Thibodaux minerva., 1856-03-08
Familiar Letters from Europe,
NUMBER EIGHT.

PHEASANT recoHectlois, anu 1eel tnat can neve
revert to the days passed there-amid so muc
beauty of nature and such deplorable wretched
ness-without breathing a prayer in behalf of til,
poor inhabitants, that better time NAV be 4
store for them How it is to be brought about,
can scarce imagine. Though apparently harmless
these truly oppressed Italcns need but the occasion
to present ITSELF when every one in the land woul,
rise in arms-proclam their freedom, and crusl
the detested Government But unfortunately tina
occasion will perhaps never offer ITSELF subject, a
they are, to the most rigorous military watch-no
allowed the least public private liberty, and often
times thrown into prison without the least warning
upon mere suspicion of religious offences.
| Before we were allowed to leave the city O.
Naples we were counted by the police officer,
memorandum taken of us, and our passports care
fully examined. This is done to guard their country
from all danger. One poor family, not having
| taken the necessary precautions, were obliged to
leave the boat, baggage, and all, lose the passage
money already paid, and be detained several days,
for the next boat
When we reached Civita Vecchia we underwent
another examination of baggage and passports );
and taking diligence for Rome had to present
them at every station, which are situated six or
eight miles apart.
Found the country exceedingly uninteresting,
uncutvated, and almost totally uninhabited. Saw,
occasionally, groups Of Iaborers, with men over
1oocip IN of
in which work is done on sugar estates. The
country is over run with immense droves of fine
large cattle, with great horns and all Of peculiar
dun color. These are very wild, and so dangerous
provided with long spear-headed pole.
Reached Rome about sunset. Could see the
dome of St. Peters when ten miles distant Nv
heart bounded within me at the thought of so soon
beholding old Rome. But as drew near the city
of so much former greatness feeling of sad disap-
pontment came over me. 1t was so tame-so diff.
ferent from what 1expected-all, all was gone that
could tell us that we were nearing Rome-proud
old Rome For miles there was nothing but |
dreary waste, not even an old ruin to vary the |
scene.
Well, taking hurried meal, We fastened down
% witness the illumination of St. Peters, and it |
vas indeed most brilliant sight. The day pre-
'ious, however, was the fete of St. Peter and the
,reat day. The Pope officiated in person.
Witnessed the same night the finest fireworks l
ver saw-greatly superior to any exhibited in the
Init Cto4a oI oc A. Ga |
'eter's illuminated, and an eruption of Mount
7esuvius
The Pantheon, which we visited the next day, is
noble old pile and considering its great antiquity,
J the best preserved public edifce in Rome 1t
'as erected by Agrippa 27 B. c., and the archi-
,cture and proportions are considered perfect The
lterior is circular; has no windows, an opening in
le top of the dome affording sufficient light 1t
as once pagan temple, but is now devoted to
athoc worship. 1t contains the tomb of Raphael ,
Visited the Capitol and its museums. Saw much
ne scupture-statues Of all the great men of $
rmer days-the original bronze wolf, spoken of ,
= Cicero and Virgil, with all the NEUROLOGICAL ,
ivinities.
The Venus of the Capitol according to my taste, =
superior to all, and the most noble of all the =
presentations of this divinity In the hall of Phi
sophers was struck with the insignificant ap- .
earance of a bust of Socrates having small
ead irregular features little, turned up nose,
I'd really no sign of even an ordinary intellect
All the sculpture here has much of merit, but
ere is nothing to be compared to the far-famed t
ling Gladiator. 1t is certainly most perfect n
presentation painful resignation and exhausted
rength. His position, figure, and expression, are
life-ke, that it seems perfection of art. to ma
re. The proportions are so fine that it seems to
only of ordinary sze though it measures seven
ct. No one can look upon it without melancholy
elings-all the sympathies becoming enlisted, and
ain would have fingered longer, gazing upon this u
asterpece of art A
Assembled the tower Of the Capitol, and had G.
|endid view of the city and its environs 1t was
1reary spectacle, and, in imagination, could but II
ntrastit with its days of greatness and prosperity
meath us lay the seven hills of Rome-the vel
v Tiber coursing its way past-the Tarpian Rock
the arches of Titus, Constantine, and Septimius !"
veress-the Forum, Coliseum, and the desolate .
ms of the palaces of the Caesars. gazed upon p
I'm with feelings Of sadness, for they seemed to y
eak of the former glories and splendors of Rome,
d Of its preseat degradation and almost total l.
cay. Oh what a change! Rome, as it once Z
$, the great imperial city-the greatest of the
,at, NON slumbers in runs-helpless, weak and A
generate, while past seems like some great vision m
ting before us. 2e
In the church called IS Pietro in vincoi." we ~,
' most splendid statue of Noses by Michael be
gelo. 1t is of colossal size, and was much on
ased with its fine commanding expression, SEEM :"
ly SO true to life. From these we went to the II
alazzo Rospigosso" for its ceebra- nj,
frescoe painting of Aurora, by Guido The sic
k is certainly very superior and the coloring w
utiful Aurora is represented scattering flowers f.;
Ore the chariot of the sum- drawn by four piebald ie
ses, surrounded by seven females denoting the be
ance of the hours. oia
hen to the private palace "de Borghese" The ha
cry of paintings, containing some Ane speci- tat
H.. IL