The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-04-28
For the National Era.
lcoPYRIaHr SECURED ACCORDING TO LAW.
GREENWOOD LEAVES FROM OVER THE SEA

unEGN W WI k1~h 60 ROA WEN HE 6E4A.
No. 81.
ROME March II, 1853.
My DEAR Ma. T: On the 14th we rode
out the Porta del Popolo and around the city
walls to tho Porta SAHARA, from whence we fol-
lowed the road to grand old bridge, built in
the Etruscan style, across the Anio. This
Ponte Saiaro 10 favorite object with me-one
of the most picturesque, think, in the neigh
borhood of Rome
From this spot wc explored the by-roads and
lanes in various directions in search of q good
open piece of campagna. This we found, ut
last--a glorious stretch of firm, grassy, fowery,
undulating ground, where We gave free rein to
our horses, who, the moment their hoofs struck
on the turf, seemed possessed with ali the
fresh, glad impulses and elastic vigor of the
spring. tossed their heads, lcaped at once into
q mad gsllop and ran till the very.winds were
out winded. Yet not 30 swiftly did they fly,
but that we caught the smell Of the yiolets
crushed beneath their feet, and marked ell the
lovely shadows flung about us from purple
clouds floating above. There were larks over
head, singing az they soared-soms ascending
toward heaven in a spiral column of sweet
sound-some circng slowly in q level orbit of
song-some dropping toward earth in lesscning
circles, as though whirling in vortex Of
melody. The campagna was dotted with focks
of snowy sheep, which looked like the shadows
of the feecy, wandering clouds which fecked
the fields of heaven--she sky was soft the sun
light mild and variable, the very soul Of spring
was abroad on the air.
The entire ride was one succession OF deli
cious pictures and more delicious sensations
p v.laao,rno hol v.kya,nol
halfspiritual, the sentiment and enjoyment OF
which long intensely, but, alas, ] know how
vainly, 10 convey TO others.
To return from such ride, with the soul
fllod with images Of beauty and the frame In
vigorated by pure air and noble exercise, with
the heart expanded by the love of nature, and
the pulses all in bounding play--then TO pass
through one of the old historic gates, and by
the Coliseum, and through the Roman forum
to have the grand shadows OF the past flung
about you with the shadows OF the twilight
this completes and crowns an ordinary pleas
ure with sentiment poetic almost to sublimity
This morning we witnessed beautiful sight
from the summit of the Pineio. Tberc was q
heavy silvery fog covering the whole city-a
sea OF mist rolling over it in beautiful billowy
masses. At one time, the tower OF the Capitol
and the dome Of St. Peters were tho only dis
tant objects distinctly above it while the villas
on the hills beyond the Vatican locked like
castles 10 the air. There was one which was
90 beautiful il reminded me Of some Of the
glimpses which the Pilgrim" caught Of the
heavenly city from tho "Delectable mount
aims"
Yesterday visited the church Of the CaPpue-
eini--St. Maria della OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES saw
the Archangsl Michael Of Guido, which 10 me
is the noblest work OF that master---st least OF
those have seen. The face Is surely wonder
fnl for it, combination Of beauty and power, OF
sweetness and sternness, and triumph and sor-
row. As he stands, welding his slender sword,
with his foot on the PROSTATE Lucifsr, you are
struck at once with the youthful lightness
grace, and tenderness OF his figure, but you do
not doubt that he 10 hurting his enormous ad-
versary hellward, with immense force and We
locity The head Of the Laciter Is infinitely