The bronze columns above mentioned were taken from the temple of Jupiter Capitolinus.  On one side in front of the church of St John Lateran stands an immense Egyptian Obelisk 115 feet in height, brought from Egypt to Rome in the time of Constantine.

I think the placing of these Obelisks in front of the facade of the most remarkable edifices is an excellent arrangement, as they are never-failing landmarks to distinguish from afar off the edifices to which they belong.  This Obelisk was found in the Circus Maximus, from which it was removed and placed on this spot by Sixtus V. A large Orphan establishment is close to this church; and close to it also the Battisterio of Constantine, which rests on forty-eight columns of porphyry, said to be the finest in Europe.  Another church in the vicinity contains La Scala Santa or holy staircase of marble which, according to the tradition, adorned Pontius Pilate’s palace at Jerusalem, and on which identical staircase Jesus Christ ascended to be interrogated by Pilate.  The tradition further says that it was transported to Rome by Angels.  This staircase has twenty-eight steps, and no one is allowed to mount it except on his knees.  Nobody ever descends it, but there are two other escaliers parallel to it, one on the right hand, the other on the left, by which you descend in the usual manner.  Not being aware of this ceremony, I, on entering the edifice, began to ascend the escalier which was nearest to me, which proved to be the Scala Santa, for no sooner had I begun to ascend it as I would any other flight of steps than two or three voices screamed out:  “Signore!  O signore! a ginocchia; o’e la scala santa!” I asked what was meant and was then told the whole story, and that it was necessary to mount this staircase on one’s knees or not at all.  This I did not think worth the trouble, being quite contented with beholding it.  The marble of this staircase is much worn by the number of devout people who ascend it in this manner, and this ceremony, aided by a quantum suff of faith is no doubt of great efficacy.

The fourth church in estimation, and I believe the next ancient in Rome to St John Lateran, is the church of San Paolo fuor della mura, so called from its being situated outside the gates of the city.  It is of immense size, but out of repair and neglected.  The most striking object of its architectural contents are the 120 columns of Parian marble which support its nave.

St Pietro in Vincoli is chiefly remarkable for its being built near the dungeon where, according to the tradition, St Peter was confined and from whence he was released by Angels; its chief ornament is the colossal statue of Moses.  Somewhere close to this place are shewn the ruins of the Mamertine prison where Jugurtha was incarcerated and died.

There are in Rome about three hundred other churches, all of which can boast of very interesting and valuable contents.  One in particular called the Portuguese Church is uncommonly beautiful tho’ small; another, that of St Ignazio, or the Jesuits’ church, is vast and imposing, and very fine singing is occasionally to be heard there.