The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-02-09
FOREIGN ITEMS.

So warm a winter as the present one has not beer
known in st. Petersburg for ITO years.
Leopold H., Elk Grand Duke of Tuscany, died in
Rome on the 18th ult., aged IS; He was made
famous by the Imprisonment Of the Madiai for
Bible reading while he was sovereign.
dispatch from Rome says that since the assem-
bling of the Ecumenical Council seven of its mem
bers have died and four have left that city.
The library of the late Dr. James Hamilton Of
London, has been purchased for the Theological
College of the English Presbyterian Church, by a
number of private friends Of that institution.
The Irish General Assembly has recently assem-
bled at Belfast in extraordinary force, to discuss
the questions bearing on the future financial meas
ures which have become necessary In connection
with the legislation in the last session of Paria
ment. by which the Regiiim DORUnl is no longer
70 be granted annually towards the SuStenance Of
the ministers Of the Assembly. Communication is
the basis on which the members Of the Assembly
are nearly unanimous. Professor Smyth, of Lon
donderry, as the Moderator OF Assembly, delivered
luminous and able speech The Communication on
the terms Of government will secure to every min
lister in the Church forty pounds sterling tor the
term of his lite, and next a SustentatOn fund will
be established, by which II Is expected that large
increase of means, and a generous zeal, with pew
rents besides, will make tie Presbyterian Church
a worthy imitatOr Of the tranScendent success Of
the SustentatiOn Fund Of the Free Church Of Scot
land.
Evangelical LabOrs in Paris-Rev Henry Grattan
Guinness has established very successful meetings
for the instruction Of the lower classes during the
past wear in Paris Due public notice Is given In
many ways, short addresses by pastors and laymen
compose the exercises; large numbers have attend
ed. This success has excited generous emulation
among the pastors Of Paris connected both with
4 l. q, Il
of evangehZatiOn, the different cOmmunlOns are In
complete agreement, and give each other the hand
of brOtherly affection.
The English Good EnOugh.-The distinguished
poet and editor, William g. Bryant, gives the fol
lowing sensible advice to young contributor to
his paper, who bad used several French, express
sons in an article: Il think, If you will Stndl
the English language that you viii 6ud 1t capable
of expressing all the ideas you may have. L have
always found it so and in all that have written
l do not recall an instance where was tempted to
use foreign word, but that on searching, found
better one in my own language"
Ths Counoil.-The great Council at Rome has
reached no decisions; at least has proclaimed
none 1t has consumed nearly two months in cere
monies, splendid and impressive, and in debates Of
which only the echoes reach the public ear. The
doors of the Council room are closed, and the
members Of the concave are bound to secrecy; but
rumors abound in Rome, and hints convey imper-
fectly what reporters elsewhere would set carefully
and correctly before the public. The conclusions
only of the high deliberations are to be promul-
gated, and Rome's subjects are to be invited to
obedience, and not to examination or comparison
of the DEGREES with the Word of God.
In the mindst of the silence, or the whispering
of dubious rumOrs one thing seems to be growing
more certain, and that Is, that the drift Of opinion
in the Council is towards the highest forms Of VI
tramOntanism The dispatches, which for a while
affirm that an independent spirit would be mani
tested by the majority Of the Council, have become
fewer, and have, indeed, quite ceased The doubt
ful members have been manipulated, the holder
ones have been frowned upon, and the ambitious
ones excited to unusual fidelity; or as We should
term it. servilty by gittering prizes. Sixteen car
dinars hats are said to be in the hands Of the
Pope, and he holds out these tempting baubles be-
fore the dazzed eyes Of arehbiShopS and bishops.
The current of opinion in Rome also sets strongly
towards the full endorsement of the most extrav5
giant pretensions OF the Papal See, aud few al
found able to stem the current or preserve eve
the degree Of independence with which they
entered the Eternal City. The minority =
the decisive hour, viii evidently be a lean,
oOuraged, beaten knot Of men, Of whom Ro
will have no further rewards, and probably ht
further uSe.-FfeS5yteridH.