The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-06-22
The Dome OF st. peter.s.

Visitors to'St. Peters are not allowed to
go up to the dome, except on Thursday,
without special permit from the Vatican,
which is easily obtained by the guide, and
then it costs about two francs for party,
1t being customary to give half franc TO
each OF the clIstodians.
The ascent to the roof is made by an in
clined plane, and not by steps, which winds
around like circular staircase. This pas
sage way Is about six feet wide, and the
ascent is very easy-much more easy than
II it were by steps. On reaching the roof
1t Is found to be OF bricks, laid sideways in
cement, and a portion of it OF slabs of
stone, it being sustained by arches. The
immensity Of the building is better undeA
stood by its view from the roof, surround
ed, as you are, by the marble statues, which
look from the plaza to be about life-size.
but are in reality eighteen feet high. On
the walls OF thepassage-way to the roof are
slabs OF marble set in, recording the names
and dates when members of the reigning
houses OF Europe have accomplished their
ascent.
After examining the roof we PASSED up
an outside flight OF steps Leading to the base
Of the dome, and entered door which led
to the circular gallery around the interior
OF the dome, which is known as the whis-
pering gallery. By stationing one of our
party close to the wall on one side and pass
ing around to the opposite side of the dome
they could distinctly hear each other talk,
and held conversation in q low tone, al
though they were one hundred and thirty
nine feet apart. The dome has an inner and
outer wall, and between these is the stair
case for the ascent to the lantern on the top
of the dome, which wind around the dome.
half q jc
other door, by which we entered small
gallery on the side Of the dome. Looking
down to the floor OF the Cathedral the
height was so immense that the people
walking about below looked like mere in
fants. After resting here for awhile and
examining the mosaics, which look from
below like fine oil-paintings, we found they
were very coarse, each stone being about
half inch square on the face. Another
ascent brought Us to the top Of the dome,
where there is an outside balcony surround
ing the colonnade lantern which surmounts
the dome. From this point grand view of
Rome and all the surrounding country can
be had, extending to the Mediterranean, a
distance OF thirty-fye miles, over the almost
bare Campagna between Rome and Civita
Necchia, whilst on the other side is the Al
ban bills and tie chain OF the Apennine
mountains.
After enjoying this view and the fine cool
breeze that was blowing, we entered the
lantern and ascended by another spiral stair
case to the top of the lantern, where an up
right iron ladder gave us access to the ball,
which is formed of copper-plates eight feet
in diameter, and has held sixteen persons,
though we rather suppose not of the size
OF the four who entered it to-day. 1t is not
often entered by ladies, who usually give
out by the time they reach the balcony OF
the lantern, but even the youngest and
weakest Of our party made good the
entire ascent.-C. q. .Fultor-Letter from
Rome.