Whatever the wisdom of Parliament may devise, one thing should be kept in mind, that the Emancipation Act has been accidentally left incomplete. There is now a great opportunity for marking out broadly and clearly the boundary, across which the Papal Power shall not be allowed to intrude itself. The true meaning of the movement throughout England is, that there is a general sense of existing insecurity against the inroads of the Papal Power. The instinct of self-defence suggests a cry of alarm. Let it be the future glory of the Statesman, who may have to guide the vessel of the State through the present crisis, to have satisfied that instinct not by a paltry palliative, but by a great and comprehensive measure, which, whilst it confirms the religious liberties of the Roman Catholic subjects of her Majesty, shall place the religious liberties of her Majesty's Protestant subjects in security from alarm, and beyond the reach of future aggression. A series of documents has been annexed in the Appendix to elucidate the general argument. A copy of the Latin edition of the Brief of Pope Pius IX., from the press of the Propaganda at Rome, will be found amongst them, which edition may be presumed to contain the substance of the Brief, although not authenticated, as an authorised copy is required to be, by the seal of an Ecclesiastical dignitary. The earlier Briefs are extracted either from the Roman edition of the Bullarium, or from the best historial sources. It will be seen that these earlier Briefs were addressed "with personal limitations," and, in that respect, differ altogether from the Brief of Pope Pius IX. Selections from Reports laid before the House of Commons on the subject of Bishops in the British Colonies have been subjoined, with some legal and historical extracts in illustration of the Royal Placet and the Exequatur of the Crown. A few diplomatic papers, illustrating the relations between the Great European Powers and the Holy See, complete the list. Doctors' Commons, CONTENTS. Claim of Cardinal Wiseman to ordinary Jurisdiction Distinction between the Supremacy and the Sovereignty of Distinction between Spiritual Authority and Ecclesiastical System of Vicars Apostolic in England No religious necessity for its Abandonment Effect of removal of political disabilities The Apostolicum Ministerium of Benedict XIV. - Inconvenience of the change to the Roman Catholic laity Avowed object of the new Constitution, a Provincial Synod ib. The Law of England Difference between local Bishops and a local Episcopate M. Portalis's remarks upon Establishment and Protection - Effect of 9 & 10 Vict. c. 59. as to the statutory Punishment under 1 Eliz. c. 1. and 2 Eliz. c. 1. (Irish) Title of Menevia, or St. David's, made free with in the Brief - Dr. Wiseman's Interpretation of the penal clause in the Presumption of law not in favour of the Subject, but of The practice examined, as assisting the Interpretation of the The Charitable Bequests Act (7 & 8 Vict. c. 97.) The Warrants appointing the Visitors of the Irish Colleges The Dublin Cemeteries (local) Act (9 & 10 Vict. c. 361.) The Roman Catholic Bishop in Australia The R. C. Archbishop in Sydney Erection by the Crown of the Metropolitan See of Sydney Opinion of Colonial Law Officers defended from misstatement The R. C. Bishop in the Island of Mauritius Selection of the title of Westminster by Dr. Wiseman Violation of the Statute Law as to the title of St. David's Mode of erecting Episcopal Sees by the law of England State of the law as to the bringing in and putting into exe- 51 |