AND

THE PAPACY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE CHRISTIAN TIMES."

BELVEDERE, July 2nd, 1849.

SIR,-I ask your readers to give their attentive perusal of the accompanying letter. No document of greater importance to the destinies of

has appeared since the Italian commotions ed, if the authorship attributed to it be

Europe as one who has endeavoured to reconcile devotion to liberty with devotion to the Papacy. These characteristics of the Padre Ventura shine through every line of the letter. Every English heart must beat responsive to his denunciation of the wickedness of the French bombardment, and of the tactics of Gaeta. And few will fail to honour his chivalrous attachment to his Church and to its Pontiff, however confidently we may expect that a short period will fully open his eyes to the true character of the Papal system.

Subjoined is a translation of the letter, as addressed to a French correspondent. I have taken pains to secure the correctness of the translation. My object in submitting this paper to your readers is twofold: to suggest to them the duty of our uniting in prayer to God, for a favourable turn to be given to the conflict now going on in the minds of the Romans, as well as to that other conflict which is possibly still raging round their walls; and then to suggest whether important public duties, as citizens of this great country, may not devolve upon us in certain not improbable contingencies. I therefore propose to such of your readers as are already in the habit of consecrating Monday mornings to prayer for the universal Church, to offer special prayer FOR ROME, and to continue

the same practice till the Roman question is settled. Let us pray that bloodshed may be arrested; and that Rome may become a convert, not to the exclusive views of any of our Protestant parties, but to the Catholic Faith of the Epistles of St. Peter, and of St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans.

Further, I submit to our brethren, that should the Romans, as anticipated by the Padre Ventura, cast off their spiritual allegiance to the Pope, the relation of England to Italian affairs will be materially altered. The Romans justly argue, that, if the Pope claims Rome on the ground of its being the centre of Roman Catholicism, Rome can escape from the claim by ceasing to be Roman Catholic. But England would then have new duties. Our Government has justified its non-interference in the question of Rome, on the ground that that question belonged exclusively to the Catholic Powers. But if Rome became Protestant, the question would instantly become one in which England would be bound to interpose her good offices with the other Powers on behalf of the Romans. I do not say that we could claim that its settlement should rest solely with the Protestant Governments of Europe, as it has now been allowed to rest with the Catholic; but England,-ever the friend of

liberty, England, who in the days of Cromwell, and even of the Stuarts, was the protector of feeble Protestant States-England would never be a passive spectator, allowing a gallant nation to invoke in vain her influence and her aid, in the name of religious freedom. Even now the blood of Englishmen boils-no matter to what party they belongwhile they hear of the worst despotism of Europe being forced back on a reluctant land by Republican bayonets. But then, every plea for French interference-every plea for English abstinencewould instantly disappear. We should not, I hope, have even to utter one word disrespectful to the French nation, in order to secure the withdrawal of their army from before Rome. The French nation, as a nation, have no desire to trample on Rome. They cannot but feel their flag to be dishonoured by the Italian policy of M. Barrot and of Louis Napoleon. Even the French Government might be glad of an excuse to retreat from their present most unpopular course.

But, I will not allow myself to speculate on the probable policy of parties within another nationenough for England to discharge her own dutyand England's duty, it seems to me, is plain. She must say, and say distinctly; there is but one ground on which Pio Nono can be restored, while