The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-08-30


verify Of large portion Of the people, that
am assured that one-tenih part, that is $4,000,
depend on the support Of the city in one way
or another, or on begging in the streets. There
is absolutely no end TO the beggars whom one
meets in this city. When you go out OF your
door you are speedily beset by beggars OF all
descriptions, young and old, male and female.
1t is no uncommon thing to be surrounded by
half dozen at once. Go where you will,
you will be beset by them; they follow you
into the churches even, and you cannot visit
palace, or gallery of paintings, without be-
ing escorted to the door by company OF them,
and met by another set, or tho same, as soon
as you come out of 1t. Indeed, the number
of beggars here, and their importantly, are
very great drawback upon the pleasure OF see
ing this city. You cannot visit ruin, or any
antiquity, without having your attention con-
stantly called of by the doleful application OF
some beggar.
To-day we saw the collection of paintings
which is in the palace of Cardinal Fesch.
Many of these paintings are admirable.
Among the most perfect, one may specify
Semirams at her toilet, by Mengs; PHI
losopher, by Gerard Dow some landscapes
by Paul Potter Peter denying his Master,
by Gherardo dele Note and above all, the
Magdalenc, by Vandyke. There arc more
than 1900 paintings in this palace, and a very
large proportion Of them are excellent. There
are fine busts also Of Napoleon and Josephine
in the chamber where the cardinal sleeps.
Visited again the Vatican, and took look
at the Apollo Belvidere, the group of LAGOON,
the statues of Minerva and Nerva, as well as
r.. J,In ~
grow weary Of seeing these admirable spccl-
mems Of sculpture saw also some OF the
most remarkable manuscripts in the library,
Spent the afternoon in visiting the tomb OF
the Scipios the arch of Drusus the valley
and the fountain, falsely 50 called, OF Egerla;
an old temple Of Vcs,a; the circus and tenn
pie of Romulus, son Of Maxcntius; and the
tomb of Cecilia Metella, the wife OF Crassus.
The tomb of the Scipios is full of interest;
here were buried some Of the best Of the Ro-
mans. The circus Of Romulus is in by far
the best state Of preservation, of all the cir
cuscs Of Rome. 1t is at considerable dis
lance from the city, and to the left of the APP
plan way
6th.-This morning we went to see the
palace of Pamphili-Doria, which stands on
the ancient Mons Janicnlo'rs, and OF course on
the west side of tho Tybcr; it is in fact, out
of the city. The gardens attached to this
palace are beautiful, and the view from the
top of it is very extended, not only over Rome
itself; but over the whole country, from the
Apprentices to the Mediterranean. In one of
the gardens, there are to be seen some OF the
ancient Coltmbaria, or places where were
buried the ashes Of the slaves. These colun-
baria were ancient sub,crrancan chambers,
of II or Is feet by 10, and about 10 feet
deep. All around them were tiers OF holes
in the walls, each about ten inches square, in
which the urns or carthen vessels containing
the ashes of the consumed bodies, were
placed. These were called coiambaria, (from
the word COLUMBIA, pigeon because of their
resemblance to pigeon-holes.
Visited the Farncsc palace, in which there
is celebrated lresco painting representing
The story of Psyche and Cupid; and another
Of Gaatea and her nymphs.
Visited also the Borghcsc palace, in which
there are many excellent paintings, which |
cannot speak Of in detail The taking Of the
Saviour down from the cross, by Raphael;
the Cumaen Sybil by Domnichino the
Chase Of Diana, by the same, may be men
toned as excellent. There are many others
which arc scarcely inferior to these.
Visited also the Doria palace, where there
are some admirable paintings, among which
may mention several landscapes by Claude
Lorraine; Cain and Abel, by Salvador Rosa
Rubcnss wife, by Rubcns; a Magdalcn, by
Nurlllo; marriage supper, by Tenlcrs
Joseph, Mary, and the infant Saviour; and
the sacrifice Of Abraham, by Titan.
I Visited also the studio, or shop, of the cce-
bratcd Danish sculptor Thorwaldscn, and
found some beautiful statues under way. A
fine bust Of Napoleon struck me much. Thor
wallscn is engaged in moulding set of the
twelve apostles and our Saviour, in colossal
size, in order to make bronze ornaments FOR 1
church in Copenhagen.
7th-Nisired the ruins Of the. former church
Of St. Paul which the pope is causing to be
rcbuilt.-This church was the most ancient
in Rome, and was very splendid one. II
was burnt in lS23.-'rhc new church will be
not less splendid than the ancient one. But
it seems almost inconceivable why such
church should be built on the bank of the
Ilbcr, at such n distance below the CITY,
where there is but a small population, and
where the malaria Is so bad during the sum-
mcr that tho priests can hardly stay there.
Descended into the catacomhs, from tho
church of st. Sebastian, which is a church
out Of the city, to the southeast. 1t is said
that 10000 Christians were buried there in
the ages Of persecution. Their bones have
all been removed, and mcst Of them have been
carried, as relics, to various parts Of the
world.
Visited the Corsni palace, where there
are many excellent paintings, few of which
! would specify in naming Muril!o's Ma
donna. 'ritian's Woman taken in adultery,
Guides Hcrodias, and Guercino's Eccc
Homo
Visited again St. Peters The view from
the top is most. extensive and Interesting