His “Bohemianism” was in his blood, and in his old age he regrets—­not his past follies, but his inability to commit folly any longer.  Now and again we are inclined to pronounce Casanova to be an amiable man; and if to his generosity and good nature he had added some elementary knowledge of the distinction between right and wrong, he might certainly have laid some claim to the character.  The Prince de Ligne draws the following portrait of him under the name of Aventuros: 

“He would be a handsome man if he were not ugly; he is tall and strongly built, but his dark complexion and his glittering eyes give him a fierce expression.  He is easier to annoy than amuse; he laughs little but makes others laugh by the peculiar turn he gives to his conversation.  He knows everything except those matters on the knowledge of which he chiefly prides himself, namely, dancing, the French language, good taste, and knowledge of the world.  Everything about him is comic, except his comedies; and all his writings are philosophical, saving those which treat of philosophy.  He is a perfect well of knowledge, but he quotes Homer and Horace ad nauseam.”

Supplement
to

The memoirs of
Jacques Casanova
de Seingalt
Containing an Outline of Casanova’s career from the
year 1774, when his own Memoirs abruptly
end, until his death in 1798

PART THE FIRST

Venice 1774-1782
Casanova’s return to Venice

Thus Casanova ended his Memoirs, concluding his narrative with his sojourn at Trieste, in January 1774, where he had remained, except for a few excursions, since the 15th November 1772.  He was forty-nine years of age.  Since his unfortunate experiences in England, the loss of his fortune and the failure of his efforts to obtain congenial and remunerative employment in Germany or Russia, he had come to concentrate his efforts on a return to his native city.

Of his faithful friends, the nobles Bragadin, Barbaro and Dandolo, the first had died in 1767, having gone into debt “that I might have enough,” sending Casanova, from his death-bed, a last gift of a thousand crowns.  Barbaro who had died also, in 1771, left Casanova a life-income of six sequins a month.  The survivor, Dandolo, was poor, but until his death, he also gave Casanova a monthly provision of six sequins.  However, Casanova was not without influential friends who might not only obtain a pardon from the State Inquisitors but also assist him to employment; and, in fact, it was through such influence as that wielded by the Avogador Zaguri and the Procurator Morosini, that Casanova received his pardon, and later, a position as “Confidant,” or Secret Agent, to the Inquisitors at Venice.