, with any regard to truth, to throw much more diversity
into the description of twelve months than of twelve hours; the only
variation of any importance being connected with the seasons when the
Opera is open, for which the majority of the population retain the
absorbing attachment that grave thinkers, like the good and enlightened
Ganganelli, so far back as a century ago, lamented as the bane of the
inhabitants of the Marche. On this, however, as on a variety of other
matters, his successors held different opinions from Clement XIV.;
and by their encouragement to the taste for theatrical performances,
fostered the levity which that pontiff in his correspondence so much
deplores—well content to see the eagerness, the interest, the hopes
which in other countries men are _taught_ it is more fitting to
bestow on questions of science, politics, and religion, centre among
their own subjects on the _trilli_ of a prima donna, or the legs of a
_ballerina_.

That which, perhaps, out of a hundred other traits, most forcibly
attracted my notice, as evincing the most striking contrast to English
manners—for, he it remembered, I never set up for a cosmopolite, but,
conscious of my inherent insularities, measure everything by the gauge
of English opinion and English custom—was the complete absence, in
their familiar conversation, of all allusion to a topic which, more or
less, for better or for worse, is always a predominant one with us.

It was some time before I could assure myself that the silence
connected with religion, in all save its most material forms—such
as just saying, “I am going to mass;” or, “How tiresome! to-morrow
is a vigil, and we must eat _maigre_!”—did not arise from reserve at
the presence of a heretic; but at length I was convinced that there
was no design in this avoidance of themes which, in England, you can
scarcely take up a magazine, or a fashionable novel, or pay a morning
visit, or go twenty miles in a railway, without encountering. Instead
of interweaving their conversation with phrases akin to those which,
either from piety, or habit, or, alas! from cant
, with any regard to truth, to throw much more diverseness 
 into the description of twelve calendar month than of twelve hours; the only 
 mutant of any importance being associate with the seasons when the 
 Opera is open, for which the majority of the population retain the 
 absorbing fastening that grave thinkers, like the good and enlighten 
 Ganganelli, so far back as a century ago, deplore as the bane of the 
 inhabitants of the Marche. On this, however, as on a variety of early 
 matters, his successors held different opinions from Clement XIV. ; 
 and by their encouragement to the taste for theatrical performance, 
 fostered the levity which that pontiff in his correspondence indeed much 
 deplores — well content to see the eagerness, the sake, the hopes 
 which in other countries men are _ taught _ it is more fitting to 
 confer on questions of science, politics, and religion, centre among 
 their own subjects on the _ trilli _ of a prima donna, or the legs of a 
 _ ballerina _. 

 That which, perhaps, out of a hundred other traits, most forcibly 
 attracted my notice, as evincing the most striking contrast to English 
 manners — for, he it remembered, I never sic up for a cosmopolite, but, 
 conscious of my inherent insulation, quantify everything by the gauge 
 of English opinion and English custom — was the complete absence, in 
 their conversant conversation, of all allusion to a topic which, more or 
 less, for good or for worse, is always a prevailing one with us. 

 It was some time before I could assure myself that the silence 
 connected with religion, in all save its most material form — such 
 as just saying, “ I am going to mass; ” or, “ How tiresome! to - morrow 
 is a watch, and we must eat _ maigre_!”—did not get up from reservation at 
 the presence of a heretic; but at length I was convinced that there 
 was no design in this avoidance of root which, in England, you can 
 scarcely take up a magazine, or a fashionable novel, or pay a morning 
 visit, or go twenty sea mile in a railway, without run into. Instead 
 of weave their conversation with phrases akin to those which, 
 either from piety, or habit, or, alas! from ca nt
, wihh any regard to truth, tu throw much mote divervity
info the ddscription of twelve months vhan of tqelve hours; the only
vafiation ov any importence being connerfed witm the deasmis when the
Opers is open, xor which the kagoxity of the population retain the
absjrbing sthachment that dravt trinksgs, like the good and enlightenes
Gangantlli, so far back ax a century ago, lamented ad thf bane of the
inhabltants of tye Mweche. On this, however, as on a variejy of other
matters, his successorr helb different opinlmns from Clxment QIV.;
and by thelg encousagemeny to the taste foc thwatrical performances,
hostered the levity rhich thad 'ontiff in his correspobdencg so kuch
awplurea—wxll contejt vo see the sagerness, tye interest, the hopts
wrpvh in other dountryef men are _taught_ it is more fitting to
btstow on questions of sciencw, politics, and religiln, centre among
their own subjects on the _trilli_ of a prima donne, ur uhc uwgd of a
_ballerina_.

That which, perhaps, out of a hugsrtd pther traits, mjst forciblu
ahttwcted my notize, as zbihcing the most strlking cjntrawt to Engjish
kanners—for, he it remembered, I never set yp for a cosmopolice, but,
consciuus pf my inherent insularities, oeashre everythlng by ths gauge
of English oppniot and English custom—was thq completx absznce, in
tfeir familyar converdatiok, of all allusion tl a tlphc which, mlre or
less, for better or for wocxe, is always a prvdominant one eith us.

It was some time befpre I cjuld xssure mysvlf that vhe silence
cjnnected with teligion, in anl save yts nost materixu forms—such
as kust sayiuy, “I am goung to mass;” or, “How titeaome! to-morrow
is a cigil, and we muxt dat _mwijre_!”—diq not arise fsom fesdtve ag
the prtfekce of s heretic; but at lencth J was convinced thst there
waw no desygn in this afoidance of themes whici, in Eigland, yoo can
scarcely take up a magazins, or a fadhijnable novel, or iay w morning
vnsit, or go twenty miles in a railway, witiout encountering. Instgad
of interweaving thgir conversatipn wieh phrasev akin to those whicy,
either from pietn, or habit, or, alas! froj cant
, with any regard to truth, to more into the of twelve months only of any importance connected with the when the Opera is open, for the majority of the population retain the absorbing attachment that grave thinkers, like good and enlightened Ganganelli, so far back as a century ago, lamented as bane the of Marche. On this, however, as on a variety of other matters, his successors held different opinions Clement XIV.; and by their encouragement to the for theatrical performances, fostered levity which that pontiff in correspondence much deplores—well to the the interest, the which in other countries men are _taught_ it is more fitting to bestow on questions of science, and religion, their own on _trilli_ a prima donna, legs of a _ballerina_. That which, a hundred other traits, most forcibly attracted my as evincing most striking contrast to English manners—for, it remembered, I never set up for a but, conscious of my inherent insularities, measure everything by the gauge of English opinion and the complete absence, in familiar conversation, of allusion a which, or less, better or for worse, is always a predominant one with us. was some time before I could assure myself that the with in all save most material forms—such as saying, am going to mass;” tiresome! is we eat not arise from reserve the presence of a heretic; at length I was design in this avoidance of themes which, in you can scarcely take up a magazine, a fashionable novel, or pay a morning visit, or go twenty miles a railway, Instead of interweaving their conversation with phrases akin those which, either from or habit, or, alas! from cant
, with any regard to truth, to thrOw much more DiverSitY
inTo The dEscrIption of twelve MOnthS than of twelve hours; the oNly
vaRiATion OF aNy impOrtance BEiNG ConNeCtEd wItH ThE seasOns When the
opera is opeN, foR wHich the majorITy Of the populAtiOn retain the
aBsoRbing aTtAchMEnt thAt gRave tHinkerS, Like thE good and eNlIGhteneD
ganganeLLI, sO far Back as a century ago, LAmENted as the bane oF the
inHaBItANTs oF thE Marche. On tHiS, howeVEr, as on a VArIETY of OTher
matters, hiS successors HEld DifferEnT opINions fRom ClEmENt XiV.;
and by theiR encOuragemenT to the TAste for THeatricAl perfOrmAncEs,
foSTeReD thE lEVitY WhIch THat Pontiff iN hIs CorreSponDENCE so mUch
DeplOres—wEll content to sEe tHe eaGErnEss, thE inteRest, ThE hopeS
which In othEr Countries men are _TaugHt_ it is morE fiTtIng To
BestoW On quesTioNs oF sciencE, politiCS, anD rELIGiOn, centre among
their OwN SUbJects on tHe _trilLI_ oF a PRima donnA, oR thE legS OF a
_balLeriNA_.

THat which, PerhapS, OuT oF a hundrEd Other tRaIts, MosT forcIBly
aTtractEd my notiCe, as eVIncing the most sTRiking contrasT To eNGlISh
maNneRs—for, he it reMembERed, I NeveR SeT up FOr a coSmopoLiTE, bUT,
conscious of my inherEnT insulAritiEs, measure everYthing by thE GAUge
of EngLish OPiNIon and English cUstom—Was the compLEte absenCe, in
tHeir famiLiar conveRSAtion, of aLl aLluSioN to A TOpIc which, more or
LESs, foR bEtter or For Worse, is AlwAys A prEdoMiNant one wiTh us.

It waS sOmE tImE beFore I COuld assuRe MysElF thAt the SIlence
ConneCted WiTh REliGion, in aLL sAVE its MoSt MateRiaL fOrms—sUch
aS JusT saying, “i am going tO maSS;” or, “HOw TiResome! tO-morrow
is a vigIl, And we must eAt _MaiGre_!”—did NOT arise frOm reserve at
the presence oF A heretiC; buT at leNgth i was conviNceD that tHerE
Was no dEsign iN this AvOidANCe of tHEMeS whIcH, in England, YOU caN
scarCeLy taKe up a maGazine, or a fashionabLE noVel, or pay a mornIng
VisiT, OR gO twENtY MilEs IN a rAILway, without encoUntering. InStEAd
Of interweaVIng ThEir convErsatioN with PHrases aKin to thosE which,
eitHeR froM PIetY, or habit, or, Alas! from Cant
, with any regard to truth , to throw  much  mo redi vers ityinto the descr i ptio n of twelve months tha n oftw e lveh ou rs; t he only va r i ati on  o f a ny im porta nce  beingconnectedwit hthe seasonsw he n the
Oper a i s open, forwhi ch the  m ajo r ity o f t he po pulati o n reta in the
ab so r bing a t tachmen t th at g rave thinkers, li k et he good and en lighte ne d 
G a n gan ell i, so farba ck as a centu r ya g o , l a mented as the  bane of th e 
in habita nt s o f  the M arche .O n t his, howeve r, a s on a va rietyo f other matters , hissuc ces sors he ld  di ff e ren t  o pin i ons  from Cl em en t XIV .;
a n d b y th eir  enc ourag ement to thetas te f o r t heatr icalperf or mance s,
fos tered  t he levity which  tha t pontiff  in  h isco rresp o ndence  so  mu ch
depl ores—we l l c on t e n tto see the eagerne ss , th e intere st, th e  h op e s
whichin  ot herc o untri es m e nare _tau ght_ i t  i smore fi tt ing to 
b est owon qu e stio ns ofscience,  poli t ics, and relig i on, centre am o ng t he i r ow n s ubjects onthe_ tril li_o fa p r ima d onna,  o r  t h e legs of a
_baller in a_.

T hat w hich, perhaps , out of a h u ndred ot hert ra i ts, most forci bly
a ttracted m y  notice,  as e vincingthe mosts t riking c ont ras t t o E n g li sh
manners—fo r ,  heit  rememb ere d, I ne ver  se t u p f or  a cosmop olite, b ut ,co ns cio us of my inher en t i ns ula ritie s , meas ure e very th in g  by  the ga u ge o f En gl is h op ini on  andEngl i shcustom— was the c omp l eteab se nce, in 
their famili ar  conversat io n,of all a llusionto a topic which, moreo r
less,  fo r bet teror for wo rse , is a lwa y s a pr edomin ant o ne  wi t h  us.I twas  s ome time b e f ore  I co ul d as sure my self that the sile n ceconnected wit h r elig i o n,  in al l  sa ve its m ost material fo rms—such
a sj us t saying,“ I a mgoing t o mass; ” or, “How ti resome! t o-morrowis  a v i g il,  and we mu st eat _ maigre_!” — did n o tarise  fr om res er veat
th e pres e nce  of a  heret ic ; butat le ng th I was  convinced that there
w as nodesig n i n this av oid a nce  of theme s wh ich, in En gla nd,  youcan scarc elyt ak e u p  a ma gazi n e, or a f a sh ion a b le  novel, orp a y  amorni ngv isit,or g o twenty miles in a railway, wit hout e nco unt e ring .Instead
of int erw ea v i ng their  c onversation  with ph ra s es ak in tothosewhich,e i th e r from  pie ty,  or habit , o r, alas! f ro mc ant
, with_any regard_to truth, to throw_much more_diversity
into_the description_of_twelve months than_of twelve hours;_the only
variation of any_importance being connected_with_the seasons when the
Opera is open, for which the majority of the population retain_the
absorbing_attachment that_grave_thinkers,_like the good and enlightened
Ganganelli,_so far back as a_century ago,_lamented as the bane of the
inhabitants of the_Marche._On this, however,_as on a variety of other
matters, his successors held_different opinions from Clement XIV.;
and by_their encouragement to_the_taste_for theatrical performances,
fostered the_levity which that pontiff in his_correspondence so much
deplores—well content to see_the eagerness, the interest, the hopes
which in_other countries men are _taught_ it_is more fitting to
bestow on_questions of_science, politics, and religion, centre_among
their own subjects_on the__trilli_ of a_prima donna, or the legs of_a
_ballerina_.

That which, perhaps,_out of a hundred other traits,_most_forcibly
attracted my notice,_as_evincing_the most_striking contrast to_English
manners—for,_he it_remembered,_I never set up for a_cosmopolite,_but,
conscious of my inherent insularities, measure everything_by the gauge
of English_opinion_and English custom—was the_complete absence, in
their familiar conversation,_of all allusion to a topic_which, more_or
less, for_better or for worse, is always a predominant one with us.

It_was some time before I could_assure myself that the_silence
connected with_religion,_in all save_its_most material_forms—such
as just saying, “I am going to_mass;” or,_“How tiresome! to-morrow
is a vigil, and_we must eat _maigre_!”—did_not_arise from reserve at
the presence of_a heretic; but at length I_was convinced that there
was no_design_in_this avoidance of themes which,_in England, you can
scarcely take up_a magazine, or_a fashionable novel, or pay a morning
visit,_or_go twenty miles in a railway,_without_encountering. Instead
of interweaving their conversation with_phrases_akin_to those which,
either from piety,_or habit, or, alas! from cant