But  although  there  is  no  formal  garrifon
in  a  military  uniform,  yet  there  is  a  real
effedive  force  fufficient  to  fupprefs  any
popular  commotion,  at  the  command  of
the  Senate,  and  Council  of  Ten.  This
force,  befides  the  Sbirri,  confifts  of  a  great
number  of  flout  fellows,  who,  without  any
diftinguifhing  drefs,  are  kept  in  the  pay  of

Government,


MANNERS    IN   ITALY.  229

Government,  and  are  at  the  command  of
that  Council.  There  is  alfo  the  whole
body  of  the  gondoleers,  the  moft  hardy
and  daring  of  the  commonVenetians.  This
body  of  men  are  greatly  .attached  to  the
nobility,  from  whom  they  have  moft  of
their  employment,  and  with  whom  they
acquire  a  certain  degree  of  familiarity,  by
paffing  great  part  of  their  time,  fliut  up  in
boats,  in  their  company,  and  by  being
privy  to  many  of  their  love  intrigues.
Great  numbers  of  thefe  gondoleers  are  in
the  fervice  of  particular  nobles  ;  and  there
is  no  doubt,  that,  in  cafe  of  any  popular
infurredion,  the  whole  would  take  the
fide  of  the  nobility  and  Senate,  againft  the
people.  In  ilioft,  they  may  be  cpnfidered
as  a  kind  of  {landing  militia,  ready  to  rife
as  foon  as  the  Government  requires  their
fervices.
Laftly,  there  is  the  Grand  Council  itfelf,

which,  in  cafe  of  any  violent  commotion

of  the  citizens    and    populace,    could    be

0^3  armed


530        VIEW  OF  SOCIETY   AND

armed  directly,  from  the  fmall  arfenal
within  the  Ducal  palace,  and  would  prove
a  very  formidahle  force  againfl:  an  unarmed
multitude ;  for  the  laws  of  Venice  forbid,
imder  pain  of  death,  any  citizen  to  carry
fire-arms ;  a  law  which  is  very  exadly  exe-
cuted by  the  State  Inquifitors.
