The New York herald., 1868-03-22

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE HERALD.

NtCAl LukhtSPuhBtNCE VI Int htkAlu
Decline OF the CarnivaI-PalatiaI ept,ons-
A Princely Marriage COntract-NIrs. General
Hooker's Soirees-Charity Ball-George
Peabody aud Other Distinguished Ameri-
cuns-Progress of the Church-Army Affairs
and Political Tendencies.
ROME, Feb TO- 1858.
The carnival this year Is the most decided ddsco
that the oldest equenters OF the Corso ever recoect
both political parties-liberas and Papaini-abstain.
Ing totally from the traditional amusements OF wear.
ing white coats and wire masks OF peltng and being
pelted with lime CONFETTI and eggs full OF nour, OF
presenting bouquets Of flowers to pretty ladies In
draped balconies, and similar tomfoolery, which de.
lighted Romans and foreigners alike in the good old
times OF Pope Gregory XVI, when masks were
allowed and when the troubous cataclysms OF Pho
Nonos evenfu career had not yet rendered the carn
val season OF distrust instead Of amusement. The
consequence OF this dearth Of jewellers is feeling Of
great disappointment among inexperienced foreign.
ers who have hired balconies and windows on the
Corso In lhe expectation OF witnessing the wild
saturnalia of former times Their only hope now Is
that the and other enthusiastic partisans OF
the. presen regime who have money at their COM
mand, maj be tempted to come forth in some fam
tastica devices Tomorrow being Govedi Grasso and
enliven the hitherto languid scene.
But although there is SO little gayety out OF doors
there are brilliant scenes going on in several OF the
great palaces OF Rome. On Sunday last the Doria
Palace was opened to all the aristocratic and fash.
ionabe world OF the Eternal City, both Roman and
foreign, onthe occasion Of the marriage contract be-
tween Prince Dorlas second daughter, Princess
Gwendon,, and the young Count Somaglia, the rep.
resentative of one Of the first families in Milan Their
civil marriage had already taken place at frontier
town within the Italian domnions, and the religious
ceremony VIII be completed on Tuesday next, after
which the iappy pair will proceed to the Doria villa
at Albano or a few days and thence to Naples for
their brida trip
The decorations OF the Dora palace were most
sumptuou. and the whole entertainment, which
lasted Till iaybreak partook Of q regal character.
The jewelsdspayed by the Roman prncesses re-
veaed the boarded treasures OF their families and
the presens offered to the young Princess were pro-
portonatcy superb. very elegant testimonial OF
esteem an, friendship was offered by Mr.. and Mrs.
Hooker in he form OF fancy galley full Of camelIas.
At the proy doves with olive branches In their
beaks, theamily arms Of the Pamni- Doria family;
from the rasthead streamed nag with the name OF
Andrew Dria, the historic head Of the house. The
mainsail bre portrait OF the bride, with the cupoa
Of st. Petes in the background one side, and the
dome OF Milan, her future residence, on the other.
the fancy abric, which was received with evident
surprise All admiration by the Prince and his family
Mrs. Ho6er gives her last sOisye ddasdnte for tile
season TIL evening. The series have proved the
most aftrative entertainments Of the carnival.
Last ngt the bail for the infant asylums gathered
an enormus crowd OF Romans and foreigners in
the great aloons OF the Braschi Palace, where the
splendor some OF the Roman prtncesses' jewelry,
especially he diamonds and eneralds Of the Princess
Piombino, attracted universal admiration.
Among he most distinguished American arrivals
is is that Of IT. George Peabody He Is staying with
bust for te city OF London. We nave also Mr..
X. G. Wrhrop, late president of the Committee Of
Educationor the Southern states
The Janus landscape painter, Bierstadt has taken
studio al is commencing some large pictures.
The OssfTdt0re Romano of the 10th inst. had
leading aicle entitled, catholicism in the Nine
teenth Cefury,n In which Il demonstrated the decay
OF the ARlican and the restoration OF the Roman
carries the argument by showing the rapid
strides laly made by Roman Catholicism In Holland
and and te United States Of America. quote from
the articfhe following siaflstcs:-"Sixty years ago
A,5oo faiful In the United States OF America.
There we no churches but private chambers
served chapels there was only one con-
vent an no Catholic college. Now there
are af.bishops, a bishops, 277a priests, 2,s4s
m Catholic l chapes 2oS conyents for NO
rary institions, 1,i0p seminares and IL uniyersi.
ties, wlp the whole Catholic population Of the
United tates may be estimated ct nearly
100000 Towsrds the end Of the lhst cen:
y pSroS esSos os sSs4, ~o
hundred Protestants. Now the Catholics form
more thu the eighth part OF the population. The
same ptress is TO be observed In the British posses
sions 1.-THE North American colonies, forty years
ago the vss onlr one bisboD; now usrs sre Two