In the morning, I engaged a servitore de piazza and sallied forth to deliver the letters with which I had been entrusted, and particularly to call upon Dr. Clarke, to whom I had an introduction.
In the afternoon, after attending the English divine service, I visited that most magnificent of all Christian temples, the church of St. Peter's, in which every Christian country in the world, at the time of its erection, may fairly claim a proprietorship, as each contributed largely to its edification.
On entering it I felt myself impressed with awe and veneration, and notwithstanding the distinctions of ceremony, did not fail to offer up my humble adoration and thanks to the Almighty for his protection and mercies so abundantly bestowed upon me since the first moment of my existence.
It would be ridiculous of me to attempt a description of this grand and magnificent structure while so many correct and interesting delineations exist.
extract from The Narrative of a Journey through France, &c. (London, 1822) by James Holman FRS, pp.144-145, edited by Joe Rizzo Naudi.
Beautiful use of language.