The Sun.
London, England, 1865-10-06 00:00:00

THE'SUIv, LONDON, FRIDA V EVENII‘ G, OCTOBER 6, 186E:1

superseded by civil rule ; a Reconstruction Con-
vention -will be called, and every one who takes the
amnesty oath can vote. By these prompt and de-
cided measures the President will go far to restore
Louisiana to the old position merited by her extent,
her fertility, and her importance. The complaints
of the people in many parts of the ccuntry respect-
ing the action of the Freedmen's Bureau have, it
is said, determined the President on making a
change in its rules, though the whole question is
full of difficulty. It is quite plain that this
is no time to force negro suffrage on the people, and
Mr. JOHNSON is acting very wisely in declaring that
each State shall settle the question for itself. This
is quite characteristic of American policy, and in
accordance with the original constitution of the
States. There is no reason for selecting the pre-
sent time for a violent political change, when the
great object is to heal the wounds and bridge over
the dissensions of the past. The real friends of the
negro would do more wisely to let the matter be a
work of time, gradually brought aboht as the negro
rises in the social scale and becomes fit for the exercise
of his right. Already there are five or six hundred
blacks qualified for voting in New York, where a
negro is allowed to vote if he has lived in the State
three years, if he possesses freehold property to the
annual value of pa), and has paid taxes for one
year. In Vermont and New Hampshire the black
man is allowed to vote without the property quali-
fication. The thin end of the wedge has been
inserted, and the race is gradually advancing. The
first negro student has just been admitted to the
Howard College at Newhaven. The first black
juryman has just been qualified in a court of
Brooklyn and has sat in the trial of a cause. The
old days of subjugation and oppression can
never return again—that great and substantial
good has at least been gained by the cruel and blood-
thirscy war. But the further steps in the road of
progress must be taken warily and temperately if
the pitfalls and precipices which yawn on either
side are to be avoided.

BANK OF FRANCE.

PARIS, OCT. 5.

The following is the return of the Bank of France
for the week ending to-day, together with the cor-
responding figures of the previous account :

LATEST INTELLIGENUE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

BELGIUM.

BRUSSELS, OCT. 6.

Prince Alfred is expected here on his return from
Egypt. His Royal Highness will stay at the royal
palace.

THE PRINCIPALITIES.
ILLNESS OF PRINCE COUZA.

BUCHAREST, OCT. 5.

Prince Couza has been rather seriously ill in
consequence of a cold. He was, however, bled
yesterday, and this produced a considerable im-
provement in his condition.

THE CALCUTTA AND CHINA MAILS,
SOUTHAMPTON, OCT. 6.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam-
ship Massilia, with the heavy portion of the above
mails, passed the Needles at 11.5 a.m. to-day.

THE PAPAL ALLOCUTION.

The following is the text of the Papal allocution
delivered in the Secret Consistory held at Rome on
the 25th ult.:--

" Venerable Brethren,—Among the numerous
machinations and artifices by which the enemies of
the Christian name have dared to attack the Church
of God, and sought to shake and besiege it by efforts,
superfluous in truth, must undoubtedly be reckoned
that perverse society of men—vulgarly styled
Masonic--which, at first confined to darkness and
obscurity, now comes into light for the common
ruin of religion and human society.
" Immediately that our predecessors, the Roman
Pontiffs, faithful to their pastoral office, discovered
its snares and frauds, they considered there was not
a moment to lose in holding in check by their autho-
rity, and in striking and lacerating by a condemna-
tory sentence, as with a sword, this sect, pursuing
crime and attacking holy and public things.
" Our predecessor Clement XII., by his apostolic
letters, proscribed and rebuked this sect, and dis-
suaded all the faithful not only from joining it, but
also from promoting or encouraging it in any manner
whatever, since such an act would entail the penalty
of excommunication, which the Roman Pontiff can
alone remove.

" Benedict XIV. confirmed by his constitution
this just and legitimate sentence of condemnation,
and did not fail to exhort the Catholic Sovereign
Princes to devote all their efforts and all their soli-
citude to repress this most immoral sect and defend
society against a common danger.

" Would to God these monarchs had listened to
the words of our predecessors. Would to God that
in so serious a matter they had acted less feebly ; in
truth, neither we nor our fathers would then have
had to deplore the many seditious movements, the
many incendiary wars, which have set the whole of
Europe in flames, nor the many bitter misfortunes
which have afflicted and still afflict the Church.
But the rage of the wicked being far from appeased,
Pius VII., our predecessor, struck with anathema a
sect of recent origin, Carbonarism, whieh had pro-
pagated itself, particularly in Italy ; and inflamed
by the same zeal for souls, Leo XII. condemned by
his Apostolic letters not only the secret societies we
have just mentioned, but all others, of whatever
appellation, conspiring against the Church and the
civil power, and warned all the faithful to avoid
them under penalty of excommunication.
" Nevertheless these efforts of the Apostolic See
have not had the success expected. The Masonic
sect of which we speak has not been vanquished nor
overthrown—on the contrary, it has so developed
itself that in these troublous days it exists every-
where with impunity, and carries an audacious
front.

" We have therefore thought it our duty to re-
turn to this matter, since, perhaps, from ignorance
of the guilty intrigues clandestinely carried on, an
erroneous opinion may arise that the character of
this society is inoffensive, that this institution has
no other object than that of succouring men and
assisting them in adversity, and that, in this society,
there is nothing to fear for the Church of God.
" But who does not comprehend how this sect
departs from the truth? What is the object of this
association-of men belonging to all religions and
every belief ? To what end those clandestine meet-
ings, and the rigorous oath exacted from the ini-
tiated, binding them never to reveal anything of
what may be discussed ? Wherefore that unheard
of atrocity of penalties and chastisements which the
initiated bind themselves to accept, should they fail
to keep their oath? A society which thus avoids
the light of day must surely be impious and crimi-
nal. 'He who does ill,' says the Apostle, 'hates
the light.' How different from such an association
are the pious societies of the faithful which flourish
in the Catholic Church. With them there is no
reticence, no obscurity ; the law which governs
them is clear to all ; clear also are the works of
charity practised according to the Gospel doctrine.
Thus it is not without grief that we have seen
Catholic societies of this nature so salutary,
and so well calculated to excite piety and suc-
cour the poor, attacked and even destroyed in
some places, while, ou the contrary, encouragement
is afforded to secret masonic societies so inimical to
the Church and to God, so dangerous even for the
security of kingdoms.
" Venerable brethren, we feel pain and bitterness
to see that when it is requisite to rebuke this sect
according to the constitutions of our predecessors,
some persons show themselves indulgent and supine,
whereas in so grave a matter the exigencies of their
functions and their charges demand that they should
display the greatest activity. If these persons think
that the apostolic constitutions, fulminated under
penalty of anathema against occult sects and their
adepts and abettors, have no force in the said coun-
tries where the said sects are tolerated by the civil
power, they are assuredly very greatly in error. As
you are aware, venerable brethren, we have already
rebuked, and now anew rebuke and condemn the
falsity of this evil doctrine. In effect, can it be that
the supreme power of pasturing and guiding the
universal flock which the Roman Pontiffs received
from Christ, in the person of the blessed Peter, and
the supreme power they must exercise in the Church,
should depend upon the civil power, or could they
for any reason be constrained and done violence to
thereby ?
" Under these circumstances, for fear lest youth
and unthinking men should allow themselves to be
led astray in principle, and for fear our silence
should offer any opportunity of protecting error,
we have resolved, venerable brethren, to raise our
apostolic voice, ccnflrming here in your presence
the constitutions of our predecessors. On the part
of our apostolic authority, we rebuke and condemn
this Masonic society and the other societies of the
same description, which, although differing in form,
tend to the same end, and which conspire overtly
or clandestinely against the Church or legitimate
power. We desire that the said societies should be
held proscribed and rebuked by us under the same
penalties as those which are specified in the previous
constitutions of our predecessors, and this in the
sight of all the faithful in Christ, of every condition,
rank, and dignity, and throughout all the earth.
" There remains now nothing wanting to satisfy
the wishes and solicitude of our paternal heart than
to warn and admonish the faithful who should have
associated themselves with sects of this character, to
obey in future wiser inspirations, and to abandon
those fatal counsels, in order that they may not be
dragged into the abyss of eternal perdition. As re-
gards all others of the faithful, filled with solicitude
for their souls, we strongly exhort them to be upon
their guard against the perfidious language of secta-
rians, who, under a fair exterior, are inflamed with
burning hatred against the religion of Christ and
legitimate aurhority, and who have but one single
thought and single end, viz., to overthrow all rights,
both human and divine. Let them well understand
that those affiliated to such sects are like the wolves
whom Christ our Lord prophesied would come dis-
guised in sheep's clothing to devour the flock ; let
them understand they are of the number of those
whose society the Apostle has also forbidden to us,
eloquently prohibiting us from even saying unto
them Hail!' May the all-merciful God, hearing
our prayers, grant that, with the aid of His grace,
the insensate may return to reason, and those who
have gone astray be led back to the path of justice.
May God grant that, after the suppression of the
depraved men, who by the aid of the above-men-
tioned societies give themselves up to impious and
criminal acts, the Church and human society may be
able to repose in sonic degree from such numerous
and inveterate evils. In order that our vows may
be heard, let us also pray to our mediatrix with the
all-clement God, the most holy virgin, that mother
immaculate from her birth, to whom it has been
granted to overthrow the enemies of the Church and
monstrous errors. Let us equally pray for the
protection of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul,
by whose glorious blood this noble city has been
sanctified. We have confidence that with their
assistance and aid we shall the more easily obtain
what we ask of the Divine bounty."

MR. GALE'S GUNPOWDER EXPEREAEXTS.—We
understand that her Majesty has intimated her desire to
witness UT. Gajp:sjavention for.renpriUg gunpowder UOll,-
eZpidaYo and explosive at pleafiure.

LITERATURE.

Children's Story-books.

Published by Frederick Warne and Co.

A feast for the nursery has been here provided
by Messrs. Warne and Co., betimes in anticipation
of the mince-pie and plum-pudding days of Christ-
mas 1 And a feast, it is, that, however indulged in,
will hazard no after indigestion. We will briefly
spread forth some among the more conspicuous of
these good things—just as they happen to catch the
eye or fancy among the goodly pile or cluster in
which they come to us for examination.
Our Favourite Nursery Rhymes—first greet us. A
delightful volume containing one hundred and
sixty odd pages of letter-press, together with
upwards of one hundred illustrations—charming
little wood-cuts engraved by the brothers Dalziel
from sketches by Bayes, Dalziel, and Zwecker.
And what a very treasury of nursery lore, and
nursery fun, and nursery frolic this is of itself,
this exquisite little volume, the music of the
charming doggrel in which preserves still to the last,
somehow or another, a charm for us all ! Melo-
dies like that mentioned in'the " Christmas Carol,"
let us say—the song that is spoken of, there, as
sung by Scrooge's niece by marriage—a simple
thing enough in itself.—" You might learn to
whistle it in two minutes " we are told ; and yet,
having a haunting witchery of its own that goes
clean into the heart's core of the old ghost-tutored
Curmudgeon. Rhymes, jingles, stories they are
that not a man, woman, or child among us all but
knows (more or less) quite intimately. " Handy-
spandy, Jack-a-Dandy," dances on to the first
page with his sugar candy ! " Ride a Cockhorse" is
the frontispiece. " Ding dong bell " and " Hey
diddle diddle" follow each other on consecutive
leaves. " Little, Bo'peep" rivals " Little Polly
Flinders" one while—" Curly Locks" and " Pat a
Cake" another while being competitors for our ad-
miration. And so on through all those " unconsi-
dered trifles" that have somehow or another con-
trived to babble themselves into immortality, gene-
ration after generation.
Aunt Louisa's London Toy-books next gladden
the gaze of all the open-eyed youngsters to whom
they come ; first by their radiant colours outside,
and, secondly, by their gorgeous embellitshments
within. here are three of them—Another batch
of " Nursery Rhymes" to begin with (some of them
our old friends just mentioned) ; and after these—
a trifle better, by the way, than the dingy old horn-
books familiar to the dame's school in the days of
Shenstone—a couple of picture Alphabets " The
Railway A. B. C.," and that ever appetising bait
for knowledge, " A Apple Pie"—the former com-
prising among its constituent portions "E. Engine,"
".G. Guard," " J. Junction," and so on through all
that railway system so well known to us, so wholly
unimagined by our forefathers.
Warne's Large Picture Toy-books, again, form an-
other series of a kindred and yet readily distinguish-
able character. " Horses" furnish the theme of
one—" Dogs" of another. The Race Horse, the
Dray Horse, the Carriage Horse, the Hack Horse,
the Cart Horse, in one —while in the other
we have Bloodhound, Spaniel, Setter, Retriever,
Pointer, Newfoundland, and the rest of that
numerous canine multitude. " The Book of
Trades," too, is here—to say nothing of " Cock
Robin," of " Old Mother Hubbard," and of " Little
Red Riding Hood."
The Boys' Shilling Book, a little pocket volume of
228 pages, is, beyond a doubt of it, the cheapest
book of the kind we ever beheld—our urchins being
inducted, through its means and at " that ridicu -
lously small amount," into all the mysteries of tops,
hoops, balls, quoits, bowls, skittles, kites, golf,
croquet, hockey, fencing and gymnastics, cricket
and archery, rowing, swimming, skating, riding,
draughts and dominoes, even chess—with every
other game for indoors, and every other sport for
the playground.
The Arabian Night's Entertainments, in the form
of a very handsome volume (pp. 632), has been pro-
vided for older readers and purchasers, by the same
enterprising publishing firm. It is very beautifully
got up, and very handsomely illustrated. While,
in evidence that anyone (even children if they list)
may read jt—it should be mentioned that the
present edition has been revised with notes by the
incumbent of St. Michael's, Burleigh-street, the
Rev. George Fyler Townsend.
Penny Readings—in Prose and Verse—a couple of
volumes, each of 252 pages, and each published at
a shilling—afford fair promise of a thoroughly use-
ful and thoroughly delightful monthly serial of
varied and entertaining literature. Authors, dead
and living, grave and gay, old and young, philo-
sophers, poets, and novelists, have been laid under
contribution to furnish forth the contents of this
new miscellany. And every one of the living writers
who has been afforded the privilege of being so
placed under contribution may regard himself
as honoured, it appears to us, by the selec-
tion. For, a serial like this will go far towards the
realisation of the noblest of all our day-dreams about
National Education (the noblest, because the most
capable of being realised), the Education of the
People by themselves ! Success to this latest, and
by no means least, among the practical enterprises
towards this end—all possible success to it ! if only,
because, through its agency such men as Dickens
and Tennyson take part with other illustrious
authors in the tutoring of the great masses of the
population.