The Express.
London, England, 1855-02-27 00:00:00

RESIGNATION OF CARDINAL ANTONELLI.

(PROM THI

IDIOM OF THE DAILY NEWS.)
BOMB, Fall. 20.
It is confidently asserted that Cardinal Antonelli
has at last resigned, and that the Pope has accepted
his resignation. Several motives are adduced for
this step on the part of his eminence, who, it is sup-
posed, would not have resorted to it if he had seen a
tolerable chance of keeping in power much longer.
The pretext alleged by him is stated to be tha deter-
mination of his Holiness to divide the multifarious
offices hitherto concentrated in the person of Cardinal
Antonelli, and to have two secretaries of state, one for
foreign and the other for home affairs, as during the
reign of the late Pope. This probable change of ministry
is looked for here with the greatest possible interest,
as Cardinal Antoaelli may be said to have formed
the soul and action of the Papal government ever
since its restoration ; and the result has not been such
as to lead either the Pope or the people to wish for
an indefinite prolongation of his administration. The
choice of his successor, or successors, is the next ques-
tion ; and on this point also reports are nearly una-
nimous in indicating Cardinal Marini as Secretary of
State for the Interior, and Cardinal Santucci for
Foreign Affairs ; the latter, either permanently, or
only until Cardinal Vials Preis, now nuncio at the
Court of Vienna, can be sent for to fill the important
post.
The death of Cardinal Macchi, dean of the Sacred
College—an event which is expected every day—will
leave vacant the lucrative office of Secretary of Briefs,
and so afford Pio Nono (who has a great objection to
doing anything severe) an opportunity of recom-
pensing Cardinal Antonelli's zealous services since
1848.

Now that the fact of the King of Naples' contri.
bating a 'cotpa d'artnee to the European crusade
against Nicholas seems pretty well established, the
military liabilities of the Pope are coming under dis-
cussion, whether in jest or earnest I cannot say, but
his contingent is set down at three thousand men, a
contribution which would take off half his troops of
the line at one fell swoop, just when most required
for borne service by the approaching reduction of the
French garrison to 3,600 men. The plan is hardly
feasible, and his Holiness's aid must be limited to
spiritual co-operation.
Oar carnival is approaching its conclusion, without
ather inconvenience than the customary accidents
from the running horses in the crowded Corso, and
the uncustomary circumstance of old Father Tiber's
rising so high above his usual bed as to pay a visit to
the Saturnalian revellers, even in some parts of the
Corso. On Saturday the inundation was so high,
that the police authorities suspended their permission
for the carnival to continue until the aquatic intruder
was found to be gradually abating. Great damage
has been produoed in the surrounding campagna, and
mills and watts:Ate have been carried away io
Rome. The consequent distress of the poorer classes
is partially relieved by the distribution of bread in
the Colosseum, whither the famished but picturesque
peasants resort in crowds to receive the government
allowance. The mail for three days was obliged to
leave Rome by the heights of Monte Mario, and the
inundation extinguished both music and ballo at the
Grand Opera of Apollo.
Exchange on London, 468} cash ; 4731 paper.
Comb, 81