The Catholic World Volume Ii Part 76

La Valette improved the interim in taking every precaution to prevent the fort from again falling into the hands of the Turks. The grand master was now looked upon as the one to whom too much credit could not be given, and whose orders were obeyed with cheering alacrity by all who were able in any way to a.s.sist. A stronger affection was generated toward him, to which his merits ent.i.tled him, as the most fitting reward which the Knights could return.

Mustapha having convened a council of his princ.i.p.al officers, they determined with little dissent to land and renew the siege. The soldiery, greatly disheartened at their late reverses, were very reluctant to obey, and frequently force was resorted to to compel them. But it must have been patent to the commanders that thus, being forced to use compulsory means, they could not expect them to effect what willing and eager troops could easily accomplish. Mustapha was unable to stay the current of flying soldiers, and was hurled along with it; twice was he jostled from his horse, and was with difficulty rescued from being captured. Such was the overwhelming defeat visited upon Mustapha's command, who, we doubt not, would have welcomed even captivity rather than face the sultan, whose arms he had {490} thus signally disgraced. What the reflections were that this destiny animated in his mind, we are left to infer--a destiny so different from what he antic.i.p.ated for the thousands who were to destroy the Knights of Malta, only as an insignificant incident collateral to the brilliant career which awaited them at the hands of the larger Christian powers. When he saw the mere skeleton of his army returning, he might well be impressed with the vanity of human calculations.

The siege of Malta continued four months, and it, amid the general destruction, worked no little benefit to the Knights of Malta. This success created joy throughout Christendom, which was expressed in the most gratifying manner. If they were left to fight their battles alone, it was only to achieve the greater glory. And thus ended the famous siege of Malta, whose valorous defence is unparalleled in the records of history.

From The Literary Workman.

A SONG OF THE YEAR.

Solemnly comes thy last hour, Old Year, Mercy and love were thy dower, Old Year; Though with thy gifts came the sigh or tear.

Parting, we'll bless thee, Old Year, Old Year.

With thy best gifts in thy hand, Old Year!

Dying while blessing the land, Old Year!

Welcoming Christians again, again.

Joyous Old Year, how we loved thee, then!

Softly thou com'st in the night, New Year!

Robed all in pure virgin white, New Year!

Deeds all unknown of shall fill thy days.

Songs now unheard of will sound thy praise.

Meeting, we fear thee almost, New Year, Welcome might sound like a boast, New Year When thou art old, like the year just past, Then let us bless thee, New Year, at last.

{491}

Translated from the Civilta Cattolica.

THE RELIGIOUS STATISTICS OF THE WORLD.

1. NUMBER OF CATHOLICS IN FIVE DIVISIONS OF THE WORLD.

2. CLa.s.sIFICATION OF THE INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH AFTER THE DIFFERENT RELIGIONS.

3. PROGRESS OF CATHOLICITY IN GREAT BRITAIN.

4. IN HOLLAND.

5. IN THE UNITED STATES.

6. MISSIONS OF ASIA.

7. ITALIAN MISSIONARIES.

I. Let us, at first, take a comprehensive view of the number of Catholics scattered over the globe. In this very year some writers have limited their number to _one hundred and fifty millions_, with the remark that the figure is rather above a real census. Mr. Balbi, a writer of fame in statistics and in geography, gave, as far back as 1827, in his work published in Paris, his own estimate of the various populations of the world, cla.s.sifying them under the heading of Religions Professed; and, according to his calculations, he allotted to the Catholic Church only _one hundred and thirty nine millions_(139,000,000), his figures exceeding those of many geographers who had preceded him. The _eleven millions_ by some authors allowed this day to the Catholic denomination, are rather a rest.i.tution than an augmentation. The former reckoning was a mistake, and new statistics, when accurately put together, have exhibited a far larger number both of inhabitants and of Catholics. But we still take this rest.i.tution as very inadequate. From an accurate investigation of the matter, we aver that the _minimum_ of Catholics, over the world, amounts to _two hundred millions_ (200,000,000). To afford the reader the means of testing the accuracy of our opinion, we shall here give the number of Catholics found in the different states of every part of the world. We have taken for our guide official statistics, either civil or ecclesiastical, whenever we could obtain them, or, otherwise, statements of modern geographers and of most trustworthy national writers. We have only omitted such fractions which were under _five hundred_ (500); but when they were above the _half thousandth_ we have set them down at _one thousand_. Thereby, in a computation, which cannot be but approximate, omissions will counterbalance the additions, and the final result will not undergo any material change.

Let it, moreover, be borne in mind that we have not been actuated by any desire to attain large figures. We have only aimed at fixing the surest, or, at least, the most probable amount. Thus, for example, we have accepted only _six hundred and ninety thousand_ (690,000) Catholics for the Portuguese possessions in Africa, although national authors, by no means exaggerating, have reckoned them at _two millions_.

With such preamble, here is the result of our investigations:

[Transcriber's note: View these tables with a fixed pitch font.]

NUMBER OF CATHOLICS.

I. EUROPE.

Papal States 900,000 Two Sicilies 9,500,000 Tuscany 1,900,000 Sardinian States and Lombardy 7,700,000 Modena 660,000 Parma 560,000 Monaco and San-Marino 10,000 Spain 17,000,000 Portugal 4,300,000 Andorra 12,000 Switzerland 1,120,000 Great Britain 7,500,000 France 36,000,000

Carried forward 89,462,000

{492}

Brought forward 89,462,000

Belgium 4,800,000 Netherlands 1,300,000 Austrian Empire 30,000,000 Bavaria 3,500,000 Prussia 7,000,000 Baden 960,000 Brunswick 6,000 Bremen 5,000 Frankfort 12,000 Hamburg 8,000 Grand Duchy of Heese 240,000 Hesse Electoral 200,000 Wurtemberg 580,000 Mecklenburg-Schwerin + Mecklenburg-Strelitz 4,000 Na.s.sau 226,000 Oldenburg 86,000 Lesser Duchies of Sachsen-Weimar, Sachsen-Coburg, Sachsen-Altenburg, etc. 60,000 Lubeck 3,000 Hanover 256,000 Luxemburg 209,000 Saxony 65,000 Denmark 5,000 Sweden and Norway 7,000 Poland 4,000,000 Russia 3,000,000 European Turkey and Montenegro 1,000,000 Greece 100,000

Catholic population in Europe 147,194,000

H. ASIA AND OCEANIA.

Asiatic Turkey 600,000 Moldavia and Wallachia 130,000 Asiatic Russia 100,000 British India 1,100,000 Netherland India 25,000 French India 170,000 Portuguese India, Islands, and Macao 546,000 Spanish India and Philippine Islands 4,750,000 Persia 120,000 Anam 600,000 Siam 25,000 China 1,000,000 New Holland 300,000 Tasmania 40,000 New Zealand 60,000 New Caledonia and adjoining islands 70,000 Sandwich Islands 80,000

Catholic population in Asia and Oceania 9,666,000

III. AFRICA.

Egypt 172,000 Abyssinia 2,000,000 Tripoli, Tunis, and Morocco 30,000 Spanish Possessions 25,000 Canaries 260,000 Portuguese Possessions 690,000 Madeira and islands 260,000 Continental French Possessions 250,000 Reunion and other islands 180,000 Continental British Possessions 30,000 Mauritius and other islands 150,000 Liberia 4,000 Madagascar 10,000 Gallas 10,000

Catholic population in Africa 4,071,000

IV. AMERICA.

United States 5,000,000 Mexico 8,500,000 Guatemala 1,200,000 San Salvador 700,000 Honduras 400,000 Nicaragua 500,000 Costa Rica + Panama 200,000 New Granada 3,000,000 Venezuela 2,000,000 Ecuador 1,500,000 Bolivia 2,200,000 Peru 2,800,000 Chili 1,800,000 Argentine Republic 1,500,000 Paraguay 1,600,000 Uruguay 360,000 Brazil 3,500,000 British Guiana 60,000 Netherland Guiana and Islands 40,000 French Guiana and Islands 305,000 Jamaica, Trinidad, and other British Isles 150,000 Spanish Islands 2,260,000 Danish Islands 34,000 Canada and British Possessions 1,560,000 Hayti 800,000

Catholic population in America 46,970,000

RECAPITULATION.

I. Catholic population in Europe 147,194,000

II. Catholic population In Asia and Oceania 9,666,000