New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-30
OPENING OF THE COUNCIL.
IPROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Sleeping population with the glad announcement
that the lOngexpected day of jubilee was about to
dawn on the Eternal City. With the return of con-
seriousness, my first hope that the glorious Italian
sun of yesterday, which was one Of those soft bril-
liant. almost vernal days that throw charm even
around the dreary month of December in this seduc
tive climate, might shine upon the solemn pageant
OF the OCCASION and inspire the imagination if not
the faith, that it favored by the peculiar smile
OF the sympathizing heavens. But on crop
Ing my way in the dim morning twi-
light to the window which dripped with
the reeking moisture. my Elusive fancies
were quickly dispelled. sharp, spiteful rain,
which offered no promise Of alienation, had taken
the place of the affectiOnate caressing sky Of the
day before The atmosphere was penetrated with q
heavy dampness that sent its chill to the very mar
row of the bones. One would gladly have avoided
to face the unfriendy elements, and chosen rather
to pass quiet day in ones own room, with tho
cheerful, though scanty warmth of q Roman fire
side. 1t nearly seven o'clock, with but thir
streaks of light struggling for admission to my
chamber, when was ashamed to find that many of
the inmates of our hotel had already preceded me
on the way to st. Peters. With more religious ZEAL
or more human curiosity than am able to boast Of
they had resolved that if they lost good position
for the observation of the spectacle it should be
through no fault of Incidence or delay on
their part. 1 may remark in passing that the
great body of the faithful. as well as
the unfathful had TO take their chance of obtaining
a foothOld in the Church, sight ofthe procession
With the exception of a small balcony in the COun
Gil Hall for crowned heads, among whom the beauti-
full Queen Olga of Wtrtemburg, the Empress of Aus
tria, the ex-Queen Of Naples, and the Grand Duke
and Grand Duchess Of Tuscaly were present at the
sOlenniies there were seats in the Hall for per-
sons not belonging to the Council. The narrow gal
leries in the body of the Church appropriated
to other royal personages and ambassadors to the
Court of Rome, but no provision whatever was made
for eccesastics not of the Council for distinguished
visitors in the Sacred City, for members of the
press all Of whom were obliged to rely for their po
siion on their early presence or the development
of their muscular Christianity"
Takingheart OF grace and ahasty breakfast at half
past seven put body and soul in ChargeOf faithful
coaohman who knew by frequent experience pos
sessed a wonderful gift of guiding his eager and
nervous little Roman steeds through the mysterious
avenues and alleys which lead tho Tber to the
pavement of ST. Peters. The drive from my lodgings
is usually not than fifteen minutes but now it
was past nine o'clock before / came in sight of the
archangel on SAINT Angelo and tho dome of tho
Basilica Every street was crowded and choked up
with the throng of carriages. Vehicles of every
conceivable description, from the scarlet chariot of
the Cardinal, with its golden trappings, to the
rIckety hack Of the Piazza di Spagna filed the
thoroughfares My trusty Jehu discreetly turned
aside from the most frequented avenues, and
threaded his way through labyrinth of unclean and
narrow streets, whose sinuous perplexities can be
compared to nothing but the corkScrew
scabbard of Mr.. Wendell Phiilips's famous
Damascus blade. But we gained less than
we expected from this move, and found
ourselves in the midst of procession of carriages,
whose slow and frequently interrupted pace gave no
hope of the speedy termination of the journey.
may say good word here in behalf of the Roman
crowd. In the long line that filled the streets
further than the eye could reach there was no
chaos. no confusion. The returning l!ne which was
also immense though not so long as as ours, kept its
own side of the way, and there was no attempt by
one carriage to pass another. saw no police but
mounted military men who were stationed at distant
intervals along the road, but they sat quiet in their
saddles with apparently nothing to do but to
remain still and be raned on. heard no swearing,
no screeching at horses drivers no loud talking,
but everything was as orderly and almost as sOmber
as funeral procession. The passers on
foot, as wen as the persons standing at
the shop doors, few OF which were
still OPEN were silent and reserved. There was no
baudying of Jokes with one another, nothing like
nerriment not even an approach to the genial
hilarity of st. Patricks Day in New-York. The
thick cloud Of ecclcsasticism seemed to smother
every natural feeling. Or else the Romans have but
a small degree Of the gaYety of temperament, and
festive humOr which mark the moro excltaDle
Catholic population of our own country. The only
secular indulgence that l witnessed was an I'M
demonstrative pipe of tobacco. which was OCCASION
ally smoked by one of the crowd
On arriving at length within the precincts OF ST.
Peters, / found tho noble pavements OF the piazza
covered with a countless mass of people, dripping
with rain. against which the umbrellas that formed
ayast canopy over their heads afforded but little pro-
lection. and file of soldiers opposing their FURNISHED
muskets to whoever attempted to pass through the
snacious colonnades. The only entrance to the
Church was over the open flight of steps that lead to
the yestbue and after some delay and the pressure
Of a fearful crowd came within sight OF the High
Altar. The concourse of spectators was so immense
AZ TO make all observation Of details Impossible.
The floor was crowded with representatives OF
every people and nation, and kindred, and tongue
under the whole heaven" The variety OF eccleslast-
cal and military costume of every Imaginable Iasho
and color, dazzed the eye. Here Dahd OF
monks clad from head TO foot III robes OF solemn
black the face completely cnvel0ped Ill Diack
hood with places for the eyes, which glared through
the apertures in weird brightness, threw sort OF
spectra gloom around the scene. lhls was soon re-
lieyed by another company OF religious, witD
costumes of a similar fashion, but of blue material,
aud enormous white capes over their shoulders. lie
brown dress and flowing boards OF the Darc-iegsed
frar. whose brawny limbs did rare justice 10 lheir
dscnline. presented strange contrast to the BAR
baric ponlp and gold which often betrayed the rep
resentatiye of some Oriental cline. Inc tatieIe"
garments of the beggar were not wanting 10 mus
A ord la o.