A W eekly Newspaper and Review

D u m V O B IS G R A T U L A M U R , A N IM O S ET IA M ADDIM U S U T IN IN CCEPTIS V E S TR IS CO N S T AN T E R M A N E A T IS .

From the B r ie f o f His Holiness Puts I X . to T he T ablet, June 4, 1870.

Vol. 52. No. 2013. L ondon, N ovember 9, 1878.

P rice 5d. B y P o st 5% d

[R eg iste r ed a t th e G en e r a l P o st O f f ic e a s a N ew spaper.

C hronicle o f t h e W e e k :—

Pag;e

Russia and the Treaty. — The Ultimatum of the Viceroy.— The Military Preparations. — The Nizam and the Imperial Government.— Electoral Reform in Italy. —The “ Italia Irredenta” Agitation.— Germany and the Holy See.— The Holy See and Switzerland. — The Relations between England and France.— The Dispute with the United States.— The Merits of Arbitration.— The American Elections.— Lord Pen.zance and the [Lord Chief Justice. — The “ Blessing " o f the Bells.— The New Protestant Episcopal Communion. — The “ Whitehall Review’s ” List of Converts, & c . . 577

CONTENTS.

P e t e r ’s P ence

Page . 581

L e a d e r s :

The Line and Language of the

“ Month” .._ . . .. 581 The Agricultural Strike . . . . 583 The Rhodope Commission . . 584 Monotheism in Greece and Rome 585 The Late Bishop Rosecrans .. 586 R e v ie w s :

Records of the English Province of the Society of Jesus . . . . 587 Pleasant Days in Pleasant Places 588 Short N otices :

Horæ Sacræ seu Sacerdos Sancti-

ficatus .. . . . . . . 588 Our Native Land . . . . . . 588

Page

C orrespondence :

Peter’s Pence ......................... 588 Wants of the Diocese o f „A rgyll and the Isles .. . . — 889 The Embarrassment of Catholics

How to Answer the Accusation, that their Teaching the Classics is the same thing, as Eve Giving the Forbidden Fruit to Adam 589 Roman Fictions . . . . . . 591 Cardinal de Castillon . . . . 591 Protestant England and the

Eastern Question . . . . 591 R ome :— Letter from our own

Correspondent ......................... 593

Page

Conduct o f Catholics in Political

Elections .. . . .. . . 595 D io cesan N ews :— Westminster................... . . 595

Southwark . . .. . . . , 595 Beverley . . . . . . .. 595 Birmingham.. .. . . .. 595 Hexham and Newcastle . . . . 595 Newport and Menevia . . .. 596 Northampton . . .. . . 596 Shrewsbury.. . . . . . . 596 I r e lan d :—

Letter from our own Corre­

spondent . . . . . . « 596 F oreign N ews ;—

Germany . . . . . . .. 598 Poland . . . . . . . . 598 G en er a l N ews : ........................... 600

CHRONICLE OF THE WEEK.

RUSSIA AND THB TREATY. T

'H E present phase of the never ending

Eastern difficulty is creating no little uneasiness among continental politicians, and is discussed in a spirit of great gravity by the Press both of France and Germany. The French papers more especially are adopting a tone of much decision, and manifest no disposition to acquiesce in the derangement of the scheme of pacification arrived at with so much difficulty in Berlin. The Débats of Tuesday directly charges Russia with being the disturber of the peace of Europe. It is not Austria that is endangering the peace, it is not England. “ England,” says the Débats, “ has carried forbearance so far as to lay herself open to a charge of weakness. England loves peace, as all countries do which are engaged in lucrative commerce. Were we to say that it is the Porte that endangered peace we should be deservedly laughed at. The disturber of peace is Russia and Russia only. Her finances are in such a state that they can hardly change for the worse. But an impoverished country, poor to begin with, is not so liable to be affected with financial difficulties. After all what has Russia to lose ? That is the reason why Russia, after having, by a bold diversion, turned the attention of England towards Afghanistan, has once more directed her arms towards the Bosphorus. Hence the peril that hangs over the peace of Europe. Hence also the duty that devolves upon us to proclaim as loudly as we can that, if the Berlin Treaty be not carried out, it is not the fault of England, who remains inactive, nor of Austria, who does her best, nor of the Porte, which cannot help itself, nor of the rest of Europe, that looks on with discouragement. It is the fault of Russia and of Russia alone.” The view taken by the Débats is in harmony with the political feeling most prevalent in France, and indeed rather lags behind than goes in advance of it. In Berlin also the view taken of the situation in Eastern affairs is reported to be very gloomy, and something like consternation is beginning to prevail, as it becomes harder and harder to resist the conviction that an evasion of the Treaty of Berlin is being seriously contemplated. The most reassuring feature in the present position of affairs is that, up to the present, there is no indication of a disposition on the part of any of the other Powers who were signatories to the Treaty, to give any countenance to its violation by Russia.

THE ULTIMATUM

OP THE VICEROY.

According to an authoritative statement in the Indian Pioneer, the Ultimatum sent to the Amir of Afghanistan requires that the reply should be sent to Peshawur by the 20th of this month, and declares that otherwise the British troops will immediately advance into Afghanistan. A

New Series. V ol. XX. No. 522.

Reuter’s telegram from Simla informs us that the Ultimatum was placed in the hands of Faiz Mahommed Khan, the Afghan commandant at Ali Musjid, on the 2nd, and that another copy, addressed directly to the Amir, was at the same time posted at Peshawur. For the next ten days or fortnight, therefore, we are not likely to hear of any declaration of war on our part or invasion of Afghanistan, but there is a rumour that ShereAli is collecting his forces atjellalabad and means to attack us if we do not attack him. It is reported that Afghan troops have arrived at Candahar from Herat, and that a collision is probable between Candahar and Quettah, as well as at the KhaibarPass. There are many rumours, but no reliable information as to the exact terms of the document. Calcutta telegrams state that the Amir, in his reply to Lord Lytton, said that he had been anxious for the friendship of the British Government, but that of late years its policy had been changeable; that Lord Mayo pursued one policy and Lord Lytton another; and that each new Viceroy, as lie was appointed, reversed all that had been done by his predecessor. He was open to make a new treaty, not being bound by any Russian alliance, and he explained that the [Russian Embassy was not invited to Cabul. We have no confirmation of this version of the Amir’s reply, which does not appear to bear out the character of extreme insolence imputed to it.

Meanwhile the preparations for war are the military being pushed on with unabated vigour. The force in the Peshawur Valley will be com­

posed of two divisions— the one being stationed at Peshavvur, under the command of Sir Samuel Browne, and the other at Hassal Abdal, under General Maude, with whom a contingent of troops from the Sikh States will act. Although, (unless in the event of some unexpected occurrence) no active hostilities are probable for another fortnight or more, when the time given to Shere Ali for his final answer will expire, we are assured that everything will be in readiness for a forward movement, and that the best spirit is manifested by the troops, both European and native, who are impatient to be on the march. It is just possible that in his final decision Shere Ali may be swayed by wiser and friendlier counsels, and if so no one will regret the decision to aftord him another chance, which at present is not regarded with unanimous approval in India. There are numerous rumours as to the prevalence of disease and want among the troops of the Amir, and even of the breaking up to a great extent of the garrison of Ali Musjid. It is impossible to measure the value of such items of intelligence ; but there seems no reason to doubt .the accuracy of the satisfactory accounts which reach us as to the disposition of the hil tribes, and the loyalty and zeal of the Indian Princes who