rity I have to adduce on this point. You will, I am sure, receive with due reverence the following decision of your own English Pope, the Rev. Dr. Milner, “There is not a single Prelate" -(says that" faithful expositor of the doc"trines of your Church," and faithful recorder "of the facts with which they are connected" -so he is styled by you)" There is not a single "Prelate in England or Ireland, who is not firmly "resolved to reject the four Articles of the Gal"lican Church, commonly called the Gallican Li“berties. We are very far from finding fault "with the partizans of the Articles, but we "think we see in these Articles the germ of all the present mischief, and, to be brief, we are determined not to subscribe to the Articles."*

* Milner's Supplement to his Pastoral Letter-London, 1809-p. 39. He was at this time, or soon after, the agent and representative of all the Irish Roman-Catholic Bishops. The four Articles of the Gallican Church are here subjoined from Mosheim, cent. xvii. s. 2. part 1.

I. That neither St. Peter nor his successors have received from God any power to interfere, directly or indirectly, in what concerns the temporal interests of Princes and Sovereign States; that Kings and Princes cannot be deposed by ecclesiastical anthority, nor their subjects freed from the sacred obligation of fidelity and allegiance, by the power of the Church, or the Bulls of the Roman Pontiff.

II. That the Decrees of the Council of Constance, which re

And now, Sir, I am afraid I have tired youI feel that I have tired myself. Only requesting you, therefore, to reconcile these " Variations entre les Catholiques," I very heartily wish you good night.

present the authority of General Councils as superior to that of the Pope, in spiritual matters, are approved and adopted by the Gallican Church.

III. That the rules, customs, institutions and observances, which have been received in the Gallican Church, are to be preserved inviolable.

IV. That the decisions of the Pope, in points of faith, are not infallible, unless they be attended with the consent of the Church.-p. 155.

LETTER XV.

Conclusion.-Revival of Jesuits and the Inquisition.Reasonable fears of the Church of Ireland.-Pastorini's Prophecies.-Parting Address to Mr. Butler.

HAVING thus executed my purpose of examining your statement of the doctrines of your Church on the several points enumerated by you, and of endeavouring to vindicate my own Church in the particulars which have been misrepresented, it remains for me only to say a few words before I conclude.

It may, perhaps, be objected, that, although I have disclaimed the intention of writing against "Catholic Emancipation," the main part of what I have said, particularly in my latter pages, has a manifest tendency against that measure. If this be the case, I cannot help it. I have sought only to ascertain what are the real dogmas of your Church; and having executed my purpose, (with whatever success,) I again say, "let the final bearing of those dog"mas on the political question be that, and only that, which truth shall warrant.”

66

In this wish every honourable man, whatever

be his opinions, will readily concur: none more readily, than that Statesman whose authority is most powerful, whose eloquence is most commanding, whose wit is most poignant. Yet we have seen that authority, that eloquence, that wit, exerted to the utmost in giving weight and currency to statements, which are in truth grievously incorrect, but which, whether correct, or otherwise, could not have been examined by him who thus adopted them. Was this to be expected from such a quarter?

But, it may be asked, are you indeed afraid of the Pope? Do you think it probable, that they who have long tasted the sweets of liberty, will ever voluntarily resume the fetters they have broken? For England I have no such fear other dangers may threaten us from this very measure-but from this I trust that we are free. Not that there is any ground of hope that the spirit of Rome is grown at all more tolerant, less ferocious, or less ambitious. declared by its own advocates to be unaltered, and unalterable. The history of ages attests the momentous truth. Twelve hundred years have now passed over the heads of men, since this spiritual tyranny first showed its portentous form during that period, states and empires have disappeared from the face of the earth;

It is

but Rome, Papal Rome, is still the same,still adheres with undiminished zeal to that one subtle, daring system, which, through every variety of power and fortune, it has contrived to cherish, and commonly to advance.

We ourselves have seen it in the most abject state of depression, and have assisted it once more to rear its head, and raise its voice, over the nations which it has enthralled. Has it learned humility and moderation from its fall? Has it not rather sought to re-establish every engine of influence and power, which its means will allow, or the age will tolerate?

The first and favourite act of the late Pontiff, after his deliverance from the bondage of Buonaparte, was to recall the Jesuits from the banishment, to which the common voice of indignant Europe had compelled Clement XIV. to consign them and Ireland was soon chosen as a fit field for the exercise of their activity.*

* See Dr. Doyle's Evidence before the Committee of the House of Lords, p. 388. One of his answers is so very appropriate, that I venture to insert it here.

"Q. How many Jesuits are established at Clongowes, and "when did they first come there? A. They settled there when "I was upon the Continent; so that I cannot tell exactly the

year. The number of Jesuits in it—as I believe they are

Jesuits in a certain way—I do not know, but I believe there