it, and it was immediately obliged to leave the street, and re-enter by one of the extremities.  Besides the warfare carried on below, the balconies on each side were crowded with people in gay or grotesque dresses, who had sacks of bon-bons before them, from which they showered vollies upon those beneath, or aimed across the street at each other:  some of them filled their handkerchiefs, and then dexterously loosening the corners, and taking a certain aim, flung a volley at once.  This was like a cannon loaded with grape-shot, and never failed to do the most terrific execution.

Among the splendid and fanciful equipages of the masqueraders, was one, containing the Duke of Monteleone’s family, in the form of a ship, richly ornamented, and drawn by six horses mounted by masks for postilions.  The fore part of the vessel contained the Duke’s party, dressed in various gay costumes, as Tartar warriors and Indian queens.  In the stern were the servants and attendants, travestied in the most grotesque and ludicrous style.  This magnificent and unwieldly car had by some chance lost its place in the procession, and vainly endeavoured to whip in; as it is a point of honour among the charioteers not to yield the pas.  Our coachman, however, was ordered (though most unwilling) to draw up and make way for it; and this little civility was acknowledged, not only by a profusion of bows, but by such a shower of delicious sugar plums, that the seats of our carriage were literally covered with them, and some of the gentlemen flung into our laps elegant little baskets, fastened with ribbons, and filled with exquisite sweetmeats.  I could not enter into all this with much spirit; “non son io quel ch’un tempo fui:” but I was an amused, though a quiet spectator; and sometimes saw much more than those who were actually engaged in the battle.  I observed that to-day our carriage became an object of attention, and a favourite point of attack to several parties on foot, and in carriages; and I was at no loss to discover the reason.  I had with me a lovely girl, whose truly English style of beauty, her brilliant bloom, heightened by her eager animation, her lips dimpled with a thousand smiles, and her whole countenance radiant with glee and mischievous archness, made her an object of admiration, which the English expressed by a fixed stare, and the Italians by sympathetic smiles, nods, and all the usual superlatives of delight.  Among our most potent and malignant adversaries, was a troop of elegant masks in a long open carriage, the form of which was totally concealed by the boughs of laurel, and wreaths of artificial flowers, with which it was covered.  It was drawn by six fine horses, fancifully caparisoned, ornamented with plumes of feathers, and led by grotesque masks.  In the carriage stood twelve persons in black silk dominos, black hats, and black masks; with plumes of crimson feathers, and rich crimson sashes.  They were armed with small painted targets and tin tubes, from which they shot vollies of confetti, in such quantities, and with such dexterous aim, that we were almost overwhelmed whenever we passed them.  It was in vain we returned the compliment; our small shot rattled on their masks, or bounded from their shields, producing only shouts of laughter at our expense.