v .
vin} THE ITALIAN LAKES,

436

Before the dinner was conciuded, other orators, who had 1847:
come a little heated with wine, wished to speak. One of Ar. 43.
‘hem broke through the rule laid down, and almost entered
pon the forbidden ground of Austrian politics. However,
y ding of management and entreaty the excited spirits
Vere calmed, and the banquet went off pretty well. Re-"eived
 an anonymous letter entreating me not to propose
‘he health of the Braperor of Austria.”
“ Lake Como, June Tth.—Lounged away the morning over
Vadame D’Arblay’s Memoirs, and Lady C. Bury’s George IV.
Heard also some gossip about the residents on the shores of
the lake, not the most favourable to their morality. After
lioner made an excursion to the town of Como, and saw the
Cathedral.”
“ Desenzano, June 9th.— Found Signor Salevi an intelligent
nd amiable man, his head and countenance striking; is
Writing 8 book upon prison reform, and a greab promoter
of infant schools, of which he says there are three
Well conducted in Brescia, and supported by voluntary contributions,
 Speaking about the proprietorship of land,
Which is in this neighbourhood very much divided, he ex-Pressed
 his surprise that England, so greatly in advance of
Burope in other respects, should still preserve so much of
the feudal system in respect to the law of real property.
He thinks the law of succession, as established in the Code
Napoleon, highly favourable to the mass of the people ; that
lothing gives dignity to a man, and developes his self-*eSpect
 so effectually, as the ownership of property, however
mall, Tn Lombardy, as in Piedmont, one half the property
'S at the disposal of a father on his decease; the remainder
S by law given equally amongst his children. I find every-Where
 on the continent, amongst all classes, the same unfavourable
 opinion of our law of primogeniture in England.”
* Venice. June 21st.—In the evening dined ati a public enter-