ghts ago, as I sat closeted with our
present ruler--would you believe it, Michel, he has no
higher guide or example than the weak and kind-hearted Pius
the Seventh? To imitate _him_ is the whole rule of his
faith, and to resemble him, even in his misfortunes, has
become an ambition. How he strung for me the commonplaces of
that good man, as though they had been the distilled
essences of wisdom! Alas! alas! the great heritage of the
Church has not been won by Quaker Popes.

"You ask about myself. All goes well. The die is cast; and
so far, at least, a great point gained. The Austrians saw
the matter in its true light, and with justice perceived
that diplomacy is a war of reprisals. How I glory in the
anticipation of this vengeance upon England, the encourager
and abettor of all the treason against our Faith! How little
do they suspect the storm that is gathering around them; how
tranquilly are they walking over the ground that is to be
earthquaken! The letters and diplomas are all prepared. The
Bull itself is ready; to-morrow, if it were opportune, I
might be proclaimed a prince of the Church and an Archhishop
of an English see! As in every great event of life the
moment is everything, the question is now one of time.
Guardoni--and I look upon him as the shrewdest of the
cardinals--says, 'Wait! our cause is advancing every day in
England; every post brings us tidings of desertions to our
army,--men distinguished in rank, station, or intellect. In
our controversies we have suffered no defeats, while our
moderation has gained us many well-wishers; we have a tone
of general liberality to work upon that is eminently
favorable to a policy meek, lowly, and unpretending.
Therefore, I say, Wait; and do not forfeit such advantages
for the glory of a pageant' Against this it might be urged,
that the hour is come to proclaim our victory; and that it
would be a craven policy not to unfurl our banner above the
walls we have won! I repose less trust in the force of this
reasoning than in another view of the subject; and it is to
the ricochet of our shot, Michel, that I look for the damage
of our enemy. My calculation is this: the bold pretensions
we advance will arouse the passions of the whole island;
meetings and addresses and petitions w