The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1851-07-21

81. refers, AT Rome.
"S.S. c." an excellent correspondent Of
the Ohio Statesman, writing from Rome, Of
st. Peters Church, says
The Baldacchino, or grand canopy, cast
out Of the bronze taken from the Pantheon
into spiral columns, and garlanded with gild-
ed flowers and foliage. stand over the grave
of st. Peter. The eye swims, as ii gazes up
omit. This beautiful object breaks the awe
inspiring impression Of the dome under
which it stands. Over one hundred lamps
burn around it, while below is shrine, and
the kneeling statue Of Plus vi, by Caneva.
The concave ornamented with stuccoes and
mosaics, while at the farther end is the apos-
tolic chain, in bronze, lifted aloft under such
a variety of ornaments as can be seen, not
lpencilled. Among the various statues is the
monument to the Stuarts, by Canova. The
outcast Royalty Of Britain here lie entomb-
ed in more regal state than Westminster could
bestow. The gazer is informed by an in
scription, that James III, Charles Ill, and
Henry TX, Kings Of England, here repose
Some one who has more time than have,
should forthwith advise Macauley Of his aw.
full gap in his history. There is certainly
one CHAPTER omitted, if this inscription be
true. Why will men forever use the memo
rial of the dead as the instrument Of lies.-
Shakespeare exaggerates but little when he
says that there is ~
ION every grave M
A lying trophy; and as oft is dumb
Where dust and damned oblivion is the tomb
Of honored bones indeed"
But we will let the exiles Of England sleep.
Their arrogance no longer tramples upon the
necks OF our good Puritan ancestors. Their
monument rises beneath dome as glorious
as the highest ambition Of the God-anointed
heads could imagine,
Of the height Of this magnificent struc-
ture s. S. c., says:
Having viewed the depth, we could not
refrain from visiting the height ofSt. Peters.
A broad paved spiral staircase leads by gen.
tie ascent, to the roof Of stone. One might
easily drive up with horses and carriage
The top would form, also, pleasant drive.
On the walls are the names Of the sovereigns
who have been up TO the Cupalo---a long list.
The list might be increased considerably if
the American sovereigns were added. The
roof seems to be a city in itself. Around
you are belfrys, domes, homes and other ap-
pendages of city. Rome begins to grow
small below. The head grows dizzy as the
eye dare to descend-but we are not half up.
The Pantheon stands before us upon the roof,
surmounted by the brass ball, which seems
some two feet in diameter, and into which
il is said sixteen people may be slowed
Through winding stairs, by tugging and rest
ing, and gazing out of windows, we reached
the top Of the dome, and walked out into
balcony whose railing is. invisible below,
and into the open air some 400 feet above the
city. ~
Can we ascend higher? Try that perpen
dlcular iron ladder, and follow it upward,
through that long narrow neck, and you are
in the ball itself! One of our ladies even
dared it. The atmosphere was little tepid
to be sure, owing to the proximity of the
ball to its solar companion. The echo of
our voices clinked SO fearfully on its sound
ing metal, that--yes-it was really fearful 4
The sense OF. being so high, worse than the
sight through the little chinks, made me feel
more indescribably queer and qualmy than
even felt before. The trembling knees al
most refused the rapid descent, while perspi-
ration dropped beads like Oriental trees their
medicinal gum" My second ascent In
company was much more pleasant Our
guide told us a good story ofan obese French
man, who, the other day squeezed through
the neck and found himself pnffinp in The
ringing ball. He illustrated the old Hora-
tan fable beautifully; for he could not take
the back track. He was too "Oh, call it not
to return. There he re-
nained in Purgarory, between Heaven and
earth half day, all the while dripping
like fountain, or like Fallstaff, "larding the
lean earth" until the profuseness of the per
spiratlon had somewhat diminished the ro-
tundity Of bis corporosity, when he descen-
ded from his oven, a sadder and thinner
man!