The Sun.
London, England, 1869-10-09 00:00:00

PREPARATIONS FOR THE (ECUME.NICIU.:
COUNCIL.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
ROME, 3rd October.

The Duke and Duchess of Parma (Pia of Naples), arrived
here on Friday evening. Her Royal Highness is not far
from her confinement, and has preferred Rome for that
event that her child may be baptized by the Pope.
Royalties are expected in great number this winter.
Besides the Neapolitan princes Girgueti, Trani, Tropani,
and Caserta, and the King and Queen of Naples, several
of the House of Orleans have announced their intention of
being present during the Council, and the Queen of Spain is
also likely to be the guest of her sister (by the mother's side),
the Princess Del Drago. Don Carlos and the Duchess of
Madrid, who is the sister of the Duke of Parma, may also
very probably pass the winter in Rome; and there is a
report that the King of Hanover is coming. No sovereign
would be received with more pleasure or with more
cordial esteem by Pius IX. than the gallant and unfor-
tunate George; but, beyond report, I do not vouch for his
arrival.

The works at St. Peter's are nearly closed in. They
form a complete and separate building, the transept and
its adjacent chapel being closed by walls of woodwork,
covered with scagliola, imitating marble, in the latter
divisions, and with crimson serge in the " Aula conciliare"
itself. The draperies and tapestries are all that remain to
complete the building ; the two tribunes left and right of
the Papal Throne, on which so much conjecture has been
wasted, are intended for the sovereigns and personages
who may wish to be present at the public sittings,andas the
above list will shew your readers, are not likely to be left
unoccupied. They are the more necessary, as all the public
ceremonies from Advent Sunday are to be held, as well as
the Session of Council, in the enclosed space, the Sextine
being much too small to hold the bishops expected. The
French Government will send no special representa-
tive, as the direct invitation has been addressed
to the secular powers, but M. de Banneville has
received official instructions regarding the Council from
his Government, as has also M. de Trauttmansdorff, the Aus-
trian Ambassador, who is expected in Rome in a day or two.
The chapel adjoining the Hall of Council is being fitted up
as a bureau, and also as a room where the bishops can retire
for rest, refreshment, or for communication with persons
without, if necessary, and whence they can address their
letters to their vicars capitular, for which purpose a

lithographic press will probably be placed there.
The Italian Government has addressed a circular to the
Procurators-General on the attendance at tho Council o:
the Italian bishops as follows :

" Florence, Sept. 30.

"As the time approaches indicated for the- meeting of
the ecumenical Council in Rome, several of the Italian
bishops have addressed the authorities in order to know
whether they will be permitted to attend it.
"In reply to this demand, and in provision of others in
a like sense which may be made, his Majesty's Government
declares that it will not oppose any obstacle to the bishops
and other ecclesiastics desirous of attending the assembly
above mentioned.
" The Government, however, while faithful to its prin-
ciples of religious liberty, intends to reserve, fully and
absolutely, its ulterior resolutions on all matters which
may clash with the laws of the kingdom or the rights of the
State.
" You are requested to communicate the above disposi-
tion to the ordinaries comprised in the district within the
jurisdiction of your court, for their rule and guidance, and
to acknowledge tho receipt of the present letter to this
office

(Signed) "PI to
" Minister of Grace and Justice!'

There can be very little doubt that the decisions of the
Council will clash with many of the existing laws of the
kingdom of Italy, and short of an abdication of his claims
on the annexed provinces, the Pope can hardly expect to
steer clear of all questions which may be interpreted as
trenching on the rights of Victor Emmanuel.
Several of the Irish and English Zouaves in the service
of the Pope are about to renew their engagements during
the Council, and a large accession of French, Belgian, and
Dutch Zouaves are arriving daily.
The Earl of Denbigh, the leading member of the
London Papal Committee, is expected in Rome early in
November.

Mgr. Stonor has returned to his duties as military
chaplain this week to receive the new recruits of English
nationality.

FOREIGN NOTES.°

6PLIf.

The t7ourn4l Officiel publishes the report of a speech
delivered by Marshal Prim in the Spanish Cortes, on the
2nd of -October. Ho declared that the Government had no
personal feelings against those who had takownp arms, but
that it would do what the country and the Cortes had a
right to expect of it to re-establish order. They were under
the necessity of having recourse to extraordinary measures,
but he promised that they should be employed no longer
than was absolutely requisite. He concluded by declaring
that the rebels should not triumph, for they could not;
and if the Chamber awarded what the Government
demanded, order would be speedily re-established.

The French papers think that notwithstanding the
favourable tone of the dispatches, tho insurrection in Spain
is making progress. It is affirmed that the old tactics are
resorted to, and the revolutionists will be regarded as
bandits and plunderers until their position becomes moro
firmly fixed. Complaints are also made of the scanty
information that is furnished by the telegrams that are
transmitted. It is considered probable that the whole of
Spain is now in a state of siege, and that blood flows in
all directions. Ctriosity is expressed as to the course
that has been taken by the Republicans of the
Left, whether they have remained at Madrid to stir up the
people, or passed into the provinces to put themselves at
the head Of the revolt. Doubts are entertained as to the
efficacy of the law that has just been passed by the Cortes
for suspending the constitutional guarantees. The dis-
union which has long existed in the Spanish Government
gives riso to want of confidence, and augurs ill for its
final success.