18 DECEMBER 1869, Page 1

The Vatican declares that the Spanish archbishops and bishops have

met in a national Council in Rome, and have agreed to support unanimously all the Pope's proposals, and, above all, the definition of Papal infallibility, and to solicit that definition them- selves, if it is not proposed from some other quarter ; and that all the Spanish-speaking bishops,—from South America and the Philippines,—have given in their adherence to this resolution. The same authority, which, of course, derives its information from a source vehemently friendly to the definition, declares that the Italian bishops have come to the conclusion that the Council will be a failure if the dogma is not declared, and that the missionary bishops, the vicars apostolic, the abbots, and the generals of re- ligious orders are of the same mind. The Vatican admits that Cardinal Schwarzenberg did express to the Pope his conviction that the definition would be inopportune, and asserts that the Pope assured him in reply that it would not be proposed by himself, and that he was not solicitous for it ; but that he " could not

prevent the bishops from resolving this question, if they think it their duty to do so." Whether all this information be accurate or the reverse, it at least shows that the purpose of proposing the dogma has not been as yet in any degree shaken on the part of its most enthusiastic friends.