For my own part, I should award it unbounded praise, if I could believe it took its source in a spirit of enlightenment and Christian charity.

I should regard it differently, if I thought it was to be traced to calculations of policy and interest.
The difficulty is to penetrate the secret thoughts of the Sovereign Pontiff; to find a key to the real motive of his tolerance.

Natural mildness and interested mildness resemble each other in their effects, but differ widely in their causes.

When the Pope and the Cardinals overwhelm M.de Rothschild with assurances of their highest consideration, are we to conclude that an Israelite is equal to a Roman Catholic in their eyes, as he is in yours or mine?
Or are we to conclude that they deem it expedient to mask their real sentiments because M.de Rothschild has millions to spare?
This delicate problem is not difficult to solve.

We have but to seek out a Jew in Rome who is _not_ the possessor of millions, and to ask him how he is considered and treated by the Popes.