Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-12-22

cross the Apprentices twice by rail, and to
go through, in all, nearly hundred tun-
nes-one just before we reach Genoa, the
longest Except the new one at Mt. Cens(
in the world. nearly four miles long.
Genoa, as you know, is celebrated old
city of Northern Italy. 1t is very ancient
and has many palaces and fine public build
ings. The renowned discoverer of Amer
lea, Columbus, was born here, and it has
as fine a marble monument of him in one
of the squares rs is to seen in Europe
The city is built on the slope running back
from the sea, quite steep. The streets, most
of them, like Venice, are mere lanes, ten to
fifteen feet wide, and not used by vehicles.
1t is a busy and dirty place, the same as all
italian seaports. This is all l need TO say
of Genoa. From here we have two ways to
go to France one by the way Of Turin and
Mt. Cents tunnel, which is now in good
working order, and the other by steamer
40 miles to Nice. Our party have decided
to take the latter for the pleasure of ride on
the Mediterranean, and to visit the grand
est watering place in France.
You see by this letter we have made
something of a hasty trip through Italy.
Yet nearly two months is ample time to see
a great deal, especially as two of us had
been over the ground once before and knew
how to economize the time. believe there
is no country more interesting TO visit than
Italy; no country which has made 50 much
history, and certainly none that has given
t he world such a vast amount of art, sci
1, =
cd such power and had such absolute con-
troll over the world. No country has risOn
TO such a height in all things which make Il
nation great, glorious and powerful, or has
left its mark SO distinctly to be seen every
where in Europe. And although its great
ness and glory have long since passed away,
and today ii can claim but an humble place
spects beautiful land, and will always
hold an important position in the old
world, and her influence in church, if not
in state, will hold strong control among
every civilized nation on the globe. For as
Rome has been, so ii probably will be, the
Pontifical residence, the head-cenrc of the
Catholic Church, which has its branches
ing and shining brighter under its new un-
ty, and it is plainly to be seen that King
Victor Emanuel is so very popular among
the people that the whole country is waking
up to new impulses and Improvements, es-
pecially the Pontifical States, which have 50
long been crippled by the Popes. But tho
Pope, no doubt, has forever lost his tempor-
II a hlnU n him
to the church. His attempt at inlallibilty
has caused great split and dissension, and
his loss of temporal power is another blow
which greatly woakens the Catholic Church.
In his distress he has turned to nearly all of
the crowned heads about him for help, but
none will, if they dare, interfere. Napole-
on, his supporter, is out of the way. NJ.
Theirs, his warmest friend among tho rul-
ers, advises that he shall leave the Vatican
and Rome, and come to France, or even
Spain if he will. The object is this: The
great majority of the Catholic world are
ignorant; they have but one idea Of the
Holy Father, and that is he lives in Rome.
He has his home in the Vatican, and dwells
in the holy of holies, made sacred from the
beginning Of time; and so long as they
think of him there, so long they are salts
fed, and have no idea of the loss of any of
his power. But should they find that he is
obliged to flee, and that he is driven away
into exile, and the stream Of blessings, ord
nances and absolutiona are ceased in con-
sequence, and the churches are losing their
b enefits, then it would cause the Roman
c Catholic people all over the world to rise
up and demand his restoration, and he
would be brought back in triumph to his
for mer estate and power This is really
the policy advised, but think it will not be
adopted; for if the result should prove a
failure, it would be very disastrous one to
Popery. But enough about Italy. We
leave for France this evening. Our first
landing will be Nice. Yours, &c,
g. IL. c.