Finished packing paintings and books by 12 o'clock. On going out found it a fine mild day - an evident change in the weather. Too favourable to be neglected so having now seen nearly all in Venice, and discharged my Italian tutor.

Delivered the paintings and books to Messr. Holme & Co. the American consul to forward to England & America. Took a gondola and made several calls - to the police office for passport - and thence to the Diligence office took a place for Verona. The boat to cross the lagune to leave at 12 o'clock midnight, thence to my rooms, packed trunks and had them passed and sealed at the custom house by 5 o'clock.

Dined at Marseilles in company with a Neapolitan and Pacini the composer of Sappho. Pacini is a great admirer of the sea and particularly the beauties of Milan, whom he described in flowing colours. Spent part of the evening at Florians -

The opera crowded last night, with all the beauty of Venice to see the opera of Candiano. The 4th Doge of Venice - Ferrari the composer was called for and made his appearance on the stage and greeted in a very flattering manner.

Do not like the new prima donna - as well as Goldberg the prima donna in Sappho, who has a fine voice, a good actor and handsome person. Nothing can exceed the enthusiasm of the Venetians for operatic performances finished the inspection of the historical paintings in the grand ducal palace. The portrait of Doge Manin which comes down to the time of Napoleon is the last -

Had a call from old Mr. Weber returned him the visit - and made a purchase of three folio volumes of Grecian & Roman antiquities.

Last night attended the first ball at the Fenice theatre, brilliantly illuminated, and an excellent band of music - but the principal was wanting no ladies. A few girls masked to a company of two hundred or more gentlemen - bad management on the part of the conductors, for figurantes [a stage performer without a speaking part] are not wanting at Venice.

To make a thing of this kind interesting - tonight is the first representation of Candino an opera composed by a Venetian virtuoso. Much applause may be expected - have been again today to have a further look at the historical paintings in the ducal palace -

Weather cloudy and occasional drizzling of rain - very much against amusements of Carnival. On the riva dei Schiavorri - they have erected booths, where shows and all kinds of amusements are carried on.

After the opera - went to masquerade at the Ridotto - elegant apartments but few masks, and few or no ladies - of course made but a short stay there. Oh, Venice, Venice - thy disease is hopeless when the girls are too poor to attend the mark at the Ridotto -

Out of these four days three of them are rainy. Occupied myself with the Italian poets and packing books and paintings - have made a further purchase - viz washing black white - the portrait of a Doge and two paintings of the Flemish school - flowers, fruit tapestry etc. The four for 23 Napoleons.

After dinner spent an hour at Florian's and once at the opera, hear the old gentlemen and nobility at the coffee house talking of the death of one of their number, who died in a sudden fit of anger. Having a few days before broken an arm by falling on the icy steps of one of the numerous bridges of Venice, he was of the family of Corner, the same street that produced the celebrated queen of Cypress. So conspicuous in the history of Venice. He was a traveler, having been to Mexico and the United States. Once wealthy but in his latter years dilapidated as most of the old Venetian nobility are -

My padrona came to my room this morning to console me for lame feet caused by tight boots, and prevents my going out - she is very kind, and as amiable as a woman can be who is fresh, & plumb. But past forty, she has found my taste for poetry. She brought me a manuscript poem, which she read with the Venetian accent, and a gallant piece of poetry it is - she had the complaisance to seat herself Reside me while I copied it - as follows:
AMOR CAPUCINO
[poem follows, in Italian]

The Italians are celebrated as poets - many there are, but in the great number, few shine above mediocrity. La mia padrona prides herself in having one among her friends, his name is Jean Jacques Pezzi. He was lately at the Ganzoni palace - and wrote the following lines in her album "La Sera Speranza" -

[Poem in Italian. See photo below]

The above lines are addressed to the Signora, the daughter of my hostess who is under promise of marriage to a young gentleman, studying law at the university of Padua and is to wait two years. Rather a long time I should say to amuse herself with the pleasures of Hope -