The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-31 00:00:00

ME SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 81, 1864.

01411. ALFRED MELLON'S C( )NUERTS
-L EVERY EVENING, at light..
ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA 110 U
SELE SE, COVE 7
.47GA_RDEN.
TIIE FAUST CTION.
Mdlle. C. Patti, Mdlle. Krebs ; Mr. Levy: i M. paque, and
red
Ali Ben Sou-ae. Orchestra of On Hun(
and Band of the Coldstream Gua rdse , 'lbis Evening. Performers,
To-morrow (Thursday), the Second Menr .elssohn Night.
On Friday next, Selection from STA B/
ffrMAeyTER.
On Saturday next, Volunteer Night. 7 .a Santl.
en Monday next, a Verdi Night.
Til'e Beethoven Night will be repeatiA on Thursday, Sep-
tember &

Conductor, Mr. ALFRED MELLON.
Promeilade, Amphitheatre Stalls. vat Boxes, £ltreis. , On
anae
Privat
; Dress Circle, ;:s. Ed. ;
105. ed.

a OflOe is open from 10 till 5.

....--. -_
itO YAL ,P RINC ES S'S THEATRE.-
Sole Lesser and liana-Nl*, Mr. Geo. Vining.
TIITS EVENING, Is 70 GOOD LUCK. Paddy
O'Rafferty, Mr. Dominick nuraY•
THE briltysTs OF LONDON. Messrs.
Atter which, D. Murray, J. Nelson, 11.
Vinint, J.
I. Ray, D. Fi bq .
1-, enry Maiston, Miss Emma.
Forre;ter. 11. Mellon ; Mrs
Barnett, and Miss F ,uny Gv-pan .?..
-- -----------

„NEW TETEAT.R3-R0 Y. kL, A:CJELPIII.-
Sole Proprietor aid Manavr. Mr. B. ' Webster.
THIS EVENING, A VD:WAN OF BUSIY.ESS. Messrs.
J. L. Toole, Billinf,rton, .nd Mr ~ Stirling.
After winch, MASKSAND FACES. Messrs. B. Webster,
I'. Bedford, R. Phillip, Billington, Stuart; Airs. Stirling,
Mrs. Billington. and liss H. Simms.
To conclude with la
7HE ACTOR'S RIITRE t.,.5-v'2.Messrs.
J. L. Toole, P. Eedtad, R. Philliis, and mss oolg“r.
Commence at 7.
___.---.

nave now in stock a
OUNTR Y and SEASIDE D. RESSES.
Messrs. JA!, of Regent-street,
k..riety of WAS.IING SILK suit kt.le for the
country and seafide, and at the e-earing-Outip tae of only
,X 1 11s. 6d. the ct ess.

J AV'S,
247,249, and 25i, Regent-street.

BLACK SILKS The price of Silks in the raw
mate:ial has alreadYr•Sen 15 per cent., and it will soon
reach a far greater per-ceatage. Messrs. JAY, therefore,
favite their numerous patrons to take advantage of the stock
Fame anal
ose of on fav your-
they have on hand,
able termsthe same eqyualitinw sowili p l naturally more
n
co ,y
as the pr,,ce of silk fluctuates to a higher average
JAY'S,

217, 210, and 231, Regent-street.

...---
Cl)lS.—The LILLESHALL COMPANY'S
COALS.
Direct from their own Collieries.
diarquis' 23s. per ton. I Double.. 2oe. per ton.
Top 225. „ Detp ....215. „
Well screened and delivered within five miles of their De-
pots, Weetbourne Park-road, W., and 17, South Wharf,
.oAddington, W.. and Maiden-lane, N.
rest Coke lss. per chlldron.
Terms cash. _ _ .

JOHN Gam, Sole Agent.

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r,
,Tj Sale

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 1864.

The recommendations of the Commissioners who
have just closed their Report on the sanitary con-
dition of our Anglo-Indian troops are, as might be
supposed from the nature of their inquiry, of an
eminently practical character. One of the first
groat questions that presents itself to the considera-
tion of the reformer is the quality and the quantity
of the food provided for the men, and in this very
important department they find it necessary to
advise sundry alterations. It is always a difficult
thing to cater for such large masses, although the
.rations of our soldiers are not likely to give rise
tt: the disturbance and dissatisfaction occasioned
by tha liberal allowance of our convicts or
the bare living granted to our paupers. In the
former case we have men ernerdes and

commotiona of a serious character from a change in
the bill of fare, while our union diet is complained
of with too much reason for its wearying monotony
srd inaptitude for the sick. There seems to be no
fault to find with either the quality or quantity of
the nttions of Anglo-Ir dian recruits, but they are not
suited to the climEta. They are, in fact, too liberal,
especially in the matter of meat. Nature herself
teaches that we should eat more sparingly in hot
weather than in cold, and, by analogous reasoning,
in a tropical climate the frame cannot require so
much sustenance es in the chilly North. Travellers
ix the Arctic regions have often cited instances
of the opposite side of the question, telling how
blubber and articles of food which men disdained
in the temperate zone were eagerly sought after
when in the frozen seas. One traveller records an
instance in which it was almost impossible to secure
the oii for the ship's lamps, as some of the men
would drink it if possible to find it. The natives in
India eat very little meat, especially in the hottest
months. Their diet is principally of rice, while
the English soldier makes three good meals a day,

frequently taking meat with each. His allowance

is flb, of meat per day, so he is able, if he likes,
to have a meat breakfast, a meat dinner, and a meat
tea. His breakfast is eaten about 8 or 9 in the morn.
ing, his dinner at 1, and tea at 5, so that all his meals
are taken close together and in the hottest half of the
day. Dr. RENNIE, whose evidence was- laid before
the Commission, states that he had for many years
the medical charge of convicts in Western Austra-
lia, when he found that the men's health was greatly
improved on reducing the scale of dietary. This
gentleman further adds his conviction that the so-
called " diseases of tropical climates" are in reality
only diseases produced by habits and ways of living
unsuited to tropical climates, and that the impor-
' tant relation which food bears to temperature is
very much disregarded. We should certainly
esteem it great folly on the part of a stranger in
this country if ho neglected the warning of our
chill nights and cola Vilk‘lq• and resolutely per
himself to the weather with the same garments he
had worn in the South, yet the folly and imprudence
of our countrymen in India are often quite as great.
The Commissioners recommend that any changes to
be made in the diet of the men should be made
gradually, and any sudden or violent reduction
would probably excite discontent ; bat much might
be done by varying the quality of the rations, and
by enabling the men to cook their food better.
Complaints are made of an insufficient supply of
vegetables, but this deficiency it is to be hoped
will be greatly amended Ly the new system of
allotted gardens, which will enable the men to
grow their own, when they will, of course, like
them all the better: The use of spirits is still more
to be deprecated than the use of animal food, and it
certainly seems a great pity that Government should
Co far authorise it as to allow a soldier to
consume 18! gallons of raw spirit in the year, which
is the quantity drunk, if the private avail himself
of his lull permission. This is, of course, indepen •
dent of what he may buy for himself elsewhere. It
is satisfactory, however, to find that few of the men
take their fall allowance, most of them preferring,
-when allowed, to take beer instead. On this point
he medical officers speak strongly. Intemperance,
they say, constitutes a tenth part of the origin of
disease, while it is stated that in one hospital in
Bombay the number of eases admitted from this
cause was something appalling. Alcohol, says an
unquestionable authority, occasioned more deaths
• in the space of ten years than fever, diara ma, or
even cholera. In soma regiments a temperance
movement has been got up, and ginger-beer, tea,
coffie are substituted for more heating beverages
with marvellous results. One troop which, when
arriving at Meerut, had 50 per cent. of its members
actue4y in hospital after a residence of four years

there under a temperance system, marched to Seal•
kote with a, clear bill of health, no death having
taken place for two years. It would, of course, be
difficult to make such a system universal, but much
might be done by the authorities by substituting
beer for spirits. The medical testimony is unani-
mous in favour of malt liquor over spirits, and while
some witnesses are averse to the use of any intoxi-
cating drink whatever, all agree that there is a very
great difference in the practice of dram drinking
and of taking beer. The former, too, is more likely
to grow into a dangerous habit, while its effects
on the system are highly prejudicial if
not carried to extremity. It would be well for
the authorities to take steps for enabling the men
t 3 have beer at both their allowances, instead of
at only one, as hitherto. Another very important
point, and one which is entirely under official con-
trol, is the state of the sleeping rooms. As many
as 400 beds are sometimes in one department, while
at home the rooms hold from ten to twenty beds.
It is one of the first requisites of health in India to
have a healthy sleeping place, and, therefore, the
system of overcrowding is most deadly. It renders
all epidemic diseases so much the more dangerous,
and is in every way so bad that we can only'wonder
such abuses have been so long tolerated. There
are many other practical reforms recommended by
the Commission, some of which have been already
inaugurated. Onr Indian officials, both civil and
military, are now addressing themselves to this im-
portant task with right good will, and it is time,
indeed, that they did so, for with all our boasted
sanitary knowledge and scientific experience, we
have hitherto tolerated a state of things in India
that is almost suicidal.

The intelligence on all sides concerning elections
scenes to augur iil for the welfare of the Ministerial
party when the general election takes place. It is
positively certain that opposition will start up in all
directions, and that the struggle will be more sharp
and severe than any that has been witnessed for
some time in such cases. This is not surprising when
we reflect upon the many things that have given
rise to discontent and dissatisfaction throughout
the country, in the conduct of those who now guide
the helm of the State. In the most important mat-
ters of home and foreign policy it has been seen that
our interests have been betrayed, and this comes
with the worse grace from men who boasted before
that they were ready and able to defend the honour
of their country, and who made it their special
assertion that they could serve the cause of Reform
with far greater zeal and efficiency than their rivals.
At all events the day of reckoning is at hand, or
will be very shortly, and notwithstanding the in•
genious contrivances by which divisions have been
managed, it will be seen that the danger is not over
when the elections take place. It is a very signifi-
cant sign of the times that the Conservative decla-
rations to contest certain seats are so numerous, and
that with rare exceptions we do not hear of many on
the other side. The former feel that they have got
a fair field before them, and, at all events, they have
got plenty to talk about in the meantime. Their
criticism can flow in no measured terms, and their
opportunities are many. On the ccntrary, the
friends of those in high places seem to try the experi-
ment of silence. Considering that we have been told
times out of number that Lord PALMERSTON and Lord
RUSSELL have saved the country from a disastrous
war, we are not favoured with many speeches on
that topics from those who swell the ranks of his
friends, his admirers, and his supporters. Mc.
RALPH NEVILLE GRENVILLE and Major PAGET
addressed a meeting of the electors at Congresbury
last Monday. It is the intention of these gentle-
men to contest at the next general election the
division of East Somerset. The Venerable Arch-
deacon DENISON, in speaking of the retiring mem-
bers, made some forcible remarks relative to the
present state of affairs. He spoke with much
warmth relative to the state of the Church and the
various questions concerning its interests now so
frequently broached in Parliament, His observa-
tions on political matters were very forcible. In
the first place he animadverted upon the conduct of
the Ministerial side of the House, and said that he
objected to giving up the name of " Liberal" to
those so called, " for a more illiberal set of men
than the Liberals could not be met with." This is
strictly true in the fullest acceptation of the terms,
and there is great truth in the farther remark that,
in reality, there is little now-a-days to distinguish
the boundary between parties. Many will be
amused to read the Archdeacon's definition of a
Whig, though certainly that class has not found
much favour in the eyes of the nation for some
time past. "Fe was happy to say he never was
a Whig, and he prayed he never might be, for he
was of opinion that a Whig was a creature com-
pletely out of the pale of all intellect ; and he
thought a Whig was truly described by a man who
said dogmatically, ' A Whig is a tyrant in office and a
traitor out." Such strictures produced great laughter
amidst the assembly where they were uttered, and
doubtless, as they are read far and wide, they will
be appreciated. It has been the custom for some
time for people to talk with pretended pity, but
covert contempt, of the fall of the Conservative
party, but they have in a great measure rehabili-
tated themselves, and shone out in renewed lustre.
Not so with their once formidable opponents, their
glory has departed, and their once proud position
become a byword. Mr GRENVILLE made some
spirited observations relative to the political state
of things at present, and began by saying that
eeee:_ ta crave a VATV false internretation of
Conservative principles when they said that they
meant a do-nothing or stand-still policy. On the
contrary, he showed that this was the mode of pro-
cedure adopted by the Liberals and their leaders.
Certainly after Lord PALMERSTON'S pusillanimous
discourse the other day, when he openly avowed it
to be the wisest course to let tyranny sway, and
oppression go on unchecked rather than interfere,
and above all after Lord RUSSELL'S absurd maxim
" Rest and be thankful," it is not the place of that
side to talk of the lack of progress or the want of
promptitude on the part of their opponents. Mr
GRENVILLE exposed the inconsistency of the Go-
vernment in these terms Economy, retrenche
ment, and reform was the cry with which
those gentlemen came into office; but their
economy is extravagance, their retrenchment
is abundant expenditure, and we all learn
that they have thrown reform to the wind.
Looking at affairs through this medium, it would
be difficult indeed to say on what grounds a Minis-
tet ialist can go to the hustings and claim support,
Nothing is being undertaken on a large scale in a
domestic sense. All home questions are left to pri-
vate members to bring for ward ; and in reality we
are called upon to support a Ministry who do no-
thing at home and make mischief abroad. The
meddle and muddle policy is one quite at variance
with the spirit of the people of this country, and
totally repugnant to the mode that has hitherto
found favour in their eyes. It was once the policy
of England not to interfere with matters that con-
cerned other nations unless there were strong rea-
sons so to do ; but if necessity compelled her to
take part, either to come with a strong arm to shield
or save, or to enter the ranks of mediators with the
authority that ensures respect, and the good faith
that munalulde influence, Now all ie changed for

specie.

tho worse in these respects. There is no talk of the
it fluence of England in any part of the Continent
et :cept where her Government exercises its inge-
nt ity to lead allies into a trap, and leave them there ;
and employs its powers in fashioning the division
Eso that the real expression of opinion may not
be re corded. Mr GRENVILLE very properly stated
that tie majority was not significant of the expres-
;iion t)f feeling on the part of the people of England.
Lord. PALmERsToN was a tower of strength, but when
he was gone, they would not have anything to do
,ith the " heterogenous crew" that he left behind
'aim. This is very true, and the victory on that
remarkable occasion was a passing and evanescent
triumph; not one to look back to with any feelings
of satisfaction afterwards. It is, at all events,
satisfactory to find that it is the intention of the
Conservatives to make every effort to win as many
seats as possible at the next election, and it will be
for the eventual good of the country if these efforts
are crowned with success, for the tide has too long
flowed in one direction.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

AMERICA.

(Per the Hibernia, via Greencastle, Aug. 30.)
NEW YORK, AUG. 19.

Admiral Farragut demanded the unconditional
surrender of Fort Morgan on the 9th. The Confe•
derate commandant refused, stating that he had the
requisite forces as well as provisions for six
months, and would hold out to the last extremity.
Despatches from Mobile of the 11th to the liich•
mond Examiner announce that a battle between
the fort and the Federal fleet had been in progress
for three days.
Later despatches (from the Richmond Sentinel)
state that on the 15th the Federals crossed the
Dog River bar and opened fire for three hours
upon the other land batteries and the Confede-
rate gunboats, doing no damage. Firing in the
direction of Fort Morgan still continued.
Secretary Stanton announces that despatches
from Sherman report no further operations.
Sheridan reports an engagement between his
own and a body of Confederate cavalry near Front
Royal on the 16th, in which latter were w °rated,
losing 300 men.
A train of 70 waggons and 3io mules for Sheri•
dan, with its guard of 150 men, were captured by
Mosby near Berryville on the 13th.
A great Peace Convention was held at Syra-
cuse, in this State, yesterday. Addresses were
delivered by Vallandigham, Fernando Wood, and
others. The resolutions denounced Mr Lincoln,
and appealed to the people to unite in efforts to
bring about an armistice and a convention of the

States. ✓
A convention for a similar purpose was held
yesterday at Springfield, Illinois.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
Gold, 2571. Exchange, 279.
Sixes, registered, 1881, 1081; Five-TwentieF,
Coupons, 1101 ; Seven-Thirties, 1091; New York
Central, 1301 ; Erie, 112; Illinois Central, 1301.
Cotton, 179 r. Bresdstuffa advancing. Provi-
sions active.

AUG. 20, NOON.

The defeat of Sheridan by Early, and his retteat
to Harper's Ferry, are reported via Philadelphia.
Nothing important from Grant or Sherman:
The Tallahassee has been ordered away from
Halifax by Admiral Hope. She escaped this morn-
ing. The Federal gunboats are in pursuit.

Gold, 257. Cotton, 180 c.

AFTERNOON.

ARRIVAL OF THE CITY OF LONDON.
CAPE CLEAR, AUG. 31.
The Inman steamer City of London, from New
York on the 20th inst., passed here this morning.
Her news has been fully anticipated by the
Hibernian, which brought New York despatches
to the 20th evening.

(From the limes' Cot respondent)

(Per the City of London, via Cape Clear, Aug. 31.)
NEW YORK, AUG. 20, 11 A.M.

The real object of Grant's lalit movement to Deep
Bottom is yet undeveloped. Reconnaissances and
skirmishing continue with considerable loss to both
sides, but with no decisive results.
The Confederates at Petersburg shelled Grant's
lines for three hours yesterday morning. The
Federals were in readiness to repel an assault which
was expected to follow, but none was made.
Sheridan has retreated to Berryville. His rear
was attacked and routed at Winchester by Brecken-
ridge, on Wednesday forenoon, with the loss of
300 men. This morning there were reports, via
Philadelphia, of his defeat and retreat to Harper's
Ferry. His waggon train is asserted to have crowed
the Potomac last night, and to be now at Hagers-
town, Maryland.
A severe engagement occurred at Graysville, 18
miles from Chattanooga, between the Confederate
General Wheeler and General Steadman, on the
16th inst. Steadman was wounded, and Colonel
Straight killed. The result of the action is not
tasted.

The Confederates are in force at Cleveland, Tens
nessee. A Federal force has been sent from Chat-
tanooga to dislodge them.

Hostilities by the Indians in the northwest have
been renewed. Many of the settlers in Kansas
have been murdered, their houses and crops burnt,
and their cattle driven off. The inhabitants gene
rally are fleeing to the towns for protection.

Generals Blunt and Sherry, commanding on the
border, are organising a large military force to
pursue and attack the Indians.
The Tallahassee, while coaling yesterday, was
ordered from Halifax by Admiral Hope. She left
at two o'clock this morning, steering eastwards.
Shortly after her departure a Federal gunboat
entered the harbour. She will sail immediately in
purSuit of the Tallahassee.

Gold 257.
The City of London takes out 31,408 dole, in

RIVER PLATE.
(By telegraph from Lisbon.)
BUENOS AYRES, JULY 29.'
The peace arrangement has fallen through, and
hostilities have recommenced.

MEXICO.

PARIS, AUG. 31.

Official despatches received here from Mexico to
the Ist August state that the news from the interior
was satisfactory. Expeditions were being prepared
against Montercz, Matamt,ras, and Victoria, in
order to drive the Juarists from those places. Vi
danri held the chief power at Matamoras. Juarez
had taken to flight. Tho naval squadron would
participate in the expedition against Matamoras,
and land troops on the banks of the Rio Bravo.

SPAIN.
MADRID, AUG. 30, Evening.

The journals of Cadiz, Valencia, and Barcelona,
advise the Government to erect a fortreee in the

Chincha Islands, saying that they are the legitimate
property of Spain.

THE CONGRESS AT MALINES.
(FROM OUR srEcia, CORRESPONDENT.)

MALINES, Aug. 30.

The old metropolitan city of Belgium is once more
filled with a concourse of Catholics from all coun-
tries, come to be present at the second session of the
Malines Congress, held last year at this season for
the first time. The numbers may be calculated from
my receiving a ticket with the number 3,443 on
Sunday afternoon. Foreign ecclesiastical dignita-
ries are not so consFicuous as last year. His Emi-
nence Cardinal Wiseman is prevented by a slight
iUness from attending the Congress, as he had other-
wise intended. To-by the arrival of the celebrated
Bishop of Orleans, Mgr. Dupanloup, is ertpeeted.
The only prektes hitherto present are the Bishops
of Ghent, Tourney, and Namur, in addition to
several prelates of lesser rank—such as the mitred
Abbot of the Premoutre regniar canons of Born-
hem, Mgr. Ram, rector of the University of Lou-
vain, Father Hermann, superior of the Carmelites
of Kensington, &c. There is a large number of
Belgian and French ecclesiastics prominent in the
where the meetings take place ; but, upon the
whole, there seems to be a larger proportion of lay-
men than last year ; and they include, besides Bel.
gians (who are not comparatively numerous), a num-
ber of French noblemen and distinguished writers,
several Spaniards, Hungarians, Poles, Italians, Por-
tuguese, and a great many Dutch. Our own islands
are represented by Major O'Reilly, M.P. for Long-
ford—Edward Waterton, Esq.—George Blount,
Esq.—Captain Macenzie, R.R—R. Simpson, Esq.
—James Weale, Esq.—Gecrge J.Wigley,Esq.,K.S.
&c. The only English cleTyman I have met with
here, hitherto, is the Rev. Father Crowther, of the
Augustinian Order, late military chaplain in India
and China.

Ths proceedings of the Congress began yesterday
morning at 10, a.m., when v, considerable number of
its members assembled it the large court-yard
of the Petit AFentinciare, and walked procession-
ally to the Cathedral Church of St. Rombaut to
attend at the High Mass, celebrated by his Emi-
nence the Cardinal Archtishop of Malines. The
ceremony was very impressive. The Cardinal is a
dignified-looking old man, and chaunts admirably
well. The chancel of the cathedral, filled with the
prelates, canons, and ecc:esiastical students of the
Grand S6minaire, in gorgeous vestments of red and
gold and of the graceful Roman shape, presented
a most splendid appearance. The cathedral itself
is of excellent Gothic of the thirteenth century,
and its interior has a most harmonious and com-
plete appearance. The hymn of the " Holy Ghost,'
and the several chaunted parts of the Mass were
sung a in grave and solemn plain chaunt, for the
reformed purity of which Belgium, and especially
Malines, is celebrated.

After the religious ceremony was over, the whole
assembly, which tied filled the vast nave of the
metropolitan e'nurch, accompanied the Cardinal
and Clergy as they returned in full vestments to
the archiepiscopal palace, and thence proceeded
to the great hall of the Petit Seminairs, where at
half-past 12 the Cardinal ascended the platform
and took the chair to open the first meeting of
the session. He welcomed once more into his
metropolitan town and seminaire, the guests of
all nations, 'who were gathered together, promising
that his prayers would be offered up anew for the
success of the session. He had blessed already the
members of the congress in church, and he came at
the special request of the committee to bless them
once more in the hall of their meetings. He re-
minded them that one of the medals coined to
commemorate the last session bore the inscription
of Cor unuen et Aninzez alio. He reminded those
present of the first act of the last session, which
had been an address to the Holy Father, which
had been voted with enthusiasm, and received
with the greatest satisfaction, as they would hear
from the answer sent by the Pope. He charao •
terisrAl last year's session as having been as Chris-
tirAn-like as it Wa3 jiuly patriotic. It had bad
defects as well as good effects. it was a trial, and
necessarily imperfect—but the two volumes
of its report contained, nevertheless, most
interesting and valu able information. his Eminence
then referred to the president and secretary of the
Congress, the Baron:de Gerlache and M. Ducpetiaux
to whom its success is to be ascribed. The mention
of these two names excited the most enthusiastic
applause in the assembly. The Cardinal, after
quoting as a rule of conduct for the meeting the
sentence of St. Augustin—ln neasariis unitas; in
dubils libertas ; in omnibus charitas ;—exhorted the
members present to aim at practical results in all
Christian works. In conclusion his Eminence
quoted the words addressed by the present Pope to
the assembly of nearly 300 bishops, held in Rome
on the day after the declaration of the dogma of the
Immaculate Conception, in 1854, The conclusion
of the allocution then spoken by the Pope was
that SQ that their efforts in behalf of the Church
should have any result, concord was above all
necessary ; all dissensions fomented by the per-
fidious enemy of souls should be guarded against;
they should remember the conduct of the champions
of the Church in former times, and combat in con-
cord among themselves and in union with the Holy
See. The eminent prelate concluded by giving his
blessing to the assembly.
The Secretary-General of the Congress, M. Duce
petiaux, then began, according to the statutes of the
Congress, to read the list of officers proposed to the
acceptance of the assembly for the present session,
which set forth the Cardinal as Honorary President,
and the Baron de Gerlache, who is the highest legal
authority in Belgium, as President. The list of
Vice-Presidents included the names of Mgr. Rem,
Counts De Theur, Dellafaille, de Kerchove, Baron
Greindl, and MM. Perin, Dechamps, and Damon.
tier. The last two names being those of the two
most prominent champions of the religions party in
the Belgium Chambers, were greeted with the
greatest enthusiasm. M. Ducpetiaux was again
proclaimed Secretary-General with universal ape
please. Various foreigners of distinction were
appointed honorary vice-presidents of the committee,
and among them Major O'Reilly, M.P., Edmund
Waterton, E§o,. and APCarthy O'Leary, Esq., one
or lei:inlet U Connell's nephews, en. ee5ee.......-.1
French Jesuit preacher, Pere Felix, was announced
to preach on Friday in the Cathedral Church.
The Baron de Gerlache then took the chair vacated
by his Eminence the Cardinal, and proceeded to
read his opening address. The voice of the vener-
able President, who is in his 77th year, was perfectly
clear and distinct, although 'weakened by age, a
remark which, however, in no way applies to his
masterly address. He begun by stating that the Con-
gress of 1863 had left great recollections, as the first
meeting of Catholics of all nations to testify
their love for the Church, now more or lees
oppressed in almost every country of Europe. He
would not follow it in its general labours on behalf
of Christian works, but he would take, as his own
share of the programme, the part which referred to
religious liberty, and give them a history of it in
Belgium. He chose his ground from the necessity
now existing in Belgium to defend even the freedom
of charity, which had become so restricted in a
country where liberty ought to reign as whole and
entire for Catholics as for their adversaries. In
1830 the Belgians were divided into three parties—
the Catholics, the Unionists, and the Liberals.
Hence the constitution then enacted was a work of
peace, and would ever have remained as such had it
been loyally carried out. It was a work of political
eclecticism, made to conciliate two parties who then
respected each other, without tending to exclusion.
Liberty was procleimed for all. Nothing like the
Belgian constitution has ever been proclaimed
among its French beighbours in spite of their nume-
rous political changes. Every one in Belgium
accepted it with enthusiasm, mindful as they were
of the tyranny of the Dutch government. In those
days of conciliatioe, a Liberal Minister was heard to
proclaim that a parish priest in a country district
was better to maintain order and peace than a whole
guard of gendarme. Alas ! how completely changed
the feelings of the respective parties had been when
it could be said now with truth that the pre-
sent division between the Liberals and Catholics
in Belgium, was worse than that between the Bel-

gians and the Dutch in 1830. The conduct of the
Dutch, and of the former Austrian sovereign of the
Belgian provinces, Joseph 11., towards the Catholic
religion was now taken up by the free-thinkers.
The freedom of education, so priceless to the Church,
was now becoming more and more restricted by the
establishments set up by the State at the expense of
the whole country, till the system introduced by
the Dutch in 1825 might be expected to be re-
newed, and all free schools closed, as not authorised
by the Government. The short-sighted policy of
endeavouring to detach, as much as possible, the
Catholics from any direct intercourse with the Pope,
who was treated as a foreign Prince, was once more
on the ascendant. The Catholics were on all aides
accused of acting from the impulse and orders of
the ecclesiastical authorities, and of not under-
' derstanding the true position of independent citizens.
Nothing could be so specious, and yet so false, in
politics, in which each Catholic was guided by his
own conscientious opinion, receiving no "imperative
mandate ;" such a course belonging not to Catholics,
but to a sect anything but Catholic. As far as the
Belgian Catholics were concerned, they wanted
only their Constitution, but the whole Constitution,
such as it was made and carried out in 1830 ; a
Constitution which had then excited such admire.
tion among their French neighbours, that for a long
number of years the great cry of the Catholics of
France had been—" Freedom, as in Belgium."
It was in Belgium that, for the first
time, the liberal principles of 1789 had been
so modified as to admit of full and entire freedom
for religion. The so-called great principle of 'B9
had in that respect only proclaimed the complete
supremacy of the State over the Church. Mirabeau
protested that France was to be de-catholicized.
The many Freneh Constitutions which had since
been made had thus been all the work of men only,
and what had become of them ? The venerable
orator thus continued for nearly an hoar, contrast•
ing the truly liberal principles of the Belgian Con-
stitution, as it was originally accepted, with the
despotic protensioes of the party now in power, and
concluded by expressing his confidence that the
meeting of the many eminent men there present
would leave ample traces of their work behind
them, and that, under the patronage of the eminent
Primate of Belgium, it would add another glorious
page to the history of the Church in their country.
The letter of the Holy Father, in answer to the
address of the last Congress, was then read in the
Latin original by Mgr. Lauwers, Vicar-General of
Malines, and in French by M. Daepetiaux. This
correspondence with the Holy See was again taken
up at the suggestion of the last-named gentleman,
and an address on the part of the assembly was
read expressive of the recognition and attachment
of all present for the spiritual and temporal rights
of the Pope; and a telegram announcing the adop-
tion of the address was transmitted at once to his
Eminence Cardinal Antonelli in Rome. The
general meeting then adjourned at half-past
two. At a quarter past five, the several sec-
tions, in which are discussed the several
subjects submitted by the committee to the
consideration of the Congress, met in their several
halls. These sections are five in number, and con•
sist of the members who take a special interest in
the respective subjects of—ist, Religious Works;
2nd, Christian Social Economy : 33, Christian Ins
struction and Education ; 4th, Christian Art; and
sth, Religious Freedom, the press,"and publications
in general. I attended this latter section, which
was presided over by M. Dechamps, and which
was engaged for about an hour in .discussing the
expediency of founding a new and more inter.
national Catholic journal than those at present
existing. This proposal, which was warmly advo.
oated by M. Digard, a Paris avocat, was not gene.
rally approved. The meeting was adjourned till
this morning, at 9 a.m.