at the farthest end of the Pontifical Palace.
The people had observed that the Holy Father was traversing the apartment
in order to reach the balcony. It was speedily thrown open, and the
Sovereign Pontiff, in a white robe and scarlet mantle, made his
appearance, surrounded by torches. If your Excellency (M. Guizot, at that
time Minister of the French King, Louis Philippe) will only figure to
yourself a magnificent place, a summer night, the sky of Rome, an immense
people moved with gratitude, weeping for joy and receiving with love and
reverence the benediction of their Pastor and their Prince, you will not
be astonished, if I add that we have shared the general emotion, and have
placed this spectacle above every thing that Rome had as yet offered to
our contemplation. Just as I had foreseen, as soon as the window was
closed the crowd withdrew peacefully and in perfect silence. You would
have called them a people of mutes; they were satisfied."

It is not so difficult to grant an amnesty. It is delightful, even, to men
of the character of Pius IX. to dispense forgiveness. This is particularly
the office and the privilege of the Church. Sterner duties devolve upon
the statesman. And, however reconcileable the two courses of conduct in
public affairs may really be, it is difficult often to reconcile them.

The amnesty, although far from being everything, was, nevertheless, a
beginning, and one of favorable omen. The furrow was opened, to use the
language of M. Rossi, and no doubt the ploughing would proceed. Many
formidable difficulties must, however, be surmounted. On the one hand,
stood the influence of the old feudal Conservative party, which frowned on
the slightest change. On the other, were the Socialists, who aimed at the
destruction of every existing institution--in whose estimation property
even was not sacred, nor life itself. It was necessary, meanwhile, to
improve the condition of the people, and, in doing so, to guard against
anarchy. By wise and well-considered reforms only could the growth and
advance of revolution be discouraged and stayed, whilst a political
system, almost entirely new, came to be firmly established. For this
purpose, it was necessary that there should prevail in the Pontifical
States a sounder state of opinion. This was not the work of a single day.
It was necessary, nevertheless, as the people could not be safely led by
their ever-changing emotions. Based on such quicksands, the governm