The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-11 00:00:00

The chair was taken by the Hon. Charles Langdale.

The CHAIRMAN said they were assembled together for a
very important purpose, and he regretted much the absence
of Lord Petre, because it involved him in his present posi-
tion, a position he should very inadequately fill. They
were all agreed upon the importance of the meeting,and nune
of them c mid but regret the position in which his Holiness
the Pope was placed at the present time. The extending
the confraternity would be productive of much. benefit, arid
he had no doubt but that good would resuit from the evil
that existed. Of one thing be was certain—namely, ,that
the effect of all the intrigue would be to unite all trusta-
tholics more firmly than ever, and benefit rather than in-
jury would result from the attempts to destroy the Church.
The CHAIRMAN then called upon the Secretary to read
the circular letters of his Eminence the Cardinal Arch-
bishop and the President Lord Petre.

Mr. BRETT, who upon rising was received with general
applauoe, said—l have simply this evening to lay
before you two important letters recently issued by
us, the one being a circular by His Eminence, ad-
dressed to the clergy, suggesting the establishment
of the Confraternity in each parish, and the other a letter
from our President in reference t 9 the circular, and offer-
ing the co. operation of the Council for the organisation of
local meetings for the purpose."
The letters having been read, the CHAIRMAN proceeded
to call upon the Very Rev. Canon O'Neil to move the first
resolution.

Canon O'NIELL moved the first resolution. Pope Pius,
when he commenced his reign, endeavoured to bestow upon
his subjects a liberal administration, yet in that he was
thwarted, and the minister (Count Rossi) he had selected to
work out his plans was mercilessly assassinated. The sys-
tem had gone on increasing until more than half of the
Pope's dominions had been taken from him ; and now, in
his adversity, he looked to 250,000,900 of his subjects for
support. He felt certain that, without making any sacri-
fices, ample funds would be supplied to assist him in his
present exigencies.
The resolution—" That the intrigue, sedition, and vio-
lence with which the Holy See has been assailed for the
last 15 years ought to excite in all Catholics a profound
sense of sorrow and indignation; and that the majestic
constancy and heroic patience of the Sovereign Pontiff de-
manded from the faithful throughout the world, not only
their admiration, gratitude, and love, but their heart-
felt sympathy and their most effectual co-operation in all
things, whereby the conflict which he bears in our behalf
may be alleviated."—was seconded by Mr. E. PURCELL,
and carried unanimously, _

Mr. J. P. HENNESSY, M.P., said the resolution he had
been intrusted with was a vote of confidence in the Con-
fraternity. They were not on that occasion assembled for
any new work, because the Confraternity of St. Peter's
Pence was as old as the Saxon kings of England. It was
established in that city more than 1,000 years ago, and all
they were now doing was attending its revival. He believed
there ware at least 25U,000,000 Catholics in the world,
and if each were to give in their adhesion to the Con-
fraternity, and subscribe but one penny per month, which
was one shilling a year, they would raise between
£9,000,000 and £10,000,000 per annum. Such a thing
was not, however, to be expected; so, taking but one
half of the number of subscribers, a sum of £5,000,000
per annum would be collected—a sum far greater than
that received by the Pope before the greater part of hie
patrimony was taken from him. He was glad others be-
sides Catholics contributed to the fund ; for during his
visit to Rome he met an English Jew, who was proceed-
ing to look at the miseries endured by his co-religionists,
through the inundation of the Tiber at the Ghetto. Whilst
there this Jew was much surprised by witnessing the
arrival of a number of the Pope's servants from the Va-
tican, laden with food, clothing, and fuel for the sufferers,
and such was his delight at the circumstance, that he
gave him a most respectable subscription to Peter's pence.
The hon. gentleman concluded by strongly urging upon
his co•religionists to subscribe to the fund, in order that
the Pope might maintain his independence. The resolu-
tion was to the following effect :
" That the Confraternity of St. Peter, instituted for the
diffusion of seund principle, the promotion of prayer, and
the offering of contribution in behalf of the Holy See,
affords a fitting and effectual means whereby to unite
Catholics to the Sovereign Pontiff in this moment of con-
flict."

Sir G. BOWYER seconded the resolution; he said it had
been remarked that the Pope would be defeated by finance,
that he could not get means, and therefore he must sur-
render to those powers who would give him those means,
and thus abdicate his temporal sovereignty, but by the presen t
movement that eventuality would be completely dispelled.
Although the Pope had lacien dispelled of two-thirds of his
dominions he had yet succeeded in doing that in which other
nations had failed—namely, he had paid the whole of the
interest on the public debt of Rome, That debt, it was
well pknown, he did not incur, yet he submitted to tho
burden rather than incur the misery which would arise if
he repudiated, as ho fairly could, all liability for its repay -
ment.

Tho resoludon was carried unanimously.
The next resolution, one recognising the desirability of
extending the operaVons of the Confraternity, was
moved by Mr. F. Ward, and seconded by Canon Moris,
was also carried unanimously,
Viscount FIELDING moved a vote of thanks to the Chair-
man, which was cordially assented to.
The CHAIRMAN, in returning thanks, said as long as he
had the power is assist his co-religionists in doing what
was good and proper, he should always think it his duty to
be found at his post.
The meeting then separated.

THE CASE OF THE ALEXANDRA.—It was arranged
in the Court of Exchequer yesterday that the case of the
Alexandra should come on on Tuesday, when the defend-
ants will show cause, and the arguments will continue on
the following days.

THE COURT MARTIAL ON COLONEL CRAWLEY.-
At the request of the legal advisers of Lieut. Crawley the
opening of the court-martial has been postponed from
Thursday, the 12th, till Tuesday, the 17th inst.
MATAAIORAS.-LIVERPOOL, Tuesday.--A private
telegram from Paris states that. there is no blockade' of
Matamoros, but the contraband of war will not be allowed
to bo landed.

MOURAVIEFF AND TUE GIBBET.—His character
had long preceded him to the capital of his com-
mand. On reaching Willie, on his first ride through the
town, ho came to the large market-place situated on its
outskirts, where he was surprised by the sight of three
gibbets, a large and two smaller ones, erected on a
little eminence. He was not long in learning that this
was intended by his subjects as a greeting ; that the
large gibbet was erected for himself, and the other two
for two of his friend(/' t, Good," said 141 ourav ieff' •
" dent let them be taken down, they will come in useful by
and by." So the gibbets remained for soma days in their
places, and sure enough they at last found occupiers whom
their erectors little thought to see swing there. Another
greeting which he received. was a proclamation offering
20,000 roubles for his assassination, which was afterwards
increased to 100,000, as the accomplishment of such an act
became more difficult. Not that attempts were not made
to kill him, but they all signally failed. The first attempt
was made by a Polish noblemen, and the incident was
the cool character of Moura-
much spoken of, as showing
vial: He was occupied one day in his cabinet when a Polish
nobleman was announced as wishing to speak with him.
"Tell him I'm too much occupied—let him speak with my
aide-de-camp,'' were Mouravieff 's orders. Presently the
officer tettirried and repeated the demand, adding that the
Count would not keep him very long. " Admit him
then between two gendarmes," said Mouravieff, without
turning, and continuing his writing. Presently the door
was heard to open and close again. Mouravieff still went
on with his writing. " Well, who is he ?" said he at
last, without turning. it Count So and So," was the
reply. "Search
him," said
.Mourtvieff, still in his former
position. Alter a few minutes' pause,
" Well, what
have you found ?" " A rev.)lver and two daggers,
your high excellency," was the answer. " Immediate
court-martial, and to be hanged to-morrow morning, if
convicted," were Mouravieffs cool orders, without even
giving himself the trouble to turn and have a look on
his would-be-assassin, and still goin2; on with his writing.
The next morning that nobleman and two others were
swinging on the very gibbets which the National Commit-
tee had prepared for Mouravieff and his friends,—,Fraser':
Magazine. '