THE STATE OF ROME. (From the London Evening Mail.)

North Otago Times, Volume 1, Issue 4, 17 March 1864, Page 6

THE STATE OF ROME. (From the London Evening Mail.)

For some weeks the weather in Rome has been most magnificent — on some days warmer even than an English summer; but a change has now come on, and some of our countrymen rub their hands in early morning, and rejoice in the sharp tingling which they say the cold induces. December and January are not, indeed, agreeable months here, and invalids, as it appears to me, would do well to take Rome later ; but doctors differ, doubtless, on this, as on most other points. Public opinion is decidedly in favor of an entire winter's residence here, md the influx of strangers has of late boeu very great. On one day at the beginning of this month there were 50 or 60 of our countrymen, seeking health or pleasure, crossing Mount Cenis en route to the Eternal City. The consequence is, that a series of such expeditions has filled all the hotels to overflowing, and many of the lodgings, though of the latter many still remain unoccupied. Of large families, who spend well and remain a long time, those most interested in the question say there are fewer this year than usual ; but to an ordinary observer like myself it would seem that, whether they belong to large or small, well or ill spending families, one cannot move two steps without hearing the pure vernacular English. Besides the undying and inexhaustible attractions which Rome possesses in itself, there are the Club, the Meet, and Dr Manning, and minds and tastes there are of sufficient variety to feel the influence of each. The diplomatists, too, have all returned to their posts — Mr Odo Russell only a few days since ; but the solution of our difficulties is, I fear, as distant as ever. The same game as usual is being played out, and the Government, as has been the case for several seasons, is now, at the instigation of the Emperor of the French, affecting to reform its institutions. The tariff on imports is to be regulated; some changes are to be made in the postal regulations, though, unfortunately, not as regards foreign letters ; so that our countrymen will derive little benefit from the new order. Foreign postage is not to be touched, nor are books to be delivered out of the censor's claws ; though this is a minor evil, as the great expense of their transmission really precludes a very extensive enjoyment of the piivilege of their entry. Some serious changes have been announced in the administration of several of the antiquated tribunals, but one and all of the reforms arc generally ridiculed by the Romans, who speak of them as dust thrown in the eyes of the people. In all fairness they should be watched and reported. The Italian Consulate question remains in statu quo, or, rather, becomes worse from day to day. The amount of loss and inconvenience created by this paj^sisjn,, affairs is very great : but CarlJ2^|£&£< nolli will hear of no an-an?j^^sMJ£ will mitigate the evil. '^h^^g£os^M^

was sent here from Turin to act as DeputyConsul has failed altogether, and owes his freedom ffrom arrest to the intervention of the British Consul. It was proposed to permit the co-operation of this authority pro tern., in order to relieve the commercial distress ; but the Cardinal t is deaf to all propositions of the kind. The Pope is in excellent health, and in his usual high spirits. His happy temperament knows no depression, and, as you will have seen from his answer to the Imperial invitation, he looks forward with child-like simplicity to the restoration of his goods and chattels, and to the re -establishment in their several Divinely-appointed districts of all the annointed of the Lord. It is whispered about Rome that there i* an intention < n the part of the Pope to fill up all the vacant bishoprics in Italy. It is one of the many questions which needs inquiry, but if this be done it will be a strong protest on the part of His Holiness against the authority of Victor Emmanuel, and may possibly lead to that result which we must ultimately come — the establishment of an independent Italian Church. The Italian authorities make no move in that direction ; externally they have paid the greatest respects to the rites and institutions of the Church, and I can only account for this extreme moderation on the ground that Rome is doing the work for them better than they could do it themselves. On Monday a consistory will be held to confirm the bishops nominated to the vacant sees in Umbria and the Marches, and it is said they will leave directly, passing by Loreto to pay homage to the Virgin, though it is doubtful whether they will ever be permitted |to take possession. Cardinal Guidi has been appointed delegate of Bologna, but with no very considerable probability, I suppose, of being welcomed and embraced by the Bolognese.