Got a good dinner at my locanda, which is a very excellent one, and went in the evening to the Opera: “La Gazza Ladra,” by Rossini: the Prima Donna who acted the Maid was Amati; a pretty, fat, good-humoured looking woman, but no great singer. Asked my way to the Gran Torre (which was my landmark), as I came home, of a gentleman, who very civilly accompanied me: had some conversation with him. He said Rossini was sempre quello, and imitates himself in everything […] A little astonished this evening at hearing an ostler sing in the yard, “Di tanti palpiti.”