Francois Xavier Marie Frederic Ghis-Lain De Merode, a Roman Catholic archbishop, born in Brussels in March, 1820, died in Home, July 24, 1874. His family claims descent from Raymond Berenger V., count of Barcelona and king of Aragon (died 1102); and one of his cousins was mother to Queen Maria, wife of Amadeus, late king of Spain. His mother was a niece of Lafayette; and his father, Count Felix de Merode, took a leading part in the Belgian revolution of 1830, was a member of the provisional government, and, after refusing to be the candidate of the Catholic party for the throne, was mainly instrumental in securing the election of Leopold of Saxe-Coburg. Xavier entered the Belgian army in 1841. and served with distinction as a volunteer in Algeria under Marshal Bugeaud. He went to Rome in 1848, studied theology, and was ordained priest in 1850. He was immediately appointed chamberlain to the pope and canon of St. Peter's, and was rapidly promoted, till in the beginning of 18G0 he was made "pro-minister of arms." He organized the pontifical army, composed mostly of foreigners, and induced Gen. Lamoriciere to take the command of it in April. That general having been defeated at Castelfidardo in the following September, Merode asked the French troops in Rome to defend the pontifical authority.

He soon quarrelled with the French commander, Gen. Goyon, who refused to communicate with him. In 1865 he resigned his office in consequence of a disagreement with Cardinal Antonelli. He was appointed archbishop of Melitene June 22, 1806, and private almoner to the pope. It is said that the influence of his brother-in-law, Count de Mon-talembert, caused him in 1869 to oppose the definition of the papal infallibility; but he accepted in 1870 the decision of the Vatican council. He devoted a large portion of his patrimonial wealth to improve the streets and squares of Rome, and to archaeological excavations; but a far larger portion was employed in founding charitable institutions and agricultural and industrial schools. His last public act was to welcome to Rome the American pilgrimsfrom New York.