(26.) Two years ago we called the attention of our readers to Dr. Latham's great work on the English language. We have now to chronicle the appearance of a treatise on this side the water similarly comprehensive in its aims, entitled, “The English Language in its Elements and Forms, with a History of its Original Developments, by WILLIAM C. FOWLER, late Professor in Amherst College, Mass.:" (New-York: Harper & Brothers: 8vo., pp. 675.) The work treats, first, of the Origin and History of the Language; secondly, of its Phonology; thirdly, of its Orthography; fourth, of its Etymological forms; fifth, of its Logical forms; sixth, of Syntax; seventh, of Rhetorical forms; and, lastly, of Poetical forms. It thus attempts a complete survey of the field; and, as such, it deserves great credit. No other book of the kind is extant among us; Latham's (to which Professor Fowler is largely indebted) has not been reprinted; and if it were, it is not so well adapted to use in this country as the present work. It will pass into use in all our colleges and higher schools, without doubt. We cannot but regret that Professor Fowler has seen fit to print his book in Websterian orthography instead of English. It is a very serious drawback, in our judgment, upon the value of the work as a text-book. We trust, also, that his next edition will have an Index. (27.) WE have received the twelfth (and last) number of a "Treatise on Marine and Naval Architecture, by JOHN W. GRIFFITHS :" (New-York : Appleton & Co., 1850.) Of the subject itself we know nothing, but we are assured by those who ought to know, that this is one of the best treatises, both on the theory and practice of ship-building, that has yet appeared. It is finely printed; and the engravings, of which there are more than fifty, are remarkably well done. (28.) of the following pamphlets, sermons, &c., we can give nothing more than the titles: Church Development on Apostolic Principles: an Essay addressed to the Friends of Biblical Christianity, by S. S. SCHMUCKER, D. D., Professor of Christian Theology in the Theological Seminary, Gettysburg, Pa. The Transfiguration: an Exegetical Homily, by Rev. C. PORTERFIELD KRAUTH, A. M., Pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, Winchester, Va. Unitarianism: a Dialogue, summarily Exhibiting, from their approved Authors, the Doctrines advanced by a Sect called "Chri-stians," in which their Arguments are Stated and Confuted, by Rev. C. L. Bown, a Member of the East Genesee Conference of the M. E. Church. The Passage into the Ministry: an Address delivered in St. Peter's Church, New-York, to the Graduating Class of the General Theological Seminary, at the Commencement, June 27, 1850, by George BURGESS, D. D., Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Maine. The Age and Theology-an Address delivered before the Society for ReEgious Inquiry of the University of Vermont, at Burlington, August 5, 1850, by HENRY WILKES, D. D., Pastor of the First Congregational Church, Montreal. The Methodist Almanac for the Year of our Lord 1851: and the Seventyfifth of American Independence. Astronomical Calculations by David YOUNG. Comprising also a Summary View of Methodism throughout the World, with other Ecclesiastical and National Statistics, &c. Obituary Addresses delivered on the Occasion of the Death of Zachary Taylor, President of the United States, in the Senate and House of Representatives, July 10, 1850; with the Funeral Sermon, by the Rev. SMITH PYNE, D. D., Rector of St. John's Church, Washington, preached in the Presidential Mansion, July 13, 1850. Noah's Ark a Sermon, by the Rev. GEORGE LEALE, Wesleyan Missionary. Translated from the French, by the Rev. Thomas Thompson, M. A., Wesleyan Minister. Twenty-fifth Annual Catalogue of the Officers and Students of Oneida Conference Seminary, Cazenovia, N. Y., 1850. Introductory Lecture to the Winter Course of Instruction in the Philadelphia College of Medicine, delivered on Monday, at 5 o'clock, P. M., October 14, 1850, by JAMES M'CLINTOCK, M. D., Professor of Surgery and Anatomy. An Address delivered before the Literary Societies of Centre College, Ky., June 25, 1850, by EDWARD P. HUMPHREY. *. A number of Critical Notices are omitted for want of room. ART. IX.-RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE. EUROPEAN. WE place upon record, for our own use, and and that of our readers hereafter, the Letter Apostolical of Pope Pius IX., establishing the Episcopal Hierarchy in England :POPE PIUS IX., FOR A PERPETUAL REMEMBRANCE OF THE THING. "The power of ruling the Universal Church committed by our Lord Jesus Christ to the Roman Pontiff, in the person of St. Peter, prince of the apostles, hath preserved, through every age, in the apostolic See, that remarkable solicitude by which it consulteth for the advantage of the Catholic religion in all parts of the world, and studiously provideth for its extension. And this correspondeth with the design of its Divine Founder, who, when he ordained a Head to the Church, looked forward, by his excelling wisdom, to the consummation of the world. Among other nations, the famous realm of ENGLAND hath experienced the effects of this solicitude on the part of the Supreme Pontiff. Its histories testify that in the earliest ages of the Church, the Christian religion was brought into Britain, and subsequently flourished greatly there; but about the middle of the fifth age the Anglos and Saxons having been invited into the Island, the affairs not only of the nation, but of religion also, suffered great and grievous injury. But we know that our holy predecessor, Gregory the Great, sent first Augustine, the monk, with his companions, who subsequently, with several others, were elevated to the dignity of bishops, and a great company of priests and monks, having been sent to join them, the Anglo-Saxons were brought to embrace the Christian religion; and by their exertions it was brought to pass, that in Britain, which had now come to be called England, the Catholic religion was everywhere restored and extended. But to pass on to more recent events, the history of the Anglican schism of the sixteenth age presents no feature more remarkable than the care unremittedly exercised by our predecessors, the Roman Pontiffs, to lend succour in its hour of extremest peril to the Catholic religion in that realm, and by every means to afford it support and assistance. Among other instances of this care are the enactments and provisions made by the chief Pontiffs, or under their direction and approval, for the unfailing supply of men to take charge of the interests of Catholicity in that country; and also for the education of Catholic young men of good abilities on the Continent, and their careful instruction in all branches of theological learning; so that when promoted to holy orders, they might return to their native land, and labour diligently to benefit their countrymen by the ministry of the word and of the sacraments; and by the defence and propagation of the holy faith. Perhaps even more conspicuous have been the exertions made by our predecessors for the purpose of restoring to the English Catholic prelates invested with the episcopal character, when the fierce and cruel storms of persecution had deprived them of the presence and pastoral care of their own bishops. The Letters Apostolical of Pope Gregory XV., dated March 23, 1623, set forth, that the chief Pontiff, as soon as he was able, had consecrated William Bishop, bishop of Chalcedon, and had appointed him, furnished with an ample supply of Faculties, and the authority of Ordinary, to govern the Catholics of England and of Scotland. Subsequently, on the death of the said William Bishop, Pope Urban VIII., by Letters Apostolical, dated Feb. 4, 1625, to the like effect, and directed to Richard Smith, reconstituted him bishop of Chalcedon, and conferred on him the same faculties and powers as had been granted to William Bishop. When the king, James II., ascended the English throne, there seemed a prospect of happier times for the Catholic religion. Innocent XI. immediately availed himself of this opportunity to ordain, in the year 1685, John Leyburn, bishop of Adrumetum, vicar-apostolic of all England. Subsequently, by other Letters Apostolical, issued Jan. 30, 1688, he associated with Leyburn as vicars apostolic, three other bishops, with titles taken from churches in partibus infidelium: and accordingly, with the assistance of Ferdinand, archbishop of Amasia, Apostolic Nuncio in England, the same Pontiff divided England into four districts, namely, the London, the Eastern, the Midland, and the Northern, each of which a vicar-apostolic commenced to govern, furnished with all suitable faculties, and with the proper powers of a local Ordinary. Benedict XIV., by his Constitution, dated May 30, 1753, and the other Pontiffs, our predecessors, and our Congregation of Propaganda, both by their own authority or by their most wise and prudent directions, afforded them all guidance and help in the discharge of their important functions. This partition of all England into four apostolic vicariates lasted till the time of Gregory XVI., who, by Letters Apostolical, dated July 3, 1840, having taken into consideration the increase which the Catholic religion had received in that kingdom, made a new ecclesiastical division of the counties, doubling the number of the apostolic vicariates, and committing the government of the whole of England in spirituals to the vicars-apostolic of the London, the Western, the East ern, the Central, the Welsh, the Lancaster, the York, and the Northern Districts. These facts that we have cursorily touched upon, to omit all mention of others, are sufficient proof that our predecessors have studiously endeavoured and laboured, that as far as their influence could effect it, the Church in England might be re-edified and recovered from the great calamity that had befallen her. of "Having, therefore, before our eyes so illustrious an example of our predecessors, and wishing to emulate it in accordance with the duty of the Supreme Apostolate, and also giving way to our own feelings of affection toward that beloved part of our Lord's vineyard, we have purposed, from the very first commencement of our Pontificate, to prosecute a work so well commenced, and to devote our closer attention to the promotion of the Church's advantage in that kingdom. Wherefore, having taken into earnest consideration the present state of Catholic affairs in England, and reflecting on the very large and everywhere increasing number of Catholics there, considering also that the impediments which principally stood in the way the spread of Catholicity were daily being removed, we judged that the time had arrived when the form of ecclesiastical government in England might be brought back to that model, on which it exists freely among other nations, where there is no special reason for their being governed by the extraordinary administration of vicars-apostolic. We were of opinion that times and circumstances had brought it about, that it was unnecessary for the English Catholics to be any longer guided by vicars-apostolic; nay, more, that the revolution that had taken place in things there was such as to demand the form of ordinary episcopal government. In addition to this, the vicars-apostolic of England themselves had, with united voice, besought this of us; many also, both of the clergy and laity, highly esteemed for their virtue and rank, had made the same petition, and this was also the earnest wish of a very large number of the rest of the Catholics of England. While we pondered on these things, we did not omit to implore the aid of Almighty God that, in deliberating on a matter of such weight, we might be enabled, both to discern, and rightly to accomplish, what might be most conducive to the good of the Church. We also invoked the assistance of Mary the Virgin, mother of God, and those saints who illustrated England by their virtues, that they would vouchsafe to support us by their patronage with God in the happy accomplishment of this affair. In addition, we committed the whole matter to our venerable brethren the cardinals of the holy Roman Church of our Congregation for the propagation of the faith, to be carefully and gravely considered. Their opinion was entirely agreeable to our own desires, and we freely approved of it, and judged that it be carried into execution. The whole matter, therefore, having been carefully and deliberately consulted upon, of our own motion, on certain knowledge, and of the plenitude of our apostolic power, we constitute and decree, that in the kingdom of England, according to the common rules of the Church, there be restored the Hierarchy of Ordinary Bishops, who shall be named from Sees, which we constitute in these our letters, in the several districts of the Apostolic Vicariates. "To begin with the London District, there will be in it two sees; that of Westminster, which we elevate to the degree of the Metropolitan or archiepiscopal dignity, and that of Southwark, which, as also the others, (to be named next,) we assign as suffragan to Westminster. The diocese of Westminster will take that part of the above-named district which extends to the north of the River 'Thames, and includes the counties of Middlesex, Essex, and Hertford; that of Southwark will contain the remaining part to the south of the river, namely, the counties of Berks, Southampton, Surrey, Sussex, and Kent, with the Islands of Wight, Jersey, Guernsey, and the others adjacent. "In the Northern Districts there will be only one Episcopal See, which will receive its name from the city of Hexham. This diocese will be bounded by the same limits as the district hath hitherto been. "The York District will also form one diocese; and the bishop will have his See at the city of Beverly. "In the Lancaster District, there will be two bishops, of whom the one will take his title from the See of Liverpool, and will have as his diocese the Isle of Man, the hundreds of Lonsdale, Amounderness, and West Derby. The other will receive the name of his See from the city of Salford, and will have for his diocese the hundreds of Salford, Blackburn, and Leyland. The county of Chester,although hitherto belonging to that district, we shall now annex to another diocese. "In the District of Wales there will be two bishoprics, namely, that of Shrewsbury, and that of Menevia (or St. David's) united with Newport. The diocese of Shrewsbury to contain northward, the counties of Anglesey, Caernarvon, Denbigh, Flint, Merioneth, and Montgomery; to which we annex the county of Chester from the Lancashire district, and the county of Salop from the Central District. We assign to the bishop of St. David's and Newport as his diocese, northward, the counties of Brecknock, Glamorgan, Pembroke, and Radnor, and the English counties of Monmouth and Hereford. "In the Western, we establish two Episcopal Sees, that of Clifton, and that of Plymouth. To the former of these we assign the counties of Gloucester, Somerset, and Wilts; to the latter, those of Devon, Dorset, and Cornwall. "The Central District, from which we have already separated off the county of Salop, will have two Episcopal Sees; that of Nottingham, and that of Birmingham. To the former of these we assign as a diocese the counties of Nottingham, Derby, and Leicester, together with those of Lincoln and Rutland, which we hereby separate from the Eastern District. To the latter we assign the counties of Oxford, Warwick, Worcester, and Oxford. "Lastly, in the Eastern District, there will be a single bishop's See, which will take its name from the city of Northampton, and will have its diocese comprehended within the same limits as have hitherto bounded the district, with the exception of the counties of Lincoln and Rutland, which we have already assigned to the aforesaid diocese of Nottingham. "Thus, then, in the most flourishing kingdom of England there will be established one ecclesiastical province, consisting of one archbishop, or metropolitan head, and twelve bishops, his suffragans, by whose exertions and pastoral care we trust that to Catholicity in that country there will be a fruitful and daily increasing extension. Wherefore, we now reserve to ourselves and our successors, the Pontiffs of Rome, the power of again dividing the said province into others, and of increasing the number of dioceses as occasion shall require; and in general, that, as it shall seem fitting in the Lord, we may freely, decree new limits to them. "In the mean while we command the aforesaid archbishop and bishops that they transmit at due time, to our Congregation of Propaganda, accounts of the state of their churches, and that they never omit to keep the said Congregation fully informed respecting all matters which they know will conduce to the welfare of their spiritual flocks. For we shall continue to avail ourselves of the instrumentality of the said Congregations in all things appertaining to the Anglican churches. But in the sacred government of clergy and laity, and in all other things appertaining unto the pastoral office, the archbishop and bishops of England will henceforward enjoy all the rights and faculties which the other Catholic archbishops and bishops of other nations, according to the common ordinances of the sacred canons and apostolic constitutions, use, and may use; and are equally bound by the obligations which bind the other archbishops and bishops, according to the same common discipline of the Catholic Church. And whatever regulations, either in the ancient system of the Anglican Church, or in the subsequent missionary state, may have been in force either by special constitutions, or privileges, or peculiar customs, will now henceforth carry no right nor obligation: and in order that no doubt may remain on this point, we, by the plenitude of our apostolic authority, repeal and abrogate all power whatsoever of imposing obligation or conferring right in those peculiar constitutions and privileges of whatever kind they may be, and in all customs by whomsoever, or at whatever most ancient or immemorial time, brought in. Hence it will, for the future, be solely competent for the archbishop and bishops of England to distinguish what things belong to the execution of the common ecclesiastical law, and what, according to the common discipline of the Church, are intrusted to the authority of the bishops. We certainly will not be wanting to assist them with our apostolic authority, and most willingly will we second all their applications in those things which shall seem to conduce to the glory of God's name and the salvation of souls. Our principal object, indeed, in decreeing by these our Letters Apostolical the restoration of the Ordinary Hierarchy of bishops and the observation of the Church's common law, has been to pay regard to the well-being and growth of the Catholic religion throughout the realm of England; but at the same time it was our purpose to gratify the wishes of both our venerable brethren who govern the affairs of religion by a vicarious authority from the apostolic See, and also of very many of our well-beloved children of the Catholic clergy and laity, from whom we had received the most urgent entreaties to the like effect. The same prayer had repeatedly been made by their ancestors to our predecessors, who, indeed, had first commenced to send vicarsapostolic into England at a time when it was impossible for any Catholic prelate to remain there in possession of a Church by right in Ordinary; and hence their design in successively augmenting the number of vicariates and vicarial districts was not certainly that Catholicity in England should always be under an extraordinary form of government, but rather looking forward to its extension in process of time, they were paving the way for the ultimate restoration of the Ordinary Hierarchy there. "And therefore we, to whom, by God's goodness, it hath been granted to complete this great work, do now hereby declare, that it is very far from our intention or design that the prelates of England, now possessing the title and rights of bishops in Ordinary, should, in any other respect, be deprived of any advantages which they have enjoyed heretofore under the character of vicarsapostolic; for it would not be reasonable that the enactments we now make at the instance of the English Catholics, for the good of religion in their country, should turn to the detriment of the said vicars-apostolic. Moreover, we are most firmly assured that the same, our beloved children in Christ, who have never ceased to contribute by their alms and liberality, under such various circumstances to the support of Catholic religion and of the vicars-apostolic, will henceforward manifest even greater liberality toward bishops who are now bound by a stronger tie to the Anglican Churches, so that these same may never be in want of the temporal means necessary for the expenses of the decent splendour of the churches, and of Divine service, and of the support of the clergy, and relief of the poor. "In conclusion, lifting up our eyes unto the hills from whence cometh our help, to God Almighty, and all-merciful, with all prayer and supplication, we humbly beseech him, that he would confirm, by the power of his Divine assistance, all that we have now decreed for the good of the Church, and that he would bestow the strength of his grace on those to whom the carrying out of our decrees chiefly belongs, that they may feed the Lord's flock which is among them, and that they may ever increase in diligent exertion to advance the greater glory of his name. And in order to obtain the more abundant succours of heavenly grace for this purpose, we again invoke as our intercessors with God, the most holy mother of God, the blessed apostles Peter and Paul, with the other heavenly patrons of England, and especially St. Gregory the Great, that since it is now granted to our so unequal deserts again to restore the episcopal Sees in England, which he first effected to the very great advantage of the Church, this restoration also which we make of the Episcopal dioceses in that kingdom may happily turn to the benefit of the Catholic religion. And we decree that these our Letters Apostolical shall never at any time be objected against or impugned on pretence either of omission, or of addition, or defect of either of our intention or any other whatsoever; but shall always be valid and in force, and shall take effect in all particulars, and be inviolably observed. All general or special enactments notwithstanding, whether Apostolic, or issued in Synodal, Provincial, and Universal Councils; notwithstanding, also, all rights and privileges of the ancient Sees of England, and of the missions, and of the apostolic vicariates subsequently there established, and of all churches whatsoever, and pious places, whether established by oath or by apostolic confirmation, or by any other security whatsoever; notwithstanding, lastly, all other things to the contrary whatsoever. For all these things, in as far as they contravene the foregoing enactments, although a special mention of them may be necessary for their repeal, or some other form, however particular, necessary to be observed, we expressly annul and repeal. Moreover, we decree, that if, in any other manner, any other attempt shall be made by any person, or by any authority, knowingly or ignorantly, to set aside these enactments, such attempt shall be null and void. And it is our will and pleasure that copies of these our Letters being printed, and subscribed by the hand of a notary public, and sealed with the seal of a person high in ecclesiastical dignity, shall have the same authenticity as would belong to the expression of our will by the production of this original copy. "Given at Rome, at St. Peter's, under the Seal of the Fisherman, this 29th day of September, 1850, in the fifth year of our Pontificate. “A Cardinal LambruschiNI.” I |