The Portland daily press., 1870-04-06
DAILY PRESS.
fSDHISLAN MO.
Wednesday, Morning, April 6, 1870.
Napoleon nnd the Pope
fSDIEISLAANI

Napoleon and the rope.
By the last foreign files we have the text OF
Marquis de BonneviIle's French Minister in
Rome) report to Count Daru Oh the result OF
bis interviews with the Pope and Cardinal
Antonelli, when presenting the Emperor's
note on the iniallibility question. Its geuu-
ineness is asserted, but it reads like a piece of
very neat satire:
ROME, March =, 1870.
Monsieur LIE CoMPTE -
In accordance with your Eycelleney's in
structions, dated the first instant, called on
Cardinal Antonell. His Eminence received
me with the utmost courtesy. He also listen
ed With great attention to The reading Of your
despatch and the comments which l deemed
IL proper to make, and then, turning to me,
said, with smile:-
"ls that ALP On my replying that it was,
he added: " Daru need not have taken the
trouble to write TO me. During the past eiab-
teen years have received 295 dispatches per-
fectly similar to this one, In substance, IL not
In form. Some were Of a public. others of Sc
cret nature. The former documents were
signed by Thouvenel, Drouyn de Lhuys, La
valette and this one is signed by Daru. That
is all the difference. Do you wish the proof
OF what say%
With this remark he opened box fui
sealed despa' ches. you see the stamp on
them. Are not these the arms of France? !?
Notice the dates-1S54; and this one, 1885;
and that one, 1889"
"Such then Is all the notice you take OF the
observations of France T remarked with vi
vacity.
"Oh! Mr.. Ambassador, don't be anery;
have merely obeyed the orders OF the Holy
Father, who prohibited me absolutely from
breaking the seals Of these dispatches. So far
as am concerned, would willingly satisfy
you. Really, 1 should like to do something
for this go>d Daru (excuse me, N. le Compte,
il deem it necessary to give you the very
words of his Eminence, however unduly famIl-
lar they may bel; but what can we concede?'
"a remuneration of Infallibility," sug-
gested."
You reason too easily, my very dear sir"
replied the Cardinal; and as he spoke he took
me by the arm, and we strolled to and fro in
the garden of the Vatican. Renounce the
infallibility dogma! But reflect, my dear
Count, that the revolution may come to de-
spoil us of everything, as it has done in other
days before. What would there then. be lett
10 us were we no longer iniallible? BY the
way" he suddenly broke off. " there is his
Holiness walking past with Monsienore u:
Approach him at the turn OF the path and
ask him what he thinks Of the matter"
Just then Plus TX, came toward US with a
smile on his face and with his usual gracious
ness of manner. Alter the customary courte-
cies,
swell, sir" said the Holy Father to me,
shave you any news from France?"
Yes, Holy Father, important news"
"Oh, oh! hope that my dear son N Jesus
Christ-my dear Napoleon-is well, is he
not?"
"Yes, Holy Father, butt
"And my dear and charming daughter, the
Empress Eueenie?"
Their Majesties are both remarkably well.
But this is not what brought me hilher. I
have come
"And the Prince Imperial2 Is he expert
on the velocipede?"
Extremely so, Holy Father. was charg-
ed"--
"But they say that General Frossard is
rather strict with him. Wrong, wrong Tell
him so on my part, Mr.. Ambassador. 1t will
not do to fatigue the minds oil children; nor,
above all things to force them too severly to
study history and the natural sciences. Bear
it we'll in mind, my friend, that a Christian
knows enough of them when he can tell his
right hand from the left, to recite the Pater.
All the rest is but vain knowledge and oflit.le
substance which wearies the mind instead Of
nourishlshing it. All! BY the way, how is
Madame, the Ambassadors"
VERY well, Holy Father-the Count Da-
ru'-
By this time his Holmes was turning the
corner of the walk to re enter the palace, but
at the mention OF your name he turned and
said to me-
My dear sir, if you desire to talk politics,
there is Aptonelli to listen to you and answer
you. The imperial family are well you tell
me? So much the better; that is the main
point. All that you could say more there Is
70 need tor you to say. Daru don't like the
dogma OF infalliblity. That is pity; but the
Holy Ghost will not halt for tear of disturbing
Darius scruples. Tell him, my son, that neith,
er he nor aEy other person wiu prertnt me
from, being infdllibie. am, feel myself to
be. iniallible, and who can know 1t better than
I?"
And Plus TX spoke with increasing warmth
as be went on. strove in vain 10 calm him.
assured him of the devotion of France to the
Holy See. and particularly to your personal
attachment.
"Yes, yes" replied bis Holiness. 81 know
my faith. .ul ones, and also know how to ap-
preciate them. Daru ieels affection tor me
am aware of that; and he is not the only
one. / count still more on M. Theirs, who
even II he has become convert little late in
the day, is worth half a dozen of apostles to
me-"
Then, wishing to know his whole thought, I
edged in some cautious phrases to convey the
idea that his Majesty's government might be
constrained to withdraw our troops fiom Rom
should the Council adopt decisions incC mpati-
BILE with the spirit of the age and the laws oil
France.
"There," said his Holiness, sis the great
cowardly world at lastl You would leave me
alone with Mazzini and with Victor Emauu.
al rvrsn from "a 80
public, as be did at Castlefderdo. DO so then.
If you abandon me God will not desert me.
He will defend me from the demagogues, as
He defended Daniel from the lions, aud should
IL please Him to reserve us Tor martyrdom"--
Here Cardinal Antonelli made a griInace
do not think his grace has any taste for
martyrdom.
SHOULD it please Him to reserve us for
martyrdom." replied Plus TX. His will be
done! But we have not got so Tar yet, Mr..
Ambassador; and the Emperor weu khoaos
that his crOacn is suspended by the same
thread as my tiara. Say to my dear son,
Daru, that send him my benediction."
Such, Monsieur lie Comte, Is the fruit that
have culled from my visit. l shall say moth
ing Of The courteous attentions with which
Cardinal Antone,li endeavoled 10 soften the
effect OF his masters remarks. 1 returned
with usurious interest the compliments with
which he smothered me, AMI we separated,
to render to you an account OF our interview.
BANNEvILLE.