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TOC
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the death of Palma. There was a great
deal of company, and the musical per
formances of various kinds continued till
two or three o'clock in the morning; at
which time I took a melancholy leave of
Signor Grimani, who had honoured me
with something more than mere polite-
ness and hospitality: in a less elevated
character I should venture to call it friend-
ship, but here it could only be conde-
scending goodness.
To finish my account of the music of
this charming city, I must observe, that
though the composers of the Venetian
school are in general good contrapuntists,
yet their chief characteristics are delicacy
of taste, and fertility of invention ; but
many circumstances concur to render the
music of Venice better, and more gene-
ral than elsewhere.
The Venetians have few amusements
but what the theatres afford ; walking,
riding, and all field-sports, are by the
situation of their city denied them. This,
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