Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-06-09
Eerrisn Correspondence.

the tedious police formaties were concluded Vet
| turino came on board and offered carriage aud
four for one hundred francs Some for accepting
the offer nj once but cautious traveller sug-
gested dcierring the matter until we landed and could
| avail ourselves of the competition which we should
| doubtless find to exist The result the conclu-
sion OF bargain for forfg francs The proprietor Of
the carriage filled out two printed forms Of contract
containing the stipuations TO time Of arriving NJ
Rome the price to be paid, &e and these sign
| ed by both parties. We had proceeded but few
miles when we we're f,soured with exhibition Of
the character Of the lower order Of Italians. Our
contract stipulated for eieh, hours upon The road
Ali said the driver with two hours to rest the hor-
ses, that viii make ten hours. We insisted upon
eight hours only to Rome lie claimed that two
hours for rest usual, aud that the eight hours
only comprised the time spent in actual travel. III
nally we compromised by allowing nine hours aud
arrived at the Eternal city at half past nine o'clock,
p NJ. The gates were shut and our Jchu, descending
from his seat "thundered ut the gates Of Rome with
the handle Of his whip A wicket first opened, then
the great gates aud we were admitted was in
cllned to fiud something ludcrous in this entry but
the perploxing question where was TO lay my head
for the night soon absorbed my attention We drove
week. What should do The night was wearing
on. Soon all houses would be closed. was stand
ing in the eourtway of mn hotel, from which | had
been rcpnlsed, when it occurred to to ask the
proprietor, who standing by, full of regrets that he
could not accommodate /" il sgnorc' whether, by
any possibility, he might know anything about Mr.
H. | think, replied he | have somebody of that
name in my house. And after consulting the regis
ter added yes parlour No. l0--please TO walk up
Believing that had enough to do to find place to
lay my head, declined, saying that would call in
the morning; but afterwards, thinking | might as
well make appointment TO prevent my friends from
going out before | came went up and found all
sitting about the fire and presenting the home
like spectacle possible. had none of them for
more than two years. To add to my good fortune
found that H. had been apprised of my being In Ma
pies and expecting me in Rome had retained a room
for All my troubles over and slept sound
Is my first night in Rome. While breakfnsting the
next morning could hardly realize TINT had but "A
short walk to take to stand before the Coliseum
1t required but moment 10 decide whether ! would
devote my morning to the ceremonies ofthe Church,
the Ancient Monuments scattered proiusely
the city. H.. who had been already month in Rome
undertaking the Office of ciceronc, led me to the
Coliseum by route which afforded n view of
many Of the most interesting antiquities. shall not
undertake any description Of monuments Ms familiar
to you already Ms any mere description could make
them, but content myself with hoping that YOU may
one day have the opportunity of verifying your I'M
pressions upon the spot Standing in the centre of
the vast of the coliseum | INDUCED in long
rcyerios, peopling in imagination the benches which
rise tier above tier, apparently almost To the
clouds, with the excited spectators of some bloody
gadatorial combat, aud wondering how | should
feel were wounded and vauquished combatant
looking to the hronged benches only to read NV fate
in the down-turned thumbs Of q blood thirsty pupn-
lace. Rome however, Is not beholdcn entirely to
antiquity for her attraetions,-her vast cathedral
alone would be sufficient to attract crowds of nil
grms hear you ask, 'and how did ST. Peters. i'm
press your Like most others, was Obliged to con
slider. compute and analyzc before could feel the
vastness of this colossal pile its perfect symery de-
ccives the eye and bctrays the Judgment The dome
seen from distance gives think, the most strk-
ing impression of the grandeur of the structare-no
distance makes II appear small As to the merits Of
the architecture, all seemed to me grand correct in
proportion and effective in expression, except the
west 'front.' which is believe generally considered
terror is not effective that ofmany Gothic Ca
thedrals, to my thinking, but in richness it far ox-
GELS all competitors. will not weary you with des-
crptons of the church ceremonies of the weck-the
washing the feet of the pilgrims by the Pope, the
blessing of the people, the exposition of the relics
Sc, &c. but merely mention MS something worthy of
being reoollected during life time, the nmina-
ton of St Peters, from the Pmcnn Hills the
first or "Siver Illumination" ms it is termed | think
one of the most beautiful sights my eyes have ever
seen. Every outline of the vast odifce and dome is
delincated against the nocturnal sky with mild and
svery light, producing the effect of fairy palace
At the stroke of the bell less than ten seconds serve
to convert the silver into Golden Illumination -
Nearly four hundred men employed in lighting
up the six thousand lamps employed | heard, OF
course the Kiserere,-but not having the poetic inn
agnaton and impressihility requisite to appreciate
it, as Others profess to have done il in great
measure lost upon My next movement will be
towards Florence, from whence shall endeavor to
have the pleasure of further writing to you.
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