haplain-general to the forces in Portugal), and made off, leaving his
convert to bear the storm which was sure to burst on him, as best he might.
That a youth thus tutored and thus abandoned, before Johnson was born,
should have lived to attract his society, and win from him the testimony
that he was "the best man" whom he had ever known, gives him a claim to our
respect, which seems to me to be strengthened by everything which I have
been able to learn respecting him.

S. R. MAITLAND.

Gloucester.

* * * * *

CONSECRATED ROSES, ETC.

(Vol. vii., p. 407.)

Had G.'s Query referred solely to the consecration of _The Golden Rose_, I
might have given him a satisfactory answer by referring him to Cartari's
essay on the subject entitled _La Rosa d'Ora Pontificia, &c._, 4to. 1681,
and to the account (with accompanying engraving) of the _Rose, Sword, and
Cap_ consecrated by Julius III., and sent by him to Philip and Mary; and to
Cardinal Pole's exposition of these Papal gifts, which are to be found in
the 1st volume of F. Angeli Rocca, _Opera Omnia_ (fol. Rome, 1719). In the
authors to whom I have referred, much curious information will, however, be
found. I take this opportunity of saying, that as I am about to submit a
communication on the subject of _The Golden Rose_ to the Society of
Antiquaries, I shall feel obliged by any hints which may help me to render
it more complete; and of putting on record in "N. & Q." the following
particulars of the ceremonial, as it was performed on the 6th of March
last, which I extract from the _Dublin Weekly Telegraph_ of the 9th of
April.

"On Sunday, the 6th [March, 1853], the Benediction of the Golden Rose,
was, according to annual usage, performed by the Pontiff previously to
High Mass, in the Sistine Chapel, celebrated by a cardinal, at which he
assists every Sunday during Lent. To the more ancient practice of
blessing, on the fourth Sunday of 'Quaresima,' a pair of gold and
silver keys, touched with filings from the chains of St. Peter (which
are still preserved in Rome), the Holy See has substituted that of the
Benediction of the 'Rosa d'Oro,' to be presented, within the year, to
some sovereign or other potentate, who has proved well deserving of the
Church. The first positive record respecting the Golden Rose has been
ascribed to the Pontificate of Leo IX. (1049-53); but a writer in the
_Civitta