had a prince of the church been condemned to prison like a common
felon! There was at once a strong revulsion of popular feeling, and,
judging by the present tone of the daily press, a ministerial crisis is
not far off. If not a complete dissolution, a modification, at least, of
the present ministry is expected, since its members appear unable to
agree upon the course to be pursued with the condemned bishop; some
being in favor of granting him a full pardon, and others insisting upon
the commutation of the sentence to simple imprisonment.
   When it was decided in September last to bring the bishop of Olinda to
trial, it was decided at the same time to send a special mission to Rome.
That mission was confided to Baron Penedo, the Brazilian envoy at Lon-
don; and its object, as set forth in the foreign inistes instructions,
was to persuade "1 the Pope to cease encouraging the bishops in their
disobedience," and "1 to counsel them rather to proceed in conformity
with
the constitution and laws." The envoy was also distinctly told that
"the
bishop of Olinda would be brought to trial, and that even other more
energetic legal measures would be adopted, if found necessary, whatever
might be the result of the mission." Finally, he was instructed to "1
use
moderate but firm language,", and to represent that "4 the imperial
gov-
ernment did not ask a favor, but only claimed what was just."
   The result of Baron Penedo's mission, which terminated in INovember,
 has, I believe, until very recently, been regarded as satisfactory by this
 government. It consisted of a-note from the cardinal secretary, "1de-
 ploring the grave conflict that had arisen between the civil and ecclesi-
 astical powers in Brazil," and stating that His Holiness was "1
disposed
 to adopt those measures which, in his wisdom and paternal benevolence
 toward Brazilian Catholics, he should judge opportune to bring that
 conflict to a close; expecting, however, that the imperial government
 on its part would concur for the removal of all obstacles tending to
 retard the accomplishment of the desired end."
   Baron Penedo also states that he was shown a letter addressed to the
 bishop of Olinda, censuring his course and instructing him to recall his
 pastorals interdicting the various brotherhoods of his diocese. This
 letter, of which the Brazilian envoy does not seem to have obtained a
 copy, was forwarded through the internuncio here, and reached the
 bishop of Olinda when he was already confined as a prisoner in the
 arsenal of marine. That letter has not yet been published, and it is
 asserted, furthermore, that this government has not yet been able to ob-
 tain a copy.
   That the results of Baron Penedo's mission are not now regarded here
with the same satisfaction as at first, may be inferred from the fact that
a new agent, already in Rome, has been instructed to use his good offices
in convincing the Holy See of Brazil's continued loyalty to the Church.
   Thus the "religious question" bids fair to occupy the chief
attention
of the chambers during the next session. Various practical reforms, it
is said, will be brought forward, and some of them may become laws,
since it'is hardly to be supposed that so much discussion will be allowed
to result in nothing.
   There are those even who look for the separation of the Church from
the state, but the adoption of so radical a measure is hardly probable
now. It would be more reasonable to hope for the legalization of civil
marriage, or a civil registry, or the secularization of cemeteries, or pos-
sibly for the revocation of that singular clause of the constitution which
provides that houses constructed for the worship of other religions than
the Roman Catholic" shall" not have the exterior form of a"11
temple."
       I am, &c.e
                                   RICHARD CUTTS SHANNONq.


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