The subterraneous Parts of the Church are altogether as magnificent as the Superstructure; for Marble and Pictures of the Mosaic kind are its Ornaments. ’Tis worth while to take the Pains to go up to the Top of this Church, which one ascends by a sloping Stair-case, without one Step, that leads to the Dome; and by other Stairs, not so commodious, one rises to the Globe, which, ’tis said, will hold, twenty Persons with Ease. Upon St. _Peter_’s Day the Church is illuminated from the Foundation to the Cross, by Lamps without Number, which make a very fine Appearance. All the other Churches of ROME are beautiful Piles, and ’tis certain that the least of ’em contains something that will entertain a curious Spectator. Those of them indeed that are the most worthy of Attention, are, St. _Paul_’s without ROME, St. _John_’s _de Lateran_, St. _Mary Major_’s, the Churches of _Jesus_, St. _Ignatius_, St. _Philip de Neri_, our Lady’s of Victory, the Church of St. _Agnes_, and the Noviciate of the _Jesuits_. As to the Foundation of St. _Mary Major_’s Church, there is a Tradition, that two Bridegrooms of Quality, both very rich and very devout, having pray’d to the Holy Virgin, that she would please to reveal to them for what good Purpose they should bestow their Wealth; the Mother of God signified to them in a Dream, that she would have them build a Church at the Place which they would find cover’d next Day with Snow; a Thing the more extraordinary at that Time, because it was the Month of _August_. But, to the End that this Revelation might be the more authentic, the Holy Virgin imparted it the same Night to the Pope St. _Liberius_ I. who next Day made a Procession round the City, accompanied by all the Clergy, and by _John_ a Patrician, and a Senator of ROME, and found that Spot of Ground where now stands the Church of St. _Mary Major_, covered with Snow. The Building was begun that very Day, and at first the Church was called the _Liberian_ Church, and also the Church of St. _Mary of the Manger_, because the Manger in which our Saviour lay, was there deposited; and at last it was called St. _Mary Major_, because it is the biggest of those Churches in ROME that are dedicated to the Holy Virgin. I have been so long upon Churches, that ’tis high Time to shift the Scene. I am now going to acquaint you of what has happened here since I came, referring what I have farther to relate to you concerning the Buildings of ROME to another Opportunity.