The Pope has been much disturbed by a judgment of
the Italian Court of Appeal, which appears to take away from the Vatican the power of disposing of the accumulated wealth of the Propaganda as it pleases, and there have been repeated rumours that he has written to the Emperor of Austria suggest- ing Iliat he may be unable to remain in Rome. These rumours, of course, are met with contradiction ; but it is certain that the Pope, in his last allocution, expressed himself with new em- phasis on the difficulties of his relations with the Government of Italy, and the allocution as it is published, which is emphatic enough, is said to be much less emphatic than the allocution as it was spoken. We do not doubt that the Pope is embar- rassed by the interference of the Italian Government with his policy, nor do we doubt that this embarrassment will grow. But to take refuge in either Austria or Malta—the places talked of —would be hardly possible. And as for buying Monaco, a third suggestion, the Pope at Monaco would be in dangerous proxi- mity to Voltairian France. Why not obtain a concession of Elba, compensating, of course, liberally such of the present pro- prietors as might object ?
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