The Express.
London, England, 1847-09-21 00:00:00

POPE PIUS THE NINTH.

A meeting of " catholics of the Sardinian Chapel,
Lineoln's-inn-fielda, and of othen sympathising with them, to
express their hearty indignation at the late iniquitous pro-
ceedings of the Austrian government," was he:4 yesterday
evening at the Freemasons' Hall. The hall wa densely
crowded. At seven o'elosk,.

The Rev. J. lirsr: took the chair, and briefly stated the
objects of the meeting. They had met, he said, fur a double
purpose. On the one hand, to uphold the int-reAs of
patriotism, virtue. and religion, and on the other to beat
d tern to the dust injustice, tyranny, and sacrilege. (Cheers.)
They we ro met there to cheer and encourage the
heart of their most holy father, l'ope l'ius i X., the greatest
and mo.t illustrious of living men, and to declare that, u
far as the laws of their country would allow them, they
were ready to defend him, not only with their for-
tunes, but, if necessary, with the last drop of their
blood. Oh, this was a glorious cause, calculated to in-
flame the coldest imagination—a cause which had eli-
cited the sympathy, not only of catholics, but of all
right-minded and honest men throughout the world.
To catholics, the question to be decided was of the
utmost importance, not only in a political but a religious
point of view. On the contest now going on in hely de-
pended the question whether they should he free or enslaved
fur centuries to come—whether the land of the brave ancient
Romans was to continue • prey to a hateful foreign domina-
tion, or was to burst its chains asunder, and rise
again, the glory of the nations, and the pride
and admiration of the world. (Cheers.) All the
great principles for which patriots in all ages had fought and
bled were at stake in the struggle between Pope l'ius IX.
and the despot of Austria. Not only were political privi.
leges but the interests of religion itself at stake. It
was now to be decided whether the holy father we, to be a
puppet in the hands of Austria, or was to be free and inde-
pendent, to rule the Church of God according to his own con-
science and the welfare and happiness of the Christian
world. For many years the government of Austria had
exercised a most unjust influence over the head of
the church, for many years had it interfered in the
election of Pope, and bad had the audacity to
send mes-ages to the College of Cardinals to influence such
elections. Ever since the time of Joseph 11. the Austrian
emperors had sought to lessen the powers of the Pope in
their own dominions, and, unfortunately, they had too well
succeeded. The l'ope had now in Austria only nominal
power, and the bishops were held in fetters as galling as in
the dominions of the sanguinary monster who sat en-
throned in the icy capital of the north. They were bound
to rally round the holy father because Austria threatened to
invade the property of the church, and to attack
the person of the holy father, himself. Oh, if he were
to touch him only with his finger, all Europe would
rise up as one man and tear the monster in pieces,
(Cheers) But they had reason to hope that the present state
of things would net long continue. They had reason to be-
lieve that Pius IX. had been sent by providence to chastise
and scathe the tyrants of the earth, to destroy the unna-
tural connexion which for years had subsisted between the
church and deep ni.a. (Cheers.) If then they were lovers
of liberty, if they held patriotism and virtue in honour, if
they detested tyranny and oppression, if they were
faithful children of the holy see, they would on
that evening raise a shout of execration against the
monster of Austria which would make the tyrant tremble on
his very throne. lie hail nothing further to add save to
introduce the mover of the first resolution.

The Rev. It. MELIA (an Italian clergyman, butwho spoke
excellent English) moved in substance, that as catholic*
they were bound to the holy see and to the head of the
church, and that they begged to express before the world
their unqualified allegiance to Pope Pias IX.. who so
worthily fills St. Peter's chair. The object of the present
meeting was very interesting to him (Mr. Melia), but he
regretted exceedingly that ids small knowledge of the
English language prevented his expatiating on it as
he could wish. lie was a native of Rime, and had
been but a short time living in this metropolis,
and therefore be could but imperfectly speak their Sulgusge.
Besides it was the first occasion on which he had presumed
to speak at a public meeting. (" Hear," and sheen.) But
it was for him a gnat pleasure to think that his first essay
was made in favour of the first man of the age.
Cheers.) Yes, Pius the Ninth was the brat man of the ase,
not only as being the supreme earthly ruler of Christianity,
but as being the most liberalsovereign, the must " progressiste"
man of the present times. They had heard massy things
oi Pope Pius, but he (Mr. Melia) knew much more.
They knew him generally, and by reputation, but he knew
the holy father personally. ( Hear.) They knew him
but a short time: he had known him for twenty years.
During all that time had Pius the Ninth been em-
ployed for the good of religion, for the business of the
church, and the welfare of mankind. I'ius the Ninth was,
in fact, the angel of the present century ; the Irish liberator
had passed away, but he had given his place to the Italia.
liberator. Daniel O'Connell was dead, but his heart was
still living in Rome in the breast of Pope Pius the Ninth.
(Cheers.) A friend had recently spoken to the holy father
about politics, and his answer was, "My politics con-
sist in putting into practice the commands of the natural
law and the Gospel. If I were • subject I should desire
my sovereign to consult my liberty and happiness ; as a
sovereign I shall not do leas than as a subject I desired."
These were the feelings at the heart of the holy
father, and all the bayonets of Austria could not daunt
such a heart. (Cheers.) Pius IX. was the morning star,
nay more, he wan the sun in the happy horizon of
the now enlightened world, whose mission it was
to show that catholicity was not hostile to liberty
and progress. Already many reforms had been effected by
the Pope. He had granted • general amnesty, he had esta-
blished a council of ministers, he had revised the penal code,
he had issued a commission for the direction of the treasary,
he had appointed deputies for the provinces, and he had con-
ceded municipal government; lastly, he h■d promoted
the eonstruction of railways in the papsi dominions.
(Cheers.) After one or two further obscrvatious, the reverend
speaker concluded by imploring the meeting to send to
Pius IX. means successfully to combat the machinations at
Austria.

Mr. LVeAfl, in seconding the resolution, entered into a king
historical detail, to show that universal christendom had for-
merly been in the habit of contributing to the papal re-
venue', and said that as Rome was now fighting the battle
of christendom, the whole burthen of the struggle should not
be allowed to rest on the Legation" and the Campagna.
ltome was to the whole:christian world what Middlesex was
to England, and had no mote right to bear the entire bur-
then of the national expenses.
Mr. CHISHOLM ANsTEr, M.P., moved that Pope Pius the
Ninth " deserves thtir unbounded respect and admiration
as a wise temporal ruler and a firm asscrtor of
rational liberty and independence." Mr. Ansley argued
that in this straggle catholic should rely on themselves, and
repudiate the intervention of the great—what he called the
robber princes of Europe. Lord Palmerston was not to
be trusted, as his objects were not to serve the Pope, but to
subserve the whig policy in Ireland. Neither did he wish
to call in the aid of Sir C. Napier and his fleet, seeing that
that officer, although brave, was not moral, and had once
commanded a piratical squadron on the coast of Portugal.
He (Mr. Anstey had no wish to see the holy father proto-
colisrd. (Hear. If they only aided the l'ope to awry
on the strugg e himself, he would establish civil and
religious liberty, not only in central Italy, but over the
whole of Italy, and in the domains of Austria herself.
The Rev. W. KELLY seconds d the resolution.
After a few words from a Mr. Northouse ia support of
the resolution,
Mr. L. EremiNolisM moved, and tho Rev. W. Banat
seconded, a resolution protesting against the occupation of
Ferrara by the Austrian troops. AU the resolutions were
carried unanimously.
A collection having been made, thanks were voted to the
chairman, and the meeting separated.

THE NEW SANITARY COMMISSION.—The appdat-
ntent of the special commission, gazetted this week, foe
inquiring into the means of improving the health of tie
metropoii., must be regarded as • recommencement of
sanitary reform in a more workmanlike manner. In sttempt-
ing to legislate, Lord Morpeth was balked by easily fore-
seen obstacles. In appointing a commission to grapple with
the principal of those obstacles government stand pledged
to a real performance of work. The commissioners can
not mistake their duty or their interest. Three of them
are men already versed in their labour. The chair-
man is a steady, attentive, and judicious man. Mr.
Lambert Jones, the commissioner taken from the City,
has been called " the representative of filth ;" it
having been presumed that he would represent the
conservative objection entertained in the City against inno-
vation on the vested rights of filth and pestilence to un-
disturbed away. But the presumption is too gross. We do
not remember what precise coon. Mr. Jones has taken on
the subject of sanitary reform ; but everybodyknows that
be is an active intelligent man, with feelings and tastes
above mere local objects. His *election for so important
poet cannot but stimulate him to acquit himself with credit.
There can be no doubt that he will be a useful aid to
the other commissioners, and, possibly, he may be the means
of at once disarming the civic fears of cleanliness sod of
conciliating assent. The more boldly and effectually the
commissioners do their work, the more thorough will be
their support from the public, the more complete their hold
en the official concurrence in ulterior measure.. It will
not be very long before another opportunity will occur tee
testing the sincerity of the official support. The functions
which ought to be performed bye board of health are per.
formed, or rather neglected, by certain commissioner. of
&were, appointed for each district of the metropolis. Ex-
cept for the City, the commissions are issued by the Lord
Chancellor; and the chancellor annually appoints them ac
cording to • list handed in by each expiring board, which he
adopts without question. The commissions will expire is
December next. Of course, if the new special commission is
to have any practical or reasonably prompt result, it will be
seedless to re-appoint the old machinery for another year.
An additional reason against continuing this standing prac-
tice is the probability that the commissions about to expire
would nominate candidates the most disposed and most able
to obstruct the measure intended to supersede them in their
functions. The appointment of the commissions, therefore,
ought to be suspended at least till the special commissioners
have made their report. From the course taken by Lord
Cottenham in this behalf, the public will be able to form a
tolerable guess as to the official sincerity.—Spectator,
CELEBRATION OF TILE RETURN OF MR. W. J. FOX
TO PAILLIAMENT.—Yeiterday evening a meeting took place
at the National-hall, in Holborn, of the friends and ad-
mirers of Mr. W. J. Fox, to celebrate his return to parlia-
ment. Mr. W. Lovett was in the chair. A numerous
assemblage partook of tea, after which the following sent'.
m-'nta were Pored : By Mr. T. Beggs, seconded by Mr.
W. Howitt, " The source of all wealth, and the foundation
of all power, a free, moral, and enlightened population ;
the growing desire for improving our fellow-country,ro
mentally, morally, and politically, which has recently