[Letter XLI, Vol. 2] 

I have now something to say of the music in the air. Though it is undoubtedly of an inferior description to what may be had in the theatres, the street music of Italy, from the general diffusion of this species of talent, on which I have already remarked, is to be considered as infinitely superior to that of the rest of Europe. The present favourite air, "which carmen whistle," is the "Di tanti palpiti" in TANCREDI; which is warbled with as much passion as the most tolderollol tunes are bawled about in England. But here it is curious to watch the progress of refinement. The music is not too delicate for the merest mountaineer; but he often embodies it in words which are more within his reach.