Page:The life and letters of Sir John Henniker Heaton bt. (IA lifelettersofsi00port).pdf/90

 "Shortly after we had taken our places, the Ambassadors from France, Austria, Belgium, Russia, Holland, Bavaria, Spain, and other countries, filed in, and entered the Tribuna. They looked very striking and attractive in their court dresses, their breasts being covered with decorations of various orders. The Ambassadors' wives, wearing veils and sparkling with jewels, accompanied their lords. German, Austrian, Spanish, and other nobles were ushered in by some high dignitaries connected with the Vatican. Just before ten o'clock, two officers of the Noble Guard took their places to the right and left of the papal throne. The Noble Guard, I should have stated, consisted of the noble or royal families of Rome who still remain loyal to the Pope.

"At half-past ten o'clock the Swiss, the Palatine, and Noble Guards, to the number of two hundred and fifty, filed in and made a passage up the centre aisle, and presented arms to their commanding officer. Then the magnificent choir of St Peter's struck up an anthem of welcome. The silver trumpets sounded for the first time in fourteen years, and a long line of Cardinals, Archbishops, and Bishops, fully mitred, entered the Hall of Canonization. The grandest looking of these Cardinals was an Englishman, Cardinal Howard. Each dignitary was attended by a chaplain. Among the Bishops were several Chinamen, Greeks, Armenians (which surprised me), and Indians, in addition to German, French, English, Spanish, and Irish prelates.

"After the long line of dignitaries, to the number of two hundred and fifty, had marched in, a murmur arose, and then, amidst breathless silence, his Holiness Pope Leo XIII., entered. A signal was given, and every soldier fell on his knees and presented arms. All eyes were strained to catch sight of the great ruler of men's minds, whose sway over the spiritual welfare of two hundred millions of human beings excites the