Year: 1866

spain ana the Fope.


We learn by the Atlantic telegraph that
"Spain has announced her intention to uphold


the temporal power Of the Pope after the
French forces leave Rome" This announce
ment will not take Europe by surprise, as
something equivalent to II has been for some
months expected, and it will be received less
as an evidence OF the devoted courage of the
Queen of Spain than Of the faulty and weak
ness OF those who govern her councils. The
Spanish protectorate Is not a solution of the
Roman question for any one but the Emperor
Napoleon. For him it affords complete and
easy escape from position that he could no
longer hold, and that but a few days ago it
seemed he could not quit without humiliation.
He has pledged France for the safety Of the
Pope's temporarily, but he has committed him
self to the doctrine Of nationalIties and is
bound by his own convention to withdraw the
French troops from Rome. How withdraw his
troops and yet protect the Pope from the
eager grand and growing spirit of Italian
nationality, ready to sweep before 1t any obsta-
Gle less than the military power Of country
like Francei The conversion of some portion
Of the French troops into volunteer Papk.
brigades did not meet the necessity Of
the case, and was a pitifhl subterfuge.
The Spanish announcement, however, meets
every requirement; for while to ths whole
outside world Spain is merely q man of
straw in this connection, the Pope is Of all
others estopped from undertaking the strength
- ll.~k n. kloIs ~1
Spain as the full equivalent Of France, while
France thus seizes the opportunity to escape
from difficulty that has compromised the
freedom OF her actions for so long time. The
announcement of the Queen Of Spain is great
triumph Of the Emperors diplomacy.


But Spain thus adds one more 70 the many
weights that have already brought her to bank
ruptcy and are fast hurryiug her to the ex-
tremty Of national disaster. Barely able to
stagger onward through her own troubles, how
the two feeblest Powers of Europe give strength
TO either? Spain takes the place that was no
longer tenable for France; having recently
made herself contemplate by her conduct on
this side the Atlantic, she makes herself riidicu-
lous by her new position in Europe. Spain
lost her American colonies whole continent,
and brought herself to her present position
mainly through an unenlightened adhesion and
subserviency 10 the Church; and now, in what
must 60 before the world as only new phase
throne in the most imminent danger or forfeit
her last titleto the respect Of the world by
new demonstration Of her impotence?


INSECURE BUuDNGs-We noticed the fact
yesterday that the foundation Of building
being erected on Broadway, near Grand street,
had sunk, causing the floors TO give way in the
centre and become depressed to considerable
angle, creating much apprehension for the
safety of the entire structure. This building
has nearly reached its full elevation, and no
one can observe it-now that it has become an
object Of notice-wi!hout being struck by the
pasteboard thickness of the walls in the upper
stories and trembling for the possible conse-
quences If it had been finished and occupied
before the action of the Croton water had
sapped the foundation and thus given timely
warning Of a collapse which might have proved
more disastrous at some future time


Unfortunately this building is not an excep-
ton. There are many more now in course of
on Broadway and other thorough
fares-some Of which we have previously men,
are not calculated to bear the
weight which will have to be supported by the
walls when they are employed for business
purposes, and which, in case OF nre, will most
certainly prove easy conductors Of the devour-
Ing flames. Brick walls from twelve to sixteen
inches thick cannot sustain the weight of stone
Ironted buildings four and five stories high
and yet these are just the class OF buildings
which are going up in all quarters Of the city.
All these incompleted structures should be
pulled down and strong .fre-proof houses
erected on their sites. Buildings impervious
20 fire, constructed Of iron and marble.
Ike the new HERALD establishment, are re-
Iured in great city like New York,
md not mere shells Of brick and mortar
md tinder boxes Of wood and plaster. The
results OF the observations made throughout the
,ity by our reporters, published in another
column, will show the extent to which this prac-


ice Of erecting dangerous buildings IL now
prevailing and will suggest the necessity OF
putting stop TO it at once by the interposition
,f the law.


One OF THE FIGHrING REGIxENTs.-we have
before us the Report Of the Operations Of the
FIRST New Jersey Cavalry" during the late. re-
,ellion from which II appears that this fighting
egiment, from December 90 1861, TO April Q,