neral discussion; and thus, whilst he opposed
Pius IX. and his decisions, he caused many, who would never probably have
thought seriously of anything a Pope could say, to give their attention to
matters spiritual of the highest import. As regards his own theology, it
is partly sound, partly the reverse. Whilst entirely misapprehending the
doctrine of infallibility, and denying what he conceives it to be, he
vigorously maintains the indefectibility of the Catholic church, and
acknowledges the claim of her pastors to "descent in an unbroken line from
Christ and His apostles." Such is one of the powerful agents in the great
movement of the age. The most influential of all, however, was Pope Pius
IX. himself. English people and Americans often sought his presence. And
who shall tell how many, after having conversed with him or his
representatives, have been disabused of their erroneous notions, or have
even embraced the Catholic faith?

One chief cause of the remarkable development of the Catholic church in
the British isles, is the complete religious liberty which Catholics
enjoy. This important fact was thoroughly recognized on occasion of the
celebration of the anniversary of O'Connell in August, 1875, when a solemn
_Te Deum_ was ordered in all the churches by the Cardinal Archbishop, in
thanksgiving for the liberty of conscience which was so gloriously won for
the United Kingdom as well as Ireland and all the colonies. Pius IX. and
the whole Catholic world joined on the same occasion in acts of
thanksgiving with the spiritual heirs of Sts. Patrick, Augustine, Columba
and St. Thomas of Canterbury. It is a noteworthy fact that the number of
archiepiscopal and episcopal sees, together with vicariates-apostolic,
&c., created by Pius IX. throughout the British Empire, is not less than
one hundred and twenty-five.

(M33) For three hundred years the Catholics of Holland were sorely tried
by persecution. Until the time of the Concordat of 1827, they were
governed by archpriests, whose superior or prefect resided at the Hague.
When Holland was separated from Belgium, the king of the former country
wisely resolved to act as a constitutional monarch. He was considerate as
regarded his Catholic subjects. His successor, William II., to whom in
1840 he resigned the crown, treated them with still greater benevolence.
He sought an understanding with the Holy See, and gave effect to the
Concordat of 1827. Vicars-apostolic, invested with