An Audience of the Pope.

Whilst I was in Rome for the first time Pope Pius IX. was still the reigning Sovereign of the Papal States, and, as I was the bearer of a letter of introduction from the Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland to the Cardinal at the head of the Propaganda, I was invited to an audience of the Pontiff. After ascending a noble flight of stairs lined with picturesque Swiss Guards, in the Palace of the Vatican, I was conducted through lofty halls, and amidst groups of officers of the noble Guard, to the cabinet of the Pope. The Secretary, who introduced me, clad in the rich old Italian costume, presented me kneeling, and retired, leaving me alone with the Pontiff. page 64 Although His Holiness knew that I did not belong to his Church, and did not pay him the usual marks of homage tendered by his subjects, yet he received me most affably and courteously. He was desirous of getting information about missions in the Pacific, of which I could conscientiously give a very favourable report, and also talked on other matters of European interest with great freedom and kindly feeling. At parting he gave me his blessing, and asked me also to convey the same to my wife in a very tender manner, so that the interview left a very pleasing and interesting impression on my mind. In Sicily, during the year 1851, travelling was very difficult and life rather insecure. I travelled from Messina to Syracuse by way of Catania, and stopped for a day at Taormina, where there is the ruin of an ancient Greek theatre on a projecting high cliff overlooking the sea, and distant coast of Italy in front; and to the right the slopes and summit of Mount Etna, covered by rich cultivation, towns, villages, and farms, up to the snow-line, capped by the magnificent dome of that great volcano, rising 12,000 feet above the level of the sea. This view is looked upon by artists as one of the finest in the world. From Catania I ascended the mountain on foot as far as the snow would permit at that season, but did not reach the summit.