The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-27 00:00:00

SIR ROBERT PEEL AND THE PRESS.

The two members for Tamworth had an opportunity
of meeting their constituents on Tuesday last at a public
dinner given to the retiring Mayor of the town. The
toast of " Her Majesty's Ministers" was spoken to by
Sir R. Peel, who said—This war was not a matter of
choice to them ; it was a necessity—(hear)—and tit()
best way of concluding it was by a hearty and deter-
mined prosecution of it, and an untiring perseverance in
carrying out the object we had in view. (Cheers.) But,
however determined the Government and the people
were to carry on the war with vigour, it would be
perfectly useless unless they had fitting agents abroad
to answer to the policy of Lord Palmerston. What
they wanted were men 8,000 miles away with
energy and vigour to carry out the policy of the
Administration at home. He could not help saying
that the press had rendered the most incalculable
benefits to the country. Far from crying down
the press, as some others were inclined to do, he
thought that the press had done infinite good by
placing before the public, with great temper, judg•
!Dent, and determination, the circumstances which had
occurred in connection with the war, and which other-
wise might have been concealed both from the Parlia-
ment and the country, and which had led to the adop-
tion of measures which, but for the press, might not
have been undertaken. Having touched on the cost of
the war, which be set down at 100,000,0001., Sir Robert
wont on to say that during the last year the fleet in the
Baltic had cost the country between 8,000,0001. and
9,000,0001. sterling, and he thought he was expressing
the opinion of many in the country—when he said that
the 8,000,000/., or 9,000,0001. spent in the Baltic had
not answered the expectations of the people. The hon.
baronet expriissed a similar opinion as to the fleet in the
Black Sea, and referred with high praise to Lord
Palmerston's late speech at Guildhall. Capt. Town-
shend followed, controverting Sir Robert's views as to
the fleets, pointing out that all that could be done was
done. Other toasts and speeches followed.

The new range of huts for 1,000 men at Hobb's Point,
Chatham, have not yet been occupied, nor will they be
for some little time, as the fittings are not ready.

THE POPE AND THE AUSTRIAN
CONCORDAT.

The following allocution of Pope Pius IX. was
read in the Secret Consistory of the 3d of Novem-
ter :

" Venerable Brothers,—ln our apostolic solicitude for
the universal flock of the Lord and in our paternal love
for all the faithful nations under the s way of the imperial
and royal house of Austria, since the commencement of
our supreme pontificate we have directed, venerable bro-
thers, all our cares and most ardent desires to the regu-
lation of the affairs and interests of religion in that vast
empire. Thanks to the infinite bounty of God and to
the piety of our most dear son in Jesus Christ, Francis
Joseph, Emperor and Apostolic King of Austria, what
we desired has come to pass, and it is for us the subject
of the greatest joy. Scarcely had this religious prince
taken the reins of government in the empire of his fa-
thers than, earnestlyresponciing to the just wishes express-
ed by us and our predecessors, well knowing also that our
holy religion and its salutary doctrine are the sources of
peace, security, and true honour to nations, he saw no-
thing more urgent and glorious than to merit the bless-
inge of good men by confirming and protecting the free-
dom of the Catholic Church throughout the extent of his
dominions. Daily increasing in zeal and filial devotion
to correspond to our solicitude, he earnestly requested of
us to conclude with him a Concordat which, in virtue of
apostolic authority, should regulate ecclesiastical affairs
in his empire, and afford increased facilities for meeting
the spiritual wants of his people. You easily understand
of yourselves, venerable brothers, with what joy we re-
ceived these solicitations from His Imperial and Apos-
tolic Majesty—solicitations so laudable, and which, cor-
responding so' perfectly with our own desires and those
of our predeeessors, are a striking proof of the love which
this eminent prince bears to religion. Accordingly, we
employed without delay our care and solicitude to con-
duct to a happy issue an affair of so much importance ;
and, with God's aid, we have concluded with our most
dear son in Jesus Christ this desired Concordat, which has
been signed by the plenipotentiaries chosen on both sides
—that is to say, in our name, by our dear son, Michael
Viale Prela, Cardinal Priest of the Holy Roman Church,
sent by us and by the Apostolic See as Pro-Nuncio to
his Imperial and Apostolic Majesty, and recently named
by us Archbishop of Bologna ; and, in the name of the
illustrious Emperor and King, by our venerable brother,
' Joseph Othmar, Archbishop of Vienna. This Concordat,
stow ratified by us and by the Emperor and King, will
be, according to the orders which we have given, laid
before you, with the apostolic letters by which we have
regularly and solemnly confirmed it.
But for the moment we could not avoid communi-
cating to you, openly and publicly in this august assem-
bly, the extreme joy caused us by this happy event, since
we have been enabled to regulate what in this vast empire
concerns the dignity, authority, doctrine, and protec-
tion of the rights of the Catheln Church and of the Holy
See, as also what can establish and daily increase more
and more the spiritual welfare of those nations. In
short, venerable brothers, in this Concordat it has been
before all provided ti at the Catholic Apostolic Roman
religion shall be preserved and protected hereafter in all
the empire of Austria, and in each of the States which
constitute it, and that it there shall possess and enjoy all
the rights and prerogatives whisk belong to it in virtue
of its Divine institution and of the canonical constitu-
tions. And as the Roman Pontiff, Vicar ofJesus Christ
on earth, and Successor of the Blessed Prince of the
Apostles, has of Divine right a priority of honour and juris-
diction throughout the entire Church, this Catholic dogma
has been expressed in most precise terms in the act
itself, and the plenipotentiaries have discarded from it,
radically eliminated and banished the opinion—false,
perverse, fatal, and entirely contrary to this Divine prio-
rity of its rights—an opinion always condemned and pro-
scribed by the Apostolic See—according to which the
placeat or the exequatur of the civil Government should
be obtained for what concerns spiritual things and eccle-
siastical affairs. Therefore it has bean ruled, that the
mutual relations of the bishops of the Austrian States,
and those of their clergy, and of the faithful population
with our Apostolic See, in all that regards spiritual mat-
ters and ecclesiastical affairs, should be perfectly free,
without ever being subjected to any royal authority of
any kind whatever. Equal care has been taken to pro-
vide for what the sacred pontiffs should enjoy of full
and entire liberty in the exercise of their episcopal
functions, aid that they may thus daily devote them-
selves better for what the salvation of their flocks
demands of them—for it has been agreed, among other
points, that the archbishops and bishops may communi-
cate, without restraint, not only with their clergy and
the faithful people, but., moreover, publish pastoral let-
ters, instructions, and mandates touching ecclesiastical
matters—receive clerics, in order to educate them accord-
ing to the rubs laid down by the holy canons, admit them
to holy orders, and remove from among them those whom
they shall judge unworthy ; also, that they may create
minor benefices, found and organise parishes, prescribe
and indicate prayers and publications, assemble synods,
whether provincial or diocesan, and impose censures, and
interdict to the faithful bad hooks, contrary to religion
and good morals. And as it is of the highest interest
for civil and religious society that youth should
be early formed in piety and sound doctrine, it has
been provided that, in all pubiic and private schools,
instruction be given to ail Catholic youth in a manner
perfectly conformable to the doctrine of the Church.
Thus the bishops will have in virtue of their charge,
not only to direct in every locality the religious instruc-
tion of youth, but also to watch with the greatest care
that in no part whatsoever of education there enter any-
thing contrary to the Catholic religion and good morels;
and, therefore, all the primary schools shall be subjected
to an ecclesiastical inspector. It has been likewise pre-
scribed that the bishops shall have, as the holy canon,:
desire, the direction, government, and achninistration of
the clerical seminaries ; and that the establishment and
choice of superiors, professors, and masters of belles lettres
and sciences, and the admission of pupiis, shall be left
to their prudence and discretion. But it will never be
permitted, without the authority of the bishops, to teach
any part either of theological science, the science o
canon law, or catechism.

"AU ecclesiastical cases, those especially which concern
faith, the sacraments, and the rights of the sacred ministry,
and regard only the ecclesiastical court, shall be submitted
to ecclesiastical judges, who will pronounce according
to the laws of the sacred canons and the prescriptions
of the Council of Trent, even in cases of marriage,
leaving to the lay judges to take cognisance only of
the matter pertaining to the civil relations of the
marriage. It will pertain to the same ecclesiastical autho-
rity to pronounce on the existence of the acts of betro-
thal and on the consequences of the prevention of mar-
riage, observing with the greats zt care the prudent and
wise dispositions of the same Council of Trent, and the
letters aspotolic of our predecessor Pius VI., of happy
memory, commencing with those words, "Auctorern
The bishops shall enjoy their full right to inflict on
clerics who shall merit them the penalties established by
the canonical laws, or such others as they shall
judge appropriate, and they shall be en-
tirely free to impose censures ou all the faithful who
shall dare to violate and transgress the ecclesiastical laws
and the canonical prescriptions. Much, however, as the
right of patronage ought to be submitted to the eccle-
siastical judge, we have consented that the questions of
simple lay patronage be submitted to the civil tribunals.
We have also granted, in consideration of the circum-
stance 3 of the times, that the lay tribunals may take
cognLance of cases purely civil concerning cleric,, and
we have agreed to permit the cases of crimes and of-
ences committed by them, and which fall under the ju-
risdiction of the laws of the empire, to be referred to the
same tribunals ; but the bishop shall be immediately in-
formed of all particulars respecting such matters, and all
the deference which the clerical state exacts shall be
observed. _ _ _ _

" As the house of God should be honoured by all with
a pious and respectful zeal, all possible measures have
been taken to preserve securely the respect and immu-
nity of places of worship. The religious Emperor and
King himself will never permit that the Catholic
Church, its faith, its Liturgy, and its holy institutions
be damaged or disrespected in any manner, whether by
word, writing, or act ; or that the bishops and sacred
ministers bo prevented from fulfilling their charge and
their duty, especially when they have to defend faith and
morals, and to maintain ecclesiastical discipline. Be-
sides, he will lead his powerful assistance in the execu-
tion of the sentences pronounced by the bishop against
the clerics, and regard with solicitude the honour dee to
the sacred ministers ; not only will he not permit any-
thing to their prejudice, but, still more, he will direct all
the magistrates of his empire to render to the archbishops,
the bishops, and the clergy, the honour due to them.
" Among the other points agreed upon, the Aposto-
lic See has guarded intact and inviolable its right of
erecting new dioceses and assigning to them new limits
when it shall perceive their utility for the faithful ; and
his Imperial and Royal Majesty, in the exercise of the
privilege conceded to him by the Holy See of presenting
and naming bishops, will take hereafter and before all
the advice of the prelates of the ecclesiastical province.
The first dignity of a metropolitan church, ercbiepisco-
pal and episcopal, shall be conferred by us and by our
successors, unless it belong to a private lay patronage,
in which ease the second will be substituted. His Im-
perial Majesty shall continue to nominate to the other
dignities and canonical prebends, with the exception,
however, of those which belong to the free collation of
bishops and of the right of patronage legitimately ac.
quired. These canonical prebends shall be granted to
the priests who, invested with the qualifications required
by the canons, have distinguished themselves in the
exercise of the sacred ministry, in • ie management
of ecclesiastical affairs, or in the professorship of the
sacred sciences. It has been also agreed that in the me-
tropolitan and episcopal churches where a canon peni-
tentiary and a canon theologist are required, and in col-
leges a canon theologist, according to the prescriptions
of the Council of Trout, they shall be named as soon as
possible ; and that these offices shall be conferred accord-
ing to the prescriptions of the same Council, and the
pontifical decrees. As the choice of worthy and efficient
priests is of great importance to the salvation of souls,
it has been agreed that all parishes shall be conferred as
the result of a public concursus, and strictly conformable
to the prescriptions of the Council of Trent; and, as re-
gards the parishes under ecclesiastical patronage, the
patrons will be bound to present one out of three pro-
posed by the bishop at his pleasure. Anxiously desiring to
give to the illustrious Emperor and King an enduring
testimony of our goodwill, we have most freely conceded
to him and his Catholic successors in the Austrian empire
the nomination to all canonries and parishes, subject to
the right of patronage arising out of a religious or scien-
tific foundation, with this condition, however, that one
of three, designated by the bishop as most worthy, after
a public concursiss, shall be chosen. It has not been omit-
ted to provide a suitable dotation for poor parishes in ac-
cordance with the circumstances of things and times. But
as the canonical institution gives right over ecclesiastical
property only, it has been decreed that all those who shall
be nominated to any benefice whatever, great or small,
, shall not assume the administration of the estates per.

• taining thereunto without having obtained in du•
f ortn the canonical appointment. It has likewise beta
agreed that, iu order to enter into possession of cathe-
dral churches and their estates, it will be necessary to
observe scrupulously the prescriptions of the holy canonil
and especially of the pontifical and Roman ceremonial,
all usage and custom notwithstanding,
" As to the religious communities, which, when well
administered, are always most useful to the State and to
the Church, and are their noblest ornaments, it has been
agreed that they shall be governed according to the rules
of their own institution, by their Superiers-General, re•
siding at the holy Apostolic See, considering always, of
course, the authority of the bishops, conformably to the
prescriptions of the sacred canons, and of the Council of
Trent ; that these Superiors-General shall have right to
communicate freely with those religious communities
that are confided to them, and to visit them at their plea.
sure ; and that all the regular orders shall have right,
without any obstacle, to observe the rules of their insti-
tution or congregation, to receive novices, and admit to
the religious profecsion. The bishops shall have the
right to establish in their dioceses orders or cengrege-
tions of both sexes, observing what the holy canons have
with so much wisdom prescribed.
" Nor has it been forgotten to confirm and protect,
with all the care and attention possible, the natural
right belonging to the church of possessing all sorts of
property ; for in this same Concordat it has been estab-
lished that the church can of itself acquire freely HOW
possessions by every legitimate title, and that the pro-
perty of the estates which it now possesses, or may
acquire hereafter, ought to be altogether intact and in•
violable. Therefore the religious foundations, as wel
old as new, can never, without the permission of this
Apostolic See, be abolished or united, the faculties con-
ceded in this respect by the Council of Trent 'remaining,
nevertheless, entire and intact. The ecclesiastical
estates shall be administered by those in whom the holy
canons recognise the right of administration. But as
the most pious Emperor grants from the public treasury
a subsidy to the poor churches, and will not cease to
grant it, these same goods can neither be sold, nos sub-
mitted to a notable change, without the consent of this
Apostolic See and of his Majesty, or of those to whom
they should think the duty of imposing this charge per-
tains. Besides, as there are in the empire estates called
funds of religion and study, and which in virtue of their
origin are the property of the church, these estates shall
be administered in the rattle of the church itself, end
the bishops shall supervise them according to the dis-
positions determined by this Apostolic See and his Ma-
jesty. As to the revenues of the religious foundations,
they will be employed for the Divine worship ; the
churches, seminaries, and all works pertaining to the
ecclesiastical ministry, even to the funds themselves, after
a previous concert between this Apostolic See and the
Imperial Government, may be divided into permanent
ecclesiastical donations. But the revenues of the fends
of study shall be employed only for the advantage of
Catholic instruction, according to the pions intentions of
the founders.

"The emoluments of the vacant benefices shall also
belong to the funds of religion, and in the provinces of
the Austrian empire where these funds do not exist,
mixed councils or commissions shall be instituted, by
which shall be administered the property as well of the
episcopal income as of all the benefices during their va-
cancy, according to the form and rules prescribed by the
Apostolic See and his Imperial Majesty. But as because
of the sad condition of the times, in most part of the
countries under Austrian rule the ecclesiastical tithes
have been suppressed by the civil law, and
that, in consequence of particular circumstances, they
cannot be re-established throughout the whoks empire,
deferring to the request of his Majesty, and taking into
consideration the public tranquillity—which interests
religion so much—we have granted and decreed that—
the right of exacting the tithes remaining intact and se-
cure wherever it actually exists—in other localities, in
place of those tithes or as a compensation, dotations may
be assigned by the Imperial Government in property
and in permanent funds, or in State rents, for the pur-
pose of being distributed to all those who had the right
to exact tithes. And these dotations, as his Majesty has
also declared, shall be assigned without any kind of
change, and received and possessed by the same title as
the titles which they replace.
" Finally, it has been ruled that all the other ques-
tions; relative to persons and things belonging to the
church, and which are not mentioned in the articles of
this Concordat, shall be treated and resolved according
to the doctrine of the Catholic Church, and the usage
and discipline approved by the Apostolic See ; and at
the same time it has been established that the laws,
ordinances, and decrees, in whatever way they may up
to this time have been expressed in the Austrian em-
pire, and in each of the countries subjected to it, and
which are contrary to the present Concordat, are legally
abolished and abrogated ; and that this Concordat is in
vigour and is regarded as the law of the State through-
out the entire extent of the Austrian dominiom.

" Such are the principal points of this last Concordat,
which we have briefly communicated to you, venerable
brothers, to the end that we may offer up together great
thanksgivings to the Father of Mercies and God of all
Consolation, who has given a wise and enlightened heart
to our most dear son in Jesus Christ, Francis Joseph,
Emperor and Apostolic King of Austria. Let us hum-
bly supplicate this all-powerful God, by the merits of
Mary, his Most Holy Mother, preserved from all spot
of original sin, and of all the blessed in heaven, whose
festival we are after celebrating in the joy of one common
solemnity, to remove from the dominion of the church
all errors and calamities, and to grant, in His clemency
to the Christian people who serve it, a great increase of
graces."