It is impossible for any but an eye-witness to form an idea of the richness and profusion of the gold embroidery, the splendid epaulets, and beautifully set orders, etc., displayed on the occasion, and I hardly believe that anything approaching it could be seen at any European court.
During high mass, the foreign ambassadors, and the ladies and gentlemen admitted to court, assembled in the palace, where, on the emperor's return, every one was admitted to kiss his hand.
The ambassadors, however, took no part in this proceeding, but merely made a simple bow.
This edifying ceremony could easily be seen from the square, as the windows are very near the ground, and were also open.

On such occasions continual salutes are fired from the imperial ships, and sometimes from others in the harbour.
On the 2nd of November I saw a festival of another description-- namely, a religious one.

During this and the following days, old and young proceed from one church to another, to pray for the souls of the departed.
They have a singular custom here of not burying all their dead in the church-yard, many bodies being placed, at an additional expense, in the church itself.

For this purpose, there are, in every church, particular chambers, with catacombs formed in the walls.

The corpse is strewed with lime, and laid in a catacomb of this description, where, after a lapse of eight or ten months, the flesh is completely eaten away.