The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-04-21

clouds, looking very fierce and determined, and
armed with a no less familiar weapon than
huge poker. She has already drawn diaboli-
cal blood, and has her arm raised for another
onslaught: her grim antagonist shrinks back
sghast, and you feel, that on another exhibit
ton of divine wrath, in the fall of the poker,
his fame. darling countenance will "pale Its
Intellectual fires !" and that he will take speedy
flight, leaving but a sulphureous aroma and
few scratches on the infants arm, to tell where
he has been. Thus far, he certainly has the
worst of it, and the child is evidently safe, for
this time, ut least wonder much, that true
Roman Catholics of education allow such dis
gushing exhibitions of superstition and bad
taste a place in their collections. They are
not only ridiculous in themselves, but they
make the form of religion which tolerates,
calls for and creates them, ridiculous. Yet
there is scarcely gallery in Rome which is
not disgraced by things of this kind.
From the Colonna we went to the Pdldzzo
Pont,fcio-the Quirinal Here we saw Gui-
dos beautiful Annunciatiop, and few, a very
few. other pictures of merit. This papal pal
ace is by no means rich in works of art but
is a magnificent residence. 1t is immensely
spacious, and furnished with a rich plainness
and q grand simplicity most fitting and impo-
sing But though there is good deal Of light
and warmth from windows and hangings, there
is a peculiarly cold and lonely grandeur about
this vast abode Of most high and holy ceGba-
cy. IL is all splendid architecture and uphol-
story there is no faintest trace of the taste
and fancy of woman, or of the comforts and
delights of home. 1t is an abode dreary, for
all its msgniiicence, and which, it seems to me,
none but a priest could envy the Sovereign
Pontf. The Pope has not resided in this pal
ace since he was besieged here in ls4s.
Yesterday afternoon, we drove out on the
Appian way, some FIVE miles beyond the walls
of the city. Never has drive over that old
Roman pavement, through that street of ruined
tombs, affected me 50 profoundly. | was silent
and absorbed with the grand and gloomy
memories which thronged along that storied
way, and awed by the solemn sermons which
those stones were preaching of the passing
away of the glory of man and the beauty of
art | cannot think there is in the world such
a melancholy panorama of ruin rs this road
1t affects me more than the sight of the ruins
of any one building, however majestic--this
demolition and confusion of sepulchres-this
devastating war upon the sacred domains of
death. 1t seems to me, that they whose tombs
are thus battered or crumbled down, whose
urns broken, whose ashes scattered, are doubly
dead
From the summit of large circular tomb,
we looked out on the campagna, a broad, sea-
like expanse, islanded with lonely ruins The
warm, spring sunshine was upon it, flushing
into verdure, almost visibly and momently, the
frost-embrowned turf Yes, the delicious, delect-
able Italian spring has come at last. Her auant
eouriers, the birds, made melodious proclama-
ton of her coming weeks ago and her scouts,
the crocuses, peeped silly up in pleasant places,
to see that all was ready. We had before known
she was conceive had felt her soft breath on
our eyelids-we had seen thousands of violets
springng in her steps-but to-day, we had a
new and indubitable proof of her advent On
the summit of this tomb, in the warm sunshine,
sat two little peasant boys in jackets and shirts
quietly, and apparently comfortably engaged
in repairing certain adaptations in their
neither garments. These young amateur tail.
ors were handsome, grave, proud.looking boys
who scarcely lifted their eyes to US, and, MI
rabtle dictu! never once condescended to beg
They may be the descendants of the very old
Romans who built this vast tomb-their noble
and warlike ancestors may have invaded Gaul
aud Britain--may have headed legions and
stormed fortresses-what fall, from making
breaches to mending breeches!
On our return it being rather late, it was
gravely proposed that we should merely leave
cards on Madame Metella and at the tomb oil
Scipio. A gentleman of the party astonished
the euStods by asking if S'gnor Scipio was at
home. know that these are silly little things
but they made us laugh at the time and the
longer live the more am convinced that il
is wisest and best to improve every opportunity
for harmless merriment-to laugh on the slight
est laughable occasion, with reason or without
it, at wit or folly.
To-day we have visited the Corsini palace
when the to me most wonderful and holy Ma
donna and child by Carlo Dolci, described in
late letter, enchanted me anew From the
Corani we went to the Fdrnesna and spen,
an hour contemplating its beautiful frescoes by
Raphael and his scholars. The principal and
finest of these represent the history of Cupid
and Psyche, and the triumph of Galatia. They
are far beyond what expected from plates, In
power and spirit and graceful composition.
This palace was built by one Agostino ChIgi,
rich and ostentatious banker Ii is Of him
that tradition states that once, after having
given costly entertainment TO the Pope and
Cardinals he had all the gold and silver plate
used on the august occasion thrown into the
Tiber. This surpasses Leiccster's compliment
of breaking the looking-glass which had reflect
cd Elizabeth
March g.
There is little stir in the fashionable and
ecclesiastical world just now, which rather
pleasantly breaks in upon the sacred monoto-
ny of Lent. There have been halfa-dozen
new cardinals created, and on the suspicious
event the people are called upon to rejoice and
render thanks, and the nobility to throw open
their palaces and show off their diamonds. |
am inclined to think that the aforementioned
perform their duties on the occasion the most
readily and cheerfully Each cardinal receiv.
cd at q palace-his own, or that of some prince
ly family with which he is connected--for
they are all honorable men, none of your
plebeians. The primitive practice of selecting
the pillars of the church from the ranks Of the
people went cut with the apostles and early
saints Did not Christ, when he had not
where to lay his head" prophetically behold
the more than kingly establishments of his pa
pal viceroysa Did not the disciples, rs they
toiled over Judea on foot, preaching the peril
Gus word as they fled from city to city," be-
hold in blsst visions their SUCCESSORS the cardi-
mails, rolling in chariots Of crimson and gold,
and dwelling in princely palacesi Doubtless,
the fore knowledge of all this consoled and sup
ported them under their privations and perse-
cutions.
Bat to return. We drove first to the Church
of San Luigi di Frdnoese which was brilliant
" illuminated in honor of one Of the cardinals,
who il Frenchman. This was beautiful
sight, but suppose the mldest possible sort Of
q suggestion Of the grand lighting up Of st.
Peters on Easter Sunday.
From this church we drove to the Colonna
Palace, where the French Minister and his
lady received for the French Cardinal, who is
now in France. There was most magnificent
show. A splendid suite of apartments were
thrown open, radiantly lighted and filed with
brilliant assembly. There were Roman, Me-
aapolitan, Austrian, Russian, Prussian, French,
English, and American officers, with rich uni