world. It is built upon a crowded cluster of islets in the 'lagoon of Venice, on the north-west border of the Adriatic Sea. The islands afford no good foundations for buildings, and the city for the most part is built upon artificial foundations of 2 piles or stone. The fact that this city of marble palaces seems 3 to rise vision-like from the unsubstantial sea is sufficient to render its aspect at all times more or less fascinating; but in summer and autumn, the seasons of the highest tides, the city is indeed marvellously beautiful. The Grand Canal divides Venice into two unequal parts, and is the main 4 thoroughfare for traffic or pleasure; but the city is subdivided by 146 smaller canals. These are the water streets of Venice, by means of which passengers can be conveyed to any quarter; for here the canal is the street, and the gondola is the cab or carriage. Access can also be had to all parts of the town by land-across the canals by bridges, and amongst the houses by narrow lanes. There are in all 306 bridges, of which the Rialto is the most famous. The Piazza or Square of St. Mark's is the great centre of business and amusement. It is nearly 600 feet long, and over 200 wide. The east side of this square is occupied by St. Mark's Church, one of the finest churches in the world. Fresh water was formerly obtained at great expense from the mainland. It is now procured from a number of 5Artesian wells, sunk in 1847. Among the chief manufactories of Venice are the glass works, in which magnificent mirrors, artificial pearls, gems, and coloured beads, employ 4,500 people. Jewellery, silks, laces, velvets, soap, wax candles, earthenware, etc., are also manufactured, and sugar-refining and ship-building are carried on. In 1874 the value of the imports amounted to over £10,000,000; that of the exports to nearly £8,000,000. Just before the close of the Roman empire, when the inhabitants of Venetia, a northern province in Italy, were greatly harassed by the 6 Huns, a number of the poor people driven from their ruined homes sought shelter in the marshy lagoons bordering on the Adriatic Sea. Here they were safe from attack, for wide muddy shallows were between them and the land, and between them and the sea. They named the cluster of islands after their old province, and devoted themselves to the pursuits for which their situation offered the greatest' facilities-fishing, and the manufacture of salt. The Venetians gradually rose in wealth and importance; their ships sailed to every part of the then known world, and in time Venice became undisputed mistress of the seas. As she increased in power, she also increased in magnificence; and her nobles having no lands in which they might employ their wealth, lavished immense sums upon their palaces, pictures, decorations, and costly garments. Her noblemen became the most opulent in Europe, and travel and culture made them also the most 'polished. The power of Venice began to decline towards the close of the fifteenth century, owing to two causes: first, wars with other Italian states; and second, the discovery of America and of the way to India by the Cape of Good Hope. The carryingtrade of the world was no longer in the hands of the Venetians, and they gradually lost their maritime importance. Venice is now part of the kingdom of Italy. 6 'lagoon, a shallow pond or lake into which the sea flows. 2 piles, pieces of timber, pointed and driven into the earth for the support of buildings, etc. unsubstantial, not solid; not fixed or firm. gondola, a flat-bottomed pleasure boat, very long and narrow. 5 Artesian wells, wells made by boring into the earth till water is reached. Huns, a powerful nation of antiquity which from time to time made incursions upon the Roman dominions. The Huns were of Asiatic origin, and in all probability of the Mongolian or Tartar stock, and therefore akin to the Scythians and Turks. 'facility, that which makes anything easy to be performed. opulent, wealthy. polished, elegant in manners, refined in behaviour, highly civilized. 9 |