ROME—GIFTS TO THE POPE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume II, Issue 77, 31 July 1869, Page 5

ROME— GIFTS TO THE POPE.

A letter from Eome in the "Pall Mall G-azette " describes the long-ex-pected jubilee :—: — " From morning to night the ways were blocked with long trains of waggons and carriages, bearing to the Pope the gifts of the provinces, and bringing new throngs of visitors. Europe, Asia, Africa, America, and Australasia, even islands inhabited by savages, sent representatives and tribute, and the tide of presents overflowed the Courts of the Vatican and encumbered its saloons. The Pope Avas constantly expressing astonishment at the inundation. Everybody brought something in his hand, and the gold and silver and jewels of the wealthy were gathered 'in with the mites of the poor. The swarm of visitors included the same extremes. A rich Englishman, whose name has not transpired, gave the Holy Father a cap, the acorn on top of which was formed of a diamond of inestimable value, while the cap itself was full of English sovereigns. Our countryman requested the Pope to give Mm in return the cap he then wore, a request with which the Holy Father, after ringing the bell for another, complied. The same day the Pope received from the Franco-Belgian committee a present' of twelve pieces of cannon. All the Eoman princes have made him an offering, and the Holy Father showed Prince Borghese a large chest of gold, which four men could hardly lift. A few days ago he gave audience to a deputation of the order of Teutonic knights, who appeared in the costume of Crusaders, and brought him rich presents from Germany. The Chevalier Morgatto introduced a deputation also from the Catholic youth of Italy, charged with the presentation of a quarter of a million of francs. Among other gifts, I must mention some very fino white woi'sted for cassocks from the Jews of Leghorn, aud an offering of 750 yards of linen from the Jews of Eome. On receivirg the latter present tho Holy Father exclaimed, with a laugh, 'This linen could not come at a better time, for I am in want of shirts ; mine are all worn out.' From ISTormandy aud Brittany the Pope received forty horses for his artillery, and a transport arrived with rifles.