Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-04-10

ROME, -
We have visited many Of the most remarkable
Churches in Rome well without as within the
walls. The common parish churches which are
scattered through the city--there are nearly 400
of them-are mostly objects Of no interest except
az exhibiting the care which brings religion to
every mans door, and has all Its regular Offices
and ministrations performed at the appointed
times within the convenient reach Of every individ
ual in Rome. Some of these and the so called Basil
licas objects of extraordinary interest either
from their construction, the objects which they
contain-works Of art and utrta and relics ,-their
antiquity, the spots which they are built or the
various histories and traditions connected with
them. The seven basilcas of course We
visited. They the principal churches of
Rome. They are called baslicas from their real
finced, present or past, resemblance to the
heather basilica or judicial forum of antiquity.
They are st. Peters, st. John Lateran, st. Mary
the greater and the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, in
the city, and St. Lorenzo, st. Sebastian and st.
Paul without the walls. Besides these we visited
the Ancient Pantheon of Agrippa, in the days of
the Caesar. the temple to all the Gods, now a
christian temple to the only God, under the name
its form the Rotonda, and Enthusiastically called
by Byron
''Shtne Of all saints and temple Of all Gods,
From Jove to Jesus"
st. Mary of tho Angels, including the principal
hall the Pinacotheca of the Baths of Docletian is
majestic church in the form of Greek crossa
form so admirably ada pied to anoble temple that
| this church has often suggest ed the remark that
st. Peters should have had that form. In the
yestibule are tombs of Carlo Marotti and Salvador
| Rosa and several cardinals
The chapel of st. Bruno lone of it's finest chap
els ha. a noble and heroic statue of that Saint, by
lIoudon. of which Pope Clement XIV said at
would speak fthe rule of his order did not pres
cribc silence" Like tho Pantheon it is at the
same time a magnificent specimen of ancient
classical architecture of the noblest character and
of christian archaeological art, worthy of the best
days of the Romish Church.
st. Mary Aventina is on the Aventne hill, and
commands the finest view of Rome and its envi-
rons. 1t is attached to the priory of the Knights
| of Malta and hence in common parlance is called
the Priorato. Close by,on the Aventine hill, was
the cave of Cacus speiunod, uasto submota r,esssu
sen'homins Cdci-that classical highlander or cat
tie stcaler, who has made the profession immortal
| by stealing the cattle of Hercules, Quatuor a
habulis praestlnn corToris tauro'-four of his best
bulIs-and cunningly dragging them tail foremost
to his cave. Hercules of course lynched him for
it, Near the mouth of his cave was found SUI
pcrb statue in basalt of the Infant HercuIe 5, now
to he seen in the museum of the capitol.
Il the Capuchin Church, St. Mary of the Con-
ception, with which is connected tho catacomb, Of
| the Capuchns, is Guido's masterpiece, the arch
| angel Michael. The Devil is said to be the like
ness of cardinal subsequently Pope Innocent
y, who had criticised severely some of the artists
| productions By the way, this practice,
| 50 common with the great masters, Of
| introducing into their most solemn and sacred
productions the individual portraits of their
enemies of the highest rank in church or state,
in some offensive character, for purposes of malice
revenge, wit or satire, is significantly suggestive
not only of the power and position of those artists
but of their lack Of real religious feeling and Of
| their contemplate rascality. There is a signal
instance in the sstne or S1tine chapel, the Pope:
own chapel, in Michael Angeles picture of the
| last judgment in which that great man intro
| duces Biago US standing hell with ass.s cur.
anu SurTouuueu ny serpent BlagiO, iaVOrlte
| Of the Pope, had suggested to the Pope that some
If the figures were scanlalousy indicate, as they
are, and this was the artists revenge. The Pope
requested that the figure might be altered but the
artist declared it was impossible, that while hi:
| holiness might doubtless relieve his friend by
| releasing him from purgatory, had he placed
him there he clearly had no power over him in
! hell, and so poor Biago is still in torment
| 1t was on the anniversary Of the obsequies Of
the last Pope that we visited the Sstine chapel
aud saw his Holiness the same mild, good looking
man that he is always represented. Surrounded
by his cardinals and other ecclesiastical dignitare.
and in the presence Of the secular dignitie. Of
Rome and other spectators, high mass was then
performed. ! should make laundering display
my ignorance of the Roman Catholic forms and
ceremonies if l should attempt to describe what
no description could make ineligible to you. The
most distinguished archbishops and bishops ofIlciat
ed in tho service-trom golden censers incense was
| burned before his Holiness and waited about hi
sacred head as they flung their censers on high
| they bowed down before the Holy father, O. in
| acts Of apparent worship. 1t almost seemed as
though they were playing, as in theatre the scenes
ot the Heavenly city, fast by the throne Of God
and that the" Holy father" was playing the part
fthe Almighty Father. The Chapel itself is covered
on the ceiling and the walls all over with paint
| ing of the first masters Michael Angeles last
| judgment is, you know there. They are all in
iresco believe The singing is of the highest
order of course-only male yoices-not exactly
male but not female they are cut out for it
The profusion of scarlet when the cardinals are
thgra f,iv tba Ill,
that you cannot help recalling the Scarlatry of
the Apocalypse.
Here again copy the details from Ms letter
The singers clad in purple silk robes
with white short frocks, laid in fine plaits and
trmmtd with broad lace, take their places in tbo
balcony, arranged small gallery on the side Of
the chapel. The walls and ceiling are covered
with frescos representing almost every scene in
the bible
"steps covered with scarlet and green cloth. rise
all around the chapel. On one side near the altar
opposite the doors throne, on steps, with a large
chair and covered with scarlet and gold. Ladie,
are not allowed to enter the chapel, 60 we were
shut out, but.an iron grating permitted u, to see
every thing from our seats without and we could
see all the glory of the Pope"
IN tue nr't place must tell you that on enter
ing the passage to the Vatican there are arranged
a guard of Swiss soldiers in the gayest costumes,
their pixies on their shoulders at the entrance Of
the chapel were a number more, and in tho porch
were handsome young men dressed in black
broadcloth with frills about their necks and
wrists OF line cambria, bearing large gold and
silver maces, stationed each side Of the entrance
"Soon the cardinals in purple and scarlet robes
made their appearance, attended by two other.
clad in purple whose business was to bear the
trains and adjust the robes of the cardinals when
seated, arranging them go as to cover their feet
and make them hang we'll "
The Pope entered from the rear, accompanied
by priest Of every order, and clothed in every
colored robe Of silk His robe was of scarlet
trimmed with gold anil On III. -, $500