GENEUAI. HISTORY. 



[»l 



ries by individuals into the late 

 transactions, leservini^ to himsplf 

 all proceedings against the culpa- 

 ble. Such ecclesiastics as had taken 

 the oath to Buonaparte were or- 

 dered to disclaim it, on pain of be- 

 ing suspended from all divine offi- 

 ces. A commission was appointed 

 in July for the purpose of making 

 a report on the property termed na- 

 tional, or extraordinary domains, 

 which had been ceded to compa- 

 nies that were creditors of the 

 French government, or had been 

 sold by agents of the financial ad- 

 ministration. 



On August 7, that event so 

 important to the Church of 

 Rome, and which peculiarly marks 

 the spirit of the present pontifi- 

 cate, the restoration of the order 

 of Jesuits was publicly declared. 

 When it is considered that the 

 suppression of this Order in 

 1773, was effected by the com- 

 pulsion of the Sovereigns of the 

 house of Bourbon, and was the 

 consequence of that jealousy of its 

 power, and detestation of its prin- 

 ciples, which then seemed almost 

 universal in the Catholic world, it 

 must appear a measure of extraor- 

 dinary boldness in a Pontiff but 

 just restored to his own authority, 

 to become the renovator of a body 

 lately so obnoxious. The Jesuits, 

 indeed, were always regarded as 

 the iriobt devoted satellites of the 

 fee of Rome; whence it is not to 

 be wondered at that their revival 

 was a desirable object of the papal 

 court ; but the policy of effecting 

 it in so precipitate a manner, and 

 by a mere exertion of ecclesiastical 

 authority, appears very questiona- 

 ble. '1 he ceremonial observed on 

 this great occasion is thus de- 

 jicribed : <' His Holiness, on Sun- 



Vor. l.VI 



day, August 7,went to the church of 

 Jesus to celebrate high mass at the 

 altar of St. Ignatius. After hear- 

 ing another mass, he proceeded 

 to the neighbouring oratory of 

 the congregation of nobles, where 

 he was seated on a throne pre- 

 pared for him. He then handed 

 to the master of the ceremonies, 

 and caused him to read with a loud 

 voice, a bull for the re-establish- 

 ment of the company of Jesuits." 

 This memorable piece (see State 

 Papers) begins with reciting, that 

 Francis Karen and other members 

 of the suppressed company resi- 

 dent in the empire of Russia, hav- 

 ing entreated his permission to 

 unite themselves in a body for the 

 purpose of being able more easily 

 to carry on public instruction, and 

 their request receiving the recom- 

 mendation of the Emperor Paul, 

 his Holiness had by brief, dated 

 March, 1801, granted them per- 

 mission according!}', and authoriz- 

 ed them to resume and follow the 

 rule of St. Ignatius, of Loyola: 

 that shortly after, at the request of 

 Ferdinand, King of Sicily, the 

 same favour had been granted to 

 the Jesuits in his dominions : that 

 the Catholic world now demand- 

 ing with unanimous voice, as com- 

 municated by daily petitions from 

 archbishops, bishops, &c. the re- 

 establishment of the same order, he 

 should deem himself guilty of a 

 great crime towards God if he re- 

 fused now to do what he wished he 

 had done at the commencement of 

 his pontificate. He therefore de- 

 crees, that all the concessions and 

 yjowers granted to the company in 

 Russia and Sicily shall be extended 

 to liis ecclesiastical states, and to 

 all other states; he confers upon 

 them all the privileges they for» 



