No. 34.

My Lord,

Sir A. Paget to Earl Granville.-(Received September 26.)

Florence, September 21, 1870.

I HAVE the honour to inclose a copy from the "Italie," of the letter which was addressed by His Majesty the King of Italy to the Pope, on the 8th instant, and which was delivered to His Holiness by Count Ponza di San Martino.

The "Official Gazette" from which it is extracted, states that it has been published in consequence of the appearance of a spurious précis of it in the " Journal of Rome" of

the 12th instant.

"Le Journal de Rome' du 12 Septembre ayant publié un prétendu résumé de ia lettre de Sa Majesté le Roi, remise par le Comte Ponza di San Martino à Sa Sainteté Pie IX, nous donnons le texte même de ce lettre :

"Très-Saint Père,

"Avec une affection de fils, avec une foi de Catholique, avec une loyauté de Roi, avec un sentiment d'Italien, je m'adresse encore, comme j'eus à le faire autrefois, au cœur de votre Sainteté.

"Un orage plein de périls menace l'Europe. A la faveur de la guerre qui désole le centre du Continent, le parti de la révolution cosmopolite augmente de hardiesse et d'audace, et prépare, spécialement en Italie et dans les provinces gouvernées par votre Sainteté, les derniers coups à la Monarchie et à la Papauté.

"Je sais, Très-Saint Père, que la grandeur de votre âme ne le céderait jamais à la grandeur des événements; mais moi. Roi Catholique et Roi Italien, et, comme tel, gardien et garant, par la disposition de la Divine Providence et par la volonté de la nation, des destinées de tous les Italiens, je sens le devoir de prendre, en face de l'Europe et de la Catholicité, la responsabilité du maintien de l'ordre dans la Péninsule et de la sécurité du Saint Siége.

66 6

'Or, Très-Saint Père, l'état d'esprit des populations gouvernées par votre Sainteté, et la présence parmi elles de troupes étrangères venues de lieux divers avec des intentions diverses, sont un foyer d'agitation et de périls évidents pour tous. Le hasard ou l'effervescence des passions peut conduire à des violences et à une effusion de sang qu'il est de mon devoir et du vôtre, Très-Saint Père, d'éviter et d'empêcher.

"Je vois l'inéluctable nécessité, pour la sécurité de l'Italie et du Saint Siège, que mes troupes, déjà préposées à la garde des frontières, s'avancent et occupent les positions qui seront indispensables à la sécurité de votre Sainteté et au maintien de l'ordre.

"Votre Sainteté ne voudra pas voir un acte hostile dans cette mesure de précaution. Mon Gouvernement et mes forces se restreindront absolument à une action conservatrice et tutélaire des droits facilement conciliables des populations Romaines avec l'inviolabilité du Souverain Pontife et de son autorité spirituelle avec l'indépendance du Saint Siége.

"Si votre Sainteté, comme je n'en doute pas, et comme son caractère sacré et la bonté de son âme me donnent le droit de l'espérer, est inspirée d'un désir, égal au mien, d'éviter tout conflit et d'échapper au péril d'une violence, elle pourra prendre avec le Comte Ponza di San Martino, qui lui remettra cette lettre et qui est muni des instructions opportunes par mon Gouvernement, les accords qui paraîtront mieux devoir conduire au but désiré.

"Que votre Sainteté me permette d'espérer encore que le moment actuel, aussi solennel pour l'Italie que pour l'Eglise et pour la Papauté, rendra efficace l'esprit de bienveillance, qui n'a jamais pu s'éteindre dans votre cœur, envers cette terre qui est aussi votre patrie, et les sentiments de conciliation que je me suis toujours étudié, avec une persévérance infatigable, à traduire en acte, afin que, tout en satisfaisant aux aspirations nationales, le chef de la Catholicité, entouré du dévouement des populations

Italiennes, conservât sur les rives du Tibre un siége glorieux et indépendant de toute souveraineté humaine.

"Votre Sainteté, en délivrant Rome des troupes étrangères, en l'enlevant au péril continuel d'être le champ de bataille des partis subversifs, aura accompli une œuvre merveilleuse, rendu la paix à l'Eglise, et montré à l'Europe épouvantée par les horreurs de la guerre comment on peut gagner de grandes batailles et remporter des victoires immortelles par un acte de justice et par un seul mot d'affection.

"Je prie votre Sainteté de vouloir bien m'accorder sa bénédiction Apostolique, et je renouvelle à votre Sainteté l'expression des sentiments de mon profond respect.

"Florence, le 8 Septembre, 1870.

"De votre, &c.

(Signé)

"VICTOR EMMANUEL.'"

(Translation.)

WE read in this evening's "Gazette Officielle:"-"The Journal de Rome' of the 12th September, having published a so-called summary of His Majesty the King's letter, delivered by Count Ponza di San Martino to His Holiness Pius IX, we give the exact text of his letter:

"Most Holy Father,

"With the affection of a son, with the faith of a Catholic, with the loyalty of a king, with the feelings of an Italian, I address myself again, as I have done before, to the heart of your Holiness.

"A storm, fraught with danger, threatens Europe. Under cover of the war which is desolating the centre of the Continent, the party of cosmopolitan revolution is increasing in boldness and audacity, and is preparing, especially in Italy and in the provinces under the Government of your Holiness, its final blows at the Monarchy and the Papacy.

"I know, most Holy Father, that the greatness of your soul would never be unequal to the greatness of events; but I, a Catholic and Italian King, and, as such, guardian and surety--by the disposition of Divine Providence and by the will of the nation of the destinies of all Italians, feel it my duty to take on myself, before Europe and the Catholic world, the responsibility of maintaining order in the Peninsula, and the security of the Holy See.

"Besides, most Holy Father, the state of feeling among the populations governed by your Holiness, and the presence among them of foreign troops come from various places with various intentions, constitute a hotbed of agitation and evident dangers for all. Chance, or the effervesence of passion, may lead to acts of violence and to an effusion of blood which it is my duty and yours, most Holy Father, to avoid and prevent.

"I see the inevitable necessity, for the security of Italy and the Holy See, that my troops, already posted to guard the frontier, should advance and take up such positions as may be requisite for the security of your Holiness and the maintenance of order.

"Your Holiness will not, I hope, see any act of hostility in this measure of precaution. My Government and my forces will confine themselves solely to preserving and guarding the rights of the Roman people, and the inviolability of the Sovereign Pontiff and his spiritual authority, with the independence of the Holy See-things quite compatible with one another.

"If your Holiness, as I do not doubt, and as your sacred character and your goodness of heart give me the right to hope, be inspired by a desire equal to my own to avoid all conflict, and to escape the peril of violence, you could arrange with Count Ponza di San Martino, the bearer of this letter, who is furnished with fitting instructions by my Government, the means which appear best fitted to conduce to the desired end.

"Your Holiness will permit me yet to hope that the present moment, as solemn for Italy as for the Church and for the Papacy, will render active that spirit of benevolence which has never been extinguished in your heart, towards that land which is also your country, and the conciliatory sentiments which I have always studied with indefatigable perseverance to carry into action, in order that while satisfying the national aspirations, the Chief of Catholicism, surrounded by the devotion of the Italian peoples, should preserve upon the banks of the Tiber a sect glorious and independent of all human sovereignty.

"Your Holiness, in freeing Rome from foreign troops, in removing the constant peril of its becoming a battle-field for revolutionary parties, will have accomplished a marvellous work, given peace to the Church, and shown to Europe, horrified by the terrors

of war, how it is possible to gain great battles and to win immortal victories by an act of justice and by one single word of affection.

"I beg your Holiness to bestow upon me the Apostolic benediction, and I renew to your Holiness the expression of my profound respect.

"Your, &c.

My Lord,

Sir A. Paget to Earl Granville.-(Received September 26.)

Florence, September 22, 1870. ALL efforts at a pacific arrangement with the Commander of the Papal troops having failed, orders were sent to General Cadorna on the 19th instant to take possession of Rome by force; and accordingly, at 5 o'clock on the morning of the 20th instant, a cannonade was opened, two breaches were effected at about half-past 8, and at 10 o'clock the Italian troops entered the city between the Porta Pia and Porta Salara. The white flag was then hoisted by command of the Pope, hostilities ceased, and a capitulation was signed between General Kanzler, Commander of the Papal troops, and General Cadorna. There was no fighting in the streets. According to the terms of the capitulation, the Papal forces had to lay down their arms. They are, or will be sent to Civita Vecchia; the natives to form a depôt without arms, the foreigners having no means to defray their expenses will be sent back to their own countries.

On the special demand of the Pope, transmitted through General Kanzler, General Cadorna has furnished two battalions for the purpose of maintaining order in the Leonine city. Castel St. Angelo was occupied for strategical reasons after the assault. The loss on the Italian side amounts to somewhat over 100 in killed and wounded. A proof that the Pope ordered the defence, and that it was not, as erroneously asserted, the military element which was master of the situation and imposed its will on His Holiness, is, that as stated above, it was on the Pope's order that the firing ceased from the town, and that the garrison surrendered.

General Cadorna reports, in a letter to the Minister of War dated the 20th instant, "All the members of the Corps Diplomatique came to me to inquire and suggest conditions of capitulation. I received and treated them with courtesy, and gave them conciliatory answers. I convinced them of the obligation I was under of treating only with the Commandant of the troops, who sent me a flag of truce."

I am informed that since the entry of the troops, some of the foreign Representatives in Rome have expressed to the Italian General their satisfaction at the conduct and bearing of the soldiers, as well as with the measures which have been taken for the preservation of order. The reception of the Italian army is described as having been enthusiastic.

The occupation was scarcely effected, when the party of action, Mazzinists, &c., commenced their usual operations. They were speedily put down, and several arrests were made; but many more will still have to be made before the cause of order will be secured.

A plebiscite is to take place in the Roman provinces on the 2nd of October; whether it can take place on the same day in Rome itself must depend upon the condition of the city at that time.

There is a question of sending General de la Marmora there, if he will accept the mission, with political and military powers. The great object of the Government now is to re-assure the Pope and Europe as to their intentions; and General La Marmora's appointment is the best guarantee which could be given in this respect.

The news of the entry into Rome has been received throughout Italy with the utmost enthusiasm. In every town the streets have been hung with flags, there have been processions, bands of music, shoutings, illuminations, and, not the least remarkable of these demonstrations considering their occasion, the bells of all the cathedrals and churches have been ringing out merry peals in honour of the death-blow inflicted upon the temporal power of the Holy Father.

The cry now is to transfer the capital to Rome at once; and the 15th of October is spoken of by the press as the day when the Chamber is to meet to vote upon this subject. I doubt, however, if any decision in this sense has been taken by the Government.

Many things have to be arranged before the Chamber can be consulted on this subject; and amongst them communications with the Catholic Powers would appear to be a necessary preliminary step.

To judge by the general tone of public opinion, one might suppose that with the acquisition of Rome all the difficulties of the Roman question had been solved; but there is room for very grave doubts on this subject, and those who reflect cannot but foresee that the establishment in one and the same city, of a constitutional and excommunicated King by the side of an infallible Pope; of a Representative Parliament by the side of an absolute authority; of a liberty of the press and freedom of discussion by the side of the Inquisition,-without mentioning other anomalies, is giving a legal sanction to a state of things which can hardly be expected to work harmoniously, or, indeed, without creating very serious embarrassment, confusion, and misunderstandings. What has been gained by the occupation of Rome by Italy is, that the temporal power has at last and for ever come to an end; and upon this result not only Italy, but the world in general, including the Pope himself, may well be congratulated. But having attained this result, I believe that there are many serious men-in fact, at one time there was certainly the majority of the Moderate party in this country-who would be in favour of pausing here, of maintaining the capital of Italy where it now is, and leaving Rome as the exclusive residence of the Pope.

I am bound, however, to add my belief that when it comes to a vote in the Chamber, there will be very few who will venture to go counter to what is the general feeling of the masses on this subject. But in any case, supposing the transfer of the capital were to be voted to-morrow, I do not see how it will be practically possible to carry it into effect for some little time to come.

My Lord,

Mr. Jervoise to Earl Granville.-(Received September 27.)

Rome, September 11, 1870. I HAVE the honour to state that I have reason to believe that the bases proposed by the King of Italy to the Pope for establishing a modus vivendi are nearly as follows:1. His Holiness is to occupy the Leonine city as an independent Sovereign, and I believe there is some idea that he should retain a strip of territory on the right bank of the Tiber, as far as Ostia, where the Italian Government would engage to construct him a port.

2. The Guardia Nobile, the Swiss Guard, and some native soldiers, in all about 500, would be retained as the body guard of His Holiness.

3. All foreign troops to be immediately dismissed.

4. An annual income of 10,000,000 francs (equal to 400,000l.) to be guaranteed to His Holiness by the European Powers: further voluntary contributions need not be affected by this arrangement.

5. The salaries and appointments of the Sacred College to be paid by the Italian Government.

6. The property of the Religious Orders to be sold within two years on a valuation agreed upon between Papal and Italian Commissioners, and the proceeds to be handed over to those Orders.

Such of the Religious Orders as may decide to remain in Rome will have to establish themselves in the Leonine city within the same period.

7. The property of the churches in Rome to be guaranteed to them in perpetuity, and to be exempted from all taxation.

8. One year to be allowed to the laity to declare themselves subjects of the King of Italy, or to fix their abode within the precincts of the Leonine city.

9. Regard to be had for the interests of natives in the employ of the present Papal Government.

With respect to this outline of what I believe to have been laid before the Pope, I have respectfully to remark that I am not aware that the Governments of Europe have been consulted thereon, or have signified their approbation of these proposals, as seems to be implied in Article 4.

Should any of the Religious Orders elect to reside in the Leonine city, that portion of

Rome must necessarily be extended beyond its present limits to admit the building of the requisite establishments.

The sale of the monastic lands will tend to encourage a better system of cultivation and to increase the value of landed property.

The reservation to the churches of their property in Rome is very important, some of them possessing many houses. For instance, the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi holds between 300 and 400 houses; the management of this property is in the hands of a Committee, who have an office under the roof of the French Embassy, and their arrangements must have the sanction of the French Ambassador.

September 13.-Speaking on the matter with Cardinal Antonelli, he admitted that Count Ponza di San Martino had placed in his hands a document embodying arrangements for securing the spiritual and personal independence of the Pope, the sum to be allotted for the Civil List, the arrangements for the maintenance of the Sacred College, and the inviolability of church property.

Instead of 10,000,000 francs, however, for the Civil List, as I have heard in other quarters, Cardinal Antonelli tells me that the scheme laid before him had proposed only to continue what was at present derived from provinces actually remaining under the Papal rule, amounting to 600,000 pauls (equal to 120,000l.). The calls upon the Pope's privy purse, however, are very large, and include the salaries of the Sacred College, the Ecclesiastical Congregations, the Propaganda, the Ministers, the Diplomatic Body, the maintenance of the Pontifical Guards, expenses connected with the Church Ceremonies, the maintenance of the Apostolical palaces, museums, libraries, pensions, &c. To each and every proposition his Eminence had refused to listen.

I have, &c.

(Signed) H. CLARKE JERVOISE.

No. 37.

(Extract.)

Mr. Jervoise to to Earl Granville.-(Received September 27.)

Rome, September 15, 1870. I HAVE the honour to inclose herewith for your Lordship's information a translation of the following documents :-The "Giornale di Roma" of the 12th instant, containing an article, communicating to the public the object and result of the mission of Count Ponza di San Martino to Rome; a Proclamation issued by the Minister for War declaring Rome in a state of siege; a Notice, published on the following day, announcing the establishment of martial law; and an extract from the "Osservatore Romano" of the 13th instant, publishing General Cadorna's Proclamation to the Romans.

A Triduum was ordered at St. Peter's, to invoke "the intercession of the Blessed Virgin for the protection of the Church from oppression, and for the deliverance of Christ's Vicar on earth from sacrilegious attack."

I attended two of these services for the purpose of seeing for myself how this appeal to the prayers of the people was answered, and I was greatly impressed by what I saw. Having witnessed the ceremonies at Easter, when the church is chiefly thronged with a crowd of sightseers, the Procession of the "Corpus Domini" attended by all the peasantry within reach of Rome, the Great Feast of the Apostles, St. Peter and St. Paul, and the crowds that attended the Public Sessions of the Ecumenical Council, I was indeed surprised by the sight of the multitude I found flocking over the Bridge of St. Angelo in carriages and cabs as well as on foot,-Roman Princes, middle class and artizans (all with their families), ecclesiastics and students. The Pope attended each day without ostentation; and I could not but be struck by the devotion of the people there assembled, as their voices with one accord echoed through the building the responses in the Litany of the Saints, "Ora pro nobis." nobis." There is, it seemed to me, a large mass of the people really loyal to their Government. In leaving the church the venerable Pontiff could scarcely make his way through the crowds who rushed forward to embrace his hand.

There is a very general feeling of regret at the resolve to fight; such a struggle can have no doubtful result and must entail an unnecessary loss of life. I hear a rumour that when a few shots have been fired a Deputation from the Municipality shall wait on His Holiness and petition him to stop hostile proceedings on the part of his own Generals. Such a step would well become his sacred office; and his protests against