The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-12-13
sSAtBceIk1Mp.
LETTERS FRo.M EUROPE.
No. LXXXVI,
RSEJIJ.Es MARC

A bright sunny morning found rs irav-
ersing a wide plain, enclosed by an am
phitheatre Of hills, with snow-clad peaks
of the Alps in the distance on the left.
At the village of Pierrclatle, "a lofty
ridge of mountains terminates in bold,
rugged cliffs near the bank of the
fthone. From the beautiful plain which
the road traverses after leaving this vii
lage, there is fine view Of Mont Ven
toux, or the Mountain of the Winds, at
The distance OF several miles TO the left.
IL is tne highest hill in all this region, lis
snowy top being often lost in the clouds.
while lis base is covered with perennial
verdurh. Petrarch climbed to lis sum-
nit in the year 1886. He has given an
amusing account of his excursion in
letter 10 Father Dennis, written 10 a
cottage at the foot of mountain, on a
bright moonlight evening. His letter
relates an incident which seemed so mar.
vellous, that he thought it necessary TO
call God and his brother, Che compan-
ion OF his tour 10 bear witness TO rs
truth. On opening the Confessions of
81. Augustine, which had been taken
with him TO aid his solitary meditaions,
his eye accide ntally fell on the following
passage Is Men go far to observe the
SUBMITS OF mountains, the waters of the
sea, the beginnings and the courses of
rivers, the immensely of the ocean but
they neglect themselves !" Such a lesson,
learned amidst the soIitudes of Ventoux,
made deep impression upon his heart,
and augmented his sense of guilt, arising
from his unconquerable passion for Lau
ia.
A few miles farther on, we crossed
the track of Hannibal in his march from
Spain into Italy. No traces of his path
way alter the passage Of the Rhone are
70 be found, and his route over the Alps
is mere matter of conjecture. From
the broad ard fertile }Iain consecrated
oy The heroic enterprise OF The Cartha-
genan, we caught the first view of Az
ignon, seated round the rock of Dons,
on the left bank OF the Bhoue, lifting its
massive ramparts, lis casteliated heights,
IFS hundred antique towers and steeples
above the surrounding vale, and the
river which washes lis Foundations
The situation of the town is beautiful.
and lis structures yet exhibit the display
of iapal magni6cence, layished by the
Popes during residence here Of seven
ty-two years. Our entrance was by "a
circuitous route, leading half way round
the city, Immediately under the walls,
and along an immense quay, planted
with trees, apparently designed rather
for public walk than as the seat of CON-
merce. The bulwarks and gates are in
as good repair, and as strongly barrica-
decd as they probably were in the four
teenth century, though at present there
seems 10 be little danger of capture or
pillage.
We arrived at O'Clock in the after
noon, and obtained excellent accommo-
datiops at the Hotel de I'Europe. 1t
happened to be the last day ofthe Carni-
val, the great feast among the Roman
Catholics. As Aviguon was long the
residence of the papal see, and accus-
toned 10 all the pomp and parade OF
the ecclesiastical court, its inhabitants
imbibed taste for religious ceremonies
and spectacles, which continues 10 this
day, and gives TO the Carnival as much
eclat as in an Italian town. Soon after
our arrival, long procession, composed
OF the military, of persons in masks, and
OF multitude of both sexes, accompa-
MED by full band of music, paraded
through the principal streets, To close
the splendid and noisy exhibition, a
handsome lady and one or two children,
arrayed in gorgeous attire, and decked
with wreaths OF flowers, rode through
the town in triumphal car, strewipg
oranges and other presents TO the
crowd as they passed. The sashes
were raised, and all the beauty and
taste of Avignon appeared at the win
dows. Festivity and mirlh, attended as
is usual with y degree of licentiousness,
reigned through the ancient head-quar-
tiers of popery ; and enough of the Car
nival was seen by US, without being at
Rome or Venice.
On the declivity, not far from the
summit of the eminence, stands the Pal
ace of the Popes, colossal edifce,
three stories high, presenting majestic
front, but containing little which can in
terest the traveller. The exterior is in
bad aste, and bears the marks Of decay.
One end Of it is occupied as the Caihe-
dral, 10 front of which stands lofty cru
cifix, bearing bleeding image Of the
Saviour, attended by four angels. A
group of poor women were kneeling
upon the steps of the pedestal, uttering
their pray ers, regardless of the gaiety
- x,,b;,n othnr MANA .nI,Irsoc