ue. Be that as it
may, the Vatican has thought fit to bring out a small brown paper tract,
in answer to the celebrated, too-celebrated, pamphlet, _Le Pape et le
Congres_. The tract is of the smallest bulk, the clearest type, the best
paper, and the cheapest price. Mindful of the Horatian dictum, it
plunges at once "in medias res," and starts, out of breath, with the
following interjections: "The end of the world has come. Some want a
Pope and not a King; others half a Pope and half a King; and others
again, no Pope and no King. And who are these persons--Catholics or
Protestants, Jews or Phalansterians, believers or unbelievers? Men who
have once believed, and believe no longer, or men who have never believed
at all? Which are the most sincere of these classes? The last, who say,
'God and the people,' and who mean to say, 'No more Popes, and no more
Kings.' Which are the most hypocritical? The second, the men of half
measures, who wish for half a Pope and half a King, trusting the while,
that either Pope or King may die of inanition, or at any rate that the
King will. Which are the greatest dupes? The first, who, Pharisee-like,
offering up their prayers, and going to church once a year, deceive
themselves with the idea, that the Pope will be more powerful and more
free in the vestry of St Peter's than in the palace of the Vatican."

The above view of the devotional habits prevalent amongst the Pharisees
may appear somewhat novel, but let that pass. Meanwhile, any one
experienced in tract lore will feel certain that this outburst will be
followed by the appearance of the "candid inquirer," who comes upon the
boards at once, in obedience to the call, and addresses the eloquent
controversialist with the stereotyped phrases.

"These three classes of persons, who raise an outcry against the temporal
power of the Pope, are of different stamps; for I understand well whom
you allude to; you mean the sincere, the moderate and the devout
opponents of the Papacy. I have, however, one or two questions, I should
like to ask you; would you be kind enough to answer me?"

X of course replies, that nothing in the world would give him so much
pleasure; and during the first dialogue the candid inquirer appears in
the character of D, the devout opponent. The pamphlet is much too long
and too tedious to give in full. Happily the arguments are few in
number; and such as they are, I shall be able to pick them out without
muc