in the evening, he was attacked by five assassins, who wounded him in fifteen places with stilettoes, one of which was driven with such force into his face, that the assassin who planted it was compelled to leave it in the wound. None of the blows proved mortal, owing principally to the skill and attention of the celebrated Aquapendente, whom the government rewarded most liberally for a service so acceptable to the state. The death of Father Paul, many years afterwards (uttering with his dying voice a blessing on the republic), was received with much joy at Rome, the pontiff himself affirming that the hand of God was at length visible: "as if," says Fulgentio, the biographer of Sarpi, "it had been a miracle for a man to die at the age of seventy-one.'

Sarpi, as already stated, acted a distinguished part in the disputes which occurred at the commencement of the seventeenth century, between the state of Venice and the court of Rome. In illustration of the resolute spirit with which the republic carried on that contest, some anecdotes have been given by M. Daru. The pope having forbidden the clergy of Venice to perform divine service, the Council of Ten issued a mandate, requiring them, notwithstanding the interdict, to proceed in the performance of their usual duties. The priests promised obedience with one or two exceptions. The grand vicar of Padua, having been informed of the order issued by the government, observed, that he should act according to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. "Very well," said the magistrate who communicated the order," but it is proper that you should know that the Holy Spirit has already inspired the Council of Ten to hang every

one who disobeys their orders." The curate of Santa Maria, notwithstanding the decree of the government, closed his church. On the following morning, when divine service was to be performed, he beheld, on looking out of his window, an enormous gallows, which had been erected in the night. The argument succeeded, and the curate, forgetting the pope's interdict, opened his church with alacrity, and preached as usual. So great was the jealousy with which the Venetians regarded the court of Rome, that, when during the pontificate of Urban VIII., an inscription, recording the services rendered to holy church by the republic, in the time of Alexander III., was removed from the Vatican, the Venetian ambassador was directed by his masters to quit Rome without taking leave; nor would the republic again appear by their representative at the court of Rome, until the inscription, ten years afterwards, was restored by Innocent X.

VENICE.

THE PALACE OF THE FOSCARI.

Despair defies even despotism: there is

That in my heart would make its way through hosts
With levell'd spears; and think you a few jailors
Shall put me from my path? Give me, then, way;
This is the Doge's palace.

THE TWO FOSCARI.

THE fatal history of the Foscari, whose palace is represented in the plate, is told by the old Venetian writers, and more particularly by Sanuto, whose relation has been followed by M. de Sismondi, in his admirable Histoire des Republiques Italiennes, and by M. Daru, in his valuable Histoire de la Republique de Venise. Though every English reader is acquainted with it through the drama of Lord Byron, it will not, perhaps, be thought improper to give in this place an outline of the story.

Francesco Foscari, at the age of fifty-one, attained the summit of a Venetian's ambition, and was elected doge. A noble name, rendered still more splendid by the services which he who bore it had performed to the republic, favouring fortunes, an undaunted courage, and a family of sons who seemed to inherit the lofty spirit of their father, rendered the newly elected doge an object of jealousy to the nobility of Venice. The first blow to

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