3 SEPTEMBER 1870, Page 3

It is said that the English ironclad Defence has recently

anchored at Civita Vecchia, and that the captain has taken important de- spatches to the Vatican ; and it is rumoured that the Defence has orders to receive the Pope on board, if he wishes to go, and convey him to Malta. There does not, however, seem to be the slightest panic just at present in Rome, and a flight to Malta iu the middle of a General Council would hardly be thought of, except under very urgent necessity indeed.