Commenced reading Corticelli - "Regole della lingua Toscana" - and history of Venice in the family library - mostly taken from Siprismondi - and affecting the style of Gibbon. These studied employed me till one o clock. Not far from Venice is the island of Giudecca, went over to see the church of the Redeemer - erected in 1576 - after the design of the great Venetian architect Palladio. It is plain, almost without ornament - but in respect to architecture is considered the best in Venice. Without fault - the alters are adorned with the works of Bussano and Tintoretto - in the sacristy there are three paintings of Giovanni Bellini one of them the Virgin Mary bending over the infant Saviour sleeping - with two little angels. A work of such grace & loveliness - that I was never tired of looking it it. Bravo Giovanni - may God bless thy soul - for it did mine good, to look on the meek and heavenly face of the mother of God -

Returning to the city went into the church of I Gesuati - rich in marbles & sculpture - the principal alter resplendent with Lapis lazuli - cost 70,000 ducats near a century ago & at the sole expense of a Doge - it is now thought - it would cost more double as much owing to the greater scarcity of Lapis lazuli -