Rome: its ruler and its institutions

Front matter

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ROME : ITS EULER AND ITS INSTITUTIONS. LoNDOls : Printed by Spottiswoode & Co. New-street Square. Funtrd t^ Henry .Doyle, Esq Engra-vrd byHAilaxd Qy^ i-AcAU<>Z€^A QAtœA ZZ. Susans 66& <_AaxA6&4ie'' i>pn£tAs£6/ London. Longlnan *C° ROME: ITS EULER AND ITS INSTITUTIONS. BY JOHN FRANCIS MAGUIRE, M.P. LONDON: LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, LONGMANS, & ROBERTS. 1857. The right of translation is reserved. TO THE HON. AND EIGHT REV. GEOEGE TALBOT, DOMESTTC PRELATE AND PRIVATE CHAMBERLAIN OF HIS HOLINESS PIUS IX. THIS VOLUME IS Jkuuatffc BY THE AUTHOR, AS A TESTIMONY OF RESPECT FOR HIS CHARACTER, AND OF GRATITUDE FOR HIS KINDNESS. A

Preface

. This volume has had its origin in a series of letters, which I wrote from Rome, in the belief that the subjects of which they treated, and the information which they afforded, would prove of interest to a large circle of readers. The result justified the anticipation ; for the letters were extensively copied in this country, as well as in various places in America, and were reprinted in more than one European language. The interest which they excited — or, more correctly speaking, which the information afforded by their details excited — was evi denced by almost innumerable applications made to me, to publish them in some more enduring and permanent form. Many of these applications were urged upon me with a weight of personal authority which I could not attempt to resist ; and I therefore resolved to comply A

PREFACE.

. VIII with a desire in which I thoroughly sympathised, and the motive of which I perfectly understood, — namely, a wish to encounter, by a representation of the true state of things in Rome, that system of falsehood and misrepresentation which has been too generally adopted with reference to all matters connected with the go vernment and institutions of the Papal States : which system of falsehood and misrepresentation is not owing to the circumstance of the nation and government being Italian, but of both being Catholic, and of the latter being that of the Head of the Catholic Church. At a considerable sacrifice of time, and no small interference with pressing public duty, I resolved, not on reprinting my letters, but upon using them as the groundwork of a volume in which the subjects to which they referred, but briefly treated, might be dealt with more fully and more deliberately ; ample materials for their development being at my disposal, the result of what I myself saw, or what I could gather from public documents of undoubted authority.

Scarcely, however, had I commenced my task, when I felt convinced of the necessity of giving a brief but sufficient sketch of the career of the reigning Pope, principally with a view of recalling to the recollection of the reader the remarkable events of the early years of his pontificate, and exhibiting the causes that of necessity arrested

PREFACE.

. IX the progress of those great political reforms of which he was the author, but which evil men sought to use to their own advantage, if not to his destruction. A casual conversation with a friend, whose mind tena ciously retained all recent impressions made by the partial statements of the enemies of the Pope, and the traducers of his government, but from which every recollection ofthe events of 1848 and 1849 had utterly faded, determined me to carry out this resolution, and commence the volume with a personal and historical sketch of the career of Pius IX. This I have done at greater length than I had at first intended, but per haps not so fully as the nature of the subject required. At any rate, I trust I have done sufficient to enable the reader to behold, in his true character, one of the best of men, and most beneficent of rulers; and to estimate, at their right value, the accusations which have been made against him, as a reformer of the one day, and a reactionist of the next.

The letters to which, as I have said, this volume owes its origin, I have but sparingly used ; or where I have used them, I have added to them considerably, — so as to render each of the more important subjects as full as I could afford to make it in a single volume. For instance, I have devoted a considerable portion of the book to a sketch of the Educational institutions of

PREFACE.

. X Rome,— a subject respecting which much misconception exists in these countries. To one portion of this book I feel it right to direct attention, — namely, to the Appendix. I do so for two reasons. In the first place, it contains, in the official Report furnished by the Count de Rayneval, the French Envoy at Rome, to the Minister for Foreign Affairs in Paris, the most authoritative and conclusive refutation of the charges urged against the Government of the Pope ; and affords an amount of valuable information, on various points, of which it is essential that the public of these countries should be apprised. This document first appeared in its English form in the Daily News of the 18th of March, 1857 ; and while adopting this translation, I can vouch for its accuracy, as I have closely compared it with the original French, subsequently published in that journal.

In no material respect does the one differ from the other ; the trans lation, in every respect, substantially conveying the meaning of the original, and giving all its figures and facts with scrupulous fidelity. I had been in previous possession of documentary evidence, proving the truth of the statements made in this remarkable State Paper, and had even embodied many of them in my letters ; but, on its appearance in the Daily News, I was at once convinced that I would be more likely to serve

PREFACE.

. XI the cause which I had at heart, by abandoning what I had written, and adopting the despatch of the French Ambassador, who wrote, not only under a sense of official responsibility, but from a personal knowledge, derived alike from his long residence in Rome, and the facilities which his position afforded him of arriving at the real state of things. To this despatch I would direct the attention of every reader who desires to ascertain the truth with respect to the Papal Government. I direct attention to the Appendix for this second reason, — namely, that the reader may learn, from sources of unquestionable authority, that we ourselves have very many and very important reforms to effect, both at home and in our government abroad, before we venture to become the self-appointed censor of other nations; — that, in a word, we should cast out the beam out of our own eye, before we cast out the mote out of our brother's eye.

In the chapters on the public institutions of Rome, I have been indebted, in some measure, to the able and philosophic work of the late Cardinal Morichini ; which obligation I have acknowledged in more than one place. This valuable work was given to me in Rome, as con taining the best and fullest information on the subjects with which I desired to become acquainted; but my letters merely contained descriptions of what / saw, as

PREFACE.

. I had no time, while in that city, to devote to reading. But for a fuller account, such as I now pretend to give, of the institutions which I then described, a reference to a work of the very highest authority became a matter of necessity. I shall only add, in conclusion, the expression of a sincere and heart-felt hope, that this volume may have the effect of removing from the minds of many honest and well-intentioned readers, the dark veil with which ignorance and prejudice have obscured the truth, — and that these pages may enable the conscientious of every communion to comprehend the character and appreciate the virtues of one of the best of Men, one of the most beneficent of Rulers, and one of the most illustrious of Popes. J. F. M. London : July, 1857. CONTENTS.

Chapter I

Introduction. — The Pauline Chapel. — The Cardinals. — The Pope Page 1 CHAP. II. The Pope : his Birth and Education. — He studies for the Ministry. — His Malady cured. — His first Mass. — Goes to Chili. — Instance of his Charity to an English Officer. — Returns to Rome. — Is created Archbishop of Spoleto. — Difficulties of his Position. — Appointed Cardinal Bishop of Imola. — His charitable and pious Works. — Is elected Pope - - - - 18 CHAP. III. Pius IX. ascends the Throne. — Grants an Amnesty. — Terms of the Amnesty. — Enthusiasm of the People. — Machinations of the Revolutionists. — Their Policy and Objects. — Mazzini's Address to the Friends of Italian Liberty. — Difficulties of the Pope's Position. — The Pope as a Reformer. — Instances of his Affability and Goodness. — His Interest in the Education of Youth. — The Pope no Nepotist --------34 CHAP. IV.

Alarm of Austria at the Acts of the Pope. — Popular Demonstrations artfully promoted. — Proclamation against them. — Occupation of Ferrara by the Austrians. — Military Enthusiasm of the People. — Inauguration of the Council of State — Its Creation an Evidence of the Pope's Desire for Reform. — The Pope explains his Intentions. — Address from the Council. — Foreign Sympathy. — The Pope's Generosity to Ireland. — His Appeal in her Behalf. — State of Europe - - - CONTENTS. XIV CHAP. V. The Year of Revolutions. — Great Excitement in Rome. — Further Reforms demanded. — Opening of the Roman Parliament. — The War of Independence. — Its disastrous Result. — Count Rossi Prime Minister. — His Assassination resolved upon Page 73 CHAP. VI. Assassination of Count Rossi. — Despatch of the French Ambassador. — Inhuman Rejoicings. — Assault on the Pope's Palace. — The Pope's personal Liberty at an End. — No Excuse for this Violence ...------81 CHAP. VII.

The personal Liberty of the Pope at an End. — He resolves to abandon Rome. — His Flight from the Quirinal. — He reaches Gaeta. — His Reception by the King and Queen of Naples 89 CHAP. VIII. The Flight of the Pope supposed to be the Downfall of the Papacy. — Former Popes driven from Rome — Pius VI. and Pius VII. — General Cavaignac's Letter. — Testimony of the " Times." — Addresses pour in on the Pope. — Offers of Hospitality - 96 CHAP. IX. Confusion in Rome at the Flight of the Pope. — His Protest from Gaeta. — The Constituent Assembly convoked. — Arrival of Mazzini. — State of Rome. — Pius appeals to the Catholic Powers. — His Appeal responded to 108 CHAP. X. Profane Rites in St. Peter's. — Atrocities of the Republic. — Delusion of the Republicans. — Lord Palmerston's Advice. — Appeals to France and England. — Armed Intervention indispensable - - - - - - - - -118 CONTENTS.

XV CHAP. XI. The French occupy Civita Vecchia, and march on Rome. — First Assault unsuccessful. — Bravery of the Besieged. — Rome surrenders. — The Pope's grateful Letter ... Page 126 CHAP. XII. The Pope's Edict published in Rome. — Another Amnesty. — Rome reassumes its old Appearance. — General Reaction. — The Pope's Return announced. — His Journey. — He reenters his Capital. — Enthusiasm of the People - - - - - -133 CHAP. XIII. Disastrous Effects of the Revolution. — The Pope's Efforts to remedy them. — His daily Life. — His Audiences. — Petitions. — The Pope's Charity. — His Munificence - 141 CHAP. XIV. Instances of the Pope's Charity. — More Instances. — Curious Applications. — Protestant Opinions of his Character. — He gives Audience to a Negro Slave. — His Affability to Students. — ■ The Holy Father a Pedestrian — Pio Nono and Father Mathew. — Public Bakeries and Model Lodging Houses established by the Pope 151 CHAP. XV.

Personal Courage of His Holiness. — His Presence of Mind in the Hour of Danger. — His Visits to the Cholera Hospitals. — Not afraid of his Subjects. — Evidence of his Fearlessness - 166 CHAP. XVI. The Roman Hospitals. — La Consolazione. — San Giovanni di Calabita. — San Galicano. — San Giacomo. — Santissima Salvatore. — Santissima Trinita di Pellegrini - - - - 172 CHAP. XVII. Great Hospital of Santo Spirito. — Its Extent and Importance. — Its Foundling Hospital. — Foundlings not necessarily illegi- CONTENTS. XVI timate -Reasons why legitimate Children are sent tn. - Average Mortality. - State of the Hospital.- Treatment and Training of the Foundlings. - Hospital of San Rocco. - Advan tages of" these Institutions, especially in preventing Infanticide. — Asylum for Lunatics Page 187 CHAP. XVIII.

The Roman Prisons — In a State of Transition — Beneficial Change in their Management — Religious versus Lay Officials. The Termini. — The Prison for Women. — The Solitary Cell. Influence of the Nuns. — Reformatory of Santa Maria della Misericordia. — Reformatory della Vigna Pia - - - 208 CHAP. XIX. Prisons of San Michele. — The Cellular and Silent Systems long practised in Rome. — The Political Prison very unlike an Italian Dungeon .-..----- 224 CHAP. XX. Asylum and Prison of the Good Shepherd. — Singular Influence of the Nuns over the Prisoners. — Model Prison of Fossombrone. — The Pope a Prison Reformer. — His Advice to Bishop Wilson 230 CHAP. XXI. Houses of Refuge. — Charitable Associations for the Defence of the Poor and the Imprisoned. — Society of S. Giovanni Decollate — Society della Morte ------ 241 CHAP. XXII.

Education in Rome. — The Old Calumny against the Catholic Church refuted by the Educational Institutions of Rome. — Its Schools more numerous than its Fountains. Elementary Education. — Gratuitous Education originated by Ecclesiastics. — Religious Orders devoted to the Gratuitous Education of the Poor.— The Brothers of the Christian Schools. — Their admirable System of Education ------- CONTENTS. XVII CHAP. XXIII. The Roman Night Schools. — The Deaf and Dumb. — Asylum of Tata Giovanni. — San Michele, a School of Industry and Art - - Page 262 CHAP. XXIV. Female Education. — Ample Provision for it. — Colleges and Seminaries. — English and Irish Colleges. — The Propaganda. — The Roman College. — Educational Statistics of Rome. — Its high Educational Standard .... - 275 CHAP. XXV. Universities in the Papal States. — Their Courses and Museums. — Valuable Libraries. — Admission gratuitous. — Elementary Instruction. ■ — Communal Schools. — Number of Students in the Universities. — The Church not afraid of the Diffusion of Education, — Mr. Macaulay quoted - - - - 288 CHAP. XXVI.

Relief of the Poor. — Poverty not treated as a Crime. — Vagrancy and Imposture sternly dealt with by the Popes. — Efforts to suppress idle Mendicancy. — Modes of Relief. — Commission of Subsidies. — Charitable Institutions. — Industrial Relief 295 CHAP. XXVII. Dowries. — Monte di Pieta. — The Roman Savings' Bank. — Its Origin, its Operations, and its Success. — Its Deposits a Proof of increasing Prosperity ------ 308 CHAP. XXVIII. Religious Character of the Roman people. — Attendance in the Churches. — Roman Churches not merely Local. — Attendance a CONTENTS. at the Forty Hours' Adoration. — Religious Retreat for the Poor. — Festivals of the Church. — The Pope at San Carlo. — The Monastery of the Passionists. — Church of St. Clement. — Church of St. Isidore Page 316 CHAP. XXIX. St. Peter's. — Description of it by Gibbon and Byron. — My own Impressions. — Those of Eustace, of Forsyth, Hilliard, and Madame de Stae'l. — The Pope at the Tomb of the Apostles. — Ascent of the Dome — A Glance into the Church. — Glorious View from the Top - ...--- 330 CHAP. XXX.

The Fine Arts. — Why they are specially fostered in Rome. — The Church their uniform Friend. — Pius IX. a Liberal Patron. — Discoveries of Ancient Painting. — Valuable Restorations of Works of Modern Art. — Churches restored. — Church of St. Agnes, and Church of St. Paul ..... 340 CHAP. XXXI. Pius IX. a Preserver of the Pagan Antiquities of Rome. — The Coliseum and the Popes. — Great Repairs effected by Pius VII. and Pius IX. — Devotions of Friday and Sunday. — Visit to the Coliseum by Moonlight. — Preservation of Pagan Antiquities. — Sums expended on Arts and Antiquities - - 350 CHAP. XXXII. The Catacombs. — Institution of the Commission of Sacred Archæology by the Pope. —The Catacombs proved to be the Burying-places of the early Christians. — Cardinal Wiseman's '■'■Fabiola" ---.. ... 366 CHAP. XXXIII.

The Papal Government not opposed to Material Progress. — Railways. — Reasons why they have not hitherto existed. — CONTENTS. XIX Four principal Lines in progress or projected. — Gas. — The Roman Works. — Gas first started in Rome. — Electric Telegraph, its Use and Success. — Great Public Works inexpensively conducted. — Utility combined with Charity - - Page 371 CHAP. XXXIV. The Pope a Commercial Reformer. — Steady Progress towards Free Trade. — We should not judge a small and feeble State by the Standard of a great and powerful Empire. — Singular Minuteness and Accuracy of Roman Statistics. — Material Progress stimulated by Rewards. — Proportion of Priests to Laymen. — The former preferred to the latter. — The Smallness of the Salaries of Public Officials 388 CONCLUDING CHAPTER. Summary of the foregoing Chapters. — The Pope ever merciful. — Not a single Execution for a Purely political Offence. — England ought not to encourage Anarchists. — Recent Attempts of the Mazzini Party. — England imitates Russia when she interferes with the Independence of small States. — The Pope's recent Tour through his Dominions. — Its Character and Object misrepresented. — Its real Purpose. — Liberality, Charity, and Clemency of the Holy Father. — The Temporal Sovereignty of the Popes. — Its Importance to the Dignity of the Papacy and Independence of the Church ------ 397

Appendix

. State of Education in Great Britain .... 413 How Lunatics are treated in Scotland - - - - 421 British Administration in India ..... CONTENTS. XX Report from the Count De Rayneval, the French Envoy at Rome, . to the French Minister for Foreign Affairs - - Page 432 The Christian Schools 451 Measurement of the Base Line for a Trigonometrical Survey, by Father Secchi 452 Poverty in London, treated worse than Crime ... 456 English Prisons not yet perfect Models .... 457 Criminal Statistics of the Papal States .... 458 The Catacombs ........ 4g2 Extract of a Letter from Naples ..... ROME: ITS RULER AND ITS INSTITUTIONS.

CHAPTER I.

Introduction. — The Pauline Chapel. — The Cardinals. — The Pope. To no other city on the earth does the stranger direct his steps with feelings of a more varied character, or with a livelier anticipation of what awaits him on his entrance, than to Rome. No doubt, a more sacred ancl solemn awe fills his mind, and bowTs down his inmost soul, as, from some wild path amidst the mountains of Judea, he catches the first glimpse of the towers of Jerusalem — at the sight of whose holy walls the stern Crusader burst into a passion of tears, and smote his mailed breast in a paroxysm of humility and sorrow. Jerusalem is a place of one great and all-absorbing interest, being the theatre of that sublime sacrifice by which man's redemption was accomplished ; and every nodding tower and mouldering pillar of that once proud city is sacred in the eyes of the Christian of even ordinary sensibility.

But Rome, while abounding in B sources of that deep and solemn interest which Jerusa lem inspires, is also replete with attractions of a totally different kind, and offers countless objects of admira tion, and subjects for inquiry and reflection, to the scholar and man of taste, the antiquarian and the philo sopher. And dull must be the mind and cold the heart of him who does not experience some stir, or feel some throb, as he approaches for the first time the venerable walls, and passes beneath one of the ancient gateways, of the Eternal City. For was not this the seat and centre of that universal empire, which embraced within its circle the remotest boundaries of the known earth ? — was not this the proud capital of that haughty race whose banners glistened and whose arms triumphed in every clime, and whose laws were reverenced as well by civilised nations as by savage tribes? — was not this the instructress as well as the conqueror of mankind ?

It is the Rome, too, of a wider dominion and a more glorious rule than that of the greatest of the Cæsars. If Rome were not the birthplace of Christianity, it was its nursing mother. It was the seat of the Apo stles ; the theatre of their trials, their sufferings, and their glory. One beholds, passing before him, as it were visibly to the sight, the long centuries of that momentous war waged between truth and error, be tween the powers of light and darkness. And, in spite of the vulgar dwellings, inelegant and mean, that sur round him as he stands within the walls os' modern Rome, he witnesses, in imagination, the solemn rites and splendid worship of that polished and attractive