prow, poope, forecastle, anchors, with thee long-boat, all made out in cristall Glasse, as allso a man in armor."

Thus, we see that a whole street of Glass-houses was then in existence, and in full reputation and employment. Much mystery was, however, current, either suggested by policy, narrow-minded selfishness, or superstition, as to the cause of the excellence of the Venetian Glass, which by Howel was ridiculously attributed to "Venice air." Its white Glass may, then, have been appreciated; but it is far inferior in pellucid refractibility to modern English crystal Glass. The finest pieces of ancient Venetian Glass-ware are rather celebrated for lightness than crystalline beauty; its is excellent, considering that lead forms no part of its composition.

Venice Glass was, however, in high repute in England in Howel's time; for, in another of his Letters, dated "Westminster, 15 Jan., 1835," we find the author thus writing "to Mr. T. Lucy, in Venice:" "My Lady Miller commends her kindly unto you, and she desires you to send her a compleat cupboard of the best crystall Glasses Murano can afford, by the next shipping." Drinking Glasses made at Venice were also about this time believed, by credulous persons, to have the property of breaking when a poisonous liquid was poured into them—an absurd belief referable to exaggeration of the celebrity of the manufacture. This alleged detective property is thus referred to by Sir Thomas Browne, in his work on Vulgar Errors: "Though it be said that poison will break a Venice glass, yet have we not met any of that nature."

The Venetians, also, originated the modern style of Glass-engraving which afterwards extended through all the Glass-making countries of Europe. The first specimen was scratched