and destroy entirely that truth which is the conservative principle in character.  Their influence is and must be always against the free progress of humanity.  The more I see of its working, the more I feel how pernicious it is, and were I a European, to no object should I lend myself with more ardor, than to the extirpation of this cancer.  True, disband the Jesuits, there would still remain Jesuitical men, but singly they would have infinitely less power to work mischief.

The influence of the Oscurantist foe has shown itself more and more plainly in Rome, during the last four or five weeks.  A false miracle is devised:  the Madonna del Popolo, (who has her handsome house very near me,) has cured, a paralytic youth, (who, in fact, was never diseased,) and, appearing to him in a vision, takes occasion to criticise severely the measures of the Pope.  Rumors of tumult in one quarter are circulated, to excite it in another.  Inflammatory handbills are put up in the night.  But the Romans thus far resist all intrigues of the foe to excite them to bad conduct.

On New-Year’s day, however, success was near.  The people, as usual, asked permission of the Governor to go to the Quirinal and receive the benediction of the Pope.  This was denied, and not, as it might truly have been, because the Pope was unwell, but in the most ungracious, irritating manner possible, by saying, “He is tired of these things:  he is afraid of disturbance.”  Then, the people being naturally excited and angry, the Governor sent word to the Pope that there was excitement, without letting him know why, and had the guards doubled on the posts.  The most absurd rumors were circulated among the people that the cannon of St. Angelo were to be pointed on them, &c.  But they, with that singular discretion which they show now, instead of rising, as their enemies had hoped, went to ask counsel of their lately appointed Senator, Corsini.  He went to the Pope, found him ill, entirely ignorant of what was going on, and much distressed when he heard it.  He declared that the people should be satisfied, and, since they had not been allowed to come to him, he would go to them.  Accordingly, the next day, though rainy and of a searching cold like that of a Scotch mist, we had all our windows thrown open, and the red and yellow tapestries hung out.  He passed through the principal parts of the city, the people throwing themselves on their knees and crying out, “O Holy Father, don’t desert us! don’t forget us! don’t listen to our enemies!” The Pope wept often, and replied, “Fear nothing, my people, my heart is yours.”  At last, seeing how ill he was, they begged him to go in, and he returned to the Quirinal; the present Tribune of the People, as far as rule in the heart is concerned, Ciceronacchio, following his carriage.  I shall give some account of this man in another letter.

For the moment, the difficulties are healed, as they will be whenever the Pope directly shows himself to the people.  Then his generous, affectionate heart will always act, and act on them, dissipating the clouds which others have been toiling to darken.