Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-05-20
LETTERS OF REV. DIR. LORD.

I hliali April u, we make tue iollOWlng eN-
/ tracts -
On Saturday eve ! found note at my
hotel from DR.. Van Nest, the chaplain Of
the American church in Florence / had,
however, already found the chapel, and made
MI my plans for homelke Sabbath. went
with the few worshippers Zone hundred per-
Ihaps), to the retired and agreeable place of
worship on the Via Seraglia." The whole
Service was delightful The singing was led
by Ball, the sculptors Powers, Mead and
Colby--names known and to be known, world
wido--were there other American residents,
and many strangers like myself constituted
the congregation Mr.. Marsh, our Minister
to the Court of Italy, is always present, and
is one of the chief managers and supporters
Of the church We sang out Of the Sabbath
Hymn and Tune Book Blest be the tie that
binds" etc. and " Come humble sinner in
whose breast" The sermon was upon the
text. d" Come, aud will show you the Messi-
- a very warm and glowing discourse, full
of pathos aud eloquence, and | need not say
it was eagerly listened to by one, at least
| resisted a pressing invitation to preach
in the afternoon. Fortunately-I left my SER
mons at home, or | might be induced to ac-
complish what / have been forbidden to do.
At six IN the afternoon, dined with the Doc
tor, and passed delightful evening IN the
society Of his family. And so passed this
blessed DAY, day OF rest from all that had
been irritating and vexing my mind, from all
the rush OF travel and annoyances OF sight
seeing The pleasant New England Sabbath,
under the soft sky of Italy, and IN the midst
of all its paganlsm, will not soon be forgot
ten.
The chietobject otinterest here (Nlilan) IS the
Duomo, or Cathedral, OF which have heard
and read since my boyhood. 1t was the hrst
point to which directed my steps. ap-
preached 1t through one OF the narrow streets
OF the city, and saw It under every dlsadyan-
tage. But as walked along ITS sides and to
the front, and went through 1t and to the top
Of IT, my wonder and admiration increased.
II is miracle in marble, perfect frost-work
of architectural beauty. Ii isa Gothic struc-
ture, begun in the l4th century and not yet
finished.
climbed to the top OF the tower. The
scene from that point simply surpasses de-
scription. 1t Is the centre Of a vast circle.
AT your feet, on every side, is the wide plain
OF Northern Italy, green with the yerdure
and the new foliage OF spring, and the rich
crops of wheat. To the north the plain, at
a distance OF thirty miles, is bounded by the
Alps. They extend, with their snowy peaks,
from Savoy to the Grisons, and die away in
the far off Tyrol. The whole range was as
distinctly defined to the eye on this clear day,
as are the Green Mountains from the Berlin
heights. First, to the left, Viso, and then
Gems, and then the king of the Alps, old
Blanc, and then the great St Bernard then
IN succession Rosa, fletshorn, Jungtrau and
the Bearnese Alps, until they died away In
the right, at Brescia, near the Adrlatic.
The horizon, as we turn from left to right,
now touches the sea OF the Doges, and we can
almost descry ITS waters as we gaze, with
another turn, the Appenlnes lit themselves
above the horizon, and their snowy peaks
send greeting to the loitier Alps And SO
our circle Is complete, with Milan as Its plv-
otal point and the cathedral tower the very
pivot itself. when tell you that there is
not one OF all the glorious mountains OF
Switzerland,--not one oil all the renowned
cities OF Northern Italy but is visible from
TINS elevation, l must leave you 10 imagine
scene whose background Is the everlasting
is the celebrated plain of ltal on which the
cities ana repunncs oil Venice Modena' fadua'
rarma ana uenoa uSed 10 contend, Even