nothing should be attempted against the laws, nor any thing be done or said that would make them bear their yoke unwillingly. But the prudence and the charity of the sacred Ministers should appear in their effecting that the slaves, imbued with christian morals, render service to their masters, venerating God, the supreme master of all; and that the Masters be just and kind, and by their humanity and care for their salvation, endeavour to mitigate the condition of their slaves. The Apostles have left us these rules; which if any one should neglect and through a feeling of humanity endeavour to overturn the entire established order, he would in most cases but aggravate the condition of the slaves. The Pope, in the before mentioned constitution, omitted not to lay this before us. 'For the Apostles, inspired by the Holy Ghost, taught slaves to obey their temporal masters, as they would Christ himself and to do the will of God cheerfully; and they also gave a precept to the masters to act kindly towards their slaves, to give them what is just and reasonable, and to refrain from threatening them, knowing that the Lord of both is in heaven, and that with Him there is no acceptation of persons.""

How strictly this instruction is complied with, and how beneficial are its effects, is known to every one who has any knowledge of the character of Catholic slaves. They are every where distinguished as a body for orderly habits and fidelity to their masters; so much so that in Maryland, where they are numerous, their value is twenty or twenty-five per cent above that of others.

We have said this much, not to vindicate the Southern Clergy of our Church from the charge of Abolitionism, for we believe it has never been preferred against them, but simply to satisfy the inquiries of some of our fellow citizens, whose attention has been drawn by recent events to this subject.-U. S. Catholic Miscellany.

NOTICES OF BOOKS.

CABINET LIBRARY. Murphy: Baltimore.
Maria, or Confidence in God ultimately rewarded.

The Wooden Cross, by C. Schmid.

The Lily of the Valley.

The Souvenir.

YOUTH'S LIBRARY. Lucas: Baltimore.

Louis the little emigrant, translated from the French by Rev. I. V. Wiseman; and the Portmanteau, translated from the French.

The Parables of Pere Bonaventure Giraudeau, S. J., author of L'Evangile Medite

Ferdinanda, or the Countess of Henance.

The Glass of Water.

These are delightful tales, well adapted to the capacity of children, and worthy to hold a prominent place among the auxiliary means of training the youthful mind and heart to virtue. Both the Cabinet Library and Youth's Library seem to rival each other in the judicious selection of interesting and edifying narratives, as well as in the faultless elegance with which they are got up. Indian Cottage,-a Unitarian Story. By the author of Father Rowland. Lucas: Baltimore.

We should not deem it necessary to notice this tale, so generally and so favourably known in the East, were it not that we think there may be many here who will now hear of it for the first time, and who may be induced even by these few lines to take it up, and read it.

The Manual of Catholic Melodies-Hymns, Psalms, etc., with the ordinary exercises of piety. Murphy. Baltimore: 1843. 8vo. 464 pp.

The publisher states that this is by far "the cheapest work yet offered to the Catholics of the United States ;" but this is, in our mind, its least recommendation. A much better passport to public favour and general use will be found in its intrinsic merits, which are of no common order; and which justify us. in expressing our desire that it may be found in every Catholic family, the members of which are able to "praise the Lord in hymns."

The Spirit of St. Alphonsus de Ligorio. Lucas. Baltimore: 1843.

It is needless to say a word in commendation of this work, which consists of a several distict treatises, or what in another department of literature might be called essays, on various subjects of Christian virtue and religious perfection. Those who aspire to the glory of the saints-as all christians are bound to do should study to imbibe the spirit of these favoured servants of God. The United States Almanac for 1844. Lucas: Baltimore. This periodcal is full of exact information on the state of the Catholic Religion in our different diocesses. Prefixed to the matter peculiar to this collection are, a life of Bishop England, a statistical survey of the Catholic world, and, last not least, some excellent "Hints on Ecclesiastical Architecture," which we hope will not be passed over by any one who procures this almanac. The following summary of our religious statistics in the United States, which we find in the Almanac, cannot but prove consoling to the zealous Catholic.

"Diocesses in the United States, 21; Apostolic Vicariate, 1; number of Bishops, 17; Bishops elect, 8; number of Priests, 634; number of Priests deceased during the past year, 12; increase in the number of Clergymen since the publication of the Almanac for 1843, 55; number of Churches, 611; other Stations, 461; Ecclesiastical Seminaries, 19; clerical students, 261; literary institutions for young men, 16; female accademies, 48; Catholic periodicals, 15."

RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

CATHOLIC STATISTICS OF ST. LOUIS.-For the information of the numerous Catholic emigrants, who daily flock to our City, we publish the following Statistics, at the commencement of the year.

CHURCHES AND CHAPELS.

1st. WARD.-1st. Chapel of St. Mary's.-(Soulard's Addition,) The English and German Congregations meet here at stated hours. The foundations of a new and large Church, contiguous to this Chapel, were laid in 1839; and we have reason to hope that the work will be resumed next summer.

2nd. Chapel of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.-(Opposite the South Market,) This is a new and neat building, attached to the Convent of the Sacred Heart. 2nd. WARD.-The Church of Our Lady of Victory.-(Corner of Third and Mulberry Streets,) This beautiful new building is nearly completed, and will be opened for Divine Service in the course of next Spring. It is exclusively destined for the German Catholics.

3rd. WARD.-The Cathedral of St. Louis.-(Walnut, between Second and Third Streets,) The English and French Congregations meet, at stated hours, in this noble edifice, of which we have given a minute discription in the second Number of this Periodical.

4th. WARD.-1st. Church of St. Aloysius.-(Washington Avenue, between Nineth and Tenth Streets,) This Church is used only by the German Catholics. In its stead, a new Church is about to be commenced in the North of the City.

2nd., Church of St. Francis Xavier.-(Corner of Ninth and Green Sis.,) This large and splendid edifice, although not entirely completed, has been opened for several months, and is frequented by a large English Congregation. RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS.

1st. Theological Seminary.-(Soulard's Addition,) This Institution was removed in 1842, from Perry County in this State, to the City of St. Louis: it is under the charge of the Lazarists.

2nd. University of St. Louis.-(Green, between Ninth and Tenth Streets,) This Institution, which has existed more than fourteen years, belongs to the Jesuits. It has five departments of Theology, of Philosophy, of Literature and Belles-Letters, of Law, and of Medicine.

3rd. Hospital of St. Louis.-(Spruce, between Third and Fourth Streets,) This large and highly useful Institution is under the charge of the Sisters of Charity.

4th. Convent of the Ladies of the Sacred Hart.-(South Market,) With the Convent is connected an Academy for young Ladies and an Orphanage for female Orphans.

5th. Catholic Male Orphan Asylum.-(Walunt Street,) This Institution is under the direction of the Sisters of Charity. It contains seventy Orphans.

6th. Catholic Female Orphan Asylum.-(Broadway, near Biddle Street,) This institution, commenced in 1842, is likewise under the charge of the Sisters of Charity. It contains thirty-two Orphans.

CATHOLIC FREE SCHOOLS.

1st. Male Free School, attached to the Church of St. Francis Xavier, (Corner of Ninth and Green Streets,) under the charge of four Scholastics of the Society of Jesus. Four hundred and twenty Scholars.

2nd. Female Free School, attached to the same Church (Corner of Tenth and St. Charles Streets,) under the care of the Sisters of Charity. Two hundred and twenty Scholars.

3rd. Female Free School, attached to the Convent of the Ladies of the Sacred Heart. One hundred Scholars.

4th. Male Free School, attached to the Cathedral, (Second Street, between Market and Walnut Streets ;) To be opened in the course of this month, under the direction of "Les Clercs du St. Viatur."

CATHOLIC POPULATION AND NUMBER OF PRIESTS.

The Catholic population of this City is estimated at 16,000, out of a population of 30,000. The Missouri Baptist, published in this City, estimates the number of Catholics to be 14,000. The number of Priests in this City is about twenty-five.

ST. LOUIS.-A Branch of the "Arch-Confraternity of the most holy and immaculate Heart of Mary, "for the conversion of sinners," has been instituted in the Church of St. Francis Xavier, in this City. It contains already upwards of six hundred members.

The Funeral Obsequies of the late venerable Bishop of this See, JOSEPH ROSATI, were performed in all the Churches of the Diocess. We learn with pleasure, by our exchanges, that the same took place in most of the Cathedral Churches throughout the Union. Even at Rome they were celebrated with peculiar solemnity, on the 27th of September, by order of his Holiness, the Pope.

Towards the close of December the Very Rev. Mr. Timon, visiter of the Lazarists of the United States, arrived in this City. We understand that the Mother-House of the Lazarists of the Union, is to be removed from St. Mary's Perry County in this State, to the City of St. Louis.

The Bishop has appointed the Rev. Augustus S. Paris, Rector of the Cathedral. The Rev. George A. Hamilton proceeds to take charge ad interim, of the Congregation of Springfield, Illinois, vacant by the recall of the Rev. B. Rolando of the Congregation of Missionary Priests.

ILLINOIS. Three new Churches have been lately opened for Divine Service in this State, at Edwardsville, Kaskaskia and Belleville.

INDIANA. A community bearing the name of "The Brothers of St. Joseph" has been in existence in Indiana since 1841, under the direction of the Priests of the Holy Cross and the patronage of the Right Rev. Bishop of Vincennes.

The Brothers of St Joseph in their institute, are nearly similar to the Brothers of the Christian Doctrine; their own salvation and the sanctification and education of youth forming the great objects of their efforts. Those who are competent to teach, give instructions in the different branches of education at the Institution, or are placed over schools in different parts of the country. Those who are mechanics have separate apartments at the Institution, and every facility to make their several arts useful both to the community and to the apprentices they receive.

The Institution was at first located at St. Peter's, Davies' County, but the Bishop possessing a tract of some five hundred acres of land denominated "St. Mary's of the Lake," near South Bend, and perceiving the peculiar advantages attached to that beautiful place for the purposes of such an institution, presented it to the Brothers last Autumn; they then removed there.

Those who beheld the paucity of their numbers, and the almost insurmountable difficulties they had to struggle with, in the commencement of their charitable mission in this country, have expressed great astonishment at the very unexpected success they have had in the short space of two years; the result is such as to place the stability of the institution beyond any possibility of doubt. In 1841 there were only seven members, now they number nearly forty. At St. Mary's of the Lake they have opened two schools, one for the higer branches of education and the other as a Free School for poor children; to the different trades they have taken apprentices, for whom they have an evening school for literary instruction. In the State of Indiana they have several Free Schools, and at Pokegan, Michigan, one for the benefit of the Pottawotamie Indians.

The corner stone of the College which the Priests and Brothers are about to open at St. Mary's of the Lake, was laid last August, and the building will be ready for occupation in a few weeks; the structure is admirably calculated for its object, and it is expected that the interior arrangements will be such as to afford all the advantages usually possessed by such institutions.

MARYLAND. The mother house of the Sisterhood of Charity of Emmitsburg has lately received a fine painting of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, presented to them by the Queen of France.

Cincinnati.-The Rt. Rev. Bishop Purcell, has arrived from Europe with several German Priests, belonging to a Religious Community, for the Ohio Missions.

Louisville.-The Magdalen Asylum of this City, conducted by the "Sisters of the Good Shepherd," has been opened scarcely two months, and already some eight or nine, of those hapless beings whom it purposes to reclaim, have sought a refuge within the sanctity of its walls.

The enterprise is, in some measure, as yet, matter of experiment, but we doubt not, it will succeed perfectly, and by its moral and social benefits, fully justify and repay the charitable zeal of those who contribute to sustain it.

Similar Institutions, we are informed, established in Italy, France, Germany, England, Ireland, &c., are succeeding even beyond expectation, and are most