, 1873-05-25
A VISIT TO CARDINAL ANT0NELLl.

PluB La. M0nStKn0T Nhlta ~ a4so the peHL
known Of the Roman hierarchy to thoee Of the
Ens1ish-speahng tourists who court ecclesiasti
cal society in Romo. His Monsignorahip has
boon frequently in Great Britain and Ireland,
and, I an informed; that upon more than one
occasion he quietly answered the purposes Of b
Nuncio in London aud Dublin On these &C.
counts I Was naturally induced to apply to the
Very Rev. Monsignor Nardi when I conceived
the idea Of securing the entree Of Cardinal An
tonelli's palace, and holding converse with
that gifted dip1omatist. I according
II called upon the Monaignor, whom
I found at his temporary residence in
the Via Babuino, near the Piazza di Spagna-
Nardi. who has passion for practising his
English, Was glad to see me, but his Efforts to
commend himself as fluent speaker Of our
idiom could only be termed courageous under
the circumstances. In fact, have met more
thnn one italian, in Italy, who could indulge his
pe,lchant for Engliah without causing me- griev-
GUS embarrassment by his grouudless tementy.
Nardi was writing letter to an old friend OF
his, the Bishop Of the Diocese Of ossory, Ire-
land, who was formerly Vice-Rector OF the Irish
College at Rome, whonce he issued his famous
controversial pspe1s concerning the faith and
proclivities Of st. Patrick, which answered the
bold assertions OF DR.. Todd, Trinity College,
Dublin, author Of an ingenious work about tho
patron saint Of ireland.
at will be terminated at present." said the
Monsignor, meaning that his letter was nearly
fnished, and then lie would be at leisure. When
I informed him, few minutes later, that had
come in search Of an introduction 70 Autonell.
Father Nardi looked very serious, and assured
me- that the privilege OF conversation with His
Eminence, the ex-Prine- Minister OF Rome, was
31~- Ia f,a %hao 3a1 firoaa
Upon stating that I intended to describe tho in
teryiov when returned to Amorica, Nardi grew
deeply interested In me, but seemed to lack con-
fidence in ueWspaper-men, when ne informed
me that representative Of = London journal
On appearing in print, was grossly u1is1ep-
resented. I argued to tho Monsignor that
Iwas not accountable for tho English oorre-
spondent's breach Of confidence, and that he had
no reason to suspect that an American journalist
would oct in like manner. It WAS then arranged
that should call early in the afternoon Of the
following day, when be would accompany me- to
Cardinal Antonelli's quarters. T complied with
the engagement, and ne started in a carrozza for
tho ex-Pfime Minister'S private residence. AZ
ter crossing the spacious square Of Monte ca
ynllo, which extends from the PortA Pia to the
end Of the Aldobraudini grounds, and ls situate
on the summit OF the old QuiriuA Hill, re
cdifice. The windows we're all closed, and there
was no door open, as if the place we're de-
serted. The original stucco cornices which had
adorned the framework OF the doors and
windows we're crumbling into shabby r. e1eres- .siae
except the dimensions and locality of the house,
that would lead to higher idea than that it
was tho empty inheritance OF some lnpecunlo9s
Count. Upon pulling the door-bell a multitude
OF echoes rang through the solitary house, and q
decroplt and ssthmatic porter answered the ring
ing with grufr "Chi Q Ia as though he had
lust be enaroused from ltful slesta. Kecog-