institution in the vicinity were present. After the archbishop had said mass, a short instructive address was delivered to the children, and a collection was made towards the support of the work. The cathedral was literally filled with little children, who had been brought thither as if under the influence of rivalry by 'Brethren of the Christian Doctrine,' lay instructors, 'Sisters of the Christian Doctrine,''Sisters of Saint Charles,' Sisters of Saint Vincent de Paul,' and mistresses of boarding schools.

6

"This multitude of French children, thus welcomed, praying to the child Jesus, and bringing their little offerings for other unhappy children in infidel (Protestant) countries, presented a truly touching sight, and many Christian hearts were moved thereby. The work of the Holy Infancy extends everywhere with a marvellous rapidity. From France it now sends its beneficent branches to the British Isles, Belgium, Holland, the Rhenish Provinces, Bavaria, Poland, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Asia, North and South America,' &c."

A few days after a similar festival was held at Blois, where nearly two thousand children were gathered together.

'After the holy mass, during which a short address was delivered to this infantine auditory, they proceeded to the most attractive part of the ceremony, the determination by lot of those of the Associates who should be sent into China as missionaries, and what should be given by them to all those thousands of infants whom they should have the happiness to baptise every year."

Let the reader peruse the following circular addressed by the Archbishop of Paris to his clergy, under date Jan. 18, 1852:—

'Reverend Sir,-Among the very numerous labours of love established in our diocese, that of the "Orphans of the Cholera," is, without contradiction, one of the most important, and one which deserves all our care. In truth, how should we not be touched with a deep feeling of pity for the lot of that multitude of deserted children, who, after having lost the authors and the support of their days, have no other means of living than the resources of our beneficence? How can we avoid extending to them a helping hand? No, Rev. Sir, we will not repudiate that precious inheritance which Providence has bequeathed to our tenderness, and we will every year renew in favour of these poor orphans, all the efforts of our zeal, all the sacrifices of our pious liberality. For charity, St. Paul tells us, fainteth not; it knows neither relaxation nor discouragement. (1 Cor. xiii.)

'Consequently, with confidence do we renew our appeal to the pitying hearts of our disciples. Our voice we know will be heard. By means of alms put into our hands, and thanks to the intelligent as well as indefatigable zeal of the members of the Committee of the Work, we have been enabled to place in educational establishments, or to assist in their

a L'Univers, Jan., 1852.

b Ib., Jan. 25, 1852.

own homes, more than 550 children. It is not only the life of the body which has been preserved for these orphans, but they have received a benefit a thousand times more precious, a moral and religious education, which by nurturing their spirit in truth, preparing their heart for virtue, and forming in them habits of order, industry and piety, has put them in the way to true happiness.

The period of the Ecclesiastical Year at which we have now arrived, will furnish you, Rev. Sir, in even the mysteries which we honour, the most powerful motives for exciting the generosity of Christian souls. The recollection of an infant God experiencing the infirmities of our nature, as if to train himself for compassion, enduring the severities of poverty, now lying in a manger, now flying in exile,-this picture, so fit to move the hardest hearts, will be set by you before the eyes of your hearers. Cause this divine infant himself to speak; let him solicit the benefactions. He will account as done for himself, that which is done for these little ones; these homeless orphans; those who are his image, and whom he condescends to call his members.

"Our intention then is, that to assist the work of "the Orphans of the Cholera," a general collection shall take place in all the churches and chapels of our diocese, at the morning and evening services, on the day of the Virgin's Purification.'

Whatever may be thought of the result of these efforts, it is impossible not to admire their earnestness; and though the zealotism by which they are prompted must be regretted, and even blamed by Protestants, yet in the religious feelings whence it springs are to be found the chief impulse and the effectual support of these attempts. It may be that a philosophy no less Christian than wise may be compelled to condemn the excess of charity which this zeal displays, and fearing that justice halts where charity runs, be confident that pauperism will spread in the same proportion in which charity is dispensed and accepted. Nevertheless we cannot ourselves assert that we can contemplate all this active beneficence unmoved; and while we are sure that Popery has in these benign exertions selected a very open, easy, and certain avenue to people's hearts, we must regret that Protestantism both in France and in England observes the woes of the humbler classes far too coldly, and need not be surprised if the hearts of many of its adherents are stolen and carried away into the more genial atmosphere of Catholic benevolence. Undoubtedly, Romanism in France has taken the most effectual-perhaps the only effectual-means of winning over the population from the fatuous reveries or monstrous theories of Socialist speculators and revolutionary incendiaries. Wesley is reported to have said that he did not see why the devil should have all the pretty airs. Can any reason be assigned why the worst of religions should display the greatest zeal, and employ the most efficient means? Fas est et ab hoste doceri. It is of

special consequence that the motto should be acted on in these islands, for here, to a great and still increasing extent, the measures of proselytism which have been found to work so well in France for Romish ends are applied by societies and individuals, who act not with less effect because, moving under a common impulse, they work for the most part invisibly. Indeed, the propagandism which has been recently called into action in France is only one arm of the immense sea of Catholic zeal which lies round all the countries of Europe, ever on the point of breaking in on the land, to carry before it every obstacle. It cannot be too widely known, it cannot be too deeply impressed on the minds of Protestants, that there exists a widely spread conspiracy on the part of Catholic powers, which, originated and directed by Jesuitism, is designed, and night and day labours with all possible resources and devotedness, to put down mental freedom, to root out Protestantism, and to make the authority of Rome universal. With special effort does this conspiracy direct its batteries against England, as being the stronghold of Protestantism, and as being socially to a great extent the mistress of the world; in the confident assurance that, when England has become papal, the conquest of the world will soon be completed.

The views which the French clergy have entertained, and the motives by which they have been actuated on this subject, are set forth in a leading article which appeared in the periodical representative of the Ultramontane party, L'Univers, of Jan. 1, 1852 :

:-

'There is an experience which those who have the care of souls find confirmed every day; namely, the necessity of sanctifying the leisure hours of the labourer by turning them to some good account, and by rendering them agreeable. The wish to draw from his habitual pursuits a man addicted to unlawful pleasures, will most frequently prove abortive, if at the same time you have not devised a means whereby you may captivate him by enjoyments that are innocent, and that while they preserve some attraction, do not present the same dangers. When the domestic sanctuary was held in honour, when in all classes of society, even in the lowest, the father found his pleasures in the circle of home, -then, when every Sunday he went to present his children before the Lord, in order to partake their joy after having partaken their troubles, instructing them, edifying them, delighting them;-the Church was able to hold its peace and be satisfied by smiling on what she saw; but now, when the tavern has taken the place of the church, and when "friends" stand where the family used to stand, Religion cannot without grief behold a state of things so deadly in its consequences. Her first care in recalling the unhappy back into the way of duty, has been to point out to the labouring man a means for employing his moments of repose in a useful manner. The spouse of God, who eases the sick man's couch, the Church, appears in the person of the "Sisters of

Charity," by the bedside of grief; in the person of "the Trinitarian Friar," near him when he is in slavery; everywhere and always she "becomes all things to all men" in order to save souls. Let us then be assured that in our days she will attempt to enter (so to say) into a concordat with the age, and while she remains unshaken in her doctrine, now, as at all epochs, she will know how to adapt her means of salvation to the exigencies of the times: yes, she will go even to the extreme limits of her conscience, in order to bring back her wandering children to the faith and to good morals. This is proved by the Evening Schools founded at Rome by our august Pontiff, as well as the special efforts of several monastic orders, and of the secular clergy, with a view to the material and spiritual welfare of the industrious classes.'

We have surveyed the power of Romanism in France, and found it to be immense. We have reviewed the means by which that power has been attained, and by which its possessors hope to perpetuate and even augment it, and we have seen reason to think those means very efficacious. Unquestionably, the present condition of Romanism in France has a serious aspect for the religion of the world. France is a great social power. The influence of France is felt in the remotest fibre of civilised life. If France becomes thoroughly and permanently Romish, Rome will have achieved its most brilliant and most valuable victory. Supported by France, the Pope will advance into the field in better array than ever. More than once has France in matters of opinion been the dictator of Europe; and before her example, if she prove really and vitally Catholic, many a Protestant influence will be compelled to bend.

But as yet the whole case is not before the reader. The political aspect remains to be presented. The state changes which have recently been effected are no trifles. In what relation does Romanism stand to them?

Accustomed as many have been to regard France as an infidel country, they will not be prepared to receive the statement which we are about to make, namely, that the social convulsions of France within the last century have turned on the pivot of religion. On her soil the two great powers of Faith and No-faith have so fought their deadly battles, as to involve in the result the concussion of the whole social frame. Without speaking of earlier convulsions, the dethronement of Louis Philippe was owing to a re-action in the popular mind against Catholicism. No sooner had the power which threw off that incubus been put into fetters by the present government, than a system was commenced the designed effect of which was the complete restoration of the power of the clergy. Into that system Louis Napoleon entered with his whole heart. Seated in the presidential chair, he looked around

for conservative agencies. Religion he saw at his feet in an imploring attitude. He knew her vital potency, and raising her from her lowly position, took her into his embrace; not because he loved her, but because he loved himself, and knew he dared not make her his enemy. Shortly his ulterior views-views long cherished-began to rise in his mind in definite and most attractive forms. The imperial crown dazzled the eyes of his imagination. A republic with imperial forms and insignia '—this dream of the disappointed uncle haunted the ambitious nephew's mind. He resolved to convert the fancy into a reality. But a crown without the anointing hand of the Pope !-a pure impossibility, at least in the case of one who had not the staff of military renown on which to rest. The Pope must be gained. To gain the Pope it was necessary to promote Popery. Therefore its adherents and advocates were taken into favour. Of a sudden, and much to their surprise, the army of Jesuits, so often ignominiously treated in France and driven from its borders, found themselves under the sunshine of court smiles and patronage. A new era!' they exclaimed. A turning point in the history of France it was; and of that juncture they determined to make the utmost. Forthwith they let forth into open day all their forces :

6 ac venti, velut agmine facto,

Qua data porta, ruunt, et terras turbine perflant.
Incubuere mari, totumque a sedibus imis

Una Eurusque Notusque ruunt, creberque procellis
Africus, et vastos volvunt ad littora fluctus.

Insequitur clamorque virûm, stridorque rudentum.
Eripiunt subito nubes cœlumque diemque
Teucrorum ex oculis; ponto nox incubat atra.
Intonuere poli, et crebris micat ignibus æther;
Præsentemque viris intentant omnia mortem.'

Not without a full consciousness of the support he should receive from the Church did Louis Napoleon venture on the daring and sanguinary step of the 2nd of December. But his confidence rested on a broader and deeper basis than the Eurus, the Notus, or the Africus of Romanism. Useful in the turmoil and conflict of a revolution, the subalterns of the Church could neither lay down the plan of the battle nor greatly contribute to secure a victory. Royal Eolus must be secured. Restored to Rome by republican troops, the Pope repaid the service with warm support. Another power could not be disregarded,-the power of the pen. Intending to crush that power in all its adverse manifestations, the ruler of France was very willing to profit by its displays in his favour. And, alas! but too easy was it to hire the crowd of Parisian penmen, who get their daily bread out of the fickle and