1807.] 
re-acted at Rome. In a short time the 
country was without industry, without 
commerce, or resources, A dreadful 
scarcity completed the public misery. 
What could a government effect, which 
inspired neither respect nor confidence, 
or which, deprived of all credit and re-~ 
sources, could ‘not find within itself a suf- 
ficient force to overawe the ill-atfected ? 
Necessity obliged them to have recourse 
to Ferdinand IV. King of Naples, who 
took possession of Rome, and saved the 
inhabitants from despair, by opening to 
them the granaries of Sicily. It was this 
prince who restored the Roman territory 
to its lawful sovereign; and his troops 
commanded in-the pontifical city when 
Pius VIL. made his entry into it. 
The first act of the new pope was to sup- 
port the most urgent wants of the inhabi- 
tants; but it was also necessary to repair 
the other evils caused by anarchy. It was 
resolved to form an economical council 
composed of persons whose integrity 
might restore confidence between the 
sovereivn and his subjects. Borgia was 
nominated its president. 
This little senate of which he was the 
life and soul, was invested with very ex- 
tensive powers. To repair the exhausted 
finances, to re-animate industry, to revive 
agriculture and the arts, to apportion the 
taxes in an equitable manner, and to se- 
cure their payment; to restore the purity 
of their coin, to liquidate the public 
debts; in a word, to re-establish abun- 
dance, and social order : such were the ar- 
duous duties imposed on hin: by the coun- 
cil, which he fulfilled with the greatest 
credit to himself. Among the number of 
decrees which were issued, and in which 
Borgia had the greatest share, two are 
particularly distinguishable; the one 
granting liberty of commerce, and the 
other obliging all ranks, indiscriminately, 
to pay the accustomed duties on entrance 
into the yates of Rome. ee 
It is well known that political events 
had a powerful influence on religious opi- 
nions, and tended to modify the disci- 
pline of the church. The state of uncer- 
tainty and anxiety which affected the 
French and German clergy, gave rise to 
a number of delicate questions, neces- 
sary to be solved. From all quarters the 
holy see was consulted, and Bergia was 
charged to reply. In performing this ser- 
Vice, he evinced the prudence and address 
which the civcumstances required. For 
this purpose, it was necessary for him to 
procure, by every means in his power, 
,» Monrary Mae., No. 164. 
Account of the Life of Cardinal Stephen Borgia. 
» 467 
old canons, and pontifical ordinances, as 
well as ancient records relative to the 
history of the church. He was far, how- 
ever, trom being dismayed; but believing 
it incumbent on him, as president of the 
council, to use all the dispatch necessary 
in an affair, wherein the general interest 
was concerned, he scarcely allowed him- 
selfany time for either meals or sleep. 
Jn order, bowever, that he might not ex- 
haust his strength, and thus be disabled 
from proceeding in his duty, he indulged 
hunself, during the day in a short repose, 
or engaged in some amusement. 
Notwithstanding these laborious and 
multifarious occupations, he yet found suf= 
ficient time to act as President of the 
Congregation of the Index, or Board for 
licencing and prohibiting Books, and to 
direct its concerns. 
Cardinal de Zelada, rector of the Ro- 
man college, having died in 1801, the pope, 
on the following year, appointed Borgia to 
succeed him, who willingly undertook an 
employment altogether conformable to 
his mclinations. ft was truly surprising 
to behold a man who had so honourably 
terminated a long career, recommence 
it, so to speak, amidst a numerous circle 
of professors and students. Nor was it 
less so to hear him descant with all the 
energy of youth, and the experience of 
old age, upon the necessity of studying 
the Greek and Latin languages; to lis- 
ten to his remarks on their purity and 
richness; to hear him point out the ad- 
vantages to be derived from the study of 
logic, ethics, experimental philosophy, 
and theology. i 
Anxious for the promotion of useful 
learning in this college, he availed him- 
self of every circumstance calculated to 
embellish and render it captivating. 
Always occupied with useful schemes, 
it was about this period that Borgia en- 
dowed a professorship of the veterinary 
art, the first ever established at Rome. 
Two years before this period, he had 
succeeded Cardinal Gerdil, as president 
of the Propaganda, of which he had be- 
fore been secretary. This was the last 
dignity conferred upon lim. 
Borgia possessing a good state of health, 
enjoyed in tranquillity the 1eward of hig 
labours, and was prepairing to publish his 
‘Maritime History of the States of the Ho- 
ly See, when he received orders to ac- 
company Pius VII. into France; ‘his great 
age, the weakness of his Jungs, the rigar 
of the season, and the fatigues insepara- 
ble from so long a journey, inspired him 
oe with 
