er than
Lord Palmerston, that there was always a foreign influence at Rome which
never ceased to cause discontent, and was ready, on occasion, to raise
disturbance. This alien and sinister influence was only too powerfully
seconded, both by some members of the British ministry and the intriguing
head of the French government.

Baron Sauzet, who was President of the French Chamber of Deputies in the
reign of Louis Philippe, and who was, by no means, over partial to Rome,
wrote in 1860 on the system of legislation which obtained in the States of
the Church, and gave utterance to the opinion that it was a solid basis on
which Pius IX. was endeavoring to raise such a superstructure of
improvement as was adapted to the wants of modern society. Criminal law
was regulated according to the wise codes of Gregory XVI., which were a
real progress. Civil legislation had for its groundwork the old Roman law,
which the Popes, at various times, had wisely adapted to their age and the
circumstances of their people. There are certain points of great delicacy,
with regard to which, in Christian communities, religious authority only
can legislate. These excepted, the Justinian code, with some necessary
modifications, prevailed. Few changes have been made since Gregory the
Sixteenth's time, and they are codified with such perfect scientific
lucidity as to be available to practitioners. This is one of the special
labors of the Council of State, which is aided by a commission consisting
of the most eminent and learned jurists of Rome. The distinguished
statesman (Baron Sauzet), moreover, repels the idea of thrusting on the
Romans the Code Napoleon, as was intended by the Emperor Louis Napoleon.

Galeotti, who was Minister of Justice in the Mazzini ministry, and who
cannot be suspected of much favor to the Holy See, declares that, "in the
Pontifical government there are many parts deserving of praise; it
contains many ancient institutions which are of unquestioned excellence,
and there are others of more modern date which the other provinces of
Italy might well enjoy. One may confidently say that there is no other
government in Italy in which the principle of discussion and deliberation
has been so long established and so generally practised."

Galeotti further says, speaking of the Judicature: "The tribunal of the
Rota is the best and the most respected of the ancient institutions of
Rome. Some slight changes would make it the best in all E