§ MR. DARBY GRIFFITHremarked that in the present day political rumours were so speedily converted into facts that it became necessary to investigate even the whispers of secret diplomacy. Now a pamphlet had recently appeared in Paris, professing to enunciate the opinions of persons in high places. Now the Imperial Government might be designated as a despotism illustrated by pamphlets; and the pamphlet in question indicated a possible solution of the Papal difficulty. The suggestion was to the effect that the temporal sovereignty of the Pope with a nominal vicariate of Sardinia, might possibly be instrumental in the settlement of the Italian question. Where, however, that temporal power was so reduced as it had been by recent events, it was idle to talk of its exercising influence beyond serving as a cloak for French interference in Italy — an interference which he held to be fraught with danger. A remarkable change had taken place in the opinions of English Catholics with regard to the temporal power of the Pope. The Irish, of course, were more enthusiastic and less open to conviction; but he, had been informed on reliable authority that Cardinal Wiseman was obliged to report to the Papal Government that it would be very difficult to raise any sympathy whatever among English Catholics in favour of the temporal power of the Roman Court. ["Question."] He had it in a letter from a man of the highest station, and one to whom the liberation of Central Italy was mainly owing, that the Italians were prepared to liberate themselves by their own exertions, and that they would not be content while the temporal government of the Pope continued in operation over any portion of Italian territory. It was a common error to suppose that the French troops had, in the first in- 479 stance, been sent to Rome by the present' Emperor. The fact was not so. It was the late General Cavaignac who had sent them there. A confirmation of that statement would be found in Lord Normanby's memoirs. There could be little doubt that that move of the general was for the purpose of furthering his electioneering prospects—that it was made in order to obtain the support of the Roman Catholic Church. He begged to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether it is to be understood that it is the meaning and intention of Her Majesty's Government to give any encouragement -to the idea that any scheme having for its object the retention of any part of the temporal sovereignty of the Pope, as a possible solution of the Italian question, could, under any circumstances, be satisfactory or acceptable to the Italian People?
§ MR. HENNESSYasked to be allowed to make a few remarks in reference to the assertions of the hon. Gentleman who had just sat down. Among the many statements of the hon. Gentleman was one specific statement which he (Mr. Hennessy) believed he had taken from the pages of a weekly paper, The Saturday Review, but which the hon. Member said he made on good authority. The House would be able to form a correct estimate of the amount of credit that ought to be given to the hon. Gentleman's authorities, when he told them that, within the last few days he had had the honour of a personal interview with the illustrious Prelate named in the particular statement to which he now referred; and that Cardinal Wiseman stated to him that there was not one word of truth in the story. His Eminence added that no such letter had been been written, and that no such communication had been made by him, either directly or indirectly. He (Mr. Hennessy) should not go into the hon. Gentleman's other statements; but probably the House would arrive at the conclusion that they were of a piece with that one.