tions of every
kind, announced the joy with which the new Cardinal was welcomed
everywhere.

Gregory XVI. had the reputation of being highly conservative. In the true
sense of the term, he really was so. Nevertheless, he was not averse to
reform, and he showed that he was not when he elevated Archbishop Mastai,
whose tendencies were well known, to the rank and office of Cardinal. More
than this, in concurrence with the Great Powers of Europe, with whom he
took counsel, he labored to introduce certain salutary reforms in his
States. Such reforms, indeed, were needed; and the aged Pontiff resolved
on them, not only in order to render unnecessary the intervention of
foreign arms in the affairs of his government, but also with a view to
bring his rule into harmony with the spirit and civilization of the age.
If in this most laudable undertaking he did not succeed, he owed his
failure to the Socialist party, those enemies of law and order, of
property, and life even, whose fatal action at a later period marred the
political career of Pius IX. The Roman people, generally, were capable of
appreciating, and surely did appreciate, the enlightened efforts of their
Pontiff Sovereign. They were not, as some writers would have us believe,
in a semi-barbarous condition. Sylvio Pellico, whose testimony cannot be
questioned, speaks of them in the following terms: "The eight months I
have spent at Rome in 1845 and 1846 (time of Gregory XVI.) have abounded
in delightful impressions. It can never be sufficiently told how well this
venerable city deserves to be visited, and not in passing only. How the
good and beautiful abound in it!" A little later, Pellico writes: "I
continue to be quite delighted with Rome, both as regards men and things.
In the small book, _Dei Doceri_, I have shown my inclination to avoid
being absolute in my judgments, a too common error, especially with minds
that dogmatize passionately. By such Rome is often unjustly judged.

"Several types of social customs must be considered as moderately good;
and we cannot condemn, as decidedly bad, anything but barbarism,
irreligion and a superabundance of knaves and fools. These odious elements
are by no means over-abundant in this country. And in the midst of evils
that are unavoidable everywhere, I observe great intellectual power, much
goodness, cultivated minds, gracious and sincere generosity. Whoever comes
to Rome will be morally well off as regards intelligence. He wi