A fine day, pleasant sun shine - went in to the Duomo. The sun had a fine effect on the large painted windows - particularly those back of the alter where the life of our saviour from his birth to the resurrection is painted at length. To be admired more for the brilliancy of colour than excellence of execution on, found it rather cold in the church so took my course, a long round to the Casenna - or barracks - all that remained of the old Castle of Milan.

Erected by Visconti - and taken down by the french in l801 as useless by the heir of the map made my way to the old church of Saint Ambrose, where the bones of the holy man repose. Part of this church dates from the earliest ages of Xtianity - the 4th century - and was the site of a pagan temple. Here Ambrose celebrated the Christian rites, called after him the Ambrosian, and still is the form in this and the other churches in Milan and differs from the roman. While in the church a number of the officiating priests came in to perform vespers and I could observe the chanting to differ in tune and manner from any I had heard. The monuments of this church are of too remote and barbarous times to be of any worth as specimens of the fine arts.

From hence passed the corso della porta Roman to the fashionable part of the city - the porta orientale & passeggio de Bastioni. Crowded with fashionables and equipages, enjoying the fine day. At half past four completed the five hours ramble by dining at the trattoria del Marino - ala carte. In the evening the theatre of Connobiano - the 2nd of Milan, but not to compare with the La Scala -