his order) was crowned in the balcony of hoisted with such exaltation; and, content St. Peter's, amidst the waving of peacocks' with this triumph, the mob made no effort feathers, the rolling of drums, and the sal- to force the barricades with which he had voes of artillery, which, repeated along the fenced his official dwelling, not very prucoast of Italy to that of France, and from dently, perhaps, as they seemed rather to thence to Spain, announce to the Catholic invite the attack which they could not cerworld that its new chief has been conse- tainly repel. crated, and has showered his blessing "on The discontented of the Roman and the city and on the world." It was on other states had lent a ready audience to kneeling thousands that he bestowed his the emissaries of Revolution from Paris; first benediction: on the altar of St. Peter's but the language which the French king he accepted the homage, and granted and and his ministers whispered into the ears of received the kiss of peace from the cardi- royal ambassadors differed widely from that nals, his brothers and first subjects. He of these apostles of mischief, and even from was carried, in snowy robes and with the the speeches which they themselves as yet tiara on his brow, through the spacious now and then found it necessary to utter. aisles of St. Peter's to the majestic palace The Italians were deceived; they were of his predecessors. The procession passes again the dupes of treachery, and experibefore the Clementine chapel; the priest enced the fate of those patriots who trust advanced from the altar, and dropped a to foreign aid for what their own right lighted match on a heap of prepared flax; hand should accomplish. The Pope, in a brilliant flame blazed up for a moment:- the helplessness of his terror, applied for "Sancte Pater, sic transit gloria mundi." assistance to Austria. The tranquillity of The peace of Gregory was as evanescent. Italy is so important to that power, that The first sound that disturbed the slumbers any risk must be run in maintaining it. of gratified ambition was the news of the The ill-timed appearance of some of the revolt of the provinces and the rebellion of younger members of the Buonaparte family Ancona; these events preceded the accus- in the rebel camp gave the desired excuse tomed donatives and the usual acts of for intervention. The Austrians passed the grace with which all reigns commence. Po; the rebel bands dispersed before them, Whatever were the faults of Gregory, he and several of their chiefs found it neceshad as yet had no opportunity of exhibiting sary to hasten their negotiations at Rome them. It was not a sense of wrongs that for pardon and reward on the surrender of incited revolt—it was the hope of support their secrets. The Austrians now assumed from France. The facility with which a the plausible attitude of protecting the pagreat monarchy had recently been over-pal rebels from the wrath of their offended thrown, gave confidence to the discontented sovereign. A double end was served; of every country, while it disturbed and was in accordance with the humane policy terrified all established authority. The of Vienna, and it placed the imperial Gopapal rebels were as timid, however, as the vernment in advantageous opposition to papal generals that opposed them. They that of the Pope. We well remember the might have marched on Rome and ended the cordial reception that was given to the white war; they wasted time in idle manoeuvres, uniform in Bologna and at Ravenna, and and lost the confidence of their partisans by the undisguised and unchecked insults to silly negotiations. The Bishop of Rieti which the papal troops were exposed. armed a cohort of his peasantry, defended The appearance of the Buonapartes on the walls of his city, and worked a diver- the scene had startled Louis Philippe, and sion. Meantime, the Roman populace, effectually revived his old aversion to Italiexasperated against their untried Pontiff's an liberalism. His position at home, howenemies, assembled in tumultuous troops ever, demanded some appearance of interaround his coach whenever he appeared, vention; and French vanity was gratified and frightened him with their boisterous by the semblance of success in the piratical zeal, hardly less than the threats of the occupation of Ancona. The Pope protestinsurgents. The French were everywhere ed, and his protest was disregarded; it insulted; but the students of the Academy was not at first that he perceived the admade themselves peculiarly obnoxious by vantage he could reap from this proceedthe haste with which they had mounted the ing: subsequently he availed himself of it tricolor-flag; their martial president was to the utmost. The Austrians were obligforced to withdraw the emblem he hadled to renounce their claims to those sub

this

sidies and indemnifications which the French of this, he fled to Castle Gandolfo with his did not demand. And in spite of Ancona, immediate attendants, and drawing a corand the picture of that splendid triumph don round that residence, remained inacordered from Horace Vernet for the Gallery cessible to all, while the exhausted excheof Versailles, the disaffected soon discover- quer was further taxed for a large sum daily ed that French diplomacy would support expended in an anti-pestilential machinery. the authority of the Pope at home, and his The demon of fear seemed to possess his independence abroad, should Austria at- mind. The lofty walls of the Vatican tempt to dictate her will in accents too gardens were raised still higher, and surhaughty. rounded by movable battlements. The

A breathing time ensued. The great secret passage or " Cavalcavia," that condifficulties that Gregory had now to encoun- nects the Vatican with the castle of St. ter were fiscal. He was assisted, though Angelo, was reopened and prepared for sparingly, by the Church. Three lay com- immediate use, in case Gregory, like another missioners, men of influence and practical Clement, should ever require a retreat more knowledge, were invited to examine into secure than his fortified palace within the the financial condition of the country, to capital.

report upon it and suggest a remedy. The More tranquil days returned; the persoplan proposed by these gentlemen would nal fears of the Pope were assuaged; but instantly have relieved the Pope from his his dread of reform and innovation, his most pressing difficulties; the regular clergy aversion to business, and his general indowith whom much capital lay dormant, were lence remained undiminished-a disposition to be amerced in a large contribution. The naturally timid grew more timid still. project was submitted to the Sacred Col- Feeble by advancing age and by habits of lege; it was approved, but, at the same self-indulgence, he abandoned the cares of time, unhesitatingly rejected. The Pope government to officials and subordinates, himself, if the love of his order could have and the patronage of it to his valet-deslumbered, was fully alive to a hint that chambre. The ministers in every departthe fate of Ganganelli might be his if the ment were men from whom the Pope thought wrath of the conventual clergy were excit- he had nothing to dread, and from whom ed. From that moment he became the de- the people had nothing to hope-men equaltermined opponent of all extraordinary ly devoid of birth, of talent, and of honesty plans of taxation. The regular clergy, the creatures of the valet-men who had however, contributed something, and Cardi- paid for their office, who were interested nal Bernetti, the Secretary of State, a man in the maintenance of abuses, who hastened of expedients, found no difficulty in raising with utter shamelessness to secure their a loan the terms of which were so advan- fortune, admonished by the failing health tageous, however, to the lenders, that the of their patron that the time was short. minister's integrity did not escape suspi- Such was the state of confusion which cion. Torlonia and the Jew Rothschild Pius IX. was called on to remedy; but were hailed as the saviors of the state; it the task was difficult and displeasing. He was with this title that the Pope received saw more ill than he could amend, and his and embraced his wealthy subject. good feelings made him loathe to punish Under the joint protection of France and the culprit, even where he could effect no Austria the Pope might repose in security, remedy without doing so. The act of amand resume those habits of indolence that nesty with which he began was too general constitute the charm of the cloister. But to be just, and a measure, at best, of very the vials of wrath were not yet poured out. doubtful prudence: he was rewarded, Pestilence and famine were in store. however, and stimulated onwards, by the Had His Holiness possessed those meek applause of thousands. The corruption of virtues which by some are supposed to be- the state demanded reform, but true reform long to the cloister, he might now have is slow and cautious. The freedom of the exhibited them. If he could not head ar- press extorted rather from his weakness mies or unravel conspiracies-if he possess than from his judgment, soon produced deed not the talents of a financier or legisla- plorable effects. The periodical publicator, he could at least afford an example of tions revelled in the newly acquired license, piety and self-devotion. He could offer up and neighboring powers were irritated by his prayers for the general safety-he could the daily repetition of their malignant and watch over the welfare of his flock. Instead unjust attacks. Another measure, pregnant

with danger, was the organization of the " Agro Romano" and the "Commarca" civic guard; this body, though inspiring no may be said to come within the same cateterrors to the Austrian Grenadier, may gory. The remoter provinces of the Church, successfully overawe the native government. though claimed in right of donations and Several of his acts have already proved bequests, were all in fact acquired by conthat the Pope has doubted of the wisdom quest and usurpation, by the spoliation of of those early measures; but how can he princes and governors, and in direct defirecede-how consent to endanger his dearly ance of the known wishes of the people ;prized popularity? One of his own minis for no government was less popular in the ters, in former days considered as a hot Jaco- middle ages than that of the Church--none bin, has not hesitated (in the society of was exposed to more frequent rebellions, Englishmen) to lament the failure of re- and in these repeated struggles all popular peated efforts to establish something like a rights were trampled on by the victors. Conservative press for the counteraction of In the vast territory included in the sufflagrant calumnies of every sort-a most ficiently questionable legacy of the Countess complete failure-never was one-sided im- Matilda the claim of the Church in former pudence more triumphant! Another capi- times was seldom denied, though its juristal error is having invited " boards " of diction was always resisted. The Pope, his subjects to suggest schemes of adminis- often an exile, and invariably struggling tration, and to write pamphlets on political with the numerous enemies of his temporal reform. We pay the Pope the compliment rule, was most frequently unable to enforce of believing him the most enlightened man his right, and, if for a time he gained miliin his dominions, and we certainly know tary possession, he was obliged to delegate of none that can counsel him The Re- his powers to counts, marquises, and apospublicans smile. "Let him alone," said a tolic vicars, who ruled despotically and in noted reformer in a foreign country; "he utter defiance of the papal rescripts. Tois doing our work-give him but a reign of wards the close of the fifteenth century the ten years and he will be the last Bishop of Romagna was overrun by Cæsar Borgia, Rome having temporal power. " and, with his father's sanction, formed into It should be borne in mind that the Ro- a principality, to be hereditary in his famiman government has hitherto been equally ly. After the ruin and flight of that artful despotic in form and in principle; that no adventurer, his acquisitions were annexed provincial or municipal assemblies existed formally by the warlike Julius to the imto form the nucleus of a great council. No mediate dominion of the Church, to which, national spirit or character pervades the in spite of occasional rebellions, they have heterogeneous realm-made up of posses- since remained attached, and now, under sions to hardly one of which anything like a the name of the Legations, still continue to decent title can be shown. The donation furnish those resources by which the governof Constantine to St. Sylvester, though ment is maintained The Duchy of Spoleto, ridiculed by satirists, and dropped by the which contained several independent repubpapal jurists, is the only charter that can be lics and principalities, continued till long adduced for the possession of Rome itself, after to enjoy its freedom. It was Paul III. and the "patrimony of St. Peter "* The who conquered Perugia, and Città di CasThe patrimony of St. Peter comprises the coun- tello was usurped from the Vitelli in the try that lies between the right bank of the Tiber following reign. The duchy of Ferrara was (including the Vatican basilica and the quarter seized at the close of the sixteenth century called the Borgo) and the mountains of Tuscany;

of this district Viterbo is the principal city; and by Clement VIII., and the little duchy of the Campagna di Roma is comprehended in it. Urbino was added in the seventeenth. The "Agro Romano" extends between the sea, With this last usurpation, the territorial the mountains, and the left bank of the Tiber. The acquisitions of the Church cease. What "Commarca" is that beautiful hilly region which overlooks Rome, from the Sabine hills to those the system of clerical government was, which form the boundary of the kingdom of Naples. the grass-grown streets of Ferrara and the Though these districts formed the earliest posses- deserted heights of Urbino declare-but sions to which the Church lays claim, they were this is not our present purpose. parcelled out among numerous feudal lords, both temporal and spiritual, who exercised independent possessions, though claimed by the Pope as authority, and set the pope at dehance. In the pa- a right, were conquered by arms, and he trimony the most powerful barons were the Orsini; thought himself at liberty to establish any while the Colonna, the Conti, and the Savelli, por form of government he pleased. An untioned amongst themselves the practical sway of mixed despotism was invariably preferred,

the Agro Romano and the ad arent hills.

These

in which all power was removed from the of all power, had never the advantage of laity and lodged with the clergy alone, and seeing a member of their families raised to the provinces were henceforward to be go- the papal throne. The jealousy that their verned by cardinals, delegates, and gover- rank and wealth excited, always secured nors responsible only to their ecclesiastical the preference of a foreigner, and the Baremployers. berini, Buoncompagni, Borghese, Chigi, The claims of the court of Rome to su- and Corsini, though Italians, were natives premacy were, and would be again, un- of foreign states. The love of their colbounded; though at times suffered to laterals, to denote which the word nepotism slumber, they have never been resigned; was invented, and which distinguished they have constantly been revived when the these princes, has peopled Rome with a nomoment was thought propitious. The bility wealthy, but not of the country, and charge of Christ to Peter gave the care of often possessed foreign estates to divide the whole human flock to the Church; upon their allegiance. It is to this class of perthis warrant the Popes distributed the vast sons, generally speaking, that those magcontinents of America between Spain and nificent palaces belong, which strike the Portugal-they certainly possessed no stranger with so much astonishment when other. But within his own oldest dominions he first visits Rome, and which have in fact it is easy enough to show that the absolute been built by sovereigns who taxed the power of the Pope is of modern establish- world to support their splendor. ment. In his own capital even, before the The real right of citizenship in Rome is close of the Western schism and the restora- confined to a few. The "Trasteverini," tion of the seat of government to Italy, his or dwellers on the right bank of the Tiber, sway was divided, first by the prefect, who boast themselves the only legitimate deswore fidelity to the Emperor, and after- scendants of the ancient Romans, and make wards with the noble on whom, with the good their claim by their baughty and intitle of Patrician, or Senator, the adminis- subordinate bearing. The Montagnoli, or tration was conferred. By degrees, how- inhabitants of the Viminal and Esquiline ever, the struggle for power terminated in hills, are principally descended from the the victory of the Popes. The office of country-people who sought refuge in Rome Senator, at first so important, became at during the barbarous ages, and these emulength a costly pageantry-an honorary dis- late the Trasteverini in ignorance, in bigottinction that the Pope conferred on illus- ry, and in lawlessness. It is with this class trious foreigners. The Sixtus V., one of of his subjects that the Pope is ever most the most remarkable sovereigns who have popular, whether, like Gregory, he seeks to ruled in Europe, the merit is due of con- stem the torrent of innovation, or whether, solidating the States of the Church, estab- like Pius, he hopes to guide it. In these, lishing a system of government, and at last however, centres the nationality of Rome. curbing the license of the nobles. But the They are its true types. Handsome in perchange went far beyond diminishing their son, picturesque in attire, they pass the day feudal authority. From this period they in idleness, muffled in cloaks and basking began to abandon the country and to fix in the sun in winter, lying asleep on their themselves permanently in the capital, faces in the shade in summer, and seldom where they were deprived of the shadow of rousing themselves but to drink in the power or influence. The Roman senate wine-shops and gamble with their comrades. (the consuls were yearly chosen from this Desperate quarrels are the consequence of body, and their names inscribed on the this life, and assassinations have never "fasti," that commence with Junius Bru- been scarce. The neighboring church affords tus) was composed of a certain number of a safe asylum, where the criminal remains families, long established in the city, who till he can effect his escape, if he is not rich boasted themselves the genuine nobility of enough to purchase his peace from the kinsRome; but while to their tribunal were men of his victim-unless indeed these last submitted the most trivial cases only, all can procure the order from the Grand Penireal power was concentrated in a prelate tentiary to seize him within the sacred prewho ruled with the title of "Governor of cincts.

Rome," a dignity which he could only ex- An intermediate class there is between change for that of a cardinal. The Savelli, the noble and populace. This, the Colonna, Orsini, and Caetani, the ancient" mezzo ceto," consisting of unennobled untitled" Baroni Romani," while deprived proprietors, merchants, lawyers, and physi

1

cians, is the class amongst which the advo- | particular merits) we must consider equally cates of reform are principally to be found, insolent and impolitic. and which has been represented sometimes, by those who are not familiar with it, as more intelligent and more respectable than the class of superior rank. There are besides a great many foreigners resident in Rome, together with a mixed population, composed of pensioners of the Church and of the higher nobles, of denizens, of refugees, and of a poorer sort of strangers, who come to the capital to follow those trades and perform those menial offices which the Romans are too proud to do for themselves. Such are the heterogeneous materials of which the population is composed. The most invincible prejudices exist, among all these classes-prejudices which have never yet been eradicated, which forbid amalgamation, and frustrate all hope of constitutional government.

Hitherto the whole scheme of polity had been to monopolize every branch of administration in the hands of the priesthood, and it was by the watchful care of this monopoly that the state had been enabled to exist. Pius IX. assailed this systemand in doing so, we suspect he has evoked a spirit that neither his power nor that of his successors will be able to lay. We do not for a moment doubt that the public business will be as well conducted by laymen as by priests :-but how long will the lay ministers, governors, and magistrates be in discovering that it becomes them not to receive orders from an aged pontiff and an impotent presbytery? It is the opinion, we know, of many fervid Romanists, that if any method of preserving his independence could be discovered, the head of their Church would be more powerful without a territorial dominion at all-that he would be less under the influence of his great neighbors, and his attention would be more exclusively bestowed on ecclesiastical affairs. These, therefore, are surveying passing events, with feelings into which we cannot enter. But, moreover, of Pius IX., in his capacity of head of the Church, we have observed still less to admire than in the administration of his temporal affairs. In the latter we give him full credit at least for the purest intentions :-but in his ecclesiastical capacity in Belgium and in Switzerland he has exhibited all the selfishness and arrogance of the Vatican at its worst period, and his recent interference with our Government scheme of education in Ireland (whatever may be that scheme's

The invariable maxim of the Church of Rome has been to watch the bent and disposition of the age, to appear to lead while in fact it follows, to enter into and to render it subservient to the great aim of ecclesiastical supremacy. The spirit of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries was fierce, enthusiastic, and romantic. The crusades against the Saracens were devised by the clergy to rid Europe of its warlike and turbulent population; and the success was complete. Deserted Europe was abandoned to the priest, who availed himself of the opportunity to aggrandize his order. In more civilized times, when learning was revived, the churchman himself led the van in the crusade against ignorance-and if to a period of security a moment of danger succeeded which seemed to threaten the very existence of the papacy, the tide of the reformation was stemmed by those uncompromising champions of error, the Jesuits. A pleasanter path was next opened for ambition; and the cautious priesthood found it easier and less invidi-' ous to dictate to the counsels of Europe through the invisible confessor, who occupied the closet of power, and alternately flattered the vices and excited the terrors of superstitious kings and queens, ministers of state, and their troops of favorites, male and female. But when this system too had had its day, the revolutionary spirit that had cut it short was not neglected by the Proteus-like churchmen. The priesthood has acquired a power in France it failed to gain under the elder branch of the house of Bourbon, and the cause of the Roman tiara is advocated in Germany by the professed opponents of all secular authority. In Ireland the audacious disaffection of the Romish masses has long been openly countenanced by a clergy who have at least done nothing to check the bloody barbarism of their manners; and it is at the very moment when, although Irish crime had never before attained such a flagrancy, English resources had been lavished with the most unparalleled generosity in the relief of Irish poverty-it is at this very moment that a new Pope, his name trumpeted everywhere as synonymous with the cause of human freedom and social rights, dares to affront the monarchy of Great Britain by a direct interference with the detail of its internal legislation. Nay, it is at the same moment that this