Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-08-01
sas:srrllamcetss Department.

y"
The following description the Apollo Rcyierc hoarh
his'iy wrought, will hardly be thought cxJavagan by
these who have enjoyed the enviabc privilege Of
ms that matches statue.
"Neyer, never was there revealed 20 the dreams Of
gifted genius vision of such celestial, such sous
bcami"g beauty! The god of light, and poesy and
imagination stands confessed to our dazzled senses
aud well does he stand here where every thing seems
oo:ea'e an" burn with his essence where all around
- bis creation, and every tributary form bows to him.
lie Is no nliabi'ant OF the EARTH though he ciqns 10
! read IT. Ills home is in the heavens. lie looks be
moves he oreaihes god. Divinity is stamped on his
prov; 2odiihe maes,y beams from his front. Those
Hyperion curls cluster round brow formed to com,
mand. Milton seems 10 have had in view his Inc
io'n' in his description of cur first parent
Ills fair large front, and eye sublime, declared
! Absolute rule, ard ny acmiiuc locks
Round FROM his parted iog clock many hung
Clustering, but not beneath his shoulders broad
''liis is not merely the rudo power of physical
strength that nerves the muscles and swellS the limbs
of Hercules; it is the npeh 0 mind which raises hin,
above brute force, and makes us feel that "a god,
visible god before and that his triumph secure
for vanly would mortal presume to contend with
him.
siIe does not bend on us that serene eve. Some
object more distant, but beneath, him. Tor a moment
attracts his regard Some feeling transient ndiena
ton aud disdain swells his nos ills, and slightly curs
his full upper lip Yet, digniiied and unperturbe bed
conscious of his power and undoubtng his success he
gives one proud glance to the reptile he scorns
perish by his dart, and scarcely pauses his majestic
coutse. mat inc uelty mas Just deiGneu 10 say the
Pythian serpent, is think, evident in the whole
air, action, and expression of the heavenly archer
that am astonished there be any doubt of it,
| "The left hand and arm have been most ciumsly
restored by some bungling sculptor. The rin Int arm
and the foot and ankle, which factured are anci.
emit but they have been badly repaired that every
thing possible has been done innre it, but in vain
That II is the finest statue in the world feel better
Than all the canons of criticism prove it. Vain.
indeed is hero the cold language of critics and connc
seurs. The heart and mind feel lis power and are
penetrated with its transcendent beauty The Venus
H Nledcis is beautiful but hers Is mere mortal beauty
low far removed from the unapproaclabe perfection
OF the heavenly Apoilc
GLOW often, while gazcd upon il in silent ana.
unuttera5e admiration did be instinct witt,
spirit and with life! How often did feel this form
indeed the babitaon of deity. And is !, the creaoo
or mnD? Did he call 1t forth in beauty and endoty il
with eternal YOUTH TO dwell in the light of immortality
Oh earth: was being so infinitely superior. formed
and fashioned BY his hand' II is ideal beauty revealed
TO our senses; and is perhaps sole instance that
man IS Indeed capable of pcrsonating the image of that
sublime perfection which is formed within his SOUL
Can the mind revert to the period when this shapeles
block of marble was hewn from the quarry without
amazement-without almost being tempted TO think
that the being that formed it, and Impressed upon if
those attributes must have been endowed with more
Than mortal powers! could gaze upon forever with
und'mlnshed admiration; and like tie Hthenap who
thought him unfortunate that had seen lie Jupiter
Olympias of fhdias PITY the who has not behel
the Apollo Bovidere." Vol i. Up i27-I29.
isaNeiefS are generally agreed I'D their admiration
Of the tserere which performed in the Sstine Chan.
Ell during the holy week Its astonishing effects are
thus forcibiy described:
CATER deep and most impressive pause OF silence,
the sc!mn Miserere commenced! ana never BIZ mortal
ear heard strain Of such powerful snch heart mo
wing Pathos The accodan tones of n hundred human
voiccs-and one which seemed more than hu.nan-a.
cended together 10 heaven for mercy 70 rnanl.nd-for
pardon to guilty and SHINING III. II had nothing
IN IT of this ear,h-nong that breaIed the ordinary
feelings of nature. 1t seemed as every sense and roy
er had been concenrcd into that paintiyc expression
of amentaton, fdeep suffering md supp,icat ion which
possessed the soul 1t the strain shat J;sembo, led
spirits might have used who had just passed Tie ooun
DIARIES OF DEATH and sought release from The nysieli-
Gus weight OF wo and the trcnbIings of mortal agony
that they had suffered in ie passage of the grave i
was the music Of another stale of being.
cit lasted Till the shadows OF evening fell deeper and
the red dasky glare, II issued stronger from the CON
-eaed recess, whence tlc singing proceeded shed =
partial, but strong light upon the figures near it,
at ceased-a priest with light moved across the
chapel and carried boo! 10 the officiating cardinal!
who read few words i'll an awful and impressive tone
"Ihen again the light Disappeared and The last the
most enhancing harmony arose, in strain that mi
| bave moved heaven itself-a deeper, more pathetic
sound OF iamenatIoD than mortal voices ever hreaiheJ
"its effect upon the minds OF those who heard it.
almost too powerful to be borne, and neyer-Deyer cal
be forgotten. One gentleman tainted and was carried
out; and many of the ladies were in agitation
even more distressing, which they va:nly struggled to
suppress.
at Che music Of AI!egri; but the cornnostou
however tine, is nothing without the voices who par-
formed here. II Only the singers of the papa cha
pei who execute The hiiserere II has been tried
by the by, by the best singers in GERMANY and to!a lis
failed of effect
There is never any accompaniment, ihon Oh at times
the SOLEMN swell of the sofoncd organ seemed 10 blend
with the voices.
"rbs music more wonderful, and lis effect, more
powerful than any thing could have conceiyea."-
| Vol. ii. PIP. Go
The authors account OF her presentation to the Pope
! Plus Viz is entertaining:
! "io day we were presented to the Pope in summer
house of the Vatican gardens, where he went 10 re-
ceye us, for his holiness may not admit female With
IN the sanctuary OF his palace Now, to my thinking
his stealing III this private manner into the garden 10
meet ladies' according TO previous designations wears
much more equyocal appearance, and might, indeed,
give rise TO much scandal.
Give O'Clock The hour fixed for the interview: