I Have spoken to our Holy Father (Benedict XIV.) of the opposition you meet with, and his expressions were, that, the more you suffer for the sake of Justice, the more precious you will be in the sight of God, and of all men who are animated with his righteous pirit. He will address a brief to you himself, which must support you, and prove to your enemies that nothing reprehensible is to be found in your works, neither respecting opinions nor morals; and the only thing in the least to be found fault with, had no other object but certain priviledges of the Holy See. He will likewise write to Cardinal Quirini, who seems to be prejudiced against you in the article of the Festivals, which you desire to have retrenched; and [ am persuaded that, notwithstanding the zeal with which his Eminency is devoured, he will yield to

the

the latter, and resume all thoes sentiments in your favour, which you so much deserve.

As for me, Sir, I shall for ever congratulate myself for having, in some degree, contributed to have that Justice done you which is your due, and in putting a stop to the persecution which was raised against you; and which was the more unpardonable, as nobody stands up so meritoriously as you in defence of our Holy Religion. It is a terrible thing to contend with the hatred of the superstitious. They are not to be got the better of, either by force or leason, because they mistake all the ideas which enter their own brains, for irrefragable truths.

You may always depend upon me as upon yourself, and be persuad d that I never can think my name placed more honourably than at the bottom of this letter, which assure you with what devotion and respect I am, &c.

ROME, 7th Aug. 1748.

LETTER

LETTER CXLVII.

TO THE SAME.

YOU have enriched me in the most splendid and magnificent manner, by the present of your last work. I shall place it in my library so as to have it perpetually in my eye; and read it with such application as shall imprint its contents on my understanding and heart. It is amazing, that invectives against your person and writings should have been uttered from the Pul it; but you must comfort yourself with the reflection, that your censurers are wolves in sheeps' cloathing, and that we know them by their fruits. I would write to you at more length, were it not my destiny to be continually deprived of every thing that gives me more than ordinary pleasure; however, though this letter be contrasted within narrow bounds, I protest to you that none can be set to my respect, for that knows no other limit than my soul, which

will never have an end.

ROME, 22nd Oct. 1748.

LETTER

LETTER CXLVIII.

TO THE REV. F. BAUDIER,

Professor of Theology in the Great College of the F. F. Mineos Conventuals at Turin, and present ex

provincial at Chambery.

I BEG you will be persuaded that I have nothing more at heart than your affairs As to the Thesis which you propose to dedicate to me, I conjure you to think of it seriously before-hand. In the first place, I believe it is not right that your Pupil should make my name appear at the head of his theological conclusions. Secondly, because I cannot serve you so effectually when it is known that I have particular reasons for being engaged in your interest. And thirdly, because I absolutely am not worthy of the honour.

However you may depend upon it, that whatever way you determine, either to execute, or to renounce your project, I shall be equally attached and devoted to you.

I salute all our Reverend Fathers most humbly, and have the honour to be, &c.

ROME, 2nd July, 1749.

LETTER

LETTER CXLIX.

TO THE R. P. CRUTTO, MINOR CONVENTUAL AT TURIN.

I AM excessively confounded when I think of the Thesis, which both the Professor and the Defender condescend to do me the favour of dedicating to me, but I assure you with all possible sincerity of heart, that such an honour should be destined for a different kind of person than I, who am the least worthy of the human race.

I beg of you to acknowledge my obligations to the Rev. F. Baudier and his most worthy pupil, and the rather because it is to you I owe this de-dication. I wish with all my heart that an opportunity would offer wherein I might convince them of my sentiments, and give them a proof, that in every thing which depends upon me, I am at their

service.

I shall never forget that I owe to you the being celebrated in so famous a city as your's, and in a convent which may be called the flower of your province.