Star.
London, England, 1829-11-19 00:00:00

THE LATE AND PRESENT POPE.

The late Pope was hated most cordially—the present
one is as much loved. Della-Genga disliked the English, and was
soured with the world. In his old age he became as ascetic as the
generality of debauchers, and forbade his presence those to whose
fascinations in early life he had fallen a victim. Though generally
misanthropical, however, there was one family to whom be was
particularly kind. This was the family, or rather reputed family,
of Pezzotti, a small farmer of Sasso- Ferrato, within a short dis-
tance of Della- Genga, a town from which the Pope's ancestors bad
taken their name. Pezzotti, the husband, was a small, ungainly,
and ill-favoured personage, while his wife displayed one of the
finest order of fair forms. At the period of their marriage Della-
Genga was Curate of Sasso-Ferrate, and the confessor of La
Signora Pezzotti. The priest was • frequent guest at the farmer's,
and as the ;family Increased all the world remarked the
more than ordinary conformity of visage between the children and
Della- Genga. Three fine boys were the fruit of this onion, and
they were all born before the future Pope quitted his small curacy
to enter on more important labours. Years rolled on, and the
three children grew apace. Soon they were the tallest and finest-
looking fellows within their district. Each of them measured more
than siz feet, and their commanding stature was not a little set off
by the finest black eyes and a profusion of long, dark, glossy hair.
As they passed through the village of a morning, the neighbours
would cry out, with a knowing shrug .'• What a fine family little
Pezzotti has gotten I" Meantime Pezzotti died in indigent cir-
cumstances, and in a year after Della-Genga, the little Curate of
Sasso-Ferrato,was elected Popes The three brothers were forth-
with ordered to Rome. The eldest was presented with a large
house at Civita Castellana, money sufficient to furnish it as an inn,
and also the " right, title, and inheritance" to farm the post. The
second obtained a tract of land sufficient to graze and breed
horses; while the third was made a postillion between Borghetto
and Civita Castellano.

I !Rd seen Della-Genga often, and was always struck.by some-
thing particularly commanding, though not unpleaslng, in his coun-
tenance. On stopping a few nights ago at the inn (la Posto) at
Chita Castellani, I could not divest myself of the idea that the old
Pope was again before me in the person of the landlord, though
grown some twenty years younger. On mentioning this to oneiof
the waiters, I learned from him the account which I have just
written ; and "there,' said he, pointing to a man in the court-
yard. "is the second brother, while the large postillion who drove
you in from Borghetta is the third." Still, notwithstandintotat
great resemblance, I was incredulous; but when I reached
I found the whole matter was as nototious as the sun at noon-day.
The prewnt Pope (Pius VIIL) I should observe, has taken the
farming of the post out of the hands of the elder Pezzotti, who is
certainly the " living image," as the Irish say, of his predecessor
on the throne of St. Peter. Is it fitting that such a system should
be? Vetter a thousand times to have the iron hoof and black
eagle of Austria, with all their horrors.