, 1888-01-21

1uIdntd lSaO6lla, q pectOral cross OF l(FSt
br~llliantS, suspended to a massive golden
chain remarkable for it's artistic beauty.
His Majesty of Wurtemberg sends a rich
crucIfix of silver and gold. encrusted with
large uncut rubieS; the Prince Of Monaco,
an elegant pastoral staff, profuselv bejew-
eIled and enammelled. Filial offerings,
in the prOsaic but useful form of current
coin, have reached his Holiness from all
parts of the world, laid at his feet by Roman
Catholic p~relates on behalf Of the 'faijhfll'
inhabitants of their respective di0ceseS.
The money contributions to the PapaJ
eXchequer emanating from the United
States alone amounts to some millions OF
francs, that forwarded by the Archbishop
of New York attaining the handsome sun
of ten thousand pounds. We are Inform
ed that the total value of the Jubilee gifts
already rendered to his Holiness is eStima-
ted at two millions and a half sterling.
Probably the most costly of all these gOr-
geOuS presents are those constituting the
HapSburg tribute to the aged Pontiff'S
many personal virtues and long service to
the cause of Christianity. The Austrian
EmperOr's offering is a massive golden
c%ruclfX, richly inIaid with rabies and
%sapphires, the auriOla being carried out
i'll fine Oriental pearls; that of the En-
plC0S AlIAdUGCuy an GAu(tlSIiCiH ClIUIUltlCI-
ed %chasuble; whilst the Archdukes and
ArchducheSS ,Of the House of Austria
have sent a reliquary arranged AS a cal
ender, and containing three hundred and
sixty relics of departed saints. Dona-
tons of less intrinsic worth 5hanthose above
alluded to have reached the Vatican in
vast numbers. During the past weeks two
hundred and thirty-three cases arrived
from Belgium, as a first inStalment of
that Kingdoms piOuS liberality; while
golden c%hallces, patenS, pect0ral crosses,
malachite and silver Golfers. priceless vest
mentS of every known variety, albums,
rare manuscripts. and curious ancient
books were transmitted to the Pope from
Mexico, Spain, M%oldavia, Syria, Italy,
Honduras, ElSaSs, Canada, Madras. and
Jamaica. Considered in relation to their
mere pecuniary value, the ''homage-oftr-
ingS" presented to Pho Mono twenty years
ago, on the occasion of the Roman
Precautionary, sink into insiguifcance by
comparison with those by which the Cath
Ole world has generously sought to eX-
press its reverence for the character of
that less Open-minded POntif'S intelligent
and enlightened successor, whose great
authority over the minds and cOnScien-
CeS Of men has been so n0bIy exercised
in the cause of order and towards the
preservation of peace among tue ma
tiOnS.
That so phiIanthrophic a pOtentate and
wise a man as Leo XIII. should receive
such conspicuous and splendid recognition
Of the benefits which have accrued to
civlliSed mankind from his occupancy Of
the Pontif1cal throne is a subject Of congrd-
tulatiOnS, common to men of all races,
creedS, and ways of thinking. The Papal
Jubilee, moreover, is especially rife with
interest to the peoples of Great Britain, to
whose beloved Sovereign it has afforded
an excellent opportunity for renewing
those amicable relations with the Holy
See which have suffered interruption, some
times seriously to the disadvantage Of this
country, throughout the past three centu,
rleS. In view of the friendly intercourse
now established, we have every reason to
believe on a solid basis, between the Courts
of the Vatican and st. James, it is difficult
to realise the fierce animoSity with which
the Papacy was regarded in the earlier
days of her Majesty's reign by a large
majority of EngIiShmen, and the unreason-
ing fury that agitated the nation, some
forty years ago, when the whilom "BIshop
of Rome" organised the Catholic epiScopa-
cy in these islands. Since that choleric
and bluSterOuS time the British Govern
ment has more than once been Informally
represented in the Papal capital, one of
ito oh1oCE (rno &C. o1ol1B noz-k. o:, L~o.