European News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 5, Issue 225, 7 March 1861, Page 3

European News

To 26th DecembeE. The Parliament meets on sth Feb. It was reported that the 85th light infantry had been ordered from the Cape of Good Ho pe to A r ew Zealand. Four vessels were about to sail with military stores for Auckland. A subscription'list was about to be opened for the sufferers at Taranaki. The wool sales closed on 7th Dec. There was an advance of Id to 2d per lb on the best descriptions of Australian.

CFrom our own Correspondent ) Glasgow, Dec. 25, 1860. The subject which is exciting our attention far above all others at present is the intense cold with which we have been visited. On the morning of Wednesday last week, that is the 19th of December, a considerable fall of snow took place, to the depth I should think of eight or nine inches. Sharp frost ensued, and at this moment the thermometer is a few degrees below the freezing point within doors, and out of doors a good way below Zero. A. friend who knows by experience the severity of North American winters was saying to me to-day that our present weather reminds him more of Davis’ Straits than anything we have had for many years. In political matters there is at home a complete lull, though paper balloons are being put up in various places preparatory to the meeting of Parliament a few weeks hence. Mr. Bright has been declaring his determination to persevere in his efforts to get some measure of reform, and Mr. Charles Gilpin who

■ holds a subordinate appointment under Gov-j • eminent has been saying, apparently by the • permission of the big wigs, that in the ensuing . session Lord John Bussell will bring in a ■ Reform Bill. On the Continent matters conl tinue to excite great interest. In Italy the ' King of Naples, —that is, he that was, —holds ; out in the fortress of Gaeta against the troops 1 of -Sardinia, and though there is not the 1 slightest probability cf his regaining any part ■ of influence or territory which he has lost, ■ yet with the dogged stupidity of the man and ! the race, and the utter regardlessness of hu- ! man life by which he has ! been hitherto dis--1 tinguished, he' is ' likely to persevere till he is 1 absolutely compelled to desist, by having the 1 fortress demolished about his ears and himself ’ smothered in the ruins. In Austria attempts are being made to appease the discontent

! that has long prevailed in almost every provI ince, but hitherto the efforts have been atten- • ded with very little success. The Hungarians ■ have no confidence in the House of. Haps- ! bourg, and even the promises of concessions ; are interpreted as indications of a design to enter on a course of more intolerable repression. In France Loui3 Napoleon is admitting various important measures both of fiscal and political reform, and his character which has 1 all along baffled the most sagacious political prophets is more a mystery than ever. , Great commotion continues in the United

; States, which will no doubt be allayed when 1 the moderate policy of Mr. Lincoln is un- ; folded. Within these last few days we-have lost ’ two men who figured considerably in the public eye, I mean the Earl of Aberdeen and the Marquis of Dalhousie. Lord Aberdeen was 1 a great authority and a liberal patron in mat-

terS/ connected .with tVie fine arts, tuul 1)6 gained credit as a skilful ■; diplomatist, and as the most energetic agent in working out., if indeed he is not entitled to the praise of originating that scheme of European politics by which the attempts of the first Napoleon were effectually crushed. His conduct as Premier was not marked by great vigour, and it was obvious that he had no heart for the Cximean war. In private life he was greatly esteemed and it is understood the Queen regarded him both in office and out]of it with great confidence Lord Dallmusie was one of the young men, among whom were Gladstone, Newcastle, Cardwell, and Sydney Herbert, whom Rh' Robert Peel gathered around him. Ha filled with great credit several important offices at home, but his reputation was chiefly connected with his administration in India, of which he was a time Governor-General During his government there were executed several most important public works, which -have contributed much to the social and c.omrrfercial development of our Eastern possessions. Lord Dulhonsie is succeeded in his title and estates by his cousin. Lord Panmure. On [Thursday last, we had in Glasgow and throughout Scotland great demonstrations in commemoiation of the Reformation from Popery that took place three hundred years ago. The 20th December was chosen as on that day the first .Reformed General Assembly met in Edinburgh in 1560. So far as I can judge, the displays were creditable to the good sense and feelings of those that took part in them While there was an earnest expression of gratitude for the benefits which have been obtained from the reformation, there was a ready acknowledgment of A its defects, and a call to remedy these and carry out the great principles declared to their legitimate extent. From the newspapers you will see that Lord Elgin has boldly and skilfully wiped off the stains that his brother Mr. Bruce brought on our escutcheon in China 7’he idea of French and English force being in actual possession of Pekin is certainly a novelty. But the difficulties seem only thickening. We cannot keep China in our own hands, and we cannot trust the Chinese as to the faithful observance of any treaty we may make with them. Indeed their faithlessness has been signally displayed already since the allied army have had negotiations with them and several British officers made prisoners by treachery have been murdered in circumstances of most liarrowing atrocity.

What of your own war! Is it a sin to say that your Pratt is almost universally regarded here as a nincompoop,—a kind of incompetent barnacle. Why do you not send home an urgent demand for Lord Clyde or Sir James Outram, or if that would be something like presumption, for some other, and there are many, sound headed and sti’ong hearted men ? I have as strong an interest in the Aborigines as most people, but it is obvious that there can be no comfortable getting on with a parcel of savages unless they are convinced thoroughly and for ever that war and rebellion are what must speedily lead to their extermination, and that peaceable behaviour is essential not only to their comfort biff to their very existence.

FRANCE. Tlie Emperor of the French has taken another step towards the abolition of the Passport system in France which was said to be one of his intended reforms almost from the day of his obtaining power. Some time since the system was considerably relaxed as re' garded English travellers and residents in France. From January next, and “by way of reciprocity,” Englishmen will be permitted to enter and travel through the country without passports'. It does not say that they will be permitted to quit the country equally without official cognisance ; in one shape or other the troublesome form of a billet &embarcation may therefore still be exacted. But even supposing this to be the case, it is a trifling drawback to the otherwise enLire freedom of movement which the immunity from passport carrying confers upon the British traveller in France. Such a boon, however, to the foreigner can hardly-be long withheld from the native, on whom the passport system has always borne with a pressure tenfold that exercised on travellers. Tire Emperor would, it is understood, gladly get rid of the whole institution as effete and expensive, but a strong official interest in the places and pay it implies opposes the reformation ; and there is really no strong popular opinion against it. Considerable liberty is to be given to the press. They may discuss political subjects, provided they do not seek the subversion of the government. The Empress returned to France on the 14th inst. The Emperor met her at Amiens. She paid a visit of two hours to the Queen at V'hndsor before she left, and seems to have left a very favourable impression behind her in those places which she has visited.

'AUSTRIA. Chevalier von Achmerling has been appointed Minister of the Interior. The programme with which he enters the ministry contains the following points,—Equality for all religious confessions all over the empire ; revision of the Concordat, and abolition of the Catholic religion as the religion of the state, which is henceforward to become strictly secular ; abolition of the aristocratic provincial constitutions recently introduced under Count Goluchowski’s auspices; a general constitution to be granted, instead, to the whole of the German and Slavonian provinces —that is to say, Upper and Lower Austria, Bohemia, Moravia, Gallicia, Tyrol, Styria, Curiuthia, Illyria. The Hungarian Chancel -

lery is to be removed from Hungary to Rusth, • which, however, has not been one.of Chevalier von Schmeiling’s condition's, hilt oil the Contrary has been adopted as a measure calculated to conciliate the advocates of .decentralization in the Imperial council, of whom he is an opponent. Once at Pesth, nnd surrounded by the national movement in Hungary, the Chancellery can hardly fail to transform itself.

sooner or later, into that responsible //ungariau cabinet which the //uiigarians demand. Croatia, Slavonia, and Dalmatia will be united into a separate kingdom, governed by the Croatian Bann® as the Emperor’s representative. , Chevalier von Schmerliug’s programme; as far as is known at present, does not contain a word about Yenetia. Notwithstanding the attempts to conciliate, Hungary is in a very unsettled state. General Tkirr has left Italy for Hungary, which is significant. Disturbances have occurred in various places. At Debreczin, on 26th Nov., the government offices were assailed and damaged, the tobacco in the government magazines, and the books in the tax office, were destroyed. The military interfered, and about twenty persons were wounded, ami a few ■ - killed.- The cries were revolutionary, “ Long live Kossuth,” “ Lung live Garibaldi” On the same evening there were 'disturbances at Eperies. These are merely symptoms of the. increasing agitation. A Berlin letter in the Hamburg Bor sen • hall-e says : —“ In Hungary the Germans consider the explosion of an organised revolution is merely a work of time, and that the Italians will know how to conquer Yenetia through' Hungary. At Vienna, a common action between the two nations is believed in. On the first move Russia will Hake possession of the whole Hungarian frontier.” ViSNETrA. —The Perscveranza, of 16tli Nov., publishes the entire pamphlet, “ 7'he Emperor Erancis-Joseph I. and Europe,” the publication of which has been announced in Paris. 7'he author of the pamphlet laments the state of things in Venetia, and says that it is impossible to stop the Italian movement which aims at-its deliverance. The possession, of Venetia is the permanent cause of the financial and military weakness of Austria. The treaty of Campio Formio disposed of Venice against law and right 7’he sacrifice of Lombardy was more injurious to Austria than* would be the loss of Venice. The author concludes that the interest of the peace of Europe demands the cession of Venetia by means of compensation as the only solution of the question, and that .Europe would-be grateful tothe Emperor of Austria for such a solution.

CHINA. 7’he-latest date is Hong Kong, 7ih Jan. The troops were being sent home as fast us possible. A large number of them had arrived in Hong Kong. General Grant had left Tien-tsiu, and embarked at Tuku in the beginning of November. The-rebels near Slianghae are keeping quiet. There' is some prospect of the treaty being carried out, but an article in the French convention is causing great dissatisfaction at Canton. By this article indemnity is to be given for all the property destroyed belonging to Christians, and the French are claiming compensation for Roman Catholic churches said to have been, destroyed 300 years ago. Tift; sites are now claimed, and a piece of ground near Canton lias been seized as part payment, and marked off as Terrain Franca is. ' Part of tie money claimed for war expuiees has been pai 1, about 200,0001. Fears are entertained of French aggression. It is said the French have offered assistance to the imperialists against the rebels —a means to obtain more influence. The total loss of the English force since it landed had been 264, and of the French about the same number.

r Messrs. Parkes and Loch give the following x account of their capture. When Caj.it. Brab azon and Mr. Lock left the army, on the 13tli Sept., to recall Mr. Parkes’ party, they found them at Langchau ; but on their return were stopped by a large party of cavalry and infantry, who would net allow them to pass without San-ko-lin-sin’s orders. Messrs.Parkes and Loch, accompanied by one Sikh orderly with a white flag, went to Sau-ko-lin-sin, by ' whose orders they were made prisoners ami sent to Pekin, where till the 29th Sept, they i were kej>t in jail and treated with great se~ I verity. The rest of the party were seized also, and sent back to Tung-chow. ( The five Frenchmen given up were taken ’ prisoners in Tung-chow whilst walking about ( the street, and ignorant of what was going on. Intelligence of the .peace was received at St,. | Petersburg!) 36 days after its conclusion. Chinese Poetry. It took a three hours’ fight, It cost five hundred men, To change the forts Takw | Into the forts Taken, — Punch.

JAPAN. There is some fear of this island being agam shut out of the world. The introduction of strangers, it seems, has opened the eyes of the inhabitants to the extreme nature of the despotism under which they live, and this enlightenment is noc relished by their rulers,, who are desirous of expelling all foreigners, ft is thought that a physical force demonstration, by a part of our fleet, might have a good effect. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR. March 4th, 1861. Sir, — I have much delight in the pursuit of Natural History, especially in that department which concerns the introduction and propagation of plants of other countries in this colony. Wishing to communicate the results*

of my observation and research for the benefit of my felb.'W-settiers in general, I shall solicit a Small portion of your space to give an account of the most recent discoveries I have made in the course of my peregrination. Having bf’cu informed that many tine specimens of our .English vegetation might be found on the estate of -Mataongaonga, and from the well known courtesy of its proprietor I at once ventured upon its grounds. Imagine my gratification, after a very short search, on finding a massive bed of Cnicus lanceola’us, a magnificent plant, belonging to the Limisean classification of Syngsnesia cequalis, amPof the Natural order of Jesseu Compositor, suborder Centaurico, growing in the most beautiful luxuriance. This may be better known to your readers under the more familiar term of Scotch Thistle. We have no doubt the bo tauical student may find admission' with bispecimen box to this interesting sight. On the opposite bank of the river, about two miles further up, is the estate of Panaite, which is also interesting for many fine specimens of t.lmplants alluded to. Other proprietors in the same locality, we believe, have similar and equally recherche- specimens. Returning to town, and prosecuting our research towards the farms immediately in the vicinity of St. John’s Bush, we succeeded in discovering another, but more gigantic, genus of the same Natural order—suborder Car(Luince- —nmm.ely Silyhum marianiun the more familiar name being the Great Milk Thistle. There was a time when this plant was extensively cultivated at home for culinary purposes, but, like many other valuable plants it has been set aside and neglected to. make room for the introduction of more highly patronised novel tjes. Those plants are found inure extensively disseminated over tigs locality than any other, in the district. On the grounds of Sedge Brook Grange and the vicinity of Sbukspeare Cliff, occasional plants may be seen, but the owners of these grounds seemingly entertain an aversion to their presence, as they employ parties annually to destroy them, at that interesting period when the flowers have begun to develop. In conclusion, should the above remarks be interesting to some of your readers, I may again trouble you with, a continuation from my journal. Meanwhile, 1 am yours, #\c. Yjator.

• Feb. 20, 1861. Sir, —-Having read in your last number an article on the Irish Brigade, extracted from an English panel', I beg to make a few remarks thereupon. I am sorry, sir, that among the vast number ■ of English papers that expressed your views of the /talian affairs, you have extracted such an article for publication in the Chronicle. Hitherto, sir, the inhabitants of Wanganui have distinguished themselves by a remarkable general good feeling. I hope this article, which appears offensive to me, will not interrupt this feeling, and .still it seems to me that its tone and substance may tend to endanger a : little its continuance, and that is my reason for sending you this. I don’t think there is any fear of my hurting even a single Scotch man or woman, when I say that the Irish pronunciation of the English language is as good as that of tlje Scotch. As for the cost of the /rish Brigade to the Pope’s treasury, even if we were to accept oi the figures of the author of the article in question, what right has that ambor to talk oJ that cost, since he has contributed nothing towards defraying it- ? He says that a few Sardinians shot have been the only result of so heavy expences. Sir, it is sad enough to.have to contend about deeds of bloodshed, and to be obliged to record as many of such deeds as consi.-tenfc with truth, in self-defence; but it is your author who compels me to do so, and not I who do so from myself. Well, sir, only in the fight at Epoleto, where the garrison consisted of only 300 men of all countries, but where the Irish played a most conspicuous and brilliant part by their unconquerable bravery, the loss of the Piedmontese, as correct ly as it could be ascertained, was about 100 killed .and 300 wounded ; the same in proportion at Castelfidardo and elsewhere, and then let your author say that the services of the Irish amount only to a few Sardinians shot. AxiA how could they have done more than they did, being, as. they were, perfidiously attacked on a sudden, without any expectation or declaration of war, crushed and quite overwhelmed by numbers,, in places nearly open on all sides, without artillery or with an inferior artillery ? Well, sir, under such circumstances they did what they could ; they fought desperately and died generously for the cause to which they had devoted themselves, or surrendered only when they had burnt their last cartridge, or when it would have been sheer madness to persist. Are we, sir, to esteem noble deeds only when they are accompanied with success? Then, sir, the 300 Spartans, with their king Leonidas, {ensiling in the Thermopylae, and unable to stop the Persian invasion, aie only to be scoffed at! Or the generous, though unsuccessful, defenders o. Saragossa, when prisoners of war in 1809. had forfeited the esteem of men who understand the meaning of the word magnanimity! No, no, sir, far from us such false, such low and. vulgar notions of honor and virtue ! No, no, sir, the Irish brigade in the service of the . Pope is not unworthy the respect of all honorable, men. For that, it is sufficient that they have, to the last, defended bravely and faithfully, though unsuccessfully, the cause to which they had devoted themselves, ami that that cause is a ' just and noble cause. Of their bravery, and. inviolable fidelity to the last, there ia but one

opinion ; their enemies bear openly witness to; the fact, under even such trying circumstances. That the cause which they thus nobly defended} is a just and holy cause, no one will deny who considers that it is the cause of right against injustice; the cause of the sworn treaties against perjury and wanton usurpation ; the cause of order against robbery, violence, spoliation ; tlie cause of morality against debauchery ; the cause of religion against impiety, sacrilege, and profanation. The nobleness and sacredness of such a cause gives to the expedition of the defenders of the Sovereign Pontiff the diameter of a chivalrous and holy crusade, in which those who die deserve the name of Martyrs, and the survivors the name of Confessors of the faith. See them in the temple of God, long before daybreak, prostrated in prayer before the altar, preparing themselves, not for victory, which they well j knew ail the terrible odds against them made! for them impossible, but for a glorious death,! Iby receiving the sacred and solemn rights of j religion ■ does not such a sight remind you of the handful of generous knights inside of Rhodes, or of the small armies of Christendom, inside of Belgrade or 7Vebizond, preparing themselves at the same hour and in the same solemn manner, to meet the innumerable hordes of Mussulmans, and shed their blood for the faith ? and, after being thus fired with a heavenly courage, fighting desperately against the enemies of God and his church, and either nobly conquering or nobly dying for such a glorious cause ? And when, in the case of the Irish Brigade, you see the survivors taken, prisoners, sometimes victims of the breach of fiiitlr of their enemies, dragged captives over Italy, insulted, scorned at, left, to starve, left to go in tatters, refused the protection of their own government like outlaws, having committed no delinquency, done no bad action, brought no dishonor on their countrydoes not such a sight remind you of the. times

of the ancient and modern persecutors, when generous Christians, faithful to God and to bis church, had to undergo the same sufferings, the same indignities, the same poverty, the same hardships and privations, the same refusal of common justice and charity, on account only of their holy faith ?

I know, sir, that the author of your adopted ; article, together with the - English press gene- . rally, holds very different views on the sub- . ject ■ nor is it to be wondered at. Sometimes religious prejudices, and also, we must say,., generoius but mistaken sympathies, shut out ' I the truth, and blind even the wisest and , most clear sighted. There are'moral as well as bodily fevers, which prevail sometimes all : over a country for a season, and will have a ! free scope. But then there will come a time when, the passions get cool, when the minds set themselves at reflecting, and then truth forces its way quietly into them through the mist. The sun shines at last, and the public opinion runs into the opposite and right channel. We read nowhere in the Holy Scrip-, ture that it is lawful for the people to rebel against their rulers, but we see there clearly many times God command to respect and obey [them. Depend on it, sir, the religious cast and proverbial good sense of the English people will see soon or late that it is neither Christian nor honest nor politic to preach and encourge revolt in other countries, to praise revolution, to approve of the deliberate violation of solemn treaties, and unjust invasion of other si •vereigiia’- dominions, even without a declaration of \yar, and all this the worse for its being done in the name, and under the hypocritical pretext, and with the boast and mockery of liberty and non-intervention. 1 hear froip well informed authority that, for one, her Majesty the Queen of England is far from pleased with the present Italian policy, and that she lias made no secret of her sentiments on the. subject to her own ministry and to the Prince Regent of‘Prussia, I have read also, only last week, in an English paper, articles, copied from two other .English, papers, which plainly show that the tide of reaction in the public mind is setting in. One especially of the two articles, a leader of the. London Press newspaper, is a lengthened, cool, wise, and truly philosophical'consideration of the subject, which supposes a reactionary tendency in the country and must increase it ; it cannot fail to make impression on all the reflective minds. It is a well known moral law, that one is generally punished whereby, he Ims sinned ; and it is not man, but Gqdi who,has. said, “ He that soweth iniquity shall reap evils ” (Prov. xxii. 8); and Lord John Russell, who. is now encouraging revolt in Italy, might live to see his revolutionary principles applied to himself or his successor in office by people nearer him, if and when they get a chance ; and no one can saybut that they would have far more reason to rise than any of the Italians. 6'uch a wild, senseless policy as Lord John’s may gratify his bigotry and spite, and, at best, answer, perhaps some wretched interest of the moment; but, besides, to live only on one’s neighbour’s troubles is a mean, low policy, unworthy of a great and noble nation ; its nature and tendency, are such, that the nation whose ,I'ulers adopt it may have, soon or late, in one jvvay or another, to rue its consequences. Nor !is it easy to. see what interest England can have in creating a first rank, and, in course of ■time, a mighty military and naval power in |the-Mediterranean.- For Italy, sir, you shall isee it at a glance, by its geographical position, !is cut out to become a, great naval.power, if it become united under one sceptre. Pord iVorth, by his folly, has raised a formidable rival for England in the Atlantic, the and all over the world ; ana now, also, Lor,d; Palmer - !ston is busy at raising another in the. Mediterranean. Think of that, sir; but be sure that, when he takes to reconsider the matter, John Bull will see it, and alter his views altogether.

' • As far the Pope, be sure also that lie will, iu ( God's, own good time, come off trouble best"of all. He has for him O.ie greater" than Garibaldi and the king of Sardinia. His name is the Most High, the Almighty, the God of Hosts. And as He has promised, and even left in writing, that never will he allow the powers of hell_ to prevail against Iris church, and has made His word good during these last eighteen hundred years, her present enemies, though ever so powerful and clever, and though ever so well combined their, plans, have" but a little chance left, except of disappointment, shame, and destruction. To conclude, sir. Let the scoffers alone, but, believe me, do not join in their scoffs. As much and as unmistakeably as any other wicked deed, scoffing comes from the great Archfiend ; it is the certain characteristic of a had cause, of a cause which is surely against | God, and against; which .God is not less surely ; [and he seems always to take a special delight jin making it end in shame.

1 have the honor to be, s : r, Your most obedient servant, John Stephen Pezant, .Resident Catholic Clergyman.. [Were it not for the influential*posiiion of our reverend correspondent we should not have thought of noticing his letter. We trust lie altogether mistakes the feelings of those whom lie champions in supposing[tlnit they could tnke offence at the paragraph-to which he refers. The first part of it referiag to the expense of the brigade is taken from a Roman Catholic paper (and how our esteemed correspondent knows that its author contributed nothing to the funds we are at a loss to conceive); the second paragraph from qne of the most liberal papers, as regards religion, in the United Kingdom. The men of the brigade are spoken of as soldiers not as Ifcmun Catholics , so that if offence lias been taken by any one as a Roman Catholic, there is not the slightest reason for it. We think it quite unworthy to try to ridicule any man folds religious opinions, and that the “ Chronicle’'' is not the medium for such an attempt being made even if it were desirable.

But the pronunciation of the words seems also objected to. Will any Irishman say that, it is incorrect ? And if a (Scotchman is not to be hurt by an allusion to his northern twang ; why should an Irishman by a reference to bis brogue? Both are tilings patent to the whole world. - IV by should there be any attempt at concealment of wliat, if it is a misfortune, fs not a fault; or why should a truthful representation give offence ? We have heard of but one Scotchman, brought up in bis own country, who could speak English with a pure accent, and he curiously enough was taught by an Irishman? We are sure the Irishmen in this place have too - much good sense to be offended at wliat was neither intended nor fitted to convey any reproach on their nation or the Roman Catholic Religion. The rest of our correspondent's letter relates to matters of facts and of opinion on some of which we differ from him arid are much tempted to enlarge, but our limited space forbids. We merely give the following paragraph from the Times on the subject. “So ends the Pope’s Irish Brigade. It is a disgrace. The country must feel rather as a family feels when a mauvais svjet whom they knew to be a ruffian turns out also to be a sneak. Six hundred men ought to have made a fight for the Pope after taking liis money. Much as we bale their cause, we have a natural interest m their pluck. They had no right to go abroad and disgrace the name of a Briton in tjiat-. respect. Ireland, brave, loyal, and sound-heaptec} Ireland,: proud in the memories of a thousand battles, where shoulder to shoulder we have together gained renown, can well afford to look without much emotion upon the shame of these outcasts. But we wish she had not paraded them before Europe t.o her own and our discredit.”

The correspondent of the Times, writing from Spoleto, says speaking of its defence by the Irish brigade :-—" The fact is that the whole thing.was a farce; there was very little attack, and still less defence. Without being entirely a fiction, the report of Major O’ Reilly, the commandant of Spoleto, is an enormous exaggeration. To read it one would imagine there had been a fierce bombardment and desperate struggle. The evidence I have obtained from several different persons, all of whom where in the town before, during, and after the siege, and whose testimony I find to agree in essential points quite convinces me, in conjunction with what I have seen with my own eyes, that the defence of Spoleto was a very shabby affair; in fact, that it was almost entirely passive, the garrison keeping themselves well covered behind their strong walls and in their casemaedt defences, and allowing the Piedmontese to fire away. The Piedmontese, on their part, knowing that the garrison could not ultimately escape them, did not press the siege with much vigour.”]

THE POPE’S TEMPORALIT/ES. (From the Saturday Review.) The imminent danger which threatens, the Pope’s temporalities naturally calls.forth the consolatory suggestions of advisers whom he would scarcely recognise as friends. Protestant laymen are incessantly reminding the head of the Roman Catholic priesthood, that according to his own. theory, the tenure of his spiritual office must be wholly independent of revenue or of dominion., It is perfectly true that the Pontifical circulars and allocutions expressed confident reliance on the metaphorical stability of St. Peter’s chair, notwithstanding the commotions which may seem to upset it. Alarm for the safety of an imperishable edifice may not be altogether logical, but it

is scarcely fair to deduce practical consequence from conventional figures of speech. If the Pope loses his temporal sovereignty, his relations to his spiritual subjects will be materially changed; and though it is possible that their devotion may in some cases be quickened by the misfortunes of their chief, the advantages which the Holy See ha 9 derived from the possession of its patrimony are more tangible than the contingent blessings which may accompany adversity or martyrdom.. The experience of many centuries has shewn that the /Sovereign of the Roman states can command ecclesiastical obedience from a large portion of Chjisiendum. The assumption that his supremacy will be equally effective when |he is reduced to a private station is either a conjectural paradox or a prudent boast. In ceasing to be a prince, the Pope must necessarily become a subject, and consequently he must participate in the isolation of the state to which he will belong. 2’he Roman Court has generally, in fact, been a political instrument of one of the great Catholic powers, but there is a wide difference between practical subserviency and ostensible allegiance, Austria and France will grudge each other the pos session of a supreme oracle, and Spain and Italy may soon be in a position to' claim a share in the control of' the Latin Church. Long before 1 lie Reformation, the ‘ traditional hostility of England to Papal authority was founded on national dislike to the interference of aliens. In modern times Catholic populations, seem almost to have forgotten that the Pope is a foreigner, except in Italy itself. Tf 'Ponieis lost; the Pope will be in the embarrassing position of a pretender,while he willbe] hampered by the restraints of a subject'.: In! the very crisis of its fate, the Ho lj See will] assuredly not abandon its ancient traditions of protest and reservation. The claim of sovereignty will be kept alive in spite of treaties and' of facts, while the contrast between reality and ecclesiastical fietion will become every day more glaring. When the exiled royalties of .Europe are headed by a landless wearer .of the triple crown, popular belief, if not deliberate conviction,will be rudely shaken. W\\h characteristic confusion of thought and language, Pius IX. has repeatedly announced his willingness to take refuge among the shades] of apocryphal martyrs'in the catacombs of Rome. A comfortable apartment in a foreign hotel, which is the true alternative of his residence at the Vatican, will be far less dignified and imj ressive. The elasticity of the Roman Church has often been celebrated by friends and enemies, nor can it be denied that an institution which has survived so many revolutions must have displayed considerable power of adaptation to circumstances; but the change which seems impending is far [more serious than the captivity of Boniface or of Clement, nor is there any longer an Avignon to supply the place of -Rome. It is difficult to judge how far the machinery.atul appendages of the Roman Court are essential to the administration of the Church. With the temporal deposition of the Pope the cardinals will sink into titular digni aries, and the monsignors will be left without maintenance and without assignable functions. The Pope may retain the power of conferring! the title ,of Eminence on those whom he may favour, but the dignity which almost raised its incumbent above the rank of a subject will become unavojdaJjjyobsolete. The best cliancb f 'ibr the preservation of rhe Papacy must be found in the prMeiice and moderation of the next Pontiff who may be elected. Pius IX. seems to. be incapable of

dignity under misfortune, and, be is too fanatical to make timely concessions. His successor may, perhaps, have the opportunity of retaining his residence and his titular rank on condition of, becoming in practice the first subject of the national monarchy The fall from temporal power would -be' most effectually broken by a peaceable process of mediatization. The cardinals, the Easter [ceremonies, a'nd the other accessaries of the supreme Pontificate would still, appear unchanged to pious visitors from a distance. There would, k undoubtedly, be abundant opportunity for faction and intrigue ; nor .is it certain the Italian Government would benefit by an arrangement in which it might, for various reasons, be willing to acquiesce. It is on selfish and corporate grounds, that the direction ,of Papal policy, ought to effect, before it is too late, the only compromise which still seems to be practicable.

Holloway's Pills. —Bilious complaints and irregularities of ,the system produced by depraved or over-abundant bile can always be quickly corrected by a few doses of these inestimable Pills, which are every where admired for their rare combination of mildness and power, for though they conquer with ease and rapidity the most obstinate disease, they never weaken the stomach or necessitate any interruption of ordinary duties or amusements. On the contrary, they increase the appetite, strengthen the organs of digestion*, give increased energy and life to all the animal functions, and fit both hand & brain for fresh exertions. The sick and enfeebled, can easily discover what a happy revolution these Pills have the power to effect, in the. human system.