13 JULY 1867, Page 3

The imposing collection of prelates and priests at Rome was

-scattered somewhat rapidly. The cholera broke out, and the railways could hardly carry the flying clergy. It is said that the tone of the vast assembly has greatly strengthened the Pope's resolve to call a General Council, and fourteen questions have been already prepared to be laid before them. The proposal to declare the Pope infallible has encountered, however, an unexpected -difficulty. The Italian priests, prelates, and cardinals alike oppose it, and denounce its foreign supporters as fanatics, more Ultramontane than Rome. Italians cannot help being realists, and they see the Pope too closely to believe that any divine afflatus can reside in him, except in his official capacity as mouth- piece of the Church. Pius himself is not exempt from this realistic tendency. The Times' correspondent vouches for this .story :—" A coloured priest, unacquainted with Italian, knelt before him, and endeavoured to express himself in Latin, though unsuccessfully. His Holiness then gave him his benediction, adding, sotto voce, mio, come sei brutto!'—' My son, how ugly thou art I ' "