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branches but little or no demand for the articles produced; prices consequently fall, manufacturers curtail their expenses, and either close their factories and mills, or reduce both the number and the pay of the hands they continue to employ. In many cases workmen are being put upon short time. The iron trade, the building trade, the hardware trade, and the mines and collieries in every district, are amongst those specially affected. At the present moment the manufacturers in the Northern and Midland counties are entitled to almost as much commiseration as their workmen. All classes of society, indeed, who live in any way by labour are to some extent the subjects of privation, if not of absolute penury. We fear that the prospects of the winter are gloomy and depressing to the last degree. We are glad, however, to learn that, all over the country, organizations are being formed for the purpose of ministering to the wants of those who, but for such aid, must sustain the severest personal distress."

The Emperor of Germany has, happily, been able to resume his high Imperial duties, and his public entry into Berlin has been made the occasion for great and general rejoicings. The approach of his Majesty's Golden Wedding is also to furnish another opportunity for his loyal subjects to evince their devotion both to his person and his throne. It is gratifying, especially in view of the crimes so recently attempted, to witness such attachment to a sovereign who, on personal grounds, is undeniably so well entitled to the regard and affection of his people. It would nevertheless be unwise to shut our eyes to what is just as true-viz., that, underlying all these demonstrations and all this loyalty, there exists a vast amount of discontent, and of discontent which has its origin largely in the social condition and privations of the masses. It is still greater cause for regret that neither the Emperor nor his Ministers seem to be fully alive to the real dangers which surround them, nor to have any true idea how those dangers may best be turned aside. The new anti-Socialist law is now in full and wholesale operation; papers and publications are suppressed, meetings and discussions closed, printing presses seized and sealed, and persons chargeable with no crime, but obnoxious only by reason of their holding Socialist opinions, exiled in numbers from their homes. For such persons there is not even privilege of Parliament. We fear that it will not be by such methods that the wild vagaries of Socialism will be exploded, or agitations full of peril to the State successfully allayed. Till the "militarism" of the German Empire -the incubus which overwhelms her people with taxation, -nay, which requires of half of them their very lives, at that very age when life is most precious and most productive both to the nation and themselves-is either renounced or held more effectively in check, it were vain to look for general content, and futile to anticipate that the pernicious fantasies of Socialism will, by the force of any argument, be scattered to the winds.

In many quarters it is still believed, that as regards the matters at issue between the Ultramontanes and the Ministry in Germany, Pope Leo XIII. is resolutely bent upon adopting a policy of conciliation. It is even affirmed that, by the hands of the Papal Nuncio accredited to Bavaria, he has himself sent a letter to the Emperor congratulating his Majesty on the resumption of his royal duties, and expressing his own hope that the negotiations still pending between the "Holy See " and Germany may lead to some arrangement satisfactory to both. Meanwhile, in Italy, the Ministry of Signor Cairoli has been overthrown, and Signor Depretis, whose views are in accordance with the recent vote of the majority, has assumed the direction of affairs.

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exercise of the Royal prerogat
to use that prerogative to the
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and some regard his recent policy
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e rel, gisuum : seas sauge, even in a world
may of cars, the Prestants should be
be found a subale 31 100 francs to esta-
acer- blish a new journal of questionable utility,
while pastors are left starving, or
nearly so, and churches remain unprovided
r, men not during to accept the post with so
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Military operations in Afghanistan the Ministry could reasonably desire or his victorious advance. General Biddul eastern side of the Khojak Pass, having rather to facilitate than to impede his pro keeping the pass open and by providing him from the Viceroy has also been received at the Browne, with his division, started on the 17th o he hoped to reach by the 20th, with a view to different detachments of the Indian army, a dec the troops have proceeded a considerable distanc prospects of a further advance are of a definite c good, and no fears entertained of insufficient or standing these facts, it seems probable that there w character undertaken before the spring, when we shal to be the outcome of the Afghan War, and what is to Meanwhile, those who most condemn the war, as well a unite in the prayer that, for the sake of all concerned i it may not further cripple either our Indian or Home fil involve us in any fresh or further complications.

WORK OF THE EXHIBITION

er. Valiant missionaries go in
the numerous workmen who
le goods, and the various
Their reception is
thousands of gospels
tad enthusiastically,

The opinion recently expressed by the Premier that we the present distress, that the corner had been turned at last, an by which so many branches of industry have been paralysed place to a better and more hopeful state of things, is one, we f means corroborated by the accounts daily coming in from all pa and more especially from the various districts of the North. Almo industry is more or less affected by severe and nearly unparalleled almost all departments a general reduction of wages now appears Masters and men-employers and employed-are alike sufferers; tl.

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THE GOSPEL AND HUMAN PROGRESS.

ITALY.

The following letter has been addressed by the Deputy, Giovanni Lanza, to the Editor of La Patria. Its interest is the greater when it is remembered that more than once the writer was Prime Minister of King Victor Emmanuel :

Roncaglia Casale.

The words attributed to me in your paper, La Patria, I do not remember having spoken. I have, however, thought and said, that in my opinion the greatest obstacle to a religious reformation which would bring the Catholic faith into harmony with civil society, was the temporal power of the Popes; that this having ceased, the Church would acquire greater liberty, the result of which, sooner or later, would be the reforms necessary.

What these ought to be I would not
e upon myself to say; it would be too
an assumption. I hold strongly, how-
hat the Gospel contains the germs of
unlimited progress, political and
The Divine Book which proclaims
on of slavery, universal brother-
on earth, the duty of giving to
hren of our superabundance,
ve power to meet the utmost
mmonwealth, and to be the
'umanity.

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King's Chaplain, at which the high aristocracy of Rome and the ladies of the Ambassadors (Lady Paget among the number) assisted. At the Church of St. Agnes, in the Piazza Navona, also, a Te Deum was sung, the Ambassadors of the Roman Catholic Powers attending, and a large congregation of ladies of the aristocracy. Thanksgiving services were also held in all the churches and chapels of the various Protestant denominations.

AMERICAN AND ENGLISH SERVICES.

Describing the singing of a solemn Te Deum, sung at the American church in Rome, the correspondent of the Guardian writes: "From the beautiful tower, a chef d'œuvre of our architect, Mr. Street, hung a splendid American flag; and over the west door the Italian flag between two starspangled banners. The interior of the church was well lighted, and the altar handsomely decorated with bouquets of flowers and lighted candelabra. Several English clergymen accompanied the Rector, Dr. Nevin, who intoned the Litany, which was choral. The American Minister (Mr. Marsh), the English Ambassador (Sir A. Paget), and other Ambassadors of the Protestant Powers, attended. The church was full, numbers of Italians, especially of Italian soldiers, being present."

is wanting who would The writer from whom we have quoted
back freshness to the above also
66
says: On the eventful Sunday
istian faith, and to morning I attended a special service of
thusiasm of the thanksgiving at the English church, when
confident that a solemn Te Deum was sung, and a prayer
will appear. of thanksgiving for the late preservation of
the period of the King was offered up. A most appro-
meritorious priate sermon was preached by the Rev.
gifts and Dr. Luard, Vicar of St. Mary's, Cambridge,
truct and who took his text from Ezekiel xiv. 23,' And
again ye shall know that I have not done without
which, cause all that I have done in it, saith the
com- Lord God.' The main subject of the sermon
ith was God's purpose in sending trials to indi-
vidual Christians, to prepare and discipline
hem for a place in His heavenly kingdom.
.t the close he eloquently applied the
ect to the late signal trial through which
nation had just passed.

appropriate address to the King up by the Rev. H. W. Wasse, Chaplain, and was numerously members of his congregation and glish Church generally. It was i to his Majesty by our Ambassador, aget.

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Foreign Intelligence.

[From our own Correspondent.]

FRANCE.

Paris, Dec. 17, 1878.

A BLAST FROM A BOURBON.

distinction is little heeded. The Committee of Management and Supervision is composed of all shades of Protestantism, from Orthodoxy to Rationalism; and the chief editor, whose name has not yet transpired, is expected to be a Protestant pastor, formerly a Roman Catholic. The general feeling is, that such a bold attempt should have come entirely from Roman Catholics tired of Rome, and not from Protestants at all. But the experiment is on the eve of being made; and in January it is expected that France will at length have a daily democratic paper (sold for one sou), representing the yearnings of a large mass of sensible men, who wish for a better religion than that of Rome.

ECCLESIASTICAL STIPENDS.

Some one compares the strange letter of the Count de Chambord to a clarion blown in an ambuscade where the deepest silence was the sine qua non of success. Circumspection, velvet footfalls, muffled utterances, circuitous dealings, "double-meanings," seem to be the order of the day among his party; and he, candid soul, who has never yet inhaled a whiff of modern air, and who lives in the dreamland of the irrecoverable past, comes forward and overturns all their little plans with a pen-stroke. The past has no lessons for him; he is petrified in the icy rock of the old régime; there he stands and places his point of honour in the categorical The petitions to the Government to inaffirmation of Catholicism and Monarchy. crease the salaries of priests and of Protestant As it is, France is a State without God, a State pastors were, after debate, rejected by the Leagainst God. If France is to be saved, gislature. It seems strange, even in a world "God must return as Master, that I may of contradictions, that Protestants should be reign as King"! The Syllabus is his found to subscribe 300,000 francs to estaprompter, the civil subordinate to the sacer-blish a new journal of questionable utility, dotal is his ideal. But such a consummation while toiling pastors are left starving, or is devoutly to be scouted. In fact, between nearly so, and churches remain unprovided the extreme Right, white, and the extreme for, men not daring to accept the post with so Left, red-between Radicalisin and counter- little remuneration and such heavy responsirevolution-stands the whole French nation, bilities. and, as we have seen in the small experiment of the 16th of May, 1877, it is sufficiently compact to prevent the two parties from coming into collision. We do not believe in phantoms. The Red and the White are awful realities as real as the Inquisition and the Guillotine-but, at present, we believe the nation is getting wisdom and stamina sufficient to resist both.

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THE WORK OF THE EXHIBITION

is not yet over. Valiant missionaries go in and out among the numerous workmen who are clearing away the goods, and the various officials and employés. Their reception is cheering, and not only thousands of gospels and other sheets are accepted enthusiastically, but many close conversations manifest soulhunger little suspected by man, but evidently created by Him who alone is the Bread of Life.

It is the time of bounty for the poor, and by means of school fêtes and Christmas festivities spiritual good is done in every depart

The new journal is being legally constituted; the instrument is drawn up, and the title is again changed, and definitively fixed as Le Reformateur, Journal Anti-Clerical et Republicain. A Reformer is better than a ment of Demolisher. The promoters battled hard for their original single title of Anti-Clerical, but the chief Protestants declared that they should in that case withhold all support. It was also stated that schoolmasters and other important functionaries under Government would necessarily be prevented receiving it with such a title. "Clerical" and "Jesuit "have become politically synonymous in common language; the dictionary

EVANGELISTIC EFFORT.

The meetings established by the Rev. R. W. McAll in Lyons are already a success, and bid fair to emulate Paris. Those of Marseilles have an average of from 280 to 300 hearers, and Mr. R. Saillens writes that lack of funds alone prevents opening three or four halls instead of one.

The Government are about to erect in Paris a statue of Admiral Coligny.

ITALY.

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What these ought to be I would not take upon myself to say; it would be too grave an assumption. I hold strongly, however, that the Gospel contains the germs of almost unlimited progress, political and moral.

The Divine Book which proclaims the abolition of slavery, universal brotherhood, peace on earth, the duty of giving to our poor brethren of our superabundance, etc., ought to have power to meet the utmost needs of our commonwealth, and to be the credo of our entire humanity.

The apostle alone is wanting who would know how to bring back freshness to the holy dogmas of the Christian faith, and to revive the religious enthusiasm of the people for them. I am confident that when the time is ripe, he will appear. Now we are passing through the period of preparation, and they are doing a meritorious work who, having the special gifts and wholesome doctrines, labour to instruct and educate the people; imbuing them again with the religious sentiment, without which, as you well say, nothing great can be accomplished. Believe me always yours, with much esteem, GIOVANNI LANZA.

THE KING AND THE PAPACY.

The authorisation promulgated by the Cardinal-Vicar, sanctioning in all the churches of Rome the singing of a Te Deum as a thanksgiving to God for having saved the life of the King, is a very significant sign of the times. To what extent this permisssion was acted upon is not stated; but a solemn Te Deum was sung at the Church of the Sudario (the Court church) by the Canon Auzino, the

King's Chaplain, at which the high aristocracy of Rome and the ladies of the Ambassadors (Lady Paget among the number) assisted. At the Church of St. Agnes, in the Piazza Navona, also, a Te Deum was sung, the Ambassadors of the Roman Catholic Powers attending, and a large congregation of ladies of the aristocracy. Thanksgiving services were also held in all the churches and chapels of the various Protestant denominations.

AMERICAN AND ENGLISH SERVICES.

Describing the singing of a solemn Te Deum, sung at the American church in Rome, the correspondent of the Guardian writes: "From the beautiful tower, a chef d'œuvre of our architect, Mr. Street, hung a splendid American flag; and over the west door the Italian flag between two starspangled banners. The interior of the church was well lighted, and the altar handsomely decorated with bouquets of flowers and lighted candelabra. Several English clergymen accompanied the Rector, Dr. Nevin, who intoned the Litany, which was choral. The American Minister (Mr. Marsh), the English Ambassador (Sir A. Paget), and other Ambassadors of the Protestant Powers, attended. The church was full, numbers of Italians, especially of Italian soldiers, being present."

The writer from whom we have quoted above also says: "On the eventful Sunday morning I attended a special service of thanksgiving at the English church, when a solemn Te Deum was sung, and a prayer of thanksgiving for the late preservation of the King was offered up. A most appropriate sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Luard, Vicar of St. Mary's, Cambridge, who took his text from Ezekiel xiv. 23,' And ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord God.' The main subject of the sermon was God's purpose in sending trials to individual Christians, to prepare and discipline them for a place in His heavenly kingdom. At the close he eloquently applied the subject to the late signal trial through which the Italian nation had just passed.

A very appropriate address to the King was drawn up by the Rev. H. W. Wasse, the English Chaplain, and was numerously signed by members of his congregation and of the English Church generally. It was presented to his Majesty by our Ambassador, Sir A. Paget.

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