NOTE. agrees with cardinal Turrecremata, in such circumstances the pope may The only apology I shall offer to be openly opposed,Resisten- my readers for placing this "ill didum est..etiam in faciem papæ pub-gested" letter in the colums of my licè dilanianti ecclesiam Abusui Journal is, that as my correspondent protestatis, qui destruit, obviam appears to be dissatisfied with my obeant sæculi principes et prælati servations on his former epistle, he congruit remediis, non obediendo, is entitled to the benefit of public in malis non adulando, non tacendo, opinion as to the accuracy of his rearguendo, advocando illustres ad in-ply to them. But, the reader will crepandum, &c, Tract: 1 de Auctoritate Papæ & Conc. cap. 27. Franciscus Victoria, quoting Silvester, says, "When the pope's mandates or actions are highly prejudicial to the church, he may be resisted." Ex his omnibus habetur, quod ubi mandata et facta papæ sunt in destructionem Ecclesiæ, potest ei resisti, et impediri executio mandatorum. Relect: 4 de Potestate Papæ & Concilii. These authorities are more than sufficient to justify a determined opposition to a measure which even a protestant lord has denominated a wicked and flagitious measure. $ exclaim, what has the bishop of Castabala to do with the remarks of the editor of the Journal? Indeed, so far as I am concerned in the question, the only answer I can make to it is, that I am at a loss to discover any other motive, than that of discharging some of the bile, which has been gathering on his stomach, at that sound and orthodox divine, who, after all the insults he has had to bear, can now smile at the taunts of his enemies, and enjoy the triumph of his perseverance and integrity, in the public acquiescence of one of his venerable brethren of his undeviating opposition to those who were certainly not averse to ministerial arrangements is matters of religion!!!! Witness the circular letter of the bishop of Halia to the Irish prelates, enveloping a copy of the famous rescript of Mons. Quarantolti, as published in the Irish papers, in which letter his lordship assures his episcopal brethren, "that nothing is nearer his heart than to attend most religiously to the exhortation of this document. Now this document exhorted, aye, and even com Before I conclude this short illdigested letter, I beg leave to ask, if, as it would seem was the case with my former note and enclosed document, it must be subjected to the T. or V. of Dr. M., why should not the writings of Fidei Defensor be also subjected to the censure or approbation of that "great and invincible champion of orthodoxy!" Certainly he would never suffer the assertion of the "Creator in order to manifest his boundless Jove for the work of his hands demanded, the catholics to accept and scended in the person of his only Son, from the bright realms of bliss to take upon himself our nature, &c," to be published to the world, without being stigmatized as heretical. Fdei Defensor, he would say, had much better spend that time in study his divinity which he wishes to employ in writing theogical tracts. Your's, &c. A. C. S. E. London, A. D. 1818. embrace, with content and gratitude, the law which was proposed last year (1813) for their emancipation; and the bill here alluded to did most unquestionably contain ministerial arrangements in matters of religion," for which reason, and for no other, did Dr. Milner singlehanded oppose it. It would have added more to the credit of my correspondent if he had paid a little better attention to my defence of the ى الهوي by the two-penny post on the 24th instant) he has not yet been able to divest himself of that paltry grovelling feeling which envious minds generally experience at hearing the success of, and praise given, to those who are endowed by Providence with superior abilities than them Now I can tell him that I am not in the habit of submitting my correspondent's letters to any individual whomsoever besides myself, and that his letter, from the time of my receiving it by the post, to the period of its being put into the hands of the compositor, was in no other person's hands than my own. The sole and en Irish prelates, in which I shewed that they did not accuse any individual personally of vetoism, rather than to have seized the opportunity of shewing his private spite to that incomparable divine, the bishop of Castabala, by insinuating that, in the event of the veto being granted by the spiritual head of the churchselves. The green-eyed monster he would be the only British prelate gets the mastery of them, and they that might resist such a decision. are unable to perceive that religion But let me ask Mr. A. C. S. E. if he itself suffers by disrespectful and can point out a vicar apostolic, since malevolent behaviour towards her the reformation so called, who has best defenders. But though he is shewn a more ardent devotion to the not able to discern the injury he Just rights of the holy see, or who creates to his religion, by treating her has suffered more for his defence of disinterested and incorruptible ministhem, even from some of his clerical ters with contumely, yet he fancies brethren? And why should the he can discover that his letterwas subvicars apostolic acquiesce in a mea-jected to the "T. or V. of Dr. M." sure that is injurious to religion, and consequently sinful, any more than the prelates of Ireland. We are taught to obey our superiors in all that is not sin P. But if a catholic is conscious that an act of his holiness or his vicars (I am merely supposing the case, like my correspondent) would be the loss of souls and occasion scandal and detriment to religion, could be consent without being an accessary to the fact? That the English vicars apostolic will do their duty in opposing any vetoistical bill which may hereafter be brought forward, in conjunction with the Irish prelates and Dr. M. is now quite certain, from the command given by the bishop of Thespia to his clergy and laity, to use every legal and peaceable means in their power to oppose the same. I shall pass by the indecent and insulting manner in which Mr. A. C. S. E. -speaks of so highly-gifted a scholar and divine, because I attribute it to the indigested state of his mind, which perhaps” became more than usually irritable and splenetic, on reading my observations in the last number, for it would seem, that, notwithstanding a lapse of three weeks has taken place (the letter of of my correspondent was received | tire management of my Journal rests with myself, and this may account for the theological inaccuracy of the expression of "Fidei defensor" passing undiscovered; for pointing out which Ithank my correspondent, but should have been better satisfied, if it had been done with less acrimony and more charity towards the great and invincible champion of orthothodoxy ;" for such Dr. M. is, and such he will be, in spite of all the sneers of his vexed and galled enemies. In conclusion, I bes pardon for having wrongly suspected Mr. A. C. S. E. not to be averse to ministerial arrangements, as from the tenour of this letter, my suspicions appear to be ill-founded ; and I assure him that if he suspects me to be under the control or influence of Dr. M. or any other person, in the exercise of my editorial duties, ha is under a most egregious mistake, as no one but myself has, or will FROM EPITOME OF INTELLIGENCE. rights of the church; and endea vour to prevent an encroachment on the exclusive privileges of the sacerdotal order, whether it is meditated by the people or their rulers. Before we give our ideas on this vital question to the peace and welfare of the Irish catholic church, we shall insert the following piece of information, which was published in Carrick's Dublin Morning Post of the 31st ult. and copied into The Globe London print, of the 5th inst :- ROM the contents of the late Dublin journals, we are sorry to find the catholics of Ireland engaged more in discussing the merits of domestic nomination, and episcopal postulation in the appointment of the prelates of their church, than in promoting, with unanimity and vigour, the cause of their civil emancipation. On the subject of domestic nomination, or election by dean and chapter, we have hitherto abstained from stating our sentiments, because we could have wished to have seen that point of contention settled between the clergy themselves, to whose province we conceive it peculiarly belongs. However, as public opinion has been appealed to by the friends of each is measure, and as the question taken up by a print known to be under the management of individuals, whose religious principles are founded on ecclesiastical demo-mode of nomination, it is observed, has cracy, we should be guilty of a dere liction of duty. were we not to employ our pen in support of the just "LAST ACCOUNTS FROM ROMÉ ON IRISH ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS. "Most reverend doctor Troy, has had a letter within this week from his eminence, Cardinal Litta (our favourite cardinal), on Irish ecclesiastical affairs, in which his eminence writes, that the holy see will not consent to Domestic Nomination, in the appointment of Irish catholic bishops. The present given to the catholic church of Ireland good, holy and learned prelates, who were faithful to their trust, and vigi as if he governed arbitrarily, and accord- lantly guarded the purity and integrity, of religion in the most trying times. The holy see is the less inclined to make any change now, as the temper and style in which such change is sought to be brought about, by unofficial persons, manifest a spirit and zeal, not for the good and interest of religion -not for the bettering the discipline of the catholic church-but for the subjugating and degrading the episcopal body altogether. The late experiments made in Ireland, of the benefits of domestic nomination, and the consequences that followed, demonstrate the propriety, indeed almost the necessity, of this last determination of the holy see. Shall we enumerate these consequences? The recrimination of conflicting parties -the implacable hostility of the friends of the several candidates-the disclosure of matters which every friend to religion should wish to conceal-the disre, spect for the episcopal character through out such proceedings-the noisy and obtrusive interference of the laity-the eagerness which some prints betrayed to fan the flame of dissention, and break up into anarchy and independence all the subordinate orders of priesthood. These, and many other "unseemly disadvantages," would go at length to give to our rulers a pretext to possess themselves of the nomination of our prelates, for the specious reason of keeping peace and good order. In France, Francis I. found the evil consequences of domestic nomination, for assuming, with the permission of Leo. X. the nomination of the bishops of France; and this practice of royal nomination continued ever since with the French monarchs, the many canons to the contrary notwithstandiug. The holy see is well aware of these things, and will not make any alteration in the present mode of appointing Irish catholic bishops. The holy see understands that if our go-the old mode of nomination, and vernment will have a veto, on the appointment of bishops, as the manuer of appointment now stands, a veto will be demanded on the nomination of canons, who are to compose the chapter -the electors who would choose the bishop, should domestic nomination be substituted for the other mode now in practice; and is it well known, that a minister of state, by a majority in the house of commons, has the power of doing as much mischief to the country, "Dublin, Jan. 30, 1818. A cursory view of this letter is sufficient to convince any rational man that the writer is a partizan for consequently averse to that which is now sought to be obtained with consent of the holy see. Whether such a letter has or has not been received by the most reverend Dr. Troy, from the "favourite" cardinal on Irish " ecclesiastical" affairs, we are not competent to determine; but supposing such an one has arrived in Dublin, this welmay confidently as the present mode of nomination has given to the catholic church of Ire land good, holy, and learned prelates cannot be denied, because their lives bear witness to the fact; but why should not this also be the case,' if recourse be had to the ancient custom of election by dean and chapter? That it was not likely to be attended with any bad effects, if cordially agreed to between the holy see and the Irish prelates is demonstratively clear, from the petition presented to the senate by the latter in the session, of 1810, in 1 assert, that its real contents are not such as Mr. A. Q. C. represents them to be. For example, he says "Cardinal Litta, in his letter to Dr. Troy, alludes to the late report of transactions at Rome, published in Dublin." This allusion is evidently levelled at the report lately made by the Rev. Mr. Hayes, wherein the scandalous transactions which have been, and we fear are still, carrying on by the corrupt Consalvi and the British agents, to sell the church of Ireland to her enemies, were exposed to the indignation of every honest catholic and friend of probity and free-which they offer to obtain from the dom. But mark the dates, reader; spiritual head of their church that the letter of Mr. A. Q. C, is dated mode of election called." Domestic the 30th of January, and Mr. Nomination," that is, election to the Hayes's report was read to the ca- vacant sees by a certain number of tholic board on the 18th of the pre- the Irish clergy; and, if they have ceding month, which gives an inter- not been able yet to succeed in the val of only six weeks for the report final accomplishment of this ar to reach Rome, to have the same rangement, in consequence of the laid before the holy father and com- treachery of the Roman temporal municated to the cardinals, to receive minister and the practices of the their sentiments on its contents, British hirelings, there can be no and for Litta's letter, inclosing the doubt that the voluntary adoption of same, to arrive in Dublin. Pretty the measure on their part would not expeditious work this; but rather be discouraged at Rome, but tacitly unusual in the management of af- acted upon, and thus the sincerity fairs at Rome! That Dr. Troy has of their proposal to parliament received a letter from cardinal Litta would be made manifest to all on the subject of the disputed ques- our protestant friends, and the cation in which his eminence may tholic mind would be put to rest on bave used the expression," that a subject which has given rise to the holy see will not consent to do- much uneasiness and angry feeling. mestic nomination," may be very Surely this is a blessing which no probable; but is this an official and sacrifice would be considered too final decision, or is it accompanied great on the part of our spiritual sawith qualifications and provisos?-periors to purchase, especially if no This can only be decided by the production of the letter, and until that is produced the public will suspect that more is meant than meets the eye, in this anonymous piece of intelligence. For our part, we do not believe that the reasons given by Mr. A. Q. C. ever entered the mind of the favourite" cardinal, but were engendered in the brain of some disappointed expectant, or blighted sophister in Dublin. That danger could arise to the interests of the church, and on that they have already decided. But, says Mr. A.Q. C." the late experiments made in Ireland, of the benefits of domestic nomination, and the consequences that followed, demonstrate the propriety, indeed, the almost necessity of this last determination of the holy see." He then proceeds to enumerate the consequences, and adds, "these, and many other unseemly disadvan |