The Sun.
London, England, 1860-10-11 00:00:00

" Oct. 9, 1860.
"My dear Dr. Spratt,—l send you the reply of
His Holiness to the address of the Religious Con-
fraternities of Dublin, adopted in your church some
months ago. Be so good as to translate and present
it to the Confraternities. Was it not most kind of
our good Holy Father to forget for a moment his
own afflictions and trials in order to correspond
with his faithful children in Ireland ? lam sure
the Confraternities will highly appreciate the affec-
tionate condescension of His Holiness. Tell them
to pray most fervently for so good a father. He is
now assailed by all the powers of hell and the
malice of earth. The prayers of the faithful were
never mere necessary. Let them ascend every day
like sweet incense to the Throne of the Most High.
They are more powerful than earthly arms, and
they will secure a glorious triumph for the Apos-
tolic See. The Pope's authority is built upon a
rock; it has been founded by the eternal word of
Christ ; it will last for ever. What a happiness
and a glory for us to be connected with that rock.
Though storms are now sweeping the earth, though
the barque of Peter is tossed upon the foaming
waves, yet our faith is not shaken. We have full
trust in the holy pilot who steers the vessel ; and
we look forward with patience and confidence to
the day of calm and triumph. Still let us pray,
and let us pray with fervour, that God may
strengthen His vicar on earth, that the days of his
trials may be shortened, that darkness may soon be
dissipated, and true faith and religion rule widely
over the earth. Wishing you, my dear Dr. Spratt
and the excellent Confraternities every blessing, I
remain your obedient servant,
" t PAUL CULLEN."
The subjoined is the translation of the letter of
the Pope referred to in the above—
" Beloved children, health and apostolic benedic-
tion,—Your most dutiful letter has been delivered
to us, in which you profess your filial piety, your
reverence and veneration for us and this chair of
St. Peter; and at the same time manifest how in-
tense has been your grief of mind at the wicked
and sacrilegious aggression on our civil sovereignty
and that of the Holy See by men who, in their hos-
tility and opposition to the Catholic Church and
the aforesaid Holy See, do not hesitate to trample
under foot all rights, human and divine. Grate-
ful, indeed, have been to us your noble sentiments,
praiseworthy in the highest degree, from which, in
the midst of our overwhelming difficulties and
sorrows, we have derived no inconsiderable solace.
" Continue, then, beloved children, to beseech,
without intermission, the great and omnipotent
God to calm the winds and waves, to deliver His
holy church from dire calamities, and to adorn and
enrich her every day with new and brilliant
triumphs, and to sustain and console us in our
afflictions ; and, moreover, to lead back by His
omnipotent power to the ways of truth, justice,
and salvation, all the enemies of the Church and
this Apostolic See. In conclusion, as a pledge of
all Celestial gifts, and as a proof of our paternal
charity, we most affectionately impart to you, most
beloved children, from our inmost heart, our Apos-
tolic benediction.

" Given at St. Peter's, Rome, the 4th day of
July, 1860, and 15th of our Pontificate.

" Pius PP. IX.
" To our beloved children the members of the
Confraternities of the city of Dublin."

RUMOURED LEGAL APPOINTMENTS AND CHANGES.

The journal before mentioned says :
" It was rumoured yesterday that the following
legal appointments and changes were made :—Ser-
geant Fitzgibbon, Q.C., to be Master in Chancery,
vice Acheson Lyle ; Mr. Andrew, Q.C., Chairman
of East Riding, Cork, to be Chairman of the county
Donegal, vice Jonathan Henn, resigned ; Mr. De
Molynes, Q.C., appointed to the Chairmanship of
the East Riding, Cork ; Sir Colman O'Loghlen, Mr
Armstrong, Q.C., Mr. Wolfe Flanagan, Q.C., Mr.
Rolleston, Q.C. and Edward O'Sullivan, Q.C., are
spoken of for the vacant coif."
Another paper states authoritatively that Mr.
Lyle has retired, and that Serjeant Fitzgibbon has
been appointed to the vacant Mastership in
Chancery.