The Sun.
London, England, 1860-05-08 00:00:00

A LETTER FROM THE POPE.

In exchange for the hard cash seat to the Roman
exchequer, the Pope occasionally transmits to the
faithful in Ireland an epistle full of blessings for
their charity. Here is one of these valuable com-
munications, addressed to the " bishop, clergy, and
people of Meath,:"--
" Venerable Brother and beloved Sons, health
and apostolic benediction—Long since have we well
ascertained and witnessed the eminent piety, faith,
devotion, and reverence towards us and this supreme
chair of Peter which belong to you, venerable
brother, and to all your clergy and laity. These,
indeed, handed down from your forefathers, neither
persecutions nor calamities have ever been able to
lessen ; nay, the more these have been heaped upon
you, the more brilliantly have those virtues shone,
and words fail us in honouring the eminent services
of the Irish to our most holy religion. The letters
which we have received from you, venerable brother,
dated on the 2d day of this month, and written in
your own name and that of your clergy and people,
have brought us the deepest consolation in the midst
of our grief for the greatest calamities. For it could
not but happen but that this vast disturbance of
Italy should affect with the heaviest grief you who
are so greatly bound and devoted to us. For not only
has it now expelled the legitimate princes of Italy,
but it has despoiled us and this holy see of the
greatest part of our civil principality, which clearly,
by the dispensation of Divine Providence, the Roman
Pontiffs have now for many ages possessed, to the
end that they might be able, freely and without im-
pediment, to exercise their apostolic ministry all
over the world. Hence we, who are bound for the
common good of the Catholic Church, and the
benefit of all the faithful, to defend and protect this
liberty and independence, have protested openly
and publicly against such impudence and iniquity
of the enemies of this Roman See. And fearing no
danger or difficulty, and respecting no human great-
ness, mindful of our office, we have visited with
ecclesiastical censures and penalties all those who
have not hesitated first to sever from us, and next
to join to the Pied montese kingdom, provinces of
our Pontifical State, which had previously been
seduced into rebellion. May Almighty God, whose
cause we defend, break up this league of powerful
enemies which has been entered into for the rooting
out from our midst of all legitimate authority, for
the ruin of Italy, and for the injury of the Church
and this Holy See.

" Given at Rome, at St. Peter's, April 25, 1860,
in the 14th year of our Pontificate.
" Pius THE NINTH, POPE."

TILE FLOODS IN N.ETV SOUI Li WALES.

Most disastrous accounts have been received at
Sydney of the destruction of life and property by
flood. At Shoalhaven in particular the Nvaters have
made fearful havoc. The river there passes through
a flat country, and when once its banks are over-
flowed escape is next to impossible. Homesteads
and stock have been swept away, and in many eases
even their unfortunate proprietors. From Braid-
wood, Araluen, and other places, the accounts re-
ceived were scarcely less terrible. The Govern-
ment sent off immediate supplies of provisions for
the relief of the sufferers, and spirited public sub-
scriptions were at once started ; £3,000 was voted
for the same object by the Assembly.
Even before the departure of the mail, however,
the recollection of these disasters had been almost
effaced by the excitement caused by the glow-
ing
.accounts from the new Snowy River
Diggings. After remaining for a time sceptical,
the public mind had become quite feverish upon the
subject. The latest escort had brought down 3,400
ounces, as tangible evidence of success. A great
rush had accordingly taken place, notwithstanding
the stories of the rigour of the climate; and it will
be seen that the excitement, instead of subsid-
ing, had gone on increasing up to the last moment,
and extended to nearly every other colony. The
Sydney Morning Herald deliberately records its
Convictions as follows:

A review of all the letters and correspondence
upon the subject of these new diggings compel us
to the conclusion that gold has been found in large
quantities at Snpwy River, that the extent of pay-
able ground is Onsiderable, and that the labour is
much lighter than is usual upon a gold-field. There
is good ground for believing that next spring an
immense rush will be made to this region, if the
news continue favourable. There will then cer-
tainly be new discoveries, and, as the Rev. W. B.
Clarke, the eminent geologist, has stated that the
country all round about the Alps is auriferous, it is
not idle to suppose that before the end of the year
an immense addition may be made to our stock of
gold."—Australian Mail.

DEATH OF Slit OHN NIELVILLE.—This esteemed
gentleman, who had been Lord Provost of Edinburgh from
185-1 to 1859, and who last autumn received the honour of
knighthood from her Majesty in Holyrood, expired at his
residence in Edinburgh on Saturday morning. He died,
after a week's illness, of fever, which had arisen from cold
caught in a recent journey to Oxford, whither he had gone
to place bis only son for education. The deceased, while
filling the civic chair, held the balance with great modera-
tion and fairness between contending parties in the muni-
cipality, and by his amiable manners and integrity of con-
duct gained the goodwill and respect b f all sections of the
community. He was instrumental in promoting many pub-
lic works and improvements in the city, and was an em,i-
neatly useful magistrate. Shortly before leaving civic off co
h 3 received the appointment of Crown Agent in Scotland,
or aerent for the Lord-Advocate as public prosecutor,—
a political office in so 'ar as it depends on the Ministry of
the day. For a number of years Sir John Melville was
Chairman of the Whig committee.