The Sun.
London, England, 1860-05-04 00:00:00

AFFAIRS OF ROME.

ROME, APRIL 2F
The Court of Rome has always afforded a field for t:a 5
diplomatic rivalries of the representatives of France a ra
Austria; and the preponderating influence of one or ti It
other of these dignitaries with the Supreme Pontiff has f or
a long time been jealously watched over as being capable of
giving rise to European consequences. Hence the mere a p-
pearance of the slightest external superiority in the retin• le
or equipages of one of their excellencies excites the dit
deuce and apprehension of the other, and it is only by 0 .e
parity of their suites that the parity of their political infh
ence is demonstrated to the public. The new Austria
ambassador, Baron de Bach, although he has been in Rom
since the end of last September, had not been in diplomati,

gala to pay his respects to the Pope at the Vatican unti I
Monday last, when he and his subordinates repaired
thither with all the pomp of state carriages-12 in number
—running footmen, new wigged and liveried coachmen and •
valets, and a guard of honour of Pontifical Dragoons. The
strength of this guard of honour had furnished a matter of
dissension between his excellency and the Duke de Gramont.
The baron applied to General do Goyon for 14 dragoons ,
and the general, as supreme commandant, had no objectio n
to give his authorisation to their being used for this special
service ; but the French ambassador sent the general word
that, as he had only been honoured with eight dragoons
when he went in state to the Vatican, he suggested that
a like number might suffice for the Austrian representa-
tive. The genes-al answered that the number of 14 was
sanctioned by usage, and might have been supplied to the
Duke de Gramont had he asked for as many; but the
ambassador replied that it was the duty of the general to
uphold the honour of his nation and the dignity of his
Government, and that therefore.he must not authorise any
foreign Minister's Appearing in public with greater state
than that of the French Minister, who was also the dean of
the diplomatic body. The Baron do Bach, being apprised
by the general, that only eight dragoons would be
at his disposition, resolved to apply directly to Cardinal
Antonelli, who in his turn made the original request
for 14 dragoons to General de Goyon, as if com-
ing from the Pontifical Government ; but in vain. The
general had , been put on his mettle by the duke, and
civilly, but resolutely, refused to grant more than the eight.
troopers. The baron, however, made a very good show,
traversing the city at foot's pace, and he remained an hour
and a half in close colloquy with the Pope before he called
the members of his suite into the audience room to present
them severally to his Holiness. His excellency wound up
the ceremony with the customary visits to the Cardinal
Secretary of State, the Cardinal Dean of the Sacred College,
and the holy relics in the Church of St. Peter. On Wednesdar
evening the baron gave his first public reception at the
Palazzo di Venezia, the French arnbassadress doing the
honours for him to the Roman princesses, who crowded to
the reception in unusual numbers, and with a magnificent
display of diamonds. Cardinals and prelates were ex-
tremely numerous, also the presence of ecclesiastical digni-
taries of all descriptions showing their predilection for
Austrian policy. The fête was most brilliant.
General de Lamoriciere is expected back in Rome from his
inspection of the garrisons in 'Umbria and Mama very shortly.
Madame de Lamoriciere is already arrived here, and has
taken up her residence at the Minerva Hotel. According to the
general's programme, he is to have no salary—he will accept
of none—but his expenses are to be paid, and he insists.
upon being supplied unsparingly with 'the funds necessary
for the reorganisation of the army. This is the object he
has undertaken, and everybody expects that Ile will effect
it if the pecuniary means are not withheld. Detachments
of Papal soldiers are daily snaking their appearance in the
capital from various provincial garrisons, and the concen-
tration necessary for the departure of the French division
has thus begun. But the army of his Holiness is to be
carried to the strength of 24,000 men before the French go
away, and General de Goyon considers that this will not be
effected before the month of October, although he has
made his own preparations, and could leave Rome
in a week's time, if he only received notice from
Cardinal Antonelli that the military resources of the
Pontifical Government were sufficient to ensure the
tranquillity of the country. The negotiations which were
pending for some time between the Government of his
Holiness and the Duke of Modena for the transfer of the
Estense troops, now in Lombardy, and amounting to about
3,000 men, to the service of the Pope, have been broken,
off, the duke declaring that his soldiers eNld not serve in ,
any other uniform than that of the house of Este, and that,
moreover, he expected to require their services himself ere
long. The Estense brigade, however, displayed their zeal
for the cause of the Church by forwarding ,to his Holiness
a pecuniary offering, the result of a collection amongst all
ranks, amounting to 2,333 fr.