28 JANUARY 1865, Page 3

It is reported by two distinct authorities that the Vatican

be- lieves the Encyclical a mistake, and that a letter is about to be -addressed by Cardinal Antonelli to all Nuncios directing them to explain that it was only intended to have a religious meaning, and not to conflict with the laws of any country. In other words, the -Pope does not consider the Emperor of the French worthy of purgatory for passing a law of religious liberty, but only for think- ing he ought to pass it. If he acts against his conscience all is well, but if with it he is heretical and impious. That explanation will, let us hope, be satisfactory to Roman Catholic magnates, par- ticularly to those who, like Louis Napoleon, consider the ideas of 1789 rather more worthy of belief than any bull ever published.