There was another debate or conversation on Tuesday about, Mr.
Gladstone's letter to Mr. Deese on the independence of the Pope,—a letter which, it is said, greatly harasses Orangemen in Ireland and the Edinburgh constituency. Mr. Johnston moved for the letter ; but Mr. Gladstone refused to establish an incon- venient precedent,—the official recognition of semi-official letters, —and the House supported him by 153 to 90. The real object of the motion, of course, was to worry Mr. Gladstone for protecting, the person of the Pope, and the real question Mr. Newdegate has to answer seems to be this. The British Government would do its best to protect the safety of any eminent person in danger from political excitement. Why should the Pope be the one ex- ception, when a sixth of the electors of the kingdom wish him to• be specially looked after ? Is it because five-sixths think he de- serves to lose his personal liberty? Let us have the issue clear, and then give up protecting poor persons persecuted for their creed,—as, for example, in Bucharest.
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