In April I saw races for six oars, four oars, two oars, and men-of-war's boats.

The ordinary rowers were dull, but the powerful bending gondoliers urging their frail craft along with tremendous strokes in unison were a magnificent spectacle.

The excitement was intense towards the end, but there was no close finish.

Between the races the exchange of chaff among the spectators was continuous.
The question of where to live in Venice must, I think, be a difficult one to solve.

I mean by live, to make one's home, as so many English and Americans have done.