A correspondent writes from Naples: “A Miserere by Mercadante was sung at St. Peter’s Church on March 27th, in the presence of His Eminence the Cardinal Archbishop and his suite, together with the staff of the Conservatoire. The performance was excellent, and His Eminence was kind enough to give repeated indications of his satisfaction. The work contains beauties of the highest order. The audience expressed its wish to hear the Redde mihi and the Benigne fac, Domine repeated.”

So did the audience shout “encore” and “da capo” like the first night claque in our theatres here? I’d be intrigued to know. How can you complain now about concerts during Lent, or about our young singers making their débuts in Paris churches? Ha! Wretched Catholic critics, your antipatriotism makes you blind; you can’t see that we’re little saints!