29 DECEMBER 1866, Page 3

The Russian Government has finally broken with that of Rome,

alleging that the Pope, by encouraging the Poles, has violated the Concordat. All spiritual powers reserved to the Papacy will pass --to the Polish Bishops, but all substantial power is reserved to the Czar himself, and the forcible conversion of the peasantry to the -Greek Church is proceeding rapidly. The process is to replace the Catholic by a Greek priest, screen in the altar, and remove -the images, to make way for pictures. The peasant does not see much difference, and finds " orthodoxy " much more easy than a

• perpetual contest with officials. The Russian Government has tried persecution too often to believe in it much, but still it may -succeed in breaking up the Catholic organization.