ROME.

Otago Witness, Issue 26, 15 November 1851, Page 4

ROME.

THE POPE IN A FRIGHT. (From the Daily News.) Rome, April 30. His Holiness has had a terrible fright during his afternoon drive outside the Porta Pia. About a quarter past five the ponderous apostolic equipage passed through the gate, and the outrider, who preceded it, warned the promenaders to stop, and carriages to draw on one side of the road, by the customary shout of " Passa il Papa." The usual tributes of respect were paid to the Pontifical Sovereign as he passed, and at a short distance from the walls the cortege stopped to let His Holiness dismount and take his pedestrian exercise along the road leading to St. Agnes, " extra muros." He had no sooner gone twenty paces than an individual of gentlemanly appearance, dressed in a handsome suit of black, rushed forward from the side of the footpath, and, presenting himself directly in front of the Pope, knelt before him, and held out a petition in an imploring attitude. His Holiness, who seems to have an unconquerable aversion to such kinds of documents, and is afflicted with a degree of nervousness, perhaps attributable to the unpleasant adventures he has had to go through during his reign, amounting to personal timidity, " Non sine vano Aurarum et siluse metu," — His Holiness, I repeat, was seized with alarm at the sudden apparition of his petitioner, and, with his major domo and other attendant prelates about him, took to his heels in a manner most unsuitable to Papal dignity, the whole party running off as fast as their long garments would permit, and leaving the astonished suppliant, probably some Government employe unjustly deprived of the means of subsistence, kneeling in the dust with the rejected petition still in his outstretched hand. His astonishment, however, soon gave way to a different sentiment ; for the Pope's escort, consisting of tie usual detachment of noble guards, rushed furiously at him, knocked him down, and abused him for having ventured to intrude his private woes upon the leisure and recreation of his paternal sovereign. "What had the poor man to do ? He did all that remained to do, — he got up and rubbed his knees, picked up his hat, and pocketed his petition, returning home to his expectant family to bless, no doubt, the clemency of the Pontiff. Meanwhile, his Holiness related the whole occurrence to Cardinal Simonetti, whose carriage hove in sight soon after, and who reverently alighted from it so soon as he saw the Pope on foot. During the conversation, the two footmen of his Eminence were on their knees behind the cardinal.