NOTICES OF PERU. 



249 



On the cornice of this first story, surrounded by a Grecian 

 varanda, are eight columns, which rest upon the pilasters of 

 the sagrdrio, and support another varanda above; thus form- 

 ing a sort of throne, for a beautiful image of Our Lady, pre- 

 sented by the Emperor Charles V. Behind it is the apostle 

 Santiago. The whole is canopied with crimson velvet, sup- 

 ported by angels, and ornamented with gold lace. Large can- 

 delabra, and candlesticks, are tastefully placed in different parts 

 of the altar, which, when lighted, forms a splendid spectacle. 



Until the revolution of 1821, the standard of Pizarro was 

 preserved over the top of the altar. When San Martin left 

 Peru, he carried it with him, and considered it his proudest 

 trophy. 



Notwithstanding that the columns and pilasters, which sup- 

 port the vaulted roof, are hung with crimson velvet, bordered 

 with gold lace, and the many pieces of gold and silver on the 

 altars, the church is now poor, compared to its state previous 

 to the Independence. Immense quantities of plate were taken 

 during the war, first by San Martin, and afterwards by Bolivar, 

 under the name of loans to the state. One pair of candlesticks, 

 taken from the great altar, weighed 1500 marks, or 12,000 

 ounces of silver ! 



Behind the Altar Mayor, and opening into the communicating 

 passage between the lateral naves, is a chapel dedicated to St. 

 Bartholomew, in which is the kneeling statue of Don Bartolo- 

 me Lobo Guerrero, the third archbishop of Lima. 



In front of the choir, being the anterior end of the middle 

 nave, and fronting the plaza, is the chapel of Nuestra Senora 

 de la Antigua. The altar is of massive silver, and above it is a 

 painting of Our Lady, holding the infant Saviour in her arms. 

 On the left of the altar is a tablet inserted in a pilaster, bearing 

 the following inscription ; 



" N. S. P. Clemente XIV. por su breve dell de Junto de 

 1771. 



Concede ci todos los fieles cristianos que verdaderamente 

 contritos visitdren este altar de N. S. de la Antigua pidien- 

 do por su intencion, por la exaltacion de la Santa Fe, paz 

 y Concordia entre los Principes Cristianos^ y rezdren la 

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