The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-05-24
Pope Plus IN and his Reforms.

| The following extracts from Mrs Fanny kembe But
lers book OF travels, "a Year of Consolation" do
no more than Justice to the liberal and enlightened spirit
which has characterized the administration of this emil
Pontf ever since his accession to the Papal chair
Our intelligent and able foreign correspondent has al
ready described in our columns the wise and judiciou
course adopted by the new Pope in his internal policy,
but readers will peruse these additional evidences
upon the subject with qualification:
"One of the earliest proceedings of the new Pope,
which obtained currency by public report was his retor-
nation of his own household, and his unsparing curta
ment of its most useless expenses He Immediately sup
pressed the conechOners departmentan item
OF expenditure in the former Popes establishment and
having observed in the accounts which he demanded
and OF which he examined himself the details, most
orblant daily charge Tor lemonade, remarked that when
he was private individual he used to refresh himself
cafe with lemonade at so much per glass, and reques,
ted that he might be furnished with il thenceforward
upon the terms; indeed he added that the increase
the value OF his sustenance Pope compared to what
was as an abbate, appeared TO him entirely dispropor
Tomato and that, allowing that MonslgnOre required
more costly dinner than abbae, cardinal than
Monsignore, and Pope than cardinal, he still could
not bring the gradually ascending scale to anything like
the estimate made for him, and which he therefore
quesed might be lowered to more rational one He
has twice invited of his cardinals to dine
with him, thing unknown during the late Popes reign
who, according indeed TO the usual pontIca etiquette
invariably ate alone Some persons have suggested that
this innovation may be merely of security
against polson but II rs better accounted Tor by the lib
era and rational character of the Pope and the
pondng changes both of lesser, well greater,
nature which may be expected iTou him He has given,
too splendid dinner TO his Guardia Mobile, during
which he presented himself in the where they
assembled to greet and bid them welcome.
"Ihe measures OF public Improvement most urgently
needed both for the city and the country, and which
were in vain petioned from the late Pope's timd and
yranncal policy have obtained the ready sanction OF his
successors and gas in the streets of Rome and railroads
in the Roman states, will soon bear witness to more
enlightened spirit; and while the will tend to the
increase OF ORDER comfort and security in the city, the
other will awaken the dormant energies OF the inhabi-
tans OF the country-afordng them means OF easy trans
port for their agricultural produce bringing markets
within reach OF supplies, and quickening all the
cal energies of the various cities. hitherto deploraby
sagnant by opening lines of rapid communication be-
tween the inland territory and the coast from Civita
Veccha to Ancona On the occasion of the Popes act
of amnesty, his council consisted of six cardinals, of
whom only in favor OF it, Fortunately the
Popes prerogative could and did, dispense with their
concurrence His mode of receiving the popular enhu-
sasm, the occasion of that great act of wisdom and
mercy was emneny characteristics he said that the po
litcal offenders had IN way snped against him that
their attempts directed against the government OF
Gregory XVI, who might, indeed, have deserved praise
and thanks for pardoning them, whereas he could claim
for orgvng people who had done nothing against
him. This modest and, magnanmous disclaimer on
enthusiasm of the people. On the occasion of his
first driving out, they took the horses from his car
rage and drew him home to the Quirna-a demonstra-
ton, against the repetition OF which he however, enter
ed his most solemn and positive protest Anagrams OF
his ngeniousy made to discover in 1t the IT,
ties OF berator and father and the very coors on his
litlca tendencies curious anecdote was told me the
other day, exhibiting the impatient temper of the times
abundany does, the enormous difficulty of the present
Popes position, between the excited and exaggerated ex
pectaton of impossible changes entertained BY his people,
and the and shallow scope of his power and pos
slbies. His arms contain two lions, and anony-
nous letter forwarded to him lately, in which his
shield painted with two toroises substituted their
hn
with the expected reforms OF government The Pope, 1t
said smiled at this illustration, and showing tito
body observed that the tortoise, though very Slow was
''To supply the Immediate and pressing necessities of
his government, he levied, after his accession,
tax of three scud upon all inconsistencies and borrowed
very considerable sum OF money from the Jesults
measure of very popular economy, which he adopted
at the me was the entire suppression of all mo-
neys for the purpose OF paying SPIES surveillance, &c
The rather compulsory nature OF the loan thus
raced with the Jesus is not supposed to have by any
means rendered that powerful body more propitious
either to Plus TX personally the policy of his gov
ernment; and ludicrous instance was given of the
peoples apprehension of the illwl borne their
eign by the whole order, when, on the occasion of
his first visit to the Jesuts the crowd in the streets ran
by the side OF his carriage, calling to him, 'Saoo
Padre non prender la cioceaiatd.' told us, too
some workmen, employed in repairs at the Hano
veran minister's house. These men dilang upon
the admirable qualities of their new Pope and the conse
auent i'll will borne him by certain of the cardinals and
more especially by all the Jesus who themselves OBJ
ects of dislike to the Roman people generally
One of the number auding to the magny of the Popes
enemies, said he take good care, they would be
giving him the 'Boccone literally, 'the mouthful-
e. poson) which the others responded that if they did
SO, he would be the last Pope in Rome the event OF
his SO perishing the people would rise and have
cessor to him. So violent, indeed, is the feeling of the
people present favor OF the Pope and against all who
are supposed to be inmical to him. that the latter
bound pray day and night for his safety; for if he
were to die from fall from his carriage, the
deniably natural death in the world his end would not
fail be attributed to the Vaccinations OF his enemies,
who in any popular outbreak, to follow upon such
catastrophe, would inevitably be made the first victims
of the violence of the people,"
&c rumor has been current for time, that he in
tends to organize something approxmating TO repre-
sentative government, by permitting the various states
and in his dominion to send up deputies TO Rome,
properly instructed to represent the grievances and wants
of the people This would indeed, be amazing stride
forward II is moreover, added that being warned that
this and similar innovations would probably induce the
people demand constitution, the Pope replied, with
much tranquility, that he did not know that II might be
very good thing to give them In the meantime the
hearts OF the hitherto most dsaected all turned towards
him, and in all the professions his honor which
ceeded the PRONUNCIATION of his amnesty, the promi
nen personages the very young whom the police
had charge watch under the former
He receives have before stated all petitions presented
to him. and anecdoe is told of his having torn small
piece from the of one which particularly attracted
his attention. and which, delivering to the function
axy appointed to them until his holiness had es
ue to examine them not presented among the rest
he Immediately perceived its absence, and demanded
and il is said to have contained revelation of maprac-
tees affecting Cardinal Lambruschin and various other
eminent personages The access which he permits to
his presence on certain days the week all suppl
cans has given nnumerabe stories OF his benevo