Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-01-06

Ftom che INs,o York States man.

1cfits Anu icaShS UCuiIS ava "VFtuiy
thoughts anu unbecoming gaities, let
US appi zach s. the Sisters of the Visi-
tation," for that is the order of these
nuns. although the exterior of the
baii6;ng is not remarkably imposing,
tie first sight of it produced q strong
and deep impression upon my mind.
1 had never before seen a moIastic.
jnstitutisn, and view of this awcke
a train of ideas and associations, ex-
teuling back tliro' the lapse Of CEN
turtles, and reviviag the recollection
Of all the snperstitious and roman
&c tales of the dark ages. The
sad story of Ahelard and Eloisa
was at every step present 10 my mind;
and as gazed upon this silent aud
solitary edItice, which is three sto-
ries high, and the massey walls Of
brick and stone as ! observed the
Few small windows ci,.ssly curtained,
to shut out tue glare Of the world,
aud almost the light Ut heaven; as |
cast my eyes towards the little Cha
Del, with cross over each door, aud
the solemn inscription ON white
marble slab" vopete, ct reddite DO.
slino Dec yesero''- feelings were
irrcsistaHy tinged with melancholy,
and naturally suggested The pathetic
lines Of the poet:
seasIentless walls whose darksome round
contains
Repentant signs, and voluntary pains;
We rugged rocks! which holy knees have
worn;
Ye sross and eaverns shagg'd with horrid
thorn.
Shrines where their vigils pale eyed virgins
keep,
And pity ny saints, whose stutues learn to
weep!''
The chapel is q fine building, high
ly finished. and orhamented with a
variety of paintings. Near the en-
trance and immediately over the holy
water, is a splendid priat, presented
to the sisters Of the Visitation by NJ.
Byde de Melville. On the front Of
the Altar is painting, which is we'll
executed, but the device to me was
novel. lis an illustration of a pas
sage in one Of the Evangelists-
Sc whithers0ever the carcase is, there
shall the eagles be gathered to.
gether." Two eagles votant support
inlet. bearing the foregoing words.
Below are two other spread eagles,
and in the centre figure probably
intended to be emblamatic Of the mys-
tical body. Over The altar is paint
ing, which represents Christianity
trampling upon the crescent-an
image which shpAd be reversed SO
far as it regards. Greece. Above
this is the representation of a bleed
ing heart, surrounded with a wreath
OF th0riis, which is the most promi-
neat figure in the church, being de-
Gneated on assky-light of pale blue.
o. the right of the altar, is wood
en- CRATE communicating with the
.Nunnery, to which the sisterhood
Approach for the purpose of uniting
In public devotion.
Having examined this neat little
chapel, we went to the door of the
Convent, and rung bell, which was
answered by another, and soon after
one of the sisters appeared. and knelt
As she approached the wooden CRATE
which separated a.. Mr.. Fenwick
explained the sbj Jet ofoar visit; that
). We were strangers who wished to
look at the Nunnery, and converse
with some OF the sisterhoed. We
were then admitted inlo the Speaking
Room, as it is called. which is sepa.
rased firm the sancium Sanctorum by
substantial wooden bars, resembling
the CRATES ola prison. A dozen of
the sisters soon made their appear
ance, kBelt, and saluted their WISH
tants in polite and cautious man
ner. They were clad in sable gar
ments. with deep black hoods, and
white wells descending to the waist.
They requested Us 10 take seats, and
themselves took chairs, thus forming
a social party with bolts and bars
between US. asccrtained that one
OF the sisters was from New York.
There are several from Philadelphia,
and one ii no Incre from New Eng
land, the wife Of a respectable cler-
gyman. who, with her three children,
have gone into The Nunnery, While
he has becpme q Catholic pr.iest.-.