to the fact of Rome's supremacy in the Church during the middle ages; but I am not surprized at the powerful effect which that historical fact produces on the minds of Catholics."

"You should have read (said Miss Cusack, before Mr. Fitzgerald had had time to give me an answer) the Paper which our dear friend. (pointing to him) gave me in Ireland, upon that very subject. I had intended to send it to you, as the other manuscripts, but our journey to London prevented me." "Yes," (said Mr. Fitzgerald), I remember to have written something for you, on that point, but I do not know whether the Paper would be worth Mr. M's attention." Whether it is or not (said Miss Cusiack playfully) he shall read it or hear it." I assured her there was no need of compulsion in the case; and it was then agreed that as soon as the first hurry of seeing the "immortal city" was over, the Paper should be read some quiet evening at home.

I am not writing a Tour in Italy, and must accordingly leave out the description of what we

VOL. II.

G

The

saw, what we admired, what we disliked. reader will be pleased to imagine us rather tired after a week's perambulation of Rome, and desirous of a quiet family party. We welcomed the evening when fearing no interruption, Mrs. Cusiack moved that the Paper on the religious power of Rome be read. The motion was carried by acclamation. The manuscript was put into my hands, and I read to our small party what follows:

A SKETCH OF THE RISE OF PAPAL ROME.

CONTENTS.

Pagan Rome and Papal Rome. The primitive Churches become an object of worldly ambition for some proselytes. Low views and questionable character of many among the subsequent converts. Unruly character of these proselytes, during the mutual independence of Churches. Christianity becomes a political association. Growth of episcopal ambition, and consequent laxity in the admission of converts. Coalition

of Bishops. Circular letters employed by the bishops to preserve their clergy in subordination. Persecution of Origen. Tendency of these confederations, first to contend against each other, and next to form an ecclesiastical monarchy under one great chief. The Bishop of Rome pointed by circumstances for this office. General corruption of the Church when the foundation of this supremacy was laid.-Observations.

"The Church of Rome must be an object of curiosity to every one who studies history for the purpose of knowing mankind. The antiquity of that Church, its early claims of preeminence, and the gradual recognition of those claims by a vast multitude of Churches, are facts, which must perplex any reflecting Christian who has not made the true principle of Protestantism perfectly familiar to his mind.*

As

a Protestant, in the broadest sense of the word, the writer of this Paper cannot give up his right to dismiss every collateral support of a primary, and essential point, (the supposed divine privileges of the Church of Rome), which, as the chief foundation of the whole papal system, should be proved, beyond doubt, as a fact. He will, therefore, demand unquestionable proof of a miraculous gift, which must either be a fact, or a vain hypothesis. But as it may contribute to the elucidation of a subject on which party spirit has heaped every thing that can perplex the mind, he is ready to give a general view of * See first Manuscript.

the circumstances which led Rome to its ecclesi

astical preeminence.

"The success of papal Rome appears (it is said) miraculous. The success of pagan Rome in establishing her empire, would appear still more akin to a miracle, if a great part of mankind had felt it to be their interest to take up that view, and multitudes besides, had imagined that their eternal welfare depended on that belief. Pagan Rome arose from the greatest obscurity to the proud station of mistress of the world. Christian Rome, was invited by the most obvious circumstances to build upon the remnants of preeminence which Pagan Rome had left her. Had we found any obscure town of the time of the apostles constantly recognized as the centre of Christianity; did we see some second or third rate town (suppose that Babylon on the Tigris where some believe that the Apostle Peter wrote his epistles) historically noticed as the last See occupied by the head of the apostles, and uninterruptedly filled by a bishop to whom the majority of Churches paid

the respect due to a supreme Head, on earth; we would acknowledge that there was a strong presumption in favour of a divine grant of spiritual supremacy to that Church. But that when the world (especially in the western division of the Roman empire) was deprived of the political centre to which the Roman rule had accustomed the conquered nations, and a new principle of union was offered to them in the Christian profession,-that under such circumstances, Rome, hitherto the metropolis of the world, should gradually become the metropolis of Christianity, is so natural, that had a real miracle interfered for that purpose, its proofs would be invalidated by the natural causes which were at work in the performance of the effect in question.

"In fact, the history of Papal Rome may be stated in a few sentences. As Pagan Rome by degrees, swallowed up one by one the petty states of Italy, so did Papal Rome in regard to the episcopal Churches of the West: only it is not so easy to perceive the vantage ground on