GENERAL OF THE JESUITS. Ilfj 



With vou for half an hour. General : His holinefs may 

 have patience till I have finifhed the poll. 



This was the very language of the haughty chief; in 

 whom all the weakneffes of a little foul and of a vulgar - 

 man prevailed. He was arrogant and alluming when 

 he ihould have been gentle and modefl ; he was mean 

 and cringing when he ought to have Ihewn a generous 

 pride. He was often fubmiffive and fawning to them 

 whom on other occalions he had affronted by his arro- 

 gance. 



He was fo prepoffeffed with hjs order, that he ima- 

 gined the romilh church muft fall to the ground if de- 

 prived of its fupport. On this was founded his almofl 

 incredible obftinacy, in not permitting or tolerating 

 the flightefh alteration in its primitive conltitution. 



In the latter years of the reign of Benedict XIV, 

 when heavy complaints were brought from all parts of 

 the world, particularly from Portugal, againfc the fo- 

 ciety, this enlightened and peaceable pontif reprefen- 

 ted to him, in the livelier! colours, the dangers which 

 threatened his order,* if he did not in time fet forward 

 a proper reform. " The rnofl potent monarchs, faid 

 <f he, are now concerting the meafures for extermlna- 

 <c ting your fraternity, unlefs you amend the defects 

 " and vices with which you are charged. The tempo* 

 " ral arm has already pronounced your fentence. You 

 (t have powerful enemies in the bofom of the church. 

 " The fuperior clergy hate you. The cardinal pro- 

 " tedlors of crowns may not be your friends with the 

 if feveral monarchs they ferve. All the orders of monks 

 ( 6 are your deadly foes. They will at length raife one 

 f * of their body to the chair of St. Peter, for bringing 



i % " your 



