The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-19 00:00:00

ROMAN AFFAIRS.

A letter from Rome, dated May 12, says :—Yes-
terday afternoon, at 4i p.m., the Pope left the
Vatican for the central railway station on the Piazza
de Termini, where a number of spectators had col-
lected to see his Holiness set out on his journey to
the southern provinces, French and papal military
bands were in attendance ; a throne-room had been
prepared at the station, in which the Pope, who was
accompanied by his major domo and other house-
hold prelates, was received by the Minister of Com-
merce and the representatives of the railway admi-
nistrative council, and allowed a party of prelates and
ladies to kiss his foot and wish him fella() viaggio.
The special train being in readiness, the Pope got
into his richly-ornamented carriage at 5 p.m., the
banner of Papal white and yellow waving in the
van, and after pausing a few minutes near the Porta
Maggiore to observe the opening in the city walls
and the deviation of the Felice aqueduct through
which the line is carried, his Holiness proceeded in
the direction of Velletri, passing through the inter-
mediate stations of Ciampino, Marino, Albano, and
Civita Lavinia, which was decorated for the occa-
sion, and where the local authorties were in waiting
to do homage to their Sovereign. I had the honour
of witnessing the transit of the pontifical train from
the lofty summit of the latter-mentioned classic
town, the ante-Roman Lanuvium, which, thinly
populated at any time for the last 15 or 16 centuries,
was more desolate than ever yesterday afternoon,
the " Senatus populusque Lanuvinua" having des-
cended to the station at the foot of the hill to
receive the Pontiff with banners, petards, and the
regimental music of the Papal Zonaves. The church
bells were rung and the petards fired off twice on
false alarms, the first trains descried bearing only
members of his Holiness's household, and the second
locomotive signalled being only a pilot engine or kind
of steam outrider to the Papal train, which arrived
subsequently. At half-past six his Holiness arrived
at Velletri, where, besides a numerous assemblage
of spectators, there were in waiting Cardinal Mat-
tei, the bishop, and Monsignor Picci, the delegate of
Velletri, with all sorts of local authorities and dig-
nitaries ; and finally the magistrates of Velletri,
who presented to his Holiness the keys of that loyal
and devoted town. From the station the Pope pro
ceeded in triumphant guise within the city walls in
his carriage escorted b 3 the superior officers of the.
French troops in garrison and by detach men is of noble
Guards, French Hussars, and Papal Gendarmes, and
alighted at the Cathedral, where he assisted at the
benediction, and prayed before the miraculous image
of Santa Maria delle Grazie, His Holiness then
drove to the Town-hall, which was splendidly pre-
pared for the reception ; and, seated on the throne
erected in the grand saloon of the Lapidi, admitted
to the honour of kissing his foot deputations from
the neighbouring towns as far as Terracina ; the
clergy, ladies, and principal citizens of Velletri
obtaining a similar honour upstairs when the Pope
went into the apartments of the Cardinal Bishop.
From the balcony his Holiness blessed the popu-
lace, and the evening's entertainments concluded
with fireworks and illuminations. This even-
ing the Pope arrives at Frosinone, where he will
take up his head quarters for a week, making
excursions every day to some of the surrounding
cities and towns within approachable distance by
rail, but his Holiness will visit Ceprano by the post
road, thereby avoiding the proposed homage of the
Italian officers and soldiers at the railway bridge
over the Liris. His Holiness is not expected back
in Rome before the 20th inst.

When the beautiful casket of Etruscan jewellery,
executed by Signor Castellani of this city, was for-
warded for the acceptance of the Princess of Wales,
the following address accompanied it:—

" Forty nine British subjects residing in Rome at the
period of the marriage of his Roy al Highness the Prince of
Wales respectfully venture to offer for the gracious accep-
tance of her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, the
accompanying ornaments of Roman workmanship, as a
humble token of their most sincere loyalty and devotion,"

The following answer has just been received by
Mr. Gibson, one of the committee of British artists
deputed by the donors to select the objects in ques-
tion :

"April 29, 1863—Lord Harris has received the com-
mands of her Royal Highn( ss the Princess of SVales to ex-
press to the 49 British subjects residing at Rome her warm
acknowledgments for the beautiful ornaments of Roman
mr,"Armon..,ll ip whir.ll fh.:47 lin up, to haar T.nril
Harris is directed to add her royal Highness's admiration
of the workmanship displayed in the execution, and the
taste manifested in the selection of the ornaments.
"John Gibson, Esq., R.A."