GERS.

"Venice, March 3. 1828.

"I have not, as you say, 'taken to wife the Adriatic.' I heard of
Moore's loss from himself in a letter which was delayed upon the
road three months. I was sincerely sorry for it, but in such cases
what are words?

"The villa you speak of is one at Este, which Mr. Hoppner
(Consul-general here) has transferred to me. I have taken it for
two years as a place of Villeggiatura. The situation is very
beautiful, indeed, among the Euganean hills, and the house very
fair. The vines are luxuriant to a great degree, and all the fruits
of the earth abundant. It is close to the old castle of the Estes,
or Guelphs, and within a few miles of Arqua, which I have visited
twice, and hope to visit often.

"Last summer (except an excursion to Rome) I passed upon the
Brenta. In Venice I winter, transporting my horses to the Lido,
bordering the Adriatic (where the fort is), so that I get a gallop
of some miles daily along the strip of beach which reaches to
Malamocco, when in health; but within these few weeks I have been
unwell. At present I am getting better. The Carnival was short, but
a good one. I don't go out much, except during the time of masques;
but there are one or two conversazioni, where I go regularly, just
to keep up the system; as I had letters to their givers; and they
are particular on such points; and now and then, though very
rarely, to the Governor's.

"It is a very good place for women. I like the dialect and their
manner very much. There is a _naivete_ about them which is very
winning, and the romance of the place is a mighty adjunct; the _bel
sangue_ is not, however, now amongst the _dame_ or higher orders;
but all under _i fazzioli_, or kerchiefs (a white kind of veil
which the lower orders wear upon their heads);--the _vesta
zendale_, or old national female costume, is no more. The city,
however, is decaying daily, and does not gain in population.
However, I prefer it to any other in Italy; and here have I pitched
my staff, and here do I purpose to reside for the remainder of my
life, unless events, connected with business not to be transacted
out of England, compel me to return for that purpose; otherwise I
have few regrets, and no desires to visit it again for its own
sake. I shall probabl