causes of a result so different from that which he had conceived his efforts calculated to produce; and meditating over the evil fruits of his inexperience, he discovered with grief the error of which he had been guilty, in meddling with religion in any other character than that of guardian of the freedom of worship, &c."

Napoleon had paid particular attention to religious affairs, in Italy, in 1796 and 1797: this species of knowledge was necessary for the conqueror and legislator of the Transpadan and Cispadan Republics, &c. In 1798 and 1799, he had occasion to study the Koran, and to acquire a knowledge of the principles of Islamism, the government and the opinions of the four sects, and their relations with Constantinople and Mecca. He must have become well acquainted with both religions; for his knowledge of these subjects contributed to gain him the affections both of the Italian clergy and of the ulemas of Egypt.

He never repented of having made the Concordat of 1801; and the sentiments on this subject which have been put into his mouth are false he never said, that the Concordat was the greatest error of his reign. The discussions which he afterwards had with Rome, arose out of the abuse which that Court made of the mixture of spiritual and temporal affairs. This

may sometimes have produced in him a momentary fit of impatience, like that of the lion who feels himself stung by flies: but it never changed his views, either with respect to the principles of his religion, or to that great work which had such important results. He never said, that his misfortunes arose from his having outraged liberal principles; or from his having offended the people. All his laws were liberal, even those of the Conscription, and of the State-prisons: the people were never his enemies, in any country; the oligarchies alone were hostile to him ;-for his government was eminently popular.

The Concordat of 1801, was necessary to religion, to the republic, to government: the temples were shut up; the priests were persecuted. They were divided into three sects, that of the Constitutionals, that of the Vicars Apostolic, and that of the emigrant Bishops in the pay of England. The Concordat terminated these divisions, and raised up the catholic apostolical Roman church from its ruins. It rebuilt the altars, put an end to disorders, commanded the faithful to pray for the Republic, dissipated all the scruples of the purchasers of national domains, broke the last thread by which the ancient dynasty was still connected with the country, by depriving the bishops who had

remained faithful to them, and by pointing them out as rebels who had preferred the things of this world and their temporal interests to the affairs of Heaven, and the cause of God.

It has been said, "Napoleon ought not to have meddled with religious affairs, but should have tolerated religion by practising its rites and restoring its temples." Practising its rites!-what rites? Restoring its temples !-to what guardiansthe Constitutionals, the Anglicized clergy, or the Papist vicars in the pay of England?

The question of suspending for a time the exercise of the right of instituting bishops, conferred on the Pope, was discussed in several conferences during the negotiation of the Concordat. But the Pope had already made great concessions; he consented to the suppression of sixty dioceses, which were almost as old as Christianity; he deprived, by his own authority, a great number of ancient bishops, and consummated the sale of the property of the clergy to the amount of 400 millions, without any indemnity. It was even thought, that the interest of the Republic required that no new stipulations favourable to the Ultras ought to be demanded. It was in one of these conferences that Napoleon said, "If the Pope had not existed, it would have been necessary to create one for this

occasion; as the Roman Consuls, in circumstances of emergency, elected a dictator." The Concordat allowed, it is true, a foreign jurisdiction in the state, which might disturb it; but this power was not introduced by the Concordat, it existed from time immemorial. Napoleon being master of Italy, considered himself master of Rome, and this Italian influence assisted him to destroy the influence of the English.

NOTE II.-PAMPHLETS PRINTED IN LONDON.*

VOL. II. PAGE 249.

"In the progress of his administration of religious affairs two periods, and, if I may be allowed the expression, two different educations may be distinguished. The first was that in which he acted of his own accord, independently of any advisers acquainted with this subject; the second, that in which he formed and consulted an ecclesiastical council," &c.

The pamphlets printed in London, on the discussions between the Courts of the Tuileries and of Rome, are apocryphal : they have never been acknowledged. They were published in the hope of kindling the enthusiasm of the Spaniards, and of all the bigots in Christendom the inferior clergy hawked them about most industriously. Some of these pieces are wholly false all the others are more or less falsified. It is to be regretted that they have been admitted into an important work; it would not have been difficult to ascertain their falsehood. 1st, The Court of the Tuileries never promised legations, directly or indirectly, and the Pope never required this as the condition of his journey to Paris; perhaps it may be true that he

*Pièces imprimées à Londres.