privilege of supplying the pontifical chapel with palms. The Pope
granted him this exclusive right and it is still enjoyed by one of
his family.

[Sidenote: Return of Pius VII to Rome.]

When the meek and benevolent Pius VII was returning to Rome from
exile and captivity, Dr. Bresca, one of the captain's descendants,
contrived, though not without great risk, to convey to Rome the
choicest palms of S. Remo and Bordighera. At the house of his friend
Viale half a mile outside the Porta del Popolo, he assembled twenty
five _orfanelli_ dressed in their white cassocks, and forty-five
_verginelle_. When the carriage of the beloved Pontiff approached,
this double choir of children appeared, bearing palms in their hands
and singing joyous canticles of benediction but I must describe this
lovely scene in the melodious language of the south. "Ciascuno di
essi (says Cancellieri) recava in mano una di queste palme di color
d'oro altissime e cadenti come tante vaghissime piume. Sei zitelle
sostenevano de'galanti panieri di freschissimi fiori pendenti dal
loro collo, con nastri bianchi e gialli, relativi allo stendardo
Pontificio. Quindi tutti si schierarono in buon ordine sulle due ale
delta strada, e mentre le ragazze versavano graziosamente a mani piene
da' loro canestrelli la verzura ed i fiori, quella selva ondeggiante
di palme, tributate al trionfo del S. Padre dal candore e dall'
innocenza, sorprese con la novità di uno spettacolo, che non potè a
meno d'intenerire, e di muovere tutti gli astanti".

If we now look back for a moment to the triumphs of the pagan
emperors, well may we bless God for the change which the religion of
Christ has wrought in this city. After they had let loose war, and