66

seen it restricted, as every sound purpose of "Government is to be obtained, rather by its augmentation, than by its reduction."

66

Sir J. H. is sensible that the great length of this quotation demands apology, but, as the statement of these facts, in the British Parliament, has given rise to considerable misconstruction and calumny, which have extended even to this Capital, he conceives that he shall meet the efforts of his opponents, on ground equally fair for himself and them, by giving the extract entire, as it relates to the object, and as published, at the time, in the report of the Debate.

66

66

On the same occasion, Mr. Canning, one of the present Ministers of the British Cabinet, pointedly observed, respecting the Society of Jesuits :-" Undoubtedly, that such a Society should be established "in this country, after being abolished in every Ca"tholic state of Europe, is a fact of a very alarming "nature."-And, in a preceding debate, the same Minister, adverting to the intromission of Rescripts from an alien jurisdiction, expressed also his decided opinion, that—" it was a grave, and real source of "just solicitude."

These brief extracts from the speeches of Mr. Canning, are here noticed, inasmuch, as that Minister is justly considered as one of the most powerful supporters of the Claims of the Catholics in the British Parliament. It is not by the recorded opinion,

H

or Parliamentary suffrage, of so inconsiderable an individual as Sir J. H. himself, that this great question can be materially influenced;-but, in giving that suffrage, he has always felt that he had a great duty to acquit, and he has ever performed it, with a single view, to the best interests of his country.— He has also had the gratification to find, that his own sentiments, with regard to the practical intervention of the Crown, have, under all the circumstances of the case, been in unison with the majority of the British Roman Catholic Prelates*;-and he is persuaded, that those venerable persons are not less actuated by sincere devotion to their religion, than by loyal attachment to their country.

It may be ingenuously asked, whether a British subject, with a conscientious deference to the established constitution of the State, can view, without just solicitude, the rise of a Monastic Society, within the realm, possessing, as it unquestionably does possess, an unbounded influence over the minds of those subjected to its rule;-the Society itself, being also bound, by the most unqualified vows of obedience, to a superior, domiciliated in a foreign, and possibly an hostile state?the "General of the Society of "Jesu," is, in fact, described by the Bull of His Holiness, to be resident in Russia, and it is well

* [To the extent, at least, of the suggestions, in the annexed "Sketch of Regulations," taken, by Bishop Poynter, to Rome.]

known that he would not be permitted, in that character, to pass the confines of the Russian empire, nor receive, nor transmit, any mandatory Rescripts, uninspected by the tribunals of that government.

When these captious commentators loudly denounce the statesmen of other times-the Choisieuls -the D'Arandas,-the Pombal's,-the Tanucci's &c.—and, even, attribute all the convulsions of the Christian world, to the extinction of the " Society of "Jesu," and with it all the purest sources of public instruction, there may be found those who will ask, -by whom were the Chairs of public instruction, almost generally, occupied, when those very statesmen, themselves, received the rudiments of their education?

But, it is not from the acts, or opinions of individual ministers,-nor, from ordinances, framed in the hour of public convulsion-that the judicious statesman will be disposed to draw his conclusions, and frame his municipal code.-His researches will not be limited to the arrêts of the French Parliaments, or the Councils of Spain, or of Portugal, under the irritation of polemical collision,-or, of real or imaginary conspiracies.-He will look beyond the fugitive memorials of turbulent times, and will gravely trace the evidence of history, through the pages of every age. As applicable to the present subject, he would not overlook the formidable brief of "Dominus ac Redemptor," which pronounced the dissolution of

the memorable Society,-nor the recent Pontifical Bull" Solicitudo omnium Ecclesiarum,"--which restores it to life and action.-He would carefully observe how far the allegations of the one Rescript, are at issue with the other, and whether the facts, enumerated in the detailed historical Brief, which traces the Society, and its conduct, from its cradle to its maturity, are actually, and essentially controverted by the Bull of reintegration. If his own conclusions, influenced, possibly, by paramount local considerations, should not coincide with the object of the latter Rescript, he must, nevertheless, profoundly respect the purity of the motives which dictated it. His Holiness had seen all that was upright in principle, or dignified in virtue, well nigh exiled from the world, by the stern influence of revolutionary zeal and irreligion. And then, when the storm had overpast-its wreck and its devastation remained!-His Holiness, therefore, contemplating the demoralized state of the world,—and, feeling a natural and just solicitude to restore the wholesome energies of public instruction,-considered the scattered members of that once mighty body of the regular clergy, as the readiest and fittest instruments to effect his humane purpose." Amidst the dangers of the Christian

66

66

Republic," the claims to this end are stated, in the Bull, to have been urgent and incessant, “ pro ejusden Societatis Jesu restitutione, unanimè ferè "totius Christiani orbis consensu instantes."

66

The Society, nevertheless, is scarcely revived, but

a remonstrance against the act, proceeds from one of the most considerable of the sovereigns in communion with the Holy See *;-and, of the many great

[Copy of an official Note from His Excellency the Cardinal Secretary of State, to the Minister of Portugal, at Rome.

Dalle Stanze del Quirinale, 22 Ottobre, 1815.

Il Cardinale Segretario di Stato ricevè la Nota di Vostra Eccellenza dirittagli dai Bagni di Lucca in data dei 24 Agosto, colla quale gli significò di aver ricevuto l'ordine da S. A. R. il Principe Reggente di render noto al Sto Padre, che S. A. R. ha provato la maggior delle sorprese nel vedere, che S. Santità abbia ripristinato la Compagnia di Gesù, aggiungendo, che S. A. R. è assolutamente determinata a conservare in tutto il suo vigore l'Alvard dei 3 di Settembre 1759, che proscrisse la Compagnia in Portogallo, e che non committerà mai negoziazione alcuna su' quest' oggetto diretta, o indiretta, verbale o in scritto, avendo fermamente risoluto di mai ricevere nei suoi Dominj la suddetta corporazione.

Il Cardinale scrivente si fece un dovere di portare tutto ciò alla cognizione di S. Santità la quale alla occasione del ritorno di V. Eccellenza a questa capitale gli ha ordinato di risponderle che il suo cuore ha provato una viva afflizione nel vedere il sinistro aspetto in cui S. A. R. considera questa ripristinazione.-Il S. Padre non ha proceduto a questo passo, che in forza delle moltiplici, e vivissime rappresentanze che gli sono state continuamente avanzate per rimettere in piedi la Compagnia di Gesù, designata col voto presso chè universale dei suoi popoli, non meno che di quelli di altri stati, come la più atta ad istruire la Gioventù, e a somministrarle i spirituali soccorsi, ripetendo dalla di lei soppressione l'origine di tanti mali. Se il Sto Padre, cedendo a così energiche, e non interrotte rappresentanze ha ripristinato la Compagnia, ristabilendola nei