The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-08-05
soLENNITiEs IN MEXICo IN MEMORY OF
soNTAG.

SONTAG.
On the 18th Of July, says the New Orleans Pica |
yuue, there was performed at the church de- Ia Pro
fesa in the city Of Mexico, one Of those sad and
solemn ceremonies which ever make deep I'M
precision upon oil who assist at or witness them
Il wa the funeral celebration 10 honor Of the mem
ory of Madame Henrietta sontag, the Countess de
Rossi
The church was filed to overAowing with the elite
of the city of Mexico. Among these were the ditte
taafe of both sexes devoted TO art. lovers OF the
lyric drama, who united with great feeling In this
expression of griefs at the loss Of the world re-
nowned artist
A elmple cstafalque, arranged with consummafe
faste was elevated in front Of the high altar Il
was covered with black velvet pail, richly bronzed
with gold; at each corner there was column, sur
mounted with funeral urn, bearing religious and
appropriate Inscriptions. and In front was fixed
beautiful poesica tribute ftosn tbs pen of signor
Above this was displayed marble has relief OF
great merit, the work Of the Roman sculptor RI
utti, who had succeeded in producinga most speak
ing portraifure of the nlustrious cantatrice. The
whole basreief 10 spoken Of being full Of poeti
cal beauty, and represented the aiegorical idea Of
the ascension Of the spirit of the deceased to the
realms Of eternal glory Atthe four corners OF the
catafslque there were figures Of angels as If on the
point OF ascending to the skies. The good taste of
this monument struck all beholders, and it was
surmounted with Q coffin, whereupon was laid a
Tyre entwined with immorteles, mingled with roses
q I'd laurels.
The church was brilliantly illuminated with more
than GOO candles The daylight being excluded, the
body of the building was as dark, but for the can
dies, as at night
The mass Tor the repose of the soul of the de-
parted was led by.M Jose Maria del Barrio,a young
eccesiastic, who holds a very high rank among the
clergy of Mexico. In the organ gallery were col.
lected perfect multitude OF artists belonging to
the two operate companies now In the city, and an
excellent orchestra, directed by the Maestro Anto
MO Barili; and they executed grand mass by Lu
igi Rosi work full of profound sentiment and
religious feeling in the most admirable manner.
The solos were sung by Sgnors Salvi and Badia-
Ii, both OF whom acquitted themselves with great
ability and taste. Marini, Bordas, Beneventano,
Revere Speech and other artists took parts in the
ehorusses giving of course, great effect to the per-
Torrance.
10 the Mexican papers Of the 5th of July. there
appeared letter. addressed to the editors, by Count
Rossi, which we translate:
"Gentemen: VIII you permit me to use your
valuable journal to perform the duty OF returning
my deepest thanks to all those persons who have
had the goodness to visit me during the illness oil
my late wife, and to accompany her remains to their
final rests They have all appreciated the artist
who, on her part, has ever shown herself profound
~ pleased and grateful towards Mexico and itf
agreeable and intelligent people, The victim of a
sacrifice which the deceased imposed upon herself
as wife and mother, her loss is to one which ad
mts not of consolation. Nevertheless, the refec
ton that an entire community sympathizes with my
grief will cause me to preserve the most CRATE
full recollections of the Inhabitants of Mexico.
4 have the honor to be, &C." "RossI"