the usual legal forms, or admitting accusations to be exhibited, and a defence to be made; itself being the sole and competent judge, when those orders no longer answered the end of their institution, by the promotion of Christianity and piety; this method being considered as better calculated to calm the agitation of men's minds, to prevent the bitterness arising from mutual recrimination, and to stifle the spirit of party and dissension.

The charges against the Jesuits are loose and voluminous, and seem in general rather to comprehend a, recapitulation of all the complaints that have been made against them from their first institution, without regard to the proofs that were brought in their support, or the decisions that were passed upon them, than of direct accusations. Thus are enumerated, early dissensions among themselves, and quarrels with other orders, as well as with the secular clergy, with the public schools, academies, and universities, together with disputes that arose upon the authority assumed or exercised by their general, and with the princes in whose countries they were received, with a long bead-roll of such general matters, without any particular observations on their nature, causes, or issue. An early appeal against them, not long after their institution, by Philip the Second of Spain, is with more propriety taken notice of; as are the appeals brought by several other sovereigns since that time: and their late expulsion from France, Spain, Portugal, and Sicily, is among the number of their accusations. From this continual state of hostility, and general dislike, in which they sub

sisted with mankind, it is, however, justly inferred, that the general tenour of their conduct was reprehensible, and pernicious in its example and consequences to the Christian world.

Some other matters are of more importance. It appears, that so early as the year 1606, their rage for intermeddling in public and political affairs, was already become so prevalent and notorious, and some consequences that attended it, bore so fatal an aspect to the order, that they were obliged to pass a decree among themselves, which, to give it greater efficacy, they had inserted in a brief by Pope Paul the Fifth, to forbid their members from interfering under any pretence in public affairs for the future. This remedy, as well as all others, is said to have been ineffectual, and they are charged with an insatiable avidity for temporal possessions, with disturbing the peace of the church in Europe, Africa, and America; of giving scandal in their missions, as well by quarrelling with other missionaries, and by invading their rights, as by the practice of idolatrous ceremonies in certain places, in contempt of those approved by the church, Their doctrines are also attacked, and they are charged with giving uses and applications to certain maxims, which are proscribed as scandalous, and manifestly contrary to good morals; and of having adopted dangerous opinions, in matters of the greatest moment and importance, with respect to the preserving of the purity and integrity of the doctrines contained in the gospel; and which are said to have been productive of great evils and dangers to the church, as · [D] 4

well

well as to some particular Christian

states.

These enormities, with many others, are said to have occasioned their proscription at different times by several states; as well as a severe visitation which was begun by Sixtus the Fifth; but which he did not live to accomplish; and were the cause that Innocent the Eleventh forbid them to receive any more novices, and that Innocent the Thirteenth threatened them with the same punishment; and that at length those princes, whose piety and liberality to the society seemed to have become hereditary in their families, were under a necessity of expelling them from their domini

ons.

After summing up these, and various other causes for their dissolu

tion, particularly the preservation of peace in the Christian republic, and their incapability in the present circumstances of answering the purposes of their institution, together with other motives reserved in the breast of the sovereign Pontiff, all ecclesiastics of whatever rank or dignity, and particularly those who have been members of the society, are forbidden, under sentence of excommunication, to impugn, combat, or even jo write or speak about this suppression, to enter into its reasons or motives, or into any discussions about the institute of the company, its form of government, or other circumstances relating to it, without an express permission from the Pontiff for that purpose, Aug. 16th. In consequence of this bull, ten bishops went at night, attended by a detachment of Corsican soldiers, to all the colleges and houses belonging to the Jesuits in Rome, of

1

which they took possession, and having placed the necessary guards, the communities were assembled, and after the proper notices and forms were gone through, those fathers delivered up their keys, and the locks of their archives being sealed, and effects of all sorts being secured, even to provisions, they were allowed eight days to find new dwellings, and to quit the habit of the order. They at the same time gave up their schools, and resigned all the functions of their ministry, of whatever sort or nature. The bull extended to all countries whatever in which they were placed, and sentence of excommunication was denounced against those who should harbour or conceal of their effects. any Their general, father Ricci, is to be appointed to a bishoprick, and such of the Jesuits as were already in holy orders, were allowed, either to become secular clergymen, or to enter into other orders, having first served the accustomed novitiate of that into which they are to enter; pensions, are to be allowed out of their former possessions, to those who become secular clerks; and the bishops, under whose jurisdiction they are totally to remain, have a discretionary power, to admit such of them as are remarkable for learning and purity of doctrine, to preach and to confess, from which they are totally restrained, without a written license for that purpose. Those who had gone through the last vows, or who through age and infirmities were unfit to enter into the world, were to be collected and placed in one or more of their ancient houses or colleges, where they are for ever restrained from preaching, confes

șion, and all the functions of their ministry, and are only allowed to exist upon a subsistence for life; the bishops being particularly charged, as they will answer it at the last day, to look to the strict observance of these prohibitions. Such as are disposed to dedicate their time to the instruction of youth, are totally debarred from all share in the government of those colleges or schools in which they serve, and the strictest caution is prescribed, that none are admitted to that service, who do not shew themselves averse to all spirit of dispute, and who are not tainted with any doctrines which may occasion or stir up frivolous and dangerous controversies. The scholars and novices were returned to their respective homes, and those who had only taken the first vows were discharged from them; and all the statutes, rules, customs, decrees, and constitutions of the order, even though confirmed by oath, were totally annulled and abrogated.

Such was the final fate of this celebrated society; which, with a very considerable stock of learning and abilities, had found means to render itself odious to all the nations and religions in the christian world. The riches which were found in their houses and colleges, whether in specie, plate, or jewels, were very inconsiderable, and greatly disappointed the hopes of those, who expected to have found inexhaustible treasures in the search. Whether they were able to evade the terrors of excommunication, and to elude the greater dangers arising from the prying and rapacious eyes of covetousness, by secreting their most valuable moveables, is still a matter to be

determined; though, with respect to any thing considerable, the probability is otherwise.

As the suppression of this order has removed all ground of difference between the house of Bourbon and the court of Rome, a thorough reconciliation has accordingly taken place, and the latter is to be reinstated in Avignon and the Duchy of Benevento. Thus the papacy may probably, for some longer time, retain its territorial possessions in quiet.

In the mean time, the Italian states are continually curtailing the ecclesiastical power in their dominions, and that court is daily losing its influence with them. Of this the Venetians have given a striking instance in the present year, by refusing to receive a bull from the Pope, by which he had conferred two abbeys in that state upon Cardinal Rezzonico; the senate having resolved, that no ecclesiastic should possess any benefice in their territories who did not reside there

in. The Empress Queen is also beginning to intermeddle with the religious houses in the duchy of Milan; two of them have been already suppressed, and that is supposed to be only a prelude to the suppression of a much greater number.

successor, who is not deficient in the abilities that seem hereditary in that family, and is arrived at a time of life when prudence generally becomes constitutional, it may be reasonably supposed, will not unadvisedly enter into any measures that may be dangerous to the public tranquillity; and that from his long experience in public affairs, and the example of such a father, his subjects will find no other change in their, condition, than the benefits arising from a more vigorous age, and a closer attention to business.

An alarming insurrection which happened at Palermo, the capital of the island of Sicily, towards the latter part of the year, and which is not yet entirely quelled, deserves to be taken particular notice of. That delightful island, formerly so distinguished, and at all times the most fertile and plentiful in the world, has in all ages had the fortune, either to languish under the oppression of tyrants nurtured within its own bosom, or to groan under the slavery of foreigners.

The government of this country has for some time been very impolitically conducted. Immoderate duties are either laid on the fruits of labour and industry, or exorbitant prices extorted, for licences to dispose of them to advantage. Thus the abundant harvests, one of which is supposed equal to seven years consumption, and which are the natural riches of the country, are rendered unprofitable, as the excessive rates to be paid for the particular licences for exportation, are beyond the abilities of the husbandman, and he reaps with a heavy heart that

bounteous crop, which he is debarred from turning to account. By this means, the price of corn has for several years been reduced to about one-sixth of its real and usual value; whilst the neighbouring countries at the same time suffered the greatest distress from that scarcity which Sicily could have so happily relieved; and the tenant at home is reduced to beggary, and his lord to indigence, from the want of a market for their staple commodity.

The same weak and barbarous policy has had similar effects upon other products, and has thrown a general damp upon the industry of the people. Thus their sugar plantations and works, which were once so famous, have dwindled to nothing; and the abundant stock of natural riches, both above and below the surface of the earth, in which this country perhaps exceeds any other, of the same dimensions, in the world, are rendered of no value.

A policy of the same kind has formerly prevailed in most parts of Europe. England was among the first to perceive the weakness of its principle, and mischief of its tendency. Popular prejudices, however, concur in many places still to support so mischievous a system; and the emoluments received by government and its officers for occasional dispensations, renders the abuse lucrative, and therefore permanent. The remains of the feudal system have continued longer in that country than in any other; their barons had till lately great power, and they still inherit from their brave Norman ancestors, the name and shadow of a parliament,

which is composed of the barons, clergy, and the representatives of the considerable towns.

To annihilate the power of the barons, who are still rich and considerable, is said to be an object of this destructive policy; and to this unworthy pursuit is sacrificed the prosperity of a whole people, as well as the power and opulence which might have been derived from the possession of so noble an island. Poverty and distress will bend the haughtiest minds; and the people have the satisfaction to know that they are not ruined, as a punishment for any fault of their own, but merely to humble their lords, and make them totally dependent.

The insurrection at Palermo, was not however the effect of those general grievances; but of some that particularly related to that city. As in a country where permissions are purchased for liberty to trade, all commodities must of necessity fall into the hands of monopolists, so the same causes, that on the one hand prevent a reasonable price from being given for them at a fair market, will fiequently on the other operate in such a manner, as to produce all the effects of a real scarcity. Thus in Palermo, the monopolies granted by the Viceroy (it was alledged, with what truth or falsehood we cannot say), had so pernicious an effect, as to raise the price of some of the most essential necessaries of life, to a degree intolerable to the people.

The arguments prompted by the belly are understood by all capacities, and in great cities, particularly, are irresistible in their force. Previous, however, to any disturbance, Prince Cassaro, Pretor of

the city (one of the officers of the first power and dignity in the kingdom) remonstrated in such strong terms with the Viceroy upon his conduct, and the hardships which the people suffered, that very high words are said to have passed upon the occasion, and something like a challenge from the former. The prince then, by his own proper authority, stopped two ships which belonged to the monopolizers, and were just got without the harbour, freighted with cheese, in their way to Naples; after which the cargoes were landed by his order, and sold at the public markets at the usual prices.

This measure entirely quieted the murmurs of the people; but it happened soon after, that the prince fell ill of a strangury, and in a short time died. Having chanced to employ the Viceroy's surgeon; it was maliciously reported, and by vulgar credulity believed, that he died by poison. This event, and its supposed cause, flew with the utmost rapidity through the city, and threw every part of it into the utmost disorder and confusion. Prince Cassaro was universally lamented, as having fallen a martyr in the cause of the people; while the supposed authors of so base and villainous an action were regarded as objects of the utmost rage and detestation.

The people immediately assembled, to the number of thirty thousand, with drawn swords, muskets, and pistols, and having seized some of the bastions, drew two pieces of cannon into the square in the cen▾ ter of the city, which they loaded with old iron and glass, and stood with lighted links, ready to discharge them as there should be oc

casion.