respective heirs had a fair chance of speedy possession. In the good providence of our God we have been spared to be what you now see us, not bad specimens of our respective fatherlands. We were both engaged then, as now, opposing the Pope, and visiting in prison Dr. Kalley, a martyr to Papist bigotry. Gentlemen, I feel sure that the recollection of our intercourse with Count Münster will not soon fade from our memories. It will be one of those pleasant sunspots amidst much that is dark. May I not say that whatever he does, wherever he goes, he carries with him our respectful admiration, and our warm regard?

I have the honour to propose his Excellency's health.*

The following are the names of the members of the committee who subscribed the address of thanks above referred to, a facsimile of which is given herewith. Rud. Gneist, D.C.L., Pro-Rector of the University, M.D.R.T., M.A.H.; Von Bernuth, Minister of Justice, M.D.R.T., Vice-President H.H.; Von Bethmann-Hollweg, M.D.R.T., H.A.H.; Count Bethusy,

Amongst those present were Count Münster; the Hon. Arthur Kinnaird, M.P.; J. M. Holt, Esq.; C. N. Newdegate, Esq., M.P.; Colonel Macdonald, of St. Martin's; Sir Thomas Chambers, M.P.; James Eatman, Esq., F.R.S.; Sir John Murray, Bart.; Rev. Dr. Badenoch; J. L. Whittle, Esq.; Rev. Dr. Jobson; John MacGregor, Esq. (Rob Roy).

Address of thanks.

M.D.R.T., M.A.H. of the Council of Commerce: Von Bunsen, of the Council of Embassy; Dr. Professor Curtius, Secretary of the Academy of Sciences; A. Delbruck, of the Council of Commerce; Dr. Dorner, Superior Councillor of the Consistory; Professor Dove, member of the Academy of Science; Dancker, magistrate of Berlin; Von Etzel, general of infantry, M.D.R.T.; Dr. Gorchen, municipal director; Count Haarke, M.D.R.T.; Richard Hardt, Merchant; Professor Dr. Helmholtz, member of the Academy of Sciences; Freieherr von der Heydt, consul; Hobrecht, senior magistrate of Berlin; Professor Dr. Hofmann, member of the Academy of Sciences; Prince Hohenlohe-Langenburg, M.D.R.T.; Dr. Kleinart, Councillor of Consistory; Kochhann, municipal director; VicePresident Dr. Lowe, M.D.R.T.; Councillor Lowe; Francis Mendelssohn, banker; Miguel, M.D.R.T., M.A.H.; Dr. W. Siemens, member of the Academy of Sciences; Count Von Moltke, General Field Marshal, M.D.R.T.; Professor Dr. Mommsen, member of the Academy of Sciences; Prince Von Pless, M.D.R.Dr. Dr. Schulze-Delitsch, M.D.R.T., M.A.H.; President Dr. Simson, M.D.R.T.; Dr. Stephan. director of the Imperial Post Office; Count Von Osedom, Privy Councillor; Dr. Volck, M.D.R.T., member of the Bavarian Chamber; Count Von Wrangel, General Field-Marshal; Dr. Zabel, editor; Fisher, court assessor, secretary.

APPENDIX.

I.

THE ECCLESIASTICAL LAWS OF
PRUSSIA.*

I.-Amendments to the Prussian Constitution of 31 Fan., 1850, adopted 5 April, 1873 (Gesetz-Sammlung, p. 143).

ments.

Arts. 15 and 18 of the Constitution of 31 Jan., 1850, Amendare abolished, and in place of them are enacted the following, to wit:

Art. 15. The Evangelical and the Roman Ca

*This translation, from the official edition of the laws, was prepared expressly for this volume by Dr. Joseph P. Thompson and Dr. G. Curth, of Berlin. Readers who are conversant with law will appreciate the great difficulty of translating many terms, for which-through diversity of usage and of institutions

there are no equivalents in English. It is believed, however, that the exact sense of the original has in all cases been retained, while the meaning has been made clear to the English reader.

Churches subject to the State

laws.

tholic Church and every other religious society as well, shall order and conduct its own affairs independently, but shall remain subject to the State laws and to the legally appointed supervision of the State.

Under the same limitation every religious society shall continue in possession and enjoyment of the institutions, foundations, and funds, vested for its uses in worship, in education, and in benevolence.

Art. 18. The right of nomination, of initiative, of selection, and of confirmation to the occupancy of ecclesiastical offices, so far as this pertains to the State, and is not derived through advowson or special legal title, is abrogated.

This regulation, however, does not apply to the appointing of chaplains for the army or for public institutions.

Moreover, the laws shall regulate the powers of the State in respect to the preparatory education, the institution, and the demission of clergymen and other officers of religion, and shall fix the limits of Church power in respect of discipline.

Legal withdrawal from a Church.

II.-The Law concerning withdrawing from a
Church.

§ 1. The legal withdrawal from a Church shall

be effected by the declaration of the person so with- Legal withdrawing before the judge of his district.

The existing laws concerning transfer from one Church to another are not changed by this Act.

But if the person who has changed his Church relation would be discharged from the taxes of his former congregation, he must follow the requirements of this law.

§ 2. The registration of such declaration of withdrawal must be preceded by a formal petition, which is to be communicated immediately by the judge to the minister of the congregation to which the petitioner has belonged.

The registration of such declaration of withdrawal shall not be made before four nor after six weeks after the reception of the petition. A copy of the protocol is to be sent to the minister.

At his request a certificate of his withdrawal must be given to the person withdrawing.

§ 3. The declaration of withdrawal discharges the person withdrawing from the obligations which belong to the membership of a church or congregation.

This takes effect at the end of the year which follows the declaration. To any extraordinary expenses for building which shall be proved necessary within the year of the declaration, the person withdrawing is obliged to contribute till the end of the

drawal from a Church.