, and depth of Understanding peculiar to herself, she delivered her
Sentiments with that easiness and grace of Speech, that it charm'd all
her Hearers.

The Beauties of the second Sister, nam'd _Maria_, grew with her Age,
every twelve Months saluting her with a New-years Gift of some peculiar
Charm; her Shapes were fine set off with a graceful and easy Carriage;
the Majesty and Softness of her Face, at once wrought Love and
Veneration; the Language of her Eyes sufficiently paid the Loss of her
Tongue, and there was something so Commanding in her Look, that it
struck every Beholder as dumb as herself; she was a great Proficient in
Painting, which puts me in mind of a notable Story I can't omit; her
Father had sent for the most Famous Painter in _Italy_ to draw her
Picture, she accordingly sat for it; he had drawn some of the Features
of her Face; and coming to the Eye, desired her to give him as brisk and
piercing a Glance as she cou'd; but the Vivacity of her Look so
astonished the Painter, that thro' concern he let his Pencil drop and
spoiled the Picture; he made a second Essay, but with no better Success,
for rising in great Disorder, he swore it impossible to draw that which
he cou'd not look upon; the Lady vexed at the Weakness of the Painter,
took up his Pencils and the Picture, and sitting down to her Glass,
finished it herself; she had improv'd her silent Conversation with her
Sister so far, that she was understood by her, as if she had spoke, and
I remember this Lady was the first I saw use the significative Way of
Discourse by the Fingers; I dare not say 'twas she invented it (tho' it
probably might have been an Invention of these ingenious Sisters) but I
am positive none before her ever brought it to that Perfection.

In the seventeenth of _Belvideera's_, and sixteenth Year of _Maria's_
Age, _Francisco_, Brother to _Rinaldo_, was made Admiral of the
_Venetian_ Fleet, and upon his first Entrance upon his Command, had
obtained a signal Victory over the _Turks_; he returning to _Venice_
with Triumph, applause and spoil, presented to the great Duke a young
_English_ Gentleman, who only as a Volunteer in the Action, had
signalized himself very bravely in the Engagement, but particularly by
first boarding the _Turkish_ Admiral Galley, and killing her Commander
hand to hand; the Fame of this Gentleman soon spread over all _Venice_,
and the two Sisters sent presently for me, to give an Account of the
Exploits of my C