The National Register.
London, England, 1811-07-28 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NATIONAL REGISTER.

SYR—Turning over the number of the National Register fir
Sunday the (.23d of June last, I find that your attention was cisu-
ally attracted to that portion of Napoleon Bonaparte's speech to
his Legislative Body. on June the 10th, which relates to what he
styles " the affairs o. religion." Your words are these. Glancing
at his religious opinions, but dilating more on his political ones,
44 his views rApecting the Roman Catholic church are," you
" in some degree unfolded;" and you think " he gives a pretty
good hint that he will not suffer it long to continue in its present
state, hut will establish a kind of Geleral Religion. composed,
(according to his own phraseoh v) of those truths and principles
which belong to the whole universe." Bonaparte's declarations
on this head will be found of considerable importance. whilst
you, therefore, are more immediately engaged in following up
his political seminients and achievements, permit me to dinFt
the thougles of your readers to the religious intimations, Mum
such they seem, of this extraordinary man. •
Bonaparte's speech attributes the separation of one half ot-Lru•
rope from the Church of Rome " to the contradiction which has
never ceased to exist, between the truths and the principles of re-
which belong to the whole universe, and the pretensions and
interests which regarded only a very small corner of Italy." None
can inistalre him here. Se:posing that there are certain ' truths,
and prineiples of religion which belong to the-whole universe,"
perhaps he meant to Europe, or, properly defined, the " Com-
monwealth of Clitistendom," that certain truths were common
to our common faith,—assuming this fact as the ground of Ms
proceeding, no thinking person can be at a loss to apprehend what
he means by " those pretensions and interests which," opposed
to cf religion, '• regarded only a very small corner of
Italy." Rome papal is clearly meant. Keeping this in view, we
aleo know what Napoleon means when he says " I have put an
eed to this scandal for ever." Popery is divested of supremacy.
This " state of the third order," this politico-tfieolog,ical states
ceases now to rear its head. The Pope of Rome is not king.
Though there should be a King of Rome, however, there may
still be a Church of Rome. Divested though he is of most of his
teirperalities, the Pope may still have his spirituelities. Although
he corrolaitis that " the affairs of religion have been too often
mixed amid sacrificed to the interests of a state of the third or•
der," boasting that he has " put an end to this scandal for ever,"
Bonareerte still assigns " Palaces to the Popes at Rome and. at
Paris." Perhaps this indulgence means nothing. • .
Notwithstanding the respect apparently paid to the Popes by
still allowing them 46 palaces at Rome and at Paris," and the
anxious parade evinced by the present Archbishop of Paris
(Cardinal Maury) in order to remedy " the scarcity of priests"
arid " the urgent necessities of his parishes," Bonaparte's con-
duct is on the whole slid' as tends to bring the religion of po-
pery into utter disgrace, if not to ensure its destruction. His
memorable Conference with the Catholic and Protestant Clergy
at Breda, on the first of May, 1810, since published in the Ga-
at Dorpt, sufficiently indicates his real sentiments respecting the
Catholic Church. 44 The Popes, by their hierarchy," said Bona-
parte, to the Catholic Apostolic Vicar, " set Europe in flatries.
Perhaps, it is your wish :o establish scaffolds and racks ; but it
shall be my care that you do nut succeed. Are you of the rell-