STATES OF THE CHURCH. 



677 



to April. The Sirocco., or hot whid from Africa, is felt on the shore of the Mediterranean. 

 In the mountainous parts the air is healthy, hut in the Maremma on the coast, and in the neigh- 

 borhood of the Pontine marshes, are pestilential exhalations, which cause fever and ague. The 

 northern parts near the Po are also unhealthy. 



5. Soil. The soil does not ditler materially from that of Tuscany. The oranges and 

 lemons produced in the plain of Rome are the hest in Italy. 



6. Face of the Countnj. This territory is intersected by the Apennines. The mountains 

 are as barren as those of Tuscany and Genoa, but higher. The Cainpagna di Roma is a con- 

 tinuation of the Tuscan Maremma, and is noted for its unheahliy malaria. It exhibits an un- 

 dulated surface bai'e of trees. The Pontine marshes are in the south. The ancient Cesars 

 and modern Popes have in vain attempted to drain them. 



7. JWitural Curiosities. The cataract of Velino near Terni, is a beautifully picturesque 

 cascade, and has been celebrated in the verses of Byron. It is, however, partly artificial. 

 The mountain stream of the Velino was turned into the Nar through a bed cut in a limestone 

 rock.* The cascade of Tivoli is also artificial. 



8. Divisions. The States of the Church are divided into 14 provinces, bearing the names 

 of their chief towns. They are the province of Rome, styled comarca or county ; those of 

 Bologna, Ferrara, Ravenna, and Forli, styled legations ; and those of Urbino, Ancona, Mace- 

 rata, Fermo, Spoleto, Perugia, Viterbo, Frosinone, and Benevento, styled delegations. 



9. Towns. Rome, the capital of the State, stands upon both sides of the Tiber, 15 miles 



from the sea. It is situated on several low hihs, 

 and is 16 miles in circumference, comprehend- 

 ing, however, within this space much open 

 ground, gardens, vineyards, and fields. Once 

 the capital of an empire, which embraced nearly 

 the whole of the known world, and for centuries, 

 the residence of the popes, who have adorned it 

 with all the splendors of painting, sculpture, and 

 architecture, there is no place that can compare 

 with Rome in its majestic ruins, its associa- 

 tions with the past, the solemn grandeur of its 

 churches and ])alaces, and its endless treasures 

 of art. It has, indeerl, a sombre appearance, 

 rendered still more striking by large squares, spa- 

 cious and deserted streets, and the majestic ruins 

 streets are of immense length ; others are only 



half built ; many are narrow and crooked. In one part are noble palaces half hidden among 

 miserable huts. In another part all is gorgeous and magnificent. Other places may be more 

 beautiful, but Rome is one of the most richly picturesque cities in the world. The hills, in- 

 significant in themselves, seem made to display the buildings to the greatest advantage. The 

 architecture, both ancient and modern, is often faulty and incongruous, but always combines 

 well with the landscape. The spectator is dazzled with the multiplicity of objects, and de- 

 caying ruins are relieved by modern magnificence. It contains at present a population of 

 154,000 souls, 364 churches, 30 monasteries, 46 public squares, and 125 palaces. The mod- 

 ern city is a little north of ancient Rome, the site of which is principally covered with gardens 

 and vineyards. Fifteen gates, several of which are distinguished for their magnificence, form 



View of Modern Rome. 

 which are seen at every step. Some of the 



* " The cliannel in which the water runs above the fulls 

 is 51 feet in width. The descent is 1 foot in 20, and the 

 rapidity of the current about 7 miles an hour. The trav- 

 eler is conducted to different points to look down on this 

 tremendous cascade. The best view is from a little sum- 

 mer house on a projecting point considerably below the 

 brow, said to have been built for the accommodation of 

 Napoleon. The lower part of the cataract is not visible 

 at this point, but the river is seen rushintr among- rocks 

 and precipitating itself in a succession of falls over a per- 

 pendicular precipice, tossing itself in thunder amid the 

 foam and spray of the gulf below. The first fall takes 

 place where the stream is yet confined amono- the rocks 

 of the channel, which is there much broken, and may 

 liave au elevation of 40 or 50 feet. The second fali is a 



perpendicular descent of between 500 and fiOO feet. It 

 afterwards strikes against a rock, and rushes down re- 

 peated fiills, so close as to form almost one continued sheet 

 of foam for 240 feet more, into the Nar ; so that the whole 

 descent is upwards of 800 feet. * * * * * Altogether the 

 tremendous heiglit of the fall, the vast column of water, 

 the color and shape of the 'rocks of jet,' or velvet black 

 in contrast with the pure sparkling white of the spray, 

 the vivid green of the grass and mosses which it perpetu- 

 ally moistenSj. the grotesque configuration of the calcare- 

 ous incrustntion which it forms, and the brilliant rainbow 

 which, ' beneath the gliUering morn,' or in the evening 

 sunshine, arches the stream, combine with tlie richness 

 and beauty of the surrounding scenery to form a piclurfl 

 of perhaps uncqualrd beauty." — Cornier s llaly 



