Tri-weekly journal. (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1847-188?, 1848-02-22

Rome CRuMBLfHo TO DEcAY.-This famed
ana proud city is not now what IL once was
its ancient grandeur aud glory has long since
departed. For ages the spirit of decay has
been creeping overit. Many other once throne-
ed streets are now desolotc, and her once cor
geous palaces lie in scattered and crmbling
runs: For years the population has been
steadily declining. The malaria OF the marsll.
rs lssleadilJ poisoning the atmosphere and pal.
yinB me energies OF the whole region. Causes
seem, IN the providence of God, silently vel
powerfully at work, which will In lanss of
years render Rome like Babylon and Nineyeh
an uninhabitable desolation
Key. Dr. Adams, Pastor OF the Broome At.
church, II delivering a coarse of lectures on
the present condition of Rome, 10 crowded an
dlences. In thelast lecture which he delivered
alter dwelling on the ecclesiastical aspect of
Affairs AT Rome he said
but over this vast metropolis has nm Dir of
chnnge and decay passed. The seven hills are
uistlncily visible, but strewed and almost COW
eIed win broken fragments, the ruins and dust
1l her , once proud monuments aud greatness
The Tlber still flows, an insignificant and
sluggish stream, between its banks, forgetful Of
the time when the arms and Injuries of the
world foated on its tide, when IL was crowd
ed WIN the barges OF princes, whose gorgeous
Dannersand silken sails bore testimony TO her
magnihcence. As you look forth upon the sunny
plains oil The Campagna, far stretching TO the
see, you sea region Of sterility and death.
where the peasants who would cultivate the
soil drop into the grave almost as fast az the
RAIN drops, and where the country has been
mostly abandoned TO Buffaloes and wild Bears.
Inc whole population Of the Papa States ia
only hall the number which once inhabit-
ed Rome itself Rome has not changed in her
claim TO ecclesiastical power. She regards her
claim as the highest in power, her superiority,
d divine appointment.
80 OF its moral aspects. Preaching is hard
y known. One sermon only / heard in the
'istine Chapel, in Latin, and only six minutes
ong. DisPensations for reading the Sacred
riptures are often granted, but the Bibles are
! such size and shape that the common peo-
lie with difficulty can obtain them. The snir-
oil Rome is still seen in picture in which
notorious angel is represented as treading In
1umph on the PROSTATE forms of Luther and
alvin. "A1
but great change has passed over the Ro-
IAN Pontih. The wealth Of Rome is Exhaust
!. She IS poor. hopelessly poor. With debt
S4O;OOO,OOO, the interest is tax of more
AN 81 per cent. upon her whole incomey-
20 A. raised Immense sums for the rearing Of
u'ches ana me encouragement of the arts ard
.ists, Oy 'he sale OF lndulgences, but the Coun-
OF Trent forbade the sale of indulgenc;es "a,
oney. Kings were once impoveT;shad H..
is, and wealth flowed into Rome like rivers
water, and Augustan elegance was nnited
IN Augustan luxury. But no Tezel could
De sent INTO Germany TO sell forgiveness
SINS dud raise treasures in return Rome
ars the aspect of proud poverty. That oov~
ment IS fallen which relies upon borrosya,
Ids. ~. Y. Euangelist. ~~,.S''