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New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 21, 18 September 1885, Page 9

Referring to the unveiling, at Rome, on June, 20, of the monument to Caidinal Mezzofanti in the Church of St. Onofrio, Rome, the Monitew de Rome says: "It is now known that Cardinal Mezzofanti spoke oue hundred and thirty-live languages, and fifty-four dialects."

On the last day of June, says tbe St. James Gazette, Lord Carnarvon took the oath of office as her Majesty's " Lieutenant-General and General Governor of the Kingdom of Ireland," being the twentyfourth viceroy appointed since the Act of Union. Six of bis predecessors, however, have filled the p st a second time ; so that the average duration of a Lord-Lieuienant'a terra of office has been something less than three yeais. Amongst the men of European reputaiion who have reigned at the Castle during the present century one may mention Lord Whitworth Clßl3-17), i-ometime Ambassador at the Court of Napoleon, in whos-e hearing he made the memorable remark that " it was a pity so great a man phould be so ill-bred." Lord Wellesley (1821-28 and 1833-34) was, perhaps, as good a ruler as the country ever had, and naturally incurred the bitterest hostility of the disaffected. Nor can it be denied that the malcontents adopted an ingenious method of giving expression to thpir sentiments. His Excellency chancing to be at the play, somebody called out, " Three cheers for the Duke of Wellington!" which were heartily given. " And now silence for the rest of the family ! " cried tbe same person. It is not generally known that in December, 1851, Lord John Russell tendered the viceroyalty to L-rd Palmerston, '■ with or without a peerage," by way of compensation for the loss of the Foreign Office. Under tbe c rcumstances the proposal could hardly be entertained : but one is tempted to regret that Lord Palmerston was not offered the place at an earlier period of his career.