Star.
London, England, 1829-08-04 00:00:00

CARDINAL GONSALVI.

One fine Roman winter morning—(tbey very math resemble a
summer's day in Ireland)—the Duchess of Devonshire called on
me, and, was priansisik, announced the Cardinal Gostsalvi's desire
to make my acquaintance ; but, though the Duchess did not say
SS Ma. I SAW there was some little difficulty about the ' where
sad the how of this introduction. The Cardinal was a Minister
at &ate, aid I was (" audacious little worm!") the author of
" France !" It was, therefore, rather a delicate matter for him
to give me rendes-miss any where on this side the Styx. The
Duchess, however, said she world let me know on the following
day ; and I received the following nose, in answer to one I bad
sent with an inscription on a Roman brick, which I found in the
well-known excavation, made by her Grace round the column
Phocas :
" Mr rasa MADAM,

" net .= Irishwoman ; but I admire Irish taunt sod ima.!
elation. and we are certainly indebted to youi foe ambling us col
joke of Mao. I eaten she same. or Mick, with all the sights
that I miebt have to it,' and am littered by the 'motel's. (1)'
(I) A few lines written by the slither, who bad supposed the.
day& r of the Bishop of Derry to have been an Mammas.

I also sad Yoe Itakedities or tbs Fifth Sadie of Horace, and as
tnly'vstilled* Your 'rake of It. It you will go to the Quirinal
dispel on Thursday. I shall have au opportunity of preeinting you
to Cardinal Donsalti. I shall go about eleven.

" Pray believe me very much yours.
" amass= Dsvostemas."

" If you wish to go to the chapel wampum. (Tlutroday,) Irvin
can for you a little before eleven, end for Sit Clarks also. If the
Cardinal star to speak to me, I shall present you, &e. Sr.c."
I forget what was the grai.d chamois celebrated on the above`
mentioned day at the Quirinal ; but it was one of singular misal-
liance. The Duchess of Devonshire had the privikge of places
devoted to the families of the Cardinals, and we commanded a full
view of that splendid church, which, like the Temple of the Son.
whose site it occupies, was all light, lustre. and effulgence. The
central nave was thronged with the dignitaries of the church. in
grand costume, abbots, priors, and monsignori—
'! Black spirits and white, bine spirits and grey."

IThe tribunes were filled with representatives of the beauty and
fashion of Etirope, from the Niemen to the Thames. The Pope
was on his throne; the Conclave sat beneath him, in vestments of
eastern amplitude and splendour ; while at their feet were ranged
their bumble osniteteri. The Pope pontificated ; and when the
Censers had dung their odours on the air, and the lord hosannas
bad ceased to peal, a procession began, which was one of the most
imposing I ever beheld. The Pope, borne aloft on his moveable
throne, and on the necks of his servants, appeared like some idol
of Pagan worship. The members of the conclave, two by two.
followed ; their trains of violet velvet, held op by the essidateei.-.•
The whole spectacle passed on, and, half way down the great ves-
tibule which precedes the chapel, disappeared among its lofty and
massive columns. The Cardinal Secretary then broke on' from the
line of march, and joined us, as we stood under the shadow of a
pillar. The presentation was as naceresnosthus, as the convent.
lion which ensued was pleasant, and spirituel. We talked of
France, and the persons we mutually knew there ; and I saw that
there was a playful attewpt to draw me out on the subject of Rome
and the actual order of things in Italy, more nattering than fair,
and which I parried as well as I mid. Before we parted, be
proposed, with great politeness; calling on us the following day ;
but, as we were lodged (as were many of our betters) en rings-
eimpriense, I declined the honour till after our return from Naples.
Cardinal Gemsalvi conversed in French like a Parisian, and his
phrases were epigrammatic and well turned. As we stood in the
partial shadow of one of the great columns, with some streaks of
bright light falling from a high window on the rich robes and dia-
mond buckles of his Eminence, I was struck by the oddity of the
group. The fine figure and countenance; and magnificent costume of
the Roman Cardinal—the Sybil air and look of the British Peeress,
whole tall, slight fern', wrapped in a black velvet mantle, sur.
'succored by a black hat, and one sweeping feather, each as Rebate
would have delighted to copy—and my own " Little Red-riding
hood" appearance (as Irish as if I had never left the banks of the
Liffey)—aid again, the true impersonation of all that is most
English in physiognomy and MORIN! in my English husband—it
was a picture to fill the of a Callot or a Caravaggio! What
was most odd in all this, was the conjunction of personages so ap
parently Incongruous. This could not have happened fifty years
back. What effected it now ? The " march of intelket !" with
its seven-league boots, like those of the Marquis of Carabas!
°chow ! a little wild Irish woman to march from the banks of
the Bog of Allan, to hold a colloquy sublime on the banks of the
Tiber, on the Maw Quirinal., with a Raman Cardinal. That is a
march with a vengeance!