THE PRINCE OF WALES AT THE VATICAN.

Wellington Independent, Volume XV, Issue 1341, 24 June 1859, Page 5

THE PRINCE OF WALES AT THE VATICAN.

(From the correspondent of the Morning Post.) Home, Feb. B.—Your readers will, doubtless, be intciested in having the earliest intelligence of the Prince, of Wales's/reception at the Vatican ; a' visit from a Prince of the blood royal of England to the Pope not having taken place for some centuries, with the exception of the exiled family of the Stuarts. , The express desire of her Majesty having been distinctly made known that everything connected with the formality should be conducted in as private a manner as possible, the Prince, nf Wales went yesterday .morning to the palace accompanied by Colonel Bruce, Mr. Odo Bussell, and tlie members pi bis suite, to .'pay his

respects to the Pope, into whose presence he was conducted by the Coraraendatore Datti, Merely preceded by two Swiss guards. His Holiness rose on the entry df the Prince, and, coming forward to the door of the apartment to meet him, conducted him in the most affable manner possible to a seat, and entered into conversation with him in French, with that benignity of address which makes so strong an impression upon all who are presented to Pio Nono. Colonel Bruce was the only other person present at the interview, which was brief, and limited to complimentary expressions and subjects of local interest, but perfectly satisfactory to all parties. On the Prince's rising to take his leave, the Pope conducted him again to the door with the same warmth of manner which he had testified on receiving him. ' His Royal Highness did not visit the Cardinal Secretary of State, as is generally the custom after an audience of the Supreme Pontiff, but I understand that the Prince will not omit paying that compliment to Cardinal Antonelli before long. It is also the intention of His Royal Highness to visit the numerous members of various sovereign families of Europe now domiciled in the Eternal City before applying himself steadily to those duties the prosecution of which have formed the principal object of his visit to Rome. On Saturday his Royal Highness went to call on the King of Prussia, a visit which the matrimonial alliance between the two countries of course rendered indispensable ; but the visit was, in fact, to the Queen, ' the state of his Majesty's health making it painful for any one to see him. ' Every possible attention has been offered, to the Prince during bis journey, and since his arrival here ; but his incognito is to be preserved as much as practicable, and he has declined every outward mark of distinction—amongst others, that of a formal visit from the French Geneial Count de Guyon, who proposed paying his respects to his royal highness at the head of his iiat major. The Countess de Guyon's invitation to her grand ball has also been declined on the plea that the prince is in Rome chjefly for the prosecution of his studies, and intends to lead, an entirely private life during the few months of hisstay. Meanwhile the excellent habits of early hours, family devotion, and healthy exercise so meritoriously inculcated by Queen Victoria are strictly followed by the Prince of Wales and his household in Rome.

Accounts from the provinces state that the reception of the Prince, on his way through the Legations to the capital of the Papa! dominions was of a. most agreeable kind. At Ravenna he was visited by tbe delegate of the province, Monsignor Ricci, and the municipal authorities placed boxes at his disposition iv the theatre, to which he repaired on the evening of his arrival. Next day, accompanied by Count Pasolini, gonfaloniere of the city, his royal highness visited the principal monuments of the ancient capital of the Goths and Exarchs, and the neighbouring forest of pines which has for centuries formed the ornament of that part of the Adriatic coast The celebrated basilica of St. Apollinare, two miles from the city, a stupendous work of the lower ages, was nest examined by the Prince, who there took leave of the gonfaloniere, and resumed his journey towards Rimini. The inhabitants or Ravenna were delighted at the attention and interests with which the Prince and the distinguished members of his suite visited the venerable monuments of Ravenna, the only important remnants which still attest the Gothic dominiou and the sway of the Byzantine emnerors in Italy.

The reception.-of his Royal. Highness, at Ancona and other places on his route was equally pleasing, but only such attentions were accepted by him :is were absolutely necessary to. avoid the imputation of churlishness or reserve. The Prince declined taking an escort any part of the way. although in the present state of the roads it would have been not a mere honour. The hon. Colonel Bercy's serservices have been accepted by tbe Prince during his stay in Rome.