I dined yesterday at the Spanish ambassador's, who even surpassed the French in magnificence.

He met me at the hall-door, and the lady at the stair-head, to conduct me through the long apartment; in short, they could not have shown me more honours, if I had been an ambassadress.

She desired me to think myself patrona del casa, and offered me all the services in her power, to wait on me where I pleased, &c.

They have the finest palace in Venice.

What is very convenient, I hear it is not at all expected I should make any dinners, it not being the fashion for anybody to do it here but the foreign ministers; and I find I can live here very genteelly on my allowance.