the Parties to render the Fight more Equal that so the Glory may be entire to the Victorious When Cardinal Chigi was at Venice Cardinal Delfino that Entertain'd him was very desirous to have shewn him this Diversion and was accordingly a considerable time Negotiating with the Heads of both the Parties to induce them to a general and famous Battel The Difficulties were so great that the Cardinal in Person sollicited those of the Artisans that had the greatest Authority in their Factions He went to their Shops caress'd intreated and promis'd them to bestow a considerable Prize on the Victorious Matters were at length agreed on a Bridge was chosen upon the Key of the Incurables which is very spacious The Steps were made larger that were something smaller than those on the other side of the Bridge and certain Places of the Key were taken in with Planks which otherwise would have permitted more space to the Nicoletti's than it was possible for the Castelans to have The Fury of the Combat wholly possess'd the Thoughts of the People nothing else was discours'd among them insomuch that it seem'd as if the entire Overthrow of one of the Parties was at hand But the Presidents of the Council of Ten with much reason fearing that this Animosity which had hitherto never appear'd so great might be attended with dangerous Consequences thought it absolutely requisite to forbid the Battel So unless these Parties do secretly agree between themselves there is no general Battel or Guerra ordinata to be seen yet when it happens the greatest part of the Combatants provide themseves with Back and Breast-Pieces of Gilt Pastboard which they put over their Naked Bodies both for the finery of the Shew as also to break the force of their Adversaries Stroaks The Victory of this Battel consists in getting Possession of the Bridge for which reason it do's not so much depend upon the dint of Blows as upon the Endeavours of both Parties to drive away their Adversaries Yet that the Dispute may begin upon equal Terms the Combatants put themselves in order The first Ranks are brought close to each other upon the very Center of the Bridge Then they begin to break each others Ranks with the greatest Fury but being well supported and each side alternatively push'd by the other such violent Efforts are usually made by the great number of Contenders that they in the first Ranks are of course born from the Ground or the main Bodies being closer join'd than the Flanks those of both the Right and Left sides are consequently so violently press'd by the Center as they are sometimes forc'd to leap into the Water by Ffties and Sixties at a time In this Condition only the first Ranks of the two Parties are able to Fight who are yet oblig'd to hold their Hands up to have the free Exercise of them The hindmost are sure to get upon their Companions and passing over their Heads go to Attack their Enemies whose Noses and Faces would undoubtedly suffer without any Danger to the Assailants if they of the contrary Party did not take the same Method insomuch that the Fight of this second Story becomes more terrible than the other In which Occasions the utmost Endeavours being repeated with all imaginable Fury to bring each others Flanks into Disorder the greatest Confusions happen at which time they are born by Crowds into the Canal Insomuch that it is really wonderful that these Fights are not terminated with the Death of a great many of the Combatants Besides the Heat of their Contention do's so Animate this Multitude of People and the Indignation of the Inferior Party is so great that they would undoubtedly betake themselves to their Arms if the Order was not very exact and rigorous in preventing the Danger of these Accidents However it has sometimes happen'd that the Pavement of the Key has been torn up to make use of the Stones for want of other Arms whereby it is not without some reason that this Fight is call'd by the Venetians una stragge di Christiani The Rejoycings of the Victorious are continu'd for three Days after the Fight for which purpose a Boat is Adorn'd with Garlands and a great Crown hung in the middle which they conduct with Beat of Drum thro' all the Canals and Quarters of their Party as likewise to the Houses of the Nobles as most espous'd their Cause who always bestow some Money or Barrels of Wine on them to Solemnize the Glory of the Victory By Night they walk up and down with Flambeau's of Straw follow'd by the Boys who run after them on the Keys perpetually Huzzaing the Name of their Faction The Vanquished are on the contrary so mortifi'd as some of them dare not return to their Habitations for their Wives have sometimes not only refus'd them Entrance but driven them away reviling their Cowardize with the most injurious Terms Via di qua infami por chi vituperosi FINIS
hence to Constantinople and Persia to maintain this important Commerce between the Venetians and the Subjects of the Grand Seignior the Republick doth upon all occasions shew the greatest regards to those of that Nation inhabiting among them They have given them an Old Palace upon the great Canal in which all the Turks live together Il Palazzo di Turchi having sufficient Warehouse-room for such Merchandizes they export as likewise for their Leathers Wax and Silk which they bring in great quantities from the Levant but if there happen any difference between them and the Subjects of the Republick in which the former think themselves injur'd they demand satisfaction in such an extraordinary manner and receive it so readily that one would almost believe they dare not venture to refuse it to them To render this Commerce more assured and easy they have invented a particular Model of a Vessel that is properly a Demi-Galeasse here call'd the Traffique-Gally which carries to Spalatro in Dalmatia at a Crown per Piece the Bales of all the Traders in this City from whence they are carried upon Camels to Constantinople and Asia This Galley is fraighted seven or eight times a year with a mighty number of Bales to the great advantage of the Republick and such particulars as are concerned in that Trade The Commerce they have with Germany is the first and the most ancient this City hath had which being not much less advantagious to the State than that of the Levant so they have omitted nothing that might contribute to the preservation of it to which purpose the Republick hath accommodated the German Merchants with a very handsom and ancient Palace near the Bridge of Rialto in which they keep their Warehouse The Traders of that Nation are very conveniently Lodg'd there and at a very easy Rate enjoying many extraordinary Privileges which do very much contribute to the improvement of this Commerce This Palace is finely Painted on the outside by Georgeon and Titien but much decayed at present yet there remaineth several noble Fragments what is most valuable in this Magazine is a Hanging of Gilt Leather with several Figures all done by Paul Veronese which is undoubtedly one of the best Pieces this Famous Painter ever did One sees continually before this Palace a great number of Bales some of which they send by Sea into Syria and others by Land Upon the Revenues of this Magazine is Assign'd those Appointments which are annually allow'd by the Republick to the Doge for the maintainance of his Houshold as likewise to defray the Charges of those publick Entertainments he is oblig'd to make Four times a year for such Ambassadors and Senators as are present at the Solemn Functions of those Days which shall be Treated of in their proper place Of the Merchants Bank or what they Il Banco del Giro call Bank del Giro THis Bank is a Depository of Money which the Merchants of this City have made into the hands of their Prince for so they commonly call the Republick who is the Guardian of it they likewise defray the Charge of the Officers and Accountants belonging to it The Sacred and inviolable Security of this Bank is a mighty advantage to the Merchants As also an extraordinary conveniency to Trade in general very great Payments are hourly made without any manner of Disbursement by only changing the Names of the Parties whereby vast sums of Money are continually circulating and changing of Masters without passing from the Coffers of the Prince who makes use of this Fund free from all charges of Interest If any of those concerned in this Fund have occasion for their Money or any part of it they are sure of finding the Bank always ready to answer Desires But as these Effects are more valued here than ready Money by reason of the great conveniency in safely negotiating without any manner of disbursements so there are always a great many People who are willing to purchase those Sums at more than Par not-notwithstanding this Fund allows of no interest for the Bank being settled at Five Millions of Ducats all others are debarr'd of the opportunity of making farther Subscriptions They commonly judge of the Merchant's Riches by the Sums he hath in the Bank Del Giro so called by reason of the continual Cirulation of those Sums such whose Families are not very well known have usually no more credit allow'd them than what they find of Effects Registred in the Bank whose Security and Administration are so inviolable and faithful that if any accidents happen by the corrupt management of the Officers The Republick is ever ready to make good such Sums with their own Money The Goodness of the Air at Venice ONe would hardly believe that the Air of Venice is so good as it really is but experience convinces such as continue there all the several Seasons of the year notwithstanding the great moistness of the place and the inconstancy of the Weather that passes from one Extremity to another both in Winter and Summer should seem at first to occasion many indispositions to the People that live in an Air of this nature The Mists that are usually here in the beginning of the Winters do often continue for several days together so thick and cold that they are not to be endur'd in any other place without very great inconveniencies In Summer the Tempests and extream heats are so very frequent and so suddenly interrupted with cold Winds Rains and Storms that it is much to be admired that in a City where they are not us'd to have three days of one continu'd weather yet they should enjoy an Air incomparably more sweet and healthful than those we find in the more agreeable and temperate Climates The pernicious Effects of the Evening Air that reigns in all other parts of Italy are altogether unknown at Venice Old and Young go bare-headed here Night and Day both Winter and Summer without the least inconveniencies and by the particular benignity of the Air Rheums and Defluxions are less frequent here than in any other place I ever knew one cannot desire a greater demonstration of this Truth than by what may be observ'd in the Churches or in any other great concourse of the People where during the seasons most liable to Coughs and Colds it is very rare to hear the least symptomes of them Besides to the goodness of the Air is due the Colour and Complexions of both Men and Women which are much better and more lively than those who live at Rome as likewise in most parts of the other Cities of Italy Their Teeth are sound and white their Heads are well covered with good full Hair which grows very fast especially among the Nobles who are very curious of it which is much the better because they do not accustom themselves to the use of Hats In short it is very surprizing that however hot the day is which occasions the Nights to seem the