I Question If Tuscany Can Maintain At
Present Above One Half Of Such An Armament.
He that now commands
the emperor's navy, consisting of a few frigates, is an
Englishman, called Acton, who was heretofore captain of a ship in
our East India company's service.
He has lately embraced the
catholic religion, and been created admiral of Tuscany.
There is a tolerable opera in Florence for the entertainment of
the best company, though they do not seem very attentive to the
musick. Italy is certainly the native country of this art; and
yet, I do not find the people in general either more musically
inclined, or better provided with ears than their neighbours.
Here is also a wretched troop of comedians for the burgeois, and
lower class of people: but what seems most to suit the taste of
all ranks, is the exhibition of church pageantry. I had occasion
to see a procession, where all the noblesse of the city attended
in their coaches, which filled the whole length of the great
street called the Corso. It was the anniversary of a charitable
institution in favour of poor maidens, a certain number of whom
are portioned every year. About two hundred of these virgins
walked in procession, two and two together, cloathed in violet-coloured
wide gowns, with white veils on their heads, and made a
very classical appearance. They were preceded and followed by an
irregular mob of penitents in sack-cloth, with lighted tapers,
and monks carrying crucifixes, bawling and bellowing the
litanies:
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