5 JULY 1851, Page 2

Of a verity Pio None is the most efficient promoter

of the Ec- clesiastical Titles Bill. The first vehemence of the panic-irritation excited by his creation of Romanist dioceses and bishops in England gave symptoms of abatement, when he must needs re- vive it by promulgating a scheme for establishing a permanent Italian propaganda in London. The exertions that have been made by the promoters of the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill to give a wide publicity to the Pope's appeal to Italian liberality for contri- butions towards the establishment of a collegiate church of Italian priests, appointed and controlled from Rome, in the centre of the English metropolis, is a proof how unpalatable the step he has taken is sure to be in this country. He has done an unwise thing at the worst moment for his own objects, and in the worst manner. Englishmen, who are so fond of building and endowing churches of their own communion in foreign lands, could scarcely complain of foreigners for doing the same in theirs ; and the tolerance of a Mazzini church in London strengthened the claim of the Pontiff to open a rival establishment here, to induce Italians to keep away from it. But the Infallible has spoiled all by unnecessarily and ostentatiously identifying his new movement with his diocesan division of England, and by an- nouncing that his college of Italian priests are not to confine their ministrations to Italians. There can be no doubt that the opportune publication of the begging letters of the Pope and the Archbishop of Florence has reconciled many to Sir Frede- rick Thesiger's amendments on the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill. As for the erection and endowment of a Roman Catholic church in London at the expense of Italians, to that by itself no reason- able objection can be offered. A good central site for it is likely to be left vacant by the removal of Smithfield Market. The Cor- poration of London, we dare say, will not be unwilling to let the founders of New St. Peter's have a " bargain" of land which they may for the moment feel rather at a loss to turn to good account ; and. the locality is recommended for such a use by some of its his- torical associations ! One thing is certain, that neither by the erection of this church, nor by any other propagandist means, are the Anti-Popish sentiments of Englishmen likely to be weakened, much less eradicated. Of this, Pio Nono—incapable of conceiving that the minds of men should be cast in any other mould than that in which his own has been formed—is probably ignorant ; but Cardinal Wiseman knows better. He has by this time discovered that there are other and stronger obstacles to the extension of the power of his hierarchy in England than any legislation against their titles. His efforts to evade the interrogatories of the Com- mittee of the House of Commons on the Law of Mortmain," show that he feels where the real impediments to the realization of his ecclesiastical visions lie.

* When invited to give evidence before the Committee. Dr. Wiseman par- ried the application by promising to send his solicitor. The solicitor having refused, on the plea of professional confidence, to give the information re- quired, the application to his principal was renewed. Dr. Wiseman, how- ever, still eluded the Committee's curiosity. A peremptory summons has at last been served upon him ; and he will be taught that, in this country, the ecclesiastical character imparts no exemption from the jurisdiction of secular courts.