DIARY OF AN INVALID, Fc. . CHAPTER IX. State of Society in Italy-Cavaliere Servente SystemItalian Language-Bologna-Journey to Venice - St. Mark's Place-Fall of Venice-Gondolas-Rialto-Journey to Milan-Verona-Napoleon Buonaparte-Austrian Dominion—Plain of Lombardy. May 16th, 1818. AFTER Six days of continued travelling, a short season of repose succeeds as an agreeable vicissitude. Let me employ a portion of it in recording my impressions of the moral and political state of the country in which I have been sojourning. The discontent of the people, particularly in the Papal and Neapolitan states, is loud and open ;-for, though the liberty of the press is unknown, they indulge in the fullest freedom of speech in canvassing the conduct of their rulers. There is indeed ample cause for discontent ; |