: of the clergy promulgated by the national assembly of France, and had been intruded into the sees of the lawful prelates that thus they had contracted the guilt of schism and that, as they never had retracted their adherence to the constitution, or testified any repentance of their conduct, they still were schismatics, and were not therefore members of the church. They further contended, that, even admitting this not to be the case, still, the circumstance whether Pius VII. was or was not in communion with persons who were not members of the church, was not a matter of faith, but a mere matter of fact, and therefore left by the church to the judgment of every individual. Yet,as bishop Poynter had formally pronounced upon it, they conceded that a respectful silence upon it might be expected from them: and this silence they were willing to promise. While they held this language, they took care to mention that they were unconnected with Blanchard, and held none of the positions in his writings which had been censured. Doctor Poynter, however, continued his injunction in force. He transmitted to Rome a full account of his conduct. The pope addressed to him a letter, dated the 16th of September 1818: his holiness expressed in it his full approbation of doctor Poynter's conduct; and ordered him to make this known to the non-subscribing priests. This was done, and the greater part of them immediately signified their obedience to the holy see, and subscribed the formulary*. * See Jugement de l'Eglise Catholique, contre les Nouveaux Schismatiques en France; par un aucun Vicaire Générale. 8vo. Paris, ch. iii. II. As to doctor Poynter's unveiling of retired Ladies. It is impossible not to express both surprise and concern at doctor Milner's patronizing this idle charge, unworthy of him, and unworthy even of the slightest man. The following is the true statement of the circumstance which gave rise to the charge. A few weeks before doctor Poynter set off on his journey to Rome, he applied to government in favour of some distressed English communities, who had taken refuge in this country, for a continuation of the succours, or pecuniary allowance made by the British government to the French emigrant clergy, of which these venerable English exiles had been allowed to participate. On the restoration of Lewis XVIII, France was open to all the emigrants, and the British government signified that the general succours should be discontinued. Upon this, doctor Poynter applied to the government for a continuance of those which had been allowed to the distressed English communities. It was intimated to him, that, in consequence of the recent change of circumstances, it would be prudent, as a temporary sacrifice to popular feeling, that the members of those communities for whom this relief was prayed, should abstain, for a time, from exhibiting to the public their religious appellations, and the external marks of their religious state. Accordingly, on the eve of his leaving England for Rome, doctor Poynter gave instructions to the reverend doctor Rigby, his grand-vicar, and to the reverend John Griffiths, that, if circumstances should appear to render it necessary, they should direct the religious ladies in the London district, who stood in need of these succours, to change their religious dress. In compliance with these directions, doctor Rigby, a few days after doctor Poynter had quitted England, signified this to the ladies whom it concerned.-Such was the "unveiling of retired ladies," about which there was such a silly and shameful outcry at the time when it took place. III. As to doctor Poynter's Patronage of the Bible Society. THE real origin and object of the roman-catholic board, in their publication of a new edition of doctor Challoner's version of the New Testament,—called in this place by a strange misrepresentation,-" The Pa"tronage of the Bible Society," are expressed in the concluding paragraph of doctor Poynter's preface to that version. We shall therefore transcribe it in this place. "With a view of facilitating the means of religious in"struction among the roman-catholics of Great Britain, "the English catholic board, proposes to raise a fund "for the purposes of printing and circulating, at a very "cheap rate, an approved edition of the catholic ver"sion of the sacred scriptures in English, especially "of the New Testament, with notes. It is moreover the "intention of the catholic board, if the fund to be col"lected, be found sufficient for the purpose, to extend "its plan, and to provide means of supplying, for the "benefit of the poorer catholics, cheap editions of the "most approved books of piety and religious instruc❝tion." IV. The Cisalpine Club. SEVERAL accusations have been brought forward by doctor Milner against the Cisalpine Club. He describes it as an "antipapal club,-under fourteen printed rules." The professed object of it is, he says, "to oppose the "alleged usurpations of the pope, and the tyranny of "the vicars-apostolic."-We shall transcribe that resolution of the club which describes its object, and leave the reader to judge, whether doctor Milner's statement of it be accurate. "At a meeting of the Cisalpine club, held on the 8th “of April 1794, the honourable George Petre in the "chair, it was resolved unanimously, first, That the in"stitution of the Cisalpine club arose from the con"viction, as well of those gentlemen who were the original members, as of those who have since been "admitted into it, that it would be highly beneficial to "the interests of the English catholics, that some of "them should from time to time meet, in order to watch "and improve any opportunities that might offer, to "advance their further emancipation, but without the "most distant pretence of assuming to themselves any "degree of power or authority whatever, much less with "any intention of interference in spiritual concerns. " Second, "That the fundamental principle of this club has "ever been, and is their firm and entire adherence to "the protestation* which they in the year 1789 did, in "common with the rest of the English catholics, sign "and present to the legislature as a pledge and test of The story of lord Petre's retractation is entitled to no credit.It amounts, on the face of it, to nothing.—It is possible that his lordship made some declaration, that, if he had said or written any thing contrary to the faith or discipline of the roman-catholic church, he was sorry for it and retracted it. This is no more than what every member of the roman-catholic church should have an habitual willingness to profess:—or more than he in fact professes, when he pronounces, with a proper spirit, the article of the creed, "I believe the holy catho"lic church:"-But such a declaration-if lord Petre made itdoes not amount to an admission, that, he had either said or written any thing contrary to catholic faith or discipline.-This makes the difference. "their loyalty to the king, and to the established con"stitution of their country: an instrument which they "consider as the bond of reconciliation between them "and their protestant fellow-subjects; the basis, under "Providence, of that relief which they lately received; "the foundation of their future hopes, and to which they "are happy thus again solemnly to declare their full and "determined adherence. Third, " "That this club did assume the name of Cisalpine "as a mark of their opposition to those encroachments "of the court of Rome on the civil authority, against "which their catholic ancestors had been obliged repeatedly to guard, and their abhorrence of the doc"trines of the deposing and dispensing powers of the << pope, as stated and disclaimed in the protestation; "doctrines which have, for above a century, been dis"tinguished by the names of Ultramontane and Transalpine." WHEN all the catholic prelates of England, (excepting doctor Milner), and all the catholic prelates of Scotland, were assembled at Durham, in 1811, the writer addressed to Dr. Poynter,―desiring him to communicate it to the other prelates,-a letter, of which, so far as it respects himself, the following is a literal extract: "My Lord, "Understanding your lordship is likely soon to meet "Dr. Gibson, Dr. Collingridge, and Dr. Smith, I beg "leave to trouble your lordship and them with the fol"lowing declaration. I make it upon the honour of a " gentleman, and with all the sincerity and solemnity, "with which a Christian should make a declaration of "the kind. |