prived the Camerlengo of his Ministerial functions,
and joined them to the Secretaryship of State, and so
it has since remained.

[18] I met Lady ----, a very tiresome woman, a day or two
after, who had been to see this ceremony, and was most
devoutly edified by the humility and charity of the
ladies. She told me a very old woman put out her foot
to her, thinking she was one of them, and begged her to
be very careful, as she had got some sores produced by
the itch; but as it formed no part of her Protestant
duty, she turned her over to the Princess Orsini, who
handled this horrid old leg with great tenderness; and
afterwards, when the same Princess was handed into the
other apartment to see the male pilgrims at supper, by
an attendant in the livery which they all wore, this
attendant turned out to be Prince Corsini. It sounds
very fine, but after all I don't think there is much in
it. It is ostentatious charity and humility, and though
rather disgusting and disagreeable, it is the fashion,
and those who do it are set up in a capital stock of
piety and virtue. It _may be_ both cause and effect of
great moral excellence, but I think it questionable.

[Page Head: PROTESTANT BURIAL GROUND]

April 10th, 1830 {p.322}

In the morning to St. John Lateran, where, as my _laquais de
place_ said, 'converted Jews, or Turks, or _Lutherans_' were
baptised; got too late for the baptism, which I believe is a
farce regularly got up, but heard the High Mass. The churches
were crowded all this week with pilgrims, whose appearance is
always very picturesque. Went into the cloisters, and was shown
by the monk or priest (whichever he was) some very remarkable
articles that they possess--a bit of the column on which the cock
stood when he crowed after Peter's three denials; a slab showing
the exact height of Jesus Christ, as he could just stand under
it,[19] and two halves which had once been a whole column, but
which was broken when the veil of the Temple was rent on the
death of Christ. The column is adorned with sculpture, which they
say is Jewish, and was brought to Rome with the Holy Stairs. Then
to Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, where they were performing High
Mass, with many assistants and a full choir, but without a
congregation