of privations the most important as well as the most humiliating, fully proving, that we held a strict adherence to our sworn truth-a duty which no power on earth could suspend or absolve us from. These imputations on our church, from persons who had viewed her with those long rooted prejudices, which had prevented them from ever examining her doctrines, gave us less pain, most holy father, than the reproaches which were poured on us by some of our own brethren, who ceased not to accuse us as apostates, and ready to sacrifice our faith to the acquisition of worldly advantages, and, for temporal to barter the eternal. Conscious that there was not one amongst us, who would not have turned with disdain and horror from him, who could have proposed to us this impious and foolish traffic; certain that we might render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar's, without ceasing to render to God the things that are God's; and not forgetting, that our divine Master ordered his disciples to fulfil the one as well as the other of those high duties, we were not affrighted by the menaces of those our bosom enemies. And, we have lately with unspeakable joy received from these venerable men, to whom your holiness had in your absence delegated the power of inquiring into, and sanctioning by their approbation, the conduct of the faithful, a rescript, in which, after a full examination, they declare their decided sense of the blamelessness of our conduct, and use the most cordial expressions of respect and thanks to the legislators of our country, who had by the bill, proposed last year in parliament, intended to remove all impediments to the union of British hearts and hands in the common cause, and for the common good of our native land. To the sentiments contained in this rescript, we have given our fullest and most unequivocal assurances of adherence our countrymen, as containing the most decided proof, that no part of our submission to, and union with the apostolic see, can be construed to interfere with our loyalty to our country, and our allegiance to our sovereign; confident that, on the return of your holiness to the free exercise of your apostolic functions, we shall receive the assurance, that these venerable depositaries of your authority, during your captivity, have spoken the genuine and full sentiments of your holiness's paternal heart, towards the faithful of these countries. We cannot, most holy father, contemplate, without emotions of the most lively joy, and sentiments of the most humble gratitude to the great Disposer of all events, and the Giver of all good gifts, the prospect of peace and union among all the nations of the earth, after the long years of misery and oppression which we have witnessed. The restoration of your holiness to that most venerable throne, on which your long tried virtues and sufferings shed a new lustre, is as it were the crown of all these mercies. To our most humble and fervent thanksgivings for these happy events, which have come to pass in a mode which human wisdom could not have foreseen, nor human power compassed; to our prayers, that the inestimable benefits now conferred on us may not be withdrawn from us and our children by our own unworthiness, we add our constant supplications to the throne of grace, for the prosperity and happiness of your holiness. Long, most holy father, may your wisdom guide, and your virtues adorn the church of Christ, over which the divine Providence has placed you! In these wishes, in these vows of your health and felicity, we speak the voice of all Europe; but, as Britons, we feel a peculiar tie of gratitude to your holiness! Against us the peculiar hatred of your holiness's oppressor was directed; the steady and inflexible refusal of your holiness, as the common father of Christendom, to declare war against this country, drew on your sacred head the peculiar vengeance of the tyrant: with what united sentiments of affection and veneration do we now, therefore, approach your sacred feet, and offer our praises, our thanks, and our prayers, for the chief pastor of the church of Christ! Clifford, Chairman, On the 25th of February 1815, the subjoined answer from his holiness was transmitted to the board, accompanied by the following communication from the rev. Mr. Macpherson, agent for the British catholics in Rome. SIR, I HAVE the honour to inform you, that the address of the catholic noblemen and gentlemen of Great Britain, was most graciously received by his holiness, Pius the seventh; and, along with this, I enclose his holiness's answer. I have the honour to be, &c. &c. To Edward Jerningham, Esq. Secretary of the Board of British Catholics. NOTE IV; referred to in page 179. Answer of his Holiness Pope Pius the seventh. To our dear Children, the Catholic Inhabitants of Great Britain. Beloved Children, Health and Apostolic Benediction! THE singular love and high respect towards the see of Rome, which are evinced in every part of the letter we have lately received from you, have not only con firmed, but increased, the constant opinion we enter tained of your piety and religion. Your pious concern for our troubles, and most affectionate congratulations on our return, we have received with the greatest pleasure, and shall ever preserve the recollection of them with a grateful heart. We, on our part, congratulate you, beloved children, that the condition of yourselves, and all catholics in your parts, is also ameliorated. By the integrity of your conduct, and your obedience to the just laws of your country, you have shown that the accusations under which you have heretofore so severely suffered, were calumnies thrown out against the catholics. But, being desirous to further the laudable and earnest desire, with which you are inflamed, of serving your country, not only in heart and mind, but also by active service (consistently as certainly is your resolution with the principles of your religion), the rescript which, during our absence, and the dispersion of our venerable council, was on the sixteenth day of January last issued, and sent to you by our beloved son, the secretary of the propaganda, inasmuch as it turns on a matter of the highest moment, we have given, as you already know, to those of the congregation of our venerable brethren, the cardinals, to whom matters of this nature are usually referred; in order to be examined by them maturely, and ab integro; we, however, entreat you to be persuaded, that in this important matter we shall most willingly comply with your wishes, as far as the dignity, the purity, and the integrity of the catholic religion will allow. As to the rest,-our own attachment to your country, and your conduct in respect to her, make us confidently hope, that you yourselves will experience that humanity, which is the peculiar character of your nation, and which all Europe has lately experienced, in her delivery from the yoke of the most oppressive slavery, chiefly obtained by the wisdom, the wealth, and the arms of England. In the mean time, most beloved children, be particularly careful to avoid every thing which can give the power, to whom you are subject, just causes for blaming you. Promising this to ourselves, from your wisdom and prudence, we most affectionately impart to you our apostolical benediction-a pledge of our special love. Given at Rome, at St. Mary Major, under the DOMINICUS TESTA. NOTE V; referred to in page 180. Copy of a Letter from Cardinal Litta, Prefect of the Congregation de Propagandâ Fide, to Bishop Poynter ; dated Genoa, 26th April 1815. Most illustrious and most reverend lord, YOUR lordship has lately informed me of your speedy return to England, earnestly intreating me, at the same time, to put you in possession of his holiness's ideas respecting the conditions that would be allowed, with a view of enabling the catholics to obtain from the government the wished-for bill of emancipation. His holiness, before whom, in compliance with my duty, I have laid the whole transaction, having been again compelled by the present unexpected conjuncture, to absent himself from Rome before he was able to finish the examination of that affair, which he had begun a long time since, is 4 |