New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-03-23

by the columns winch support tile dFCneSi puI oh
the other it is surrounded by solid wall which
is covered with fresco paintings Of various SCRIP
tural subjects, TO many Of which good Catholic
is obliged to take off his hat as he passes. Crowds
of beggars line the arcade, and appeal at once to
your charity and pety, promising you all bles-
sings from the Virgin whose chapel IS above, II
you will drop quattrino in their hats. From
the summit OF the hill the view is magnificent.
To the South stretches out an immense PLAIN
rich with woods, vineyards and olive groves and
dotted with villages; on the North rise mountains
on mountains swelling and sinking in abrupt peaks
graceful hollows, and in the Eastern horizon you
first see the line Of the Adrlatlc sea.
Between Vicenza and Padua the vines hang
from tree to tree in graceful festoons laden with
purple grapes in rich Profuslons. The villagers
were gathering the grapes and pruning the vines
by the same operation, cutting off the upper
branches by hooked blade at the end OF a long
stick. For few cents we bought many as
would nearly fill the well OF the carriage and all
ofthc fines, flavor, and doub!y grateful when eaten
by the side of the picturesque vines on which
they grew. The vintages had, however, nothing
romantic about Them and the women were de-
formed by mems hats so that with their en-
Drowned compilations they might easily pass for
Indian squaws. The villas which abound beside
the road, have the outer walls lined with naked
statues, but are themselves without any preten-
sons TO beauty, and the barns are much hand
somer than the houses, as is so universally the
case in German Pennsylvania. In four hours
from Vicen1a we reached PADUA where we dis
charged the uetturino who had for so many days
been our friend and servant.
The streets of Padua, like those of the Swiss
Berne (s Arcades ambo') are lined with dark and
massive arcadcs, so that you walk over the whole
city entirely under cover, except IN crossing the
streets. Through these we threaded our way
tie next day after our arrival to the famous
church of Saint Anthony, the great wonder of
Padua At first sight it seems like collection
of Turkish mosques, and more appropriate to
Constantnople than to Italy, with us five domes,
three spires and two minarets, and its vast ire
is perfect wilderness of cathedral; twenty
smaller churches branch off from the great one,
bat though all have some interesting pecuarltles,
the rest are overlooked beside the magnlicence
of the Chapel of ST. Anthony, or I" The SAINT,
as he is here called as if there were no other one
in the calendar. The front of this chapel is sup
ported on five arches, through which is seen the
altar blazing with gold, silver and jewels. lis
only light is from The lurid lamps, which burn
before it night and day. Two Of them are OF
richly chased gold Formerly there was third,
presented by the Grand Signor of Turkey to
the GREAT saint, bat it was melted down IN the
revolution to pay the French the hundred thou,
sand francs which they demanded as ransom
for the relics of ST. Anthony. The sculptures IN
the chapel are very litc-llke under the artificial
light, and the statues which are dlmly seen around
the shrine seem ready at moments warning
to leap forward in its defence.
Coffee.houses are usually very commonplace
affairs, but in this country even they become TO
mantle. or at least one of them, the CGtc Pe
drocchi Of Padut. 1t is magnificent cdltlce o.
white marble with broad portlcocs supported by
Auted columns, tcssclatcd pavements, and suits
Of rooms lined with mirrors, brilliantly iumi
mated at night, and crowded by gay dressed
ladies and gentlemen. a few years ago its pro
prietor, Pedrocchi, got meager living by selling
coffee in a mean little house on the site Of tn,
present palace. At last his old house threatened
to fall about his ears, and he was compelled te
mil Il down. Suddenly he commenced the cree
t;on of the present magnificent structure, anc
na;d for all the labor and materials in old Vene
tian gold. The citizens thought he had made a
compact with Satan, but he probably had founo
under his old house hidden treasure and had
the discretion to keep his secret TO himself
The city Of Padna, unlike our own, does not
forget her great men, and Pcrpetuates theil
memory by statues to their honor, with which
she has filled an oval green, named the PratG
della Vale. Eighty statues people this Pantheon
al fresco, and look down from their pedestal<
with SO much dignity that YOU can scarcely
help raising your hat to them as you pass. The
scene is perhaps unparalleled in any other place
and forces the stranger to respect city which
thus proves its appreciation Of intellect and vlr,
tue. while it must excite the inhabitants to strive
to render themselves worthy OF "a place beside
their illustrious ieow-citzens. Have we &c
Americans worthy of similar COMMUNICATION
The PalqSSo della Ragione with It's vast
archcd roof. two hundred and fifty feet long anc
eighty broad, built by trlar irom the Indies
the frescoes of Goto in his chapel of the Arenn
the sarcnphagus of the Trojan .Anrenor; the
University, with its bust of the female Proies
80 ,,,L c,,l.o II.brcu Ar.hir Gree. atm