The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-05-15
ItOIne.
correspondence of the HERALD

Holy Week IN Rome-An american II, the Vaticdn-
HIS Singular Fselings-Descriptiom OF the Scarlet
Lady OF Ba6yto,i-R,ssing the Pope's Toe-Piety
Of the Romams-Fo9y OF the Engiish- Curiosity
of the Yankees.
| leave here tomorrow morning for Marseies
and of course will be my own post-boy to that city
of this and the enclosed letters Our present lnten.
ton is to take the steamer for Spain, which will
afford an opportunity of touching at Barcelona,
Valencia and other cities on the coast On our ar
rival at Malaga, we purpose to visit Grenada, Glib
rater, Cadiz, Seville, Toledo Burgos, &C. &C.,
the Pyrenees TO Bayonne, go to Bordeaux, and
then return to Paris
Holy Week, to witness which, q learn from the po-
lice,) there are not less than 33 600 persons from
foreign countries mbled here in Rome. This
is the last week in lent, and intended to commence
rate the passion OF Jesus Christ The first ceremo.
ny took place at st. Peters on Sunday, the 9th inst
which was the conservation and distribution of the
palms by the Pope. Among those who approached
him for the purpose OF receiving them, was not a
he surprised to find several English officers in full
uniform, who went through the humiliating cere-
mony of kissing his foot. An immense concourse
OF people were present-seats were provided for the
ladies on platforms, who went in full mourning and
no gentleman was admitted within certain dis
lance, unless in similar costume and dress coat
Among the display of uniforms OF strangers that of
DuStdIHCHtcs oCNcIal dGu eA-IIeSlucnt Oh MEXICO,
was the grandest. having quite prouslon of dia.
mOnds on his badges and collar. The Pope, after
being carried in and out, seated in highly decora-
ted chair, borne on the shoulders of dozen per-
sons, returned, and taking seat on his throne,
which was richly ornamented, assisted at mass, the
service of which was very fine
On the 18th | went to ST. Peters to see the bene.
diction. At about noon, the Pope made his appear
ance in his usual state, at balcony in front Of the
church, when the crowd assembled in the piazza
mostly knelt down. After the blessing the bells
began to ring. accompanied BY a salute from
the cannon at the castle OF ST. Angelo. We
then proceeded to the saloon in which he
waited upon table, serving in person the thirteen
apostles, as they were called. The table was
decorated with flowers and small gided statues of
the apostles. The dinner was profuse and apparently
very good. Although the Pope handed them the
plates, they were presented to him by bishops on
| their knees This was TO show the Pope's hum
grms, and performed other ceremonies in St. Pc.
ers, for which, however, have too little taste to
| undertake relation.
On Good Friday, some relics were shown from
an upper Gallery of ST. Peters, said to be part of the
real cross, point OF the spear and handkerchief of
ST. Veronica, which retained the impression of the
face of Jesus Christ in blood, she having wiped his
face with it during his sufferings The greatest dis.
The Pope performed mass in person, with great
ponp. assisted by the cardinals. The vast asies of
| the building were filled by the people to sufoca-
| ton, except square formed by the troops-the
platforms were filled with ladies' and the effect was
gr md beyond description Even this was exceeded
short time afterwards by the display in the piazza,
when the Pope was brought again to repeat the
ceremony of giving his blessing to the multitude as
sembled below. The troops were present, and on
his appearance, the cannon, bells and drums gave
him deafening salute. The people knelt, and it is
said that there were not less than 10000 present on
this occasion. 1t was certainly very effective and
imposing ceremony. Our position was on the top Of
the circular corridor, where there was quite dis
play of beauty, as well a commanding view of
In the evening, took carriage and went to
see the illumination of st. Peters, which mag
niiicent beyond conception. On our arrival the
whole facade, the lofty dome, cross and ball on top
of il, together with the corridors around the piazza
were Int up with thousands OF lanihorns, tastefuly
arran ed so to strike out the features of the ar.
chitecture in the chastest style, and without apy
protuson of ornament. When the clock struck
eight, the be Ills rang peal, and simultaneously the
whole church, dome and corridors, were in blaze
of light, from the immense number of fires klnded
them, perhaps by means OF pitch some such
combnstible material, systematically arranged he
effect was magical and well worth visit to Rome
to witness We afterwards went to The Monte Pin
ces to get distant view of the same. The whole
building appeared one blaze of light-the cross,
which is about $50 feet high, Gas high the Pyra.
mid Of Cheops) somewhat brighter than the rest
After writing the above, we proceeded to take
our position among several other Americans, on a
balcony which we had secured overlooking the tt
ber to witness the fireworks from the castle of st.
Angelo, and which was to be the closing scene to
the festivities. My expectations had been raised very
high from the reports had heard OF them, but were
more than satisfied ! never before felt the inc fiji
cheney of language on this occasion No descrip-
ton can give the least idea OF this magnificent scene,
and it is well worth trip across the Atlantic.
When the clock struck nine the cannon from the
castle gave the signal for the opening display-which
burst of thousands-perhaps hundreds OF thou
sands of rockets, so DISPOSED as to initiate erup
ton of Vesuvus-the whole sky was in a blaze. and
the number so great that flames rose consider.
able distance the castle This was succeeded
by splenddy illuminated cathe dral, the spires of
which lowered on high, and which some 200
feet in length. The whole building appeared 10
sparkle with diamonds. After gorgeous display
of fancy fireworks which covered the whole castle,
it was caused to assume brilliant crimson colour,
(probablv by refection) of which the smoke that
was lowering over the scene also partook. At
times bursts of rockets of peculiar description
would cause heavy shower ofpurple and pink rain,
accompanied by immense hocks of birds and SER
penis Kissing through the air. At intervals brisk
feu de- joie with the accompaniment of heavy artil
lery proceeded from the castle. This splendid
scene kept constantly changing to fountains imitat
ing those at Rome-the falls of Tivoli-or some
new and attractive shape, until final eruption of
rockets like the first. Ifcaed on hereafter to name
the most stupendous and attractive scene | ever
witnessed, should have to answer that never be-
held any thing TO compare with the grandola of the
castle OF ST. Angelo.