New-York tribune., 1879-12-30

Grafton according 10 the sympathies Oh thoso W
whom they came. Nowhere was the surprise grea'er
or the Joy more intense than in Rome Pope ureeory
had been very sceptcal in regard to Inc inteh"ons
of the French Court. But the news OF the massacio
removed the doubt. It wns received as signal
blessing for the Roman See. A jubilee published
for the whole Christian world; the cannon of san
Angelo was fired as signal of victory over the enc
mics OF the Church and for three successive nights
there was q general illumination. medal WIS
struck in honor of the evenr, and pictures were
painted in the Vatican palace, by the order Oh iho
Pope representing different scenes In the farSiah
massacre. But in the eyes of the world, ChareS
X stood convicted of an infamous crime. NO in-
geuous sophistry no barefaced peryersion OF iacts
could clear him in the judgment OF impartial men
of either creed from the guilt Of an unparalleled
butchcry OF his subjects.
Professor Baird briefly but clearly, discusses the
historical question which stll agtates the world
respecting the extent TO which the Roman Church
and the Pope in particular. must be held response
bic for the Massacre of st. Bartholomew Day" In
answer to this inquiry, the author airms that 50
far as Queen Catharine was concerned, as IS adj
mitted by all. zeal for religion controlled ber
conduct. A dissoute and ambitious woman, and
almost an avowed atheist, size could not have acted
from belief that il her duty To exterminate
heresy. But it can scarcely be doubted that
among her inferior agents there were some who
thought they glorifed God by Kidding the world Of
the enemies of his Church. The number of these
assassins from religious motives. however, must
have been small compared with tho multitude to
whom religion merely pretext. while cupidity
or partisan hatred the real motive, but who
still derived their incentives from the lessons of the
priests, who in countenancng assassination must
be held no less responsible for the crimes OF this
clo of for lao Mi of
deyotees. Bat whether the Queen Mother and
the Kings Ministers were honest, were Roman
Catholics or were in fact Christians only in name,
is not essential to the question. If the Pope had for
years urged the suppression of heresy by
the annhiaton of the heretcs, ii he had familiar
lied the minds of King and Queen with the thought
of iustifiablc massacre, it is of little i'm
portanee to ascertain whether his pupils
executed the injunction from pure de-
sire TO promote the interests of the
Papal See. or with more selfish designs. But the
course pursued daung the entire pontfcate Of
Pius V was Of the character above described. To
his last breath, Pope Plus retained the same thirst
for the blood of the herecs Of France. Ii was his
standing order to the commander of tho papal
troops in the service of Charles that every hereto
who fell into his hands should at once be put to
death. With such continual papal exhortaii0us 10
bloodsheh, we can scarcely hesitate. says the
author, to find the head of the Roman Catholic
Church guilty, if not of dcvisng the mG rs of its
execution of paving tho way for the commission Of
the crime. i'Without the teachings of Plus w." he
remarks, the conspiracy of Catharine and Aniou
would have been almost impossible. without the
preaching of priests and frars at Lent and Adj
vent, the passions of the pOpuli &C could not have
been inhamed to such pitch 10 render il capa-
bic of pcrpetrating atrocities. which will forever
render the reign If Charles N infamous in the
French annals" In regard to the number Of
Huguenot victims throughout France. tue author
estimates it at between 10000, as coniecured by
De Thou aud 10000, as stated by Jean de Sevres,
instead of adopting the extreme views Of Sally and
Perefxe, the latter of whom swes the count OF the
slam to 100000 men. women. and children.
While the research and well-digested eruditicn
exhibited in TINS work emIncuily cTcdItable to
the learning and scholarship OF the anthur its liter
airy execution amply attests the excellence OF his
taste aud his Judgment and skill IN the rrt o.
position lie affects dainty nIceties OF style. but
his grave and dignilied expresson is always lucid,
with no sgn of haste or crndty. often showing a no
less remarkable apness in the choice of words than
acuteuess III the formation of opinion. The most
conspicuous features OF his writing purity aud
force of diction, with felicity OF arrangement, but
there are not nfrequent passages in the narrative
equally striking for their simple beauty and quiet
strength. His work is Of the most important
cent contributions TO American literature. and is
entitled TO a sincere greeting for its manifold learn
ing and scholarly spirit.