I79I' TRAVELLIKG MEMORANDUMS. 1 75 



— Their chief dependence is on the refort of noble 

 and fafhionable people who refide here for eafe, and 

 independence. — It is remvirkable that they practife here 

 a more unlimited liberty of the prefs than any where 



on the continent They hav^r between twenty and 



thirty different prefies much employed ; and they pub- 

 lifti, without contrcul, all kinds of prohibited books. — I 

 purchafed fome remarkable books of this kind, which 

 are not to be had openly in any other part, of France, 

 and particularly the private life of Lewis XV. which is 

 amufing, and contains many true and curious anec- 

 dotes, not very conducive to raife our veneration for 

 Kings and Courts, nor to remove prejudices againft 

 them. 



The Pope is fovere:p;n of Avignon, and the adjoining 

 territory of Contade.—Their right was anciently derived 

 from tranfaclions, ably managed, with a weak and bi- 

 gotted princefs : — indeed the Popes have in many in- 

 {tances been great gainers by female godlinefs. 



The Pope's Legate exercifes all powers of govern- 

 our and chief magiitrate. — His jurifdiclion, in matters 

 criminal, is abfolute and final : — in civil queftions 



an appeal is competent to the Court of Rome He has 



only 100 men as a. military guard to maintain order 

 and regularity. — He poffefles a noble palace; but his 

 income, not exceeding 1500I. Sterling a year, he lives 



without itately oftentiition or much cxpence. The 



Popes appoint an Italian to this office almofl without 

 exception.— Their adminiltration has moftly been, and 

 now is, impartial, moderate, and popular. — In the fin- 

 gular pofition of this country any degree of rigour 

 would be dangerous, and opprchion would be fatal to 

 the fovereign power. — The Popes have only a fmall ter- 

 ritorial revenue, and they have never ventured to im- 

 pofe or exact any taxes whatever. — The reafon they af- 

 iign for this fingularity is fatisfa^lory. — They fay, 

 *' The King of France cannc-t, and the Pope dare not 

 (' impofe taxes.". Its value to the Pope confifts 



