THE POPE IN A FIX.

The question What are we to do with him? is a query which suggests itself to all reflecting minds when they begin to think of the position of the Pope. His Holiness just now is somewhat in the place of the dog upon the race-course. Everybody hoots at him as being in the way, and nobody will stretch a hand to help him out of it. And so he runs along with his tail between his legs, and gets considerably more kicks than kind wishes in his progress.

Notwithstanding the assertion made by Hanover Square Meeting-men, that the Pope is most “discreet, religious, and humane,” and that “his great fault in the eyes of English Protestants is, that he in fact has no fault at all,” the world at large apparently does not seem to see it. Faultless though he be in the eyes of spouting fanatics, those with better eyesight are blind to his good points, and he is in their view by no means quite infallible. Distance lends proverbially enchantment to the view, and what to fools in England has the look of being faultless, to persons nearer Rome appears something very different. The Romagnese have small affection for the Papal Sun: and the nearer people live to him the more they wish to see the Holy Father farther.

Meanwhile, the question still remains, What is to be done with him? Excepting the few fools and fanatics aforesaid, everybody feels convinced that the Pope is in the way, and that soon or late he must be shoved aside or shelved, or somehow else got rid of. Between the two stools of his temporal and spiritual authority, it seems to be decided that he must come to the ground. It may be difficult to run so old a fox to earth, but ere long we fancy the feat will be accomplished.

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