Some scandal has been given at Rome by the conduct
of an English peer, which seems, however, to have been rather impru- dent than scandalous. The Earl of Gainsborough and his son went there on deputation to the Pope, and while there Rome was decorated to demonstrate against the Pope. A fervent Ultratuontano, Mr. Noel objected to put the Italian flag out of the window of his. room in the hotel, and it was removed, but subsequently replaced,. either atthe demand of the crowd, as some accounts say, or to affront guests of marked Papalino proclivities. Mr. Noel at this lost his temper, and either " removed " or " tore down" the Italian flag,. shouting " Viva it Papa-R61" The Earl, who was absent, on his. return supported his son, and with regular English pluck and in- difference to popular feeling insisted, on driving away from the hotel through the crowd, which, by aid of the Qucestor's guard, ho- did safely. Too much has been made of the whole matter, for- though Mr. Noel should have left the flag alone, it clearly not being his business to settle the ownership of a foreign city, he appears to have affronted the people mainly under an impression.. that he and his creed were made special objects of insult. If he had done it on the Protestant side in a Catholic country, people would rather have admired the vigour of his "confession," as they did Captain Keppel's when, under those very circumstances, he- rescued Mr. Summer at Macao.
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