The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1848-04-06
From the Christian Mirror.
Mr.. Palmer's Sketches.
No. XII.

the ascent-Appearomce Of the t,oo craters-a
current Of ava-naode Of Observation-Disclosures
am-Museum at Nap1es-the great eruption Of
79-a yide-the Campo Sants-PaintingS.
The day after our visit to Pompeii was the
Sabbath, and of course we rested according
to the commandment We spent most of the
of service, however, we went to the church of
San Francisco. This is a very large and snowy
edifce, with noble dome which is one of the
most imposing objects in the city. 1t is near
the palace of the King. and appeared to be
frequented chiefly by the more fashionable
classes at least there was something striking
ly genteel in the aspect of the audience. The
usual round of ceremonies were going for
ward in two different chapels; but we saw
little to interest us except fine marble columns,
and few respectable paintings, and soon re-
turned to our Hotel. Towards evening we
went to the church of San Martina, which
with an extensive convent, is within the walls
of the fortress of St. Elmo; and the ascent to
which is so laborious, that visitors usually
mount the steep and slippery path on asses.
We found the church gorgeous and expen-
sive piece of workmanship, not surpassed in
richness of material and of ornament, by any
thing we have seen. except the Madeleine at
Paris. The entirs interior is constructed of
the most beautiful polished marble, of various
colors. wrought into columns, bas-reliefs, mo-
sales, and whatever else could find place in
the most Horid style of architecture. While
in the church we saw but one auditor present
besides ourselves, and he beggar who fol-
lowed in our train; yet the services were 60
ing on just as though the places were filled;
the monks with shorn heads kneeling on the
steps of the altar, and chanting responsibility
the usual ora pro no6is, the echoes rolling
away with quite a poetical effect along the
empty nave. From the church We walked
round the convent, drank ont of the we'll
with its old stone curb from which the vener-
able brotherhood are won't to refresh them
selves, passed around the corridor along which
are the cloisters, and finally out into balcony
on the side next the city, from which we OBJ
tanned one of the most lovely prospects in the
world. The whole city lay as it were beneath
our feet, beyond it the bay with its bright re-
cedng shores, and farther still Vesuvius in all
its solemn grandeur. We fingered long to
gaze and as I returned in the deepening twi-
light, I rejoiced in the thought that the time
will come when all this charming region shall
be given to Christ and filled with holiness.
The next day we devoted to yesuvius. 1t
is really no trifing matter to scramble to the
top of this famous mountain; hut no one
should visit Naples without ascending, and no
one who has achieved the ascent will ever re-
gret the trouble. We set off a few moments
after four in the morning in a carriage and
rode as far as the village of Resina, about
three miles from Vesuvius. We then left our
carriage and mounted on horseback our party
consisting of four Americans, a servant and
guide, all mounted, four men on foot with
straps by which to haul US up in the ascent,
man with basket of bread and other refresh
ments, among which were eggs to roast in the
crater, who went up on private speculation,
and boy or two in addition; to say nothing
of half the village of Resina, who followed us
in the tag rag and bobtail style for some dis
lance. We assembled up to the highest inhab-
table point, called the hermitage, and occu-
pied by grey headed friar, who is very hos
pitable-that is. if well paid-where we break
tasted on an omelet fried in unsavory fat, and
smoked little by way of spice, together with
some soar bread; so that our friend who car
ried up the basket made, in the end, no bad
venture after ALL When we had reached the