CARDINAL ANTONELLI.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IV, Issue 203, 23 February 1877, Page 9

CARDINAL ANTONELLI.

Sir George Bowyer has written in the ' Pall Mall Gazette ' the following biographical notice of the late Cardinal : —

Cardinal Antonelli was not of noble blood. He belonged to a family of what we should call very substantial and wealthy yeomen. They held valuable olive plantations near Terracina, at the time when olives were most valuable. This circumstance gave a pretence for M. About, in his well-known and, in this country, popular libel on the Papal Court, written to suit a phase of Imperial policy, to say that he was related to Fra Diavolo, the brigand. The statement is as fair as if a man, because he had family property on Hounslow Heath, were alleged to be a descendant of Dick Turpin. The father of Antonelli died prematurely, leaving" 'Him under the guardianship of two uncles, in whom the family property was vested. They were men of frugal habits, intent on-accumulating wealth, and though their nephew was their heir, they made him work hard. He distinguished himself at the university, went to the bar, and speedily rose to a judicial office, and then to the prelature, but still as a layman. After this, his great abilities secured his promotion. In due. time he inherited the great part of the wealth of his uncles. This accounts for his leaving a considerable fortune, which he could not have made out of his office, for the salary of Cardinal Secretary of State was only <£50i) a year; and, indeed, the whole Papal Court costs only j>1,500 a year. And I may mention that an English Liberal Protestant statesman once told me on his return from Rome that he wished people in this country would learn the wonderful cheapness of the Papal Government. Cardinal Antonelli was highly accomplished and a perfect judge of art. In piivate life he was remarkably agreeable, genial, and amiable, and highly appreciated in society and by the most distinguished ladies, especially our o.vn countrywomen. I must not omit a trait of his character. Even when most overwhelmed with business and the cares of state, he never omitted for one single day to Visit his mother, for whom he entertained the most filial affection.

"We observe that Mr. Thomas Paterson has commenced business at the Temple Chambers, Dunedin, as Shipping and General Commission agent.