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Southland Times, Issue 860, 6 December 1867, Page 3

Me Giadstoije ok -Religious Bigotby. — Mr Gladstone -writes to a country paper denying a report copied from the Gospel Magazine that one of Mrs Gladstone's Homes for Children at Portsmouth was a " thoroughly Popish institution.' The right hon. gentleman says that Mrs Gladstone has no Home near Portsmouth, and that the story, bo far as it affects her, or as her knowledge extends, is false from beginning to end. He then goes on to observe : — The devotion of time, thought, and strength to the humblest offices of Christian charity, cannot, I know, appease the spirit of religious bigotry, or quench its insatiable appetite for slander. But this devotion is not too common or too popular ; and I appeal to the good sense of the world to .discourage such proceedings as those of your correspondent, to which you have, no doubt, inadvertently contributed. Our best social interests are compromised, when women trying to do good to those in need, are held up to public reprobation by silly or malignant statements, which may be in. actual circulation, far and wide, without their knowledge, and of which the anonymous authors may pretty safely reckon on escaping the punishment and exposure they deserve. KdG- Vicxob Emmanuel, with the object of encouraging the breed of horses in Italy, has founded a prize of 40,000 f., to be run for in 1871 at Florence. For the races of next year, His Majesty has given a prize of 15,000 f. The King'» . horses may run ; but in the event of one of them winning, the stakes will be given to the aacond.