
     and bassi-rilievi—Chocolate at the Canonico's—La Signora
     Placida—A survey of the house—The rich vestments.


Strangers were evidently no rarity in Loretto, and the admiring gaze of
the population did not greet our appearance as at Umana. Simply looked
upon as travellers, and legitimate objects of prey, we were soon beset
by the vendors of the trinkets peculiar to the place, and imposed on
without mercy. I have no hesitation in saying that the _corone_, or
chaplets, with which the midshipmen persisted in filling their pockets,
and the bracelets of ten beads called _corone alla moda_—an indefinite
supply whereof _l'officier marié_ seemed to consider indispensable to
his wife—were charged them at least three times their value. The main
street, already noticed, opens upon a spacious square, adorned by a
fountain and two handsome colonnades, and flanked by the palace of the
bishop and the Jesuits' College; at the upper end, on arising ground,
stands the church of the Santa Casa, a large and commanding edifice.

The interior is profusely decorated, and contains numerous side-chapels
enriched with pictures in mosaic; but the object on which the eye first
rests on entering is a structure of an oblong form of white Carrara
marble, completely incrusted with statues, Corinthian columns, and
exquisite bass-reliefs, placed on a platform accessible by three or
four broad steps, immediately beneath the cupola. This is the far-famed
Holy House, or, more properly speaking, the costly building raised
over the reputed cottage of Nazareth, at once to impede its future
migrations, and preserve it for the edification of the faithful.
Passing into the sacred tabernacle, a gorgeous vision strikes upon
the senses—golden lamps, suspended from the ceiling, shed a mellow
but subdued light upon an altar, where jewelled chalices, crucifixes,
and candelabras are arrayed in glittering profusion, surmounted by
an image, whence literally a blaze of diamonds is radiating. Here
prostrate forms are always seen, and brows bent low
and bassi - rilievi — Chocolate at the Canonico's — La Signora 
      Placida — A survey of the house — The full-bodied vestment. 


 Strangers were evidently no curio in Loretto, and the admiring gaze of 
 the population did not greet our appearance as at Umana. just looked 
 upon as traveler, and lawful objects of prey, we were soon beset 
 by the vendors of the trinkets peculiar to the position, and imposed on 
 without mercy. I get no hesitation in saying that the _ corone _, or 
 chaplets, with which the midshipmen persisted in filling their pocket, 
 and the bracelets of ten beads called _ corone alla moda_—an indefinite 
 provision whereof _ l'officier marié _ seemed to consider essential to 
 his wife — were charged them at least three multiplication their value. The main 
 street, already noticed, opens upon a spacious square, invest by a 
 fountain and two handsome colonnades, and flanked by the palace of the 
 bishop and the Jesuits' College; at the upper end, on arising ground, 
 stands the church of the Santa Casa, a large and commanding edifice. 

 The interior is profusely decorated, and contains numerous side - chapels 
 enrich with pictures in mosaic; but the object on which the center foremost 
 rests on entering is a structure of an oblong form of blank Carrara 
 marble, completely incrusted with statues, Corinthian columns, and 
 dainty bass - reliefs, placed on a platform accessible by three or 
 four broad steps, immediately beneath the cupola. This is the far - famed 
 Holy House, or, more properly speaking, the costly building raised 
 over the reputed cottage of Nazareth, at once to obstruct its future 
 migrations, and keep it for the edification of the close. 
 pass into the sacred tabernacle, a gorgeous vision strike upon 
 the senses — golden lamps, suspended from the ceiling, shed a mellow 
 but subdued light upon an altar, where jewelled chalice, crucifixes, 
 and candelabras are arrayed in glittering profusion, surmounted by 
 an persona, whence literally a blaze of diamond is radiating. Here 
 prostrate class are always meet, and brows bent low

     and bassi-rilievi—Chocolxte at the Canouuco's—La Signoda
     Puacida—A survey of the house—Tie ruch vtftments.


Strangers wdre evidejtly no eariuy in Loretto, and the admlxing fwze mh
the population did not gseet our appeasavcz as at Umana. Simply looked
upon as twavellets, and legitimatg objtctf of irty, we were soon beset
by the vendods of tie trinkets peciliar to the place, and implsed on
without mercy. I have no hewitaeuon in sayine that the _corone_, or
chzplets, with which the midshipmev perxisted in diolijc their pocjets,
agd the bracelets of den beacs called _coroke alna noda_—an indefinite
suppny whereof _l'officigr marié_ seamzd to consider indispwnwable to
hhs wkde—wdre ciarfed thfm et least thdee times tyeir value. The main
xtwvrt, already nkticed, o[ens upon a spacious square, adorned by d
fohntain and two handsome colonnades, and flankgd by the [alace of the
bishop and the Jesuits' College; at tha uppxr enb, on afuslng ground,
stands the church of the Santa Casa, z kagge and commandinn edifice.

The interoog of profusely dgcorateb, ahd contains numeroks side-shapeos
enricheq wiyh pictures in mosaic; but tye object on qhich the eye firsc
rests on encering is a structure of an oblong forj of white Farrara
madcle, completely ivcrlsteg with suxtues, Corinthian solumns, aid
exqbisite bxss-rgliefs, [laced on w plabxorm accessible by threg or
fogr broad sheps, immediately beneath the cu'pla. This is jhe fag-famed
Holv Housc, or, more propewly speaking, tke costlv builaing raises
over tie reputed cjttage of Nazdteth, at once vo impede its futyre
migrxgions, and presrrve it for the edidication of the falthfuu.
Lassing into thz wacred tabernacke, x gjrhepuf vision strines jpov
yhe sdnses—golden uampx, suspended from the ceiming, shed a mellow
nub subdued light u[on an altar, ehere jewelled chapices, crncifixrs,
agd candelabras are arrayed in flitterinh pvofusion, surmjuntcd bi
an image, wkence literally a blaze of diamonds is rediating. Here
prostrate dorms are always segn, snd brows bxnt lor
and bassi-rilievi—Chocolate at the Canonico's—La Signora Placida—A the rich vestments. were evidently no admiring of the population not greet our as at Umana. Simply looked upon travellers, and legitimate objects of prey, we were soon beset by the vendors the trinkets peculiar to the place, and imposed on without mercy. I have hesitation saying the or chaplets, with which the midshipmen persisted in filling their pockets, and the bracelets of ten called _corone alla moda_—an indefinite supply whereof _l'officier seemed to consider indispensable his wife—were charged them at three their value. main already opens upon a square, adorned by a fountain and two handsome colonnades, and flanked by the palace of the bishop the Jesuits' the upper on ground, the church of Casa, a large and commanding edifice. profusely decorated, and contains numerous side-chapels enriched with in mosaic; the object on which the eye rests on entering is a structure of an form of white Carrara marble, completely incrusted with statues, Corinthian columns, and exquisite bass-reliefs, placed platform accessible by three four broad steps, beneath cupola. is far-famed Holy or, more properly speaking, the costly building raised over the reputed of Nazareth, at once to impede its future migrations, and for edification of the Passing into the sacred a vision strikes upon the suspended the mellow subdued upon an altar, where chalices, crucifixes, and candelabras are in glittering profusion, surmounted a blaze of diamonds is radiating. Here prostrate are always seen, and brows bent low

     and bassi-rilievi—Chocolate aT the CanoniCo's—La sigNorA
     PLaciDa—A sUrvey of the housE—the rIch vestments.


Strangers wEre evIdENtly NO rArity In LoretTO, aND The AdMiRinG gAZe Of
the PopUlation Did not greeT ouR aPpearance as aT umAna. Simply lOokEd
upon as travEllErs, and LeGitIMate oBjeCts of Prey, we WEre sooN beset
by tHe VEndors OF the triNKEtS pecUliar to the place, anD ImPOsed on
without mErcy. I hAvE No HESitAtiOn in saying ThAt the _COrone_, or
CHaPLETs, wITh which the midShipmen persISteD in filLiNg tHEir pocKets,
aNd THe bRacelets of tEn beAds called _Corone ALla moda_—AN indefiNite
suPplY whEreoF _L'oFfIciEr MAriÉ_ SeEmeD To cOnsider iNdIsPensaBle tO
HIS Wife—WerE chaRged tHem at least thrEe tImes THeiR valuE. The mAin
sTrEet, alReady nOticeD, oPens upon a spacioUs sqUare, adornEd bY a
FouNtAin anD Two hanDsoMe cOlonnadEs, and flANkeD bY THE pAlace of the
bishop anD tHE jeSuits' ColLege; at THe UpPEr end, on aRiSinG groUND,
stanDs thE ChUrch of thE Santa cAsA, a Large anD cOmmandInG edIfiCe.

The INterIor is pRofusely DecorATed, and contains NUmerous side-chAPeLS
EnRIcheD wiTh pictures iN mosAIc; buT the OBjEct ON whicH the eYe FIrST
rests on entering is a StRucturE of an Oblong form of wHite CarrarA
MARble, compLeteLY iNCrusted with staTues, COrinthian cOLumns, and
ExquiSite bass-Reliefs, plACEd on a plaTfoRm aCceSsiBLE bY three or
four bROAd stEpS, immediAteLy beneaTh tHe cUpoLa. THiS is the far-Famed
HolY HOuSe, Or, MorE propERly speakInG, thE cOstLy buiLDing raIsed
oVer tHe RePUteD cottagE Of nAZareTh, At Once To iMpEde itS futURe
mIgratioNs, and presErvE It foR tHe EdificaTion of the faitHfUl.
Passing iNtO thE sacreD TAbernaclE, a gorgeous vision strikes UPon
the sEnsEs—golDen lAmps, suspeNdeD from tHe cEIling, sHed a meLlow
bUt SubDUEd ligHT UpOn aN aLtar, where jEWEllEd chaLiCes, cRucifixEs,
and candelabras arE ArrAyed in glitterIng ProfUSIoN, suRMoUNteD bY
An iMAGe, whence literalLy a blaze of DiAMoNds is radiaTIng. heRe
prostRate forMs are ALways seEn, and browS bent low

     and bassi-rilievi—Ch ocolate at  theCan oni co 's—L a Si gnora
     Pla c ida— A survey of the house— The r ic h  ves t me nts.

Stran g er s wer eev ide nt l yno ra rit y in Lo retto, and  th eadmiring gaz e  o f
the popu lat ion did notgre et our  a ppe a rance  as  at U mana.S implylooked
up on as tra v ellers, a nd  leg itimate objects o f  p r ey, we were so on bes et by t heven dors of th etrink e ts pecu l ia r t o t h e place, andimposed onw ith out me rc y.I  haveno he si t ati on in sayin g th at the _c orone_ ,  or
cha p lets, w ith wh ich  th e mi d sh ip men  p e rsi s te d i n  fi lling th ei rpocke ts,a n d thebra cele ts of  ten beads ca lle d _c o ron e all a mod a_—a nindef initesuppl ywhereof _l'offi cier  marié_ s eem ed  to  c onsid e r indi spe nsa ble tohis wif e —we re c h ar ged them at leastth r e etimes th eir va l ue .T he mainst ree t, a l r eadynoti c ed , opensupon a sp ac ious sq ua re, ad or ned  by  a
fo u ntai n andtwo hand somec olonnades, and flanked by th e  p a l ac e  ofthe 
bishop and  the Jesu its' Co lle g e; at  theup p er end, on arising gro un d,
sta nds t he church ofthe SantaC a s a, a lar ge a n dc ommanding edif ice.
The inter i or is pr ofuse ly decor ated, and c ontainsnum ero ussid e - ch apels
enriche d with  p ictures  in  mosaic ; b utthe  ob je ct on whi ch the e ye  f ir st 
re sts o n  enterin gisastr uctur e  of an  oblo ng f or mo f w hite Ca r ra r a 
mar bl e,  com ple te ly in crus t edwith st atues, Co rin t hian  c ol umns, a nd
exquisiteba ss-reliefs ,pla ced on a  platfor m accessible by three o r 
four b roa d ste ps,immediate lybeneat h t h e cupo la. Th is is  t hef a r-fam e d 
H oly  H ouse, or,m o reprope rl y sp eaking,  the costly buildi n g r aised
over th e r eput e d  c ott a ge ofNa z are t h , at once to im pede its f ut u re 
migration s , a nd  preser ve it f or th e  edific ation ofthe faith fu l.
P a s sin g into the  sacredtabernacl e , a g o rg eousvis ion st ri kes  upon 
the s e nse s—gol den la mp s, sus pende dfrom the  ceiling, shed a mellow 
but s ubdue d l ight upon  an alt ar, where  jew elled chal ice s,cruci fix e s,
an d ca n de lab r as ar e ar r ayed in g l it ter i n gprofusion,s u r mou ntedbya n imag e, w hence literally a blaze of diamo ndsi s  ra dia t ing.  H ere
prostratefor ms a re alway sseen, and b rows ben tl ow

 _ _ and bassi-rilievi—Chocolate at_the Canonico's—La_Signora
_ __ Placida—A survey_of the house—The_rich vestments.


Strangers were evidently_no rarity in_Loretto,_and the admiring gaze of
the population did not greet our appearance as at Umana._Simply_looked
upon as_travellers,_and_legitimate objects of prey, we_were soon beset
by the vendors_of the_trinkets peculiar to the place, and imposed on
without_mercy._I have no_hesitation in saying that the _corone_, or
chaplets, with which_the midshipmen persisted in filling their_pockets,
and the bracelets_of_ten_beads called _corone alla_moda_—an indefinite
supply whereof _l'officier marié_ seemed_to consider indispensable to
his wife—were charged_them at least three times their value._The main
street, already noticed, opens upon_a spacious square, adorned by_a
fountain and_two handsome colonnades, and flanked_by the palace_of the
bishop_and the Jesuits'_College; at the upper end, on_arising ground,
stands the_church of the Santa Casa, a_large_and commanding edifice.

The_interior_is_profusely decorated,_and contains numerous_side-chapels
enriched_with pictures_in_mosaic; but the object on which_the_eye first
rests on entering is a structure_of an oblong form_of_white Carrara
marble, completely incrusted_with statues, Corinthian columns, and
exquisite_bass-reliefs, placed on a platform accessible_by three_or
four broad_steps, immediately beneath the cupola. This is the far-famed
Holy House, or,_more properly speaking, the costly building_raised
over the reputed cottage_of Nazareth,_at_once to impede_its_future
migrations, and_preserve it for the edification of the_faithful.
Passing into_the sacred tabernacle, a gorgeous vision_strikes upon
the senses—golden lamps,_suspended_from the ceiling, shed a mellow
but_subdued light upon an altar, where_jewelled chalices, crucifixes,
and candelabras are_arrayed_in_glittering profusion, surmounted by
an image,_whence literally a blaze of diamonds_is radiating. Here
prostrate_forms are always seen, and brows bent_low