The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-06 00:00:00

FRIDAY.

The Scurry Handicap of 3 sovs each, with 20 added, for all
ages; the winner to be sold for 30 sous; T.Y.C.
The Thirsk Handicap of 5 sovs each, 1 ft (to the fund),
with 100 added ; winners of any handicap of 100 soya
clear after March 27 (at 6 p.m.) 51h, twice 101 b extra;
the second to save his stakes ; about one mile and six
furlongs.

Age st lb
Sundeelah ... 6 8 12
Empress of India... 6 8 0
Olmar ... 5 8 0
Treasure Trove ... 4 7 9
Begum ... 4 7 7
Czar
... 4 7 6
EH
io les
it
de n
Fitzroy 4 7 4
•.:: 45 76
131
Honestish 3 6 10
Cora 4 6 9
Murillo 4 6 10
Lord of the Dales... 3 6 3
Maggie ... 3 6 2
Blue Peter... 3 6 0
The Silver Cup of 50 sovs ; four year olds 10st 101 b, five
list 101 b, six 12st 81b, aged, 12st 121 b ; the second for
the Hunt Cup 51b extra ; winners of any race or steeple-
chase once 71b, twice 101 b, three times 141 b, four 21b ex;
starters 3 times in Hunters' Stakes and never won
allowed 51b, five times 71b (penalties and allowances not
accumulative) ; gentlemen riders only ; about one mile
and three-quarters.
Helen, 5 yrs, Comrade, 6 yrs, Word of Honour, aged,
Aurora Leigh, 4 yrs, Scurrington, 4 yrs, Boreas, 4 yrs,
Donato, 4 yrs, Whortleberry, aged, Prince, 6 yrs, Foot-
ball, 4 yrs, Duality, 5 yrs, Barometer, 5 yrs, Miss Cot, 4
yrs, Midge, aged, Adonis, aged, Don Pedro, 6 yrs, Lioness,
6 yrs, B c by Lord Fawonberg, dam by Professor Buck, 4
yrs, Edgar, 5 yrs, The Miller, 6 yrs, Harlequin, 6 yrs,
Volunteer, 6 yrs, Gamester, 5 yrs, Jack Morgan, 4 yrs,
Barrister, 6 yrs, Diana, 5 yrs, Hercules, 5 yrs, Miss Menken,
6 yrs.
The Borough Stakes of three sovs each, 1 ft, with 25
added ; two year olds ist 81b, three 9st 41b, four lOst
71b, five and upwards lOst 121 b ; mares and geldings
allowed 31b ; maidens having started twice and not won
allowed 51b, tkrice 71b ; the winner to be sold for 100
soya ; if entered for 50 soya allowed 7:13, 30 141 b ;
straight half mile.
The Falcon Plate (Handicap;
handicap value 100 sovs a
101 b, of any other race 61b
Age st lb,
Attache (dr) 5 8 12
Skylark ... 6 8 8
Czar ... 4 7 8
Miss Williams ... 4 7 7 ,
Holstein. ... 5 7 6
Gulnare 6 7 4
Urania ... ... 4 7 3
Carnizette ... 5 7 0
Yarrow ... 5 613
Wentworth ... 4 6 13
Murillo ... 4 6 12

Age st lb
Bracken 3 6 0
Capitola 3 5 13
Verdi (h b) 3 5 12
Ploughboy ... 3 5 9
Ladylike 3 5 9
Vulcan 3 5 9
Vcrncn 3 5 8
Bezique 3 5 8
Deceit 4 5 7
•.• •••
Rap.. 3 5 7
Little Treasure 3 5 7
Fair Wind... 3 5 7
B f by Y. Melbourne
out of Doralice... 3 5 7

) of 50 sovs ; winners of any
f ter March 27 (at six p.m.)
extra; straight half mile.

Age st lb
Tiinbrel ... 3 6 4
Blue Peter ... 3 6 4
Star of the East 3 6 3
Roger Mowbray 3 6 3
Verdi (h b) ... 3 6 0
Vulcan ... 3 6 0
Maydew 3 5 13
Parasol (dr) 3 5 13
Waterhen ... 3 5 12
Vernon ... ... 3 512
Verity ... 3 5 7

Niscellaneous Foreign News.

(From. Correspondents of the Anglo-American Times.)
PARIS, April 3.

The Universal Exposition was opened on Mon-
day last in the presence of nearly 100,000 people.
The doors were thrown open to the public at noon,
and soon the immense building was filled with an
expectant crowd—a crowd varied and distinguished
—composed of the diplomatic and social represen-
tatives of all countries, met together to celebrate a
festival for the inauguration of universal goodwill
and competitive enterprise. Guests, paying visitors,
subscribers, and exhibitors, each and all, according
to the nature or designation of their entrance tickets,
were ushered into compartments reserved for them,
and were not allowed to circulate in the building
during the ceremony. The Emperor and Empress
arrived by the chief gate of the bridge of Jena,
descended from the Imperial equipages, entered the
building followed by a small suite, and, preceded by
the Ministers until joined by the Imperial Commis-
sion, by whom their Majesties were accompanied in
their circuit around the palace. The band of the
National Guard, stationed in the Vestibule, struck
up the Emperor's favourite air on the arrival of the
cortege, and continued playing until it had passed.
Swollen by the members of the various commis-
sions, the procession made the round of the build-
ing, and returned by the gallery of the Eng-
lish compartment. Having made the grand
tour in the gallery, where machines arc
stationed,—the Fine Arts Gallery, in which
the Diplomatic Body, Senate, Corps Legisla-
tif, and other important personages were assem-
, bled, was next visited, and the Imperial party left,
as they had entered, by the bridge of Jena. The
Empress wore a claret satin robe, with long train,
and velvet bonnet to match, a black satin cloak
with velvet trimmings, and radiant with a gracious
smile looked remarkably well. The Emperor was
dressed in plain black, with the cordon of the Le-
gion of Honour, and seemed pleased with the recep-
tion he had met. The day was bright and beauti-
ful, and everything contributed to make the
ceremony pass off well. In front of the grand en-
trance, and on the opposite side of the river, an
immense non-paying multitude had assembled on
the extensive open ground called the Trocadero,
and remained until the ceremony had finished and
the Imperial equipages had passed on their return
to the Tuileries. It is impossible to render a
general and correct account of the ceremony, and
doubly so to give an idea of the objects exhibited in
the present unfinished state of the edifice. Scarcely
anything few things arc installed,
an
completed,iaos of packages of every
an indescribable is e
kind and form, coupled with a marvellous activity
of labourers and machines, actually bewilder the
spectator. In a few days order will be established,
and then we may all see and appreciate the wonders
in preparation.

have characterised important legislative
the present
emnot si t
wa
hmi
co ni g
e n aFcot rme
session of the Corps Legislatif is the passage of a
bill abolishing imprisonment for debt in civil and
commercial transactions, and against foreigners.
The concurrence of the Senate is now only neces-
sary to insure its legal enforcement, and open the
prison doors to multitudes of debtors who arc sigh-
ing for liberty in the various maisons de detention
throughout the empire. Of this concurrence there
can be but little doubt, as the worthy members of
the Senate Chamber are ever ready to sustain any
action emanating from the representatives of the
Imperial Administration. The debates on the bill
have been protracted, animated and able, and
though not yet terminated the important and
principal points have been carried by its advocates.
The Minister of State took tha lead in the contest,
and was sustained by the intellectual lights of the
Assembly, irrespective of party, until the bill was
passed by a large majority. The initiative assumed
by the Imperial Government in this matter is an
additional evidence of the liberal 'spirit and lively
solicitude for social improvement which animates it
in undertaking whatever reforms may contribute to
the wellbeing of the people. The Etandard
speaking of the passage of the bill says The
Legislative Body, in accord with the Government,
has declared that every contract by which a man
impawns his body or his liberty, which he holds
directly from God, is tainted with a moral vice, and
declared null by society. And France, who first in
the world had the glory of proclaiming civil
equality, is the first also to erase from the code the
last vestige of the doctrines of Paganism. That is
the height. to which it is necessary to rise to
thoroughly comprehend the importance of the vote,
the justness and the grandeur, of the convictions
expressed by the Emperor's Government. The
triumph of perhaps the most sacred principle of
civilisation was in question." The Parisian journals
are approving in enthusiastic terms the decision of
the Corps Legislatif, and nearly all parties, without
considering the deleterious effect which may for
awhile be produced on commercial enterprise by the
passage of this bill, are rising superior to petty
interests, and welcoming it as due to liberty, civili-
sation, and human dignity. None have looked for-
ward to the success of the bill with more solicitude
and attention than a number of prisoners now suffer-
ing the severities of existing laws as delinquent
debtors in the city prison called Clichy. A mes-
senger, specially charged _ by them to watch
the proceedings and acquaint them with
the result of the discussion, brought the
gladsome tidings. The announcement was
reovirxl with Todfozowi orioti of Vive la Liberti/

Vive l'Empereur ! simultaneously shouted by three
hundred throats. The messenger was cheered, em-
braced, and carried in triumph around by the pri-
soners, who, intoxicated with joy, made the old walls
resound with songs, laughter, dancing, and the
most extravagant manifestations of delight. In
the evening all the windows of the prison were
illuminated, and no doubt that night many sweet
dreams of liberty attended the slumber of the
involuntary inhabitants of Clichy.
Count Walewski, the distinguished president of
the Corps Legislatif, gave in his resignation of that
post of honour on last Friday. In the course of
the announcement he addressed the Chamber as
follows :—" It is not without deep regret, gentle-
men and dear colleagues, that I have arrived at this
resolution, but in a superior interest of union and
concord I have felt it my duty to renounce the
honour of presiding over you." The Count ac-
quainted the Emperor with his determination, and
his Majesty accepted the resignation, expressing at
the same time many regrets, and thanking IValew-
ski for the unceasing proofs of devotion which he
' had ever accorded him. This resignation was in-
fluenced by the hostile attitude which the members
of the newly-organised political club had taken
towards the Count. It is asserted that their object
is to replace him by one of their body.
The official organ has not yet announced the
name of the successor of Count Walewski, though
it is affirmed that the 'present Vice-President, M.
Schneider, will either be formally appointed, or will
preside, with the simple title of vice-president, until
the end of the session.

France is much occupied at this time with nego-
tiations for the cession of the Duchy of Luxem-
bourg. Many conflicting reports are circulating in
regard to the matter, and it is impossible to learn
the true condition of the question. To insure the
annexation of the Duchy to France three things are
necessary to prevent a disturbance of international
tranquillity. The first is the consent cf the King
of Holland, who is also Grand Dukeof Luxembourg.
We are told that this monarch is ready to part with a
country which is separated from the rest of his States,
and enjoying a sort of independent existence is of
little profit or use to him, in consideration of a
pecuniary indemnity to be paid by France. The
sum demanded is said to be 100,000,000 francs
($20,000,000), which sum France is doubtless
willing and ready to pay. The population of the
Duchy is 200,000, so that, in case of purchase, the
Imperial Government will have paid 500 francs per
head for its new sibjects. The second essential
condition is the consent of Prussia to the aforesaid
purchase. The Prtssian Premier has declared that
he will not yield me inch of German territory to
foreign powers, but it is believed that the King of
Prussia will so far cnntrol his Minister as to induce
him to consent to tie annexation, provided France
will raze the fortifications of Luxembourg, and give
assurances that the accupation of this territory shall
not become a disaivantage to the new German
empire. Rumour says that another condition im-
posed by Bismark is the consent of all the European
powers to the Purchase. France, as a matter of
course, will indignaitly reject several of the con-
ditions, and unless trussia becomes less exacting,
difficulties may at once arise between these two
great Powers,
which,in spite of all efforts, are daily
growing more and mare inimical. The third con-
dition necessary to tie contemplated annexation is
the consent of the country to be annexed. This in
all probability will bt easily secured, as the inhabi-
tants of the Duchy are well known for their anti-
pathies to German rile and preferences for French
institutions. The only obstacle in the way of a

peaceful annexatiot is Prussian interference.

Without this, the Ding of Holland and the people
of the Duchy would soon come to a satisfactory
settlement with the French Government.

Mid Lent was celebrated in the city last Thurs-
day, with the usual extravagant demonstrations of
fancy processions, 'tusked men, women, and children,
and an opening of atl the dancing saloons at night.
The washerwomen celebrated this their fete clay by
a promenade of fancy cars, ornamented with allego-
rical designs representing the ideal and beautiful of
their philanthropic avocation. A butchery for the
special sale of horse flesh delighted the curious with
a procession of twenty horses, well fed and fattened
for an early slaughter. This convoy, with banners
flying, and music, traversed the principal thorough-
fares of the city, welcomed in some quarters with

shouts of approbation, and received in others with
hisses and unmistakeable evidence of disgust.
Though it may be to some extent a la mode to eat
horse flesh, the Parisians cannot all be induced to
relish the idea. Lent is again triumphant after this
brief revival of the scenes of the Carnival, and fast-
ings, abstinence, prayers, and sermons are the order
of the day. The only legitimate recreations en
vogue during this season are public and private con-
certs, which are frequent its the houses of the
nobility, and a privileged few. The fourteen masked
balls during the Carnival at the opera produced a
sum total.of 190,512 francs, an increase of nearly
1,000 francs over those of last year. This augmen-
tation is the more remarkable, as the fancy balls at
the Italian Opera, Theatre Chatelet, and elsewhere
occurring on the same nights, were largely attended.
Parisians since the first of last month have been leav-
ing the city en masse for their country residences, and
rural pleasures, away from the bustle, dust, and con-
fusion:which the Exhibition, with its hosts of visitors,
will ere long inflict on our metropolis. Many are flee-
ing the capital to avoid exorbitant prices for living,
while others, unable to leave, are preparing to re-
taliate on the pockets of the stranger for the impo-
sitions they are compelled to endure, on the part of
avaricious townsmen.
lstadar, the celebrated French aeronaut, is going
to profit by the Exposition and the enormous
number of strangers to exhibit his monster balloon
the Giant. Many ascensions are contemplated, in
each of which he proposes to carry as many as
seventy persons. Meals are to be served to the
guests at the height of a half mile in the air, and
other novelties and amusements will be introduced
to contribute to the pleasures of aerial navigation.
Distinguished visitors are arriving in numbers for
the Exposition. The King and Prince Royal of
Prussia, King and Queen of Spain, King and
Queen of Portugal, and the Viceroy of Egypt are
expected soon. Queen Victoria will, perhaps, make
a visit incog. at a later day. The Prince of Wales
intended to be present on the opening day, but was
caw
hnesreairne
eI
ennenetde r sec ad recne layl
ls as
sides
e st h
nant •dAe
everywhere
iy
prevented by the protracted illness of the Princess.
the streets,
promenades, promenades, drives, cafes, theatres, ball-rooms, &c.

PARIS, April 3, 1867.

•
The great event of this week, and not only of
this week, but of our present time, is undoubtedly
the opening of the Universal Exposition. Pessi-
mists may discontentedly complain that " nothing
is ready," that " the whole affair is a mistake." Are
there not grumblers in every country, and was there
every a grand enterprise brought to an end without
previous disapproval from the very people in whose
interest perhaps the noble work was undertaken ?
Such is the gratitude of man. If we look back and
recall a few facts, I think we shall find there is in-
finite cause for rejoicing in what has been already
accomplished, and that the ringing shout of thanks-
giving which rose on Monday within the walls of
the Exhibition building ought to find its echo in
the hearts of all who look forward to glorious
conquests achieved in fraternal emulation and
peaceful strife. It may here be as well to re-
mind your readers that the space occupied by the
Exposition is 460,000 metres in extent, of which
146,000 are now undulating park-land covered with
exotics and ornamental dwellings, and was before
the 25th of September, 1865, a sandy plain, but
that on this date the first spadeful of soil was dug up
by order of the Imperial Commission ; that on .the
3d of April, 1866, the first cast-iron pillar was
firmly set in the ground ; and that on the Ist
April, 1867, on the appointed day and at the ap-
pointed hour, scattered members from every part
of the world joined their voices in one long viva
under the largest edifice ever dedicated to human
industry. When this stupendous temple will again
lay low in dust may these simple dates remain as
annals wherewith posterity will draw fit conclusions.
Figures ever must be the grandest eloquence. On
the eve of the opening great fears were entertained ;
by the moat sanguine that the iaesugarative cere- I

mony could not take place. The soil was soaked
with moisture, the avenues were blocked up with
packages, the interior possages were littered with
rubbish of every description, the hangings were not
unpacked, and hundreds of benches were piled up
in every gallery. Exhibitors had not even the as-
sistance of their workmen ; at the last moment a
kind of panic had seized them. Men of unconquer-
able will are alone fit for every emergency, and
many such showed that the meanest employment
was worth striving for, for that nothing could
degrade them so much as helplessness. There-
fore all threw off their coats, and the whitest
hands wielded the hammer, every nail 'was
driven in to some purpose, others too to clear-
ing the different outlets, and many lady exhibitors,
while busily laying out their stands, had the con-
tents of wheelbarrows turned over on their trains.
Never could long robes have appeared to greater
disadvantage, and why cannot ladies adopt suitable
styles to suitable occasions? Why do some wear
short costumes when they have to stand on eleva-
tions, and flowing drapery when men have not
time, to get rolled up, and dragged about by sweep-
ing drapery? But to return to the Exposition.
" Shoulder to shoulder" was the mighty principle
that actuated all ; the consequence was, that when
the Emperor and Empress arrived at two o'clock on
the following day their suprise was extreme. Pave-
' ment had been laid down since their visit on the
preceding day, macadam was smooth, the most
splendid textures hung over bare walls, pennons and
flags floated in the April sun ; velvet covers were
drawn over reserved seats, military bands were
standing in readiness and began their symphonies
when the Emperor alighted,—every man, in one
word, was at his appointed station, and all the
members of the commission, bearing their different
orders, went forth in due rank to meet the imperial
cortege. Baron Haussmann was radiant; content
sparkled on the faces of all. The Emperor and
Empress most studiously avoided what is understood
by state etiquette ; it was evident they simply came
to bid all welcome. The loud polyglot cheering was
boisterous on their passage ; every language was
mixed in one outpouring cry. Babel could scarcely
have been worse : the words " imperator," " hoch
lebe," " vivat," " dvohe," and the sturdy British
" hurrah," with the American "hurrah for ever,"
created an almost painfully pleasurable sen
sation. The Empress blushed three or four
times when the shouts were somewhat too
energetic. Other demonstrations were very
characteristic. The Chinese bowed low, but kept
their bats on ; the Turks stood with their hands on
their breasts in respectful silence; the negroes
rolled the whites of their eyes very expressively ;
while our Parisian beauties gave their hearts indis-
criminately to all bronze-faced travellers covered
with gold and wearing big diamond studs.
Some of the toilets were very lovely. The
Empress wore a claret-coloured robe, and bonnet,
with a black lace veil drawn over her face and tied
on behind ; it did not prevent the sparkling of her
clear blue eye underneath. Princess Mathilde
followed, giving her arm to the Prince of Orange.
The Duke of Flanders came next, and then all the
Court. Baron James de Rothschild was followed
by a servant with a camp-stool. One of the ladies
present wore a rich blue poult de soie robe, trim-
med all round with a trellis work of cross-cut satin
and silk above a deep blue fringe ; a jacket to
match, with the longest Jewish sleeves worn this
season (for they touched the ground), a white
crape bonnet trimmed with seed pearl fringe on a
fall of crape, and a large jewelled flower above the
left temple. Another wore a light grey satin, end-
ing round the bottom with a polisse festooned with
straw. The peplum to match was trimmed in the
same way. The bonnet was made of white tulle,
with a diadem of leaves on the front all
shimmering like gold, over which hovered two green
enamelled dragon flies. The ear-rings were long
gold peacock feathers, ending with a gorgeous eye
in precious stones. The mediaeval sleeves to the
jacket were excessively long mid pointed. Para-
sols are all richly ornamented with silk cord and
tassels on each quarter, or worked with initials on
vne quattcr only.

ROME, March 25.

It is difficult for one who has not pretty large
experience in Southern travel to reconcile himself to
the date of his own letters. When the thick foliage,
the bright flowers, the clear skies, and the warm
sunlight, all indicate what we call June, in the
Northern States of the Great Republic, to write
March at the head of a page seems for the moment
a startling anachronism. It is delightful to live in
such an atmosphere, where all the discomforts of a
northern climate are escaped, and where almost
every moment from sunrise to sunset can be plea-
santly spent in the open air.

Yet a person who has not, like a certain
celebrated character, " enough to do with-
out thinking," cannot avoid some melancholy
moments here. The contrast of magnificence
and misery is most oppressive. To visit some
splendid basilica, like that still unfinished, of
St. Paul, and walk amid a forest of massive ciiliinins
over a floor more than 200 feet from side to side of
polished marble, clear as a lake and bright as the
sunset, to look up along walls of stone from all parts
of the earth, every square of which is a study, by
rich windows of stained glass and costly mosaics, to
the wide expanse of roof gleaming with gold, to
examine the paintings and statues, elaborate, and
pleasing, if not great, which adorn transepts and
chapels, fills the mind with wonder at the power of
a system, which even in its present depression can
raise such a temple as this ; the more wonderful as
it satisfies no real need. In the city are churches
almost beyond count and quite beyond recollection,
and yet this is built without the walls, where few
choose to live at any time, and where, for a large
part of the year, scarce any one can live, to minister
to what might be called the very luxury of
devotion. But before crossing its threshold
your musings are dispelled. Haggard, wrinkled
old women, ragged and tottering old men,
children diseased and; maimed, press across
your path with pitiful demands for a pitiful trifle
of money. All along the way, as you return,
around the Coliseum, under the broken triumphal
arches, and along the Corso, where splendid equi-
pages are crowding almost upon them, similar ob-
jects beg relief. You know there is much impos-
ture. You see through the flimsy device of that
man who has tied a wooden leg under his knee, and
smile at the evidence of wear on the elevated shoe.
You have very serious doubts as to the necessity of
various slings and bandages. But what will you
say of that man whose right arm is lopped at the
elbow, of that poor, crawling creature who never has
walked and never can, of those crouching old
women, so evidently, even if we admit deservedly,
wretched ? What of the thousands of poor creatures
who prolong a squalid existence without begging ?
What of a civilisation which tempts the well and
strong to disfigure themselves in order to catch an
occasional paltry gift, amid a thousand scornful
rebuffs?

It seems impossible that such things should
always continue. I know it will be said that all
has been, substantially, as it is now for centuries
past. But this is itself an argument for its termi-
nation. The teaching of history seems to be that
ignorance and misery cannot be anywhere per-
petual, and the longer they have endured in any
region the more hope there would seem to be of a
speedy relief. When Government has ceased to
confer any benefit it has lost all power, except that
of inerti, founded on the tendency of mankind to
tolerate what exists.
But a state of wretchedness is a state of restless-
ness, and in such a condition the faintest hope of
relief becomes a mighty argument for revolution.
How long a change may be averted here, and
in what way it will come, may be difficult to foresee.
But it is not difficult to perceive that the changes
which have taken place all over the world, and par-
ticularly in Italy, are influencing the Romans.
Au area so narrow cannot be kept in absolute
darkness, when the light is flashing along its whole
frontier. If liberal papers cannot be published
here they can be brought here, and they are
brought. Journals from France, Germany, and
the kingdom of Italy are to be found in the cafes,
telling of revolutions accomplished by argument and
by force, and glorying in their results, The very

soldiers of France, while defending the present
Government by their bayonets, have made the
people familiar with the idea of a better. Nor can
the legions of English and American travellers pass
and repass continually without an influence,
however little they seek to exert it, for their very
presence tells constantly of a higher and happier
civilisation. All this makes the question of Ponti-
fical Government a very different one from what it
was in the middle ages, when wretchedness was the
common portion of all mankind, with the exception
of the few who claimed a divine right to rule. The
solution may take the world as much by surprise as
the events which secured in 1860 the freedom of
the rest of Italy. If any general war should occupy
the attention of the chief Catholic powers, I for
one shall look to see Enceladus shake the last weight
from his breast.

I have entered somewhat more largely into
politics than I intended, but it is because I have
just been where such thoughts were forced upon
me. To-day being the festival of the Annunciation
High Mass was celebrated in the Church of Santa
Maria Sopra Minerva, near the Pantheon, in pre-
sence of the Pope himself. The square was packed
with people awaiting the arrival of the procession,
and within the church a dense crowd of spectators
pressed close up to the cordon of bayonets. The
arrival of the procession was announced by loud
cheers, and soon after the Pontiff was borne in, in
the usual state of red liveriesand peacock's feathers,
and wearing the triple crown. Only a very small
portion of the crowd kneeled as he passed. Most
even of Italians contented themselves with bending
the head, and making the sign of the cross ; and
Protestant fereigners, it is needless to say, did
not feel bound to do either. There was some
very good singing. From the lower end of
the church some figures could be seen bowing before
the altar, and the smoke of incense rising. At the
upper end one could see various officials in a corner
of the stage, kneeling sometimes and watching
attentively for their turn to sing. The view of all
else was cut off by a high fence. The gorgeous
Swiss Guard chatted with the women, stopping to
kneel a moment on the occasion of what I presumed
to be the elevation-of the host. Very few of those
around took gig' same trouble. Wbat religious
advantage people are expected to gain from words
which they can none of them understand, and from
symbolic acts which not a tenth-part of them can
see, passes any Protestant comprehension. I never
saw less solemnity in any service it has been my
fortune to attend. Persons of every grade were
passing in and out in constant succession,
some kneeling for five seconds and some for
as many minutes. After a service of
.about
an hour, and the distribution of dowries
to the beneficiaries of the Society of the
Annunziata, the Pope was carried out as he had
been brought in, receiving as few outward testi-
monials of reverence. Italians could be seen
mounted on chairs to get a view of the display-as
he passed. The windows of the American College
next the church, and of another building opposite,
were full of people all armed with handkerchiefs
and flowers, and when the Pope entered his car-
riage they did their best .at cheering, but they had
the demonstration entirely to themselves. The
cheers came from one direction. I could not detect
in the crowd which filled the square a single move-
ment beyond that of curiosity. The cardinals,
attended by ecclesiastics with rapiers under their
frocks, entered their splendid carriages Which drove
off one by one, the people scattered, and soon no-
thing remained but the usual residue of beggars.
It was this scene which set me to writing in the
present vein. The flashing of bayonets and clank-
ing of swords amid what is termed Christian wor-
ship, and the protrusion of rapiers under priestly
robes, have a religious bearing which the correspon-
dent of a secular journal might not be thanked for
discussing. But they have also a political signifi-
cance, showing as they do that ecclesiastical autho-
rity has here so far declined as to depend on force
for that supremacy which was once inspired by its
very name. This is itself the beginning of a revo-
lution. The contrast, the splendid equipages, with
tho poverty- smitten crowds through which they
drove, has also its political significance, showing the
need that exists for a new state of things—a need
which comes home more closely to the masses of
any people than any theoretical demand, and to
which they cannot always remain blind; while the
apathy of the crowd on the one hand, and on the
'other the manufactured enthusiasm, prove that the
people already feel the need, and that their rulers
are well aware of their feelings.