Did not go out much the first of these days - drizzling snow & uncomfortable. In the evening at the Theatre Connobbiano - the comedy of La Pace figlia d' amore kept the audience very merry. The next day went to the Brera - once a sumptuous convent, but now called the palace of Sciences & Arts. The gallerie of paintings contains a numerous collection, mostly taken from the suppressed convents and nearly entirely on religious subjects, but after remaining about an hour found the cold too severe, so left with the intention of resuming the survey at future day.

The Ambrosian library founded in the 16th century by Cardinal Borromeo is interesting for the many works of art it contains. Among them Raphaels cartoon of the School of Athens - the manuscript books numbers a Virgil a folio volume, once belonging to the poet Petrarch, with notes in his own handwriting and in very rood preservation. Drawings of machinery & hydraulic apparatus by Leonardo da Vinci - with the explanations written backwards.

From the Librarv went to the Vice regal palace - outwardly a plain building forming one side of the square and facing the Duomo, but nothing can exceed internally the luxury and elegance with which the rooms are furnished. Walls lined with rich velvets inlaid with gold and silver embroidery - marbles of most exquisite polish and brilliant colours, far exceeding in richness the imperial palace at Shonbrunn, but far less in extent -