29 NOVEMBER 1873, Page 2

Archbishop Ledochowski, of Posen, has been summoned, in accordance with

the new ecclesiastical laws of Prussia, to resign his see, and if he does not do so, as of course he will not,—indeed the Pope has, it is said, expressly exhorted him to hold on to his- policy of ignoring the new Prussian laws,—his case will be in- quired into, and if the report recommends it, he will be sum- moned and finally tried before the new appellate ecclesi- astical tribunal. Whether he appears by counsel and argues: his case, or simply ignores the whole affair, the issue is pretty certain ; he will be deprived, and the great question is,—What then ? Of course the Pope will ignore the deprivation, and not fill his place ? Will the King- do so ? Of course, if he does, he must do so by imposing all Old Catholic on Posen, and that process once begun, we may have, if it succeeds moderately, a movement not at all unlike- that carried through by Henry V111. in England. As far as our- information goes, there is no sufficient discontent among the German and Polish Catholics to play into King William's hands,. but our information may be incorrect. In any case, the Pope• and the King are now playing the first moves of what may be a very momentous game.