The last two hours of my stay at Venice was at the opera. At 1/2 past 11 went to my rooms took a last kiss of my fair padrona and her daughter and at the striking of 12 by the numerous church clocks of Venice. The diligence gondola pushed off - a bright clear moonlight - as we passed the lofty palaces on the canal. Some silent and unoccupied - could not but compare the solitude of the scene to the times when Venice sent her conquering troops through these same canals to the very centre of Italy.

In two hours were across the lagune at Mestre where taking a lumbering heavy vehicle. Crept along at the rate of three miles an hour, which at daybreak brought us to Padua - a second rate town, the principal features of which as observed at that early hour were a low fortified wall & fosse. The houses strong built prisonlike, on wide and mass arches next the street, under which runs the sidewalks. Had just time to take a coffee and roll, when off again, crossing the Brenta some three miles distant from the town.

A fine pleasant morning and the road running through a fine fertile well cultivated country - with the summits of the snow covered Alps in sight. Some of the country villas are built with magnificence in the Lombardo Venetian States - the entrances adorned with statuary. One o'clock and we entered the City of Vicenza - (30,000 inhts [inhabitants]) - a similar built but more cheerful looking town than Padua. Here was born the architect Palladio and many of the first buildings of the city are of his architecture.

Our stay at Vicenza was a short half hour and the road the remainder of the day ran through one of the most beautiful countries I ever saw. Passing Montebello which gave the title of Duke to the brave Lannes - being the place where he displayed his extraordinary valor. We soon came in sight of the riva Adige and by sunset entered the gates of Verona and am now writing this in a room & after supper at the Hotel Grande Parigi - Verona is 50 miles from Venice -