Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-01-02
A nIscOyerY In Rome.


A correspondent of the Boston Adreriiser,
writing from Rome, narrates the story of the
recent finding Of some antiquarian relies in
secret chamber of the Roman college.
Two ex-priests gave information to the royal
commissions which has charge of the lately
confscated church property, that for GER
tain percentage they would reveal the hid
ing place Of valuable ecclesiastical treas
ures. The offer was accepted and they dis
closed the closet between the floor of one
room aud the ceiling of another, in which
were found sacks full of old parchments, old
books, articles of great literary value also
a large block of Oriental lapis-lazuli, weigh
ing eighty English pounds worth at least
one thousand FIVE hundred dollars gold |!
The ex-Jesuits looked disappointed, how
ever and said "This is not what we ex-
pected to show you. There are more valua-
BILE treasures than these secreted in the
building, and we thought this was the place
where they were hidden" Then they told of
gold and silver ornaments among them a
superb Osensior, made many years ago by
the famous Castellani, the father and grand,
father of the present distinguished gold
workers. It was ordered by the Duchess
Grazioli of that day. No expense was
spared upon it; it was made of fine gold
and silver, and had diamonds and other
precious gems set in it; the whole curiously
and beautifully wrought with all the skill
and finish peculiar to the works of that ven
cradle artist. This has not yet been found,
but the botks, parchments' aud other OBJ
jects discxered are believed to be of great
value, among them being curious astuccia,
or box of maps, which without the maps is
valued at three thousand francs. 1t is of
stamped leather stamped in gilt aud col
ors, and Of that workmanship so highly
praised Ivy counoisscurs, of the Henri Deux
period. The large, round head of this fine
map-case opens with hinge aud has II dec
Grated lock- Inside it is divided into com.
partments, like a khife-case outside these di.
visions are visible. It displays three round
sheaths, unequal in length, united in one head
the longest sheath is two feet. Into these
sheaths are placed the maps rolled up. They
are all on parchment. and handmade with
pen and brush. They are OF the kind called
p0rtOidni, because of their having the princi
pal ports represented prominently on them
There is one smaller than the rest which is
very handsome. 1t is dated 1855, thirty-seven
years before Columbus sailed for America
and makes Genoa the chief city of the
world. Among the books is the constitu
ton of the Society of Jesus, dated 1893, and
is the only copy known. Another book is q
beautiful folio, containing finely coloreC
pictures of all known garden flowers. It'
date is 1873 and the authors name Fran
co.'s de Geest The manuscripts are ovel
four Thousand in number. and the whole col
lection is to be sent to the Roman Archives
Prominent Jesuits profess ignorance of tn,
collection and say they have probably beef
concealed ever since the time of the frs
Napoleon, but this is contradicted by som,
of the memoranda found on the books o.
parchments.