EASTER SUNDAY. 



29 



which have been laid down as the lawful victims 

 of our carnivorous nature. 



On Easter Sunday I was invited by a physi- 

 cian to dine with him, and to attend the christen- 

 ing of one of his grandchildren. At dinner the 

 party was small ; the dishes were served up two 

 at a time to the number of ten or twelve, of all 

 of which I was obliged to taste. From the table 

 we adjourned to the church about four o'clock, 

 where several persons, likewise invited, waited 

 for us ; the ceremony was performed by a friar, 

 and each guest held a wax taper, forming a semi- 

 circle towards the altar ; from hence we returned 

 to the old gentleman's house to supper. I met 

 here, among others belonging to the same con- 

 vent, the friar who preached the crucifixion 

 sermon. The members of this convent are all 

 Italians and Missionaries, but as no reinforce- 

 ment has for a length of time come out from 

 Europe, very few now remain. A long table was 

 laid out, loaded with victuals. Several ladies 

 were present, notwithstanding which enormous 

 quantities of wine were drank, until the whole 

 company began to be riotous, but still the ladies 

 did not move. At last no order was left among 

 them, bottles and glasses were overturned and 

 broken in the vehement wishes expressed for the 

 prosperity of the whole family of our host, both 

 old and young ; when in the midst of this, I 

 escaped about nine o'clock, accompanied b\ a 



