New-York tribune., 1870-01-07

,o H.. eonGdept of the success OF the scheme. lie
hos cherished the Illusion il il be an illusion, so
long that il seems like reality But, III TACT OF the
isnc of the uIot he knows no more than the man IN
the moon No doubt, too, he is just rs Ignorant oil
how long the Council will last Meantime some
of the scribese aud soothsayers, and chronol-
ogists are prophesying from the experience
of past Councils as to the duratIon VI
tho nresent They tell us that with the
exception Of the Council Of Trent which lasted 10
yoars and the fifth LateraD, which took fye the
great Councils of the Church have dispatched ther
business with remarkable speed. The first Councii
Of Nice for instance broke up in about three months
tbe first of Constantinope in two; the Council OF
Cbalcedon in three weeks the first Lateran, IN elCven
davs. the second Lateran. in seventeen days; the
third Lateran in fourteen days. and the fourth Lat
eran in twenty days. Thus the Councils III Rome
have been remarkably shorlived, and perhaps from
this analogy the ecclesiastical amanac-makers are
disposed to predict the brevty of the vatican oou-
Gil and wish TO prepare the minds OF the faIthiul loE
ITS dissolution at no distant date.
An unexpected obstacle TO the facility OF debate IS
said to have been found in the confusion OF tongues
which prevails in the Council. The scholastic eccie-
sastical Latin, with its antique perfume OF preyai
times it seems would not answer the purpose Inc
Bishop of MantchooTia could make no headway with
the Bishop of Minnesota. Constantnople and Cln-
cnnati were barbarians to each other. The ancient
misunderstanding between Paul and Peter was q
triAe TO that between the venerable fathers from
Brazil, and the preates of Australia. Each nation
aitv pronounces Latin after the fashion of its own
language, even supposing it so familiar to the mass
of the Bishops as to enable them to handle it freely
in grave discussions In this dilemma one Of the
members of the Council suggested the adop-
ton of French as tho universal language,
but his motion savored of sacrilege, as 1t
seemed profane to treat of divine things In
such secular language. According to public
rumor which is not, however, to be too much relied
on the Fathers fell back the language of the Ful-
gate as the nearest approach to inspiration; Latin II
has been from the beginning, and Latin II shall re-
main forever world without end
Among other recent works which have Just been
placed in the Index EXpurgatOrius" by the Sacred
College is the celebrated volume by Janus entitled
"The Pope and the Council" by of the most
learned Catholic historians in Germany This book
has had wide circulation, both in the original ana
in the English translation, and is doubtless well
known to New-YOrk readers. 1t has exerted an
immense influence in showing the utter untenable-
ness of the doctrine of the Pope's lnfalhbilty on
historical grounds and its prohibition by the rope
and the Cardinals will now increase the curiosity
which mas DeeU so RcucIdny d"hhOhNN W 40 ''''
tents. In spite of the prohibition, however l am
told by the leading bookseller here that he can furnish
if TO purchasers on the pretense that he has an in
voice on hand received before the issue of the Popes
Bull So it seems that smuggling is not confined TO
the New-Yor Custom-House, but extends to the pre-
cncts of the Vatican.
The death of Tenerani, the oldest sculptor In
Rome so soon after that Of Overbech, has called
forth good deal of feeling in the artistic circles
here He died week ago to-day, after lingering
illness and his funeral was celebrated with all the
ceremonies of the Church on Thursday evening, and
again on Friday morning. The services were at
tended by an immense concourse of spectators, IN
cludng the most prominent representatives Of art
in Rome Tenerani was born in Carrara in l79S, but
had passed the greater part of his life in the exercise
of his art in this city. Like Overbech, he was man
of profound religious sentiment, and devoted himself
chiefly to religious subjects. His works are found
in several of the Roman churches where they always
attract the attention of visitors by the original form
in which they express familiar religious ideas, and
the refined vigOr of their execution. His studio was
the fayote resort of foreign travellers and many OF
our American friends will hear with regret that an
artist by whom they had been received with such
gentle courtesy has passed away. No living sculptor
here can fill his place, and his death. like that OF
Overbech--each of them in a ripe old age-breaks
ono of the ties between the Present and the Past,
and leaves manifest void in the peculiar sphere of
art of which he was so faithful and admirable a
yoary r.