The French Government and the Papacy have come to a
rupture. The Mission has been ordered to leave Rome, and has, of course, obeyed; and the Nuncio, having been officially informed that his residence in Paris was "of no further use," has quitted France. In the diplomatic sense, therefore, the rupture is complete, and the French Cabinet is deliberating upon the further steps to be taken. It appears to be under- stood that Ministers will propose to the Chambers to denounce the Concordat, and to reduce the allowance granted to. the Church to some small charitable provision for aged prieids. It is most probable that the Chambers will agree, for the elections for the Councils-General were held last Sunday, after the breach with Rome was known, and have gone heavily in favour of M. Combes. Nothing is certain until the Pope has spoken; but, as we have argued elsewhere, there are signs that the governing party at the Vatican wish for Disestablish- ment, which they think will release their authority from many fetters. They, however, receive their information from the faithful, and do not quite know how deep is the reverence in France for the civil authority.
