It is said in quarters likely to reflect the views
of the Papal party that the question of infallibility is to be brought formally before the Council next week, and a decision in all probability obtained upon it immediately after the discussion. How long the discussion may last if almost all the minority, and (say) only an equal number of the majority, insist on speaking, is, of course, a very difficult matter to decide. The valuable information we re- ceive almost daily from Rome is that at a Congregation held on such a day six fathers or (at most) eight fathers spoke, whence we may conclude that if a couple of hundred speak on any one decree, the discussion of that decree must last through twenty- five sittings. Twenty-five Congregations had been held on the 14th February, i.e., within about ten weeks from the opening of the Council, and as there are many " schemes," each comprising a great many theological formulas to discuss, at this rate the deci- sion could not be taken till after the Council adjourns for the hot weather, when Rome is positively unhealthy. We imagine, how- ever, that great efforts will be made to bring the great question to an issue before that adjournment takes place.
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