A pleasant duty is that of expressing our gratitude for personal help and counsel to, among others, Mr Horatio F. Brown, Signor Cantalamessa the courteous Director of the Accademia, Mr Bolton King, Signor Alfredo Melani, and Mr René Spiers. In order not to burden our pages with many notes we have limited references to such passages as seemed specially to call for them, exigencies of space having straitened a wide subject within close bounds. If, however, the perusal of this slight and imperfect sketch may lead intending travellers to turn to richer springs--and in that hope we have appended a list of the main sources[1] from which we have drawn--our pleasant labours will be amply rewarded. It is with travel as with other modes of observation. The eye will see what the mind takes with it, for as the Spanish proverb quoted by Dr Johnson runs: “He who would bring home the wealth of the Indies must carry the wealth of the Indies with him.” CONTENTS PART I.--THE STORY CHAPTER I .....PAGE THE FOUNDATION AT RIALTO.....1 CHAPTER II ST MARK THE PATRON OF VENICE--THE BRIDES OF ST MARK--CONQUEST OF DALMATIA--LIMITATION OF THE DOGE’S POWER.....17 CHAPTER III EXPANSION IN THE EAST--RECONCILIATION OF POPE ALEXANDER III. AND THE EMPEROR BARBAROSSA--THE WEDDING OF THE ADRIATIC.....35 CHAPTER IV ENRICO DANDOLO AND THE CAPTURE OF CONSTANTINOPLE.....56 CHAPTER V THE ARISTOCRACY--WAR WITH THE GENOESE--LOSS OF CONSTANTINOPLE.....72 CHAPTER VI THE DUEL WITH GENOA--THE CLOSING OF THE GREAT COUNCIL.....85 CHAPTER VII THE OLIGARCHY--COMMERCIAL SUPREMACY--THE BAJAMONTE CONSPIRACY--THE COUNCIL OF THE TEN--THE PRISONS.....103 CHAPTER VIII CONQUESTS ON THE MAINLAND--EXECUTION OF MARIN FALIERO--THE FALL OF GENOA.....118 CHAPTER IX AGGRESSION ON THE MAINLAND--ARREST AND EXECUTION OF CARMAGNOLA--THE TWO FOSCARI.....135 CHAPTER X THE TURKISH TERROR--ACQUISITION OF CYPRUS--DISCOVERY OF THE CAPE ROUTE TO INDIA--THE FRENCH INVASIONS--THE LEAGUE OF CAMBRAI--DECLINE OF VENICE.....152 CHAPTER XI LOSS OF CYPRUS--LEPANTO--PAOLO SARPI--ATTACK ON THE TEN--LOSS OF CRETE--TEMPORARY RECONQUEST OF THE MOREA--DECADENCE--THE END.....170 CHAPTER XII _The Fine Arts at Venice_ MASONS--PAINTERS--GLASS-WORKERS--PRINTERS.....187 PART II.--THE CITY SECTION I ARRIVAL--THE PIAZZA.....215 SECTION II THE BASILICA OF ST MARK.....222 SECTION III THE DUCAL PALACE.....241 SECTION IV THE ACCADEMIA.....252 SECTION V THE GRAND CANAL AND S. GIORGIO MAGGIORE.....263 SECTION VI S. ZULIAN--S. MARIA FORMOSA--S. ZANIPOLO (SS. GIOVANNI E PAOLO)--THE COLLEONI STATUE--THE SCUOLA DI S. MARCO--S. MARIA DEI MIRACOLI.....275 SECTION VII THE FRARI--THE SCUOLA AND CHURCH OF S. ROCCO.....281 SECTION VIII S. ZACCARIA--S. GIORGIO DEGLI SCHIAVONI--S. FRANCESCO DELLA VIGNA.....286 SECTION IX THE RIVA DEGLI SCHIAVONI--S. MARIA DELLA PIETÀ--PETRARCH’S HOUSE--S. GIOVANNI IN BRAGORO--S. MARTINO--THE ARSENAL--THE PUBLIC GARDENS--S. PIETRO IN CASTELLO.....289 SECTION X