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EUROPEAN OBSERVATIONS. 185

as votive offerings by poor people, who believe that mala-
dies in their limbs have been cured by the interposition
of the Saint to whose altars they dedicate these gifts. In
the side chapel, dedicated to St. Nicholas, stands an an-
tique sarcophagus of Parian marble, the work of Roman
or Greek artists, ornamented with a fine bas-relief of the
Rape of Proserpine : the feet of the dead Charlemagne
originally rested in it, within his tomb.”

And here are some of the Reliques of an ancient order
and date, to believe in all which a man must have an iron
stomach to digest the tough with the soft.

‘““ The Grandes Reliques are publicly shown to the people
only once in 7 years, from the 15th to the 27th of July.
So sacred was this ceremony held, and so high was the
privilege esteemed of obtaining a glimpse of them, that in
former times no fewer than 150,000 pilgrims resorted to
" the spot from all parts on this occasion; and even so
lately as in 1839, the last aniversary, the number of
pious visitors exceeded 60,000. These relics were pre-
sented to Charlemagne by the Patriarch of Jerusalem,
and by Aaron king of Persia. They are deposited in a
rich shrine of silver gilt, the work of artists of the 9th
century, and consist of—1. The robe worn by the Vir-