in Rome there do not lack pious minds which, undisturbed by these terrible dangers, desire to see the insolent enterprise carried through, in the belief that the prevalent corruption can only be overcome by a life and death struggle. "Quod medicina non sanat, ferrum sanat."

SIXTY-FIRST LETTER.

Rome, June 24, 1870.-Rome is just now like an episcopal lazar-house, so great is the number of the prelates who are sick and suffering and confined to their bed or their chamber. And still greater is the number of those who feel worn out and impatiently long to be gone. But there are persons here who calculate thus that the Italians, Spaniards and South Americans are accustomed to the heat, and bear it very well, and as to the Germans, French and North Americans-" vile damnum si interierint."

Guidi's speech still occupies men's minds, and forms the topic of conversation in conciliar circles. Men are astonished at the courage of a Cardinal in daring so directly to contradict the Pope. While Pius has word written to Paris that "for many centuries no one doubted the Pope's infallibility," Guidi declares it to be an invention of the fifteenth century.

The following account of the dialogue between the Pope and the Cardinal is current at Rome, and it seems to rest on the authority of Pius himself, who is notoriously fond of telling every one he meets how he has lectured this or that dignitary :

Guidi, on being summoned by the Pope directly after his speech, was greeted with the words, "You are my enemy, you are the coryphæus of my opponents, ungrateful towards my person; you have propounded heretical doctrine." Guidi.-"My speech is in the hands of the Presidents, if your Holiness will read it, and detect what is supposed to be heretical in it. I gave it at once to the under-secretary (sottosecretario) that people might not be able to say anything had been interpolated into it." The Pope. "You have given great offence to the majority of the Council; all five Presidents are against you and are displeased." Guidi.

"Some material error may have escaped me, but certainly not a formal one: I have simply stated the doctrine of tradition and of St. Thomas. The Pope.-"La tradizione son' io-vi farò far nuovamente la professione di fede." Guidi.Guidi.-"I am and remain subject to the authority of the Holy See, but I ventured to discuss a question not yet made an article of faith; if

your Holiness decides it to be such in a Constitution, I shall certainly not dare to oppose it." The Pope."The value of your speech may be measured by those whom it has pleased. Who has been eager to testify to you his joy? That Bishop Strossmayer who is my personal enemy has embraced you; you are in collusion with him." Guidi. "I don't know him, and have never before spoken to him." The Pope." It is clear you have spoken so as to please the world, the Liberals, the Revolution, and the Government of Florence." Guidi." Holy Father, have the goodness to have my speech given you."

The same afternoon a Spanish Bishop belonging to the extremest Infallibilists said, "Absque dubio facies Concilii est immutata. Oportet huic sermoni serio studere." When Guidi asked how the Cardinals had taken his speech, Mathieu replied, "Cum seriâ silentiosâ approbatione," on which Guidi observed, "Sunt quidam qui idem mecum sentiunt, sed deest illis animi fortitudo."

"La tradizione son' io"-it would be impossible to give a briefer, more pregnant or more epigrammatic description of the whole system which is now to be made dominant than is contained in those few words. All

the members of the Civiltà, the thick volumes of Schrader, Weninger and the Jesuits of Laach are outdone by this clear and simple utterance. Pius will take rank in history with the men who have known how by a happy inspiration to throw a great thought into the most adequate form of words, which impresses it for ever indelibly on the memory. The formula is worthy to be classed with the equally pregnant saying of Boniface VIII., "The Pope holds all rights locked up in his breast." It is bruited about here from mouth to mouth, and the analogy of Louis XIV., which inevitably occurs to everybody, reaches even further. Every day since I have witnessed the drama being enacted here, has the saying suggested itself to me, "L'Église, c'est moi." Any one who would form a judgment of the state of things here should be recommended above all to read a work like, e.g., Lemontey's Essai sur l'établissement monarchique de Louis XIV., or the instructions of the King for the Dauphin. One sees there how absolute sovereignty, the intoxicating sense of irresponsible power-and spiritual absolutism is far more overpowering than political leads almost of necessity to the notion of infallibility and divine enlightenment. Louis XIV. says seriously and drily to his son, "As God's representa