Here too a solitary mule-path invites the zealous, or romantic, Pilgrim, to visit the secluded valley, occupied a thousand years, by the Votaries of St. Benedict; from whose chesnut groves the British Homer, so happily illustrates the multitude of the Fallen Angels, stretched on the banks of Hell: Thick as Autumnal leaves, that strew the brooks, We entered Florence, by the triumphal Arch, erected in honour of the Austrian Family, and took some pains to find a lodging to our minds, as we intended to stay several days, in so interesting a place. Our Our Catholic Companion, expecting to be accommodated by the Brotherhood of St. Dominic, desired the Vettorino to set him down at the Convent of St. MarkThere, accordingly, his trunk was taken off, and they both disappeared, for some time, in the Cloisters of the Monasterywhen, to our great surprise, out again came our meek Religious, bag and baggage, with two or three ill-looking Friars at his heels. One of them, particularly pursy, and ill-favoured, seemed to be rating at the Vettorino for bringing the Brother there; and our poor Monk got quietly into the coach again, mildly telling us, that he could not lodge there; but that there was another Convent of his Order, where he hoped to be taken in, Here Here, as Hospitality would have it, there was room for a Stranger, and we finally separated, with mutual good wishes -perhaps with mutual good will-notwithstanding the aversion of his Order [that of the Holy Inquisition] to incorrigible Schismatics. LETTER VII. Description of Florence-The Ducal Gallery, &c. THE HE morning after our arrival we rambled over this beautiful Town, which is not unjustly denominated Florence the Fair. The Streets are paved with flat stone, from side to side (like those Courts of the city of Bath, which are designed to exclude the rattle of coaches) the Houses are built in a good taste, and most of the Palaces front each other, on both sides of the Arno, over which are thrown several fine Bridges. One of them looks gay with the Statues of the Seasons, Seasons, and another exhibits Cycloidal Arches, constructed by Ammanati. The banks of the river are one continued Quai, unobstructed by the stir of Commerce (for Leghorn is the Port of Tuscany) yet enlivened with the pursuits of pomp and pleasure, which create a continual drive upon the three Bridges, as the Ducal, now Royal, Palace, is on the least populous side of the river. The Squares are ornamented with Fountains and Obelisks, and the Public Walks are extensive, and well designed. One of them is beautifully traced upon the banks of the Arno. The old Ducal Palace, or Palazzo Vecchio, is interesting to curiosity from the |