1. Statement of facts presented [by sir J.C. Hippisley] to the sovereign pontiff p. Pius vii., 1818 [in reference to the Catholics of England and Ireland]. ii. A letter [from sir J.C. Hippisley] to cardinal Litta ... 1818 [in respect of the re-establishment of the Jesuits in England].

"of your contrast, though I may be allowed to profit by the precedent."

After repeated injurious misrepresentations from the pen of Bishop Milner, Sir J. H. could not but feel it incumbent, on his part, thus to guard the public against their tendency, so far as they were obviously connected with the great question, in the issue of which the interests of the State were so deeply concerned. Whether the urgent applications made by Sir J. H. to the Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation of Propaganda Fide, had or had not, at that time, any weight in removing the Veto, which had been twice exercised against Bishop Milner (as himself admits) by that venerable body,-it is not for Sir J. H. to pronounce; it is, however, certain, that Bishop Milner's declared opinion, in this respect, was on the affirmative side of the question, when he first obtained the object of his pursuit ;-but the archives of the Congregation of Propaganda will, probably, be decisive on this subject.

The proceedings of this Prelate, so very different from the course originally pursued by him, having been so long directed to traverse and impede the progress of the best friends of conciliation, Sir J. H. has considered it incumbent on him to advert to the facts, last recited, as more immediately connected with the first head of the investigation of the Committee of Parliament.-The "second head," comprehending the "Regium Placitum," or " Exequatur,"

appears, unfortunately, to be pregnant with greater difficulty; for this prerogative, claimed by the Secular Sovereign, is declared, in the Rescript from Genoa, on the authority of His Holiness, to be of a nature, "which cannot be even made a subject of negotiation,"-that-" it must continually affect the free "exercise of the supremacy of the Church,"-that"it would be criminal to permit, or transfer it, to any lay power,"-and that-" such permission has never any where been granted."-At the same time, it is stated," that, if some Catholic govern"ments assume such rights, this is to be referred to "the abuse, not to the right exercise of legitimate

power, which abuse, the Holy See, to prevent greater evils, is constrained to bear and tolerate, "but cannot by any means approve."

The other Rescript, before mentioned, which was transmitted by the Cardinal Quarantotti, likewise, to Bishop Poynter, adverts to the Parliamentary Bill of 1813, which His Eminence then conceived would shortly become a law of the State-and admits, in reference to the exercise of the "Regium Exequatur," as described in the Bill-" that, since communion with the Head of the Church, in spiritual and ecclesiastical concerns, is not prohi"bited, but the inspection of the Committee regards only matters of civil policy, this likewise ought to "be acquiesced in."-Adding, also," those matters

only shall be kept secret, which affect the internal "tribunal of conscience."

By the term "Committee," His Eminence here adverts, not to the Committee of Parliament, but to certain Commissioners, comprehending Catholic Prelates and Laymen, together with the Lord Chancellor, and one of His Majesty's Secretaries of State, who were to be appointed for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisoes of the Regium Exequatur, when deemed expedient; but, as this Bill did not pass, and great exception was taken to the mode of enforcing the Regium Exequatur, it is probable that whenever Parliament revives the consideration of this subject, its enactments will be more conformable to the usage of other states-as applicable to that particular measure of regulation.

The Cardinal Quarantotti, in delivering his judgment on this question, declares, that," to remove every ambiguity and obstacle, which might impede so "desirable a conciliation,-he had resorted to the "advice of the most learned Prelates and Divines, and, the matters being discussed in a special Congregation," declares, that "the Catholics may, with "satisfaction and gratitude, assent to the Bill.”

It is perfectly well known to the Ministers of His Holiness, that both Rescripts,-namely,-that of the Cardinal Quarantotti, when invested with Pontifical authority in Rome, and that, more immediately emanating from His Holiness, under the signature of Cardinal Litta, from Genoa, were received with little deference, by those who arrogate to themselves

the representation of the Catholics of Ireland :-that, on the contrary, two deputations of remonstrance were appointed; one, indeed, on the part of the Irish Roman Catholic Prelates, respectfully urging their protestations;-the other, from an aggregate meeting of Lay Catholics,-they tell His Holiness, that he has favoured a measure, which would "enable a Protestant government to controul the appointment of our Prelates, against which the "Catholic voice of Ireland has protested, and ever "will protest with one accord;"-and, speaking of His Holiness's acquiescence in the qualified interference of the King's Government in the nomination to the Roman Catholic Prelacies, within the realm, they scruple not, also, to tell His Holiness, that"such concession to our Protestant Prince, or to his "Protestant Ministers, would inevitably destroy the "Catholic religion in Ireland ;"—" and that its consequence would be a general, indignant revolt against the framers or favourers of the detested system, without regard to rank or station."

With such infuriate declarations, these remonstrants approach the venerable chief of their religion, and in such terms they denounce the Rescripts of the Holy See! The elected Deputies, however, declined to offer, in person, the terms, or language of this remonstrance, but suffered their commission to devolve on a man, whose feelings, less nice, and whose zeal, more inflamed, carried him to an excess of

presumption, that called down on him the merited indignation of His Holiness and his Ministers.

But, adverting to the prior Rescript of the Cardinal Quarantotti, which, having in contemplation a law, that the special Congregation had been taught to believe would unquestionably be enacted by the British Parliament, they were thus disposed, in the spirit of conciliation, to acquiesce in the practical application of the measure,-to take the evil with the good,-and to accept conditions of that good, which seemed, though unpalatable, to be inseparable from the benefit itself. In this view, their acquiescence does not seem essentially to be at variance with the spirit of the Rescript from Genoa, which assigns the "prevention of greater evils,”— as a just motive for that acquiescence.

It may be truly said that such municipal ordinances as the "Regium Placitum,” or “ Exequatur," and the "appellate jurisdiction," are wholly inapplicable to the mild spirit of His Holiness's pontificate;-the evidence of history will, nevertheless, but too readily demonstrate that they could not always be regarded as enactments of superabundant caution:-in their practical application, the statesman must ever be guided by the fitness of the occasion; at any rate, as, in the Rescript from Genoa, it is justly observed, it cannot properly be made a subject of negotia❝tion."

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1. Statement of facts presented [by sir J.C. Hippisley] to the sovereign ...