, 1864-05-04
E7ster Sunday at Rome.

The Roman correspondent Of the London
Tin. describes a. follows the scene at st.
Petcr's On Easter Sunday:
The mass, 1t was reported, would begin at
O'Clock, but 10 o'clock arrived and no signs
were given Of the approach Of the Pope
King. A feeling: Tery. generally prevailed
That, after all, Ills Holiness would not be
we'll enough to 70 through the mass. Until
about ha}t-past 10 o'clock venerable ecclesi-
astics. muttled up in their grey or white fur
tpf cts, began to more soltmn}y about. aud
then another anl another, each followed b5
his claplains aud train-bearrrs, and all tend
ing toward the Chapel Of the Holy Sacra-
ment- at last the procession was formed
ard, emerging slowly from the chapel, turned
on to the right. and proceeded up ths mare
to The high altar-canons md cardlaals-a
brilliant shoW-aud mauT others who hnye
tic right Of assisting at these ceremonia1s Of
the church. At last the fcathcred taus
we're II ible, slightly bending in the air, aud
Pms II; once more was borne through the
to hin, ns be passed, Tor had secured an In
tcrval between two soldiers. lie Tas much
altered for the worse, since his last great
function on Christmas day. His round and
florid features were much reduced and much
paler; they bad worn expression. one al
irg. SIT is too bad, for political reasDns, 10
make an exhibition Of tic poor Pope In such
state" The whole pageant, indeed, was
the mockery Of grandeur, and the very an
tithesis Of hristianity-feeblencss In d CHAIR
Of state, Christ in the midst ofhts armed le-
EioEs! So, however, 1t WAS that Plus *,
probably tor the last time nt such season as
The present, was carried to the altar to assist
at the most SOLEMN services Of Roman Cath
0llc Church-a suffering. feeble, old man,
surrounded By all the pomp and vanity oftle
world the representative Of Christ upon
- /. ot,~ 81
love, in the midst Of our muskets hrlstlfng
with sword bayonets.
AS the Pope approached the altar, the sll
yer trunpets, rs they are called, which arc
only bFass band, sounded from the balcony
high above the door, aud notes, softened By
the distance, tloated on the air so sweetly
that am rea1ly sorry TO destroy so general
en Illusion. The "ticrs'' being omitted ont
OF consideration for Ills Holiness, the mass
wns commenced, md the Pope, who remain
ed In his chair, uttered the responses; but
bis fine voice was no longer audible as once
it WIS; It was the very expression Of weak
neFs. Still he perseyered till tho end, and
from which the benediction would be given.
Crowds rushed to tue doors, aud, seeing no
signs of preparation, returned the troops
formed closer and higher up the church,
. three deep, and 1t was evident that the bene-
diction was to be given inside the building:
The balcony OF Santa Veronica was lighted
up, covered with crimson tapestry, and q lit
tie bell sounded, md great bell sounded,
and three eccftsfastfcs appeared high up In
the mir, and exhibited, in succession, some
holy relics The procession then moved, and
the Pope, borne in his chair, was
placed before the tomb of 6t. Peter,
having the celebrated bronze statue OF
the saint on lis LEFT, aud It WAS evident
that the event OF so much Interest to the Ro-
E'an Catholic world was to take place. On
other occasions. as two or tlree years since.
when the weather was stormy, the benedic-
ton has been given inside Of st Peters, but
had It been fine, I do net think that the Pope
could hare given 1t from the outside; and
the rain, therefore, was d prositn@a. A deep
silence prevailed, and the hand was raised to
bless, and a few feeble words were uttered !;
but overcome by his feelings, even to tears,
| lis Holiness paused aud covered his eyes
| then summonlng fresh resolution, he removed
his haEd, and agntn raising 1t, in broken
voice, as that Of one struggling with great
| emotion, completed his blessing, ''Ur5i q
| Cr1i." The cannon took it up, and announced
! It in tones of thunder to the world, aud then
| Pins IL. Was carried down the nave into the
| Chapel Of Il c Huly Sacrament, himself feel.
| ing, Us most Of those around him felt, that
| tlis was the last occasion Of the kind, in oil
! probability, on which he would impart q
blessing which, with him, ! am sure, Was no
| TnnYs, f0rrn