18 FEBRUARY 1871, Page 22

Contemporary Annals of Rome. (Richardson.)—This is the first volume of

a promised series. It consists of two parts, " The Centenary of St. Peter" and "The Montana Campaign," that is to say, a great "function'' and a glorious secular triumph. We are anxious to see a second volume, and may be allowed to suggest as subjects " The (Ecumenical Council " and "The Fall of the Temporal Power." This would be very interest- ing; meanwhile, what we have got is worth reading, though the author loses his temper about the Mentana affair, and talks about Garibaldi "sunning away, as usual, when he found the tide against him." A per- fectly natural unconstrained description of Roman affairs, not meant for Protestant eyes, does indeed repay study. One learns something, for instance, from the simplicity with which, having for the present no need to talk about liberty of conscience and toleration, he records the atrocious crime committed by Cardinal d'Andrea in publishing a pam- phlet in his own defence. Quite apart from controversy, however, there are some interesting descriptions of ceremonies, &c.