VERY GOOD OF THE POPE.
The Pope, according to his frequent custom, has recently caused prayers to be offered in all Continental Catholic churches, for the conversion of England. This is very good of him, though it may be very unnecessary. The Pope declares—sorrowingly—that this England, "once the island of the blessed," has been "for a long while past caught in the errors of heresy"—"has fallen from the true belief,"—and is oppressed by "dark, false teaching, which keeps it from the knowledge of the truth." All of which evils His Holiness prays may be put away from us, that we may all see the true light, which is the Pope's eye—all salute the true faith, which is the Pope's toe. We repeat, however, that we object not to the prayers of the Pope's Church; but we do most vehemently object to the bolts and bars with which such supplications are wont to be associated. For instance, we have no objection that the Duke of Tuscany should pray for the conversion of Miss Cunninghame, but we do object—and might feel disposed to urge such objection from an iron mouth—that the Grand Duke should turn the lady from her free home to an Italian dungeon. Let the Duke pray as much as he will; but only pray—not prey.