laudatory words.

The industries of Murano had always been dear to the senatorial heart,
but of late years the fostering care of the Republic had been increased
to an unprecedented degree, and the stimulus thus given to the workmen
of Murano had been evidenced in a series of brilliant discoveries, so
that the marvel of their fabrics had become as much a source of jealousy
to other nations as of revenue and pride to the Republic.

Thus the affair of this gift-piece of crystal was deemed of quite
sufficient importance to occupy the attention of the senators, who
prepared themselves to listen with every symptom of interest to this
report of the exhibit of Murano, which had been read on the previous day
before the Ten.

It had chanced before that these reports had been followed by words of
commendation, but it had rarely happened that a young noble had been
summoned before the Collegio to receive such a testimonial, and the
occasion lost none of its interest from the fact that many of those
present had witnessed the presentation of the summons in the banquet
hall of the palazzo Giustiniani.

The famous goblet, by order of the Senate, was also present, as a proof
that the laudatory words pronounced by the Secretary of the Ten at the
close of the report were well deserved.

It was not often that a member won distinction on the day of his
entrance to the Gran' Consiglio; the favor shown by the Senate was
great; the position of the Ca' Giustiniani among the proud Venetian
nobility was beyond question; and some of the fathers of the young and