31 JANUARY 1874, Page 3

The meetings to sympathise with the sing of Prussia in

his battle with the Pope were held on Tuesday at St. James's Hall and Exeter Hall, Sir John Murray being in the chair on both occasions. The speaking was rather ignorant and very vague ; but as Sir Robert Peel, Sir Thomas Chambers, and a few clerical gentlemen were the principal speakers, that is not surprising. The certainly able and stately letter of the Prussian King to the Pope, which asserted the treasonable practices of Prussian Roman Catho- lics,—an assertion vehemently challenged in Prussia, and of which the Prussian Government have never even offered any proof,--waa warmly eulogised by the meeting, without of course any attempt to establish the very critical assertion which was thus endorsed ; and a great many threats were thrown out of dealing with Popery in England in like manner, should occasion occur. But does not as much occasion as there has ever been shown to be in Prussia occur here every day of the year ? Why not, therefore, put the Roman Catholic religion under State management at once ? The Prussian Press are delighted with the " spontaneousness " of the " demon- strations." But political spontaneousness is almost unknown in Prussia, and " °nine ignotum pro magnifico." They are satisfied with a modicum.