JET. 27.] TOUR THROUGH ITALY. 305 



in parts too much, ornamented ; then the Colosseum, 

 then the Forum ; arches, Titus and Severus. On 

 arriving at the Casa di Venezia, found the places 

 already taken, and so sent adrift. The route to Flor- 

 ence blocked up by the plague, and a cordon round 

 Tuscany. Same difficulty apparently in the way of 

 Ancona. Doubtful what to do. Went to San Pietro 

 in Montorio, as soon as I had dressed. View superb, 

 commanding the whole plain from the platform at 

 the foot of the church-stairs, which is very high, and 

 commands all Eome. St Angelo, a noble object- 

 Dome of St Peter's, rising above the ruins, has a fine 

 effect. 



The court of the church was a round temple built 

 over the spot where St Peter suffered martyrdom. 

 The church is nothing, except that it once held the 

 " Transfiguration." Below is an excellent St Sebas- 

 tian, a fine Flemish piece, and a number of marble 

 figures, small and large, by Michael Angelo. 



From thence to the Vatican. 



The entry in front of the great circle is finer than 

 can be conceived; the massive pillars, the church, 

 the great centre object, then the noble fountains, 

 have an effect not to be described. On entering the 

 church one is struck dumb and almost blind. No- 

 thing but grandeur; yet all is ornament no little- 

 ness, but every inch well wrought. All marble and 

 gold, the roof dazzling, and the dome, with the grand 

 altar, are exquisite as well as sublime. 



St Paul's differs as much from it as size does from size 

 VOL. i. u 



