The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-16 00:00:00

Tilt SUN, LONDOS, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL, 16, 1869,

IMPERIAL PARLIA II EN

HOUSE OF LORDS-LAST EVENING.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the wcolsack
at five o'clock.

THE POPE'S JUBILEE,

(PROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
ROME, APRIL 10.

Since I last wrote to you gifts and addresses have poured
in with unceasing rapidity. I have just returned from the
Vatican, and have been perfectly astonished at the
number and variety'of the presents which are exhibited in
the cortile of San Damaso. First in order are those of the
Pontifical States. Each town has sent its offering in
kind : Trascati, wine of the finest quality for the
altar ; Gensano, Albano, and Montefiascone, wine
and oil ; Ronciglione, cutlery and wax ; Labian
and Gerano, oil and silks ; Cervetri and Corveto, antiqus
and modern pottery ; Sutri, sheep; Sezze, Mentano, Bag-
noria, and Monte Libretti, wheat and oil ; Tivoli, oil,
paper, wine, and beautiful dyed wool ; Monte Rotondo,
a cartload of wine and oil, with the beautiful
grey oxen which drew the cart. Besides these
the Piazza of St. Peter's was thronged with carts
arriving from every commune and every town of
the patrimony of St. Peter's. As for the gifts from
foreign countries it would be impossible to enumerate
them, and many will only arrive to-morrow. The English
Catholic clergy offer a magnificent gold medal of Vechte's,
executed by MM. Hunt and Roskell, and the laity an
offering in money. The United States have sent above a
million of francs in a splendid casket. Italy gives as much
more, besides the same sum which arrived last week.
The King of Prussia has sent a magnificent Berlin vase
by his envoy extraordinary, the Prince Hohenlohe, who
has just arrived for the express purpose of complimenting
the Pope. The Prince Vladimir, of Russia, also presented
his congratulations last week, but did not, as far as is
known, make any present. Austria has charged her
Ambassador, Count Trauttmansdorff, with an autograph
letter from the Emperor, and Count Mensdorff's mission
has thus been rendered unnecessary. The Emperor
Napoleon has sent a splendid set of church ornaments and
vestments, and Victor Emmanuel himself has sent a
chalice, of £720 value, of pure gold, studded with
diamonds. The English lay Catholics now
in Rome intend presenting an address and
purse to-morrow, and the ladies of different
nationalities another. Every great town in France,
Germany, and Italy sends its deputations, and they will
be received by the Pope at four in the afternoon in the
Peristyle of St. Peter's. The Pope Went this evening
(Saturday) to close the Tridero, or three days' prayer at the
Lateran. The great Basilica was crowded, and the
approach of the Pope was the signal for a tremendous
burst of cheering from the vast concourse of people. He
looked well, but seemed much affected. He himself
intoned the "Te Deum," and gave the Benediction of
the Blessed Sacrament. The same enthusiasm awaited
him on his exit from the church.

The streets are more crowded than at Easter, and as
the railways throughout Italy have lowered their fares
till the 10th 40 per cent., thousands of persons are
arriving by every train from Bologna, Florence, and
Naples. _ _

Apropos of Naples, Menotti Garibaldi has arrived there,
and has carried his wife, who was spending the season
there, to the mountains of Calabria, where, it is said by
those who ought to know best, he intends organising a
revolution and attacking Rome.

The Cupola will be illuminated this evening, and a
series of fireworks, illuminations, &c., occupy Sunday and
Monday evenings.

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.

ALPINE RAILWAYS.

For some time past the semi-independent Swiss Cantons
have been engaged in a fierce conflict respecting the
question of a tunnel through the Alps. These Swiss
Cantons enjoy complete liberty in dealing with their
individual affairs, and it is not unnatural that in the
question of a railway each should have an eye to its own
interests. Some preferred the Simplon, which would run
close to French territory, others the Lukmanier, which
would run not far from the Austrian boundary.
But the majority were in favour of a line by
the St. Gothard, which is, indeed, the central and
truly Swiss route. The dispute appears to be settled.
Switzerland cannot make this railway without aid from
countries interested. Italy has declared her preference
for the St. Gothard, and Prussia positively declines to
support any other. The tunnel will be a stupendous
work—ten miles long—and must occupy many years in
construction, even with the experience of Mont Cenis.
A summit line on the Fell system has been pro.
posed, but the Times Florence correspondent thinks
there is no chance of its being adopted. A tele-
gram from Switzerland states that a company has
been formed for the purpose of undertaking this important
work. The Swiss companies of the centre and north-east
and the chief banks of the Confederation find the greater
part of the capital. The necessary assistance from foreign
countries--23,600,000—has been obtained.