chisement of a large class
of our citizens, and the abandonment of a vital principle in our
Government. The Austro-Hungarian Government finally decided not to
receive Mr. Keiley as the Envoy of the United States, and that gentleman
has since resigned his commission, leaving the post vacant. I have made
no new nomination, and the interests of this Government at Vienna are
now in the care of the Secretary of Legation, acting as _charge
d'affaires ad interem_.

* * * * *

INAUGURATION.--Monday, January 4, was inauguration day in the principal
cities in Massachusetts. In Boston, the usual ceremonies took place.
Mayor O'Brien delivered one of his best addresses. Rev. Father Welch,
S.J., of the church of the Immaculate Conception, acted as chaplain on
the occasion.

* * * * *

Michael Davitt, in a recent interview, said: "If Home Rule is granted to
Ireland, it is difficult for me to see how the Irish members can
continue to sit in the parliament at Westminster, unless the colonies
are similarly represented in that body. The appointment of a prince of
the royal family as viceroy of Ireland would be a mistake, as Ireland
requires a statesman of tact and brains to administer the government,
not a royal show.

* * * * *

"ONCE A CITIZEN, ALWAYS A CITIZEN," is what Bismarck says. The great
Chancellor is determined to have no fooling. If a German becomes an
American citizen, or a citizen of any other land, old Bis. thinks he has
no business in Germany, and will not have him there. When a man runs
away from his native land rather than carry arms for her protection, and
flies to another country, becomes naturalized, and then returns home to
make a living, the scheme is so thin that the example is dangerous. An
iron-handed man knows how to deal with such cases, and he winds them up
with a bounce.

* * * * *

The Sacred College at present consists of 60 members, of whom 26 were
created by Pius IX., and 34 by Leo XIII., and that there are 10
vacancies. Of the Cardinals 34 are Italian; 11 Austrian, German, or
Polish; 5 French; 4 English or Irish; 4 Spanish, and 2 Portuguese.

* * * * *

The _English Catholic Directory_ for 1886 says there are at present in
Great Britain no less than 1,575 churches, chapels, and stations; not
including such private or domestic chapels as ar