Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1843-11-09
LETTERS FROM ITALY.
From the Special Correspondent Of the ~ Y. Tribune

NoME April, 1918
To-day received on invitation to be pres
ented to his holmes the Pope, but rs found
that shorts and some other inconvenient ct
ceteras were necessary declined. regret
ted il afterwards, as found could have been
presented in my ordinary dress. Whenev-
er ladies are presented, court dress is not re-
quired. A lady Unexpectedly became one
of the number who were to accompany our
consul :ohis holiness, and lcould have seen
him without the Inconvenience anticipated.
1t was matter of very little consequence,
however, as had on several occasions been
within few feet of him an hour at time,
and heard him speak, and got, as supposed,
very good idea of the Man. He is nearly
80 years of age but robust and healthy; he
stoops considerably and walks slowly; YET
when he mounts his throne his step is light
and elastic as that of a young man. He has
marked aouiline features, q mild eye, and a
very benignant countenance. He was pre-
late of no distinction, and mounted to the
chair OF St. Peter as many others have done
before him, by party strife. AS soon as the
Pope dies there commences furious strug-
gle between the rival families for the throne
The Cardinals are shut up in the Pope's Pal.
ace on the Quirinal. and are allowed to
come out of their seperate apartments only
TO cast their votes till Pope is elected. Two
thirds are necessary to constitute choice,
subject once 20 the veto OF the Lord High
Chamberlain. The only way often to rec
oncile the factions, and escape from their
imprisonment, is 10 fall on some old and in
different Cardinal and elect him. The pres
ent Pope Gregory was elected under these
circumstances. He is not regarded as We
ry clever man, although he bears an excel
lent moral character.
To-day, at some exercises in the Sistine
Chapel, ! saw Don Miguel. He is very
good looking man. He now lives at Albano.
fifteen miles from Rome, whittier he has
been banished by the Pope. While he was
in power in Portugal, he lavished his wealth
on the Pope, who now, in return, supports
him on salary, 1t is said. of $2OOOO. Inc
cause of his Punishment was an insult he OF.
fered to the wife of Prince Borghese, one of
first families in the Papal dominions. She
was the daughter Of the famous Catholic
Earl of Shrewsbury, and, with true English
spirit, resented deeply the insult offered her.
Borghese told his Holiness either Don Mi
gueI must leave Rome, or he. The Pope.
placed in this dilemma, exiled Don Miguel
fifteen miles off, to the beautiful hill of Alba
no, from whence he drives into town no Of
tener than he wishes.
There is a singular custom here during
Holy Week. Pilgrims from every quarter
journey on foot during Easter to Rome. for
which they are entertained ut the Church OF
the Trini,a'-their feet washed by distin-
guished individuals, who also serve them at
table, and finally put them nicely to bed
They are 'he completes: set of ragamufflns
YOU ever beheld, and il is really revolving to
look at their nasty feet. Two nights since,
Don Miguel attended in one of the converts
attached 10 the Church, and washed and
served several Of these lousy beggars.-
Great merit is attached TO this act. and Don
Miguel expects, doubtless, 10 wash out, in
this way, some of his peccadilloes. ct which
there is any quantity. Last night, some
friends and myself jumped into carriage
at ST. Peters, and rode down to see the per-
formance. The pilgrims all sat in row,
on an elevated bench, with each n wooden
dish under his feet. There is no humbug
about this washing. as there is in the PoPe's
washing the disciples feet. The dirt on
these beggars is, as Carlyle would say, we'll
authenticated dirt. and it is no joke TO re-
move it. Two Cardinals were among the
,cashers last night and, to my surprise. one
of them observed to be Cardinal Mez=atonti
the greatest linguist in tho world. He
speaks fif,y.two different languages. His
requirements alone have obtained for him a
Cardinals hat and Post. MasterShip Of Rome.
The Pope attributes his knowledge of Ian
guages to a miraculous gift. Conversing to.
duv with priest on the subject-a friend OF
MeZzafouii-he told me that MezzafODti
himself attributes his power in acquiring
languages to the divine influence. He says
that when an obscure priest, in the North OF
Italy. he was called one day TO confess two
foreigners condemned for piracy, who were
TO be executed next day. On entering their
cell he found them unable to understand
word he uttered. Overwhelmed with the
thought that the criminals should leave this
world without the benefits of religion, he re-
turned to his room resolved to acquire their
language before morning. He accomplish
ed his task, and next day confessed them in
their own tongue. From that time on, he
saws, he has had no difficulty in mastering
the most difficult language. The purity of
his motive in the first place, he thinks, influ-
enced the Deitv to assist him miraculously.
A short time since Swcde, who could speak
a patois peculiar 10 certain province of
Sweden, called on him and addressed him
in that dialect, MeZZafonti had never heard
il before, and seemed very much interested.
He invited him to call on him often, which
he did, while the conversation invariably
turned on this dialect. At length the Swede
calling one day, heard himself, TO his amaze
ment. addressed in this difficult patois. He
inquired of the Cardinal who had been his
master, for he thought, he said. there was no
man in Rome who would speak that Ian
guage but himself. 81 have had no one"
he replied, but yourself-I NEVER forget a
oord / hear once" If this be true, he has a
miraculous memory at all events. This the
priest told me he had from Mezzafonti him
self. At home this would be headed "Strange