General Summary.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1928, 9 March 1875, Page 2

General Summary.

London, FebruaryfiJ. Archbishop Manning has issued a pamphlet referring to Gladstone's book. He contradicts tho statement that; tiee Vatican decrees have estranged -the "-civil al egiance of Catholics. The (Ecumenical Council has not touched the relations of Church and Slate. The decrees are merely on matters of faith. The spiritual authority of the Church condemns such temporal laws, as deviate from the .laws of<jod. As to the supposition that Ihe Pope might attempt to depose Queen Victoria, the writer says the Queen has wholly withdrawn from the Catholic Church, and every condition is absent that; would render Iter deposition justifiable. The Archbishop declares that European Powers have entered into a couspiracy against the Church, to their own perdition. He condemns the pamphlet as encouraging heresy and deadly schism. "'*.':">'■"■

Six thousand shipwrights are on strike at Ne wcastle-on-Ty ne. • The coal miners' lockout in South Wales has begun, and 120,000 men are idle. . ■ . ■. . ..... .-... ■ ' ;■' '■ i•/ . ..

The British steamer Bride,* / from Alexandra* for Hull, has been lost, and 20 of the crew and passonger.B were drowned. ";*: , Dr Newman has issued ten chapters in answer to Gladstone's panjpjb^t.. Be declares the premises unchsrrjable, and the conclusions untrustworthy.' Jfe sees no inconsistency in being a good Catholic and a good Englishman, but draws a distinction between spiritual and secular allegiance. Infallibility he declares to be a matter of faith in thought, not actions There is only one oracle—God's Holy Church, with.the Pope as head.

A tremendous gas explosion occurred in Birmingham. It is 'believed that the sinking of earth caused by the leakage of water mains led to the tearing away of the serrice pipe from the Birmingham and Staffordshire gas mains* The gat collected in the cavity and in the sewer, and being ignited by a match or fusee

thrown in it, exploded, and left a chasm 25 feet lon* by 8 feet deep, made in the street. Other explosions followed the principal one, doing great damage. Many houses and shops were severely shaken, and four or five persons were injured. The Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath has been offered to Carlyle, and Tennyson is to be made a baronet.

The Committee of Belief at Constantinople for the famine-stricken people of Asia Minor, requests the English and American Press to let it be known that the funds are exhausted and distress increasing. They state it will be necessary to aid several hundred thousand persons until next June. News from Madrid states that King Alphonso assumes command of the array of the North. Efforts are being made for the relief of Pampeluna. The King declares in favour of religious liberty. Ihe merchants of Madrid! have .presented a beautiful crown to Alphonso. The Carlists deny that Gustay was fired upon! It is believed that the steps taken by Germany will lead to vigorous action on the part of the Spanish navy against the Carlist position on the Guipazzoan Coast. Negociations with the Madrid Government are not progressing favourably. •■ The Admiralty have ordered three corvettes and thitee gunboats to the Carlist part of the Spanish coast. This makes eight, of the German fleet in the Bay of Biseavy The Spanish Government have paid the money for the indemnity. A collision between 'J urkey and Montenegro is' still feared. Russia and Austria have both informed Hospodas of Montenegro that it he declares war he does soon his own responsibility. . The Journal de St. Petersburgh has an article favouring Montenegro against Turkey.

Russia has recognised Alphonso King of Spain. The Spanish army of the North continues advancing. It has taken Montreal j and Lerge. The relief of Pampeluna is considered J certain. , The Carlists are.falling back on the route. The imprisonment of Dr Pigott, an Englishman, at Aspinwall, caused a disturbance. A man-of-war has been ordered thither to support the British Consul, who has been assaulted. The New York World gire3 some results of a calculation based on observations of the Transit of Venus. It seems that the distance of the earth from the sun is now estimated at 88,413,726 miles, or three or four millions closer than the last computation. At tins same rajip, in 1,410 years the earth will fall into the gun, and as the motion probably accelerates, less time is likely. At Frankfort on the Maine, the police closed all the social democratic woi'kmen's societies and trade unions in the, city. Nine new cardinals are to be appointed at Borne. It is expected that Archbishop Manning will be one, and two or three. Americans also. I' - Despatches at Madrid, recsired in the, beginning of February, state that eight battalions of Carlists met and charged Alphonso's troops at Orleans, 1 and were J lypu'sed with great loss. j Other massacres of national troops are i reported The Carlists deny holding any negociations with Don A Iphonso. Colombet, a Legitimist intends introducing an amendment making members of the lioyaland Imperial dynasties ineligible for the Presidency. lssact Isaeiien, son of Pfinee Chun, has been proclaimed Emperor of China. rJ he wife of the late Emperor suicided. In Paris an Act has been drafted authorising a Goreroment concession for the construction of the submarine .tunnel between France and England. Copies of the Act hare been distributed among members of the Assembly