The Express.
London, England, 1856-06-12 00:00:00

THE PONTIFICAL STATES.

(110 X Ova

ROYE, :vim 6.

Yesterday morning witnessed the departure of
Cardinal Patrizi from Rome upon an errand some-
what unusual amongst members of the Sacred Col-
lege, vie., that of performing the part of godfather to
the Napoleonic prince in the name of his Holiness.
His Eminence's suite comprised the prelates Man-
nelli, Capslti, and La Valletta, besides several eccle-
siastics of inferior rank, who occupied three pon-
derous vehicles; the cortege being closed by one of
the Pope's travelling vans, laden with the legate's
luggage and the magnificent presents destined for
the several members of the Imperial family. You
were informed by my last letter that the much talked
of swaddling clothes have ceased to form part of these
offerings, but there is en revanche a beautiful golden
vase, weighing a hundred ounces, with a pedestal of
lapis lanai, for the Emperor, and an extremely
valuable relic, being nothing less than a fragment of
our Saviour's cradle, studded with diamonds, for the
baby. A golden rose, with its accompanying branch,
tastefully executed in the same metal, is prepared
for the Empress; and a copy of a picture by Chereino
in mosaic, together with several other specimens of
that beautiful and essentially Roman style of art,
comprising many boxes, with the Pope's portrait, and
finally an ample collection of crosses and decorations
of the various Pontifical orders, have been placed at
the Cardinal's disposal for the princes and members
of the Imperial court.
To guard all these treasures, as well as the revered
person of the Pope's vicar, from the sacrilegious
attempts of any brigands who might be haunt-
ing the road, a strong escort of gendarmerie
accompanied the cortege, a piece of service
which must have rather warmed the soldiers in their
saddles, as his Eminence set out at half-past nine in
the morning on his hot and dusty journey. At Palo,
half-way to Civita Vecchia, as well as on his arrival
at the latter town, the cardinal was received with
salutes of artillery and all honourable demonstrations
from the local and military authorities, to whom in
return he offered a sumptuous repast, the preparation
of which had been previously entrusted to the gas.
trooomic skill of the Roman artiste Spilmao.
Amongst the guests were the officers of the French
steam oorvettes Da Caylas and Promethde, who are
to have the honour of conveying the vicar to Mar-
seilles, several of whom visited Rome immediately
on arriving, and were presented to the Pope on the
day before yesterday. The French ambassador set
out from Rome together with the cardinal.
A consistory is to be held on the 16th of this month
for the purpose of adding six new members to the
Sacred College. The prelates thus destined to the
Cardinalitlan purple are Monsignors Beroabo, who
will also be appointed Prefect of the Propaganda
College; Di Pietro, hitherto nuncio at Lisbon;
Grassellini, commissioner in the Legations; Medlcis
the Pope's majordomo • and two Austrian bishops.
Another instance hasi been recently afforded of the
flagrant facility with which the organic laws of this
country are violated by the very authorities who
framed them. Much stress has been laid upon the
municipal representations granted by the Pope in
1851, se affording the provinces a field for free
administration in all matters of internal in-
terest. The municipal councillors were to be
named by the goverament at first, and then partially
renewed by election, after the fashion of close corpo
rations; but even this limited system of representation
has not been observed, and the nomination of muni-
cipal councillors continues, in spite of the explicit law
on the subject, to be made entirely by the govern.
moot. The arbitrary mode with which they are
treated is another matter of grievance amongst the
municipalities. The municipality of Nettnno, a little
town on the seacoast thirty miles from Rome, having
been at law with Prince Borgheae, who has immense
landed proprty all round, came to an arrangement a
ea few years ago, with which the prince is now
dissatisfied. The municipality wished to resort to
the tribunals once more, but the prince appealing to
the Pope, his Holiness named three cardinals to judge
the case pending, sod to decide with fall power es an
exceptional tribunaL At the same time, lest the
municipality of Nettuno should appeal against so
unheard-of &decision, his Holiness dissolved the whole
council, and by sovereign reacript named a new one,
at the head of which was Prince Borghees himself,
backed by a number et goverment employee, whole
appointment as eeaseillon in expressly prohibited by
the law on m The new council, with
the to le in earful minority, immediately met
and sleet Prince Borghese as their prior, but, as he
eould not with any shadow of demur', be plaintiff
and defendant at the same time, he resigned in favour
of an employe, who is now prior of Nettuno, although
legally incapable of being even a councillor.
A similar cue recently happened at Ciennenanc,
where, the corporation being at law with Prince Cc •
loons, was, by that nobleman's interest, dissolved, and
new and more docile councillors arbitrarily. named by
the government. Thus the nature of the institutions
of this country is defective enough, bat the mode of
administering them is still more so, owing to the go-
vernment setting itself above all law, and the Pope
making black white, according to hie incontestable
right, conveyed in the traditional verse:

Album il. nitro Papa potest taws.