Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1841-07-13
A VISIT TO THE POPE AT ROME.
From the North American.

At our request the American ConSu,who
is our highest official character at the
Court of Rome, transmitted to the Car
dinal Secretary of State, note express
ing our desire Of a presentation to ms
holiness, if the interview would be agreed
Die. In few days a reply was received,
granting the request, and appointing a day
for the presentation. We were given to
understand that it was Indispensable ne
cessary that the ladies of the party should
be yelled aud dressed in black, and they
habiled themselves accordingly. A black
dress coat and shoes are required as part
ofthe dress OF gentlemen, and in our pro-
per custume, al about two O'Clock ofthe
appointed day, We repaired to the Vaii-
can. which adoius the church of ST. Pc
| ter. We were received at the door of
an ante-chamber by one ofthe guards in
aunique dress, with black, red, and yell
| low stripes, which is said 10 have been.
designed by Michel Angelo. The guard
wore a sword, anG loose in his hand q
shaft, surmounted with an iron spear and
half moon: the latter somewhat resem-
bling the halbert with inverted edge
i Passing into this room we were met by
ltne Pope's servant in waiting dressed in
black, and having here disposed ofour
over. clothes, were led by him through the
reception room into small apartment be-
vond, hung around with the portraits of
the Popes, including that of his present
holiness Gregory XVI. Here we were
to wait until the Pope should be 10 readl-
ness TO receive US, and were requested 10
| ,bo1, auto of tho
! was plainly and scantily furnished; the
sole furniture in the reception room was
? an ordinary wooden table, standing near
: the centre of the apartment, upon carpet
> about six feet square. The rest of the
floor, which was of brick, the usual floor
{, OF Italian houses, was uncovered. In
: about half an hour after our entrance the
= servant returned and led the way to the
~ retention room; where we found the Pope
= standing by the table and partly resting
upon it. He was clothed in a robe and
cassock of white cashmere, the dress of
the Franciscan friars, to which order he
=. formerly belonged.-The robe was PLAIN
" with buttons down before. The top OF
- his head was covered with cap of the
same material as the robe. His dress
:" was evidently not new, and the cap con-
- side lablv soiled. But the whole consld
:, ~ erino that he too was without "chlde or
u ne onde wife. was more clearly than ] have
- u, Ever seen on many an old bachelor, whose
Tue mind. unlike that of his holiness, was I'M
~ disturbed with the cares Of d temporal and
Ny sniritua kingdom. His feet was cover.
' cd win TJrk sh slIrpefs, beautifully en-
- broidered with gold.
49, We were received GA our approach
IA with great graciousness, and were put al
aee orr ease BY the affability Of his manner
onf Oar names andcountry were made known
.otv and we remained standing, directly j
49, front Of him. His inquiries indicate
ave that h, was well acquainted with passin
h, : events; he spoke with knowledge OF ou
III conntrv and It's institutions, of the dls9
,ava oreement subsisting between our Gov
soen eminent and Great Britain, and Of the al
INTO. parent prospect Of a rupture. He 1nqu
An ed in relation to ourselves, of our trayei
49,, and future destination, and whether v
ad 70 Intended to visit Mount Etna, as well
- ofI Vesuvius: expressing at the same time
800. wish that our residence in Rome mig
~ proye agreeably, and our anuclpatlons
Say pleasnfe realized. | observed that
LII seldom permitted his eyes to fall upon
- ladies of our party. He related hum
a i, ons anecdotes of the Carnival that /
owe. lust passed, and gave us an account
,ny Of very lively manner, how the Ora
''l;oa Duke of Austria, at previous CarnI
IT, was peIted on the Corso with cOJt
,-rntb and how with great glee be had retalla
dav \ in throwing great quantities OF COME
~ at his antagonists. We were detall
- - - abont twenty minutes when the Pope b
80 ed. and we, bowling in return, left
apartment through The door we had
tered During the interview he con
istln 70 nod 10 hold a gold snuff box in his
before hand. of the contents Of which he m
,r rms. a very liberal use. When animated
NY agreeable conversation, the eountena
go ane Of the Pope is expressive of great al
bleness, but ordinarily, and partlcut
- ~ in the service of the Chapel, has
Of deep solcmnity bordering on me
beau. choly.
t. and At such times / have seen tears CT
naked inc down the old mans cheeks.
Iitter.ng our introduction we have met HIM
ot. like dentallv in a retired part of Rome, W
upon followed by two of his servants, he
les. ex taking walk. His carriage, from '
lck with he had descended, was standing at a
70 more distance. He had been III, and | tn
wander bore himself with feebleness. He 7
uses for nized and kindly saluted US. have
verdant seouently seen him performing his ar
streets; duties in the interesting ceremonies
est and " Week, with strong and full voIc
has its a firm step. 1t occurred to me, W
cir flow. saw hun mount the steps Of The high
ofgreen with steadiness and agility Of youth
hills that he might yet live to balkAmany
In green Younger cardinals in aspirations
yhile the PapaI throne. The Pope must be
e of sill seventy, and there are many of the
nest point nails who should think older than
+ at so these of course are without hope
huge hills succession, have never seen a n
however, teligent, well-looking body of me
skeleton doubt whether there is council
ne of the rope which embraces more inteilec
efore the
race that 0Fsome old cynie has left tbs
existed in ing lying aphorsms, Eto be hisse
,h of I'M posterity-
IS not the To live quietly one should be bl
,ew them and dumb.
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