Government. When addressing the Regency, he conjures the zeal of the Ministers of Religion; and when speaking to those Ministers, he insults that same religion, by making it a tool to foment the insubordination which it condemns. With the Government he assumes the character of a Delegate of the Holy Father, who is thereby to be supposed incapable of making an ill use of his mission; with the subjects of that Government he becomes an intriguer, a secret agent ready to give them private intelligence of the progress of that disobedience of which he is the promoter, and fosterer. As a Nuncio of his Holiness, he affects an eager desire for the concord of the Empire and the Priesthood; as an Archbishop he strives to burst asunder the only bonds which keep them together.

What might not the nation fear from this foreign Prelate, who, forgetting his dignity and the character of his mission, transforms the representative of the Head of the Church into an agent of petty interests, (very different from those of the primacy of order and jurisdiction which belongs to his Holiness,) into a kindler of feuds which could end in nothing but a civil war? The imagination can hardly encompass the mass of evils to which he has exposed our afflicted nation, by such an unheard-of step. -The letters imply that he had previous notice of the resistance which the Chapter and the Vicars of Cadiz were to make—of the object of those dilatory measures which the Bishops now resident in this town, had agreed to adopt, as well as of other steps which were in contemplation, tending to confirm that resistance, and to spread it over the kingdom. The plan being one, the interest the same, the measures every where analogous, it evidently appears that the effects of the co-operation and support of the Reverend Nuncio must have been fatal to the Representative Body, and to the Govern ment on which the nation reposes its hopes of independence.

The Spanish people are fully aware that the decrees of the Cortes have no other scope but the combined support of the Catholic Faith, and the temporal prosperity of the kingdom. To shake this just conviction, and blast all the hopes which are grafted on it, was the object of those letters, and those injunctions of secrecy with which the most Rev. Nuncio supported the schemes of the Chapter of Cadiz. This illustrious personage has, therefore, been wanting to the rules of his office, to the consideration due to the National Congress, and to the confidence with which a Catholic nation has sheltered him in its bosom; a nation which, now more than ever, requires the most perfect internal union, if she is to hope for success in her struggle with tyranny. He has, besides, done a great injury to the Christian religion, whose interests he pretends to promote by inducing the loyal and peaceful Spaniards to disaffection and resistance, Neither is the offence slight with regard to the Holy Father, whose disapprobation of a conduct so openly at variance with the Gospel, is ensured by his heroic virtues. That man insults the religious principles of the Pope, who can suppose, him capable of asserting, in a foreign kingdom, the pretensions of his Court, nay, even his undoubted rights, by encouraging rebellion amongst the people. This false step of the most ReverendNuncio is one of the greatest evils which the captivity of the Holy Father has produced: to our pious nation: and nothing but the special care of Providence could prevent its fatal consequences. But such has been the loyalty and obedience of the Bishops and the, Chapters of Spain, that they have adopted the apparently uncivil course of not even, answering the Nuncio's letters.

However, this is not enough to appease my mind. The flame which has been quenched so luckily, might be raised at another time, and they might grasp at some

What a lesson is here, and in the next sentence, read to certain titulars!

opportunity of imposing upon the loyalty and exalted piety of our nation ; and I should not be worthy of the trust which that nation has reposed in me, it I did not provide against such danger. What I could not wink at in a Spanish Bishop, I will not suffer in a foreign Prelate, who so ill requires the hospitality and generosity of the Spaniards. I am ready to excuse the errors of what some people are willing to cal policy; but I cannot dissemble to myself that any degree of connivance in this particular instance would be highly criminal, both from the injustice of the act and the ruinous con⇒ sequences which it might bring upon the country.

I bear in mind the unwearied zeal with which our monarchs have defended their own authority against the pretensions of the Court of Rome. The mere suspicion that briefs might contain some doctrines or decrees contrary to the privileges of the Crown, has been deemed sufficient reason to stop their circulation until they are examined and approved by government. Whenever any relaxation appeared to glide in on this point, government has instantly applied a steady hand to stop its progress. Our history prosents very awful examples of this kind which might have been a warning to the Most Reverend Nuncio A Government which has been so jealous of its unalienable rights is now doubly bound to take the most effectual measures against an agent of that same Court, who by means of intrigue and underhand practices, endeavours to promote and organize a religious and political schism, which might endanger the security of the State. These reasons have roused my justice; but, although I conceive myself fully authorised to exercise it on the Most Rev. Peter Gravina, by ordering him out of Spain and seizing his temporalities, I have limited myself to command that the following Royal Decree be transmitted to him; and this for the reasons expressed therein.

Cadiz, April 23, 1813.

(Signed).

L. DE BOURBON,

Cardinal of Scala, Archbishop of Toledo, President

DECREE OF THE REGENCY, ADDRESSED TO THE NUNCIO.

"The Regency of the Kingdom expected that your Excellency, having regard to the public character of a Legate of his Holiness, with which you are accredited to a nation equally heroic and religious, would have kepe within the limits of that character, forbearing to abuse the consideration with which the Spanish Government has continued to acknowledge you in an Embassy, the legitimacy of which was rendered very doubtful by the captivity of the Holy Father and of our King Ferdinand the VIIth, as well as from other circumstances. His Highness relied on the strong motives which might and should have regulated your private conduct. But he has now beheld with surprise the steps which your Excellency has taken on the affair of the I. quisition. When, on the 5th of March, you presented a note to the President and Supreme Council of Beer gency; on that very day, as Archbishop of Nicea, you wrote to the Chapters of Malaga: and Granada, and to the Archbishop of Jaen, exhorting them, especially the two first, to delay, and even refuse their acquiescence in the Decrees which his Majesty had issued concerning the establishment of Tribunals for the defeuce of the Faith, instead of the abolished Inquisition, and for the publication, in the parish churches, of a Manifesto of the Cortes. Your Excellency was not contented with writing such letters as might, through the perversion of public opinion, lead to a schism upou that delicate and important subject:-beside this, your Excellency had the boldness- betray that secrecy which you had recommended in your note, at the same time that you enjoinedā

This sayours not of that slavishness to the papal power vulgarly imputed to Spain.

it to the Chapters and Bishop, in order that they might look upon you as the author of a scheme which tended to stop the exercise of the temporal authorities; and you promised them to transmit intelligence of every circumstance, as it should take place, which might contribute to regulate your combined plans for the future. A conduct so contrary to the law of nations-a conduct by which, overstepping the limits of your public character, your Excellency has availed yourself of the immunity which that character enjoys, that you might, as a foreign Prelate, organize the resistance of those individuals who, by reason of their rank, should be true examples of subordination, cannot be looked upon by his Highness with indifference, much less when you represent that conduct as an important and indispensable service due to Religion, to the Church, and to our Most Holy Father, whose authority and rights, according to the opinion of your Excellency, are wounded by the Decrees in question, without their favouring thereby the Episcopal Dignity. His Highness is horror-struck at the consideration of the fatal consequences which threatened the State, and which naturally must have followed the advice which your Excellency has given, supported as it is by arguments of such an inflammatory nature. But although his office of guardian of the State and defender of religion fully authorised him to order you out of these kingdoms and seize upon your temporalities, his desire of evincing the veneration and respect which the Spanish Nation has always had for the sacred person of the Pope, and the fear of now increasing his sorrows, have dissuaded his Highness from resorting to that measure. His Highness has limited himself to command that the disapprobation of your Excellency's conduct be expressly declared; as also, that he expects that your Excellency will keep in future, within the limits of your mission, without availing yourself again of the opportunity which your character of foreign prelate affords you, to take the same or similar steps; but that all your remonstrances will be made to Government through the medium of the Secretary of State, and your Excellency may be sure, that should you henceforward forget the duties of your charge, his Highness shall find himself in the painful, though absolute necessity, of exercising his full power in the execution of those which he swore to fulfil, when he accepted the high trust committed into his hands.

"Cadiz, April 23.

"God preserve, &c.

"ANTONIO CANO MANUEL."

"To his Lordship the Archbishop of Nicea."

"The reasons which have compelled me to this resolution, and the incontrovertible truths which, as Protector of the Sacred Laws of the Church, I have pointed out in this Manifesto, make me trust, that the worthy Prelates of the Spanish Church, and their respectable Chapters, will contribute, by means of their authority and sound learning, to the fulfilment of the good wishes of the Sovereign Congress and my own, in favour of Religion and the State."

(Signed)

"L. DE BOURBON,

"Cardinal of Scala, Archbishop of Toledo, President.”

"Cadiz, April 23, 1813."

LETTERS OF THE NUNCIO.

1. Most Illustrious Sir.-My most respected Sir.-The Manifesto of the Cortes, the Decree ad tressed to the Bishops for reading it on the three first following Sundays during high mass, and several others relating to the abolition of the Inquisinon, to

which a tribunal is substituted with the title of Protector of the Faith, are on the eve of publication. The Lords Bishops, resident in this town, intend to answer that they dare not take any step upon such an important subject, without consulting their Chapters, and so they will gain time to expose whatever may be deemed fit upon the subject. The Chapter of this Church, sede vacante, grounded on a petition of their Vicars, and other reasons which shall be expressed in their answer, will refuse to execute the Decree. I have deemed it my duty to represent in the name of his Holiness, against the Decress, unless they are previously consented to, or approved by the Pope, or in his defect, by a National Council. I think it necessary to transmit this information to your Illustrious Lordships, trusting that on such an important business you will conform yourselves with the opinion of all the other prelates, doing thereby a great service to Religion, to the Church and to our Most Holy Father, whose authority nad rights are yulnerated, according to my opinion, and that, without favouring the Episcopal Authority. All this, as your prudence will suggest, requires the greatest secrecy; and with the same I will communicate to you every circumstance as it shall take place, that may contribute to direct our proceedings for the future.-God preserve, &c. Most Illustrious Sir, &c.

Cadiz, March 5, 1813.

To the Most Illustrious Dean and Chapter of
the Holy Church of Malaga.-(A Copy).

P. Archbishop of NICEA.

2. Most Serene Lord,-The Nuncio of his Holiness has heard in the greatest bitterness of his heart, that your Highness is on the eve of circulating and publishing the Manifesto and Decree of the August Congress, in which his Majesty declares the tribunal of the Holy Inquisition to be incompatible with the political constitution of the Monarchy, and substitutes another, which may, according to wise and just laws protect the Catholic Apostolic Roman Religion, the only true one, which, exclusively of all others, his Majesty has so piously sanctioned. No one, even among the native Spaniards, feels more respect than I do towards that August Congress, nor will any one exceed my punctuality in obeying its wise commands. But the subject in question belongs to the Church, and is of the greatest importance, and of a very highly important nature, as one in which religion is concerned, and from which it may suffer irreparable injury. A tribunal is about to be suppressed or abolished, which was established by the Holy Father in the exercise of his primacy and supreme authority over the Church, for objects purely spiritual, as the preservation of the Catholic Faith, and the extirpation of he resies; thereby leaving without effect the power which his Holiness had delegated to that tribunal. In such case, and it being enjoined to me by the brief of my legation to make the greatest possible exertion in all things concerning the Catholic faith, and the holy Roman Church; as also to do whatever I may find to be in favour of the Church, and for the consolation and edification of the people, and the honour of the Holy See, I should be wanting to all these sacred duties if, with the greatest respect as well as with the Christian liberty of an Apostolical legate and a representative of the Pope, I did not state to your Highness, that the abolition of the inquisition may be extremely injurious to religion, whilst it actually wounds the rights and primacy of the Roman Pontiff, who established it as necessary and beneficial to the Church and faithful. What can hence forward prevent the diminution of that reverence and submission which all Christians

owe to the decisions of the Vicar of Christ, the visible head of the Church, when in het wery bosom, and during the holy sacrifice of the mass, they shall be told that a tribenal, established, kept up and defended for three centuries, under the sanction of the most severe penalties, by the Popes, is not only useless, but detrimental to religion itself, and contrary to the wise and just laws of a Catholic kingdem ?-If his Holiness were free, at the present moment, I should content myself with giving him notice of this event; but as he is, most unfortunately kept in the captivity which we so much Jament, I find it necessary and indispensable to protest, in his name, against an innovation of such influence in the Church of Spain, and which wounds the rights of the Supreme Pastor of the Catholic Church, the Vicar of Jesus Christ; and trust that your Highness, led by your well known religious feelings, and consummate prudence, will take the most effectual measures in order that the August Congress, which so ardently desires to protect the religion we profess, may be pleased to suspend the execution and publication of their degrees, until, at some more happy period, the approbation of consent of the Roman Pontiff may be obtained, or in his default, that of a National Council, whose peculiar province it is to regulate these religious and ecclesiastica! matters. None of these considerations can escape his Majesty's wisdom, nor can his great piety take it amiss that I, in the exercise of my ministry, and with all the necessary secrecy and due sense of submission, should, through your medium, lay before his Majesty this most humble petition, so intimately connected with the good of the Catholic Church, and especially of the Church of Spain, the happiness of the monarchy, and even the honour and prosperity of his Majesty, which is the object of my most are dent wi hes, as well as of my incessant prayers to Heaven. God preserve, &c, P. Archbishop of NICEA, Nuncio of his Holiness.

(3). Most Ilustrious Sir.-Sir, my most esteemed Brother.-I have thought that if became my office to remonstrate to the Regency concerning the decrees of the august Congress, which are ordered to be circulated and published for the abolition of the Holy Inquisition; and also to give you this information and let you know that the Chapter of this Cathedral, sede vacante, with the approbation of the Bishops resident in this town, are determined not to put the said decrees into execution, without the previous and mature consideration which a subject of such weight demands. I leave it to the wisdom of your most illustrious "Lordship to make use, with due scerecy, of this infor mation, and regulate your proceedings according to what you may deem just. God preserve, &e. Most Illustrious Sir, &c.

Cadiz, March 5, 1813.

To the Most Illustrious Lord Bishop of Jaen.-A Copy.

P. Archbishop of NICEA.

(4). This Letter to the Dean and Chapter of Granada, is similar to that which the Nuncio addressed to the Dean and Chapter of Malaga under the same date.

This is not the first time that the Pope's Nuncio resident in a kingdom has opposed the government, and taken steps destructive of peace, and