The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-27 00:00:00

METROPOLITAN GOSSIP.

Mr. George Augustus Sala is about to contribute a
series of chatty articles in the Sportsman newspaper.
The height of the season is the time in which to view
London. There are two " heights" in the year—one in
late spring and early summer, the other at Christmas.
The latter presents specially the characteristic features of
the English character—the kindly hospitality with which
a certain amount of business-like, trader promptitude of
manner, seems to be inalienably allied. Resolved to be-
hold the " humours" of a London Christmas Eve in the
inadequate sense in which there can be seen by a casual
observer, I set forth on Tuesday night. As the destinie4
had decreed, I found myself piloted by a guide, philoso-
pher, and friend, through the mazes of Lambeth. The
choicest quarter of Lambeth appears to be the
Lower Marsh. Here there were indeed novel
ties of all descriptions. Vegetables in every variety.
confectionery, fish of every fin, pots and pans, trousers;
and other gear of an endlessly miscellaneous kind well.
being bought and sold. The great street, brilliantly'
lighted, was crowded with people. The Lower Ten were
fully represented, and it was neither an uncommon nor
unpleasing siglit to behold huge, hulking, unwieldy
labourers steering through the crowd with quite a little
load of toys in their hands and accompanied by troops of,
jubilant children. One of the chief establishments
in this district is that of Mr. Grove. What
Lambeth labourer knows not his pants—what trans 7
pontine clerk is unfamiliar with his " Chesterfields ?'
This enterprising gentleman was at one time the most
frequently-named person in the city and neighbourhood of
London. There was a time when meadow, grove, and
field around London were all duly labelled, " Who is
Grove ?" to which the answering wayside and the turn-
pike-gate replied, " The best clothier in Lower Marsh."
The very stones prated of his whereabouts, and the pave-
ment was eloquent on the subject of underclothing.
Country inns invited your inspection of coats (superfine
quality) at nine shillings, and inexpressibles (really good;
at the sum of one crown. As for London itself, it was
familiar, perhaps sick, of Grove. Grove, like the
present " Griffiths," was seen on every dead wall,
in every newspaper, magazine, railway carriage,
omnibus, coffee-shop, and bar. If you wished to
enjoy a day's fishing, and went a little way into the
country, you would find that the shallow river to whose
falls melodious birds sang madrigals had been indoctri-
nated into the name of Grove, that the tree beneath
which you reclined was ticketed " Grove," that the paper
that enwrapped your flies or your tobacco hinted at cheap
clothing, and that the Tyne and Wear babbled of the
Lower Marsh. There must be something fine in the Grove
nature, however. No sooner had he amassed the princely
fortune which was the natural result of sufficiently
extensive advertising, than his tastes began to
develope, and he sheaved what stuff he was made
of. The dilettante elegance of taste, the poetic sym-
pathy without which life would have no " trimmings"
either for man or tailor, began to shew itself, and a few
years of good trade saw Mr. Grove what he is at present
--the proud proprietor of Pope's Villa at Twickenham.
Shade of Belinda, rest !

One of the most valuable properties in London is likely to
become the subject of a lawsuit. St. Katherine's Docks
are claimed by an officer in the Indian army, the son of
a former Governor of the West Coast of Africa. This
officer and a brother were, if the claimant's statement is
to be believed, entitled to the fee-simple of the land on
which these docks now stand. The brother died during
the Indian mutiny, and the survivor now contends
that this enormously valuable estate, bringing in £90,000
a year, is his. I do not pretend to know what foundation
there is for this claim ; hut I am certain that it will be
resisted to the uttermost.

The outer circle of the metropolitan railways is making
great progress. The line between Paddington and Vic-
toria stations will not be opened this Christmas, as was
hoped, but I believe not many months will elapse before
passengers will be able to pass from the Great 'Western to
the London, Chatham, and Dover line, without the neces.
sity of threading the narrow defile of Park-lane. Two
large stations are being built, one just opposite
the Grosvenor Hotel, the other fronting the Great
Western Hotel. Praed-street, in which the latter build-
ing is situated, has to a great extent been pulled down,
and is now in course of re-erection. The railway over
Mont Cenis has been a practical failure thus far, and the
Italians are inclined to snake merry at Mr. Fell's ex-
pense. But an Englishman never knows when he is beaten,
and Mr. Fell has not yet abandoned his attempt, but is
at the present time zonstructing covered ways to keep off
the snow in the most exposed places. ITe may succeed,
but inasmuch as the money invested will have to be earned
back in four years, the pecuniary success of this project is
at least doubtful.

There is in one of the streets near Covent-garden a shop
for the sale of artistic furniture. The manufacturers
retain the services of several gentlemen well known in
the art world, and these furnish designs in chairs, tables,
carpets, bookcases, &c. Among the designers are Mr.
Godwin, editor of the Builder, and Mr. Charles East-
lake, a nephew of the late Sir Charles Eastlake, presi-
dent of the Royal Academy, and known to the readers of
London Society under the nom de plume of " Jack
Easel."

When the Anglo-French commercial treaty comes to
be revised two years hence, it is to be hoped that the tw o
Governments may agree upon reducing the import duty
laid upon marble conveyed into France. At present this
duty is enormously heavy, and the fact that in spite of it
a large quantity of English marble finds its way to
Paris chews how good a trade might be done if the terms
were ram equitable.

---
THE POPE'S ALLOCUTION.

-.___~.

The Giornale di Roma publishes the Latin text
of the Allocution which the Pope addressed to the
Secret Consistory held on the 20th inst. The fol-
lowing is a translation of the document :
__

Venerable Brethren,— Rica in mercy, God, who
consoles us in all our tribulations, in order that,
hoping always in Him, and not being intimidated
by obstacles, we may walk with a step which is
always firmer in the way of righteousness, and that,
supporting without fear the cause of His Holy
Church, we may devote all our strength to the com-
plete discharge of our apostolic ministry. Every
one sees most clearly how many testimonies of His
divine goodness the most merciful Lord deigns to
lavish upon us in the midst of the most serious
calamities with which the church in these times of
great iniquity is afflicted, and in the midst of the
grave perils with which this apostolic see is tried
and surrounded in all directions. While Satan, his
satellites, and his children, do not cease to let loose
their fury in the most horrible manner against our
Divine religion, against us, and against the chair of
St. Peter, oppressing and tormenting the popula-
tions of most unhappy Italy, so long devoted to us,
the God of mercy and goodness unveils himself in
an open and wonderful way to His Church ; He
hastens to its aid, and grants to it the support of
His all-powerful might.

And hence it is, venerable brethren, that all the
prelates of the catholic world, closely united to us
by the bonds of faith and of charity, unanimous in
supporting the Holy See, and moved by one sole
thought, one common sentiment, constantly defend,
some by the living voice, others by the pen, the
cause of catholicity, ourselves, and the Holy See.
Even the laity in the great public assemblies of
Europe raise their voice for the protection of the
Catholic Church and of this Holy See, on behalf of
our temporal power and of the sovereignty of that
see. Above all, the cause of our temporal power
has, iu the Senate of Paris and in the Corps Legis-
latif, just been splendidly and magnificently de-
fended, almost with unanimous votes and with the
applause and to the joy of all good men.
The Catholic populations, deeply execrating the
abominable perfidy of our enemies, hare hastened
and rejoiced to testify their filial affection for us by
public and brilliant demonstrations, to proclaim
their piety and their veneration for the Holy See,
and to assuage its sorrows by frequent contribu-
tions ; and the faithful of both sexes, even the poor,
have brought us the aid of their money. And one
can point, among ecclesiastics as among laymen, to
the most illustrious writers who in their works, and
the most eloquent orators who iu their speeches in
the midst of great political assemblies, glory in de-
fending and supporting the venerable and indisput-
able principles of righteousness, of truth, and of the
Holy See ; and they have defended them with ar-
dour and talent, victoriously refuting all the false-
hoods of the adversaries.

And how many men of the noblest birth, in al-
most all countries, full of fervour for the cause of
religion, leaving their relations, their wives, and
their children, have hastened to the defence of our
city, and, disregarding all fatigues and all perils,
have not hesitated to enrol themselves in our army
and to expose their lives for the Church, for our-
selves, and for the sovereignty of our Hely See.
Catholic parents themselves, inflamed with the
spirit of their religion, have sent their sons, even an
only one, for the defence of the Holy See ; and,
imitating the illustrious example of the mother of
the Maccabees, they have gloried and rejoiced at
seeing them shed their blood for such a cause.
Moreover, the people subject to our civil authority,
although exposed to the most criminal snares from
the most perverse men, to menaces and evils of every
kind, have nevertheless remained firm and stable in
their duty towards us and the Holy See. Among
them the people of Rome, who are especially dear to
us and merit all our praise, have greatly distin-
guished themselves ; for nearly all the citizens of
every order, of every grade, and of every condition
in our holy city, have vied in proving to us their
affection and their submission towards us, and their
obedience to the civil authority of ourselves and our
Holy See, and have burnt with a desire to assist us.
You know also, venerable brethren, how our sol-
diers, worthy beyond contradiction of all praise,
have distinguished themselves by their fidelity ;
with what admirable bravery they have fought
against the bands of those criminal men, and with
what glory they have fallen on the field of battle in
the cause of the Church.

Moreover, you are not ignorant, venerable breth-
ren, how great has been the fidelity of our soldiers,
how worthy of all praise and with what admirable
valour they have fought against a band of most
wicked men, and with what glory they have died in
combating for the church. And you well know that
the most serene and most powerful Emperor of the
French nation, considering our most serious perils,
sent his valiant troops, who, with their most excel-
lent leaders, were glad to aid, with all joy and zeal,
our army, especially in the combat of Mentana and
Monte Rotondo, to fight bravely by their side and
to face death to the glory of their high fame. Nor
are you ignorant that, especially in the field of sacred
missions, tho Divine light of the gospel, every day
more splendid, receives, with the help of God and
our most holy religion, greater increase every day,
and that those who stand in the darkness and in
the shadow of death take refuge in the bosom of
holy Mother Church, when the darkness of their
minds is dispersed ; and that everywhere various
pious institutions, most useful to all classes and for
the needs of Christian and civil society, are every
day on the increase. All these things, briefly re-
ferred to by us, together with the manifold snares
of wicked men, discovered and defeated in a won-
derful manner, evidently show now the omnipotent
and merciful Lord, in whose hands are the hearts
of men, most miraculously defends and protects
His Church, confirms most clearly the promise that
the gates of hell shall not prevail against her, and
that He is with us for ever until the consummation
of all time. Wherefore, venerable brethren, let
us always give our deepest and never-ending
thanks to the most clement Father of mercies for
so many favours received ; and, placing in Him
alone all our hope and confidence, let us not cease
to beseech Him with most fervent prayers that,
through the merits of His only begotten Son our
Lord Jesus Christ, He may continue to save His
Church from all calamities, and free us from His
and our Enemies, and to confound and make vain
their impious counsels and desires. And let us be-
seech Him likewise that he may deign to bring back
to a saving penitence, and to a true sense of justice,
those enemies, and likewise those who, fighting
against us, were made our prisoners, and who,
treated most charitably by us, persist in their ob-
stinacy. And in order that God may the more
readily hear our prayers, let us make use of, first of
all, the intercession of the immaculate Virgin Mary,
who is our most loving mother and the most power-
ful help of Christians, who obtains what she seeks,
and cannot be frustrated ; next of the most holy St.
Peter, Prince of the Apostles, and of the co-Apostle
Paul, and all the saints who reign with Christ in
Heaven. Before concluding, however, we cannot
refrain from rendering deserved and most ample
praise and to express the most grateful sentiments
of our mind to all and each of those who by voice
or writing, or by aid in any respect, have endea-
voured even to the peril of their lives to defend, to
the great glory of their names, our cause, the cause
of the Holy Sce, and of the Church. And let us not
fail in all our prayers and orisons to humbly and
fervently beseech God, from whom proceeds every
good and perfect gift, that He may deign to heap
upon those sons of the Church, who are most dear
to us, and its most valorous defenders the richest
gifts of the Divine grace and all Heavenly blessings.

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.
anti .'*44l, Ch r
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lIER MAJESTY.

OSBORNE, Dec. 26.
The Queen, accompanied by Princess Christian,
Princess Louise, and Princess Beatrice, drove out
yesterday afternoon, attended by the equerry in
waiting upon horseback ; and her Majesty walked
in the grounds this morning, accompanied by
Princess Beatrice.

Prince and Princess Christian, Princess Louise,
and Prince Arthur rode, and Prince Leopold walked
out.

Tho Prince of Leiningen left Osborne to-clay.
F. Eloin had the honour of dining with the
Queen and royal family yesterday, and left this
morning.