Brownson is enclosing a check for $75 which Henry may take his own time for paying. He asks Henry to acknowledge the receipt. Brownson has hardly had time or rather leisure to write since Henry was here. He has been so busy writing for the Tablet and Catholic World. His health continues as good as Henry found it, not stronger but growing stronger. He is to lecture in Boston on the evening of Dec. 8 for the benefit of the Kearney Hospital on Papal Infallibility. After Brownson has had time to rest on returning home, he shall be ready for Detroit. If he could count on Henry's being there, he should like to pass Christmas with Henry. Fifine and the children. He hopes to see Develin? on Monday and get duly clothed, so he can venture abroad. Brownson voted, contrary to his intention, and voted Republican, chiefly because he wanted to get Frank B. Chetwood ? for Mayor of Elizabeth, and got him. Orestes is not sorry to see the radicals weakened in the House. The strong Democratic minority will be a wholesome restraint on the protectionists, and hinder some evil, if they cannot effect any good, which is some gain. General Grant has gained nothing by getting into a quarrel with Gen. Cox, and removing him from office, as he has virtually done. For his part, Brownson has come to old Judge Person's conclusion, "The young man that is not a democrat is a knave; the old man that is a democrat is a fool." He has ceased to believe at all in democracy and he thinks with his countryman Fisher Ames, that it is "an illuminated hell", and say what we will of it, it is simply the logical political development of Protestantism. Popular self-government is a delusion, a humbug, an absurdity. The people need to be governed collectively as well as individually. Jacobinism is Calvinism without its long face, pious garb and guttural tones, and Evangelicalism the present from of Calvinism is seeking through Calvinism to establish in our republic the most complete and odious civil and religious despotism, and that two by the assistance of Paddy. Father Isaac Hecker's notion that democracy is favorable to Catholicity is worse than foolish. Democracy rests on popular opinion and never looks beyond, and no people that makes popular opinion its criterion of right and wrong, is or can be Catholic. Catholicity spreads among a people only in proportion as they habitually act from the Law of God, which is above kings and peoples, alike above popular opinion and the pleasure of the prince. Brownson has been disappointed in the French. He is ashamed of them. They have become a nation of braggarts, and are meeting with deserved chastisement. Brownson does not like Prussia any better, but likes France less. In so far as Catholic interests are concerned, Alsace and Lorraine might be annexed to Prussia without damage. Catholicity in our day prospers only in non-Catholic countries. The protection of the Church by Catholic princes, only enslaves her and enfeebles the faithful. The Holy Father is a prisoner. Brownson thinks he would have done better to have followed Brownson's advice in 1860. But still he is mightier now than he has ever been before, and his influence on both the Catholic and the non-Catholic mind is greater than ever. Satan is never more signally defeated than when he has won his victory. The sovereigns of Europe will not long consent to have the spiritual head of so many millions of their subjects a prisoner, even a prisoner at large of the King of Italy, and Catholics who still are Catholics, well pray earnestly for his freedom and become better Catholics. Brownson checks himself to tell Henry his mother's health is upon the whole very good. Her asthmatic cough continues, but grows no worse. She sends her love to Henry, Fifine and the children, especially her god-daughter. Her prayers for her god-child are worth much, Brownson's are worth nothing. Yet he gives his love and blessing to his daughter and to his grand-children, Philip and Sally. He asks Henry to write. :: III-3-a A.L.S. 4pp. 12mo.