St. John the Baptist is the tutelary Saint of this city, and upon this day of course all possible rejoicings are made.  After attending divine service in the morning, we were carried to a house whence we could conveniently see the procession pass by.  It was not solemn and stately as that I saw at Bologna, neither was it gaudy and jocund like the show made at Venice upon St. George’s day; but consisted chiefly in vast heavy pageants, or a sort of temporary building set on wheels, and drawn by oxen some, and some by horses; others carried upon things made not unlike a chairman’s horse in London, and supported by men, while priests, in various coloured dresses, according to their several stations in the church, and to distinguish the parishes, &c. to which they belong, follow singing in praise of the saint.

Here is much emulation shewed too, I am told, in these countries, where religion makes the great and almost the sole amusement of men’s lives, who shall make most figure on St. John the Baptist’s day, produce most music, and go to most expence.  For all these purposes subscriptions are set on foot, for ornamenting and venerating such a picture, statue, &c. which are then added to the procession by the managers, and called a Confraternity, in honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Angel Raphael, or who comes in their heads.

The lady of the house where we went to partake the diversion, was not wanting in her part; there could not be fewer than a hundred and fifty people assembled in her rooms, but not crowded as we should have been in England; for the apartments in Italy are all high and large, and run in suits like Wanstead house in Essex, or Devonshire house in London exactly, but larger still:  and with immense balconies and windows, not sashes, which move all away, and give good room and air.  The ices, refreshments, &c. were all excellent in their kinds, and liberally dispensed.  The lady seemed to do the honours of her house with perfect good-humour; and every body being full-dressed, though so early in a morning, added much to the general effect of the whole.

Here I had the honour of being introduced to Cardinal Corsini, who put me a little out of countenance by saying suddenly, “Well, madam! you never saw one of us red-legged partridges before I believe; but you are going to Rome I hear, where you will find such fellows as me no rarities” The truth is, I had seen the amiable Prince d’Orini at Milan, who was a Cardinal; and who had taken delight in showing me prodigious civilities:  nothing ever struck me more than his abrupt entrance one night at our house, when we had a little music, and every body stood up the moment he appeared:  the Prince however walked forward to the harpsichord, and blessed my husband in a manner the most graceful and affecting:  then sate the amusement out, and returned the next morning to breakfast with us, when he indulged us with two hours conversation at least; adding the kindest and most pressing invitations to his country-seat among the mountains of Brianza, when we should return from our tour of Italy in spring 1786.  Florence therefore was not the first place that shewed me a Cardinal.