Englefield reports an attack upon the Catholics in the United States, by a writer in the Italian paper, "Opinione", in which the writer denies that the Church is growing in America and attacks the patriotism of the American clergy especially during the Civil War. Because of his friendship with the late Archbishop John Hughes and other clergymen he feels obliged to accuse the writer of deliberate falsehoods. The object of such an attack was to gain followers to the party against religion, with the intention of taking forcible possession of Rome and liquidating Church property. The government officials are corrupt and taxes are so burdensome that the people will not stand for any new taxes. As the government is in need of money, many have been forced to loan it money, resulting in their near bankruptcy. Forged paper money has led to a decline in improvements. Englefield feels that the bad example shown by the corrupt government officials will be imitated by the lower classes, where there is real want, and where religion is no longer allowed to penetrate. P.S. Mrs. Englefield wishes to be remembered and says that the baby is improving, as the weather is unusually warm for this time of the year, but due to the failure of the corn crop there is an impending scarcity of provisions. :: I-1-n A.L.S. 4pp. 8vo. 2pp. 12 vo. In the papers of James Alphonsus McMaster