TO THE READER The present volume, far from being a full accomplishment of the plan or idea expressed in its title, is simply a first attempt on the subject of Italy considered under peculiar aspects to which my attention has mainly directed itself. Not yet an exhausted, however often and ably treated a theme, Italy, inregard to religious institutions and usages, might be yet more perfectly illustrated than hitherto; and Catholicism, whatever the changes in religious tendency that modern times have witnessed, remains not only interwoven with the history of her Past, but also with the manners of her Present. A fully carried out inquiry into the subject, with dispassionate appreciation and kindliness of spirit, might supply valuable addition to the many works which the study of this interesting country, antiquarian, literary, and artistic, has brought forth. In the desire, with however insufficient abilities or chances of success, to accomplish a task so aimed, I entertain hope of continuing what is in fact but commenced in these pages, if permitted by circumstances on which my undertaking must be dependant. I. C. H. 271802 ROME AND THE STATES OF THE CHURCH THE PAPAL METROPOLIS La préséance de Rome sur les autres villes de la Péninsule est consacrée par le temps,par la gloire, par l'admiration et la pièté de tous les peuples. La préséance du Pape résulte de sa titre de Pontife et représente la souverainté éternelle de Dieu, et ce caractère auguste permet aux plus grands rois de s'incliner devant lui. Ce n'est pas un maître, c'est un père ! NAPOLEON III et L'ITALIE. Independently of the associations of classic history, republi as can or imperial, apart from the glories reflected by the arts of Christianity and antiquities of Paganism, Rome possesses characteristics that must interest every intelligent mind, the seat of the most ancient Sovereignty in Europe; of a government uniquely constituted; of a religious system, first in ascendancy over the civilized world, that never has had, nor can have a parallel. At this period, while her political future is the subject of so much speculation, while many misappreqensions prevail as to the nature of authority and general conditions of society in the Papal Metropolis, whatever infor |