[31] _Sacra Congregatio de Propaganda Fide cum comperisset generalem inhibitionem quae continetur in superioribus Decretis non mediocri quandoque incommodo esse, praesertim quum Antistites ob adversam valetudinem ad ea peragenda quae Episcopalis sunt potestatis vicinum aliquem Praesulem accersere coguntur, in gen. conventu habito die 2 Augusti 1819, censuit supplicandum Sanctissimo pro eorumdem Decretorum moderatione, ita ut_ quando rationabili causa vel urgente necessitate Episcopi seu Vicarii Apostolici ad alienas Dioeceses vel Vicariatus se conferunt, possint sibi invicem communicare facultatem Pontificalia exercendi, dummodo tamen semper accedat Episcopi seu Vicarii loci consensus, inviolatumque de cetero maneat residentiae praeceptum. _Id autem Summus Pontifex Pius PP. VII. in Aud. diei 8 Augusti ejusdem anni ratum habuit ac probavit._ NOTICES OF BOOKS. I. _Imagini Scelte della B. Vergine Maria, tratte dalle Catacombe Romane._ [_Select pictures of the Blessed Virgin Mary, from the Roman Catacombs, with explanatory text by Cav. G. B. de Rossi._ Rome, Salviucci, 1863.] The esteem in which the learned on both sides of the Alps and the sea have long held Cav. de Rossi, dispenses us from the duty which we would otherwise gladly discharge, of expressing in his regard our humble tribute of respect and admiration. But as great reputations can afford to do without small praise, we shall rather establish his claim to our readers' gratitude by availing ourselves of his remarks in the work under notice, to the end that we may show how unmistakably early Christian art bears witness to the veneration paid by the primitive Church to the ever glorious Mother of God. Living as we are in the midst of those who revile us for our devotion to our Blessed Lady, it will be most useful to have at hand, conducted with scientific accuracy, a proof of the antiquity of the sacred tradition we follow in this most cherished practice of our religion. Nor is it only among the vulgar herd of Protestants, or in the ranks of bigoted controversialists, that we meet assailants on this point. Even refined and graceful hands play at times, perhaps unconsciously, with weapons which are not the less dangerous because they come upon us by surprise, and wound us while we think but of taking our pleasure in the fair fields of art. Many causes which we will not here recite, have contributed of late years to diffuse among educated Catholics a knowledge of Christian art; but, among these causes, the late Mrs. Jameson's works have had a very wide range. From what table were her books absent? what library was considered complete without them? Who would think of visiting the Continental galleries without first making a preparatory course with the aid of Mrs. Jameson's pages? And upon the whole, all this is a great gain; but it has its disadvantages as well. We do not now speak of Mrs. Jameson as a critic,