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Correspondence respecting the Affairs of Rome: 1870-71.

My Lord,

No. 1.

Sir A. Paget to Earl Granville.-(Received July 22.)

Florence, July 19, 1870. BEFORE leaving Signor Visconti Venosta yesterday, I made an inquiry as to whether the Italian Government had heard anything from the French Government relative to the withdrawal of the French troops from the points they occupy on the Roman territory.

His Excellency's reply was, that he had heard nothing official on this subject, and that, if the French troops were withdrawn now, he should regard it simply as the fulfilment by France of the terms of the September Convention, and not as an act entailing any corresponding compensation to be given to her by Italy.

No. 2.

I have, &c.

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My Lord,

Lord Lyons to Earl Granville.—(Received August 4.)

Paris, August 3, 1870.

HAVE the honour to inform your Lordship that the Duc de Gramont told me this afternoon that perfectly satisfactory assurances concerning the maintenance of the September Convention had been received from the Italian Government, and that consequently the French troops would be withdrawn at once from the Papal States.

I have, &c. (Signed) LYONS.

No. 3.

Mr. Jervoise to Earl Granville.-(Received August 6.)

(Extract.) Rome, July 29, 1870. THE reports in connection with the removal of the French garrison from Civita Vecchia, which I had the honour to notify to your Lordship by telegram last night, were so contradictory that I deemed it my duty to avail myself this morning of the introduction with which I had been furnished to Cardinal Antonelli by Mr. Odo Russell, in order that I might have it in my power to furnish Her Majesty's Government with reliable information, so far as it could be obtained, with regard to this unexpected resolve on the part of the Emperor of the French.

Cardinal Antonelli received me very graciously, and when I had explained to him the object of my visit, was pleased to say that it would give him much satisfaction to state to me what had occurred, the details of which were very concise.

His Eminence proceeded to inform me that on Wednesday last, the 27th instant, the Marquis de Banneville had formally notified to him the intention of the Emperor of the French to recall his troops who were now garrisoned in the Papal States, as their services were indispensable at home; but that previously to taking this step, guarantees had been required from and given by Italy that the Pope's dominions should be protected from revolutionary attempts from without.

In reply to a further inquiry I put to him, Cardinal Antonelli stated that he was not aware that any date was fixed for the embarkation of the troops, but that he understood it was to take place immediately, and that no portion of the French army of occupation would be left in the Papal dominions. His Eminence further told me that General Dumont, the French Commander-in-chief, had written to request an audience of the Pope, in order to take his leave of his Holiness; and he added that 300 artillerymen had left Civita Vecchia yesterday for Marseilles.

(Extract.)

No. 4.

Mr. Jervoise to Earl Granville.-(Received August 6.)

Rome, July 30, 1870. THE recall of the French troops necessitates that the Papal army shall at once garrison Civita Vecchia, Viterbo, and other points which were occupied by the Emperor's soldiers, and I understand that the War Office is greatly embarrassed by this sudden call on their resources.

The army is far below its proper standard, and especially deficient in artillerymen. On paper, I believe, it is estimated to number about 16,000 men, but in no branch of the service is the full strength maintained.

The recruiting for the Zouaves has been extremely slack of late, and they are said now to be fully 2,000 short of their nominal number of 5,000. The breaking up of the Antibes Legion and the hopelessness of getting more recruits at present from France and Germany, or indeed from either Holland or Belgium, leaves little or no prospect of any accession to the existing forces, though a hope is indulged in that the faithful in England, Ireland, and Scotland will rally round the Holy Father in his hour of need. In short the Papal army is not supposed to muster more than 11,000 men.

No. 5.

(Extract.)

Sir A. Paget to Earl Granville.-(Received August 6.)

Florence, July 31, 1870. M. VISCONTI VENOSTA informed me, and I had the honour to report to your ONTI Lordship by telegraph on the 28th instant, that the French Minister had stated to his Excellency the day before, that his Government considered the moment had now arrived for re-establishing the Convention of September 1864 in its full vigour, and had consequently determined to withdraw the French troops from the points they occupy on the Roman territory.

His Excellency added that this communication had not yet been made to him in a formal shape, but that he presumed that it would be so made in the course of a few days.

No. 6.

Sir A. Paget to Earl Granville(Received August 6.)

(Extract.) Florence, August 3, 1870. WITH the exception of the Democratic and Revolutionary Party, few persons, I believe, now care to have Rome as the capital. On the contrary, they would desire that Rome, or part of it, the Leonine City for instance, should still continue to be the residence of the Holy Father; that he should be surrounded by every guarantee for the independent exercise of his spiritual authority, and should have a civil list assured to him, largely sufficient for maintaining his lofty position on a proper scale of splendour.

But the temporal power should cease: so long as it lasts and the Pope remains in possession of his temporal dominions, it is a continual menace to the independence of Italy; constantly exposing her to misunderstandings and embarrassments with her powerful neighbour north of the Alps; effectually checking the consolidation of her unity, and impeding her in the path of progress. The temporal Government is based upon principles directly opposed to those of every other Government in Europe, and to modern civilization. The Court of Rome is the focus from whence proceed, and are kept

up, conspiracies and intrigues by the reactionary party against the Italian Monarchy. The Pontifical States are a barrier which prevents free communication between the north and south of Italy. The inconvenience of such a state of things is of a practical and serious nature, and affects not only the interests of the Government, but those of individuals inhabiting both the Kingdom of Italy and the Pontificial States themselves.

Consequently, it must be brought to an end, and it can only be so by depriving the Pope of his temporal power; and while, as before said, surrounding him with every guarantee for the maintenance of his spiritual position, admitting his subjects to the rights, duties, and privileges of Italian citizens; or, to speak more plainly, annexing his possessions, with the exception of the city of Rome itself, or of the Leonine city, to the Kingdom of Italy.

This is, as your Lordship will probably be aware, no new idea; it is, on the contrary, an eventual solution which has, I believe, for a long time occupied the thoughts of serious and thinking men in Italy.

My Lord,

No. 7.

Mr. Jervoise to Earl Granv lle.-(Received August 20.)

Rome, August 16, 1870. I HAVE the honour to report that there have been several arrests in the city of suspected persons, notices to quit, and domiciliary visits on the part of the police. From fear of a demonstration, the performances of the military band on the Piazza Colonna, which took place twice a week in the evening, have been discontinued by an order issued in the course of last Thursday afternoon, very shortly before the customary hour for their commencement; indeed, the programme appeared in the evening paper.

Two sentries were fired at in the night while on duty about a week since, and early in the morning of the 6th an individual in the disguise of a priest, who was seen prowling about the Fort of San Angelo, was fired at by the sentry and wounded. It turned out that he was a noted agent of the Mazzinian party, for whom the police were on the look-out.

Shortly after mid-day on the 12th instant a Dutchman, who had come out to enlist in the Regiment of Zouaves, locked himself in a room of their Club, which overlooks the Campo di Fiori, from the window of which he fired several shots at the passengers below. Eleven persons were wounded and two were killed before his companions succeeded in breaking open the door and securing the wretched man, who had possessed himself of their arms, and imagined himself engaged with Garibaldians. Naturally, great alarm was caused in the neighbourhood, and all the shops were hurriedly closed; but in a couple of hours the excitement calmed down, and no demonstration has been made against the Zouaves, who, as a mercenary corps, are extremely unpopular.

It is said that there are a great many desertions from the troops stationed on the frontiers among the Germans and French, who wish to fight under their own flags.

Some anxiety is felt as to the rumours of a concentration of Austrian troops in the neighbourhood of Trent, which were denied in the Italian Chambers, but are still believed here to have some foundation; and I am assured that the Italian Government are already withdrawing some of the troops forming the cordon round the northern frontier of these States. Two gentlemen who arrived in Rome this morning state that the lines between Bologna and Foligno were encumbered with trains taking soldiers to the north.

If the frontier be inefficiently guarded, a way will be opened for agitators to cross; but I do not believe that disturbances will be fomented from within. Disaffection to constituted authority in some degree exists in most countries, but the rural population here are quite aware that a change of Government means for them an immense increase of taxation and conscription. The middle and upper classes may desire openings for placing their sons in the professions of the army, the navy, the law, &c.; but were Rome to become the capital of Italy it would lose so many of its present characteristics that it would cease to be attractive to foreigners, and the loss of the supplies which these bring with them would be severely felt by both classes. It is the machinations from without of which the Government are afraid: their own people they believe they can control; and it is remarkable to hear how confidently support is expected to come to the Papacy from the Protestant Powers, whose Catholic populations are supposed to be sufficiently powerful to exact for it from their Governments more or less active protection against its enemies.

Of the French troops, there are left at Civita Vecchia only a few soldiers belonging

to the Train and Administration, and 200 horses, who will probably be embarked to-day. The French despatch-boat "Daim," of two guns, has replaced the "Phénix " station.

on the

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My Lords,

No. 8.

Earl Granville to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty.

Foreign Office, August 20, 1870. I HAVE the honour to state to your Lordships that, to provide for the possibility of the withdrawal of the French troops from Rome being followed by disturbances which might endanger the safety of British lives and property, and which might even induce the Pope to desire an asylum out of Italy, Her Majesty's Government are of opinion that one of Her Majesty's ships of war should be directed to proceed without delay to Civita Vecchia, and that instructions to the following effect should be given to her Commander, viz. :

That during his stay at Civita Vecchia he should, in case of need, give all possible protection to British subjects and British property;

That on arriving at Civita Vecchia he should place himself in communication with Mr. H. C. Jervoise, of this office, who is acting for the present in the room of Mr. Odo Russell, and be guided by any information that gentleman may convey to him as the wish of the Pope to be received on board the ship that he commands;

That if the Pope should express a wish to that effect, His Holiness should be received on board Her Majesty's ship and entertained with all possible respect; and that the Captain should then await off Civita Vecchia further instructions as to the place to which His Holiness is to be conveyed after Mr. Jervoise shall have ascertained his wishes, and referred them for direction to Her Majesty's Government.

I am to add that a messenger will be dispatched from this office to Rome on Monday evening next, by whom your Lordships' instructions can be conveyed to the Captain through Mr. Jervoise; and in the meanwhile any telegram which you may wish to send to await the arrival of the vessel, can be sent from this office to Mr. Jervoise, to be forwarded for delivery to the Captain of Her Majesty's ship.

VILI

I have, &c.

(Signed)

GRANVILLE.

No. 9.

Earl Granville to Mr. Jervoise.

Sir,

Foreign Office, August 21, 1870.

THE withdrawal of the French troops from Rome may possibly be followed by disturbances which may endanger the safety of the Pope, or at all events make him desire to retire elsewhere.

It is not improbable that, in such an extremity, His Holiness may turn his thoughts towards a temporary refuge in some possession of the British Crown, and that a communication may be made to you on his part, in order to ascertain whether he would be likely there to obtain it.

I need scarcely say that Her Majesty's Government have no desire for such a result, and would not wish spontaneously to offer to receive the Pope in any place of Her Majesty's dominions; but, at the same time, Her Majesty's Government would certainly not refuse, if requested by the Pope, to afford His Holiness an immediate asylum on board one of Her Majesty's ships of war, and having ascertained his wishes as to the place he would desire to proceed to, they would consider how far those wishes, if they pointed to his temporary residence in any place within Her Majesty's dominions, could properly be complied with.

In order to provide for such an emergency a powerful ship of war has been ordered to proceed at once to Civita Vecchia, with the primary object of affording protection and a place of refuge for any subjects of Her Majesty who may seek to escape the dangers which any popular outbreak may threaten them with.

But this ship will also be available as a place of refuge for the Pope if he should be

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