The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-08-30
AMUSING MISCELLANY.
FROM THE ANTHOLOGY.
Original Letters, from an american Traveller
in Enrofsc,t TO Ms friends an this country.
LETTER SIXTEENTH.
Malice, Dec. 80, 1904.
MY bfAh SISTER,

ny bfAh SISTER,
ADJOINING the august church of St. Peters,at
Rome, is the much celcbr ated papal palace Of the
Vatican. This, though not the ordinary, may be
considered as the state residence of the popes 1t is
The place where, on grand occasions, the concaye
assemblies, ard where, shut up in email and SOLITARY
tos they proceed TO fiji up the vacancy in the opos
soEck office. The occasion OF this singular imprson-
mcnt was the intrigue which formerly prevailed, and
often DELAYED the election of pope: To prevent
which, the Electoral College is confined till the cleo
ton is made. 4
All the talents, wealth and taste possessed, or
which could be bought by the influence of papal
authority, has been exeited in rendering this palace
worthy Of the dignity Of the Roman church, and Of
the sussccssor Of ST. Peter In it assembled the
chef d'rNrcs of Grecian and Roman sculpture, and
the Incompatible penormarces Of modern painters.
The lodges, painted by the hand of Raphael, cor.
tanning the story Of the creation, and the history Of
the Jews till the birth of Saviour, known to
every man of taste. Being in Fresco, Cor the walls)
French c.pidity could not remove, however it might
covet them The Sextinc chapel, painted by Michael
Angelo, ard the chambers, begun by Raphael, and
fnishishcd by his friends and pupil, Julio Romano,
would alone suffice to render the Vatican the most
interesting building in Europe. But the Vatican is
wonderful in every view Its position Is delightful
commanding view Of the whole city ard enyirons,
bounded by the snowcovercd Apppcnnines. Its Iii.
1ncnsions are incredible, containing, it is said,
200 court yards and 10000 chambers Certain it's,
that il is so high, that they have made the great
staircase of gentle ascent, that mules pass and
pass quite to the top OF the sdfcc, to supply the IN
habtants with those ncccssarics, which would re-
uuirc too much h,,sidn hbour TO furnish. The most
extraordinary and intere ling object in the Vatican,
sakenin al its views, is the very celebrated library,
conceded 10 be the largest in the known world The
Tlodlcan library, at Oord has some pretcnsions to
be its rival in numbers, but else. The keeper of the
3odeian library in nothing remarked to me, that the
Vatican had been larger but since the plumber Of the
French il had ceased to be Now the French, by
treaty with the pope, were entitled only to 500 manu-
scripts 1t could have but little effect on library OF
100000 volums. You have seen the library at our
University and when you fancy fifteen times lar
ger, you will form opinion Of the splcndour of
the Vatican. The rooms, IN which the books are
placed are of splendour proportionabe to the mag
niiccnce Of the establishment. The building is in
the form Of T.. The perpendicular part is about
200 feet long and the upper part 900 feet which Is
four times as long as any single room devoted
60 the same purposes, whic, have seen in any part
OF Europe The coup d'oiI, from one end TO the 9TH
&c of this immense apartment, is very magnificent.
The arrangement is correspondent 10 the magDiiic-
cncc and tho splcndour OF the apartments not in-
frriour to either Each particular subject, upon
which the books treat, is placed IN distinct slcovcs
The books are inclosed in cases, which are shut up
n front 10 secure them from the effects Of weather
and light Each compartment is marked with the
subject or class of literature, contained in IT, such
Challean," Arabick. !" Gteek, kr works in those
languages. Tisis order is universal. Every COM
pari,nent is also enriched with painting, Illustrative
of tho subject These paintings are all executed by
the first artists, and az they wen knew that their
works woad be exhibited TO all the connoisscurs Of
Europe, each one has exertcd himself to excel The
ingenuity and invention ofthe several painters are
exquisite. They cannot be described imagined.
1hty must be seen in order to be felt
Every inventor OF imProvcr Of the arts OF painting,
or any or the other parts contributing to science
taste represented in different parts Of this magni-
a,.nf room The inventors and distinguished promo
tcrs Of different arts and sciences, have place in
,is collection, that the Vatican library Is really in-
tcressing, as series Of historick paintings. One
roon s also devoted to the exhibition Of the rdest
specimens Of paper and wliung and Of the progress
st<r improvement Of arts. ICsniinHeal