The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-12 00:00:00

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPOI\
My knowledge of Italian Hagiology does nckgo star S
as to name the saint who presides over rainy weather
here, but the Roman Switbin, whoever he is, has enjoyed
no respite even during the Easter holidays, and the few
hours' sunshine yesterday only just sufficed for the Pope's
visit to the Minerva, the rain falling all the afternoon and
evening. The ceremony of the morning, however, was a
most brilliant one, and had been transferred from the
Maunday Thursday, on which, this year, the Feast of the
Annunciation fell. Twenty-five poor girls, taken from
the ranks of the people, and natives of Rome, or the Com-
marca, are annually dowered, on Lady Day, by the con-
fraternity or guild of the Annunziata, the Pope always
assisting, and distributing the dowries.
About ten o'clock his Holiness arrived in full state,
the magnificent gala carriage, the mule and its 'purple-
robed rider, a prelate bearing the processional. cross, an
the sumptuous elnipazes of the senators an•.l the munici-
pality, and th-ise of the cardinals, being ail put in requi-
sition for the Occasion. The great lintel of the Minerva
w; crowded from the entres9l to the very roof, every
suite of apartments having a gay and numerous co•npauv
on its balcony. Madame (le Lamorriere's lodging was
one of the centres of the French Catholic society, Mrs.
Augustus Craven, the Duchess de Oass,S Brissac, and the
Dile de Polignac being among her guests, while a great
muster of English visitors took place in the apartments
of Mrs. Berrington (of Malvern Court), Welds, Tou-
riellys, Petres, Fitzherberts, Blundells, Vavasours, and
Stourtons joining heartily in the cheering of their French
and Italian fellow religionists. A very large party of
royal persons were also entertained by the Accademia, or
Diplomatic College, whose balcony is exactly opposite the
church. The windows of the Hispano American College
were also crowded, as were the houses along the Via Papale,
by which the Pope was to arrive. The Square rang again
and again with cheers as he entered the church, and it
was observed that every vestige of his fatigues of Holy
Week had disappeared, and that he walked with his usual
vigour. He took his place on the throne prepared to the
right of the altar, and assisted from thence at High Mass,
which was sung by the Cardinal Legate of Bologna (Guidi)
a Dominican, as are all the monks of the Minerva. The girls
to be dowered were ranged before the altar, each
robed in white—a sort of fine muslin mantle
curiously adapted to the form by pins artistically placed
in the stuff, reaching to the nose and falling to the feet,
over a white skirt. A wreath of flowers is placed on the
head of each of those destined for the marriage state,
while one or two who had chosen the cloister wore a crown
of a different form in metal. The " Annuantate," as they
are called from their white mantles, knelt in succession
before the Pope, and received from him a purse containing
the dowry, and a blessed medal as a souvenir of himself.
Each girl, on returning to her place, is further presented
by the Master of the Guild with a fan, a pair of
gloves, and a bouquet of flowers. They walk in
procession through the city accompanied by the matrons
appointed to take charge of them, and are thus exhibited
to the public, in order that they may be asked in marriage
by honest and respectable workmen. The portion is £lO
in English money, but as they are well trained and
fitted for good wives, they are always eagerly sought for.
A great number of Parmesan families have arrived for
the marriage of their young Duke, Robert 1., which took
place at an early hour this morning at the private chapel
of the Pope. His Holiness, after saying his own Mass as
usual, and hearing another in thanksgiving, as is his
habit, took a slight refreshment, and returned to
the chapel, where he found the royal party
assembled. The Pope, after performing the marriage
ceremony, addressed a short and very touching discourse
to the royal couple, after which the bridal party repaired
to St. Peter's, and prayed, as is the custom here, at the
tomb of the Apostles. The usual crowd of sightseers
flocked to the Basilica, and pressed on the passage of the
Duke and the Duchess till the Swiss were called into
most necessary requisition. Their Royal Highnesses
leave this evening for the Castle of Caprirola, the pro-
perty of Francis 11., in right of his ancestors, the Dukes of
Farnese, near the town of that name.
A military emeute was only prevented in Naples by the
discovery in time of a widely-spread Republican conspi-
racy. It is said on excellent authority here that the gar-
rison is to be strengthened by 50,000 French troops should
a Republican movement succeed in Italy, and an imme-
diate reoccupation of Bologna will in such a case be
effected.

FOREIGN NOTES.

THE BELGIAN RAILWAY DIFFICULTY.

As might have been expected, a hitch has occurred in
the negotiations between France and Belgium. The other
day it was announced that M. FrZze-Orban, having
finished the requisite quota of dinners and interviews,
would return to Brussels to confer with his sovereign. It
is now announced that the business is so far incomplete
that a further delay in the French capital will be neces-
sary. There can be no doubt as to the nature of this
difficulty. The Belgian Government desires one thing,
the French Government another. The Emperor wishes
to submit the contract between the Luxembourg and East
of France Companies to a mixed commission. M. Frt're-
Orban maintains that this contract is purely a Belgian
affair, and he is averse to submitting the domestic arrange-
ments of his country to the revision of a fo-reign Power.
The Belgian journals still assert that the point will not be
conceded ; but the presence of M. Ffere-Orban at Paris
sufficiently chews that the French Government is putting
on great pressure.