The Assemblies that are most frequented by Foreigners, are those of Mesdames _Corsini_, the Pope’s Nieces, the Duke of _Santo Bueno_, and the Countess of _Bolognetti_. These are the three Houses at ROME where there is most Company, and where Foreigners are most civilly entertain’d. The Duke has a Concert at his House every _Friday_, at which are present all the People of Distinction at ROME. _Madame de Bolognetti_ has a grand Assembly every _Sunday_, which begins with a great Levee of Women, for the most part well-dress’d, who lend their Ears to two or three prating Abbés, lolling carelessly on the Backs of their Chairs. A Foreigner enters, and salutes the Company respectfully; but no Lady gives heed to him, except Madame _Bolognetti_, a fine young Lady, who is the only one that rises; and she does her best to entertain the poor Stranger in _French_, which she talks very prettily. Many other Ladies both understand, and can speak this Language; but whether it is owing to Timorousness or Ill-nature, they don’t care to talk it; which is so true, that I remember the first Time I travell’d hither, I one Day accosted a very amiable Lady in the _French_ Tongue, because then I did not understand the _Italian_; but she answer’d me in good _French_, _Sir, I neither speak nor understand the +French+ Language_. She then turn’d about, and in a Moment I saw a well-looking Abbé come in, who talk’d with her in private all the Evening, and probably in such a Language as she understood. After the Levee they fall to play, but ’tis at such Games as we _Ultramontains_ know no more of than Magic; _viz._ such as _Tarot_, _Pazzica_, _Premiere_, and _Milchiades_. As to the last of these, I take it to be like the Languages, which ’tis difficult to be Master of, unless People begin to learn them when they are young. It would take up a Man’s whole Life to learn to know the Cards, whereof at one Game they play with 99, which are painted too with very extraordinary Figures of Popes, Devils, _&c._ and it often happens, that the Devil takes up the Pope. During the Conclave they play at _Pharao_, but the Pope has prohibited all Games of Hazard, which was an Injury to many Houses that subsisted by the Money for the Cards.