'A voyage from England to India, in the year 1754, and an historical narrative of the operations of the squadron and army in India, under the command of Vice-Admiral Watson and Colonel Clive, in the years 1755, 1756, 1757 ... Also a journey from Persia to England by an unusual route. With an appendix, containing an account of the diseases prevalent in Admiral Watson's squadron, etc.' [‎420] (473/562)

[ 420 ]
kind in Mr. Smith, as he had done it without giving us the leafl intimation
of his friendly intentions.
In the evening we went in mafques to the Ridotto, or public gaming-
houfe, which is here eftablifhed by authority. In it are feveral apartments;
and in each apartment gaming-tables, loaded with either gold or filver. At
each bank fits a Venetian fenator unmafked, and arrayed in his fcarlet robes.
To him the adventurer repairs, trys his fortune at the game of Bajfet, and
very oftea, in a few minutes is totally ruined. There is fomething truly
diabolical in thefe fcenes. The mafques are commonly dreffed in black j
the rooms though large, are but dimly lighted; fome people you fee pen-
fively fitting, others gravely ftalking along, or defperately gaming. And
all the while fo profound a filence is kept, that fcarce a figh or whifp&r
is ever to be heard. I left this place with abhorrence, being fenfibly ftruck
with the proftitution of magiftracy, the encouragement of. vice, and the.
ruin of families!
From hence we went to the Buffo*, or comic opera, and were drolly enter
tained : then we adjourned to a grand Feftino or ball, given by a Venetian
nobleman of the Veniero family, in his own palace, upon his being lately
defied Procurator. This feltival continues three days and three nights.
The magnificence and brilliancy of the prefent, is faid to equal any that has *
ever preceded it. Every apartment in the palace, intended for the reception
of company, is illuminated with a vaft number of wax-candles, placed in filver-
branches, or glafs-girandoles, finely cut and has a band of mufick in it,,
confiding of at leail twenty hands. Only the native nobility, and gentle
men-foreigners of different nations who happen to be at Venice, are ever
admitted to thefe feftivals ; for which purpofe a detachment of foldiers is
placed at the entrance of each paflfage to the feveral apartments, to prevent
any improper perfon from going in. All who pafs by the foldiers are
obliged to unmaik, unlefs it be thofe who are accompanied by fome foreign
minifter, or by one of his houfehold. This happened to be our cafe;
Mr. Ducket having been fo obliging as to take us with him. He there
fore, Of our whole company, was the only perfon who found it neceffary to^
unmafk, and acquaint the guard, that we were " Englijh Gentlemen.' ,
In the feveral chambers of this palace, the greateft profufion of coftly
jewels were difplayed by the noble Venetian ladies ; they were all drefled
cither in black filks, or black velvet, except the lately eledted Procurator's
wife, who upon this particular occaiion, is allowed to appear in colours,
with the foreign princefles, the nieces or other near relations of the
Pope, and the ladies of public minifters. Every woman's hair was ex
tremely powdered, and drefled either in the French or Englijh tafte, and be-
fides the abundance of coftly brilliants, rubies, &c. with which every part
of their drefs was ornamented, there was fcarce a finger upon either of their
hands