17th instant, instructing me to continue to take such steps as I properly can to induce the Italian authorities to respect the property of British subjects in case any measure of confiscation is carried out; and I beg to say, that I have this morning mentioned the subject to General La Marmora. Having been requested by Her Majesty's Minister at Florence to procure for him an account of the Religious establishments belonging to British subjects in Rome, with the property attached to them, I have called on Dr. Kirby, the Rector of the Irish College, and after consultation with him I have addressed to him the letter of which I have the honour to inclose a copy. In my interview with Dr. Kirby I again repeated the opinion I had on previous occasions expressed, that all who have interests to be protected should act in union, and be prepared with proof of the grounds on which their claims are made, in case such proof should be called for. I understand from Count Trauttmansdorff that he has already been collecting information respecting the Austrian Ecclesiastical Establishments in Rome, and M. Lefebre de Behaine is similarly occupied, he tells me, in the interests of those belonging to France. Inclosure in No. 73. Mr. Jervoise to the Rev. Dr. Kirby. Sir, Palazzo Chigi, Rome, October 24, 1870. WITH reference to our interview of this morning I write to say that I shall feel obliged if you will assist me in procuring an account of the various ecclesiastical establishments belonging to British subjects in Rome, with the property belonging to them. It is very desirable that I should be furnished, with as little delay as possible, with this information, and I would suggest whether it might not be advisable that a meeting of the principals of all such establishments should be called by you in order that this request may be communicated to them, and such steps taken as may appear best suited for supplying this information. I am, &c. (Signed) H. CLARKE JERVOISE. P.S.-May I request the favour of duplicate copies of any such memoranda as you may be pleased to forward to me? No. 74. H. C. J. (Extract.) Mr. Jervoise to Earl Granville.-(Received October 31.) Rome, October 26, 1870. THE Queen's messenger Captain Conway Seymour, who arrived on the evening of the 22nd instant, brought in the bag a despatch from the Admiralty addressed to Captain Salmon; in consequence of the instructions contained therein I believe it is that officer's intention to take the "Defence" to Naples to-morrow, where he will wait further orders. In the course of an interview yesterday with Cardinal Antonelli I explained to him that it was very undesirable that the "Defence" should remain longer than necessary at her present anchorage, which was very exposed, as her size prevented her entering the harbour at Civita Vecchia, and besides, she had been so long stationed there that she would soon run short of provisions. I added that I was informed that should her presence be again required at Civita Vecchia she would come up from Naples in eighteen hours, and that if she were recalled to Malta, forty-eight hours was all the time that would be necessary for the longer voyage. Cardinal Antonelli thanked me very warmly for my communication, and seemed quite satisfied therewith, saying that he entirely appreciated the impossibility of Her Majesty's ship passing the winter at her present quarters, and that the necessity of her leaving them had already presented itself to his mind. Later in the day I saw General La Marmora, who told me that the keys of the apartments in the Quirinal, which are locked, and which keys are in Cardinal Antonelli's custody, had been applied for and refused, M. Sella wishing to inspect the Palace with a view to judging of its capabilities as a Royal residence. Meanwhile, I believe that the Papal Secretary of State's Office, which was established in the Quirinal, still remains there. My Lord, No. 75. Sir A. Paget to Earl Granville.-(Received October 31.) Florence, October 25, 1870. I HAVE had the honour to receive your Lordship's despatch of the 17th instant, inclosing a copy of a letter from the Rev. Mr. Crane to Sir George Bowyer, stating his apprehensions lest the property of the College in Rome, of which he has the care, should be seized by the Italian Government. I have every reason to believe that Mr. Crane may be perfectly easy in his mind upon this subject. In consequence of a letter which I received not long since from Mr. Jervoise, from which it appeared that certain other British ecclesiastics at the head of Religious establishments having property in Rome entertained fears similar to those of Mr. Crane, I took an opportunity of speaking to M. Visconti Venosta on the subject, when I received from his Excellency the most emphatic assurance that all property belonging to British subjects would be respected by the Italian Government. However, after the receipt of the copy of Mr. Crane's letter, I again mentioned the matter to his Excellency, reading to him part of the letter, and his Excellency renewed his previous declaration. M. Visconti Venosta having expressed to me a desire on the part of the Government to be furnished with a list of the Religious establishments in Rome belonging to British subjects, with an account of the property attached to them, I have made this wish known to Mr. Jervoise, and requested him, if he has the means of doing so, to enable me to provide the Italian Government with the information they desire. I HAVE the honour to inclose herewith a translation taken from the "Indépendance Italienne" of the Pope's Encyclical,* adjourning, sine die, the reassembling of the Ecumenical Council, his Holiness being without sufficient "liberty," "security" "and the necessary tranquillity" to attend regularly to the affairs of the Church, in consequence of the "sacriligeous invasion, against every law, and with an incredible audacity and perfidy,' of the august city of Rome; and in consequence also of the great calamities in Europe not admitting of the absence of the Bishops from their dioceses. This encyclical, by the Pope's order, is affixed to the doors of the Church of Lateran, of the Basilique of the Prince of the Apostles, and of Santa Maria Maggiore of Rome, a fact which of itself is calculated to create doubt in the minds of some persons as to the extent to which his Holiness' complaint of his want of liberty and security is well founded. No. 77. Sir A. Paget to Earl Granville.-(Received October 31.) (Extract.) Florence, October 26, 1870 THE question of the Pope's territorial immunities continues to be much debated, and it is evidently one which will give the Government a great deal of trouble to bring to a satisfactory solution. It becomes more and more apparent that the territorial immunities will be confined to the Pope's actual residence, and perhaps to such Religious establishments as may be immediately connected with his Court. As regards the personal position of the Pope, he will be treated in all respects like the Sovereign of Italy. A Decree, dated the 19th instant, introducing the Italian laws on the press into the Roman States, of which I have the honour to inclose copy and translation from the "Official Gazette," assimilates all attacks against the person of the Pope with those directed against the King, and places the Diplomatic Body accredited to the Pope, as regards delinquencies of the press, on the same footing as foreign Repre sentatives accredited to the King of Italy. *Inclosure in No. 72. Exceptional legislation is introduced by Article VI of this Decree against attacks on the religion of his State, and, by Article X, the introduction and sale in Rome is prohibited of journals and other periodicals containing matter in contravention of Articles IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII, although the circulation of such journals and periodicals is permitted in Italy. These special clauses, intended for conciliation, will no doubt be fiercely contested in the Chambers. I may take this opportunity of mentioning that, with the further view of inspiring confidence in the loyalty of their intentions in matters concerning the Pope, I believe, that the Government will deal with a very light hand with the convents, monasteries, and other Religious establishments in Rome, leaving them as far as possible in undisturbed possession of their tenements and property. Of course, if in the progress of the improvements which will have to be effected in the city to fit it for a modern capital, it should be necessary to expropriate some of these establishments, this will be done, but in such case a fair valuation will be made and a fair compensation will be given. Inclosure in No. 77. Royal Decree. (Translation.) VICTOR EMMANUEL II, by the Grace of God, &c. In view of the 82nd Article of the statutes, on the proposal of our Keeper of the Seals and of our Minister of Grace and Justice and Public Worship; Having heard the opinion of the Council of Ministers, we decree the following:Art. 1. The Royal Decree of 26th March, 1848, and the laws of 26th February, 1852, and of 20th June, 1858, at present in force respecting the Press in the provinces of the Kingdom of Italy, are to be published, and are to come into force in Rome and in the Roman Provinces. Art. 2. Till such time as the law of 20th September, 1862, respecting crimes and penalties shall come into force in Rome and in the Roman Provinces, whenever mention is made in the above mentioned decree of the Articles of the Penal Code, the analogous disposition of the aforesaid law will be made use of, as is explained in the subjoined statement. Art. 3. Until a new system of conducting press prosecutions by means of juries shall be put into force, persons guilts of press offences shall be tried only by the criminal courts according to the ordinary mode of procedure. Art. 4. Article 14 of the above-mentioned Royal Decree will be extended to the crime of inciting persons to commit an attempt on the life of the Supreme Pontiff. Art. 5. Article 15 of the same Decree is extended to the employment of any of the means mentioned in Article 1 for attacking the inviolability of the person of the Supreme Pontiff. Art. 6. Article 16 of the said Decree is modified in following way :-" Whosoever by any of the means indicated in Article 1 shall outrage the religion of the State, or shall incite others to despise, shall be punished, according to circumstances, with imprisonment for not more than a year, or with a fine of not more than 2,000 francs. Art. 7. Article 19 shall be applied to offences against the person of the Supreme Pontiff. Art. 8. Article 26 is extended to the Envoys of foreign Powers near the Holy See for ecclesiastical matters. Art. 9. Persons publishing calumnies and libels, such as are treated in Article 28, by means of foreign newspapers, shall incur the penalties mentioned in the said Article. Persons distributing or selling native or foreign papers containing any such libels and imputations on character, shall be punished, should it appear necessary, as accomplices in the crimes mentioned in Article 28. Art. 10. The introduction, sale, and distribution in Rome of newspapers or other printed matter published in the Italian provinces or abroad, and which contain infractions of Articles 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the present Decree, are forbidden. Sellers and distributors of the same shall be punished as well as the authors. Art. 12. The present Decree is to come into force on the 1st of November proximo. collection of the laws of Decrees of the Kingdom of Italy, and we command all whom it may concern to respect the same and to cause it to be respected. Given at Turin, the 19th October, 1870. (Signed) (Signed) M. RAELI. No. 78. VICTOR EMMANUEL, My Lord, Sir A. Paget to Earl Granville.—(Received November 4.) Florence, October 31, 1870. WITH reference to a paragraph in my despatch of the 24th of September last, stating that the French Government had communicated to the Italian Government their approval of the entry of the Italian troops into Rome, I have the honour to inclose copy of the letter dated September 22nd, and published this day, in which M. Senard, the Special Envoy of the Provisional Government of France, addressed to His Majesty the King the congratulations of his Government at the auspicious event, and expressed his admiration at the moderation and energy which his Majesty had shown in carrying it out. I have further the honour to inclose M. Visconti Venosta's reply, thanking M. Senard in his Majesty's name for this letter, and taking act of the declaration contained in it. I have, &c. Inclosure 1 in No. 78. M. Senard to His Majesty the King of Italy. Sire, Florence, le 22 Septembre, 1870. JE n'ai pas voulu porter un visage, malgré moi, toujours triste et anxieux, au milieu des joies si vives et si légitimes qui saluent la délivrance de Rome, et la consécration définitive de l'unité Italienne. Mais je ne veux pas différer d'un instant à adresser à votre Majesté, au nom de mon Gouvernement et en mon nom personnel, mes félicitations sincères pour cet heureux événement, et l'expression de mon admiration pour la modération et l'énergie qui ont présidé à sa réalisation. Le jour où la République Française a remplacé par la droiture et la loyauté une politique tortueuse qui ne savait jamais donner sans retenir, la Convention du 15 Septembre a virtuellement cessé d'exister, et nous avons à remercier votre Majesté d'avoir bien voulu comprendre et apprécier la pensée qui a seule empêché la dénonciation officielle d'un Traité qui, de part et d'autre, était mis à néant. Libre ainsi de son action, votre Majesté l'a exercée avec une merveilleuse sagesse. C'était bien peu pour le Roi d'Italie, disposant de toutes les forces d'une grande nation, de briser les vieilles murailles de Rome et d'avoir raison de la résistance de la faible armée Pontificale. Mais ce qui est vraiment beau, vraiment grand, c'est d'avoir su, dans cette question délicate, allier si parfaitement avec les nécessités politiques tous les respects et tous es ménagements dus aux sentiments religieux. Votre Majesté en cette circonstance a fait un appel à la conciliation, dans des termes si nobles et si dignes qu'il doit être, et qu'il sera je l'espère, entendu. Pour moi, malgré les circonstances douloureuses qui m'ont amené ici, j'éprouve du bonheur à me trouver sur une terre où, comme dans ma chère France, on sent si bien battre le cœur du pays, où les résolutions politiques elles-mêmes sont toujours empreintes de générosité et de grandeur. (Translation.) Permettez-moi, &c. SENARD. Florence, September 22, 1870. Sire, I DID not wish to show my face, which, in spite of myself, is sad and anxious, amid such keen and legitimate rejoicings as welcome the deliverance of Rome and the final consecration of Italian unity. But I will put off for an instant addressing to your Majesty, in the name of my Government and of myself, my sincere congratulations on this happy event, and the expression of my admiration for the moderation and energy which have presided at its accomplishment. The day on which the French Republic substituted uprightness and loyalty for a tortuous policy which could never give without holding back, the Convention of the 15th of September virtually ceased to exist; and we have to thank your Majesty for having been pleased to understand and appreciate the thought which alone has hindered the official denunciation of a Treaty which was on both sides set at nought. Thus free in your action, your Majesty has exercised it with wonderful wisdom. It was no hard task for the King of Italy, with all the forces of a great nation at his disposal, to break the ancient walls of Rome and to dispose of the resistance of the weak Pontifical army. But what is really noble, really grand, is, in this delicate question, to have so perfectly united political necessities to all the respect and all the consideration due to religious feelings. Your Majesty has made an appeal for reconciliation in such noble and dignified terms that it should be, and that it will be, I hope, heard. As far as I am concerned, in spite of the sad circumstances which have brought me hither, I am fortunate to be in a country where, as in my beloved France, one feels so clearly the beat of the heart of the country, in which political resolutions themselves are always stamped with generosity and with greatness. Inclosure 2 in No. 78. M. Visconti Venosta to M. Senard. Permit me, &c. (Signed) SENARD, M. le Ministre, Florence, le 26 Septembre, 1870. LE Roi a reçu la lettre que vous avez bien voulu lui adresser pour offrir à Sa Majesté au nom de votre Gouvernement et en votre nom personnel, vos félicitations pour la délivrance de Rome et la consécration définitive de l'unité Italienne. Je remplis un devoir bien agréable en vous remerciant, au nom de Sa Majesté et après ses ordres, des sentiments chaleureux qui vous ont inspiré cette démarche. L'approbation d'un homme d'Etat et d'un libéral éprouvé, tel que vous, M. le Ministre, nous est précieuse à plus d'un titre. Elle nous donne la conviction qu'en marchant dans la voie que nous traçaient les aspirations nationales de l'Italie, nous avons servi en même temps la cause générale de la civilisation et du progrès. Ainsi que vous avez bien voulu le déclarer, la Convention de Septembre n'avait plus de raison d'être dans la nouvelle situation de l'Europe. Les hommes qui composent le Gouvernement de la France sont trop connus par leur éclatante revendication des droits des nations, pour qu'aucun doute pût s'élever dans notre esprit à cet égard. Cependant nous avons voulu, pour menager de légitimes susceptibilités, nous assurer d'avance que nos vues étaient partagées par le Gouvernement Français. Nous sommes heureux de voir dans votre lettre la confirmation des déclarations verbales que son Excellence M. Jules Favre, Ministre des Affaires Etrangères, a bien voulu faire au Ministre du Roi à Paris. Il est digne du Gouvernement actuel de la France de s'associer spontanément à une politique qui, en faisant tomber les derniers restes du pouvoir temporel, proclamera, à Rome même, la séparation de l'Eglise et de l'Etat. La France a affirmé la première, en Europe, les principes qui sont la base de toute liberté civile et religieuse. Chaque nation qui parvient à appliquer chez elle ces principes, et à leur donner tout le développement qu'ils comportent, rend par cela même hommage à la France et à la grandeur de sa mission dans le monde. Agréez, &c. (Signé) VISCONTI VENOSTA. (Translation.) M. le Ministre, Florence, September 26, 1870. THE King has received the letter which you were good enough to address to him to offer to His Majesty, in the name of your Government and in your own, your congratulations on the deliverance of Rome, and the final consecration of Italian unity. I fulfil a very pleasant duty in thanking you, in His Majesty's name and by his command, for the warm sentiments which have prompted you to take this step. The approval of a statesman and of a tried liberal, such as you, M. le Ministre, is on more than one account valuable to us. It affords us the conviction that in walking in the path which the national aspirations of Italy marked out for us, we have served at the same time the general cause of civilization and of progress. |