They  were  not,  in  this  refped,  deceived^

The


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR.  605

the  armies  in  the  northen)  part  of  Italy.  AH  comnui-
TiicHtiofi  from  without  was  cut  ofT,  where  the  inhabi-
tants  of  the  country,  who  had  been  cruelly  plundered

by

.  The  j'lWllcc  of  1775  (in  all  probability  the  laft)  was  celebrated
by  P'us  with  a  decree  of  fplcndor  and  magnificence  furpafling  rhac
of  all  preceding  ones.  One  of  the  principal  circumflances  of  ihe
fe(lival,  whiclu  indeed,  may  be  called  the  firft  a(5l  of  the  facred
f;arce,  is  the  opening  of  tlie  famous  porta  Santa j  or  facred  door..
'i^tis  door,  which  is  one  of  thofe  of  St.  Peter's  church,  remained
conQantly  ftiut,  except  during  the  holy  year  in  which  jubilee  is  ce-
lebrated. It  was  then  opened  with  a  parade  of  which  Pius  VT.
took  care  not  to  diminiih  the  etfe^.  It  was  his  office  to  prefide
over  the  demolition  of  a  btick  wall,  that  clofed  the  entrance  of  the
facred  door.  Advancing  with  majedic  gravity,  he  (Inick  the  fir  ft
i^roke,  and  inftantly  the  wall  fell  to  the  ground  under  the  re-
doubled blows  of  the  workmen,  to  whom  the  fignal  had  been  given.
The  pious  fpe^ators  eagerly  feized  on  the  materials ;  each  (lono
beinr  an  objed  of  hit^h  veneration.  By  their  conu6l  with  that
which  was  laid  twenty-lour  years  ago  by  the  facred  hands  of  the
Ibvereign  pontiff,  they  had  acquired  the  virtue  of  curing  all  man-
.ncr  of  difeafes.  According  to  cuftom,  \i\e  foria/anta  remained  open
during  all  the  holy  year,  and  was  the  fcenc  «f  the  moft  ridiculous
mummeries.  The  Pope  himfelf  did  not  pafs  through  it  without
exhibiting  marks  of  the  profoundeR  refped  ;  while  the  pilgrims,
difdaining  the  numerous  paffages  which  lead  into  the  church  of  St.
