The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-21 00:00:00

THE HEALTH OF HIS HOLINESS,

Exaggerated rumours as to the health of I-lis

Holiness have been freely published in the columns
of several among our contemporaries. From infor-
mation received direct from the Eternal City, we
learn that while the Pope, it is true, has had a
slight attack of gastric fever—no alarm whatever
had been caused by the malady of the Holy Father,
and the administration of the last Sacraments had
never once been thought of. Considerations of
prudence had naturally precluded the Pontiff from
dreaming of taking any part himself in the fatiguing
functions of Holy Week.
As to the statements put forth by the Roman
correspondent of our contemporary, the Morning
•
Post—in one case, as to the nomination by the Pope
himself of his successor, and, in the other case, as to
the Pontiff's death being notified by the striking of
the Dead Pope's forehead with a golden hammer—
they were simply ridiculous.
As to the Pope's reported nomination of his suc-
cessor, the Morning Post's Roman Correspondent
writes—" If it is true that Pio Nono has already
drawn up chirographic instructions for the selection
of his successor—u fact, by the bye, which I can
hardly credit, so entirely is it opposed to all Papal
precedent—the choice of the conclave will be re-
stricted to three cardinals, viz, Patrizi, Barnabo,
and Bofondi, whom His Holiness is said to consider
as best adapted to govern the Church in these
troublous times," &c. "If it is true ! " True !—it is
simply impossible. The Pope being no more able
to appoint his successor than the sovereign of these
realms, or, lot us say, than the President of the
American Republic—than the President of either
of the American Republics.

Tno same Correspondent's statemeP.t to the Morn-
ing Post in regard to the mythic use of the golden
hammer is so eccentric of its kind as a specimen of
Roman correspondence, that it is worth giving in

the writer's own words :—" Among the traditional
ceremonies observed on the death of a Pope is the
official attendance of the cardinal camerlingo [while
the story was being told the Correspondent might

just as well have spelt the word rightly, and ellied
it camerlengo] at the bedside of the defunct with a
golden harmer, with which he raps three times on
the deceased Pontiff's forehead, invoking him each

I:ne by name. Receiving no response, the earner

lingo [camerlengo] assumes in the interim the reins
of government, and announces to the cardinals their
duty of electing a successor." The whole of this
pretty little fable being, after all—as already said
—purely imaginary !

According to the very latest intelligence received
from Rome in regard to the present state of the
Pope's health, we read, under date " Rome, 14th
March," as follows :

" The papers will have told you that the H. F. is
not well. He has been in bed for ten days, and yes-
terday two gatherings in the leg were opened, which
gave much relief, bat it must be a trial of his
strength. The medicines given have been frequent
and strong, and very little food, so that he must be
rs until cat.,
so no ordinary business can be carried to him. Still
I hope it [his health] is progressing favourably."

FRANCE.

PARIS, MARCH 21.

The Moniecur of to-day says:—" Same journals
announce the discovery of a conspiracy against the
life of the Emperor. This rumour is entirely un-
founded.'' •

MARSEILLa', MARCH

The Messageries impLrialcs steamer Said left here
to-day with the mails, 51 passengers, 363 packages,
of merchandise, and £206,453 in specia for India
aid China ; and 36 passengers, 1,293 packages, and
specie value £90,720 for Alexandria.
BOURSE, March 19.—The market has been heavy,
and in the little business done prices show a slight
decline. Threes, for the Account, are now at 66f.
10c, Mobilier have receded to 1,053 f. 50c. Rail-
way Market quiet, but up to the present time pre-
vious quotations have been pretty well maintained.

The market continued he;,ry to the close, and left
off as follows :