thusiasm lately to gain
for Jeanne the honour of canonisation(2); but it seems to have failed,
or at least to have sunk again for the moment into silence. Perhaps
these honours are out of date in our time. One of the most recent
writers on the subject, M. Henri Blaze de Bury, suggests that one reason
which retards this final consecration is "England, certainly not a
negligible quantity to a Pope of our time." Let no such illusion move
any mind, French or ecclesiastical. Canonisation means to us, I presume,
and even to a great number of Catholics, simply the highest honour
that can be paid to a holy and spotless name. In that sense there is
no distinction of nation, and the English as warmly as the French, both
being guilty towards her, and before God on her account--would welcome
all honour that could be paid to one who, more truly than any princess
of the blood, is Jeanne of France, the Maid, alone in her lofty humility
and valour, and in everlasting fragrance of modesty and youth.

(1) The writer must add that personally, as a Scot, she has
no right to use this pronoun. Scotland is entirely guiltless
of this crime. The Scots were fighting on the side of France
through all these wars, a little perhaps for love of France,
but much more out of natural hostility to the English. Yet
at this time of day, except to state that fact, it is
scarcely necessary to throw off the responsibility. The
English side is now our side, though it was not so in the
fifteenth century: and a writer of the English tongue must
naturally desire that there should at least be fair play.

(2) I am informed, however, that she is already "Venerable,"
not a very appropriate title--the same, I presume, as
Bienheureuse, which is prettier,--and may therefore be
addressed by the faithful in prayer, though her rank is
only, as it were, brevet rank, and her elevation incomplete.

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