11 DECEMBER 1869, Page 3

Senor Mattes has informed the Spanish Cortes that Spain will

not obey any decree of the Council which may conflict with the authority of the Government. This is a sharp protest to come from Spain, but we are told by a shrewd observer that there is scarcely any country in Europe in which laity and clergy are less afraid of one another. The laity do not care for clerical threats, because they are quite sure no interdict will be issued, modern Popes being unable to justify the eternal destruction of all persons who die while absolution is prohibited ; and the clergy are not afraid of disestablishment, because salaries have been so cut down, that they think that they could get more from fees.