SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 192, 15 March 1878, Page 6

SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

EUROPEAN SUMMARY

London, February 17.

The Pope died on February Bth, at 8 o'clock. On Wednesday night he felt a sudden suffocation, and rallied several times, but said to his -physician, "Death wins this time." He was alternately lucid and wandering*, but his last moments were clear. He said just before dying, " Guard the Church I love so well and sacredly." The immediate cause of death was the closing of a wound on the leg, which made a tumour mount into the lungs and brain. The Cardinals were assembled in Council in the next room, but altogether with the dignitaries ofthe Papal Court were at the Pope's bedside at the moment of death. Cardinal Parbianca administered the last sacrament. The barracks surrounding the Vatican were crowded with troops — an unnecessary precaution, as the people remained quiet almost to indifference. When Cardinals' Conclave had commenced, Simeoni demanded troops, and the Government acceded to the request. The will left by the late Pope authorises the Cardinals to deviate from the established procedure, but does . not prescribe any special rules. The crowd was so large to view the remains of the late Pontiff lying in state at St. Peter's, that many women fainted. A company of soldiers had to enter the church to regulate the concourse. The body was arrayed in the Pontificial robes and laid on a crimson bed, at each corner of which a member of the noble guard stood with drawn sword. The bed was surrounded witb twelve large candelabra, so placed that the feet of the deceased were outside the altar rails, in order that the faithful might kiss them. The face was calm and unchanged by death.

In the House of Lords the leaders of the Ena'lish Protestant organisations rejoice at the Vatican abandonment ofthe Scotch hierarchy scheme. - It is said to have ,been abandoned because steps were taken to.- enforce. Scotch laws against papal jurisdiction.

The health of, Mr Isaac Butt, the Home- Ruler, continues precarious, and he will not be present in Parliament this session in consequence.. In the House of Lords, on the 24th inst., Lord Beaconsfield, in response to a question by the Duke of Argyle, said distinctly that England was. not going to he dictated to by any other Power. The French Minister of- Foreign Affairs has contributed 10,000 francs to relieve refugees at- Constantinople. Two advance boats were ordered by the French Government to Constantinople, and the French ironclad at Sumgarua was ordered to protect the subjects of that Government at Constantinople if required. A woman attempted to assassinate M. Trepaoffu, Perfect of St. Petersburg, wounding him dangerously. A committee has been formed in Paris to promote a commercial treaty between France and the United States. At Calais, France, a false alarm at a circus led to a panic, and the trampling to death of 10 persons. Copenhagen harbour is being torpedoed. The Italian Government have proposed an alliance with anti-Russian Powers. The verdict in Cardinal Antonelli's case was adverse to the claim of his reputed daughter, Countess Lambertine, Ameer Caboul is massing troops at I Condahar. Ameer is hostile to both Persia and England. This step is considered a menace to one or both. The Prince of Wales has dined with the African explorer, Stanley. English officers in Canada have received orders to join their regiments.

Charles Bradlaugh and Mrs Annie Besant, Freethought advocates, have been released from imprisonment and police surveillance on a charge of circulating immoral pamphlets.

Alexander Duff, a Scotch missionary, is dead.

. At Tien Tisen an asylum for women and children was burned. Two thousand perished.

John O' Leary, the Fenian exile,, has been permitted to visit Ireland on private business, on condition that he abstains from politics.

At the Cape, 10.000 cattle and 15,000 sheep were captured by the general in his advance.

Cardinal Manning advocated holding* the Papal Conclave at Malta.

The coasting steamer Palmer sunk in a collision near Harwich, and 14 persons were drowned.

The Cleopatra obelisk will be placed on the Thames Embankment, at the top of the Adelphi steps, between Charing Cross and Waterloo Bridge. The King of Siam intends to send a diplomatic representative to the United States next year — the first in the history of the country. The Hong Kong Government refuses to allow coolies to leave for the Sandwich Islands and Peru.