The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-01-13

had white lace. You see it in the pictures of
Cardinal Wolsey. The ladies with me said the
lace was beautiful There were some remark
ably splendid vestments, which l have since
been told were those of the North American
bishops. There were some covered with pic
tnres of saints, embroidered in panels. Some
had crimson or violet caps; some caftans;
some kind of veil, black or white; some ac-
tnally sort of turban. Some had long black
boards; some snowy white Most OF them
carried large qllarto rolled up in their
hands.
OF procession the correspondent of the
Standard writes:
The Papal choir led the way. Then came
number of consstorial advocates, followed by
the chambcrlans of the court, public and pri-
vate. In their wake, robed in heavy copes of
white and gold, came, two in two, long array
of bishops, abbots, archbishops and patriarchs
counting them, but I found the task TOO te-
dious, and, morever, it distracted my attention
from their features and costumes. Less than
six hundred there could not well be, all count
ed; and it is possible that they were more nu-
mCrous STILL Twenty-Five minutes was the
time it took for them to pass along. The splen-
dor of their robes and mtres-t latter more
in the shape of the Pope's own tiara--by some
of the Oriental prelates and abbots, is beyond
all description; and the appearance even of
their chaplains cast into the shade that OF
any European bishop. Nor must it be
supposed that they are Europeans sent to do
duty among the heather. Their features, COM
plcXion and bearing all stamped them of the
true Oriental type With happy foresight, and
perhaps with view to mark that the church
knows no distinction OF race, land or tongue,
these gorgeous Orientals were not massed to-
gethcr, but flashed upon one with their daz-
Zling robes at due intervals am bound to
say that, taking the Roman Catholic Episco-
pate in their entirety as saw them this morn
ing, they form handsome, impressive body of
men, and the number OF them who are in the
full vigor Of life is remarkable. There was no
more noticeable cOuntenance among them all
than that of him who was once IN ArchdcacOn,
honored and beloved, in the Anglican Commu-
nion, and is now shining light In the
Roman Catholic Church, and Archdeacon
of the important See of Westminster.
looked for his spare form and keen
ascctic iace, and at last 1 saw it coming
ming walked Monseigneur de Merode; and as
saw these two ardent, incorporating mill
tant preates together, l thought that they
were well bracketcd. When DR.. Manning had
passed, knew that there would be but few
more archbishops to folow-for high place
of honor is always assigned him at Rome, and
at Rome who comes last is first In estimation.
his heels came the College of Cardinals. The
youngest, and perhaps the most noticeable
among them all, was Cardinal Bonaparte,
who owes his hat to an all-potent cousin.
Scarcely had the eye fallen on the unmis-
taxable figure of Antonelli than the front rank
otthe dense crowd dropped oa Its knees-the ,
packed, for Plus IX, his face radiant with
supreme happiness, was dealing right and
left his Pontllical blessing
Not willing to be outdone, the correspond
cnt of the Daily Telegraph gives vivid ac-
count OF the opening Of the Council:
His Holiness looked exceedingly well and
happy; his voice was as clear and tuneful as
when last heard it two years ago; and he has
decidedly grown stOuter within the same pc
riod. AS soon rs his short function had ter
minated, he moved towards the hall, stepping
slowly but firmly along with folded hands, and
casting piercing glances on the byslanders
nearest to him. Four of1lcials-I cannot say
Of what rank-bore up his magnificent white
robes, and the triple crown was carried on q
velvet cushion before him. Meanwhile, the
bishops had been ranging themselves Gg along
ber: and, when his Holiness mounted
the dals and safe down in the Papal
throne, they also assumed their seats.
Preliminary prayer was then offered up by a
cardinal, the Pope rising and kneeling, ocing
crowned and uncrowncd, alternately, fo, few
minutes, after which he appeared to take de-
fintive possession of his throne, and gave the
signal That the prelates should be covered by
pnttlng on his tiara, flashing with costly
gems. This moment afforded the most strlk-
Ing spectacle of the whole ceremony; as II by
word of command, the six hundred occupants
of the Council benches put on their snow
white linen mitres, and, folding their hands,
sat back in their luxurious stalls. They look
cd like rows of enormous white flowers, plant
cd in curved beds of velvety green moss.
Nothing could be more chaste and charming
than the tablcauX presented by the Council at
this hour of its opening session.