The Press.
London, England, 1856-10-25 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

said right worthily chosen, to represent Belgium at
the coronation of the Emperor Alexander H. He
was preferred to cne of a less pure and less legiti-
mate race, whose name is historically connected
with that of a beauty belonging to the French Re-
public, unquestionable on the score of personal
attraction. In the distribution of the coronation
honours the Prince de Ligne failed to be invested
with the collar of St. Andrew, the highest order of
knighthood conferred by the Czar, and received one
of a I ,wer grade. Whether the grandson of the
friend of Catherine had just cause of complaint is a
matter of opinion, yet the excuse offered cannot be
held to be satisfactory, namely, that no difference
could be made betwixt the representatives of Bel-
gium and Sardinia.
A remark of the Czar at one of the Moscow rec3p-
tions deserves to be chronicled for more than one
reason. In a conversation with General Broglia,
the Ambassador of Sardinia, the Emperor earnestly
recommended his Empress Mother to the care of
King Victor Emmanuel ; and then, turning to the
Prince Esterhazy, he added, "Do not be surprised
at this proof of esteem towards an open and avowed
enemy. Such have always a right to be held in
honour."

A circumstance, remarkable in its legal and politi-
cal bearing, occurred a fortnight since at Ath. Four
of the common councillors of that town have been
tried for libel. They were accused of having stated
at an official meeting of their town council (dans une
protestation faite en conseil) that the Burgomaster
had made an incorrect and false statement to Go.
vernmeat in reference to the municipal administra-
tion of the town. The accused, persons of the
highesi cespectability, have been condemned to fines
and various terms of imprisonment not exceeding
three months. An appeal has been made to the
Court of Cessation. In a constitutional country,
where free discussion is a part of the political char-
ter, this unwise severity seems superlatively wrong.
The University of Brussels opened on the 6th.
There was a numerous attendance of professors
and other literary and scientific personages in the
College-hall, under the presidency of the Burgomas-
ter, M. Charles de Brouckere. M. Verheegen, the
chief inspector, addressed the meeting at great
length. After having congratulated the professore
on the progressive success of the university, he
observed :

But the demon of religious intolerance, with a lie in its
mouth, and with hatred in its heart, has again appeared
amongst us. It calls us, who will not submit to its
tyranny, perverted in our ways (des homme pervers),
accuses ns of being Freemasons, covering our iniquities
with mysterious secrecy, and prohibits parents to place
their children under our guidance and tuition. Twenty-
five years ago, in 1830, the Roman priest shook us by the
hand and said, "There shall be no mare religious dissen-
siou; diversity of opinion shall he respected, and worship
of every denomination tolerated ; public instruction
shall be unshackled, and the liberty of the press be free
as air." It was a solemn compact betwixt the teacher of
knowledge and the teacher of faith. Then came, in angry
defiance, the encyclical letter of Rome in 1832. It pro-
claimed the liberty of conscience and of worship, regis•
tered in the constitutional pact, to be a maxim false, ab-
surd, and extravagantly sinful ; that the liberty of the
press was pernicious and to be held in horror ( cette
liberty est funeste, on ne aaurait avoir trop d'horreur);
and that the liberty of speech and debate was inimical to
the peace of the Holy See. In fact, the encyclical letter
of Pope Gregory condemned the very essential principles
of the constitution. From that moment the Roman
bishops became the enemies of Belgian liberty. They
had to choose betwixt the duty towards their King and
country, and their allegiance to the Pope. Their selec-
tion was not doubtful. They violated their engagement
to the constitution of 1830, and ever since have been en-
deavouring to create a reaction in favour of absolutism, in
order to place Belgium under the protection, the tolerance,
the security, the well-being, the benevolence, and the hap.
p!ness of the Roman States. (Loud and ironical cheer
ing.) It was the practice formerly to stop opinion by
putting the opinioniats to death, and therefore the rack of
Innocent 111., the axe of Philip If., and the arquebuse of
Charles IX., were called into requisition. Public opinion,
fashioned by philosophy and morality, arrested the cruel
tyranny of popes and kings; and the progress of instruc•
tion, in teaching the true principles of social virtue, has
developed the human intellect, and led to civilisation. It
is against the one and the other that the Roman priest is
at war. The Roman Church no longer contents itself
with the province of teaching religion ; it assumes to be
the irresponsible arbiter of right or wrong, in hostility to
national government. It is more than a religion—it is a
political institution in conflict with the State, and bases
its ideal of social perfection upon the theocratic absolu•
tism of Rome. (C'est que l'Eglise Romaine nest pas
seulement une religion, mais un parti politique, un parti
qui marche i l'assaut de l'Etat, et qui voit l'ideal de is
societe Lumaine dans Tabsolutisme theocratique de
Rome.) 'The Bishops of Ghent and Bruges, in their
pastorals, deny the right of liberty of conscience, liberty
of instruction, liberty of speech, liberty of worship, and
the liberty of the press ; and this political faith, published
and proclaimed by the Pope in 1832, has never been annul-
led. It must, therefore, be considered as a njuai, l injunction
—serious, final, and obligatory upon the faithful, at least in

SATURDAY,

Belgium (nous devons done hi considerer comme serieuse,
definitive et obligatoire pour les Miele., da moins en Bel-
gique.) This explains the present conduct of the clergy,
and this never changes, for the history of the past is the
history of the future. Between obedience to the Pope and
respect for the constitution they will not hesitate, and
they have not hesitated. We know what we have to
expect; history explains that. It is said that the
Roman Church dare not push matters to extremity; but
what may not be done openly, may be done secretly, and
a covert attack under the fostering wing of Rome may
effect the object for which the priests now are plating.
It is in this light that the pastoral letters of the Bishops
of Ghent and Bruges must be regarded. They are the
result of a league betwixt the bishops and clergy against
the fundamental charter of Belgium, and menace both
our tranquillity from within and our independence from
without. (Les eveques et le clergy Beige forwent une
ligue contre notre pacts fondamental, et ils menacent
noire tranquillity interieure et notre independence
an dehora.) We Belgians have shown ourselves capable of
appreciating and understanding the value of liberty and
selt•government. Under the guidance of an upright and
just king (sage et loyal) we have enjoyed for twenty-five
years the rights of conscience, the Iherty of speech, and
the liberty of the press, even when neighbouring king-
dome, more powerial but less sensible, have failed to pre-
serve similar advantages. As we won these liberties, so
will we maintain them, giving to religion faithfully its
due, and keeping the Roman priest aloof from the exclu-
sive tuition of our youth.
This remarkable speech, delivered by a Roman
Catholic authority before the " notables" of Brussels,
and the professors and students of the university,
under the presidency of M. Charles de Brouckere,
was cheered vociferously from beginning to end.
In the Cabinet of Vienna M. de Brouck, the Minis-
ter of Finance, has bad differences of opinion with
the Ministers of War and Marine upon the question
of the enormous expenditure upon the defensive
works of the northern frontier. These several mili-
tary works will cost enormous sums, and when the
Italian expenses, of themselves sufficient to drain
the Austrian exchequer, are taken into account, it
may readily be imagined that the financial apprehen-
sions of AL de Brouck are not without foundation.

In the Danubian Principalities a strong opposi-
tion is being organised by the Stirbey faction against
the Government of Prince Alexander Gliika. The
propagandist committees have a largo amount of
money at their disposal. A portion of it probably
is disposed of in the active canvass for the presi-
dency of the High Divan, for which post MM. Johan
Vivaresco, Alexander Belo, and Alexander Gbika,
are candidates. There is also another election, not
less tierce and corrupt, for the Ministry of the Inte-
rior, upon the presumed resignation of the Beizade
Constantine Ghika. For the latter, M. Manuel Flo-
resco, whose daughter is married to a Russian officer,
appears to have the best chance. The Bessarabian
Commissioners, Dervish Pacha, Muchtis Pacha,
Colonel Benson, Colonel Staunton, and Colonel
Batik, have arrived at Jassy, and are about to join
the Russian Commissioners at Kicheneff, where, it
is said, they will await further instructions from
Paris. A similar delay will, in all probability,
attend the deliberations of the Moldo-Wallachian
Commissioners. The protocols of the Congress of
Paris vary in their interpretation, according to the
political bias of the commissioner ; and the bond
being broken, this political bundle of sticks shares
the rate of that in the fable.

One of those tragic occurrences, often the subject
of an Eastern tale, has taken place at Constantino-
ple. The favorite Sultana, one of a few dozen, died
prematurely and suddenly. She had been suspected
of entertaining a preferenco for a young Armenian
Giaour, who upon suspicion was put to death under
circumstances of aggravated crutlty; and, shortly
afterwards, as is reported, the Sultana perished her-
self of a disorder said Lo be natural.
With respect to the affairs of Italy, the /alunicipal
Council of Brescia, in the name of the town and pro-
vince, bas again resolutely refused to subscribe
towards the expense of the fetes in honour of the
arrival of the Emperor of Austria. Subscrip-
tions for the Alessandrian cannon, and for the
10,000 muskets, are solicited and obtained, in spite
of all precaution taken by the authorities to repress
them. M. Landucci is showing signs of being
unable to cope with the spirit of resistance rising
around him. His resignation is expected, and in
that case he will prcbably be succeeded by the
Ridolfi party in alliance with M. Baldasseroni.
He is strenuously supported by the Palazzo
Pitti party of the Grand Duchess, to which
Lord Normanby gives his undivided and
courtly support. In Bologna robberies are com-
mitted in the open day. The palace of the Marquis
Mazzacurati was broken open without any attempt
either at impeding the robbers or endeavouring to
discover them, and the brigands who publicly
assaulted and rifled the Marquis Guastavillani in the
street, and are known, still reman free from arrest.
On the 3rd, oth, 10th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 18th, 22nd,
23rd, 24th, 28th, and 29th of Septemb. r, houses and
palaces were broken into and pillaged successfully
and without any molestation of the housebreakers
on the part of the police. These are in league with

OCTOBER 25, 1856.

the bandits, and receive " buona mano " for their
inactivity.
Piedmont end Austria are agreed on the sub-
ject of railroads. The Milan and Novara line
has been conceded; as also that of Milan and
Geneva, passing by Pavia, without however inter-
fering with the Lombard-Venetian Company of Milan,
to Pavia direct. The Piedmontese line from Cas-
teggio and Stradella to Piacenza, is in course of con-
struction. These matters have been arranged be-
tween the iespective Governments through the
instrumentality of the Cavalier Negrelli, Austrian
plenipotentiary, to whom much credit is due. Their
effect upon Italy will not be doubtful. On the opening
of the CivitaVecchia railroad Monsignor Tizzani as-
sured the crowd collected on the occasion that his Holi-
ness was devoted to the cause of progress, and that he
could not have given a more substantial proof of his
anxiety for the welfare of his dear subjects, than in
facilitating their pilgrim access, by rail, to the
shrines of St. Peter and St. Paul, and to the magni-
ficent temple where, by " baccio di piede," they
might do honour personally to the great saint of
Rome. This railroad will, of course, stand high in
the market. _ _

Resistance is still the order of the day at Naples,
to judge from appearances. It has been said that
the communication of the Emperor of Russia may
possibly break the obstinacy of the King, and induce
a change of Ministry. The names of the Princes of Pe-
trulla, Ischitella, and Satriano, and of the General
Filangieri, might give a respectability which the pre-
sent Government does not possess. It may be well to
give their names in detail. Ferdinando Troia, Presi-
dent of the Council ; Luigi Carats, Minister of Fore;gu
Affairs ; Marco Murena, Minister of Finance ; Gene-
ral Rafaelle Carascosa, Secretary of State ; Luigi
Bianchini, Minister of the Intetior ; M. 3. Cassisi,
Secretary of Sicilian Affairs; Colonel Picenna, and
General Bracco, Ministers of War and Matine.
These, excepting M. Bianchini, are destitute of any
pretension to public character, in a good sense, and
are supported by Mazza and Campana, the chiefs of
the Camarilla. Any one conversant with the present
history of Naples will be aware of the futility of
expecting good government at these hands.
C. A. H.

BURGOS, SPAIN, October 19.
TIM English papers, often misinformed as regards
foreign affairs, and of none more than th )se of Spain,
are right, in one point at least, at present, viz., that
it matters little who is at the head of affairs here so
far either as honesty of purpose personally, or the
advancement of civilised in nationally, is concerned.
They are wrong, however, in another point. If every-
thing is to be done by intrigue and trickery, as is
the established rule ers la Corte here, it is at least
better the same should result in placing able, rather
tha i inefficient, men et the head of the State ; and so
in a comparative degree it has done on the late occa-
sion. General Serrano's recal is talked of, but there
are two objections to that step—first, he is liked at
Paris by the Emperor; next, he is a favorite at
Madrid with the Queen, and Narvaez knows better
than to let a former tevorite return to Court whilst he
rules there. Therefore I think you will find that
Serrano will stay where he is. O'Donnell is said to
have refused certain proffered honours, stating "he
had enough thereof in being able to serve his Queen
and country!"
Concessions of about 1,280 miles of railway have
been made this year, of which about one tenth is
completed. The Saragossa• Madrid line, however,
was conceded before, so is not included therein.
The longest line (Madrid to Albacete) is abodt
ninety-seven miles long, and reasonably well worked.
A smash took place there the other day, but only
peasants and baggage trucks were destroyed. The
new telegraph line via Perpignan is to open shortly,
which will accelerate the receipt of news, which at
present makes long stops to rest at all the Spanish
town en route to Madrid on this line ; why, nobody
can tell, for nobody seems even to know it after all.
The Cortes, we bear, are to be dissolved ere long,
and the new elections to be conducted on the most
enlightened and anti-corrupt principles, worthy of
Lord John's own bills thereon. It is not easy to see
why we should be bothered with a Cortes at all, as
nothing suits Spanish taste so much as the Rey or
Reyna Assoluto. The French, however, were never
more mistaken than in fancying they are likely again
get footing in Spain • they are just as far from it
as they were in 1815 after the Duke had driven them
out. The Emperor's influence may, and it is to be
hoped will, do much here, but a French soldier's
apps arance would raise the whole Peninsula in arms
—and tnis I have heard said again and again diode by
Spaniards the most tolerant, and most alive to the
defects and semi-barbarisms of their country. The
Queen Mother's property is already freed from se-
questration—the first fruit of Narvaez policy. As to
Sartorias, hie premiership is a long way off, let