
Singularly enough, it is notorious that the population in the vicinity
of this venerated shrine is the worst throughout the whole pontifical
dominions. This is a perplexing fact to persons who, like the V——
family, were perfectly sincere in their belief of the legend of the
holy house's miraculous transportation by angels from Nazareth; and
who naturally would infer that the immediate presence of such a relic
ought to have produced a salutary effect upon public morals. Their
explanation of this inconsistency was briefly, that the town having
been for centuries the resort of pilgrims of all ranks and from every
clime, the Loretani had become corrupted by ever-changing intercourse
with these strangers: an hypothesis we unquestioningly accepted, for
it must not be forgotten we were now on delicate ground, and many an
observation that might have jarred on our foreign companions, had to be
altogether suppressed or carefully kept amongst ourselves. The sinister
aspects of the groups we encountered gave a clue to the numerous
robberies perpetrated in the neighbourhood; to say nothing of the
darker tales of murder and revenge, of which the way-side crosses, so
frequent during the last few miles, were ominously suggestive.

Equally unfavourable were our first impressions of the town, as we
drove through a narrow street, lined on each side with booths, where
every description of medals, chaplets, rosaries, and other objects
of devotion lay exposed for sale, which we were loudly called upon
to purchase. Slipshod women, their black hair escaping, matted and
disordered, from the  handkerchiefs bound about their heads;
beggars in every stage and form of human misery—blind, palsied, maimed;
squalid children; lean, fighting dogs; portly priests; dirty pilgrims
with staff and scallop-shell: such is the appearance of the crowd that
greets the traveller on entering Loretto.

On reaching the inn, we found a fresh assemblage of mendicants drawn
up in array in the courtyard; objects so dirty and revolting, that
one involuntarily shrunk from contact with them: and clamorous, even
peremptory, in their demands, which are in general liberally complied
with. Their trade is supposed
Singularly enough, it is notorious that the population in the vicinity 
 of this venerated shrine is the worst throughout the whole grandiloquent 
 dominion. This is a perplexing fact to persons who, like the V — — 
 kin, were perfectly sincere in their impression of the legend of the 
 holy house's miraculous transportation by angel from Nazareth; and 
 who naturally would infer that the immediate bearing of such a relic 
 ought to have produced a salutary effect upon public ethical motive. Their 
 explanation of this inconsistency was briefly, that the town having 
 been for centuries the resort of pilgrim of all ranks and from every 
 clime, the Loretani had become corrupted by always - changing intercourse 
 with these stranger: an hypothesis we unquestioningly accept, for 
 it must not be forgotten we were now on delicate ground, and many an 
 observation that might have jolt on our foreign companions, had to be 
 altogether suppressed or cautiously keep amongst ourselves. The sinister 
 aspects of the groups we encountered gave a clue to the numerous 
 robberies perpetrated in the vicinity; to say nothing of the 
 darker fib of murder and retaliation, of which the room - side crosses, therefore 
 frequent during the last few miles, were ominously suggestive. 

 Equally unfavorable were our first impressions of the town, as we 
 drove through a narrow street, lined on each english with booths, where 
 every description of medals, chaplets, rosaries, and early objects 
 of idolatry lay exposed for sale, which we were loudly called upon 
 to purchase. Slipshod women, their bootleg hair escaping, matted and 
 disordered, from the   handkerchiefs bound about their heads; 
 beggars in every stage and shape of human misery — blind, palsied, maimed; 
 flyblown children; lean, contend dogs; portly priest; dirty pilgrim 
 with staff and scallop - shell: such is the appearance of the crowd that 
 greet the traveller on entering Loretto. 

 On reaching the inn, we found a fresh collection of mendicants drawn 
 up in array in the courtyard; objects so dirty and revolting, that 
 one involuntarily shrunk from contact with them: and clamorous, even 
 peremptory, in their demand, which are in general liberally complied 
 with. Their barter is supposed

Sinhularly enough, it is noturious that the populavion in the vicknity
of this venerated shrinx is the qorst throughout the wfole pontpfical
domuniois. This is a per'mexing ncct tk pervins who, like tme V——
family, fere perfectly skneere in their belief of the legend os the
hoky house's miracujous eranaiovtation by angels from Nazareth; znd
who iaturally would infer that the immediate oresfnce of such a rellc
ought to yave produced a sxlutary effect upon puglic morals. Their
explanation of this inconsistguxy ads briefly, vhat tre town havikb
been xor cenyuries the resprt of pilgrims of all rankv and from every
clyme, the Lmrztani had become corrypred bi eves-chavtine ihtxrckurse
wlth these strzngers: an htpothesis we unquesuiogpmgly acceptes, for
ie iust not be forgotten we were now on deniczte ground, and many an
ovservation that might have jarwed on our foreign companions, had to be
altogether suppcerseb or cxeevully kept amongst ourselves. The sinister
aspesfs on the groups we cncountered gave a cpur to the numeruus
robysrjes perpetrated in the neyghboyrhood; to say nothing of the
darker tales of murder aud eevenge, of which tke way-side cxosses, so
frrquent during the last yew mimes, were omlnously shegestive.

Equally jnfsvmurable were our first impwessions if tke town, xs wg
drove ehrough a jarrow street, lined on ewch snde whth booths, where
every description of medals, chaplets, roxasiev, and otker obmects
of devotiog lay exposed yor sale, whicf we were moudly ralled upon
tj purchase. Slhkshod women, tieir blach haur ewcaping, oatted and
disotdered, from the  habdkerchiefs bound ebouj fheir heads;
beggcxs in every stage ana fjrl pf vuman misery—tlina, pxksied, maimed;
squaokd cnildren; lean, fightinc dofs; portly priests; civty pilgrums
with ftaff and scaklop-shell: such is uhe ap'earanre of yhe crowd that
greets the travelled on enteginn Loretto.

On rqachlng jhe inn, we yound a fresh assemblage of mendicants dcawn
up in array in the xourtyard; objects sp dirty and cevoltyng, that
ote involuntarily shrynk from contact eith them: and clamorohs, evet
perelptory, in their demands, which are in general liberally complied
with. Their trade is supposed
Singularly enough, it is notorious that the the of this shrine is the dominions. is a perplexing to persons who, the V—— family, were perfectly sincere their belief of the legend of the holy house's miraculous transportation by angels Nazareth; and who naturally would infer that the immediate presence of such a ought have a effect upon public morals. Their explanation of this inconsistency was briefly, that the town having been centuries the resort of pilgrims of all ranks from every clime, the had become corrupted by ever-changing with strangers: an we accepted, it must not forgotten we were now on delicate ground, and many an observation that might have jarred on our companions, had altogether suppressed carefully amongst The sinister aspects groups we encountered gave a clue robberies perpetrated in the neighbourhood; to say nothing the darker of murder and revenge, of which way-side crosses, so frequent during the last few were ominously suggestive. Equally unfavourable were our first impressions of the town, as we drove narrow street, lined on side with booths, every of chaplets, and other of devotion lay exposed for sale, which we were loudly called to purchase. Slipshod women, their black hair escaping, matted and the bound about their beggars in every stage form human misery—blind, palsied, maimed; lean, dogs; pilgrims staff scallop-shell: such is the of the crowd that greets traveller on entering Loretto. found a fresh assemblage of mendicants drawn up array in the courtyard; objects so dirty revolting, that one involuntarily shrunk from contact with them: and clamorous, even in their are in general liberally complied with. Their trade supposed

Singularly enough, it is notorIous that thE popuLatIon In The vIcinIty
of this venerATed sHrine is the worst throughOut thE wHOle pONtIficaL
dominiONs. tHIs iS a PeRplExINg Fact tO peRsons whO, like the V——
fAmiLy, Were perfectlY SiNcere in theIr bElief of the leGenD of the
HoLy hOUse's mIraCulouS transPOrtatiOn by angelS fROm NazaREth; and
wHO NaTuraLly would infer that THe IMmediate presenCe of suCh A ReLIC
ouGht To have prodUcEd a saLUtary efFEcT UPOn pUBlic morals. TheIr
explanatiON of This inCoNsiSTency wAs briEfLY, thAt the town haVing
Been for ceNturieS The resoRT of pilgRims of All RanKs anD FrOm EveRy
CLimE, ThE LoREtaNi had becOmE cOrrupTed bY EVER-chaNgiNg inTercoUrse
with these StrAngeRS: an HypotHesis We unQuEstioNingly AccepTeD, for
it must not be ForgOtten we weRe nOw On dElIcate GRound, aNd mAny An
obserVation tHAt mIgHT HAvE jarred on our foreigN cOMPaNions, had To be
alTOgEtHEr suppreSsEd oR carEFUlly kEpt aMOnGst ourseLves. ThE SiNiSter
aspEcTs of thE gRouPs wE encoUNterEd gave A clue to tHe numERous
robberies pERpetrated in thE NeIGHbOUrhoOd; tO say nothing Of thE
DarkEr taLEs Of mURder aNd revEnGE, oF Which the way-side crosSeS, so
freQuent During the last Few miles, weRE OMinously SuggEStIVe.

Equally unfavOurabLe were our fIRst impreSsionS of the toWn, as we
droVE Through a NarRow StrEet, LINeD on each side wiTH BootHs, Where
evEry DescripTioN of MedAls, ChAplets, rosAries, and OtHeR oBjEctS
of deVOtion lay ExPosEd For Sale, wHIch we wEre loUdly CaLlED upOn
to purCHaSE. slipShOd WomeN, thEiR blacK haiR EscAping, maTted and
diSorDEred, FrOm The  handKerchiefs bounD aBout their hEaDs;
bEggars IN Every staGe and form of human misery—bLInd, palsIed, MaimeD;
squAlid childRen; Lean, fiGhtINg dogs; Portly PriesTs; DirTY PilgrIMS
wIth StAff and scalLOP-shEll: suCh Is thE appearAnce of the crowd that
GReeTs the travelleR on EnteRINg lorETtO.

on rEaCHinG THe inn, we found a frEsh assemblAgE Of Mendicants DRawN
uP in arraY in the cOurtyARd; objecTs so dirty And revoltInG, thaT
ONe iNvoluntariLy shrunk From contaCT with THeM: and cLamOrous, eVeN
peRemptOry, in tHEir DemanDs, whicH aRe in geNeral LiBerally cOmplied
with. Their trade is SupposEd

Singularly enough, it isnotoriousthatthe  po pu lati on i n the vicinity of t his venerated shrine i s the  w o rstt hr ougho ut thew ho l e  po nt if ica ld om inion s.This is  a perplex ing  f act to perso n swho, likethe  V——
family,  we re per fe ctl y  sinc ere  in t heir b e lief o f the leg en d  of th e 
holy h o u se 's m iraculous transpo r ta t ion by angelsfrom N az a re t h ; a ndwho natura ll y wou l d infer th a t the immediate pre sence of su c h a  relic 
o ugh t  to ha ve pr od u ced  a salutary  eff ect uponpublic morals. Their
e xplana tio n o f th i sin con si s ten c ywas bri efly, th at  t he to wn h a v i n g
be enforcentu ries the reso rtof p i lgr ims o f all  ran ks  andfrom e verycl ime, the Loreta ni h ad become  co rr upt ed  by e v er-cha ngi nginterco urse
wi t h t he s e st rangers: an hypoth es i s  w e unques tionin g ly  a c cepted,fo r
i t mu s t  notbe f o rg otten we  weren ow  o n delic at e grou nd , a ndmanya n
ob servat ion that  migh t  have jarred o n  our foreignc om p a ni o ns,had  to be
alto geth e r su ppre s se d o r  care fully  k e pt amongst ourselves.Th e sini steraspects of th e groups w e e ncounter ed g a ve a clue to thenumer ous
robber i es perpe trate d in the  neighbou r h ood; tosay  no thi ngo f  t he
darker tal e s  ofmu rder an d r evenge,  of  wh ich  th eway-sidecrosses,  s ofr eq uen t dur i ng the l as t f ew  mi les,w ere om inous ly s ug ge s tiv e.

Equ a ll y unfa vo ur able  we re  ourfirs t  im pressio ns of the  to w n, a swe 
drovethrough a nar ro w street,li ned  on ea c h  side wi th booths, where
everyd escript ion  of m edal s, chaple ts,  rosar ies ,  and o ther o bject sofd e votio n la y e xp osed for s a l e,which  w e we re loud ly called upon
top urc hase. Slipsho d w omen , th eir bl a ckha i r e s c aping, matted a nd
disorde re d ,from the h and ke rchiefs  boundabout their h eads;
beg gars in e ve ry s t a geand form o f humanmisery—bl i nd, p a ls ied,mai med;
s qu ali d chi ldren; lea n, fi ghting  d ogs; p ortly  p riests;dirty pilgrims
with sta ff and  scal lop -shell: s uch isthe appea ranc e of the c row d t hat
g ree t s the  tra v el ler on en teri n g Loretto . 
Onr e ac hing the in n , wefound  af resh a ssem blage of mendican t s drawn
up inarra y inthe cour ty ard; objects s o d ir t y  and rev ol ting, thatone invo lu n taril y shru nk fro m conta c t  w i th the m: a ndclamorous , e ve n 
peremp to ry ,  in th eirde mands,  which arei n  general liberal ly co m p liedw ith . The ir  tradei s su pposed

Singularly enough,_it is_notorious that the population_in the_vicinity
of_this venerated_shrine_is the worst_throughout the whole_pontifical
dominions. This is a_perplexing fact to_persons_who, like the V——
family, were perfectly sincere in their belief of the legend of_the
holy_house's miraculous_transportation_by_angels from Nazareth; and
who naturally_would infer that the immediate_presence of_such a relic
ought to have produced a salutary_effect_upon public morals._Their
explanation of this inconsistency was briefly, that the town_having
been for centuries the resort of_pilgrims of all_ranks_and_from every
clime, the Loretani_had become corrupted by ever-changing intercourse
with_these strangers: an hypothesis we unquestioningly_accepted, for
it must not be forgotten we_were now on delicate ground, and_many an
observation that might have_jarred on_our foreign companions, had to_be
altogether suppressed or_carefully kept_amongst ourselves. The_sinister
aspects of the groups we encountered_gave a clue_to the numerous
robberies perpetrated in the_neighbourhood;_to say nothing_of_the
darker_tales of_murder and revenge,_of_which the_way-side_crosses, so
frequent during the last few_miles,_were ominously suggestive.

Equally unfavourable were our first_impressions of the town,_as_we
drove through a narrow_street, lined on each side_with booths, where
every description of medals,_chaplets, rosaries,_and other_objects
of devotion lay exposed for sale, which we were loudly called_upon
to purchase. Slipshod women, their black_hair escaping, matted and
disordered,_from the__handkerchiefs bound about_their_heads;
beggars in_every stage and form of human misery—blind,_palsied, maimed;
squalid_children; lean, fighting dogs; portly priests;_dirty pilgrims
with staff and_scallop-shell:_such is the appearance of the_crowd that
greets the traveller on entering_Loretto.

On reaching the inn, we_found_a_fresh assemblage of mendicants drawn
up_in array in the courtyard; objects_so dirty and_revolting, that
one involuntarily shrunk from contact with_them:_and clamorous, even
peremptory, in their demands,_which_are in general liberally complied
with. Their_trade_is_supposed