DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62267#0319
THROUGH ITALY.
309
Dis.
quaintance to which such an introduction natural-
ly leads. I might add, a fourth requisite, per-
haps not less necessary than the former, I mean
good nature; a virtue that does not permit us to
condemn as absurd every practice and opinion
contrary to the modes of thinking and of living
established in our own country. Endowed with
these qualities, a traveller will indeed be a com-
petent judge of the subject, and enabled to form
an opinion from his own experience; an opinion
which he will find very different from that gene-
rally enforced by ignorant writers, and adopted
by inconsiderate readers.
He will experience, contrary probably to his
expectations, much hospitality, as far as hospi-
tality consists in furnishing a guest with every
accommodation. This is so true, that a good
letter of recommendation may carry a traveller
from house to house over all Italy ; a circum-
stance that accounts for the indifference of the
inns in the lesser towns, which are frequented
solely by foreigners and by the middling classes;
as Italians of rank almost always lodge, when
travelling, in private houses. When once in-
troduced into a house, he will find it always open
to him, and the more frequent his visits, the
greater will be his consideration, as much assi-
duity is regarded as a mark both of confidence
309
Dis.
quaintance to which such an introduction natural-
ly leads. I might add, a fourth requisite, per-
haps not less necessary than the former, I mean
good nature; a virtue that does not permit us to
condemn as absurd every practice and opinion
contrary to the modes of thinking and of living
established in our own country. Endowed with
these qualities, a traveller will indeed be a com-
petent judge of the subject, and enabled to form
an opinion from his own experience; an opinion
which he will find very different from that gene-
rally enforced by ignorant writers, and adopted
by inconsiderate readers.
He will experience, contrary probably to his
expectations, much hospitality, as far as hospi-
tality consists in furnishing a guest with every
accommodation. This is so true, that a good
letter of recommendation may carry a traveller
from house to house over all Italy ; a circum-
stance that accounts for the indifference of the
inns in the lesser towns, which are frequented
solely by foreigners and by the middling classes;
as Italians of rank almost always lodge, when
travelling, in private houses. When once in-
troduced into a house, he will find it always open
to him, and the more frequent his visits, the
greater will be his consideration, as much assi-
duity is regarded as a mark both of confidence