New-York tribune., 1870-02-01

through series of spacious courtyards, we were at
length landed ut the grand staircase which leads to
the AIazzi Gallery. in which the company were d.
rected 10 assemble The walls Of this splendid corri
dor adorned with tapestries from the celebrated
cartoons of Raphael representing tho history OF St
Peter and st. Paul Their faded remains. though i'm
pressiyo and admirable, present but an imperiect
idea of the beauty Of the originals Passing from ths
gallerywe proceeded through the Hall OF Mapswhich
contains interesting collection OF the early maps
of Italy and tho adjacent islands, now almost threc
hundred years old. aud finally entered the Great da
which is devoted to the Sunday receptions OF the
Pope This is o long, and comparatively narrow
room reminding you of the deck of an ocean steamer
both in its shape and dimensions, and the chiness
of its marble atmosphere. large number of visitors
were seated on uneasy benches around the floor,
while an additional crowd stood before the Papal
Throne awaiting the approach of His Holiness Itwas
nearly 12 o'clock before he made his appearance. His
coming, preceded by small guard Of soldiers in uni
form was the signal for loud and repeated plaudits
Tho audience from every quarter bnrst forth into en-
thusiastc accamatiOns. which sounded like the well
come TO popular orator on tho floor Of Cooper Inst-
tute His Holiness recognized the salutations OF the
multitude with a gracious SMILE Dressed in the
white pontcal robes his thin gray hair partly cov-
cred with linen cap he took his stand on the raised
PLATFORM and excusing himself from the usual cere-
mony of passing between the lines OF visitors, ana
addressing each separately. on account OF faugue
he proceeded to deliver short discourse In the
French language. This was spoken with proper en-
phasis and pleasing eOcutiOD The Holy Father has
an excellent voice, Clear sonorous, and OF nexlDie
modulation. lie expressed himself Ill simple IAN
guage in familiar tones. and was frequently inter
rupted by applause There was an occasional spice
IL. 10 IN ha fu
appreciated both by the audience and himself. The
substance Of his address commonplace. great
part of it was taken up by references to the Council
which had assembled for the purpose of crushing
fasehood and promoting truth. But it could not ac
complsh this great work without the prayers of the
faithful To change the human heart was a miracle
which none but God could perform. At the close of
his discourse, His Holiness said that he would bless
the and other objects which had been brought
for that purpose, collectively-an economy of time
which reminded one o the frugal suggestion of young
BENJAMIN Franklin in regard to his Puritanic fathers
long graces before meat. The Pope then dismissed
the company numbering about thousand, with the
apostolic benedicion, showering blessings upon them
on tho right hand aud left accompanying his invoca
tions with words of paternai simplicity. He mp
peared TO be in better health than when last saw
him in public. His complexion was less salow, the
expression of his face without anxiety, and from
his look and manner. l should judge that he cher
Shed the most assurance of the triumph OF the
Council.
During the past week an interesting discourse was
delivered in the Church of St. Andrea della Vale,
by the Rev. Isaac T. Hecker the devoted chief of tho
Paulist Fathers of New-York. The occasion was one
of series of daily services during the octave of tho
Epiphany, in which sermons are preached in Ger
man, Spanish French. Polish and English, by the
most eminent divincs of those respective national
tiles The other preachers in English, beside Father
Hecker. are Archbishop Spalding. Bishop Moriarty,
Bishop MacGill of Richmond, Bishop UDathOrne, and
Archbishop Manning. The appointment TO preach
on this occasion Is considered matter of high dis
tincton. Father Heckers discourse in his usual
style of ferycn enthusiastic eloquence. He preached
his favOIte theme of the impotence OF philosophy to
meet the wants IF the soul, to solve tho problems
which are raised by the aspirations of our nature,
and TO give peace and courage in life or death, argu-
ing from that to the necessity of divine revelation,
and of an authoritative, universal church He spoke
with remarkable freedom and unction. with an in
pressve grace of manner. and singular aiuence of
illustration which combined with his glowing
earnesness of appeal produced profound effect on
the immense audience. which included very con-
siderable proportion of English and American Pro-
testants.
In closing this letter already too long will express
my belief that you have before this become sufi-
cienty weary of the dongs Of the Gcumenical
Council which have endeavored to relate with as
much completeness possible under the peculiar
disadvantages for obtaining information with which
the friends of knowledge arc obliged to contend IN
Rome. With your telegraphc dispatches, which,
though strangely inaccurate, serve to appease Gu
riosity, my letters have become almost superilous,
and must request at least furiough from the
wee of correspondent the affairs of the Council
/ will. however, transfer the duty to competent
hands and should anything occur in the mysterious
concave of interest to your readers il will in due
time be communicated to your columns. X.