Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1839-09-26

OF which there are two in the choir It's silver
eandelabras and branches six feet high silver
tables. aud urns il!ed with perfumed spirit. and
constantly eEai,iing odors from the mos, costly
spices with the silver cherubirns perohcd IN every
direction, holding eensers OF perfume. were near
iy all melted up AT the downfall OF Lima, m July,
eighteen hundred aud ,weniy-one, when san
Martin, and his Minister. Monte Agudo, took
b ihs lead and devastated Peru
y The order OF Franeiscans. TO whore Monastery
this church II attached. Is very numerous IN LII
ma. They succeeded At the extinction Of the
JesnIts Tin one thousand seven hundred and
-sxty-seveu. in the reign Of Charles the Third Of
Spain, Clement Fourteenth being Pepe) to all
che missions among the Indians.
IL - held a duty for every one 10 confess on
Good Friday, and you perceive persons hurrying
along through the streets on f,sot--no carriages
are TO be seen during Passion Week 10 the streets
The bells are all silent Friday and Saiur-
a day during he time that the body Of Christ hays
en,ombed. The churches are all closed, though
the chanting of the monks IL heard within. On
Good Friday, at Callao, all the Spanish days Of
The ships and castles were hoiStcd haf-mast
high. Ga the evening of Good Friday went
10 'hc grand square, where 4 friend Of mine rc-
sides, 90 see the professions. The different acts
q 'hc holy drama representing The passion Of our
saviour passed through the streets. followed hy
NC officers Of Governments, cr,il and military,
accompanied by bands OF mt &c with muiled
Gsums, performing painiivc solemn dirgcs, aud
Monks chanting the Miserere canopics Of pur-
pie SILK, brilliant with gold and embroidery, were
eleTaied over the different figures ON The plat
forms, borne high IN The air. The Pricr OF the
Convent Of ST. Domingo bore aluft tie Sanc;um
Lignum CTucis, the precious relic cncaScd IN
cross OF gold, his head sheltered by SIX canopy
borne BY the Monks. The Virgin folloucd and
SAINT Helena, mother Of the Emperor Ccnsian-
tine, The dress Of the Virgin was studded with
JcSe!Iy. the stcnacher and long train in The
fashion OF The last century. Two files ol cli-
zenS, bearing large wax iapcrs three feet in
height, accompau Il the professions. The last
act vas our Saviour, OF colossal size nailed 10
the cross, represented with painful truth OF ex-
Preston. The different platforms passed from
Lie CoavcBt Of ~. Domingo around the great
square aai through The princ pal streets lhrons u,
snd hrishi as day, with brilliant i!iuminations
LrcTy church vas illuminated All the mllta-
~ IN their splendid uniforms, AMI servants in
say lNc.ies, followed these professions, which
lad not been equalled IA maEnifcence for tea
years ia Lima. Diamonds and rubics decorated
81 the principal hgu.cs rc>p,endcnt IN The Vivid
l'lrhiuesS The last spectacle was on Easter
Sunday, before eight o'clock IN the morning
lac GlcEa or Ascension, which rose 10 see az
g.! slccq!eSs night, celebrated in tie different
Churches 10y shower Of light iSsuins from be-
hnd the great altar. The ladies all then ap-
pcared 40 full dress, aiirel IN ihe saye,i colors
and al habits o: rejoicing Fon; thousand peo-
pie had SnPPcd ia the great square, seated on the
ground. the night preceding Easter SUNDAY, these
gay groups covering the whole surface pass
ing the night Ia jubilee and ecsiasy-SluiLs
aud rockets were firing, and the bells ringing
throughout the night with deafcning noise
Twelve O'Clock Is the signal Tor Tie supper in the
great square, when the servants brought me
particular kInd OF pudding, which II is the Gus
tom ct iiic people % cal on this occasion le.,rc
Commencing supper, TO terminate Passion Week
made Of Indian meal, not quite Us good as our
tlum case; bat managed TO cat piece TO con-
Tiacc ihem Of my orthodoxy, or to gsaiify thsif
Kind wish TO have me pariakc OF all their fes,i-
V''es Leaf concludes hy burning judas lscari-
a. SuTcndc, N line across the streets a, most
THE (Pn.peIiaS) shops Tor selling pisco, refresh
ncn.s, &c.
Christmas Eve, called the AIisl DC Gallos, IS
celebrated ia the same manner - the people sup
Ping in ;he great square with much rejoicing and
insoecai mirh, unaeeOmpanied by the slightest
uhTePse2sed riot Stands containing fruits, sweet
meats, and flowers are scattered about, and
hundred little fires preparing the sappcr and ff,-
ing FISH and cakes, and gas groups are secl Of
the letter sort Of Ihs population who have spread
their table cloths on ihe mother earb enjoying
their primitive innocent fc,hyiiy. Dnnng Pa
lac fart lotl L
abroad. IL IS not permitted, for male or female.
al any time, TO cater a church bur in n black
dress, and with the head uncovered, Is a marx
OF respect.
As no one can drive out in a carriage during
Passion Week, the streets are "nuy moy tri.irs,
eIcepl when enl,yencd at night by illum.nalions
and professions, Of which the inhabitants here
speak with rapiures as Of some sccnicG DIS
rly. Ia decoration fue muy hermoSa &c
bal, u lawgivef, I should lesiiaie before sup
pressing ceremonies which excite 50 lively an IN
tcIe,t ia tlis imaginative people, and attach them
- much 10 the,r religion, with which they are
Identified and satisfied. Like the Turk, 10 lhi,
respect they preach no sermons TO convince
others Of what They never doubt Different srciS
never here arse with every ingenuity Of afsu-
meat 10 prove their own superior claim 90 or'ho-
doKy, oEen introducing feelings of intolerance
~ the place Of Christian fofJearancc snd alb
sfuse speculauous at she expense Of active be-
neyohnce, and charity which cndurcih long b,
KIND aud euylclh not "And FASTENED 10 a.
sure them that though ihcy might diIcf from
those Of my own, hal every possible respect
Tor the eIgi0us rules Of every Christian commu-
nifty, sensible that we addressed ihc same Derry
on the same grand principle Of salvation, though
with different forms, wl,ich yarsetJ 81 woi,hip,
had Il not pleased the Almighty To permit our
ob'ervances, would have been a. distinctly pre-
scnJed 10 as they are laij down under the
Mosaic Law."t ~ the riffdaRlHio of their ~
stiutions u would De desirable d some OF thcu