The Sun.
London, England, 1857-04-30 00:00:00

R 0 M E.

A letter from Rome of the 23d says The
Empress-Dowager of Russia arrived hero to-day, at
half past three in the afternoon, apparently hi excel-
lent health. She proceeded at once to the hotel of
the Russian legatiou, and enter ed th e chapel to return
thanks for her safe arrival. On coining op, she had ,
all the members of the legation presented to her.
She afterwards received Mgs. Borrorneo Arese,
master of ceremonies to the Pope, but requeste I the
visit of Cardinal Antonelti to be postponed to the
next day, as she felt faigued. The Grand Duchess
Olga and the Prince Royal of Wurtemberg were id
the enaba-sy to welcome her Majesty.' On the ar-
rival of the Empress at Civita Veeehia being an-
nounced at Rome, a baAllion. of French infantry
was posted at the Russian embassy, in order to 1 ay
her Majesty due Military honours. General de
Goyon had applied for a fortnight's leave of ab-
sence to proceed to Paris, to be present at the mar-
riage of his eldest daughter with Count Henri de
Courcy, captain of the ChasSeurs of Vincennes, but
he gave up his intenti(n. on learning that the Pope
intended.leaving Rome, the general not wishing to
he ahsent from the capital at. the same time as his
H.,linesF."

Another letter from Rome of the same date
says :—" The great illumination of the cupola and
front of St. Peter's generally takes place on Easter
Sunday ; but this year the threatening aspect of
the weather caused it to be posponed until the
18th. As usual, the immense fagade was lighted
up before sunset, so that the lamps at first emitted
but a feeble light, which kept gradually increasing
as the shades of night gathered around. The cross
on the top of the cupola was alone left in darkness,
as a symbol of the difficulty with which man
arrives at Truth through obscurity. But sud-
denly, when the clock sounded the un'ora di
notte, or first hour after sunset, the gazing mul-
titude was dazzled by an outburst of brilliant
fire, and the cross was - seen on high blazing
in glory, as a symbol of the triumph of Chris-
tianity. On the following day, the celebrated
girandole was. let off on Mount Piacio, where the
illumination represented a splendid church, repre-
senting Christianity, while the obelisk of the Piazza
del Popolo, representing Paganism, was surrounded
with fiery serpents. The general effect was beauti-
ful.'

The general diet of Gotha in its sitting of the
24th decided, on the proposition of several of its
members, to request the government to bring in a
bill for the complete union of the Duchies of Co-
bourg and Gotha. The National Gazette of Berlin
expressed an opinion that the special diet of Gotha
will be favourable to this union, but that the diet
of oobourg will oppose the measure by every means
•4n its power.

The Madrid papers of the 25th are devoid of in-
terest. The Gazette publishes the royal decree,
already mentioned by telegraph, appointing M.
Manuel dd la Pezuela, Marluis de Vilma, to be
President of the Senate, and the Dukes de Veragua
and de Ahumada, the Marquis de Santa Cruz, and
Don Joaquiai Casans, fiscal of the Supreme Tribu-
nal of Justice, to be vice-presidents. By a second
decree the orderly officers created on the 16th 0 •
December last, for the service of the King Consort,
are henceforth to bear the title of aides-de-camp.