The Sun.
London, England, 1870-10-21 00:00:00

DEATH OF MICHAEL BALFE.

The most charming the most popular—of English
composers has breathed his last. Michael Balfe died yes-
terday at a minter past twelve, at his country-house,
Rowney Abbey, ITerts He was taken ill ten days ago,
having beon seized with a sharp attack of bronchitis,
which only assumed a serious aspect on Saturday, when
Dr. Hamilton was summoned from London, and reported
that his lungs were in a state of considerable congestion.
On Sunday, however, he was better, but on Monday the
symptoms became more serious, and Dr. Hess was brought
from town to consult with Dr. Evans, of Hertford. But
slight hopes were entertained by these gentlemen.
Nevertleless, Mr. Balfe remained conscious and strong
until one o'clock yesterday inornings after which hour he
grew rapidly worse, and never rallied, dying at a quarter-
past twelve p.m., in the presence of his wife and his son-
in-law, Mr. Behrend. Michael William Balfe was born
in Dublin, on the 15th May, 1808 ; he was, therefore, in
his 63rd year.

PROTEST OF THE CATHOLIC
HIERARCHY.

(CENTRAL PRESS TELEGRAM.)

The Catholic hierarchy of Ireland has issued a protest
on the Roman question. It is signed by Cardinal Cullen,
three Archbishops, and eighteen Bishops. After a review
of the several points of the question, their lordships pro-
test as follows :—First. Believing that the Pope is the
Vicar of Christ, the infallible teacher of Christian truth,
to whom has been given the supreme power of the feeding,
ruling, and governing the whole Church, we protest
against the sacreligious insults recently offered by the
usurping power to the reigning Pontiff, Pius the Ninth,
and, in his person, to Chris(' Himself, whose representa-
tive he is on earth. Secondly. Convinced that the full,
perfect, and complete discharge of his apostolic office
requires, as its necessary condition, the freedom of the
Roman Pontiff from the control of other temporal princes,
we protest, in the name of two hundred millions of Catho-
lics, against the usurpation which has deprived their
spiritual chief of the temporal dominions necessary for
the exercise of his liberty, and thereby subjected him
to the caprice of hostile powers. Thirdly. Per-
suaded that by the wisdom of Providence the temporal
sovereignty of the Holy See has been ordained for the
common good of all Christendom, and that Rome and'the
Papal territory belong to the Catholic world, we protest
against the sacrilegious invasion of both as a violation of
the sacred rights of the whole Catholic world. Fourthly,
regarding as subversive of social order the appeal made to
revolutionary passions, by the usurping. power, against the
oldest and most legitimate sovereignty in the world, and
indignant at the hypocrisy which sought to mask a brutal
attack under the profession of Catholic loyalty and
kingly honour, we protest against the means so scan-
dalously, so immorally, employed to accomplish this most un-
just usurpation. Fifthly, recognising with gratitude the
benefit conferred upon the world by the noble use the
Roman Pontiffs have made of their temporal dominion,
and the splendid examples they have set the governors of
Christendom by the mildness of their rule, their patronage
of arts and letters, their tender care of the weak and poor,
and their love of justice, we protest against the attempt
to extinguish by means so unholy an institution that has
deserved so well of civilised society all over the world.
Sixthly. We protest also against the threatened devastation
of the venerable sanctuaries of Rome, against the plun-
dering of its shrines, the suppression of its religious com-
munities devoted to prayer and good works, and of the
classes of its numerous schools and colleges, where so
many students of our own and other countries are trained
in piety and learning. Seyenthly. Since the invasion of
Rome has been undertaken and accomplished at a time
when a general council was being held there, under the
presidency of the Supreme Pontiff, we protest against the
violence that has interrupted its deliberations, and we hold
the Florentine Government responsible fof the outrage
offered to the assembled bishops of the universe, and for
the injury done to the faithful by depriving them for an
indefinite time of the blessing the council was calculated
to confer." The document concludes as follows :—" It
now remains for you, beloved brethren, by taking prac-
tical steps to relieve the Holy Father, to give effect to
this protest. First of all, it is our duty to have recourse
to the powerful arm of prayer. Secondly, in addition to
the spiritual weapons, it is desirable that Catholics should
uniting, protest against the insults which have been heaped
on the vicar of Christ, and against the violation of

justice and right on the part of those who have seized on
Rome, the common property of the Catholic world.
These protests to have weight should be made in writing
and be placed in the hands of those who represent us in
Parliament, so that they may be laid before the public
authorities of this country. We have a full right to ask
from those who rule Catholic nations that they should
secure from a control which cannot be other than
capricious and tyrannical, the policy whose authority
guides the conscience of millions of their subjects."

NAV L AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.
Major-General Prince Edward of Saxe Weimarleturned
on Tuesday evening from Scotland, and on Thursday
resumed his duties at the Gun-house, St James's, as
Major-General Commanding the Home District.
A large number of the sergeant musketry instructors
attached to the various metropolitan rifle regiments have
proceeded to Birmingham, in accordance with orders from
the War Office, to go through a course of instruction at
the Royal Small Arms Establishment there, in connexion
with the Snider rifle about to be issued to the Volunteer
force. The travelling expenses to and from Birmingham
of the instructors are paid by the Government, and they
will receive while under instruction an allowance of ls. '2d.
a day.

His Royal Highness the Field Marshal Commanding-
in-Chief will hold a levde at one o'clock on Wednesday,
the 26th inst., the number to be received being limited to
100.

A gentleman who has visited Pembroke Dockyard
since the inquiry into the loss of the Captain has seen
there the iron-clad Thunderer, which is being built
in all respects like the vessel which foundered. As the
vessel is nearly half finished, and work is still going on, he
thinks it time for the public to inquire whether it is the
intention of the Government to persist in squandering the
public money by completing another ship after the same
design as the Captain.
We have authority for stating that the second battalion
60th Rifles, stationed at Setapore, India, has been fur-
nished with Snider rifles, and is not now relying on En-
fields, as stated by a contemporary,

The French Canadian contingent of the Papal
Zouaves, numbering two hundred and nine men, sailed on
Wednesday from Liverpool for New York, en route for
Canada, in the steamer Idaho. Major Blundell and other
influential Roman Catholic residents were on board.

The Archbishop of York, who presided at the
Doncaster Church Conference, said he should like to see
a council of clergy and laymen labouring in every parish.
It was desirable in these times of peril that they should
have around them every member of the Church ; hence
for this reason he was glad to notice that the mistrust
between clergy and laity was rapidly diminishing.

EXCURSIONISTS AND FOREIGN TRAVEL—We
know many people now returned who were determined to
have their annual excursion abroad—war or no war—and
Switzerland, Holland, and Belgium have been thronged
with tourists, who have experienced little, if any, incon-
venience on their travels, beyond being sometimes de-
barreel from remaining at any particular town they
wished from the great influx of visitors. We hear of an
English gentleman, at Brussels, who offered a fabulous
sum for a night's lodging over a small butcher's shop, and
could not obtain it. Brussels is literally crammed.
John Bull.
WRECK ON THE SCOTCH COAST.—The barque
Orange Grove, of Glasgow, bound thence to Demerara,
with a general cargo, was driven into Ayr Bay, during a
heavy gale on Tuesday, and as she could not beat out
again she was run ashore at the entrance to Ayr Harbour.
As there were rocks in the immediate vicinity of the
vessel, and a heavy sea was running on them, the lifeboat
Glasgow Workmen, belonging to the National Lifeboat
Institution, promptly went off to the rescue of the crew ;
and ultimately brought safely on shore all on bOard,
numbering fifteen men.

FRENCH CRUISERS IN CHASE.—The North Ger-
man mail-steamer Westphalia, on leaving New York, was
chased by French cruisers, but succeeded in evading
them. She has arrived in safety at Leith. In order to
make her escape, she was obliged to burn resin in her
furnaces. The French cruiser Distress still remains at
her anchorage in the Firth of Forth, and will probably
remain over Thursday. She has been permitted to prolong
her stay on the plea that her machinery requires over-
hauling. A strict watch is kept on her movements. The
Distress has 15 Prussian sailors prisoners on board. These
formed the crews of two vessels which were captured in
the North Sea.

TRAINING SHIPS FOR BOY S.—The first annual
meeting of the supporters of the Formidable Training
Ship, for homeless and destitute boys, stationed at Portis-
head, near Bristol, was held on Thursday. Letters of
sympathy with the movement were read from the Earl
of Shaftesbury, Mr. Morley, M.P„ and others.
The annual report shewed that of the 98 boys in the
ship 14 were from the Park-row and Clifton-wood
Industrial Schools, 69 had been sent. by the magis-
trates of Bristol under the Act, 6 from Somerset, 3 from
loucester, and 6 were Supported by friends. Eight had
lost both father and mother, 16 had no father, 12 had no
mother, 17 had been deserted by their parents, 28 had
b,th parents living, and 6 were illegitimate. The com-
mittee put the cost per boy at present at £22 per annum.
The meeting was addressed by the Bishop of Gloucester
and Bristol, Mr, K, D, Hodgson, Mir., and others.

! OTR, COIEKPORARIES---This Morning