is the best of all lions, as an emblem of such over-bearing religion. Such, happily, is the state of Catholicism, at present, among us; the lion may growl, he may even roar, but his talons are not sharpened by exercise. In plain lan their hearers, and do charge their hearers, by all the pains of hell, and eternal misery, to support the Holy Church, and to fight under her banners: they may peal aloud the threat of excommunication in the ears of the timid: but men of understanding will treat the commination with contempt, and the well-instructed, even of their own com of the church."-"The proclamation of your Majesty, which announced that the new Constitution should insure the liberty of religions, and give equal favour and protection, FILLED EVERY HEART WITH ———— CONSTERNATION". - Consternation at liberty of conscience!guage, the Catholic priests may charge and this in an age soi-disant candid, liberal, &c. &c. &c. The sentiment might become the Mahometan Church! well enough: but, the Church of Christ? No. We trust, indeed, that this address will never be translated into Arabic, and reach the Mahometans: "Tell it not in Gath" for in Gath they will pity the degradation of the human intellect, sunk to such an abyss of misery and nothing-munion, will explain, ness; while they express the most caustie contempt for that priesthood which could adopt such measures for promoting the triumph of Truth; and for that laity which could yield spiritual obedience, and surrender their consciences, to such blind leaders of the blind. Non tali auxilio, nec defensoribus istis ! If this remonstrasice of the Belgian Bishops should fall into the hands of any, who under the plea of Ecclesiastical Authority assumed by the Catholic Church, have been invited, or have felt inclined, to unite in communion with But the lesson must not be lost on our- the Church of Rome, let them here see selves: the voice speaks in thunder to the true description of that Church the heart and soul of every member of which invites them. Does it rest its the British Legislature, of every subject pretensions on scripture?-no: on Caof the British dominion. This is the nonical Laws: laws made by itself. conduct of Catholics, where they may. Does it hope the best of those who difThis is the boasted deference to other fer from it, conscientiously and meekly religions-the abstinence from interfe- endeavouring to bring them to the knowrence with any benefits intended for others ledge of the truth? No, it denounces -the readiness to maintain inviolate the them as unworthy of life, either in rights and consciences of others! Could this world, or in that to come: it rethese pious prelates become persecutors? fuses them the hope-the POSSIBILITY, Not under any possible course of events. even, of salvation: and poor, frail, falliCould they establish the Holy Inquisi- ble, wandering mortals, assume the oftion, for the benevolent purpose of enforc-fice of condemning to remediless woe, ing the canonical laws, which reject men at least equally pious, equally heresy and schism from the bosom of the learned, equally humanised, christianChurch? O, dear! no. The very impu-ized, and godly, with themselves,tation of the possibility is a stain on their honour: The mere imagination of such a perversion of their sacred duties could only enter the mind of an obdurate heretic, of one lapsed beyond redemption;fit fuel for the fire of hell, for the flames of an Auto da Fé. Fair and softly, gentlemen! we shall not deprive you of your right to worship God according to your views of Scripture and Christianity; but, we shall not entrust you, nor any like you, with political power. The lion whose claws are pared, and whose teeth are drawn, My soul, enter not thou into their secret: Unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united! REMONSTRANCE OF THE BELGIAN BISHOPS ΤΟ THE KING OF THE NETHERLANDS. SIRE. We believe it our duty no longer to delay expressing to your Majesty, the surprise and the grief which your procla mation of the 18th of this mouth (July) has caused us. and have thence the effect of ecclesiastical law, after confirming all the old laws of the Church, which fix the spiritual jurisdiction, the rights of the Bishops, of the In the conviction that it is the first duty of the Bishops, to speak the truth to the Throne when the grand interests of religion are in question, we now fulfil this duty with the more confidence and frank-Chapters, of the Universities, and in ge ness, as your Majesty frequently testified to us your intention to protect religiou with all your power, and as in that very proclamation, which is the cause of our uneasiness, you assure to the Catholic church its establishment and its privileges. Sire, the existence and the privileges of the Catholic church, in this part of your kingdom, are inconsistent with an article of the plan of the new constitution, by which equal favour and protection are promised to all religions. Since the conversion of the Belgians to Christianity, such a dangerous innovation has never been attempted in these provinces, unless by force. The attempts of Joseph the Second to maintain it were fruitless. The tyranny of the late French Government established it in theory; but no religious troubles ensued, because the head of the state protected the Protestant sects as little as he did the Catholic church. After this, however, the declared enemy of all reiigion was overthrown. The Belgian Church recovered all her spiritual rights. In the Ordinance of the 7th March, 1814, which the Commissioners of the allied powers expressly confirmed, the general Government of Belgium declared, “Hence forward the ecclesiastical power, and the temporal power, will be inviolably maintained in their respective limits, as they are fixed by the common law, and by the ancient constitution of the country." neral of the regular and secular Clergy, commanded the Bishops to see to the execution of them, and carefully to watch not only over the maintenance of the sacred | pledge of the faith, but also that of the laws, which concern the essential discipline of the Catholic Church, and secure the consistency and the inviolabPity of its government. These, Sire, are the duties of the Bishops of these provinces and the laws of the country have constantly allowed and facilitated the fuifliment of them, till a higher power prevented them in part from discharging them. If your Majesty, when you secure to the Belgic church her existence and privileges, has the intention, as we conjecture, to maintain the entire execution of the holy canon law, we are incapable of duly expressing our thanks to your Majesty for it. But we most respectfully take the liberty to lay before your Majesty an article of the new constitution, which, in securing the same protection to all religions, would be incompatible with the free and entire exercise of our official duties. We are bound, Sire, incessantly to preserve the people entrusted to our care, from the doctrines which are in opposition to the doctrines of the Catholic Church.We could not release ourselves from this obligation without violating our most sacred duties; and if your Majesty, by virtua of a fundamental law, protected in these provinces the public profession and spreading of these doctrines, the progress of which we are bound to oppose with all the care and energy which the Catholic Church expects from our office, we should be in formal opposition to the laws of the State, to the measures which your MaThe canonical laws have always re-jesty might adopt to maintain them among jected schism and heresy from the bosom of the church. Sire, we do not hesitate to declare to your Majesty, that the canonical laws, which are sanctioned by the ancient-constitutions of the country, are incompatible with the projected constitution which would give in Belgium equal favour and protection to all religions. The Christian Emperors thought it their duty to maintain these laws, and, to secure their execution, as may be easily seen in the collection of edicts upon this subject, From Charlemagne down to the unhappy epoch of 1781, and the following years, all the Sovereigns of this country in every age, exclusively protected the Apostolic Roman Catholic religion, and secured to it the undisturbed enjoyment of all the rights and privileges in the possession of which they found it. The Council of Trent, all whose resolutions were published in these provinces, us, and in spite of alt our endeavours to maintain union and peace, the public tranquillity might still be disturbed. And since, by Art 196 of the proposed Constitution, the public exercise of a form of worship may be hindered, when it might disturb the public tranquỗity; it follows, that the free exercise of our retigion might be hinder & by a possible consequence of the we of the rights nud iberties of the catholic church in these provinces. We dare not conceal from yar, Sire, that such regulations, if they were confirmed by your Majesty, could only lead to a renewal of the troubles which deso lated these provinces in the sixteenth century, and that they must sooner or later alienate the hearts of your faithful subjects in this part of your kingdom, with whom, attachment to the Catholic faith is stronger and more lively than in any other country in Europe. and to the privileges which your Majesty insures to it? May they not be arbitrarily lessened in national assemblies, when the clergy have no influence, or, at the most, a very precarious one? Experience has proved how important it is that the clergy possess a high rank in the state. The respect they enjoy, extends to religion itself, which teaches it. However great the personal merit of the servants of the church may be, yet, in our times, if it is not supported by high rank and legal privileges, which ennoble the functions of the priesthood in the eyes of the people, the clergy can oppose but a weak bulwark to the disorders which they have to contend with. The internal peace and welfare of a state depends chiefly on the state of morals. There are no good morals where there is no religion. As things now stand, religion is more or less respected in proportion as its servants are more or less honoured and Already the proclamation of your Majesty, which announced that the new constitution should insure the liberty of religions, and give all equal favour and protection, filled every heart with consternation. It is known that this dangerous system is one of the main articles of the modern philosophy, which has been the source of so many misfortunes to us; that evidently aims at exciting indifference to all religions, at lessening their influence from day to day, and at destroying them in the end entirely. We are bound, Sire, to tell you the truth in its full extent.The clergy of these provinces have not observed without pain that your Majesty has been persuaded to exclude them from the assemblies in which the great interests of the state were discussed; that the plan of a new Constitution contains honourable distinctions for the nobility, and that the clergy, once the first class in the state, are deprived of them; that it will not even Your Majesty has doubtless remarked have the right of being represented in the that the Catholic religion which was esProvincial Assemblies, that its influence on tablished again in France by the Conthe acceptance of the new Constitution is cordat, did not produce the expected carefully removed, so that the most distin-effect, because by the system of the Soveguished Members of the Clergy, according reign the Clergy enjoyed no rank, no conto the expressions of your Majesty's pro-sideration, no influence in the State.clamation, are not among the persons most worthy of the confidence of their fellowcitizens; lastly, that they are not allowed to unscribe their disapproving votes on the lists of the notables. respected according to the existing laws. it is easy to confine the good within due bounds, but the wicked dare every thing against a Clergy which does not enjoy a certain respect in the State. They were to be accounted as nothing. They were oppressed by all the inferior authorities; they soon became, as it was intended they should be, incapable of doing good, or of preventing evil. All these are measures which we say it We have the confidence that your Mawith grief to your Majesty) can appear to jesty will deign, in the submissive and reus only as an unhappy omen for the future, spectful representations which we make to since your Majesty's Ministers already acyou, in the frank expression of our senticount the opinious and votes of the clergyments, to see only the fulfilment of our for nothing, on subjects which are as much within their cognisance as that of other private persons, nay, their peculiar province, as far as the interest of religion is concerned. It is impossible to calculate all the ill consequences that may arise from the continuation of such a plan. For if the Catholic clergy are no more to be consulted upon the concerns of the church-it is decided that they can have no share, or at least only an accidental share, in making the laws, especially those relative to ecclesiastical jurisdiction, how can they hinder any encroachment upon the inalienable rights of episcopal diguity, which belo g to the existence of the Catholic church, most important duties, under present circumstances, only a new proof of our devotion to your sacred person, only the sincere wish that your Majesty may reign over these fine provinces in constant peace, by a perfectly paternal Government, and by a powerful and durable union between the Clergy and the Royal Authority. We are, with the profoundest veneration, your Majesty's most humble, obedient, and faithful servants, (Signed) Prince MAURICE, of Broglio, Bishop of Ghent. J. A. BARRETT, Vicar-General Capitulary of Liege, July 28, 1815. [366 J. FORGEUR, Vicar-Gen- | four members professing the Roman Ca- CHARLES FRANCIS of Namur. Art. 3. This Committee shall constantly reside at Brussels. Art. 3. It shall address directly to Us its Reports on every subject that may be FRANCIS JOSEPH, Bishop submitted to its examination. of Tournay. Art. 4. It is besides authorised to present and recommend to Us, all the views which may appear to it to tend to the advantage of religion. The policy, and, we trust, the piety of the King of the Netherlands, saw it Art. 2. The Director-General for the to be his duty to treat this application shall have the faculty of consulting the. affairs relating to the Catholic Worship with due consideration. Agreeably to said Committee, and of attending its meethis own principles of moderation in re-ings as often as he shall think fit. ligious matters, and those of his house, he proceeded to examine what might be enacting that no ordinance in ecclesiastical Art. 6. The laws of the Netherlands, done in the case, and how far the peti- affairs which originates with a Foreign tioners might be gratified, without in- Authority, can be published without the fringing the pledge given by the state, permission of the Government; the examiof equalized favour and protection to all. nation necessary for this purpose shall be For, although the predominant supre-Council of State, conjointly with the said made in future by the Committee of the macy of the Catholic Church, could not be allowed, to the extent contended for, in general to watch over the preservation Director-General; and they are enjoined yet no doubt could be admitted of the of the ancient liberties of the Belgic church. propriety of allowing to that church, long established, and generally supported by the people, whatever guarantee for its rights, its liberty, and even its dignity, was not inconsistent with the stronger demands of truth, honour, and conscience. After advice taken, the following was the course adopted: DECREE. We William, by the grace of God, &c. &c. Considering that it is just and expedient to recur to the advice of Functionaries, professing the Catholic religion, for every measure of administration relative to the public exercise of this religion, and especially for what regards the relations between the clergy of our kingdom and the Holy See; and desiring to confirm, by a special and permanent institution, the firmness which animates us to remove every thing that might tend to weaken the real guarantees which the Constitution secures to the liberty of all forms of worship, or which might, in any degree, affect the dogmas and the discipline of the Roman Catholic Religion, or hinder those who profess it from freely exercising their faith as heretofore, have decreed and do decree. Art. 1. Every proposal relative to the affairs of the Catholic worship, shall be referred to the opinion of a Committee of the Council of State, composed of three or ented to the Director-General for the afThe present Decree shall be communifairs concerning the Catholic Worship, and to the Council of State. WILLIAM. (Signed) Lacken, Sep. 16, 1815. A. R. FALCK. Thus, it appears, the Catholic Bishops, are likely to accomplish all that they ought honestly to desire; while, nevertheless, the Sovereign will, by his ministers, exercise the power of the Veto; and will be able to prevent public proceedings injurious to the state. It is now the official duty of his servants to inform him on the temper and proceedings of his Catholic subjects. The nature of the subject induces us to unite another document that no less Church, and no less deserves the attenconcerns the interests of the Catholic tion of the British public. We are not about to renew the insurgent cry of" No Popery!" under which insane exclamation, we were burnt out in the year 1780. We have too much regard for the constitution of our country to desire such Mobocratic proceed c ings; yet we must be allowed to hint,reat crecd our suspicion that his Holiness the We would have wished to apprize you Pope has allowed himself to trip a little earlier of the restitution of several of our in his description of the reception given provinces, both that we testify our gratiby H. R. H. the Prince Regent, and tude to the Sovereign Dispenser of all good, the British Government, to his repre-whom, next to God, we have received so and also to the glorious Monarchs from sentative, Is it true, that his "Cardinal Legate appeared publicly in London, decorated with the distinguishing marks of his dignity, in the SAME MAN NER AS HE WOULD HAVE DONE IN great a kindness. But now that the Convention relative to the restoration of our provinces, in execution of the Decree of Congress, is concluded with the Minister of our dear Son in Jesus Christ, Francis II. Emperor of Austria, &c. and our jurisdiction completely established, we may give a free course to our joy, which lowing the custom of the Holy See, let us we have with difficulty restrained, and folrejoice at our success in this business. Cardinal Gonsalvi, who was sent to Paris, fulfilled the Commission to his Most Christian Majesty with which we had THE CAPITAL OF THE CHRISTIAN WORLD."? We doubt this: as a Cardinal, where was his red hat? Who bore the cross before him? What procession announced his dignity? He appeared as a private gentleman; he was treated as an accredited agent; but, we desire that future historians will not take too strictly even his Holiness's declaration, or ven-charged him, and was received by the King ture to insinuate that the laws of our country were openly violated in his behalf, though the situation of things required the intervention of a special envoy; and we have now a representat ve of the British Government, at the Court of Rome. Such mutual convenience for intercourse had been customary during many years. with those demonstrations of interest and love for us which we had reason to expect from his high virtues and his piety; and where the Allied Sovereigns, with the exthen proceeded without delay to London, ception of our very dear Son in Jesus Christ, Francis II. Emperor of Austria, were assembled. How could we suppress the feelings of joy and gratitude with which we were peace;eived in the opulent capital of so mighty filled, on learning how our Envoy was rea kingdom He there renewed what had not been seen for two centuries, the spectacle of a Cardinal Legate, and appeared publicly in London, with the permission of the Government, decorated with the distinguishing marks of his dignity, in the same manner as he would have done in the capital of the Christian world. We are for peace; for religious and we wish to conciliate the esteem o our fellow countrymen, without exception of party or persuasion. We trust that the affairs of the Catholics will issue in mutual satisfaction, except among a few who are determined not to be satisfied: but, at the same time, our duty commands us to recommend caution in a more than usual degree-caution, that while measures are taking to gratify a part of our population, they may not be perverted by malice and disloyalty to purposes of treason, "not loud, but deep!" not violent, but veiled, till the fit opportunity offer, when caution, with all her preservatives, will be found too late. Our Legate was immediately admitted to an audience of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent; he delivered to him our brief, offered him our congratulations and our friendship, as well for his Royal Highness as for the valiant English Nation, which has covered itself with such glory. The Cardinal was received at the Court of the Prince Regent with such marks of kindness and attachment to our person, that it was impossible to manifest more.— And for this reason professing ourselves ALLOCUTION OF HIS HOLINESS POPE PIUS Strongly attached to the Prince Regent, and VII. IN THE SECRET CONSISTORY, HELD AT ROME THE 4th OF SEPTEMBER, 1815. VENERABLE BROTHERS,-You have perhaps been surprised that to this moment we have not imparted our joy to you; yet doubt not, that it would have increased my atisfaction could you have sooner particited in it. to all the classes composing that gene ous uation, for which we already cherished the strongest inclination, we most cheerfully embrace this opportunity to give them a public testimony of our esteem, and of our warmest gratitude. After delivering our brief to each of the Sovereigns, our Legate submitted to them the cause of the Apostolic See, and solicited |