The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-05-19
DAILY AY40NAE WING.
Correspondence ofihe MY Evening Posi-,

RIO JASEIao, March 2lsi, l6l0
To-day was celebrated the feast Of San Bento, al
the monastery Of that name, which is the oldest and
richest one In South America. The decorations In
the chapel were exceedingly beautiful, and Inc ser
vices the most interesting Of any that have ATTENDED
The choir here is composed Of eunuchs, ana III nui
ton TO the organ Is a full opera band, Inc music
was delightful beyond any Thing that ! had listened
TO- and during The performance OF Inc uloiia .heis
continued shower Of rose leaves over inc Mhoie
congregation. The aises OF the ehapel anu eAss,
sive galleries Of the monastery were thlcky sueWn
with roses orange leaves and blossoms oiahenes
of the cinnamon nutmeg and Glove frees, al OF
which, crushed under the feet OF the passers oy e'
hailed The most delightful perfumes. Fonowiag .lls
guidance Of Benedctne Monk, through one OF these
richly carpeted passages, aromatic doors exhahg ~
every step, was led TO the banqueting room, pro
fnsefy hung round and srcwed win gailanas; nete
was spread for the poor and destitute the rich least
of 81 Bento; extensive tables OF over hundred ieet
in length were heavily loaded with the choisest pas
try, confsodonary.and fruits To each plate was
decanter and bottle Of choice wine the table cloth
between the dishes was lhickly covered with rose
leaves and Glove blossoms. ! cannot give you an
adequate descripiion--ihe whole seemed 10 me
liy-like dream which has left upon my mind pleas
ing but iDdscribablc Impressions. None but Tree
men are entitled to the seatsuI the main tables bat
aide tables are prepared around the for the negro
slaves who partake Of the same fare. All, after the
feast permitted ill their hats from the remuins
Of the banquet and still the supply In unexhausted
Roman Antiquities Excavations are being car
red under the direction and al the expense OF the
Government. over the site of the old Roman Forum,
with the hope Of adding the relics Of ancient ART
already discovered and Of determining localities
which have been subjects OF discussion among anil
quarans for many years Employment is thus al
forded 10 large number Of people who gain their
bread by honest labor instead of annoying the pas
ssr-by with solicitations. Those who feel any inter
est In the calculation of mooted points In ancient
hiatory viii approve the good taste of the authorities
One who comes TO Rome for the first time lie astonish
ed to the amount of debris which has accumulated
upon the snriace, covering many ancient monuments
and concealing all that not elevated above the
soil He looks down upon the pedestas Of columns,
descends into excavations To- enter temples and
churches, aud finds himself almost on level with
tho top Of some triumphal arch II would almost
seem as II nature had cast thick covering the
spots which witnessed ory Of ancient Rome,
that they might not / ed by the degradation
OF the fallen city, Lee nope that the Roman
Forum Is disencumbeIel al the load heaped upon Il
In the Dark Ages, the Roman people may cast off the
burden which the Ignorance and superstition OF that
period has left upon their shoulders Rome Cor. ~
X Tribune, April 4.