remonstrating, and that the Pope-who, | be directed to do that which is best in the strange to say, believes his own dogma- divine judgment for mankind; and so bealone stands out intrepid, and refuses to lieving, can hardly dread an extension of recall the summons of Christendom to his power, any more than he could dread Council. The resistance comes mainly an increase in the effectiveness of God from the French prelates, who, being himself. The Pope, in many respects, Frenchmen as well as prelates, have not would have on earth the power of Deity. been able to rid themselves wholly of their We all admit that the greatest hope man instinctive faculty of logic; but the Germans has of escaping from the misery in which he are muttering that it is possible for these has always lived lies in a mental change, Italians to be too devout, and the Italians that remedy is beyond the power of govare declaring that they will not answer for ernments, and must come from some imtheir people. Infallibility upon visible sub-pulse which shall give light not only to jects is, they think, even if it exists, a doc- those above, but to those below. That is trine on which the necessity for reserve has what we mean by our anxiety for education. not yet ended. So long as the Church con- The Pope could under the new dogma give fines itself to doctrines the truth of which that impulse. Suppose him an able man, can be tested only in the future world, free of outside control and utterly benevothat is, cannot be tested here at all, she lent, and Catholicism supposes all these is safe from overthrow; but if she goes things, and there is scarcely a limit to beyond this, and denounces this philosophy the good he could accomplish with his new or approves that institution, or says this power. He could extinguish slavery at a person is holy and that law conducive to blow by declaring it a state incompatible immorality, what fatal obstacle may she with a possibility of salvation, as involving not raise to faith? Of course, those obsta- perfect submission of the will to other than cles will be the result of man's inherent vile- the Church, and slavery throughout Chrisness, for the Church cannot err; but still, tendom would perish, for only Catholics how many followers would Christ himself hold slaves. He could declare social equalhave obtained had he taught as divine ity the only condition of society acceptable dogmas that the earth moved round the to God and His Church, make liberty and sun, or that the world was a flattened fraternity dogmas of the faith, decree poorsphere? A Pope might, in a moment of laws to be parts of Christianity, or relief effusion, decree something which men in to mendicancy a crime, enforce humanity their madness esteemed ridiculous, or to animals as a religious obligation, and which science seems to disprove, or which end the long search for intellectual rest by would shake society to pieces, and there declaring some one philosophy divine. Or, would be no road of retreat, no opportu- going one step farther, he might break up nity of saying that the Pope, being mouth- the ice of ages by decreeing that human piece of the Church, could not go beyond ignorance was hateful to the Almighty, the Church, and that the Church being only education an obligation on all above and a guide to heaven, her interference in mat- learning the imperative duty of all below. ters of pure science was extra vires, an act His decrees would probably not affect those disentitling her to the full benefit of her above very greatly, but they would affect divine intelligence. Faith would be shaken those below; and it is they, not their inpossibly for generations, until, in the slow tellectual superiors, who resist advance. evolutions of free science, it had been Their mental attitude towards improvement shown that the Church had only displayed would be wholly changed, changed as sudher foreknowledge unadvisedly, that she denly, as completely, and as permanently was right, and that the doctrine of gravity, as that of the Scotch was when John Knox, for example, really was condemnable as as Pope for the nonce, authorized expositor being a gross misrepresentation of truth. of the Divine will, proclaimed that without How many souls might perish in the in- the instruction of the peoples the Gospel terim! could find no path. On that debatable ground where no man can tell where sin begins and indulgence ends, where the latent conscience of mankind is on the side of restriction and its habit on that of licence, the Pope would be irresistible, and a decree from him would in Catholic countries make dram-selling and dram-drinking alike impossible. The gauger would have a different time of it in Ireland if every priest

We question if the Frenchmen, Bishops though they be, will be driven out of that position, and yet we can understand to the full the fascinating attraction which such a dogma must have for devout and philanthropic minds. The true Catholic does not argue like the true Protestant, but believes that his Pope, no matter what his individual character, will in his public acts

were denouncing potheen from the altar as | because extremes are always dangerous, a Devil's draught, and every sincere Catho- and in this instance the golden mean of a lic were a sincere enemy of the distiller. prudential activity was not far to seek. The decree would fail? Possibly, but Mo- Not less strange and unaccountable to the hammed's did not, nor Munoo's, and both Oriental imagination has been the unostenwere addressed to races who, the moment tatious simplicity of our rule. The people they quit their faith, drink harder than of India, accustomed to the glorious tradiNorwegians. It is all a dream, of course; tions of Delhi, could not understand why the power would, owing to human weak- any unusual amount of reverence should be ness of judgment, be far more frequently paid to a quiet-looking gentleman clothed exercised for evil than for good, and even in broadcloth, and either slaving at his desk when exercised for good, would stereotype in the Government counting-house at Calthe world. But that those who believe cutta, or wandering without attendance in human weakness absent from the utterances the pine woods of Simla, and on the cool of the Infallible, and who hold that the slopes of the Himalayan hills. In defiance world, once in full accord with the Church, of all that austere Republicans and Quakers should be stereotyped, should long to see in drab may urge to the contrary, there is the doctrine of Infallibility stretched till it something as real in the show of sovereign covers all things, excites in us no surprise. authority as in its actual exercise. It is but a manifestation of the desire, uni- might have thought this principle had long versal among us all, even the unbelievers, ago been made clear to the dullest apprethat God would, if only for a time, visibly hensions by the irresistible logic of facts as intervene to right the wrongs of earth. well as of argument, if a ruler so justly esteemed as the late Viceroy had not shown his utter unconsciousness of it. For these and other reasons we are glad to record that Lord Mayo has availed himself of the opportunity afforded by recent events in Afghanistan to re-assert the dignity of the Viceregal office, and at the same time inaugurate a clearly defined policy towards the most important of the frontier States.

THE DURBAR AT UMBALLAH.

[Broad Arrow.]

SINCE the British troops ran the gauntlet of the terrible defiles between Cabul and Peshawur, no more memorable event has happened in those regions than the journey of Shere Ali to meet the Viceroy of India at Umballah. During the late government of Sir John Lawrence- notwithstanding the great qualities of that eminent civilian and the wisdom of his rule our prestige has suffered in the opinion of at least some classes of the native population by the apparent want of resolution, and the absence of an intelligible policy, in the exterior relations of the Government. Those who know the history of England, and the temper of Englishmen, could never entertain a doubt of the tenacity with which our superb dominion in the East would be held, even under the most trying circumstances; yet there is no denying that the policy of a masterly inactivity to quote once more the well-worn phrase borrowed from old Daniel Webster - has been a damaging one. The people of India have seen with surprise the apathy of the Imperial Government while events were occurring in Central Asia not less momentous than those which led to the occupation of Cabul and the dethronement of its prince by a British army some thirty years ago. It is not that any rational being could expect or desire to see the blundering policy of Lord Auckland, as regards Afghanistan, repeated in our day, but

We

The contradictory rumours which have prevailed during the last three months on the subject of a meeting between the successor of Dost Mohammed and the representative of the Empress of India, have been partly caused by the delicacy of the situation. This much may be inferred from what has actually occurred. The Viceroy, on his way from Calcutta to the hills, would not turn aside a hair's breadth to influence the movements of the ruler of Afghanistan ; but, on the other hand, he prepared for the expected visit in a manner worthy of the occasion when sovereign princes confer. All the troops that could be concentrated at Umballah were massed together to give effect to the spectacle, and pay due honour to a prince who occupies, virtually, the position of mediator between the two greatest Powers of the world. The 4th Hussars, the Cameron Highlanders, the 55th Foot, the 3rd Buffs, a battery of the Royal Horse Artillery, the 15th Native Infantry, in all some 8,000 or 10,000 troops, attended the bidding of the Viceroy, and formed his state. The capital of the Afghan prince lay at the distance of five hundred miles, but it was well understood that no interview would take place unless he chose to make a somewhat hazardous journey, and in

1

effect acknowledge the supremacy of British | guarantee against his only external danger, rule. Shere Ali knew his interest too well with a favour which, though intangible, is to hesitate. On the 4th ult. he entered as effective as the favour of France is to Peshawur, escorted by the 88th Foot and Italy, and with a subsidy which makes him the 5th Light Cavalry as a guard of honour. the wealthiest prince in the only world of The fortress of Jumrood, commanding the which he has any experience. We must once fatal Khyber Pass, fired a royal salute look back to the history of Scotland in Elizin honour of his arrival on British territory.abeth's reign to understand the temptation At Lahore Sir Donald Macleod held a grand of a little ready cash - tangible coined durbar in his honour. There, and at every money-to princes who have everything stage of his journey to Umballah, the Prince but that, in a land where £120,000 a year of Cabul would see the evidences of Eng- will keep a guard of ten thousand men land's greatness, and the fact that all possi- steadily devoted to their sovereign, and ble respect was shown to him by a ruler who where the fidelity of such a guard presents nevertheless would not go one step out of an immovable obstacle to insurrection. his way to meet him, could hardly fail to And the Viceroy gives him all this without impress his Oriental imagination with the asking any favour in return, except permisdignity of imperial sway. The recognition, sion to aid him to the utmost in case he too, has been mutual. The Ameer of should be attacked by the only neighbour Afghanistan will no longer see in the Brit- too strong to be resisted by his independent ish outposts a government of sentry-boxes, means. What has Russia to offer him on the or dread nothing from its great officials other side? Her protection as the price of a which may be of more binding power than free passage? We give it without the dangerso much red tape. On the other hand, ous condition. Her favour? What is that there is equally good reason to feel assured worth when it means our enmity? Money? that the eyes of the Government are opened The Russian Government is a great one, to the importance of cultivating the most but it will hardly offer Shere Ali the whole friendly relations with a prince whose terri- revenue of Turkestan, or compete in a match tory may constitute another Belgium be- of bribery with a Power which, with all Intween England and her enemies. dia in flames, redeemed its bonds at PeshaWe were among the first to suggest a wur as if the country were in the profounddoubt of the wisdom shown in the appoint- est peace. We underrate the intelligence ment of Lord Mayo to the post of thankless of these Afghans, as of all men not absoresponsibility which he has so worthily filled lutely white. Shere Ali, or Yakoob Khan up to the present moment. We have felt it after him, will see his own interest as clearly only just, therefore, to express our sense as any European, even if he do not act on of the ability and statesmanship which he another and yet stronger impulse. We has exhibited in what may be called the first have no proof to offer of the assertion, and great act of his administration. The result probably never shall have any, but we be-. will be to confirm Shere Ali in the succes-lieve that deep in the heart of every Mussion for which he has fought, and at the same time, to convince any possible enemy that though the British Lion may slumber, he will never be found unprepared to spring.

[Spectator.]

Of course, we shall be told by the people who cannot bear that the British dominion should not be conterminous with British influence that Shere Ali may betray us and form an alliance with the Russians; but the argument is only an argument of suspicion, upon which no policy can be based. Grant that Shere Ali is the most unprincipled of human beings, a man whom nothing binds and no infamy deters, and still we must also grant that he will pursue that course which it is most clearly and directly to his interest to pursue. He wants to be the unquestioned and tolerably comfortable master of Afghanistan. The British Government helps him with a virtual

sulman north of the Sutlej - Punjabee, Afghan, or Toork-lies a conviction based on stories which have filtered thither through Western Asia, that the one true foe of Islam the one with whom no compromise or modus vivendi is possible for the Faithful, the one whose supremacy means or is the destruction of the Crescent, is the Russian Czar. We also are Infidels; but then, between Gallio and Festus there is much for the oppressed to choose.

[Observer.]

RUSSIA is in a bankrupt condition; she has enormous frontiers to protect, on some of which she is opposed by powerful enemies, and on all of which her very policy of encroachment has raised against herself strong hostility. When opposed to semi-barbarous enemies she frequently shines, though by no means always, but she has ever proved herself weak against powerful enemies outside

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