History of the Catholic Church in the nineteenth century (1789-1908)

Front matter

Strata, Sfem Intk

BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE

SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND

Chapter I The Church In Great Britain

(a) The Repeal of the Penal Laws in England (I'j'ji-i^i^) page Position of Catholics in England in 1778 — Relief Act of 1778— The Gordon riots -Appointment of a lay Catholic Committee — Policy of Catholic Committee— Its negotiations with Pitt and Stanhope— The Protestation and Oath of loyalty — Condemnation issued by the vicars— Relief Bill before the two Houses of Parliament — Summary of Act of 1791 — Further dissensions among- the Catholics — French dmigrd clergy in England — Establishment of English Catholic Colleges — Dr. Milner and the Catholic Board — The Fifth Resolution — Meeting of the vicars at Durham — Grattan's Relief Bill (1813) -Canning's amendments— Milner's expulsion from the Catholic Board — Quarantotti rescript — Milner in Rome— Letter of Pius VII. (1815) — Death of Milner . . . . . 1-23

(5) The Oxford Movement The Anglican Church in the early part of nineteenth century — Methodists and Evangelicals - Liberals, Whately and Thomas Arnold at Oxford -iligh Church party at Oxford — Keble, Froude, Newman — Sketch of Newman's career and his religious opinions — The Peel election in Oxford — Reform movement and Anglican Church — Newman and Froude in Rome — Keble's sermon on National Apostasy — The Tracts for the Times — Newman's share in them— Pusey — Appointment of Dr. Hampden to Regius professorship in Oxford— Dr. Wiseman, his studies in Rome — His worlc in England — Foundation oi Dublin Review — Remains oi Hurrell Froude — Wiseman's article on St. Augustine and the Donatists — Wiseman at Oscott — Tract 90 — Protestant bishopric in Jerusalem — Dr. Russell and Newman — Two parties among Tractarians — Ward, Oakeley and Pusey — Newman's retirement to Littlemore — Ward's Ideal of a Christian Church— Ward and Convocation — Newman's Essay on Development — Submission to Rome — Position of the Converts . . 24-49 vi CONTENTS

(c) The Church in England from the Establishment

of the Hierarchy PAGE

The government by vicars — Establishment of hierarchy — Wiseman, Cardinal— Outburst of bigotry in England — Durham Letter — Lord John Russell and Ecclesiastical Titles Bill- Sketch of Manning-'s career — Appointment of Dr. Hampden — The Gorham trial — Manning, Gladstone, Wilberforce, Pusey — Newman's lectures on Anglican Difficulties — Manning's conversion— Newman, Rector of Catholic University in Dublin — Work of Cardinal Wiseman — Disputes with Dr. Errington and Chapter of Westminster— Position of Manning in these controversies—Liberal Catholics in England — The Rambler, Home and Foreign Review, Dublin Review — Newman's Apologia— Newman and a Catholic Hall at Oxford— Death of Wiseman — Election of Manning— Newman's Grammar of Assent — Controversy on Papal Infallibility in England — Manning at the Vatican Council — Gladstone on Vaticanism — Newman's Letter to the Duke of Norfolk— 'Ula.nxnng's work as Archbishop— House of Higher Studies at Kensington — English Catholics and the national universities — Leo XHI. appoints Newman cardinal — Manning and the Labour problem — Death of Newman and Manning— Dr. Vaughan, Archbishop of Westminster —Anglican Orders controversy — Encyclical, Apostolicae Curae — Reception of the Papal decision — Catholic education in England — Organisation of English Catholics 49-76

(d) Anglicanism

Dependence of Anglican Church upon the State - Proposal of an Ecclesiastical Court of Appeal — Divorce — Controversies regarding the Blessed Eucharist — Liberal or Broad Church Party in the Anglican Clutch— Essays and Reviews — The Colenso controversy—Ritualism—The A. P. U. C— The English Church Union and the Church Association — Persecution of the Ritualists — Public Worship Regulation Act— The Lambeth Conference — Commission to investigate illegal practices in the Anglican Church. 76-86

(«) The Church in Scotland

Position of Catholics in Scotland after CuUoden — Conversion and career of Dr. Hay— Outburst of bigotry in Scotland in 1778 — Provision for education of priests for Scotland — Scotch Catholics in 1800 — Rapid increase owing to emigration from

Contents

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Ireland - Catholics in Glasg-ow— Scotch Catholics and Emancipation—Disputes amongst Catholics, especially in Glasgow- Interference of Propaganda -Settlement of controversy- Establishment of hierarchy in Scotland— Present position of Catholics in Scotland— Catholic education . . . 86 97

CHAPTER II THE CHURCH IN IRELAND (a) The Repeal of the Penal Laws

Improvement in position of Catholics during reign of George III. — Causes of this change of attitude — Danger to England, danger to landed interests, the growth of a more liberal spirit, influence of Burke and Grattan — The Catholics begin to assert themselves— The Irish Catholic merchants — Dr. Curry, Wyse and Charles O'Connor — First Catholic Committee — Dissensions — Quarterage— Relief Bills of 1771, 1774— Second Catholic Committee—Relief Bill of 1778— The Irish Parliament of the period — Efforts of the Opposition — The Volunteers — The attitude ot their leaders towards Catholics — Independence of Irish Parliament— Reform movement did not include Catholic suffrage — Dublin Convention of 1783 and Catholics — Relief Act of 1782 — Loss of interest in Catholic question between 1783 and 1790.— Catholics and Presbyterian Reformers — Growth of democratic spirit — New leaders for Catholics, Keogh, Sweetman, Byrne, &c. — Contempt shown by both Government and Opposition for the Catholics in 1790- 1 — Union between democratic sections of Catholics and Presbyterians — Wisdom of this alliance- Opposed by Lord Kenmare — Secession of gentry from the Catholic Committee — The English Cabinet advises concessions to the Catholics — Relief Bill of 1792 — The Catholic Convention of 1792 — Catholic Delegates in England— Relief Bill of 1793 — Government attacks the United Irishmen Society — Earl Fitzwilliam as Lord Lieutenant — Hopes of Catholics and Opposition — Disappointment at his recall — Pitt and the Union— Means employed to promote it — The Peep of Day Boys, Defenders, and United Irishmen — Clergy oppose the secret societies — Efforts of Government to excite a rebellion — Success of these efforts — Catholics and the Union . . 98-142

(b) Ireland from the Union till Emancipation

Plans for enslaving Catholic Church in Ireland — Payment of clergy and veto on the appointment of bishops — Burke and Hippisley on state interference — Reply of bishops to Government proviii CONTENTS

PACE posals in 1795— Dr. Troy and the veto — The trustees of Maynooth CoUeg^e and the veto — Pitt's betrayal of the Catholics — Emancipation in the English Parliament— Fingall and Dr. Milner as delegates of Irish Catholics in 1808— Ponsonby puts forward veto in its most extreme form— Outcry in Ireland against it — Bishops meet and reject it — The English Catholic Board and the veto -The veto controversy in Ireland — The vetoists negotiate with Canning — Canning's amendments in 1813 — Opposed by Milner and Irish Catholic bishops— The English vicars and Catholic Board— The interference of Quarantotti — The Quarantotti rescript condemned by Irish bishops, clergy, and people — Irish bishops send representatives to Rome — Letter of Pius VII. — Strong action of Irish bishops — Delegates of bishops and of Catholic Committee in Rome — Second Letter of Pius VII. — End of the controversy — O'Connell and the Catholic Committee — Formation of the Catholic Asssciation— the Catholic Rent — Emancipation in the English Parliament — The Waterford election— Influence of the Forty-shilling Freeholders — Both parties stand ready for war — The Clare election— Surrender of Peel and the Duke of Wellington — The Emancipation Act— Its defects — Method of electing bishops in Ireland . . 142-173

(c) From Emancipation till the Disestablishment

Campaign of proselytism in Ireland — Agitation against the Tithes — History of Tithes in Ireland— Opposition of the House of Lords— Tithe Commutation Act, 1838 — Relief of the Poor in Ireland — Commission of 1833 ^^"1 report — English workhouse system introduced — Unfair working of the system — Reform of the Corporations — Catholics admitted — The Repeat agitation and the bishops — Influence of Dr. MacHale — The Charitable Bequests Bill — Controversies regarding it — Failure and death of O'Connell— Old Ireland and Young Ireland — Renewed schemes for payment of clergy — Intrigues at Rome — The Diplomatic Rel.ations Bill — Rebellion and Famine — Dr. CuUen as archbishop of Armagh — Synod of Thurles and Irish landlordism — The Tenants' League — The Ecclesiastical Titles Bill — Its effects in Ireland — Strained relations between the Tenants' League and the Catholic Defence Association — Independent Opposition — Action of Keogh and Sadleir — Duffy, Lucas and Dr. MacHale denounce the betrayal — Attacks on Dr. CuUen — The Callan meeting — Lucas goes to Rome — Imprudent action of Duffy— Dr. Cullen and Lucas in Rome — Death of Lucas and end of the controversy — Protestant monopoly in Ireland — Ministers' money — Relief Bill of 1867 — Agitation for Disestablishment— Gladstone supports Disestablishment— Measure carried— Generosity of English Parliament towards Irish Protestants . . . , . . 173-215

CONTENTS ix

Chapter III

(a) Primary Education page Efforts to proselytise Irish Catholics through the schools— Parochial schools of Hem-y VIII. and Diocesan schools of Elizabeth- Erasmus Smith schools— Charter schools— Hibernian Military and Marine schools— Schools of Society for Discountenancing Vice— London Hibernian Society, Baptist Society Schools- State of Catholic Education— The Nuns and Christian Brothers— The Kildare Street Society— Statistics of Irish Primary schools— CathoUc bishops and education system- National school system established— Opposed by Episcopalians—Presbyterians mould the system— Opposition of Dr. MacHale — Divisions among Irish bishops — Appeal to Rome — Decision— Influence of Dr. CuUen on Irish National system — Withdrawal of Whately from the Board - People favour denominational education -Demands of Irish bishops— Powis Commission and report of— The Model Schools and Training Colleges— Opposition to the Model Schools— Catholic Training Colleges— Unfair treatment of Catholic Training Colleges . 216-30

(b) Secondary Education

The Protestant schools — Free schools, Royal schools, Erasmus Smith schools— How supported and endowed — Catholics get no assistance for their schools — Money spent by Catholics on secondary education — Report of Census Commissioners, 1871 — Necessity for State intervention — The Intermediate Act — Working of the Intermediate system . . . 230-35

(c) University Education

' Trinity College — Proposals of Mr. Wyse — The Queen's Colleges Bill — Suggestions of Irish bishops ignored — System condemned by the majority of Irish bishops —Appeal to Rome — Condemnation approved— Negotiations between Government and Dr. Murray — Second Roman condemnation— Appointment of Protestant staff to Colleges— Synod of Thurles and the Queen's Colleges — Project of founding a Catholic University — Newman appointed rector — Opening of University — Causes of failure — Want of funds and of a charter, want of sympathy of rector staff and university with their surroundings, dissensions among the governing body — Earl Russell's Supplementary Charter — Lord Mayo's proposals for a Catholic University — Gladstone's Bill of 1873 — Fawcett's Act — The Royal University — Reconstruction of Catholic University — Royal Commission and report— Commission on Trinity College and report — Irish Universities Act of 1908 — Net result of new legislation . 235-52

X CONTENTS

(d) The Education of the Clergy page

The Irish Colleges in Rome, Spain and Portug-al, the Netherlands, France— Destruction of these Colleg-es in the Revolution — Carlow College founded — Negotiations between Irish bishops and government —Act passed for establishment of a Catholic College— Maynooth founded — Establishment of a lay college at Maynooth— Opposition of government to lay college and its suppression — Origin of Dunboyne Establishment in Maynooth — Royal Commission on Maynooth— The increased grant— Maynooth cut adrift from the State — Its present constitution and position — The Missionary College of All Hallows, Dublin— Its foundation and its work— The Irish Colleges in Paris, Rome and Salamanca — Irish diocesan Colleges . . 253-66

Chapter IV

THE CHURCH IN AMERICA— THE UNITED STATES (a) The Colonial and Federal Period

The Spanish and French missions in the United States — Foundation of an English Catholic colony in Maryland — Position of Catholics in the colonies under the Protectorate and Restoration — Catholics and the War of Independence— New constitution and the Catholic religion— Negotiations for the appointment of a bishop — Opposition of the clergy — Father John Carroll appointed to see of Baltimore — His efforts to promote Catholic education — Introduction of religious orders — Synod of 1791 — Increase of Catholic population — New dioceses established— First Provincial Council of Baltimore 267-78

(i) Obstacles to the Progress of Catholicity

System of lay trusteeship — How it arose in America — Abuses to which it led — Dr. Carroll and the lay trustees — Dr. Connolly, of New York, and the lay trustees — Dr. Egan and Dr. Conwell, of Philadelphia, and the system — Propaganda interferes in the Philadelphia dispute — Provincial council of Baltimore and ownership of ecclesiastical property — Dr. Hughes crushes trusteeism in New York — Dr. Kenrick equally successful in Philadelphia— Ownership of ecclesiastical property — State of civil laws in regard to such property — Stream of emigration from Ireland (1825-1850) — The emigrants disliked by the "Native Americans" — Attacks on Catholics in Philadelphia and Charleston — The disclosures of Maria Monk— Energetic action of Dr. Hughes prevents disturbance in New York — The formation of the " Know Nothing Party "—The American Protective Association — Public Opinion in America against such combinations . . . . 278-91

CONTENTS xi

(c) Development, Synods, Organisation page

Statistics of Catholic progress in the United States — Causes of such progress — Immigration and conversions — Success of the work begun by the Paulist Fathers — Synods of 1791, i8lo, 1829, 1833, &c — First Plenary Council of Baltimore— The Catholic Church and the civil war — Second Plenary Council of Baltimore— American bishops at the Vatican Council — Third Plenary Council of Baltimore— Method of appointing priests and bishops — Consultors ........ 291-309

(<I) Catholic Education and Missions

Catholic schools in Maryland— Organisation of Catholic schools in the different States — Nuns take charge of the schools— Dr. Hughes and the school controversy in New York— The public schools undenominational— System of Catholic schools organised — Decrees of the Plenary Councils regarding Catholic schools — Statistics of attendance at Parochial schools — Controversies regarding "Faribault system" — Secondary schools, statistics of — Provision for ecclesiastical education — Foundation of Catholic University in Washington — The Catholic Summer School — Missions to the Indians and Negroes 309 25

(e) The Labour Question in the States ana Later Developments The United States and the Labour Problem — Establishment of Trades Unions — The Knig-hts of Labour — Rise of a Socialist party — Divisions — Socialism not well received — Centenary of the establishment of the hierarchy in the United States — National jealousies divide Catholics— Americanism . 325-35

(f) The Church in Canada and Aewfoundland

Catholic religion in Canada under French rule — Big-otry of the English conquerors— Quebec Act of 1774 — Influence of American War of Independence —Act of 1791 — Irish in Canada — Clergy and the rebellion — Statistics of Catholic progress— The education question in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and North West Provinces — Secondary schools — University and ecclesiastical education — Irish Catholics in Newfoundland — Persecution of — Progress of Church in Newfoundland .... 336-49

(g) The Church in Central and Southern America

Mexico — Revolutions in — Persecution of Church — Reigns of Maximilian and Juarez — Separation of Church and State — Religious statistics — Church in Guatemala— Honduras — Salvador— Nicaragua— Costa Rica — Panama— Cuba — Haiti and San Domingo — Colombia — Venezuela — Ecuador — Peru — Chili — Paraguay — Argentina — Brazil . . . 350-77 xii CONTENTS

CHAPTER V THE CHURCH IN AUSTRALASIA (a) The Catholic Church in Australasia PAGE

Discovery of Australia — English penal colony at Botany Bay — Transportation of convicts from Ireland — First priests in Australia — Political convicts from Ireland — Government aims at Protestantising the colony — Expulsion of Father Flynn — Fathers Therry and ConoUy volunteer for the Australian mission — Persecution less violent after 1829 —Dr. UUathome in Australia — Dr. Polding appointed vicar apostolic — His arrival in Sydney — Irish priests respond to appeal for workers — Hierarchy established— Sydney the metropolitan see — Provincial Synod — Diocese of Perth — Melbourne established — Appointment of Dr. Carr to Melbourne — The church in South Au.stralia — The church in Queensland — Continued progress in New South Wales — Work of Dr. Polding — Australian bishops and the Vatican Council — Dr. Moran of Ossory appointed to Sydney — His elevation to the Cardinalate — Holds First Plenary Council of Australia — Statistics for Sydney— Church in Tasmania— New Zealand — In the Islands .... 378-401

{V) Synods, Organisation, Education

Synod of 1844 — Cardinal Moran presides at Plenary Councils 1885, 1895, 1905 — Method of appointing to episcopal sees in Australia — Consultors — Position of rectors of parishes — Attempts of government to make education Protestant — System of education adopted— Public Instruction Bill of 1879 — Catholics found their own schools— Education in Victoria — in Queensland, South Australia, West Australia — in New Zealand — Catholic secondary schools— University education in Australia and New Zealand 401-12

. CHAPTER VI

Condition of the Catholic Missions at the beginning of century — Influence of Irish Catholic emigrants — Re-establishment of missionary colleges— Obstacles to the progress of the missions — Missions in British Colonies — India — South Africa— The Mauritius Islands — Gibraltar —The West Indies — in Western Asia — Followers of the different rites— China — Corea — Japan — Africa ..... . 413-35

CONTENTS xiii

Chapter VII Religious Orders And Congregations Page

Position of the religious orders at the beginning of the century — Their revival after the Revolution — The Benedictines — Their scholarship — The Cistercians — The Dominicans— The Society of Jesus — Its history and work during the century — The new religious orders and congregations of men and women . 436-43

Chapter VIII Theological Errors And Developments

Jansenism — Its influence on Catholic theology — Gallicanism — Revival under Napoleon and the Restoration Government— Its opponents, de Bonald, de Maistre, de Lamennais, Montalembert, Lacordaire — Overthrow of Gallicanism— The Aufkldrung movement in the German Empire — Febronianism — Schlegel, Stolberg, Gorres — Traditionalism of de Bonald, Lamennais, Bautain, Bonnetty, Ubaghs — Ontologism — Gioberti — Rosmini — The German School — Hermes and Hermesianism — Gunther — Froschammer — Ronge — Liberals and Conservatives — In France, Belgium, Germany — Congresses of Munich and Mechlin— Intervention of authority — Definition of the Immaculate Conception— The Syllabus — Infallibility — Later developments — Americanism — Reaction in favour of individualism—Modernism— Syllabus of Pius X. . . . 444-64

Chapter IX Ecclesiastical Studies In The Nineteenth Century

Low condition of ecclesiastical science at the beginning of the century— Causes of this decline — Greatest danger in philosophy, Scripture and history — Revival of scholastic philosophy — Recommendations of Leo XIII. — Success of his work — Philosophical Institute founded at Louvain - Progress of Neo-Scholasticism in Belgium, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, England — Scripture studies— Neglect of in Catholic schools — De Wette, Bleek, Ewald, Reuss, Graf, Wellhausen — Strauss — Baur and the robingen school — Catholic scholars — Isenbiehl, Jahn, Mayer — xiv CONTENTS

PAGE Renan's Life of Christ — The Vatican Council— Controversies amongst Catholics — Views of Le Noir, Lang-en, Lenormant, Newman, Bartolo, Didiot, D'Hulst — Leo XIII. and Encyclical, Providentissimus Deus — Progress of Scriptural studies — Ecclesiastical History— Great revival —Causes of this revival — General histories of Church — Publication of sources — Patristic period — Archaeology — History of the Papacy — Of the Councils — Of the Reformation period — Apologetics— System of de Maistre, Chateaubriand, Schlegel useful but not complete — French and German Schools — Immanent School — Principal Catholic Apologists— The comparative study of religions— Dogmatic theology— Neglect of at beginning of century — Application of historical method to dogmatic theology— Theory of Development— History of Dogma— Results of Higher Criticism as applied to theology — Moral Theology — Eradication of Jansenism— Closer study of ethics — Attention to sociology — Leading Moral Theologians of the century— Liturgy — Application of historical method to liturgical studies — Church Music — Revival of in Munich — in Ratisbon — Solesmes and the Plain Chant — Workof Dom Jausions and Dom Pothier — Pius X. and reform — Church Music in Ireland . . . . • 465-89

Chapter X

Effects of French Revolution — The French seminaries under Napoleon and under the Restoration Government — The Catholic Institutes — Religious expelled from the seminaries — The universities versus the seminaries in Germany — Methods of educating the clergy — Provision for ecclesiastical education in Austria — Switzerland — Belgium — Italy — Spain — Portugal — Ireland, Scotland, England — The United States . . 490-97

Chapter XI

Magnitude of the Labour problem in the century — Causes which led to such a serious situation — Liberalism^ and Socialism — Theoretic Socialism — Scientific Socialism— Marx and Lassalle— Foundrtion of the International — Anarchists and Socialists^ Marxists and Possibilists — Progress of Socialism in Germany- Austria — France — Italy — Spain and Portugal — The United States, England ■ . 498-510

CONTENTS XV

Chapter XII The Catholic Labour Movement Page

Interest of Catholic Church in the Labour question — Precursors of modern Catholic Democratic party — Work of Ketteler, Bishop ofMayence — His views on the solution of Labour problem — The German Catholic School of Economists — Catholic Labour organisation in Austria — in Switzerland — in France— in Belgium— in Italy— Cardinal Manning and the American and Irish bishops — Efforts to unify the movement— Leo XIII. and the Rerwm Novarum — Reception accorded to the Papal Encyclical on Labour— Progress of Catholic or Christian Democracy in Germany— in Austria — in Switzerland — in Belgium . 511-^4

History of the Catholic Church

IN THE

Nineteenth Century

Chapter I The Church In Great Britain

(a) The Repeal of the Penal Laws in England (1778-1829)

Ward, The Dawn of the Catholic Revival in England, 1781-1803, 2 vols., London, 1909. Amherst, The History of Catholic Emancipation, 1771-1820, 2 vols., London, 1886. Butler, Historical Memoirs of English, Irish and Scottish Catholics, 3rd ed., 4 vols., London, 1822. Milner, Supplementary Memoirs, London, 1820. Husenbeth, Life of Milner, Dublin, 1862. Ward, Catholic London a Century Ago London, 1905.

The Catholic population of England at the time of the passing of the first Relief Bill was about 60,000, 25,000 of whom were in the London district, 20,000 in the Northern, 9,000 in the Midland, and over 3,000 in the Western district. The Church was governed by four vicars apostolic, between whom England was divided into the four above-mentioned districts, while the total number of clergy at work on the mission probably reached close on 350. The Catholic body was composed of native English Catholics, many of whom belonged to the nobility and wealthy classes, and of Irish immigrants, who at this period were settled for the most part in London. The total number of Catholic Irish in London was between 4,000 and 5,000, and in the rest of England about 2,000 or 3,000.*

* Amherst, Vol. I., p. 77.

VOL. II. A

Centuries of persecution had succeeded in crushing the spirit of the CathoHcs, and in driving them out of the public life of the country. Educated at home or in some of the great English colleges on the Continent, the sons of the nobility and of the higher classes returned to spend their days in seclusion, glad if, by escaping notice, they could escape persecution. The public spirit in England, though gradually becoming more tolerant, could not prevent persecution so long as the law encouraged the trade of informers, and, as a result, the clergy were in a state of perpetual anxiety, liable to vexatious prosecutions every time they exercised the functions of their office.

The Relief Act of 1778 was the first step on the road to complete emancipation. It abolished the reward of ;^ioo to informers against priests and schoolmasters, as well as the punishment of perpetual imprisonment to which these two classes were liable on conviction. But the clauses of the Act of 1581 against saying or hearing Mass still remained in force. The Act, furthermore, allowed Catholics to hold real property, and to acquire it by purchase or inheritance, and it abolished the right of the nearest Protestant heir to lay claim to the estates of his Catholic parents or relatives. In spite, however, of these concessions the Catholic disabilities were sufficiently discouraging. Any act of religion, or any attempt at education, exposed Catholics to severe penalties ; they were excluded from the House of Lords and the House of Commons, from the Bar, from the exercise of the Parliamentary franchise, and from commissions in the army and navy, while the operation of the clauses regarding enrolment of their estate deeds, and the double land tax which they were obliged to pay, brought home to them their social inferiority.

The Act as passed did not extend to Scotland, and the proposal that similar toleration should be conceded to Scotch Catholics roused a regular storm of opposition. The Presbyterian synods protested against such a concession to Popery; a solemn fast was proclaimed in

Glasgow; the preachers did not hesitate to use their pulpits for the purpose of stirring up religious bitterness, and, as a result, anti-Catholic riots broke out in Glasgow and Edinburgh. The Catholic churches were wrecked, and the houses and property of well-known Catholic merchants were in a great measure destroyed. The Scotch Catholics appealed to Parliament for compensation, and their petition was presented to the House of Commons by Edmund Burke (1779). The petition was supported by the King, George III., and was well received by the members of both parties. Lord George Gordon alone resisted the motion for compensation, and the general feeling seemed to be that an Act of toleration should also be passed for Scotland.

Lord George Gordon, disappointed by the attitude of Parliament, resolved to appeal to the anti-Catholic prejudices of the London mob. He announced his intention of presenting an anti-Catholic petition to the House of Commons on 2nd June, 1780, and invited those who favoured such a motion to meet him on that day in St. George's Fields, and to accompany him to the Parliament House. The mob assembled to the number of 60,000 or more, and invaded the approaches to the House of Commons, attacking not alone the Catholics they met on the march, but also the members of the House of Lords and House of Commons who were supposed to be friendly to Catholic interests. From Friday evening till the following Wednesday night London appeared to be at the mercy of the mob. The Catholic chapels were burned as well as the houses of the prominent Catholics, and of those members of the House of Lords or Commons who had taken an active part in promoting the Relief Bill. The magistrates could not be found, and as a consequence, the military stood by, unable or unwilling to offer any effective resistance ; while it was with great difficulty the Catholic clergy succeeded in restraining their people, especially the Irish Catholics, from engaging in what would have proved a bloody and hopeless struggle. At last, George III., disgusted at the conduct of the London magistrates, took the matter in hands himself, and issued a proclamation ordering the military to put down lawlessness without awaiting the directions of civil magistrates. This was on Wednesday, yth June, and on that night the soldiers relentlessly carried out his instructions by firing on the mob, killing one hundred in the streets and wounding two hundred and fifty of the rioters. Such a display of vigour terrified Lord George Gordon and his followers, and the riots immediately ceased.

For some time the Catholic question remained in abeyance. But in 1782 a meeting of Catholics was called to elect a Catholic Committee. It was attended by about 30 Catholics, most of them being noblemen, and they elected four laymen, who, together with five representatives of the ecclesiastical districts (the Northern district being allowed two representatives) were to take charge of Catholic interests in England. Charles Butler, a distinguished Catholic conveyancer, was appointed secretary to the Committee. From the very beginning the Catholic Committee was distrusted by some of the vicars apostolic and by a large body of the clergy and of the Catholic laity of England The reason for this distrust may be sought for not in the fact that the members of the Committee were not personally above reproach, but rather because they represented in England the liberal, Cisalpine, anti-Papal party, which had made itself felt at this period in the Continental countries. Anxious to share in the rights of English citizens, and to prove their loyalty to the House of Hanover, they were not unwilling to join with the Protestants in denouncing the interference of the Papacy in matters not strictly spiritual, and to take the management of Catholic affairs out of the hands of the ultramontane bishops and clergy, whom they considered dangerous to the cause of English Catholic liberty. Their first step, namely, to demand an ecclesiastical government by regularly constituted bishops rather than by vicars apostolic, the former being more acceptable to the government, was not calculated to allay the apprehensions of the bishops or clergy.

In fact the Committee soon arrogated to itself the right to conduct Catholic affairs independently of the bishops, and to inquire into the conduct of the bishops, as is proved by the demand addressed by them to the vicars apostolic (1787) about a decision obtained by them from the Propaganda in regard to the temporalities of the ex-Jesuits in England.* The Committee was elected for five years, and on the approach of the second election (1787) they issued an address dealing principally with the restoration of the hierarchy. • In this document they pointed out that government by vicars was opposed to the statutes of Praemunire and Provisors, and that it would be much more advantageous if the bishops were chosen by the flock whom they were to teach, " and in conjunction with which they would be competent to regulate every part of the national church discipline." f Such sentiments, put forward by Catholic laymen, were a sufficient justification of the attitude of distrust adopted by the vicars and by the great body of the clergy. A new Committee was elected in 1787, and the following year a change was introduced by the co-option of three clergymen. Dr. James Talbot, Vicar of the London district, Dr. Berington, Coadjutor of the Midland district, and Rev. Joseph Wilkes, a Benedictine monk. These three were chosen without consultation with the clergy, and because it was thought that they favoured the views of the Committee.