The Press.
London, England, 1856-06-14 00:00:00

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BRUSSELS, June 10.
APART from an openly political movement, there has
been a meeting of the "Academia Royale des
Sciences," for the quinquennial distribution of
prizes. It gave the opportunity to M. de Gerlache
to make some observations on the "relations des
Papes et des princes Chretiens au 19eme siecle." M.
de Gerlache, an historian of some pretension, is the
author of the " History of Liege," and other essays
connected with Belgium. He is therefore permitted
to assume a tone of authority that may pass current
with those unacquainted with the particular portions
of history of which he may treat. The substance of
his present lecture set forth without reservation that
the wars betwixt Charles V. and Clement VII. were
caused by the desire of the Pope Juliano dei Medici
to liberate Italy from Germanic dominion (di cac-
ciare i barbari)—therefore, said M. de Gerlache,
the Pope was wrong. The present contest in Italy,
continued the historian of Liege, betwixt the Papacy
and the Liberals—in which Pio Nono seeks to
destroy constitutionalism, and to assure Austrian
predominance—is, in Roman Catholic acceptation,
right, and therefore the Pope is deserving of all
praise and support from true Christians. This was
the amount and object of the lecture of M. de Ger-
lache. The assertion of M. de Gerlache that the
atrocities committed at Rome were generally per-
formed by the Protestant soldiers of the Constable
de Bourbon, is a gratuitous assumption that can
only be accepted by the supremely ignorant. Every
primer of history will inform him that the Lutherans
were disinclined to enlist under the banner of Charles
V., even against the Pope, without " protecuon of
conscience," wl.ich was refused, and that the army
of the Constable was composed of Germans, Spa-
niards, and Italians, banded together for the exclusive
object of pillage. The proclamation of Luther, as
Pope in the place of Clement, was tht, act of Riniero
Vivarelli of Pontedera, a noted freebooter and con-
dottiere, and a Roman Catholic, whose family
became afterwards ruined by the payment of the fine
necessary to wash out the sacrilegious stain.
But the gist of this historical romance was shaped
to bear upon the present elections in favour of the
"parti pretre." A Ministerial project, bold and dan-
gerous, has been put forth by M. Norhornb to restore
to convents and monasteries their ancient privileges,
under the appellation of " itablissements de bleu-
faisance." It is asserted that Belgium is suffering
under the pressure of taxes in support of the poor,

This programme of annexation has appeared "in
extenso" in the Gazette Autrichienne of 10th and
11th April, 1858. The journal is the official organ
of M. de Bruck, the Minister of Finance, and the
article is avowedly written by M. Stein, and is pub-
lished by authority.
It is well known that the landowners in the prin-
cipalities are nearly ruined, their estates heavily
mortgaged, and that they neither can pay interest
nor find a purchaser for the property, since, accord-
ing to existing regulations, guaranteed by the late
treaty with the European powers, a foreigner is de-
barred the right of possessing land. To relieve the
embarrassment of the landlords it has been pro-
posed to establish a bank " hypothecaire," which
should advance money upon the security of land at
ten per cent. The Moldavian Government had been
in treaty with a German company so far back as
1852, but the late war put a stop to the negotiation.
At the conclusion of the peace M. Frederick de
Isiulandt, chairman of the Dessau Bank, and a

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C. A. H.
only be accepted by, the supremely ignorant. Every This programme of annexation has appeared "in
primer of history will inform him that the Lutherans extenso" in the Gazette Autrichienne of 10th and
were disinclined to enlist under the banner of Charles 11th April, 1858. The journal is the official organ tortign nub Colonial 3ntriligcnte.
V., even against the Pope, without " protecuon of of M. de Bruck, the Minister of Finance, and the
conscience," wl.ich was refused, and that the army article is avowedly written by M. Stein, and is pub-
of the Constable was composed of Germans, Spa- lished by authority. FRANCE.
niards, and Italians, banded together tor the exclusive It is well known that the landowners in the prin- The terrible inundations from the Loire and Rhone
object of pillage. The proclamation of Luther, as cipalities are nearly ruined, their estates heavily which have desolated the country are at length sub •
Pope in the place of Clement, was tht, act of Riniero mortgaged, and that they neither can pay interest siding. The Emperor started on Monday for Angers
Vivarelli of Pontedera, a noted freebooter and con- nor find a purchaser for the property, since, accord- and Chartres, visited the neighbourhood, distributed
dottiere, and a Roman Catholic, whose family ing to existing regulations, guaranteed by the late relief, and returned to St. Cloud on Wednesday night.
became afterwards ruined by the payment of the fine treaty with the European powers, a foreigner is de- The Emperor has given 600,000 f. from his private
necessary to wash out the sacrilegious stain. barred the right of possessing land. To relieve the casette to the sufferers. The Emperor's great ex-
But the gist of this historical romance was shaped embarrassment of the landlords it has been pro- tivity during these catastrophes bas excited the
to bear upon the present elections in favour of the posed to establish a bank " hypothecaire," which utmost enthusiasm among the people of Lyons and
"parti pretre." A Ministerial project, bold and dan- should advance money upon the security of land at Angers.
gerous, has been put forth by M. Norhomb to restore ten per cent. The Moldavian Government had been The Senate has resolved to erect a column in me-
to convents and monasteries their ancient privileges, in treaty with a German company so far back as mory of the War and Peace.
under the appellation of " itablissementa de bieti- 1852, but the late war put a atop to the negotiation. Ihe army, it is stated, will shortly be reduced by
faisance." It is asserted that Belgium is suffering At the conclusion of the peace M. Frederick de 200,000 men.
under the pressure of taxes in support of the poor, Nulandt, chairman of the Dessau Bank, and a The Papal Legate arrived in Paris on Monday.