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].

adverting to this subject, in the British Parliament, conceived it to be his duty to speak without reserve. But, as the substance of what he there stated, has reached this country in a very erroneous form, he will beg permission to transcribe, from an authentic publication of the Debate, an extract from his Speech, delivered, when he originally moved for the appointment of a Select Committee.

But, in looking to this part of the subject," (Sir J. H. obesrved), "before we give a legal countenance to institutions of monastic dedication, it surely behoves us to examine to what extent the concession is to be made. We have the authority even of the most considerable Catholic States, for "the exercise of caution,—I may say, generally, of "all,—of which I can produce sufficient proofs, in my possession.-Can we look, with indifference, to "the recent proceedings of that once powerful body, "the Jesuits, or rather the ex-Jesuits, with reference to their reputed condition in this country, "whose conduct, at the present hour, is, here, regarded with suspicion, and even considered objectionable by the Prelates of their own commu"nion? I am ready to admit the merits of that body of Catholics, exercised, as they are, in the "secular walk of philosophical and classical instruc

tion-their schools, and seminaries, have been the "most celebrated-and their minds are habituated "to the task. We have such a seminary, highly

protected, and deservedly celebrated, in this coun

"try*;-but, in some respects, their zeal has outstripped their discretion, and must endanger, at "least, ought to endanger, their existence as a seminary of ecclesiastical education, if not checked "in their efforts to step beyond the pale of their "duties. It pains me, to speak in these terms of a

community, comprehending many highly respected "ecclesiastics, and, in the bosom of which, many of

my valuable friends have received their education; "but, I cannot sacrifice a sense of duty to indivi"dual partialities, when a question of this nature is "before the House. I should have preferred, indeed, "to have reserved the statement, connected with "this part of the subject, for the consideration of a "Select Committee; but such a Committee may not "be conceded, although I can scarcely offer a stronger ground for the concession than the ex"istence of the facts to which I allude. I am speaking in contemplation of the English ex-Jesuits, as reviving the original institution of their order, "which, I understand, they are but little solicitous to conceal. The general abolition of the order, by Pope Clement XIV. is well known, but it is not so generally understood, that the Empress of Rus"sia countenanced its re-organization, within her "dominions, and a General of the Order' was appointed, though under marked restrictions, which "suited the policy of that Sovereign. It has been

* [Stonyhurst, in Lancashire.]

"asserted, by some ex-Jesuits, that, since the election "of the present Pontiff, Pope Pius VII. a verbal permission, vivæ vocis oraculo,' has been obtained "for the restoration of the order, within this realm, " and it seems to be generally admitted, that the "Russian General of the Order is acknowledged

by the English ex-Jesuits; if this be the fact, here " is an instance of that actual dependence upon a foreign jurisdiction, which it is our business to "circumscribe, at least, if not wholly to interdict. "We are, at this hour, on terms of amity with "Russia within how short a period, was it other"wise? But this is not all that is objectionable;— "we find that students in divinity, educated in "the college of ex-Jesuits, for the priesthood, are, "from time to time, sent to the Jesuits in Sicily, to "obtain ordination, instead of receiving it, at the "hands of their own national Prelates;-the Pre❝lates, consequently, have, with respect to them, no "responsibility, and, in this view, the practice mili"tates against the principle we are seeking to "establish by the Bill on the table,-namely-by securing the loyalty of the Prelates, who are authorised to receive their functions within the "realm, thence to obtain security also for the loyalty of those who receive ordination at their "hands. I have good authority in stating, that this "procedure, of seeking foreign ordination by the ex

Jesuits, as well as the attempt to re-organize their body, produced an application to the See of Rome, "from certain English Roman Catholic Prelates, for

"information as to the fact, and it is well under"stood, that the restoration was disavowed by the "Cardinal Borgia, when at the head of the Congregation of Propaganda Fide, in his answer to the

application of those Prelates. It should also be "stated, that the Jesuit Procurator-General, Ange"lini*, was sent from Russia to Rome, during the "present pontificate, and, supported by the influence " of the Queen of Naples, obtained the restoration "of the order in Sicily.-But, this spirit of extend❝ing an influence, thus considered so exceptionable, even by Prelates of their own communion, reasoning, as they do, that the restoration of the order must, necessarily, augment the force of prejudice against the whole Catholic body-This spirit, I say, is discoverable in another transaction of the present hour, which may well awaken also our "further inquiries. On the suppression of the order, "the property of the Jesuits was, every where, con"sidered to be the property of the State, and, as "such, assumed, by the respective Governments, "allowing stipends, as annuities, to those of the 'professed,' &c. who survived the abolition. No public act of confiscation, of this description, took place in Great Britain, or Ireland, for, in neither "could Jesuits be recognised, as then having ex

66 6

* [The very exceptionable proceedings of the Father Angelini, respecting a part of the property heretofore belonging to the Scotch College in Rome, will be adverted to in another place.]

"istence within the realm, in contempt of the penal "laws. A considerable sum of money, however, "had been secured by the Jesuits, from the wreck "of their Society, and a sum, amounting to about £.30,000 sterling-has been recently transmitted "from hence to Ireland, for the purpose of being appropriated to the uses of a seminary of edu"cation.

"It is scarcely necessary to insist upon the ob"vious impolicy of countenancing a measure, so opposite to the principle which gave birth to the "institution of Maynooth, where authority is vested "in the great Officers of State, conjointly with "the superior Prelates of the Catholic Communion, to superintend the establishment. What better appropriation can be made of funds arising from "such a source, than to increase the means of the College of Maynooth, in providing a nationally"educated Clergy, to administer to the increased

demands of the great Catholic population of Ire"land? The means annually voted by Govern"ment, are known to be inadequate to supply a "sufficient number of Clergy, to answer the reason"able claims of the increasing population, especially, "for the service of a Church, where the ritual offices are so multiplied, and where the conscientious "scruples of those in communion with it, have also

a just claim to consideration. I own, I cannot "account for the policy, of restricting the means of "the College of Maynooth, in the manner we have

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