The Sun.
London, England, 1859-10-17 00:00:00

Ecclesiastical property of all descriptions is free
from all taxation. It would be easy to mu.ltiply
facts of this nature, which are just as obvious to
the eyes and understandings of the human race s
that Manchester is a city of tall chimneys, or that
there are canals in Venice, and yet it appears pos-
sible to the ecclesiastical mind to ignore them alto-
gether, and to treat the very worst Government in
Europe as though it were the very best
As for the Pastoral of the Bishop of Orleans,
we may fairly leave that intelligent dignitary in
the hands of M. About. The reply cannot be
mended, whatever may be said of the charge
which provoked it. The wonder, however, to
us is that the Romish Church, which throughout
so many ages has shown itself so wonderfully
plastic, and so ready to adapt itself to the shifting
views and ideas of the human race, should have
reached a point at last where it seems resolved
fairly to stand at bay. To retain the rule of the
temporal sovereignty of the Church, the Pope and
his advisers are ready to risk all. Still stranger is
it that they might retain this rule if they would
consent to exercise it in a spirit more consentaneous
with the genius of the 19th century. But they will
hear of no compromise. "Thorough" is their motto,
—all or nothing; they will have the Rome of 1759,
or no Rome at all. They would still govern the
wretched people who by the accidents of history
have been drifted under their charge as though the
hum an race had not risen up twice and thrice
against theideas they represent. As often have they
returned to their desolate city and to the upbolste
ries of their creed; and, as they argue, what has
been will be again. In this respect, unless we are
much mistaken, they sadly deceive themselves.
That any very sudden extinction threatens the Pope
and his Cardinals, and the system they represent
we do not believe ; but that in one form or another
temporal rule over one of the fairest of the Italian
provinces is about to pass away from their hands
seems equally clear to those who mark the signs of
the times. The French Emperor would have saved
them if he could, but they will not listen to his
voice. They have not the understanding to com-
prehend the idea of a Pontifical Government re-
generated, and of a Pope as the true corner-stone of
the Italian system. Rather than admit of change,
the last priest will drone his idle Litanies is an
empty church, and when he passes out into the
sunshine, where real men ply their daily tasks, dis-
cover too late that it would have been better not to
connect reverence for his office with the oppression
of his fellow-creatures.

MR. KINNAIRD, M.P., AND TILE
ITALIAN QUESTION.

---..,--
The hon. member for Perth has devoted part of
the recess to a tour in Italy, and has given his im-
pressions of the Italians and their cause in the fol-
lowing letter addressed to the Lord Provost Imrie :
" Pall-mall East, London, Oct. 7, 1859.
" My dear Provost,—After the vote in Parlia-
liament which led to the resignation of the Ministry
of Lord Derby, and when it became evident that a
reform bill was out of the question, from want of
time sufficient to discuss that or any other import-
ant measure, the attention of Parliament and of the
country was naturally directed to Italy. Whatever
outward agreement there might be among riral
statesmen, it was evident that very different sym-
pathies were manifested, and very different senti-
ments entertained, as to the real condition of Central
Italy, and as to the fitness of its people for constitu-
tional government. My sympathies were, as they
have ever been, in favour of Italian liberties, but I
still wanted the assurance that years of oppression
and misrule had not unfitted the people for the full
exercise of their rights as the constitutional subjects
of free states. I determined therefore, as soon after
the recess as possible, to revisit Italy, and ascertain
what I could by personal observation. The result
has even surpassed my expectations; and I rejoice
to know that both iu Lord Palmerston and Lord
John Russell we have, from their avowed sentiments,
the guarantee that whatever moral support can be
given will be affordedbythe government of England
in this crisis of Italian liberty.
" I first went by Zurich and the Lago Maggiore to
Milan, and visited the scenes of Garibaldi's success-
ful campaign with his volunteer. troops. Having
passed through the field of Magenta on my way,
I reached Milan just after the brilliant reception
given to the Tuscan deputation ; and from what I
witnessed and heard, in answer to the inquiries I
made there and elsewhere, I came to the conclusion
that there is a deep-seated and wide-spread unanimity
of sentiment in favour of uniting under the rule of
Victor Emmanuel. Considering how recently the
iron yoke of Austria, both directly and indirectly,
repressed all aspirations after liberty, it is really
marvellous to see the orderly bearing of the people,
combined with their resolute determination not
a gaiu to submit to any foreign yoke. Could they
be secure from interference from without, I believe
that we should sce civil and religious liberty in full
exercise I had the privilege of conversing with
Signor Farini and General Garibaldi at Modena
and with Baron Ricasoli and General Sa]vagrioli
at Florence, and was almost equally delighted with
the sentiments expressed by each, manifesting a
statesmanlike comprehension of affairs, combining
moderation with energy, and practical wisdom with
honest determination of purpose. Most sincerely do
I wish them God-speed, believing, as I do, that,
with their success is bound up, not only the happi-
ness of Central Italy and the religious welfare of
thousands of its inhabitants, but the maintenance of
the peace of Europe. Of course, in the above, re-
member I do not refer to that clerical party whose
worldly interests are identified with the triumph of
the papacy, and who care not who is sacrificed so
that its interests are advanced.
" On my way to Florence, I visited the battle-
fields of St Martino and Solferino, and spent a day
or two at Venice, where it was sad to hear of the
crushing taxation which bears upon the unhappy
inhabitants of that beautiful city ; and the contrast
with the freedom already enjoyed by the liberated
Italians made their condition still more striking.—
Believe me, my dear Provost, yours very sincerely,
" A KINNAIRD."