graph, a postscript of a letter to Louis XVIII., is perhaps worthy of a smile. After a long dispatch, the following P.S. is added, de la main du pape. "Que votre Majesté use d'indulgence, si nous n'avons pas écrit entièrement cette lettre de notre propre main! Nous avons à cause de sa longueur et de notre malheureuse écriture, préféré la dicter et la faire écrire par une main sûre et d'une bonne écriture, pour la moindre gêne et la plus grande commodité de vôtre majesté."-"We trust your majesty will excuse us for not having written the whole of this letter with our own pen. We have, both on account of its length and of our own wretched writing, preferred to dictate it and cause it to be written by a sure hand and in a good character, for the less trouble and greater convenience of your majesty."-(Vol. I. p. 239.)

Between the publication of the bull for the jubilee and its commencement, little of importance occurred at Rome. The news indeed of the death of Louis XVIII. reached the pope, and from the very cool manner in which it was received by Leo, we must either conclude that the pope was ungrateful, or that our author must have dozed when he penned the account. Louis had shown particular civility and personal kindness to the pope on his ill-judged visit to Paris when archbishop of Tyre, and it was through French influence mainly, that his election was secured; and yet all he is reported to have said upon the occasion is"Comment! vous n'avez pas de meilleures nouvelles à nous apporter !"

The year of the jubilee at length arrived; the holy doors were opened with great pomp, and the whole ceremonies of the commencement most carefully observed-pilgrims flocked from all quarters, and were received with a hospitality equal to any of former years; and during the period of its continuance, there were lodged at the Hospice de la Trinité 23,090 men and 15,754 women. (Vol. II. p. 137.)

It would be hardly correct to omit, though our author does not mention the fact that at the washing of the pilgrims' feet, that pious Roman Catholic, Don Miguel, was most assiduously busied.

Besides the celebration of the jubilee, the year 1825 afforded Leo XII. an opportunity of renewing a long disused custom of the court of Rome; this was to send the Berettone and the Stocco to the Duke d'Angoulême, who, in consequence of the expedition into Spain, is dignified with the title of the Conqueror of Cadiz. The Berettone is a hat shaped like those worn in the middle ages, and the Stocco is a sword of state; they are neither of them worn by the person to whom they are given, but are

carried in state before him. They are never given-(Vol. II. pp. 43, 44)-to any but generals who have distinguished themselves in important actions. They were bestowed upon John of Austria after the battle of Lepanto-on Sobieski after the rescue of Viennaand on Prince Eugene for his crowning victory over the Turks, and to these was now to be added the Dauphin of France. To the Duchess d'Angoulême the pope sent the silver hammer with which he had opened the holy door; and to the Duchess de Berri some agate cameos, and two relics,-the one a piece of the wood of the sacred manger, and the other a piece of the tomb of the holy Apostle.

That no power or privilege of the holy see might be left unexercised during his short pontificate, we find-(Vol. II. pp. 89, 90)-Leo pronouncing the decree of beatification* on three members of his church, for each of whom medals were struck, "qui rappeloient les vertus du bienheureux, et les miracles opérés par son intercession."-(Vol. II. p. 92.)

The time had now arrived when the holy year had reached its termination, and when the sacred door must again be closed. On the 24th of December, the pope, accompanied by a number of cardinals, walked in grand procession to St. Peter's. We will pass over the graver business of the veneration paid to the relics, and the adoration of the host, and proceed to the mummeries-for what else can they be called?-performed on the building up of the holy door. Having come to the spot, the pope ascended his throne till the dignitaries and others in attendance had arranged themselves according to their ranks and duties. He then descended, -blessed the mortar and tiles about to be used,-was girded with an apron by the master of the ceremonies,—knelt down upon the sill of the door,-received from the cardinal grand penitentiary a silver trowel,-placed some mortar on the middle of the sill, saying (we give the very words, Vol. II. p. 138)-"En foi et vertu de notre Seigneur Jesus Christ, fils du Dieu vivant;"-then placing a second trowel of mortar to the right,-" qui a dit au prince des apôtres, tu es Pierre ;"-then doing the same to the left, adds," et sur cette pierre je batirai mon église.' Laying a brick upon each piece of mortar, he says of the first, "Nous plaçons cette pierre première;"-of the second, pour fermer cette porte sainte ;"-of the third," qui doit être ouverte chaque année du jubilée.” Then, after depositing some medals,

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* In order that the word beatification in the Roman Catholic Church may be properly understood by our readers, we give the explanation of it from the Dictionnaire de l'Académie :-"Acte par lequel le pape déclare qu'une personne dont la vie a été sainte et accompagnée de quelque miracles, jouit après sa mort du bonheur eternel.

a hymn is chanted, and he re-ascends his throne, throws off the apron, washes his hands in some water presented to him by the Prince de Gravina, wipes them with a towel given him by the senior priest, and the ceremony concludes with responses and prayers.-(Vol. II. p. 138.) The crossing and genuflections almost at every other word, we have omitted. We have dwelt upon this and other observances practised at Rome, that our readers may perceive the expansion of that religious atmosphere which the British Critic so unceasingly extols. When the owl and the eagle take one common flight, then will the children of light consort with this offspring of gloom, superstition, and bigotry. Rome must be worked up to Protestantism, not Protestantism debased to her decrepit childishness. One superstition more, and we have done. In the year 1826, an Iroquois chieftain of the name of Teoracaron, accompanied by a priest, visited Rome. The pope received him with marks of great distinction, and on his departure made him many presents, among which was "un corps saint qui seroit transporté dans une église de son pays."-(Vol. II. p. 185.)

The health of Leo XII., which had always been a source of anxiety to his friends, was gradually becoming more feeble, though his attention to the duties of his station continued unabated. In the beginning of February, 1829, in the sixth year of his pontificate, and in the 69th year of his age, he was conscious that his career was nearly run. The subject which naturally most occupied his thoughts, was the approaching emancipation of the Roman Catholics of Ireland; but the news of this event, which has so lamentably disappointed those who had hoped the best from it, he was not destined to receive. The Marquis of Waterford has apparently found it anything but a source of tranquillization. The Irish are even too much for the somewhat uproarious marquis himself, and Tipperary seems to preserve its ancient character, of a spot where landlords are bagged as fast as partridges. We cannot refrain from quoting some remarks of our author relative to this act,-what, in his opinion, was the cause, and what have already been the effects, and what further consequences he anticipates:

"On se demande aujourd'hui d'où vient le Puséyisme; on se demande d'où part cette doctrine d'Oxford, par laquelle tant de professeurs savans, et de bonne foi, semblent dire 'Tendimus in Latium;' on se demande à quoi il faut attribuer ce retour. Le premier ébranlement fut donné au commencement de ce siècle, lors du séjour à Rome de Lord Hervey, Comte de Bristol, évêque protestant de Derry, père d'Elizabeth Duchesse de Devonshire."" A question is asked at the present time whence came Puseyism, and from what source the Oxford

doctrine arises by which so many learned and sincere professors seem to say, We are going towards Rome.' It is asked to what we can assign this change? The first movement was made at the beginning of the century during the residence at Rome of Lord Hervey, Earl of Bristol, Protestant bishop of Derry, father of Elizabeth Duchess of Devonshire."

Few of our readers, we imagine, will ascribe much influence to the conduct of that eccentric being; his strange vagaries would rather have had a tendency to throw disrepute upon the religion which he professed, than to benefit any other. In this he somewhat resembles the fraternization of Dr. Wiseman* with the Ultra Puseyites, which appears too like a bear's hug, or, we regret to say, a Spanish réunion, to excite pleasure in the recipient. "En 1808, les declarations de Pie VII. sur l'état de la religion catholique en Irelande furent plutôt agréables que dangereuses pour le ministère Anglais. En 1814, les Anglais abondèrent à Rome: Consalvi les accueillit avec une singulière faveur: on construisit dans la Chapelle Sixtine des échafaudages immenses, pour qu'un grand nombre des femmes Anglaises assistassent à nos cérémonies de la semaine sainte." -"In 1808, the declarations of Pius VII. on the state of the catholic religion in Ireland were pleasing rather than alarming to the English ministry. In 1814, the English swarmed at Rome: Consalvi treated them with particular attention. Spacious galleries were erected in the Sistine Chapel to enable the English ladies to witness the ceremonies of the holy week."Though we are not disposed to ascribe quite so much as M. Artaud de Montor does to the last mentioned circumstance, yet. there is some weight in it. One would suppose that a residence at the very seat of error, with a constant opportunity of seeing it in operation, would have the effect of creating an increased abhorrence of it. In a well regulated mind, where a solid foundation of truth has been laid, such must be the result; but where there is no such foundation, the consequences are far different. The pomp and pageantry, the rich dresses, the stately processions, attract and please the eye, while the ear is delighted with the exquisite music of the services; and thus the senses become to a certain degree enlisted in its favour. Thus does a religion

* We are rather surprised that one so cunning-one selected to give Mr. Sibthorp satisfaction on all doubtful points-should have committed the imprudence of writing to the Pusey party. We know Rome feels this a false step, and that the approach of Dr. Wiseman to the papacy has been lessened many degrees by this imprudent and premature exposition—a point which the Bishop of Rochester has justly seized, and which has caused great searching of hearts amid the few Reubenites who would leave the fold of Judah.

which abounds so much in gaudy shows, and in which outward form seems to usurp the place of inward devotion, become at first tolerated, and we fear subsequently admired by those who gladly prefer any external observance as a substitute for inward purity and holiness of mind. We know several instances, and doubtless others may be supplied, where a long residence in Roman Catholic countries has been productive of this sad result. "Pendant ce temps-là Mgr. Poynter, évêque de Londres, étoit connu pour n'agir qu'avec une circonspection digne des plus grands éloges: l'Europe connoissoit le zèle impétueux de M. O'Connell; voilà les circonstances dans lesquelles on publioit une déclaration d'évêques et une addresse de catholiques les plus distingués par leur rang. Tous ces faits s'enchainent; ils doivent amener le grand acte de l'émancipation, et l'acte d'émancipation dispose les docteurs Anglois les plus savans à considérer leur position, à douter de leurs droits, à désirer une réunion qui apporte la paix, le bon ordre, la confiance, et le flambeau de la vérité au milieu de tant de dissidences ténébreuses qui désolent depuis trois siècles le Christianisme."-" During this time M. Poynter, (titular) bishop of London, conducted himself in a manner deserving the highest praise: Europe knew the fiery zeal of M. O'Connell. Under these circumstances there was published a declaration of the bishops, and an address of those catholics most elevated in rank. All these facts are connected: they could not fail of bringing on the great act of emancipation, and the act of emancipation disposes the most learned of the English teachers to consider their position, to doubt of their rights, to desire a a reunion which would bring peace, good order, confidence, and the light of truth in the midst of so many schisms which have afflicted Christianity for three centuries past."-(Vol. II. p. 212, seqq.) Whatever may be the results of the passing of that act, we feel assured that these expectations were never more remote from realization than at the present moment. How can it be otherwise, when Rome seems like the Veiled Prophet, cursed with a desire to inflict on us every hideous anti-christian, anti-church feature, and almost to drive us on the denunciation of her apostacy from the faith in many matters, and to the exposition of her schismatic pretences to rule both in England and Ireland? But to return to Leo XII.: on the 8th of February, he requested that the last rites of religion might be administered to him; and on the morning of the 10th, after having remained many hours in a state of unconsciousness, he breathed his last. His epitaph, composed by himself, was found among his papers; and it is somewhat singular, that he who arrogated to himself the title of the head of the church of Christ on earth, should have left as a memorial of