The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-08-12
Our Venice Correspondence.

venice, July IL, 1851.
The Difficulties attending the Disin,1ment of the Re
mains Of the late UiHiom A. Sparks, Co,lsulofthe
U,aed States a. Venice History Of the Case
Tie Conetsry at 81. Cristoph9s-IntoestingF tcts
The King and Queen Of Sarosy- The Consular
System-Amu,cans in Venice, Sc.
In Of my late letters alluded to the fact that
The American Consul at this port about proceed
ing to IL dsintermen ndpreparstion Of the earthly
remains Of the late VIM A. Sparks, Esq, late Con-
sui Of the L. States at Venice, for the purpose OF
their embarkation of the fiigates, then at
Trieste, for transportation to his friends in South
Carolina, in accordance with the instructions of the
Department Of state. AS an illustration Of the
manner in which everything is done by this suspi-
eious government among these superstitous people,
and in this anti lua.ed city, it may not prove amiss
to give your readers brief outline Of all proceed
ings in this undertaking
On the 9th Of June, the Y. :. Consul at this
pla,e received adTces from Commodore Morgan,
that he was ready to receive the remains of Mr..
Sparks, sgreeably to instructions from the Depart
meut Of the Navy, in order to convey them to Spez-
zia for embarkaton on the first vessel OF the Med
iterranean squadron departing for the United
States Immediately on reception of this advice,
the NohHui auuItscNu W tut
tary Governor Of the Venetian Provinces, setting
forth the facts Of the case, and requesting mmed-
ate perniss disner the re aims Of bis prede-
cessor, in order that the frigate might not be de-
tanned lie had been informed that such permis-
sion was favor granted only after months Of de-
lay, ana that the prosecution Of the demand would
be attended with great expense In view Of this,
his request was couched in strong, bat respectful
terms, requiring immediate action. and it was fol-
lowed up by repeated calls on the Departments Of
the Military, Civil, Provincial, and Municipal au-
thori.ies of Venice, from the one to the other of
which this communication was sent for approval.
At length, little to his surprise, the morning Of
July sth, he received huge document bearing an
impression Of the two-headei eagle Of Austria on
half pound of wax, which, on opening, he found
10 contain the desired permission, written upon two
sheets Of ioliopost His request granted on
the following conditions: LIST, That the body should
be disnterrcd in the presence e two PHI scians Of
the Provincial Delegation. %, That the coffin when
dsintorred, should be placed IN thick box Of oak
Sd. That this box q oak should be enclosed in a
case Of lead Theoretically sollercd and sealed. It'll
That this case Of lead should be placed in strong
box Of hardwood. the sides Two inches thick the
corners dovetalcd and the inside covered with tar
round the lead case thus enclosed on every side
5th. That an officer Of the dele cation should ac-
company the remains 20 the frigate. aud certify
their embarkation. Immediately on reception Of
this permission, the Consul entered upon the re-
quired preparations, aud very shortly discovered
that they would he attended with no little trouble
and expense. For the required leaden case for ex-
ample. the sum Of about 500 de % nded, more
than $50 Of which goes TO the government as an
inr ost on the lead the whole OF which 60 could
have been saved, could the work have been DELAYED
until after the 10th, when lead will, like all other
things, be duty free-the port then being open.
But this was impossible, and perhaps the consdera~
ton Of this mpost FASTENED the permission grant
ed. Other expenses we're on q par with that Of the
case, and the delay babe fair to be in ,oerablc on
the part os vorkmen At length, however, by
dint Of incessant driving and bribery all preiimi.
nary preparations were concluded, and, on the
morning CT the 9th, at O'Clock, the Consul re-
paired, by appointment, with all concerned. In a |
aondola to the Protestant cemetery, on the Island
Of 81. Cristofero, about mile from the Riato In
the Lsgune. Landing at the steps Of the Church |
Of 81 Michel, which was resoundng at that early !
hour with the mathis Of tho Monastery of Monks |
he was conducted through the coisters paved with
the tomb tablets Of the wealtbiest citizens of We
nice, and thence through the spacious Catholic |
cemetery TO the small plat OF ground approp rated
to the burial - protestants II may be marked |
that this vast graveyard Of Venice stands upon /
two large islands, San CristoferO and San Michell.
which are now united, and that upon the latter. /
nearly four humid ed years ago, was erected the |
church and cloister which attract 80 much adj
miration. The whole area lie enclosed By LOFTY |
walls VI brick. but not Q Tree, hardly q shrub,