The Sun.
London, England, 1861-04-10 00:00:00

THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT AND THE

PRIESTS.

The Oloniteur of yesterday contained the fol-

[owing :

• "PARIS, APRIL 8.
" The Keeper of the Seals, Minister of Justice,
has addressed the following circular to the Procu •
reurs General of the Imperial Courts of the em-
pire :
" Monseur le Procureur General,—For some
time past divers members of the Catholic clergy
have been pointed out to me, who, verbally and by
writing, treat publicly, and in the exercise of their
functions, of matters which the law expressly in-
terdicts them from discussing.
" Some, forgetting that the mission of the priest
is to watch over the religious instruction of the
faithful, take upon themselves to criticise the acts of
the Government, exciting distrust and censuring the
policy of the Emperor; others, yielding to the in-
fluence of a blind zeal, attack the person of the
Sovereign, and under a veil more or less transparent
seek to overwhelm him with abase ; others again,
taking advantage of the feeble-minded and credu-
lous, take pleasure in troubling their consciences by
the announcement of imaginary evils.
" Such abuses are provided against by the law,
" Article 201 of the Penal Code "punishes with
imprisonment of from three months to two years
ministers of religion who pronounce, in the exercise
of their functions, and in a public assembly, a dis-
course containing criticisms or censure on the Go-
vernment, on a law, on an imperial decree, or on
any other act of the public authorities."

"' In terms of article 204 of the same code, "any
writing containing pastoral instructions, in what-
ever form it may be, and in which a minister of
religion shall meddle with, by criticism or censure,
either the Government or any act or public autho-
rity, shall be punished by banishment of the minis-
ter who shall have published the same."

If these dispositions, of which the present cir-
cumstances demonstrate the wise foresight, have
not hitherto been made applicable, it is because
until these latter times the attitude of the clergy
has been generally respectful and reserved ; it is
also because the Government, in its indulgence, has
chosen rather to tolerate isolated offences than to
prosecute before the tribunals, to the detriment,
perhaps, of religion itself, imprudent priests. But
these dispositions have lost nothing of their autho-
rity, and the Government would fail in its duty
if it did not employ against systematic hostility-
directed towards it the arms with which it is en-
trusted by the law for the maintenance of peace
and good order.

" I charge you consequently, -Monsieur le Pro-
cureur General, to give me an exact account of all
infractions which may take place within your juris-
diction, and, when the facts shall be judicially esta-
blished, to bring their authors, whoever they
may be, before the competent authorities. It is
time that the law such resume its empire.
" Receive, Monsieur le Procureur General, the
assurance of my most distinguished consideration.

" ' DELANGLE: "

BOURSE, April 9.—The market has been heavy,
and Stock having been rather offered by speculators
desirous of realising, prices have receded. Threes,
for the Account, are now at 67f 55c. Railways
also heavy.

The following were the last quotations :
ft per per Cents ... 95 25 Credit F omcier —
Do end month.... 95 251 Belgian 41 —
3 per Cents
Do. end month 67 55' Roman
Bank Shares .. 2897 60 I Austrian
Credit Mobilier.... 642 50 Spanish Threes —
i
Do. Account 645 Home Debt