LATE CARDINAL ANTONELLI.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2834, 15 March 1878, Page 2

LATE CARDINAL ANTONELLI.

(To the Editor of tbe S?ening Star.) Sib,—For some time past the public journals (not omitting those at the Thames) were on the alert for intelligence about the Countess Lambertini, the reputed daughter of the late Cardinal Antonelli. " Oh, there was no doubt about it but that the Cardinal was fond of women; he was seen to close himself in on certain days, and was angry if anyser* vant disturbed him; besides, the photos ot the Cardinal and Countess Lamhertini's mother taken side by side are now for sale; and to cap, all the Countess is reported to be very much like the Cardinal —any one could detect the likeness between the father and the Countess." Such, and a Rood deal worse, have been tbe choice tit-bits sedulously circulated with all the appearanoe of truth and. decency, for some time past, and so successful have been the efforts to damage the .character of a man who bat passed into eternity, that I am of opinion many of tbe general public believed, and could not but now believe, that the story was true. What is the upshot t — a few Freemasons and infidels institute a trial to get at some of the late Cardinal's money, and to damage the respect for bis character they pick up this wretched woman of no character, foist her before tbe world as the Cardinal's daughter to be sure; but yet, despite lies, and wickeduess, and malevolence, the nice " Countess " cannot tell where she was born, when she was born, who was her mother, or who baptized her. But mark, she knows who was her father for all that —the Cardinal of course. The best of it is the finishing stroke: that, as her mother is a rich English lady, who fell in love with the Cardinal, the daughter (although she swore she does not know her mother) did not like to make matters too plain on account of the mother. How good the " Countess "is ! Of course it is unnecessary to trespass any further on your space "upon this wretched story of lies and infamy, but as the home papers state that for tbe reasons already given, the "Countess"' claim was set aside, I think it would serve truth and the innocence of a dead man's character if you would insert this letter. How silent the New Zealand papers have yet been in publishing the truth.—l am, Ac, :■ A Catholic. P.S.—I suppose the late Pope Pius IX. will have another boy or a "Countess" soon forthcoming to claim a share of his money. O tempora! O mores! [" A Catholic's " letter will scarcely satisfy unprejudiced readers that there was nothing of truth in thereon, magi referred to; so perhaps our correspondent will furnish some authority for his rather flippant explanation.—Ed.j