Nothing of importance has transpired this week as to the
chances of the next election to the Holy See, which is now occupying all men's minds, and only one new name has come to the front, that of Cardinal Agliardi. It seems, however, to be certain that the " Vetoes " claimed by Austria, France, and Spain will not be used, or will be defied; and that the election will be less affected than usual by political considerations.
M. de Bonnefon, indeed, a considerable authority on the subject, quoted by the Times, appears to believe that a recon- ciliation with Italy. is at hand, and that the pursuit of the temporal power may be given up as hopeless. We cannot but regard this as most improbable ; but Wig true that the bitter: ness between the Quirinal and the Vatican has to a great extent disappeared, and that if a compromise were possible it would be temperately considered. The older Cardinals, however, are not prepared to make concessions, and will, as we believe, reject the idea to which M. de Bonnefon refers, of selecting a non-Italian Pope. They would feel that they were giving up too much of the Italian claim to greatness, and that the machinery of the Church might be thrown too much out of gear. A German Cardinal would shock France and a French Cardinal Germany; the only American- Cardinal who could be chosen is suspected of general Liberalism ; and an Austrian Cardinal would arouse too much Italian distrust The next Pope will,
we imagine, be an Italian, a gentleman, and possibly a man devoted to ecclesiastical reform.
