NOTE II; referred to in p. 179.

Letter of Monsignor Quarantotti to Dr. Poynter.

1. Copy of a Letter from Monsignor Quarantotti to Dr. Poynter, V. A.; dated Rome, 16th Feb. 1814.

Most illustrious and right reverend Lord,

WITH great pleasure we have learned, that a bill for the emancipation of the catholics of your flourishing kingdom from penal laws, which was proposed in the last year, and lost by a small minority, may probably be again presented in this session of parliament. It is our ardent wish, that this act, so much desired, may at length be passed; and that the catholics, who have ever given such distinguished proofs of their obedience and fidelity, may at length be delivered from the heavy yoke by which they have so long been oppressed: and that, without any detriment to their honours or estates, they may give full scope to those exertions, which both religion and the good of their country require of them : And this may be surely expected from your most beneficent sovereign, and from that illustrious nation, which on former occasions, and especially in these latter times, has acquired so much glory in the estimation of the whole world for its equity, prudence, and other virtues. And since it has been represented, that among the bishops certain questions and differences have arisen, relative to the conditions on which the catholics are to be placed on an equality with their fellow-subjects, We, who, in the absence of the supreme pastor, are placed over the concerns of the sacred missions; and, for that purpose, are invested with full pontifical powers, have thought it incumbent on us to remove every ambiguity and obstacle which might impede so desirable a con

ciliation; and by the authority and consent of the holy see, to supply such faculties as do not come within the ordinary limits of episcopal jurisdiction, Having, therefore, taken the advice of the most learned prelates and divines, having examined the letters which have been transmitted to us both by your lordship and the archbishop of Dublin: and the matter having been maturely discussed in a special congregation, it is decreed, that the catholics may, with satisfaction and gratitude, accept and embrace the bill which was last year presented for their emancipation, in the form in which your lordship has laid it before us. One point only requires some explanation; and that is, the second part of the oath, by which the clergy is so restrained, as not to be permitted to hold any correspondence with the sovereign pontiff and his ministers, which may, directly or indirectly, subvert, or in any way disturb the protestant government, or church. It is evidently, by divine authority, the special duty of the ministers of the church every where to propagate the catholic faith (the only faith which can lead to eternal felicity), and to refute erroneous doctrines. This is taught by the precepts of the gospel, and by the example of the apostles and their successors. Now, should a catholic convert any protestant to the orthodox religion, he might be deemed guilty of perjury; as, by such conversion, he might seem, in some sort, to disturb the protestant church. Understood in this sense, the oath cannot lawfully be taken, as being repugnant to the catholic faith. If, on the other hand, it be the meaning of the legislatorsthat the ministers of the catholic church are not forbidden to preach, instruct, and give counsel, but are only prohibited from disturbing the protestant church or government by violence and arms, or evil artifices of whatever kind, this is just, and entirely consonant to our principles.

To you, therefore, it belongs, with all humility and earnestness, to supplicate the high court of parliament, that in order to quiet and secure the consciences of the catholic clergy, it will affix some modification or declaration to this clause in the oath; which, removing every ambiguity, may leave them the liberty peacefully to preach and to persuade. In case the bill be already passed, containing the same words, or that nothing in it is allowed to be altered, let the clergy acquiesce; and it will be sufficient for them publicly to declare, that this, and this only, is the sense in which they have sworn to it, so that nothing in the oath may be adverse to orthodox doctrine; and, that this protest may be generally known, and be for an example to posterity, this construction of it shall be publicly recorded. It were to be wished, likewise, if it can be obtained, that a declaration should be made by some of the members of parliament, that government requires the oath from the catholic clergy in this sense, and no other. Other clauses, which you mention as contained in the same bill, may be submitted to by the indulgence of the apostolic see.

That the king should desire to be certified of the loyalty of such as are promoted to a bishopric or deanery, and should be assured that they are endowed with such qualities as become a good subject; that, to investigate these particulars, he should likewise appoint a committee to inquire into their moral conduct, and make a report to his Majesty, as your lordship has given us to understand is the case; that for this very same reason, the king should require that foreigners, and those likewise who have not resided five years in the kingdom, should be excluded from such dignities;-all this, as it regards only what is within the competence of civil authority, may be deserving of every toleration. It is highly proper that our prelates should be agreeable and acceptable to

the king; that they should exercise their ministry with his full consent; in fine, that their probity should be evident even to those who are not in the bosom of the church. For a bishop (as the apostle teaches, 1st epistle to Timothy, iii. 7.) should have a good report of them who are without. On these accounts, by the authority vested in us, we allow that those who are designed for a bishopric or deanery, and are proposed by the clergy, be admitted or rejected by the king, according to the proposed bill. Therefore, after the clergy have, in the usual manner, chosen those whom they shall have judged in the Lord to be worthy to be exalted to those dignities, in Ireland the metropolitan of the province, in England and Scotland the senior apostolical vicar, shall announce them to the committee for the royal approbation or dissent. If the candidates be rejected, others shall be proposed, who may be pleasing to his Majesty; but, if approved, the metropolitan or apostolical vicar, as above, shall send the act of their election to this sacred congregation, which, having weighed with care the merits of each individual, shall apply to the sovereign pontiff for canonical institution. We observe likewise, that it is the office of the said committee to examine any letters which are sent to any of the clergy of Great Britain from the ecclesiastical powers, and diligently to inquire whether any thing be contained therein which may be obnoxious to the government, or in any way disturb the public tranquillity. Since communication with the head of the church in spiritual and ecclesiastical concerns is not prohibited, but the inspection of the committee regards only matters of civil policy, this likewise ought to be acquiesced in. It is good that the government should not entertain any suspicion concerning our communications.

What we write can be laid open to all; for in no way

directed to those things only, which appear to be required by the divine and ecclesiastical law, and by the salutary regulations of church discipline. Those matters only shall be kept secret, which affect the internal tribunal of conscience: but for this we see it is sufficiently provided by the clauses inserted in the same bill; and we are well persuaded that your wise government, while it is intent on preserving public security, will, by no means, exact that the catholics should depart from their religion; nay, is rather pleased that they faithfully adhere to it; for this holy and divine religion is friendly to public authority, gives stability to thrones, and makes subjects obedient, faithful, and emulous of their country's welfare. Nothing, therefore, can be more gratifying and delightful to the apostolic see, than that between the government and its catholic subjects there should exist an entire concord, and a mutual confidence; that the ministers of the state should never be able to doubt their loyalty, obedience and attachment; and that the catholics themselves should be devoted to their country, with every effort of zeal, candour and alacrity. We therefore exhort all, in the name of the Lord, and especially the bishops, to lay aside contention; and, for the edification of others, unanimously to adopt the same sentiments, that there may be no room for schism, nor any injury be done to the catholic cause: but that, if the bill shall be passed, by which the catholics shall be freed from the penal restrictions by which they are new held, they not only embrace it with entire satisfaction, as has already been said, but express the strongest sentiments of gratitude to his Majesty and his most august council, for so great a benefit; and by their conduct, prove themselves worthy of it. In conclusion, We request of your lordship, that you will cause this letter to be communicated to all the bishops and apostolical vicars in the kingdom; and, trusting