2 
Introduction 
ever, diplomatic activity is determined by actual relationships, these make but 
slight definite contribution, except in the case of the Papacy, where the exist¬ 
ence of the Church in America was the cause of abundant controversy. For 
the general history, however, of that titanic struggle of European powers for 
sea power and colonies, which to so great an extent fixed the conditions of 
American development, Italian diplomatic correspondence is unexpectedly rich, 
for apart from their own share in these conflicts, the ambassadors of the Italian 
states were unsurpassed in the discovery and transmission of news. Even 
during the American Revolution the courts of England and France were 
scarcely better informed of the progress of events than those of Italy. Every¬ 
thing that seemed possible has been done to help in the use of this material. 
The part played in the discovery and exploration of America by Italian navi¬ 
gators constitutes another very distinct bond of relationship, but no special 
search was made for sources on this subject; partly because the activities of 
these navigators were purely individual, so far as Italy was concerned, and 
consequently traces of them are even more scattered than in the case of other 
relationships, and partly because it was obvious that no valuable contribution 
could be made with the scant time that might be taken from other work, in 
a field so well tilled by investigators, both Italian and American. What was 
found by the way, is recorded. The great bonds of immigration, trade, travel, 
and intermarriage are so modern that they fall within the period for which 
archives are not regularly open, and private documents have not fallen into 
public custody. Only slight reference can at present be made to these subjects, 
but when the right time arrives they will properly command attention. 
PAPAL ADMINISTRATION. 
For the use of the pontifical archives, some knowledge of the papal system 
of government, and especially of the central administration, is necessary. A 
brief sketch of its main features follows here, and some more detailed studies 
of individual departments are given in connection with their special collections. 
The year 1908 saw more radical changes in this organization than had taken 
place for three hundred years. As these changes affect the archives of the 
future and not those now in existence, they are not given here, but many of 
them are noted in the chapter on “ Other Ecclesiastical Collections ”. As to 
the earlier period, the papacy has, of course, undergone constant minor 
changes, and some important ones necessitated by the change from medieval 
to modern conditions. As, however, these latter had to a great extent been 
brought to pass before the affairs of America began largely to engage its 
attention, and as they involved not the destruction, but the modification of the 
old system, it is possible, in so short a sketch, to regard the organization almost 
as static, between 1492 and 1908. 
The fundamental devices of government are not numerous and the papacy 
differs from other governments rather by the combination, than by the char¬ 
acter of its organs. In contrast with the United States, the fundamental theory 
of the Holy See has been the unity, instead of the separation of powers; but 
the distinction between executive, legislative, and judicial functions exists 
here as elsewhere, and the extent to which they were exercised by the several 
branches of the government will be noted. 
The power of the Pope is supreme in all departments, save for the limita¬ 
tions of his capacity for work and the weight of routine; but not only are 
these limitations of great moment, and increasingly so as the importance of 
