
Cloudy weather with rain - remained two hours with my German teacher - dined at the Goldenen Lamm Leopoldstadt - in the evening by invitation attended a wedding party at Mr. Sengels house 995 Anaragasse - Mr. S. has no children, the marriage of a niece was celebrated at his house - when I got there the ceremony had been performed at the church - and the company returned - was received by Mr. Sengel very cordially and introduced to Mrs. S. - then to the flower bedecked Bride - and some twenty ladies, nieces and relations of Mr. Sengel.
Mrs. S. speaks Italian, she had frequently (word left out apparently) her husband speak of me, of our excursion together into the crater of Vesuvius and other places in Rome and Naples - several of the other Indies spoke Italian and french - one young lady in particular a niece of Mr. S. - spoke french very fluently - and very talkative she was - was somewhat of a traveller, had crossed the Adriatic to Venice - spoke of Paris and how much she desired to see it -- according to her ideas Paris was a terrestial paradise - was surprised or rather doubted my taste when I told her I preferred Vienna.
Another young lady played the harp with pedals - apparently a very difficult instrument - but played accurately and in fine style by the young lady, who they tell me is only fourteen - several of them sang and -played the piano, which they call a clavecire at Vienna - the young ladies were very gay indeed - and enjoyed themselves in great style - cannot say that any of them are as handsome as the amiable Caroline in the Platzel - her beautifull mouth and white regular teeth - like pearls in the midst of Roses - an oval face, rather pale - eyes modest, but of celestial lustre - arched by regular delicately penciled eye brows - hair, fine & silky - dark brown - neck and bosom whiter than the drifted snow - in person small and delicate with hands and feet beautifully proportioned.
If another Paris had to award the golden apple she would by great odds carry off the prize - but if these young ladies have not the beauty of the Venus, they have a charm, a grace - that makes them admired and esteemed - chastity which Armate eran con lei tutte le sue Chiare virtuti, O gloriosa schiera! Etemansi pu mano a due a due Petrarca - Trionfo della Castita then they danced quadrills - but to waltzing the national dance of Germany they appeared to give a decided preference - all joined in the watlz - old & young - and also a priest who happened to be of the party - when he began to spin round Mr. S. clapped hands saying to me - voyaz done le pietre.
There was an old general there - who has been in Sicily and 20 years in the North of Italy in the Austrian service - he described to me the fortifications of Verona - detached forts each mounting several heavy cannon - a plan for the rendevous of troops - being the key to the passes of the Tyrolese Alps - the most amusing of the evenings diversions was the investing the bridegroom with the order of the pantoufle Mr. S. put the slipper round his neck - and opening a large paper - ornamented with a picture of a man in a cage - and the patent (in German) investing; him as Knight in the Order of Henpecked husbands - of course I understood but little of what was read, but the company were highly amused at the joke - ices, etc. were handed round - a little before twelve I took my departure much pleased with the sociability and gaity of German society.
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