of the Cæsars to a Gallic usurper*. Yet this pusillanimous prince, when he gave up a title which had been the ambition of the wisest and the most heroic of his ancestors, and which raised his family above all the royal dynasties of Europe, had more legions under his command than were assembled under both Cæsar and Pompey to dispute the empire of the world in the plains of Pharsalia. But, if Rome has to blush for the pusillanimity of her Emperor, she may justly glory in the firmness of her Pontiff, and acknowledge in Pius VII. the unconquerable soul of her ancient heroes. While all the other sovereigns of the continent bowed in silent submission to the will of the victor, and resigned or assumed provinces and diadems at his nod, the humble Pontiff alone had the courage to assert his independence to repel indignantly the pretended sovereignty of the French despot, and to reject with contemptuous disdain both his claims and his offers.

Inconcussa tenens dubio vestigia mundo.

Lucan 11.

How long this subjugation of Italy may last, it is not for

*The Roman has thus subsided in the French Empire, and Napoleon affects to reign the founder of a new monarchy, and the rival, not the successor of the Cæsars. This attempt to make France the seat of empire is the second on record. The first was made during the distractions that accompanied the contest between Vespasian and Vitellius. Though successful at first, it soon terminated in disgrace and discomfiture, and the empire of the Gauls vanished before the genius of Rome.-Tacit. Hist. IV. It is to be wished, for the sake of the human race at large, that this second attempt at universal dominion may meet with the same fate!

human foresight to determine; but we may without rashness venture to assert, that as long as the population and the resources of Italy are annexed to the destinies of France, so long France must be triumphant. A peace that consigns the garden of Europe to the tranquil sovereignty of that overgrown and most restless Power, consigns the Continent over to hopeless slavery; and of a peace that brings such a dire disaster with it, it may justly be asserted that it will be more pernicious in its consequences than the longest and most destructive warfare.

The islands may flatter themselves in vain with the advantages of their situation; a population of sixty millions, active, warlike, and intelligent, with all the ports and all the forests of the Continent at their command, with increasing experience on their side, and with the skill and the valour of trans-atlantic mariners in their favour, must at length prevail, and wrest the trident even from the mighty hand of Great Britain.

When we contemplate the page of history, and see how intimately happiness seems connected with misfortune, and how closely glory is followed by disaster; when we observe the prosperity of a country suddenly checked by invasion, the most civilized regions opened as if by the hand of Providence to a horde of barbarians, and all the fair prospect of peace and felicity blasted in the very moment of expansion, we are tempted to indulge a sentiment of despondency, and mourn over the destiny of our Species. But, the philosopher who admires the wisdom and the goodness of the Divine Being stamped on the face of nature, and reads them still more forcibly expressed in the Volume of inspiration, will ascribe to design that which folly might attribute to chance; he will discover in the histories of

nations, as in the lives of individuals, the prudent discipline of a father inuring his sons to patience and to exertion; repressing their petulance by timely chastisements; encouraging their efforts by occasional success; calling forth their powers by disasters and disappointments; allowing the mind seasons of peace and prosperity to mature its talents; and, when it has attained the highest point of perfection allotted to human endowment in this state of trial, changing the scene, and by new combinations of nations and of languages, calling forth the energies of other generations; and thus keeping the human heart and intellect in constant play and uninterrupted progress towards improvement.

APPENDIX.

ON THE POPE, THE ROMAN COURT, CARDINALS, &c.

THE subject of the following pages, though not strictly speaking included in the plan of a Classical Tour, is yet intimately connected with the destinies of Rome. For the former reason I have omitted these observations in the body of the work; and for the second, I think it necessary to insert them here; espe-cially as many of my readers, though they may have heard much of the names, yet may possibly be very superficially acquainted with the things themselves. Such therefore as may have any curiosity to satisfy, or any wish to acquire more information on the subject, will perhaps peruse the following pages

with some interest.

The person of the Pope may be considered in two very different capacities, as temporal sovereign of the Roman territory, and as chief Pastor of the Catholic Church. The confusion of these characters has produced much scandal in past ages, and in more modern times, has given occasion to much misrepresentation and not a little oppression. To draw the line therefore,

and enable the reader to discriminate the rights annexed to these different characters, may be considered not only as necessary in a discourse which treats of the Roman Court, but as a debt due to the cause of truth and benevolence. That such a combination of spiritual and temporal power may occasion a mutual re-action on each other, and that it has had that effect not unfrequently, must be admitted; and whether it may not on that very account be, in some degree, mischievous, is a question which we are not here called upon to discuss, especially as this union forms no part of Christian or Catholic discipline; and however decorous or advantageous the independence of the first Pastor be supposed, yet it is confessedly no necessary appendage of his spiritual jurisdiction. I shall treat of the spiritual character first, as that is the essential and distinguishing privilege claimed by the Roman See, and then speak of the temporal power which it has acquired in the lapse of ages.

Now, in order to give the Protestant reader a clear and precise idea of the rights which every Catholic considers as inherent in the Roman See, or to speak more correctly, in the successor of St. Peter, it will be necessary to observe, that the Pope is Bishop of Rome, Metropolitan and Primate of Italy, of Sicily, and of Macedonia, &c. and Patriarch of the West; that in each of these capacities he enjoys the same privileges and the same authority as are enjoyed by other Bishops, Metropolitans, Primates, and Patriarchs in their respective dioceses and districts; that his authority, like theirs, is confined within certain limits marked out by ancient custom, and by the canons; and that like theirs also, it may be modified or suspended, by the Church at large. I shall only add, that as Patriarch of the West, the Pope enjoys a pre-eminence elevated enough to