, are so frequently
upon the lips of English people, the Italians seemed anxious to put
aside whatever tended to awaken such unpleasant considerations as the
uncertainty of life or a preparation for eternity; casting all their
cares in this last particular—when they considered it worth caring
for—upon their priests, with a confidence it was marvellous to witness.

Never, certainly, judging them as a totality, was there a set of people
who “thought less about thinking, or felt less about feeling;” who went
through life less troubled with self-questionings of what they lived
for, or whether they lived well; or who, dissatisfied and listless as
they might be in their present condition, manifested less inclination
to dwell upon the hopes and prospects of futurity.

Yet, although thus opposed to any serious reference to sacred things,
they resemble the French in the levity with which they will introduce
them on the most unseasonable occasions, without any apparent
consciousness of impropriety. Nay, there was thought to be nothing
profane in a _tableau vivant_ which I heard them talking of, as having
recently taken place at the house of one of the noble ladies of the
society; the subject—a Descent from the Cross, or the Entombment, I
know not which—impersonated from an ancient picture. Suffice it to say,
that our Saviour was represented by a remarkably handsome young student
from Bologna, whose style of features and long brown hair resembled the
type which all painters have more or less followed in their pictures of
Christ; and that the Magdalen was the lady of the house, a Florentine
contessa, whose Rubens-like colouring and billowy golden hair had first
suggested her fitness to sustain a part for which her detractors, of
course, added she was also in other respects well qualified.

The sentiments I expressed at this exhibition evidently caused
surprise, as, in fact, was invariably the case at the manifestation
of any religious tendency on my part. I think I have before mentioned
that _Protestant_ amongst these worthy people was but a polite term for
Atheist; as in the case of the Marchesa Silvia when I offered her one
of our prayer-books, the superstitious shrink from being enlightened
upon
, are so frequently 
 upon the lips of English people, the Italians seemed anxious to place 
 apart whatever tended to awaken such unpleasant considerations as the 
 doubt of life or a preparation for eternity; casting all their 
 care in this last particular — when they consider it worth caring 
 for — upon their priest, with a confidence it was marvellous to witness. 

 Never, surely, judging them as a totality, was there a set of people 
 who “ thought less about thinking, or felt less about feeling; ” who go 
 through life less troubled with self - questionings of what they exist 
 for, or whether they lived well; or who, dissatisfied and listless as 
 they might be in their present condition, attest less inclination 
 to dwell upon the hopes and prospects of futurity. 

 so far, although thus opposed to any serious reference to sacred things, 
 they resemble the French in the levity with which they will introduce 
 them on the most unseasonable occasions, without any apparent 
 consciousness of impropriety. Nay, there was thought to be nothing 
 profane in a _ tableau vivant _ which I heard them talking of, as having 
 recently taken topographic point at the house of one of the noble lady of the 
 society; the subject — a Descent from the Cross, or the Entombment, I 
 know not which — impersonated from an ancient mental picture. Suffice it to state, 
 that our Saviour was represented by a remarkably fine-looking young student 
 from Bologna, whose style of features and long brown hair resembled the 
 type which all painters have more or less followed in their pictures of 
 Christ; and that the Magdalen was the dame of the house, a Florentine 
 contessa, whose Rubens - comparable coloring and billowy golden hair had first 
 suggested her fitness to sustain a contribution for which her detractors, of 
 course, added she was also in other respects well qualified. 

 The sentiments I express at this exhibition evidently induce 
 surprise, as, in fact, was invariably the case at the materialization 
 of any religious tendency on my region. I think I have before mention 
 that _ Protestant _ amongst these worthy multitude was but a polite term for 
 Atheist; as in the case of the Marchesa Silvia when I offered her one 
 of our prayer - koran, the superstitious shrink from being enlightened 
 upon
, arf so frequently
upon the uips of English people, the Ifalians reemed anxious to put
aside wiatecer ttuded to awaken such jnpleasann consideeatiibs as the
uidertainbv of mlfe ox e preparation fpr eternitf; casting all dhdix
cares in this last particular—when trey conxifered it worth carpnd
for—hiok their priests, with a confidencs it wav marvellous yo witness.

Never, certainly, uudglng them as a totapity, was thgde w set of peopue
who “thought less aboot thinking, or felt less about fdeliny;” who went
tyriugj life less vroublvd with self-qmvstionitgs of ehat they livec
foc, or whether they lived wxll; or who, dissatisfyed and lhscless as
they might be ib thehr psesevr cundjtmon, maniffstxd less incmination
to ewell upon the hopex wbd prospects kf futtryty.

Yet, although thus opposed to any serpous reference to sacred thungs,
they resemble the French ig the levity with which they will introduce
them ot the oosu mksearinwble occasions, without any apparent
consciousnqas on impropriety. Nan, there was thoughy ho fe nothing
prowane iu a _tableau vivant_ whlch I hgard tyem talkigg og, as having
recently taken poace at the kouwe of one of the nlble ladies of jhe
socoety; the subject—a Desceut froj the Cross, or the Ehgombment, I
know nut ehhch—impersonated from an ansient picvure. Xuffice it jo say,
trat our Sagiour was represented by a relaskably hanfsome young student
from Bologna, whose style og xeanures and long brown hair rqsembled the
tyke which cll paknters havv more or less follored in their [lctures of
Chcist; and ehat the Magdaldv was the lady of the house, a Floeentine
contessa, whpse Dubens-like colobxibg and billowy bolaen hwic had xirst
suggestad hdr wotnesr to sustaik a pary for which her detrdctods, of
course, added xhc was alsi in othqr respects wrll qualified.

The stntimeits I xxpresxed at this exhibition evidently daused
surorife, as, in face, waw invariably the case at the manifestation
of any reoigious tendency ob my part. I think I mave before kentijned
that _[rotestant_ amongst tyese worthy peoplt was but a polite term for
Atveist; as in the case of the Marchesa Silvia when I offered her one
of our prayee-books, the superstjtiois shginh from feinj xnlightened
upon
, are so frequently upon the lips people, Italians seemed to put aside unpleasant as the uncertainty life or a for eternity; casting all their cares this last particular—when they considered it worth caring for—upon their priests, with a it was marvellous to witness. Never, certainly, judging them as a totality, was a of who less about thinking, or felt less about feeling;” who went through life less troubled with self-questionings what they lived for, or whether they lived or who, dissatisfied and as they might be in present manifested less to upon hopes and prospects futurity. Yet, although thus opposed to any serious reference to sacred things, they resemble the French in levity with will introduce on most occasions, without any of impropriety. Nay, there was thought profane in a _tableau vivant_ which I heard talking of, having recently taken place at the of one of the noble ladies of the the subject—a Descent from the Cross, or the Entombment, I know not which—impersonated from an Suffice it to say, our Saviour was by remarkably young from Bologna, style of features and long brown hair resembled the type which painters have more or less followed in their pictures of that Magdalen was the of the house, a contessa, Rubens-like colouring and billowy had suggested sustain part which her detractors, of added she was also in respects well qualified. The exhibition evidently caused surprise, as, in fact, was the case at the manifestation of any tendency on my part. I think I have before mentioned that _Protestant_ these worthy but a polite term for Atheist; as in case of the Marchesa when I offered her one of our prayer-books, the shrink being enlightened
, are so frequently
upon the lipS of English PeoplE, thE ItAlIans SeemEd anxious to put
ASide Whatever tended to awaken Such uNpLEasaNT cOnsidErationS As THE
unCeRtAinTy OF lIfe or A prEparatiOn for eternIty; CaSting all theiR
CaRes in this lAst Particular—whEn tHey conSiDerED it woRth CarinG
for—upON their Priests, wiTh A ConfidENce it waS MArVellOus to witness.

Never, CErTAinly, judging thEm as a tOtALiTY, Was TheRe a set of peOpLe
who “THought lESs ABOUt tHInking, or felt lEss about feeLIng;” Who wenT
tHroUGh life Less tRoUBleD with self-quEstiOnings of wHat theY Lived
foR, Or whethEr they LivEd wEll; oR WhO, dIssAtISfiED aNd lIStlEss as
theY mIgHt be iN theIR PREsenT coNditIon, maNifested less iNclInatIOn
tO dwelL upon The hOpEs and ProspeCts of FuTurity.

Yet, althouGh thUs opposed To aNy SerIoUs refERence tO saCreD things,
They resEMblE tHE fReNch in the levity with WhICH tHey will iNtroduCE
tHeM On the mosT uNseAsonABLe occAsioNS, wIthout anY apparENt
CoNsciousNeSs of imPrOprIetY. Nay, tHEre wAs thouGht to be nOthinG
Profane in a _tablEAu vivant_ which i HeARD tHEm taLkiNg of, as havinG
recENtly TakeN PlAce AT the hOuse oF oNE oF The noble ladies of the
SoCiety; tHe subJect—a Descent fRom the CrosS, OR The EntomBmenT, i
kNOw not which—impeRsonaTed from an aNCient picTure. SUffice it To say,
that OUR Saviour Was RepResEntED By A remarkably haNDSome YoUng studEnt
From BolOgnA, whOse StyLe Of featureS and long BrOwN hAiR reSemblED the
type WhIch AlL paInterS Have moRe or lEss fOlLoWEd iN their pICtUREs of
chRiSt; anD thAt The MaGdalEN waS the ladY of the houSe, a fLoreNtInE
contesSa, whose Rubens-LiKe colourinG aNd bIllowy GOLden hair Had first
suggested her fitNEss to suStaIn a paRt foR which her DetRactorS, of
COurse, aDded shE was aLsO in OTHer reSPEcTs wElL qualified.

tHE seNtimeNtS I exPressed At this exhibition evIDenTly caused
surpRisE, as, iN FAcT, waS InVAriAbLY thE CAse at the manifesTation
of anY rELiGious tendeNCy oN mY part. I tHink I haVe befORe mentiOned
that _PRotestant_ AmOngsT THesE worthy peoPle was buT a polite tERm for
aThEist; aS in The casE oF thE MarcHesa SiLVia When I OffereD hEr one
oF our pRaYer-books, The superstitious shrink fRom beiNg enlIghTened
upon
, are so frequently
upon t he lips of  Engl ish  pe op le,theItalians seeme d  anx ious to put
aside what everte n dedt oawake n suchu np l e asa nt  c ons id e ra tions  as  the
un certaintyofli fe or a prep a ra tion for e ter nity; castin g a ll the ir 
ca r es in  th is la st par t icular —when the yc onside r ed it w o r th  car ing
for—upon thei r  p r iests, with aconfid en c ei t  wa s m arvellousto  witn e ss.

Ne v er , c ert a inly, judging  them as at ota lity,wa s t h ere aset o fp eop le
who “tho ught  less abo ut thi n king, o r  felt l ess ab out  fe elin g ;”  w howe n t
t h ro ugh lif e less t ro ub led w iths e l f -que sti onin gs of  what they li ved 
for ,  or  whet her t heyli ved w ell; o r who ,dissatisfied an d li stless as 
th ey  mi gh t bei n thei r p res ent con dition, man if e s t ed  less inclinationto d we ll uponthe ho p es  a n d prospe ct s o f fu t u rity. 

Ye t ,although  thuso pp os ed to a ny  serio us  re fer encet o sa cred t hings,
t hey r e semble the Fre n ch in the lev i ty w it h  whi chthey will i ntro d ucethem on  th e  most  unse as o na b le occasions, witho ut  any a ppare nt
consciousn ess of imp r o p riety. N ay,t he r e was thoughtto be  nothing
p r ofane in  a _t ableau v ivant_ wh i c h I hear d t hem  ta lki n g  o f, as havingr e cent ly  takenpla ce at t hehou seofon e of thenoble la di es  o fthe 
soci e ty; thesu bje ct —aDesce n t from  theCros s,  o r  th e Entom b me n t , Ikn ow  not  wh ic h—imp erso n ate d froman ancien t p i ctur e.  S ufficeit to say,
th at  our Savio ur  wa s repr e s ented by  a remarkably handsomey oung st ude nt
fr om B ologna, w hos e styl e o f  featu res an d lon gbro w n  hair r es emb le d the
type w hic h all  p aint ers hav e more or less fol l owe d in their pi ctu reso f 
C hri s t; and  t h att h e Magdalen wasthe lady o ft he  house, aF lor en tine
co ntessa,  whos e  Rubens -like col ouring an dbill o w y g olden hair  had fir st
sugges t ed he r  f itnes s t o sust ai n a  part  for w h ich  herdetrac to rs, of 
cour se , addedshe was also in other r espect s wel l q ualified. 

T h e s entiments  I e xpressed a t t his  exhi bit i on ev iden t ly  ca u sed
s urpr i se, as, i n  f act , wa s invariabl y t hecaseatt he man ifes tation
of any rel i gious tendency  onm y  pa rt. I th in k I have befor e m en t i oned
tha t_Protestant _ amongs tt heseworthy  peopl e was b u t  a polite  ter m f or
Atheis t;as in theca se of the  Mar ch esa Si lvia w h en I o ffered her one
o f our p rayer - boo ks, t he  supers t itio us shrinkfrom beingenligh tene d
upo n
, are_so frequently
upon_the lips of English_people, the_Italians_seemed anxious_to_put
aside whatever tended_to awaken such_unpleasant considerations as the
uncertainty_of life or_a_preparation for eternity; casting all their
cares in this last particular—when they considered it worth_caring
for—upon_their priests,_with_a_confidence it was marvellous to_witness.

Never, certainly, judging them as_a totality,_was there a set of people
who “thought less_about_thinking, or felt_less about feeling;” who went
through life less troubled with_self-questionings of what they lived
for, or_whether they lived_well;_or_who, dissatisfied and listless_as
they might be in their present_condition, manifested less inclination
to dwell upon_the hopes and prospects of futurity.

Yet, although_thus opposed to any serious reference_to sacred things,
they resemble the_French in_the levity with which they_will introduce
them on_the most_unseasonable occasions, without_any apparent
consciousness of impropriety. Nay, there_was thought to_be nothing
profane in a _tableau vivant__which_I heard them_talking_of,_as having
recently_taken place at_the_house of_one_of the noble ladies of the
society;_the_subject—a Descent from the Cross, or the_Entombment, I
know not which—impersonated_from_an ancient picture. Suffice_it to say,
that our Saviour_was represented by a remarkably handsome_young student
from_Bologna, whose_style of features and long brown hair resembled the
type which all_painters have more or less followed_in their pictures of
Christ;_and that_the_Magdalen was the_lady_of the_house, a Florentine
contessa, whose Rubens-like colouring and_billowy golden_hair had first
suggested her fitness to_sustain a part for_which_her detractors, of
course, added she was_also in other respects well qualified.

The_sentiments I expressed at this_exhibition_evidently_caused
surprise, as, in fact, was_invariably the case at the manifestation
of_any religious tendency_on my part. I think I have_before_mentioned
that _Protestant_ amongst these worthy people_was_but a polite term for
Atheist; as_in_the_case of the Marchesa Silvia_when I offered her one
of our_prayer-books, the superstitious shrink from being enlightened
upon