guished from all the human race, who are without exception and in greater or less degrees imperfect and unholy, on which ground alone they stand in need of divine forgiveness and of course of the gospel. Now if Christ were of the same nature in every respect with mankind, how shall we account for this wonderful dissimilarity of character, considering especially that the human character is formed by education, in infancy and youth, before reason is matured and before there can be any habitual moral consideration? It would seem almost to be necessary on the hypothesis of Christ being wholly undefiled and yet a man, like other men, that his parents, brethren, neighbours and all who influenced his infant mind should have been perfect also. Unitarians will not say, I imagine, that Christ was preserved holy and made virtuous by divine influence, because virtue and holiness cannot be imparted, and if they could would cease to be subjects of praise, with regard to their possessor: besides that if Christ's moral excellence were owing directly or indirectly to divine assistance it would as much cease to be an example to ordinary men who have no such assistance, as on the supposition of his being God and his perfection being an attribute of his nature. But perhaps the Essayist and the advocates of the Unitarian doctrine suppose Christ to have possessed greater powers of mind than ever fell to the lot of any other man; (for the effect must have a cause, our Lord's vast superiority must have been occasioned by something, and as to` moral advantages merely, good instruction, virtuous example, and the like, he was not more favoured than the rest of his countrymen, certainly not more than his apostles); if they suppose this, and I know not what else can be supposed, do they not substitute one difficulty for another? For the difference of powers between a sinless being and a sinner must be so vast as to amount nearly to a difference of nature. With these widely distant powers, Jesus and men in common are not on equal terms, and therefore he is not, in the Unitarian idea, a proper example to them. Could one of the enlightened and virtuous worshippers of Essex-Street-Chapel or the Gravel-Pit-Meeting be a suitable moral exemplar to a South-Sea-Islander? And yet the dis proportion between the refined Unitarian and the savage is nothing to that between a sinful and a sinless man. It is of some importance in the discussion of this subject, to know whether Mr. W. and such as think with him, admit that Christians, say Unitarian Christians of the present day and of this country, can come up fully to the perfect example of Christ, so as to be entirely without sin. If they can, and do, the superiority of

Christ vanishes; they are equal to him, and many of them, under more disadvantageous circumstances; and their virtue I apprehend (without meaning to disparage it), is not greater than the virtue of many eminent Jews, Heathens, &c. so that at this rate, Jesus, instead of being pre-eminent, is only one in a crowd. But if the best Christians do not, any of them, (and if all do not, it is because they cannot), equal Christ in virtue, On the Unitarian ground it what becomes of his example? seems useless. It may be said that the ever-blessed God is proposed in the New Testament as a pattern of moral perfection; but does not this observation confront rather than aid the Unitarian, as shewing that it is not absolutely necessary that Jesus Christ should be of the same nature with us in order to be our forerunner in virtue?

I write not as an objector against Unitarianism, but as an humble (I trust) and sincere seeker after truth. I know not what you will think of my reasoning, but you cannot, I am sure, blame my temper, and I feel assured that if Mr. Wright or any other person, condescend to favour me with a reply, he will write in the same spirit of candour and frankness, and with the same earnest desire to see the truth as it is in Jesus, and that only, prevail.

AN OLD DISCIPLE.

ACCOUNT OF THE LATE CARDINAL YORK.

To the Editor of the Monthly Repository.
SIR,

I WAS much pleased with the "Character of the present Pope, Pius VII." extracted in a former part of your work, (vol. 1. p. 532.) from Lemaistre's Travels, and now beg leave to send for your use an equally interesting description from the same work, of Cardinal York, who, I see in the newspapers, is lately deceased. The visit here related was made in the year 1803. Wishing your Repository may always be entertaining and instructive,

I am,
Yours, &c.

EPISCOPUS.

I shall follow up my account of the presentation to the pope, by that of my introduction to the Cardinal Duke of York, (the present pretender to the throne of England), whom, as the last descendant and representative of the house of Stuart, I was anxious to see. The

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obliging Mr. Fagan was again our ciceroni on this occasion; and, having asked and obtained the permission of his eminence, conducted us on the appointed day to his episcopal palace at Frascati, (the Tusculum of the Romans), which place, as every body knows, is one of the most beautiful spots in the environs of Rome. On our arrival, we found the chaplain waiting to receive us, and a coach and four horses ready to conduct us to a villa two miles from Frascati, which the Cardinal has built for his favourite bishop, and whither he had preceded us. We were told that it was customary to kiss the hand of "his royal highnesst," a ceremony which we consequently performed. He then began addressing us in very good English, though spoken with rather a Scottish accent. Mr. F. had taken care to inform us on what topics it was expected we should talk, and we accordingly praised the Cardinal's little favourite dog, which (if we may believe the report of his owner) is of the true king Charles's breed, and found out his master by instinct in the streets of Rome! We also commended the architecture of the villa and the prospect it commands. These compliments, mixed with frequent repetitions of the words "your royal highness," put the worthy old man into excellent humour, both with himself and with us. Meaning, however, to please, I very nearly offended my reverend host, by remarking the fluency with which he spoke English. "And why should I not ?" he answered with "It is so long since your royal highness was in England, that it is surprising you should retain the knowledge of that language."-"Oh Sir," rejoined he, "we do not easily forget that to which we are born and bred." As to his appearance, he bears the marks of having formerly been a very handsome man ; though, from his great age, being more than eighty years old, he is now infirm, and sinking into dotage. You will be surprised when I add, that, distant as is the relationship, he bears a strong resemblance to our king, for whose father he might easily be taken. His dress consisted of a black coat and waistcoat, with red stockings, a red cloak, and red hat, these forming the costume of a cardinal. When we had exhausted our praises on the villa and the prospect, and partaken of some wine, (which, being made in his bishopric, it was necessary to find incomparably good), we again got into the carriage which had

some anger,

The Cardinal has, in his old age, formed a strong attachment to one of his chaplains, for whom he has procured a bishopric, and built this villa in the environs of his own palace.

This title has been universally allowed him by all English visitors, since the Duke of Sussex set the example. The amiable son of our respected monarch did not, I understand, scruple to gratify the pride of the old man, by giving him this harmless appellation; but the Cardinal did not return the compliment. While the son of a real king called the other ❝ your royal highness," the soi-disant representative of majesty, only gave his illustrious guest the title of "highness." The Duke of Sussex laughed at the distinction, and repeated still oftener the epithet of ❝ royal."

brought us, and returned to the palace of the Cardinal at Frascati, At his house whither he followed us in a coach drawn by six horses. we found assembled a society of monks, priests, and shabby looking laics. The Cardinal soon appeared, and again gave us a hearty welcome. Dinner was now announced, and we entered an eating room of small dimensions. The repast was neither particularly excellent of its kind, nor served with any extraordinary degree of cleanliness, but no person could complain: our venerable host shewed such a dispo sition to please, that he must indeed have been ungrateful who could have failed to acknowledge his hospitality. By way of compliment to us, a dish dignified with the name of an English plum-pudding was put on the table, and though in appellation alone it resembled that favourite of John Bull, we all declared, (it was surely a pia fraus), The old man that the London Tavern could not produce a better. was delighted at these assurances, and with voracious appetite ate of the commended pudding. He was not very clean in his manner of eating, and much oftener used his fingers than his knife in the separation of his food. The chaplain, during the whole dinner, continued to remark how little "his royal highness" ate, while we were asto nished at the quantity of various things which he contrived to swallow. After dinner we were led up stairs, while the cardinal took his evening sleep. We were shewn his oratory or private chapel, and his mitre covered with diamonds, which latter constituted the fortune of his mother, a princess of Poland. There were several crucifixes, and pictures of saints and holy martyrs, scattered over the walls of the house; while the majority of the persons with whom we had dined were ecclesiastics of various ranks and orders. In short, every thing seemed to prove that the Cardinal of York retains all that bigotry for which his family were long notorious, and which made them, as Louis XIV. well observed, exchange three kingdoms for a mass. ascending to the top of the house, acompanied by the bishop who is the favourite and destined heir of the Cardinal, and admiring the view which is really beautiful, and commands Rome on one side and the country as far as Tivoli on the other, we descended again to the draw. ing room, and, taking our leave of "his royal highness," set out on our return to Rome. In going away, the old man gave Mrs. L. a me. dal, on one side of which is his likeness in a cardinal's dress, with the following inscription:

"Hen. IX. Mag. Brit. Fr. et Hib. Rex, Fid. Def. Card.

et Tusc. Epis."

After

and on the other, a figure of the Virgin Mary, with these words"Non desideriis hominum, sed voluntate Dei."

How his eminence can reconcile the contradiction conveyed in this motto, I know not. Man may certainly not like what God ordains, «Not by the choice of men, but by the will of God."

but that man can frustrate what the Supreme Ruler of the universe chooses, is a position which it requires the skill of a cardinal to explain, and the faith of a catholic to comprehend. I need not tell you how many reflections were excited by this visit to the last descendant of a long race of kings, thus humbled by fortune and weakened by age. He who might under other circumstances have occupied the throne of a mighty empire, now lives in a little parsonage house *, dignified with the name of a palace, yet not larger than the ordinary habitation of an English clergyman. Instead of performing the high functions of executive magistrate in a great kingdom, he passes his time in the ceremonies of a church, and has changed a court of statesmen, legislators and peers, for a conclave of friars, monks and abbots. He receives, however, pour le dédommager, the titles of royalty and the soft incense of unceasing flattery. Perhaps, considering the inclinations and the capacity of the man, he is happier in his present situation, than he would have been had he worn the crown of his illustrious ancestors. I must do the Cardinal of York the justice to add, that, though weak in intellect and debilitated by age, he appears to have an ́excellent heart. He spoke with much attachment of England and Englishmen, and took an opportunity of observing, "that in his misfortunes he had received assistance from a quarter whence he had the least reason to expect it,"-alluding to the pension of four thousand pounds, first allowed him by his majesty, and since confirmed by parliament. This declaration was indeed but the payment of a debt of gratitude; yet the avowal was noble, and as such, I have much pleasure in recording it. The arms of England were painted on his carriages; and his servants who were numerous, wore liveries of yellow and red, which I suppose are the colours given by the Stuart family. I ought perhaps to mention, before I conclude my account of the Cardinal of York, a delicate attention shewn him by his attendants. While the French were quartered in the Ecclesiastical States, he fled with most of his brethren to Venice, and in his absence all the furniture of his house was taken away by the enemy. To prevent his feeling this misfortune, his chaplains concealed the circumstance, and ordered the episcopal palace to be furnished anew, taking care that every article should be precisely of the same quality and form as that, the place of which it was intended to supply. When therefore the good old man returned, he found his house exactly as he had left it, and congratulated himself on the fortunate escape which his property had experienced. We returned to Rome the same evening, well pleased with our visit to this last descendant of our ancient kings.

The Cardinal said one day to an English visitor,-"This house was built by a French cardinal, and it is now inhabited by an English

and at last added "Cardinal”

He hesitated