The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-11-18 00:00:00

THE POPE ON THE STATE OF EUROPE.

The Paris l'airerz copies from a provincial paper, the
Gazette d, Mali, an aconnit lif an Interview which Pope
Pius IX. granted on the :Nth of October to a large body of
persons who were anxious to pay their respects to him. one
of their number asked how long the triumph of the wicked
and the oppression of the Church would continue. The
Pope replied—
We have all sinned, and what is now happening is
but the chastisement of our misdeeds. We rhould,
therefore, resign ourselves to the will of the Most High,
with the conviction that GM will in the end listen to
the prayers of His people. Let us, then, pray without
ceasing; the Father of Mercy will have pity on us, and
will soon deliver our Holy City from its oppressors..
Let us pray for the upright, that they may persevere
in the right path; let ns pray for the wicked, that they
may become aware of their errors and may return to
the fold of the good Shepherd. It is not only for the
.City of Rome that we most pray, but for the whole
world, for everywhere evil is making fearful progress.
In France, impiety, checked for a time, is mar again
lifting its head. In Germany heresy is making greater
efforts than ever to oppress the Chrirtian religion, and
to establish its own greatness upon its ruins But
what is still more lamentable is that this impious
movement is ,:ountenanced bv the Governments. In
Russia, in Spain, in Switzerland, indeed everywhere,
revolution reeks to triumph and to drag down society
into an abrss of evils. What then, will, become of us,
if God should abandon us? Ah. my children, let us
address ourselves to Him, that He may save us and
convert the misguided souls which are rushing towards
their eternal perdition."

THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.
The new session of the above society Waa opened in
London, on Monday night. The opening address was
read by Sir H. C. Rawlinson, K.C. 8., the president,
who occupied the chair.
After referring to the irreparable loss the society
had sustained in the death of Sir Roderick Murchison,
the President proceeded briefly to mentis on the various
matters of geographical interest which hail occurred
since the anniversary meeting at the end of May.
He said there was now reason to hope that one of
their most distinguished associates would next season
proceed in a vessel of his own to the coast (4 Eastern
Greenland, and endeavour to follow up the discoveries
of the late German expedition by thoroughly exploring
the great "fords" which run far into the interior
of the country. In the meantime another German
expedition, conducted by Messrs. Payer and Weys
precht, had achieved important results. Russia
had also been displaying much activity in Arctic
research. An elaborate Russian expedition is now
hi course of preparation, which will attempt to
reach the Pole, but which is also destined to study
the geography, climate, and industrial condition of the
Siberian coast. The Swedes had further despatched a
vessel under lbsron von Otter to the west coast of Greens
land, during the late summer, to bring away a large mass
of meteoric iron which had been discovered there, and
the well-known Mr. Rosenthal had sent out in his
own ships scientific observers to the seas east of
Spitzbergen. On the continent of Asia geographical
knowledge was making steady progress. In Persia
likewise substantial progress was being made. With
regard to Africa, the field of our noblest triumphs it
was surprising and also disappointing that nothing
should have been heard up ti the present of Sir Samuel
Baker's expedition on to the I pper Nile. With respect
to Dr. Livingstone, by the last reports from Dr. Kirk at
Zanzibar it appeared that the Arab merchant with whom
our traveller hail pn wee. led from the vi eith up to MiLllya-
meh had purled on to Ujiji, and was daily expected
at Unvanyembe. From Livingstone himself no
direct intelligence had recently reached Zanzibar,
and it was only by inference that Dr. Kirk sub-
posed him to be still at Manyameh. The President
here intimated that, in consideration of Dr. Living-
stone's services, her Majesty's Government hail been
pleased to grant to his children the sum of £3OO.
Reference was then made to the valuable services
Captain Elton had rendered in Southern Africa, and
allusion was made to a valuable paper which had been
submitted by Lieutenant Blakiston, which described
his journey round the island of Yesso. Another paper
had also been promised by Captain Burton on the
Anti-libanue.
A paper was read by Captain Frederick Elton on
"1 he Exploration of the Elver Limpopo," which was
received with great approbation.
A vote of thanks to the chairman brought the pro-
ceedings to a close.