The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-02 00:00:00

trusted that the time was not far distant when
the importance of such a society, and the science it
dealt with, would be acknowledged by philoso-
phers, philanthropists, and politicians, and that it
would be seen that nations could be better governed
by the deductions from natural facts than by assump-
tions. He concluded by remarking on the progress
anthropology had made in England and abroad, and
the yet lamentable ignorance that prevailed of the
science of man, and thanking the society for the
support he had received in his position as president
during the past four years.

Mr. flloorss moved a vote of thanks to Dr. llun

as their ex-president, and that his address be printed.
Mr. W. 11. WESLEY seconded_ the motion, and it
was agreed to. •

Dr. HUNT acknowledged the,compllinent, and the
pfoceedings terminated.

SirG. Bowyer, M.P., on the Roman Question

The hon. member for Dundalk addressed a meet-
ing of Roman Catholics in the Exchange, Wolver-
hampton, on Monday night. He said that lately a
great deal had been heard in the newspapers and
elsewhere about the " solution of the Roman ques-
tion." He, however, denied, that there was any
Roman question at all. (Cheers.) He could not
better illustrate this Roman question than by the
following question. Supposing any of them going
home that nightshould be met by two or three stout
ruffians who were to say—" Your money or your
life !" (Laughter and applause.) That was the
Roman question. (Renewed laughter and ap-
plause.) It was simply a question of robbery.
(Applause.) The Piedwontese, the Government of
Victor Emmanuel, were acting in the most hypo-
critical manner possible. They talked about the
desire of the Pope to introduce retorms into his
government, but they did not want reforms at all.
1% hat they wanted was to take Rome, and no re-
forms would satisfy them. Then they talked about
the impossibility of a reconciliation between the
Pope and the Government of Florence. He thought
that he could illustrate that proposition in a =li-
ner which would rather resemble the illustration he
had just given. It was just precisely as if a man,
after robbing them of their watch and their money,
were to say.—" I will be reconciled to you, provided
you will make over to me all the rest of your pro-
perty." (Laughter and applause.) Their reconcilia-
tion was this—They said, " Give us Rome ; give
us the whole of your dominions ; give us everything
you have got left ; we have taken the greater part of
it; give us all the rest, and we will be reconciled to
you." (Laughter and applause.) Now, how very
kind that was, was it not? (Laughter.) But he
would not give much for such reconciliation. Then
they said, " We will not take the whole of your
power from you ; we will have a garrison
in Rome." That was very much like the
wolf protecting the sheep. Such a protec-
tion could not be listened to, and it could not be
offered without a great deal of bad faith and dis-
honesty. If the Pope allowed those people to have
possession of Rome he would be a prisoner, and he
would be compelled to leave his capital and lose the
independence absolutely necessary for the perform-
ance of his sacred duties. But there was another
object; they did not only want territory and that
magnificent city of Rome, but they wanted another
thing. Rome was the centre of the whole civilised
world. In that city were all the threads by which
the affairs of Christendom were managed. Every-
thing centred at Rome. They wanted to get hold of
that centre of the Catholic Church. It was the ob-
ject of the impious people who composed the secret
society to effect the complete destruction of the reli-
gious orders. They foolishly thought that they could
destroy the Church by getting hold of Rome and of
the head of the Church. If they should do this they
would subvert the providence of God. (Cheers.)
But they did not want them to get hold of Rome, for
if they did they would produce a great deal of mis

chief and plunder the rest of the Church. In proof
of this let them bear in mind what had just happened
in Venice. The people who had been deprived of
their livelihood because of the departure of the Aus-
trian troops cried for " Bread, bread," at the doors
of the Government offices. Upon that there came
out one of Victor Emmanuel's officers and said the
Government would do everything they could; and,
in order that they might have work, the Govern-
ment had ordered the destruction of two religious
houses. If these people were allowed to get hold of
Home the devastation of the Church would follow,
and a great and serious calamity to the Catholic.
Church would ensue. Sir George discountenanced
the habit of some in denouncing the Emperor of the

French, who, be said, had promised to send his sol-
diers back to the relief of the Pope if their aid should
be required; and he concluded by urging the assem-
bly to contribute Peter's pence, by which hitherto
the Holy Father had been enabled to fulfil punctu-
ally and exactly all demands as they became due,
whiilt the spoiler and the robber, King Victor Em-
manuel, remained upon the verge of bankruptcy.
(Cheers.) •