15 FEBRUARY 1873, Page 3

The Prussian Government has replied to the memorial of the

Roman Catholic Bishops against the new measures, which we noticed last week, in a very stern and decisive tone, through the semi-official Provincial Correspondenz. In effect, the answer is that the Government knows perfectly well the serious nature of the struggle it has entered on, and will go into it with a will ; that there is no grievance, no new obligation except what the Roman -Catholic Bishops should be delighted to accept, and that in any case they must obey or vanish. The Church will clearly be governed for some time to come in Prussia by secret under- standings between bishops, priests, and people, and that secret understanding will not be favourable to the Government. There is not as yet any sign of a Conformist minority,—of the rise of a Branch-Church.