ic deities
and every other deity credited to countless ages, helped to swell
the crowd wedging themselves between line upon line of carriages
four abreast. The general bombardment commenced on all sides was
truly an exciting scene. Grand assaults were made upon houses and
carriage with alike furious resistance; missiles of bonbons rose in
the air, volley upon volley; storms of flowers. Those seated in
windows and balconies made desperate onsets upon the passing
carriages. Hand to hand encounters now became general; monkeys
assailed lions; mamelukes returned the fire of gipsies; a grand
hurly-burly arose from every point in sight. Clouds fell from upper
balconies upon each side of the street as the crowds poured on in
incessant streams which became at intervals one moving mass of dust,
white as snow. Beautiful ladies, maidens and children, mingled in
the gay scene--all intent upon the same enjoyment. It is impossible
to convey the faintest idea of this grand display which is kept up
from early morning until half-past four o'clock, when the street is
cleared as by magic. How such a concourse of carriages and people
get into the adjoining nooks and piazzas in such a short time is
astonishing, while thousands still cling to the sidewalks of the
Corso. A chariot race is the next proceeding, when, within the
space of a few moments, the horses are in their places--the signal
given--the distance of the Corso gained--the race won.

This is the first day's outline of sport, which is followed in
successive order until the end of the season. Having already
lengthened this letter in twofold proportion, I must take room to
say that the festive scene instantly ceases as the solemn notes of
Ave Maria rises from the hundreds of steeples--the requiem for the
departing carnival.

I will not distract your attention with the palaces of the Caesars,
the Cenci, St. Angelo, and the remains of antiquity still to be
seen here, but trust that when we meet again every wish that you
formerly expressed regarding our stay in Rome will be realized a
thousandfold.

Looking at the volume of this letter I feel quite ashamed, but
trust that absence and distance will help to plead my cause. Gerald
seems quite confident that his suggestion will also speak loudly in
my favo