CHARLES WATERT0N, ESQ. XCvii 



On festival days, the superb temple of the 

 Gesu is ornamented in splendid style with a 

 vast profusion of very rich gold fringe which 

 hangs at the cornice throughout its whole ex- 

 tent. The preservation of this costly treasure 

 from the hands of plunder on a former occasion 

 was so unique that I cannot help relating the 

 circumstance, if I can do so without trenching 

 on the very nervous sensibility of modern 

 decorum. I will try my best. 



When the French had got to Rome, and 

 were making professions on all sides of Frater- 

 nite, Egalite, and Liberte, the Romans found 

 out too late that these were merely words used 

 as a cloak to conceal depravity in its worst of 

 forms. A rumour had got abroad that these 

 newly arrived Gallic brothers had expressed 

 their astonishment at the prodigious show of gold 

 fringe in the celebrated church of the Gresu. This 

 caused the good fathers to turn pale, for they 

 clearly foresaw that they were to be honoured 

 by a visit on the part of those whose swords 

 had hitherto generally been employed as chief 

 agents in adjusting affairs of meum et tuum. 

 To attempt a concealment of the treasure within 

 their walls would be futile, as their scrutinising 



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