Volume 1

An account of the manners and customs of Italy; with observations on the mistakes of some travellers. With regard to that country / By Joseph Baretti.

  • Giuseppe Marc'Antonio Baretti
Date:
1768
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An account of the manners and customs of Italy; with observations on the mistakes of some travellers. With regard to that country / By Joseph Baretti. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    331/346 (page 309)
    r 3°9 ] if i were to advife a gentleman who undertakes to inftrudt others, firft to be Informed himfelf, I would recommend it to Mr. Sharp to look a little into the ftate of trade, manufactures, and Italy, before he ventures to fay, that trade and manu¬ factures are defpifed and detefted amongft us. But let me not lofe fight of Mr. Sharp’s account of our opera’s and opera-matters. In his ufual affedting ftrain he fays, that a firanger who has a little companion in his breafi, feels for the poor fingers y who are treated with fio much indifference and con¬ tempt by the Italians, as not to be lifiened to when they fing on the ftage. The muficians are indeed very unlucky to meet nothing but contempt in a pro- fefiion, in which they take refuge, and for which they quit trade and manufac¬ tures merely to avoid fuch treatment ! But what an abominable people are the gentry of Italy ! Oh the barbarians who