THE PAPACY AND TEMPORAL POWER.
[To rite EDITOR or THE "SPECTATOR."] SU1,—With reference to your weighty leader on the subject of the temporal power of the Pope, it may interest your readers to hear the view taken by the then Lord Clarendon during an interview with Pius IX. in the reign of Victor Emmanuel. Meeting Lord Clarendon at dinner some time after- wards, he told me that he had earnestly urged upon the Pope frankly to relinquish his temporal power, showing him that his spiritual power would thereby be greatly increased. The Pope retorted: " What! Would you have me make terms with my greatest enemy?" (i.e., Victor Emmanuel). To which said Lord Clarendon replied : "Need I preach to the head of the Catholic Church the duty of Christian forgiveness?" What the Pope replied to this home thrust does not appear, but I give the story in proof of Lord Clarendon's foresight, for surely he has been proved to be right—I am, Sir, &c., The Glebe, Penshurst, Tonbridge. L. C. R CAVENDISH.
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