Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1860-07-26


! agate. These Nth its floor Of yari
! ecated marble, and its wilderness o.
richly decorated. coriuthnn columns
present an interior grand and beauti'
full. This magnificent Basilica is a
mile and a half without the city
wall, and was, uaquestionably built
as a monument to the memory OF the
| PonsifIs and great heads of the
Church; the spot being rendered ga
cred from the fact that a Basilica was
founded here by Constantine in the
early ages of Christianity. The
four magnificent columns which sup.
port the canopy over the high alter
are of oriental alabaster presented to
this Church by Nlahomet Ali, the
Viceroy of Egypt, and at their base
is said to repose part Of the remains
! of St. Peter aud ST, Paul. Il is
worthy Of mention that the eighty
marble columns, each Of q single
block, forming two rows in each aisle,
were brought from lake Magiore IN
Northern Italy aeated on rafts
to The mouth OF the Pc, anl brought
from thence on vessels. This is called
the Basilica of St. Paul.
/ Yesterday we SAW the colossal
statue of Pompey at the feet oI
which s.Great Caesar fell" There Is
dark red spot on the left leg,whlch
is said to be q stain from the blood
Of the ambitious demi-goa at the
time Of his assassination.
While on the subject OF Church
relies / must nention few others
In the BRsiIica Of the Lateran, one ol
the Oldest churches in Rene, found,
es by Constantine, who is said to have
assisted in digging the foundation
with bis ewn hands, are shown other
re- emarkable relies Of the Church.
Among these, the table on which The
last supper was eaten, that npol
which St. Peter is said to have OIL
ciatsd--two marble olumns split from
one end to the other when the val
Of the Temple was rent in twain; q
porpbyry slab Oh which tho solcler;
cast lots for the SaviouI's raiment;
two columns of Pilates house and q
slab supported by four columns .lS
feet high, said 10 he the height Of tht
Saviour, are among the most curious
Our cieerone admitted that most ol
these relies we're held sacred only
by Church trad1ii.siiaan, but as to the
Last Supper, he assured Us INA.
there was the most positive proof
itha, it is the identical table on which
the Last Supper vas eaten hy
Christ and the Apostles. 1t is made
tof Lebanon Cedar, and was enoe en-
oased in silver aud Ornamented With
gems and precious stones which be
he asserts were riAsd by the French
when they invaded Italy. We also
saw the holy stairs held 10 great
venoration by the Church. They
consist Of twenty eight marble steps
and are said by church tradl!io'' to
have belonged to Pilates house, and
to have been The identical ones which
Christ descended when be left the
ljudgmen, seat. The penitents who
ascend them do SO upon their knees
land the multitude Of the faithful
who visit.ihem, is SO great that they
are kept covered with planks OF wool
to prevent them being worn away
which are removed as they become
useless. We saw posted, near by
decree or bull of the Psps granting
nine years Indulgence for every stel
the faithful should ascend upon thel
knees with prayer. .penitence and med
itation on the PASSION. They ar
continually crowded. ascending II
solemn procession kissing each step
and appear to be lost in deep De
votion, returning by stairs IN anothe
:. direction. 1t would be considered
objectionable sacrilege to walk up o
down these venerable steps, mad'
doubly holy by the edicts OF tn
Church. s Is
Since the las. date We have spen
the time in visiting the prlne'pa
, palaces, museums, galleries Of pic
lures, sta.uary and other works Q
art. Among these the palace an
Il museums OF the Vatican exceed 7
richness and interest all similsr in
stitutiioodns ia the world. The grea
.. number and variety Of collection
|, Of ancient and modern productions I
3 ark, are. Of avery sge and from AL nj
. tions Greek and Romsnsculpturean
Doard Christian mol