4 JANUARY 1873, Page 9

Of course, after this the reception of New Year's Day

was not a cheerful one. The Pope declared he saw a great analogy be- tween the present state of Europe, and the condition of Pentapolis when it was feasting just before its reduction to ashes; but he prayed that the angel might not this time come in the form of a destroyer, but in that of one who would convert all hearts. After all, it is a kind, if not a very wise old man, and there is something nay' even in his angry Latin, if the good Germans - could only see it and smile, instead of cutting up so very rough about it.