28 NOVEMBER 1863, Page 3

The Emperor of the French has addressed a curt letter

to the Bishop of Arras,in answer to a present from that prelate of a reply to Renan's "Life of Jesus," entitled "Jesus eat Dieu." Whatever other of his uncle's ideas the Third Napoleon shares, he would not seem to regard the cardinal article of the Catholic Creed as one of the "ideas of 1789." For his reply is certainly not a confession of faith. After acknowledging the book, "I have seen with pleasure," he says, " hoiv energetically you defend the faith, and I offer you my sincere congratulations)." Obviously the Emperor did not think the Bishop had defended it quite so successfully as energetically. We compliment people on their energy only when their energy has been without remits that would offer a better theme for compliment.