t the will of the Supreme Being, for I dread
no human Power upon earth and fear nothing but God."

"But, Holy Father," I said, "you speak as if some great danger
threatened Rome--is there any [real?] cause for apprehension?"

"Have you not heard," His Holiness answered, "that great excitement
prevails throughout Italy?--the state of Lombardy is deplorable; evil
spirits are at work even in my dominions, and the late speech of
the King of Sardinia is calculated to inflame the minds of all
the revolutionary men of Italy. It is true he says he will observe
existing Treaties, but that will scarcely counter-balance the effect
produced by other portions of his speech. News has also reached me of
an extensive amnesty granted by the King of Naples--he did not yield
to outer pressure, and he was right--but now, on the occasion of the
marriage of his son, an act of clemency on his part is well advised."

"Is it true," I said, "that political prisoners are included in that
Amnesty?"

"Yes," His Holiness answered; "I saw the name of Settembrini, and
I think also of that other man in whom your Government took so much
interest--his name begins with a 'P' if I remember rightly----"

"Poerio," I suggested.

"That is the name," the Pope continued; "and I fancy that all the
other political prisoners will be released; they are to be sent to
Cadiz at the expense of the King, they are to be clothed and receive
some money, I believe, and after that arrangements have been made
with the Minister of the United States to have them conveyed to that
country; they are to be exiled for life. I hope this event may
have the effect of making your Government and that of France renew
diplomatic relations with Naples; I always regretted that rupture, but
the King was right not to yield to outer pressure.

"It is lucky," the Pope ended with a smile, "that Lord Palmerston
is not in office; he was too fond of interfering in the concerns of
foreign countries, and the present crisis would just have suited
him. _Addio, caro_," the Pope then said, and dismissed me with his
blessing.

I then, according to usage, called on Cardinal Antonelli, and
recounted to him what had passed. He confirmed all the Pope had
said, but denied that there was any very serious cause for immediate
apprehension of any general disturbance of the peace of Italy. I have,
etc.,

ODO RUSSELL.

[Footnote 3: Secretary of Legation at Florence, resident in
Rome, afterwards