TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 



91 



Accou7it of the Monts de Pietd of Rome, Paris, and other cities on the Con- 

 tinent. By Henry John Porter, F.S.S., Tandragee, Ireland. 



The author stated that an institution of the kind had been formed at Rome before 

 the Christian era by the Emperor Augustus, but that they were revived in modern Italy 

 under the patronage of the Popes. The system was supported by tlie Franciscans, 

 and opposed by the Dominicans, until the matter was set at rest by Leo X., wlio de- 

 clared lending-houses to be legal and useful, a decree subsequently confirmed by the 

 Council of Trent. From an old Italian work, entitled ' The Pious Institutions of Rome,' 

 ])ublished in 1689, he gave the following account of the origin of the Monte di Pieta. 

 The work was so rare that he could not purchase a copy, but had been permitted to 

 make an extract. 



"The original founder of this great work of benevolence in Rome, was Padre Gio- 

 vanni Calvo, a Franciscan of the order of Minorites, who obtained tlio sanction of 

 Paul III. for an association of some persons of distinction, whom he had united for 

 this object. This pontiff not only approved the institution of the present sacred Monte 

 di Pieta, but assisted the undertaking with money, enriched it with indulgences and 

 privileges, and conferred on it all the favours enjoyed by similar institutions. The 

 sacred Monte di Pieta has for its object the advance of sums of money, in each case 

 not exceeding thirty crowns, to poor and necessitous persons of every description, on 

 the security of pledges. This is accomplished as individuals, actuated by benevolent 

 motives, supply funds to the institution, or, apprehensive of danger if they retain 

 money at home, deposit it with the establishment for greater security. The pledges 

 which are taken from day to day are retained eighteen months, after which, if the 

 owner fails to claim them, they are sold publicly and fairly, by auction. The proceeds 

 are applied to satisfying the claims of the establishment, including interest at two per 

 cent., and the surplus is returned to the owner of the pledge. The institution is go- 

 verned by a fraternity, which every year elects forty of its members as directors. 

 The directors meet weekly, to deliberate on all that is required for the maintenance 

 of the establishment, which may be regarded as the common patrimony of the poor, 

 and the great mansion of all." The document then set forth the favours which had 

 been shown to the institution by successive popes, ending with the promulgation of 

 its statutes by Alexander VII. Mr. Porter stated, that as he was anxious to obtain 

 some information respecting the founder of this institution, he applied to the GeneraL 

 of the Franciscan order, and obtained from his secretary the following extract from 

 the records of the Franciscan monastery at the Arracoeli in Rome: — "1541. John 

 Calvus, son of Calvus, was a native of the kingdom of Corsica, and educated in the 

 province of Corsica. He was a man renowned for his learning, skill, and suavity of 

 manners. He held the office of Commissario in the court of Rome ; he was selected 

 at the general assembly at Mantua, to regulate the whole order of Franciscans. He 

 was the first person lo institute the Monte di Pieta. He was eminent for a two-fold 

 apostolic office ; he was theological advocate at the Council of Trent ; he was esteemed 

 by Paul III., and the kings of France and Lusitania. He died at Trent 21st of 

 January 1547, having held office about six years." The following table shows the 

 state of the Monte di Pieta in Rome, for the year 1839 : — 



