The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-05 00:00:00

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milted as personages connected with the '(irgin in
life,— ill by Cesare Mariana, a professor of the St.
Luke Ac tdemy, now in high repute among Roman
artists, and certainly entitled to a lii.zlt place in this
local school. The restorations of the same church,
modern Italia.t in style, are by the architect Gus-
tavo Morichini. More noticeable for historic im-
portance is the Lady-completed renovation of S.
Niccolo in Carcere, a church that had been shut
on account of these repairs for n ,arly 20 years,
and which stands above the ruins of three temples,
partly preserved within its structure, to Hope,
Piety, ani Juno Sospita, a subterranean beneath
being the supposed site of the story of the
"Roman Daughter," not, however, according to
archaeological authorities. Entering this church,
which is of the basilica type, we are struck by the
splendour of the renewed interior, as contrasted
with the insignificant front. Along its attics we see
the frescoes, in 10 scenes, illustrating the life of St.
Nicholas of Myra (patron saint of Bari), by Guidi ;
and.in the apse two larger scenes, one from the
same biography, the other representing a vision of
the Saviour and the Virgin in glory, by Pasqualoni
—two artists not very well known (we be-
lieve), nor hitherto, we believe,, engaged to
adorn any other public buildings ; the works
here being, if not of the worst, certainly not
among the best, lately admitted into itomish
churches. Over the high altar we notice a superb
canopy of bronze and gilt woodwork resting on four
columns of Oriental alabaster. Another ancient
and historic church, rer.ovated by recent labours, is
St. Bartolomeo, on the Tiber Island, founded by
the Emperor Otho M., A.D. 1000, on the site of
the Temple of iEsculapius, frequently restored, but
still of the same basilica type,and, now rich in newly-
placed marbles and gilding, also adorned by frescoes
by Fra Bonaventura, one of the Franciscans of the
adjoining convent, who has painted along its attic
and coffered ceiling scenes in the life of Mary and
heads of Apostles. At S. Agostino (a church long
in part closed to allow of extensive repairs),
Gugliardi is still engaged on a series, begun several
years ago, of frescoes along walls and vaults, illus-
. trating the lives of S. Augustine and other saints
of his order, besides numerous figures of apostles,
patriarchs, martyrs ; and at the grand old basilica
of S. Lorenzo (the late restoration of which we pro-
test against), an artist of new-born renown, Fracas-
sini, is now employed in fresco-painting. The works
of S. Paul's are still carried on with activity, all the
windows along the minor aisles being now painted
with large figures (too large, it strikes us, for their
location), and the mosaics ou the facade advancing
to completion, though in no part yet visible. At two
of the less prominent churches, S. Maria in Monti-
celli and S. Lucia, the above-named Signor Mariani
has either nearly or entirely finished other paintings
spoken highly of in the Roman journals.
At the last melting of the British Archaeologic
Society, at the English Consulate, was read by Mr.
Shakspero Wood, secretary, a translated paper by
Visconti, on antique Roman construction and modes
of building, explained with much learning and ful-
ness of detail, by the Italian writer. But most of
all did this lecture derive interest and importance
from the many illustrations in coloured drawings by
Mr. Charles Cooper Wood, brother to the above-
named secretary of the society ; these drawings, of
spirited execution and admirable effect, representing
their subjects, chosen among Rome's classic ruin
piles, were on the same scale as the originals, and
with exact transcript of the details peculiar to suc-
cessive periods. For such treatnaent of the theme
of the day's studies as was thus provided addressed
to eye and mind thanks were due, and with like
emphasis, to the learned writer of the paper, and to
the artist of the illustrations. Since that occasion
the society has twice assembled in the open air, to
visit, under Mr. J. 11. Parker's guidance, the most
interesting remains of aqueducts, both within the
city walls and on the Campagna, at certain dis-
tances. At the last meeting of the society's com-
mittee it was reported that the members, up to that
day, were 66 in number, associates 172. The arclm o-
logic library is developing, thanks to many dona-
tions, and the catalogue has just been printed.

The diggings in Trastevcre have further brought
to light the remains of what is inferred to be a
station of the Vigiles, where several gralliti have
been found, besides other antique objects of some
value. Much interest is excited by the announce-
ment of a discovery, through works directed by
Visconti, of a buried city near Albano, assumed to
be more ancient than Rome ; a paper referring to
the ruins on the site of which was lately read by
that gentleman to the Roman Archaeologic Aca-
demy.

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

TIMES.—The veil which conceals the proceedings
of Cabinets from ordinary men was lifted last night,
and to those who have the gift of insight the reve-
lation was complete. It cannot be said that it was
altftether agreeable. As far as the past was con-
cerned, the revelation was, indeed, most unsatisfac-
tory, and it is only when we turn to the future that
we are encouraged to believe that the dangers of de-
lay are past. It is now just a month since Parlia-
ment met, and in that time it has done nothing.
There has been a show of advancing, but the advance
has been feeble and hesitating, the retreat rapid.
Mr. Gladstone compared the progress of legislation
yesterday evening to a Greek dance, where the
dancer advances three paces and then retires two ;
but his illustration, as he confessed, was inadequate
as a description of our late experience. if we. are
one step nearer the goal on this sth of March than
we were on the sth of February, it is simply because
i
it has been discovered after severe trials that it s
I impossible to get on at all with a Cabinet whoser
members are bent on going different ways. W e
would not undervalue this result, but we cannot help
thinking that it ought to have been known before-
hand. Up to Saturday evening there was no ruli▪
ng
opinion in the Ministry, which is but another way
of saying that for practical purposes there was no
opinion at all. Every one was content to go on wi▪ th
his colleaenes as long as it was possible, though there
never could have been any doubt, in the minds of
those who faced the question, that directly the ti▪
me
of action came a secession was inevitable. The seces-
sion has come to pass, and we may infer that the time
of action has arrived. Henceforth, let us hope, we sh all
have no more divided counsels and dark sayings,.
rn-
plying nothing but the neceizity of concealing divi-
sion of opinion. If this hope is confirmed,
Monday
ebmdaay
expect that the bill we are now promised
week may, after all, form the basis. of as.ntisifactol.rQyy
measure. The explanations made. in . both houses
.a,t
night render intelligible the vacillation and f
cd
naar
toiuo sne da firstnd
resentment
a s t o Ins ho -f
lem'lnaerpnittiai,nnaeinessndtot.fhsep'llieletechleiCwliinandiiicic.ghAlor of the Exchequer was
less explicit than Lord Derby, and the plea advanced
c
both by himself and by Lord ranb orne—that it
was impossible to make any detailed statement until
the consent of her Majesty had been obtained—was
disregarded in the House of Lords, where Lord Derby
and Lord Caruarvon vied with each other in frank-
ness. 'rise material points in the past conduct of
the Ministry were touched upon by Lord Granville
and Lord Grey. Without affecting to determine the
arithmetical problem whether eight months have or
have not elapsed since the present Government came
into power, we may assume, as too certain to be
contradicted, that the Ministry put off the conside-
ration of every question as long as possible, and met
Parliament after the recess without having come to
any determination on the policy they would pursue.
It is not correct to say they took Parliament into
counsel, for that implies that they had some coun-
sel of their own ; they came into Parliament asking
counsel for themselves. A course like this merited
Lord Grey's severest censures. The crisis was, no
doubt, peculiar; the Ministry had a work cast upon
them which had proved fatal to many Ministries,
and they might reasonably demand au unusual in-
dulgence and active co operation. They were not
the less, however, bound to have a policy of their
own, definite aims, and clearly shaped schemes of
action ; and we now know that they failed in what
the nation had a right to demand of them through
the culpable, if amiable, weakness of maintaining
the appearance of an united Cabinet after all real
unity of opinion had plainly bzcome impossible.
Reform has now another perhaps we should
say, has now its first chance from the present Go-
vernment. The Administration has, in.the phrase

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