esa 
The Rev. R. Ft 
aliens as they were, to the full enjoy¬ 
ment of that trade uhich was denied to 
tliera. A bill had been introduced by 
IMr. Pitt, which, according to the ex¬ 
pression of Lord Shefiielfi, “ iiad it 
passed into a law, would .have affected 
our most essential interests in every 
branch of commerce, and in every part 
of the world; would have deprived of 
their efficacy our navigation laws, and 
midermined the whole naval power ol 
Britain/’ Happily this bill v\as rejected 
in consequence of an event, wliicli the 
state of parties had made necessary; the 
coalition of two ercat statesmen, who 
were assailed by all the weapons of 
obloquy, because, to use the words of 
ail elegant writer, “ they had abjured 
their mutual animosity vviiiiout waiting 
I’or the consent of the public/’ 
In time of war, the channels of the 
commercial resources of Jersey are ob¬ 
structed ; but those of Guernsey still 
continued open tilMately, when the ad¬ 
ministration elftctually closed them. 
JSeien cutters of war were sent to cruise 
round tlie island, to prohibit the impor¬ 
tation of those foreign articles, which 
were 'smuiriiled into Lntiland. ^ J his 
easv expedient had been suggested to 
Lord iSorth, to Mr. Pitt, and Mr. Fox; 
but thev saw that it would only ruin tlie 
islands of Guernsey and Alderney, whose 
prosperity increased the general wealth 
of the empire, and transl’er the advan¬ 
tages of that trade to our enemies. This 
event has taken p.ace ; and the smuggler 
now repairs to the harbours on the French 
coast, where he is received with open 
arms. But another mischievous conse¬ 
quence has added to our difficulties. 
Contraband articles were paid for in 
Oueriisey, partly in Bank ol England 
notes and London bills of exchange, and 
partly in British manuractures; but now 
nothing can be received by the French 
but specie. Hence a cause of no small 
magnitude of the depreciation of paper 
money. As soon as tins tranler was 
made from Guernsey to the French const, 
mens began to bear a premium ol tv^o 
sbilhngs on the Eastein coast ol England 
tov the use of the smuggler. 
OPINIONS OF W'-.DFRN CATHOLICS. 
In tlie year 1783, a Committee of the 
English Catholics waited on Mr. Pitt, 
respecting tiieir application for the repeal 
of the Penal Laws. — He requested to be 
furnislied with authentic evidence of the 
opifHons of the Roman Catholic Clergy, 
and the Roman Catholic Uiiivergiiies 
Sermons. 
' abroad, “ on the Existence and Extent 
of the Pope’s dispensing Power.”— T.hree 
questions weie accordingly framed and 
sent to the universities of Paris, Louvain, 
Alcala, Douay, Salamanca, and \"alla-> 
dolid, for their opinions. The questions 
proposefUo tiiem were, 
1. Has the pope, or cardinals, or any 
body of men, or any individual of the 
church of Rome, any civil authoiitv, 
jurisdiction, power, or pre-eminetice, 
whatsoever, within the realm of England.? 
2. Can the pope, or cardinals, ojqany 
body of men, or any individual of the 
church of Home, absolve or dispense 
with His JMajesty’s subjects from their 
oath of allegiance, upon any pretext 
w hatsoever ? 
3. Is there any principle in the tenets 
of the Catholic faith, by which Catholics 
are justified in not keeping faith with 
heretics, or other persons difi'ering from 
them in religious opinions, in any irans- 
aciion, either of a public or private na¬ 
ture r 
Ahlract from the Aimcer of the Sacred 
Tacultij of Divinity of jfaris, to the 
above Que7 ics. 
After an introduction, according to the 
usual forms of tiie University, they an¬ 
swer the first query by declaring — 
Is either the pope, nor the cardinals, 
nor any body of men, nor any other per¬ 
son of the church of Home, have any civil 
authority, civil power, civil jurisdiction, 
pi civil pre-eminence whatsoever, in any 
kingdom; and, consequently, none in the 
kingdom of England, by reason or virtue 
of any authority, power, jurisdiction, or 
pre-eminence by divine institution inhe¬ 
rent in, or granted, or by any other 
means belonging to the pope or the 
church of Rome, 'i bis doctrine, the sacred 
faculty of divinity of Paris, has always 
held,and upon every occasion maintained, 
and uj)on every occasion has rigidly pro* 
scribed tlie contrary doctrines ffoin her 
schools. 
Answer to the second query. — Nei¬ 
ther the pope, nor the cardinals, nor any 
body of men, nor any person of the church 
of Rome, can, by virtue of the keys, ab¬ 
solve or free the subjects of the King of 
England from their oath of allegiance, 
Tfiis and tlie first qurr/ are so inti¬ 
mately connected, that tlie answei to the 
first immediately and naturally applies to 
tiie second, See. 
Answer to the third query. — There is 
no tenet in the Catholic church, by 
jvvhich Catholics are justified in not keep¬ 
ing faith with heretics, or those who differ 
from 
