1 0 TR A V E L S THROUGH
accuracy, in feveral places round the coaft, as it would certainly be of infinite fervice
in the ftudy of geology.
LIZZA FUSSINA is a fmall village, feated on the coaft, near the mouth of the river
Brenta, five miles from Venice. Although there are not many houfes, and its
fituation is at the extremity of a plain leading towards Padua, it is neverthelefs very
intercfting, having an extenfive view of the high chain of mountains that nearly
furround the Adriatic fea.
ON the north FU-e fituated the Rhaitian Alps, which lofe themfelves among the chain
of mountains that crofs the country of the Grifons.
OPPOSITE, and in a dired line, are thofe of Friuli, whofe fummits are always covered
with fnow: they join thofe of Carniola and Iftria, which appear loft in the horizon.
THAT vaft chain of mountains, which has near one hundred leagues in extent, is
neverthelefs but a fmall part of the Alps, and not much known by our Naturalifts,
altlaough worthy of being inveftigated.
THE Mediterranean is well known to have but little flux and reflux J it is however
felt in fome degree at the extremity of the Gulf; fince the tide frequently rifes upwards
of three feet; and thofe efleSs happen nearly at the fame hour on the coaft of Spain,
in the Bay of Bifcay, under the fame latiriide, though in a much higher degree.
THE Botanift will find, not only in the fmall iflands which furround Venice, but alfo
on the coaft, and on the banks of the river Brenta, feveral beautiful and curious plants,
which will merit a place in bis Herb'al: among others, according to Linnsus' s fyftem,
" T h e Clematis Maritima, Antirrhinum Linifolium, Antirrhinum Purpureum, Xeranthemum
Orientale, Salvia Sclcxea, Rumex, Divaricatus, Sedum Anacampferos," &c.
There are alfo on the coaft feveral curious ftiells of the univalve and bivalve order. .
WE left Lizza Fuifina at noon, and were towed up the river Brenta to Padua, where
we arrived in the evening.
THE banks of the river are beautiful, affording the moft pleafing and intercfting
views: fomctimes it is feen mcandring acrofs fertile and extenfive meadows, enamelled
with flowers, and covered with cattle. In other places it appears as loft, being
concealcd by tufts of trees, which cover it from fide to fide, forming a delightful
arbour.
THERE are alfo feveral beautiful villas and rich farms, which give the traveller at
firft fight a favourable idea of the happinefs of a people who live under a peaceable
government, although unfortunately too jealous of its authority, ading frequently in
a tyrannical manner to thofe who dare divulge too freely their fentiments on the
Conftitution of the Republic.
S E C T I O N
T H E R H ^ T I A N ALPS.
S E C T I O N ir.
OBSERVATIONS ON PADUA, AS ALSO ON ITS ORIGIN, ITS FORM OF GOVERNMENT, AND THE
MANNERS OF THE INHABITANTS — DEPARTU RE FROM THAT CITY, WITH SOME
REMARKS ON THE NATURAL HISTORY OF THE DIFFERENT PLACES SITUATED
BETWEEN PADUA AND VERONA — DESCRIPTION OF VERONA.
T H E charming and fertile meadows that are watered by the Brenta (which I have
already mentioned in Seft. I.) are but a fmall part of the immenfc plain which forms^the
province of Padua. It is bounded on the fouth by the Euganian hills, and on the north
by the low chain, of the Trevefian mountains.
THESE laft, viewed from the environs of Padua, appear as if placed artfully by
nature, in order to relieve the eye from a continual fcene of the frozen fummits of the
Tridentin® Alps, always covered with fnow. The eiFed is wonderfully pleafing; for
the Trevefian mountains being not only cultivated, but wooded to the top, conceal by
tliofe means the bafe of the retiring mountains, and throw that equivocal veil over them
in which the eye fo much delights; forming a contraft fo harmonioufly blended, that,
on a fine fummer's day, it exhibits one of the moft beautiful and pidurefque landfcapes
imaginable.
NATURE feems to have been particularly propitious to the inhabitants of this coimtry,
in enriching their foil, and furnifhing them with every means of becoming refpedable
by their induftry and commerce.
SEVERAL large and navigable rivers crofs this province, as it were to invite its inhabitants
to imitate other opulent nations, in taking advantage of their defirable and
enviable fituation, to export into foreign countries the produce of their induftry, and
the fuperfluities of their home confumption. But alas! the natural indolence of the
people, and their want of energy, which are but too much countenanced by the carelefi"-
nefs and inattention of government, naturally prevent them from reaping thofe
advantages which would inevitably arife from their beautiful fituation.
I WOULD not wifii to be underftood that the foil does not already produce vaft quantities
of grain, filk, &c.; but that produce would be infinitely increafed were the eredion
of manufadories more encouraged; for at prefent there are but few, although the
country is capable of admitting a vaft number.