THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 INTERESTING 
 
 E T T E R S 
 
 OF POPE 
 
 L E M E N T XIV. 
 A N G A N E L L I.) 
 
 TO WHICH ARE PREFIXED, 
 
 ECDOTES OF HIS LIFE. 
 
 ISLATED FROM THE FRENCH EDITION PUB- 
 LISHED AT PARIS BY LOTTIN, JUN. 
 
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 IN TWO VOLUMES. 
 VOL. I. 
 
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 *./ 
 
 ANECDOTES 
 
 O F 
 
 GANGANELLI, 
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 
 
 ALTHOUGH the Chair of 
 Saint Peter is not looked upon 
 with the fame reverence in this 
 country at prefent, as it was formerly, 
 yet the Sovereign Pontiff flill holds 
 fuch a rank among the Powers on the 
 Continent, that we cannot help being 
 aftonifhed to fee a man of the moil 
 obfcure birth, in our own days, ar- 
 rive at the honour of wearing the 
 triple Crown; and in the myfte- 
 rious ways of Providence, a petty 
 Monk of the Order of Saint Francis 
 VOL. I. a acquire
 
 H ANECDOTES OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 acquire fufficient power to annihilate 
 the mighty Order of the Jefuits, thofe 
 haughty fons of St. Ignatius, whofc 
 cabals and intrigues had made them 
 formidable for ages to every Court in 
 Europe, and enabled them to eftablifh 
 a powerful well regulated Sovereignty 
 in another hemifphere. 
 
 However extraordinary it may ap- 
 pear, it is not the lefs true, that the 
 fon of a phyfkian, John-Vincent- 
 Antunio Ganganelli, who was born in 
 the year 1 705, in the little town of 
 St. Arcangelo, near Rimini, was pro- 
 moted to the higheft -rank of the 
 Church, and was elected Pope at a 
 time when the Court of Rome was 
 involved in the deepefr, diftrefs, from 
 its quarrels with the Kings of France, 
 Spain, Portugal, and Naples. 
 
 It has almoft always been obferved, 
 that thofe men who have arrived at 
 power and confequence with the 
 world, have emitted lome of thofe 
 
 fparks
 
 C L E M E N T XIV. iii 
 
 fparks of genius during their infancy, 
 which announced their future ad- 
 vancement ; and Clement XIV. is^ 
 laid to have" given fome very fignal 
 proofs of genius, application, and love 
 of learning, at a very early period. 
 
 We are told that his parents were 
 furprifed to fee that none of the 
 amufements with which other chil- 
 dren were pleafed, could ever engage 
 him ; but they were happy to find him 
 always with a book in his hand. He 
 began his education at Rimini, and 
 acquired the Latin language fo foon, 
 that at twelve years of age he had an 
 opportunity of addreffing a compli- 
 ment to the Biiliop of Rimini in that 
 language, who was fo ftruck with it, 
 that he foretold Ganganelli would one 
 day be of great fervice to the caufe 
 of Religion. 
 
 At the age of eighteen he left Rimi- 
 ni, to commence his Noviciate in the 
 Order of St, Francis, at Urbino, at 
 a 2 which
 
 iv ANECDOTES OF GANGANJELLI, 
 
 which time he took the name of 
 Francis Laurence > and very foon ac- 
 quired as much credit in the Cloifter, 
 as he had formerly done at School. 
 
 He then ftudied Philofophy and 
 Theology at Pefaro, Recanati, Fano, 
 and Rome; and from being a fcholar 
 very foon became a matter, and taught 
 the opinions of Scotus, without being 
 a flavifh adherent to all his dogmas. 
 He was much beloved by his pupils, 
 while he taught Philofophy and The- 
 ology, at Afcoli, Bologna, and Milan ; 
 and at the age of thirty-five was 
 called to Rome by his Superior, to 
 teach Theology in the College of St. 
 Bonaventura. 
 
 Though every town in Italy had 
 fome men of genius who owed their 
 inftru&ion to Ganganelli, he wifhed 
 to remain immured in his Cloifter; 
 but his talents could not be concealed, 
 and he muft have foon rifen to be Ge- 
 iieral of his Order, if he had not affi- 
 
 duoufly
 
 CLEMENT XIV. v 
 
 duoufly prevented his Brethren from 
 giving their voices in his favour ; 
 though, at the fame time, their impli- 
 cit confidence in him was fuch, that 
 he generally obtained their votes for 
 \vhomibever he thought the moft ca- 
 pable : and Father Colombini declar- 
 ed, that he owed the honour of being 
 General to the recommendation of 
 Ganganelli. 
 
 Familiar converfation, amufrng 
 books, and folitary walks,, were his 
 ufual relaxations, when he found him- 
 felf exhaufted by intenfe ftudies. As 
 if merit alone was not a fufficient title 
 to the admiration of cotemporaries 
 and pofterity, fomething marvellous 
 muft be introduced into the chara&ers 
 of great men ; and in fuch a country 
 as Italy, it is not furprifing that the 
 prophecy of a Friar fhould gain cre- 
 dit, who is faid to have come to Gan- 
 ganelli, during one of his folitary 
 walks, and falling at his feet, to have 
 a 3 begged
 
 vi ANECDOTES OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 begged his benediction, as he forefaw 
 that he would one day be Pope ; tell- 
 ing him, at the fame time, that he 
 would die a violent death. 
 
 Though Ganganelli was much of 
 a Reclufe, he was vifited in his Cell 
 by the moft eminent for rank and 
 learning ; and fimilarity of genius re- 
 commended him to the agreeable 
 Lambertini (Benedict XIV.) who ap- 
 pointed him one of the Council of the 
 Holy Office, obferving, that he joined 
 an amazing memory to extenjive learn- 
 ing ', and what is more agreeable, added 
 he, he is a tboufand times more modejl 
 than the moft ignorant, and fo chearful, 
 that it could not be fuppofed that he 
 had ever lived in retirement. 
 
 One day, when Ganganelli was go- 
 ing to Affifio, where the Founder of 
 his Order was born and buried, he 
 joined a Countryman upon the road. 
 After an hour's converfation, the Pea- 
 
 fa'nt,
 
 CLEMENT XIV. vii 
 
 fant, who had been very attentive, 
 faid, // is a pity that you arc only a Lay- 
 Erother (judging from the negligence 
 of his drefs) j/0r it appears to me, that 
 if you bad ft udied, you might have been 
 another Sixtus Quintus. I have his 
 pifture at home, and I think you have 
 jujl his fly look. 
 
 The Italians have the flory of Six- 
 tus Quintus fo ftrongly imprinted up- 
 on their minds, that even the Country- 
 people are always talking of him, and 
 inflilling into the minds of their chil- 
 dren the hopes of being Pope, becaufe 
 Sixtus Quintus was elevated from the 
 meaneft condition to be Sovereign 
 Pontiff. 
 
 It was high time that Honours 
 fhould come in quell of Ganganelli,, 
 who had always fo folicitoufly avoid- 
 ed, that a kind of compullion was 
 neceffary to make him accept, them. 
 The appretiators of true merit being 
 willing to do credit to the Sacred Col- 
 a 4 lege,
 
 v"f ANECDOTES OF GANGAI*ELLI, 
 
 lege, recommended him to Clement 
 XIII. by telling him, that Ganganelli 
 was mojl humble, learned, and diligent, 
 and that it would be doing honour to the 
 Purple to make him Cardinal. 
 
 The Sovereign Pontiff was eafily 
 prevailed upon. Befides its being agree- 
 able to have worthy people recom- 
 mended to him, he knew the merits 
 of the Counfellor of the Holy Office, 
 both from his own obfervation, and 
 the attention of his predeceffor Bene- 
 dict XIV. 
 
 Cardinal Rezzonico, the Pope's 
 Nephew, fent immediately to the Con- 
 vent of the Holy Apoftles for Ganga- 
 nelli, that he might announce the in- 
 tentions of the Pope. 
 
 After having afked him, if he was 
 confcious to himfelf that he had dif- 
 charged his duty properly, and had 
 nothing to reproach himfelf with, he 
 proceeded to tell him, in a manner 
 
 fufficient
 
 C L M E N T XIV. , ix 
 
 ftrfficient to intimidate him, " that a 
 " number of things had been faid of 
 " him to the Holy Father ; that 
 " from the dread of his being too 
 " much affected with it, he hefitated. 
 " to inform him of the orders of his 
 " Holinefs ; but he could not help 
 " letting him know that it was the 
 " Pope's pleafure, that he mould ab- 
 " lutely yes, abfolutely be made 
 " Cardinal." 
 
 Ganganelli was thunderflruck at the 
 unravelling of the fufpence he was 
 thrown into by the manner of the 
 Cardinal, who made him imagine, at 
 firft, that fomebody had prepoflefTed 
 his Holinefs againft him ; and falling 
 at his feet, faid, // is no affeftation of 
 humility, but a perfeft conviction of my 
 own unworthinefsi which engages me to 
 declare to you, that I by no means de- 
 ferve this honour. I protejl to you, that 
 this promotion will do no credit to bis 
 Holinefs , and will raife envy , which muft 
 a 5 dijlurb
 
 x ANECDOTES OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 difturb my quiet. If the Pope ivifoes to 
 dignify our Order with the Purple, there 
 are more than ten perfons in our Houfe, 
 who, in every refpeft, are more deferr- 
 ing of this f.ngular favour . 
 
 The Cardinal replied, that his 
 Holinefs having forefeen his unwil- 
 lingnefs, had positively ordered him 
 to fubmit, under pain of difobedience. 
 Ganganelli could no longer refufe, 
 and went trembling to acquaint the 
 Brotherhood with the news. His 
 Holinefs , fays he, has appointed me a Car- 
 dinal, but do not you ft ar tie. at this new 
 dignity. I will continue always to live 
 with you, like one of you, always as 
 your friend and fervant, nor jhall you 
 ever perceive that I have changed my 
 condition. 
 
 It was on the 24th Sept. 1759, that 
 he became a Mem her of the Sacred Col- 
 lege; and tho' he employed the twenty 
 thoufand livres given yearly by the 
 
 Pope
 
 C L E IVf E N T XIV. xi 
 
 Pope to the Cardinals of the Religi- 
 ous Orders to fupport the rank, yet he 
 was neither lefs poor nor lefs modeft 
 than he had been formerly, and kept 
 his word with his Brotherhood moft 
 fteadily. If he quitted his Cell to take 
 an apartment in the firft Dormitory, 
 it was becaufe he was often obliged to 
 receive vifits of ceremony. An Eng- 
 lifh Peer, who frequently vifited him, 
 ufed to fay, / cannot find the Cardinal 
 Ganganelli-y I Jind him only a "Friar, 
 Jilted 'with humility. 
 
 It is faid, that a General of one of 
 the Religious Orders, having been to 
 vifit him, left a bill upon his table for 
 four thoufand Roman crowns payable 
 at fight; he immediately fen t it after 
 him, declaring pofitively, that he 
 knew no other riches but poverty : be- 
 fides, it would lay him under obliga- 
 tions, and he was unwilling to con- 
 trail any new engagements. 
 
 a, 6
 
 xii ANECDOTES OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 His learning and knowledge were 
 far from being limited. He did not 
 confine his ftudies to Theology and 
 the Canon Law, but was well ac- 
 quainted with the belles-lettres, poli- 
 tics, and found philofophy, and even 
 found inftruction in his very amufe- 
 ments. 
 
 Neither the clofenefs of his retire- 
 ment, nor the afliduity of his appli- 
 cation, made any impreflion upon the 
 natural gaiety of Ganganelli. Every 
 man, fays he, has fame wealth 'which is 
 bis natural inheritance, and mine is c hear - 
 Julnefs, which is the only patrimony my 
 parents left me, but which I value more 
 than all the treafures of this world. 
 
 He had a great love for foreigners, 
 more particularly for the French, 
 and ufed frequently to repeat with 
 pleafure an incident which happened 
 while he was Friar at Bologna. He 
 met in his Cloifter an agreeable young 
 
 petit-
 
 CLEMENT XIV. xli! 
 
 petit-maitre juft come from Lyons, 
 who faid to him, // is only for 
 want of fomething to do, Father, that 
 I am walking here, for I cant endure- 
 the Monks. Per haps, Jir, replied Gan- 
 ganelli, you may like them better in 
 the RefecJory -, and if fo 9 I intreat 
 you to come and take fome refrejhment. 
 He accepted the offer, and they en- 
 tered into a conversation, with which 
 the young man was fo pleafed, that 
 he remained two months at Bo- 
 logna, only for the pleafure of feeing 
 Ganganelli, and by his perfuafion 
 returned to his friends, from whom 
 he had run away, and by whom he was 
 tenderly beloved. Ganganelli fur- 
 nimed him likewife with money for 
 his journey, and did him all the offices 
 of a real friend. 
 
 Notwithftanding the ftrength of ge- 
 nius and uncommon good qualities of 
 Ganganelli attracted almoft univerfal 
 
 homage,
 
 xiv ANECDOTES OF GANGANELLT, 
 
 homage, yet there was no room to 
 imagine that he ever would be chofen 
 Pope. Befides the freedom with which- 
 he had given his opinion with regard 
 to fome proceedings of the Court of 
 Rome, which did not gain him the good- 
 will of the Cardinals, he had given 
 advice fo oppolite to the fentiments of 
 the Pontiff and his Secretary of State, 
 onthefubjecl: of Parma and the affair of 
 the Jefuits, that he was no longer con- 
 fulted. Clement XIII. was very well 
 difpofed, hut he had the misfortune to 
 lofe his Secretary of State, and to choofe 
 a fucceflbr, who was too much the 
 declared friend of the Jefuits ; and 
 this very foon produced fome difa- 
 greeable confequences. Portugal re- 
 doubled her complaints, and the af- 
 fair of Parma completed the mif- 
 chief; the King of France feized 
 Avignon, and the Pving of Naples, 
 Benevento. 
 
 Ganganelli
 
 CLEMENT XIV. xv 
 
 Ganganelli was terrified at the 
 dorm which was gathering on all fides, 
 and faw the depth ' of the tomb that 
 was to bury the Roman glory, if no 
 endeavours were ufed to calm the 
 rage of, or if they periifted in opposing, 
 the Kings. 
 
 Clement XIII. feeing himfelf prefled 
 by the Houfes of Bourbon andBragan- 
 za, who earnestly infifted on the fuppref- 
 fion of the Jefuits, at lafl appointed a 
 meeting of the Coniiftory, that he might 
 acquaint them with the neceflityof fub- 
 mitting to the offended Kings j but the 
 preceding night, on the ^d of Fe- 
 bruary, he unexpectedly died. His 
 death, which ftruck his party with dif- 
 may, proved a confolation to the Ro- 
 mans, who were chagrined at the lofs 
 of Avignon and Benevento, and, feeing 
 the rage of the powerful Sovereigns 
 ready to burfl upon their heads, had no 
 hopes but in a new reign. The death 
 
 of
 
 rvi ANECDOTES OF GANGANFLLF, 
 
 of every Pope occafions matter both 
 of joy and forrow. 
 
 The meeting of the Conclave in 
 fach a critical fituation, was like a 
 clouded fky, or rather a tempefl. The 
 Cardinals met ; almoft all of them, 
 however, were of different opinions. 
 Some were for chufing a Pontiff who 
 would ftruggle againft the power " of 
 the Kings ; while others were equally 
 defirous of electing one that would 
 prove agreeable to them : both par- 
 ties difputed with great zeal. 
 
 The choice of a Pope is always a 
 work of labour, on account of the 
 number of voices neceflary to determine 
 the Eledion. The Sacred College is 
 commonly compofed of three parties; 
 the Pious, the Politic, and the Indiffe- 
 rent. The firft contend obftinately for 
 electing him whom they believe to be 
 the moft deferving; the fecond are 
 determined by their intereib, or the 
 
 influence
 
 CLEMENT XIV. xvii 
 
 influence of the crowned heads; while 
 the third are blown about by every 
 wind ; which gave rife to the true 
 faying, That be who goes Pope into the 
 Conclave, always comes out a Cardinal. 
 Ganganelli was unconnected with 
 any party, and almofr. fingle, when 
 he was afked by fome of the Cardinals 
 if he chofe to be Pope : As you are 
 too Jew t.o nominate me, anfwered he, 
 and too many to know myfecret, you foall 
 know nothing. 
 
 The Emperor was at this time in 
 Rome, and vifited the Conclave, but 
 did not fpeak a word in favour of 
 Ganganelli, nor even fufpect that he 
 would be elected. Aftonimed only at 
 feeing him in a black habit, he took 
 him for a Friar ; when Ganganelli in a 
 low voice faid, He is a Religious of 
 the Order of Saint Francis, and wears 
 the livery of poverty. 
 
 Pafquinades, which have always been 
 in ufe at Rome, and more particularly 
 
 during
 
 XTJii ANECDOTES OF GANGANELLT, 
 
 during the fittings of the Conclave, 
 were at this time multiplied on all 
 fides. As they generally declare the 
 prevailing opinions, it may not be 
 amifs to take notice of fome which 
 characterifed Ganganelli. One in 
 Latin applied to him thefe words of 
 the 1 1 8th Pfalm, Super docentes me in- 
 telkxi; " I know more than my in- 
 " ftructors." Another in Italian repre- 
 fen ted him as having teeth to bite, 
 and a good nofe to fmell : 
 
 A denti per morficare^ 
 E buon nazo per /entire. 
 
 Thefe were the more flattering, as 
 fatires at that time fpare nobody. 
 Some of the Cardinals were reprefented 
 as not being able to fpeak, Ahnefcio 
 loqui ; and others as only having a hu- 
 man form Animal quafi babens fa- 
 ciem komi?iis, &c. &c. &c. 
 
 The Conclave lafted three months 
 and fome days, and became tumultu- 
 ous
 
 CLEMENT XIV. xlx 
 
 ous from the difficulties which oc- 
 curred in nominating a Pontiff. The 
 Jefuits had a number of Cardinals who 
 were attached to them, and dreaded the 
 fuppreflion of their order; while their 
 opinions were counterbalanced by 
 others, who found means to unite the 
 caufe of politics with religion, to 
 fupport the rights of the Holy See, 
 and yield at the fame time to the de- 
 fires of the Sovereign Princes. 
 
 The Cardinals attached to the 
 Houfe of Bourbon knew, that tho' 
 Ganganelli had no hatred againfl the 
 Jefuits,he never cultivated their friend- 
 fhip; that while Profeflbr of Theology, 
 he had frequently combated their opi- 
 nions, and explained himfelf openly 
 upon the neceffity of coming to an 
 agreement with the Kings ; and that 
 he thought, whenever any religious 
 Order became obnoxious to the Ca- 
 tholic Powers, it aught to be fuppreiTed. 
 
 Befidcs
 
 xx ANECDOTES OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 Befides this, there was a Friar with 
 whom he had frequently correfponded 
 upon the tranfactions of Clement XIII. 
 who thought that it was for the intereft 
 of the Church to acquaint the French 
 Minifter with this correfpondence. 
 His manner of thinking, therefore, be- 
 ing found totally different from the late 
 fyftem,and it appearing extremely pro- 
 bable that he would fecond the views of 
 theHoufe of Bourbon, Louis XV. gave 
 pofitive orders to Cardinal de Bernis to 
 fupport the election of Ganganelli. De 
 Bernis, a man of great abilities, having 
 drawn off Cardinal Rezzonico and his 
 party to the fide of France and Spain, 
 gained an important vidtory, inafmuch 
 as it decided the election in favour of 
 Ganganelli, and feated in the Chair of 
 St. Peter the man that was moft wor- 
 thy to fill it. Thus of old did the elo- 
 quence of Aaron frequently ferve to 
 accomplifh the defigns of God. 
 
 We
 
 CLEMENT XIV. i 
 
 We may judge from this fimple nar- 
 rative of fadts, whether there could be 
 any foundation for the contemptible 
 fatires which faid that Clement XIV. 
 obtained the Triple Crown on condi- 
 tion that he would fupprefs the Order 
 of Jefuits. Ganganelli defpibd honours 
 too much, and his confcience was 
 too delicate, to fubmit to fuch con- 
 ditions. But the fate of the greateft 
 men is to have two characters : while 
 they are extolled by fome, they are 
 defamed by others. 
 
 On the 1 9th May, 1769, the Sa- 
 cred College, finding that Ganganelli 
 would be agreeable to the Kings, and 
 knowing him to be both learned and 
 virtuous, proclaimed him Sovereign Pon- 
 tiff. He was then feen to appear like a 
 rainbow m the Heavens, ilTuing from a 
 thick cloud to announce fcke return of 
 fine weather. He was defirous to have 
 taken the name of Sixtus VJ. but in 
 
 gratitude
 
 uii ANECDOTES OF GAKGANELLI, 
 
 gratitude to Clement XIII. who had 
 made him Cardinal, he took the name 
 of Clement, according to an old efta- 
 blifhed cuftom. 
 
 He was fo little dazzled with his pro- 
 motion, that next morning he could 
 fcarcely be awaked ; for, moil unlike an 
 ambitious man, he had never flept more 
 found. When the ceremony of the 
 adoration was over, he was asked, if 
 he was tired ? and replied in his ufual 
 humble, natural manner, That he 
 bad never Jeen theft ceremony more at his 
 eafe ; particularly as he recollected how 
 be had beenfqueezcd on afimilar occajion t 
 'when he was only ajimple Friar. 
 
 It is incredible how the people rejoic- 
 ed when they were informed of his being 
 chofen. Nothing but fhouts of joy were 
 heard ; and, as a Venetian lady wrote to 
 her friends, " the World was tranfport- 
 " ed with joy, as if the Golden Age was 
 " to return." But alas ! it was only the 
 
 dawn
 
 CLEMENT XIV. xxiii 
 
 dawn of a fine day, which was to end 
 with the morning. 
 
 He was defired to fend a Courier to 
 inform his fitters of his promotion ; but 
 he was content to write by the poft, 
 faying, they were not ufed to receive 
 ambaffadors. 
 
 No Pope was ever ele&ed in more 
 tempeftuous times. Portugal was 
 about to choofe a Patriarch, and lay 
 afide all communication with the Pope ; 
 and the Kings of France, Spain, and 
 Naples, threatened to take fome fteps 
 fatal to the Court of Rome. Venice 
 propofed to reform their Religious 
 Communities without paying any at- 
 tention to the Holy See. Poland 
 wanted to diminim th? privileges of the 
 Nuncio, and to check the papal power; 
 while the Romans themfelves mur- 
 mured at feeing their poffefTions fall 
 into the hands of flrangers. And to 
 , complete all thefe misfortunes, a mad- 
 
 nefs
 
 xxiv ANECDOTES OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 nefs was fpreading far and wide, which 
 attacked Kings and Pontiffs, and even 
 God himfelf, by ranking Chriftianity in 
 the fame clafs with fuperftitious chi- 
 meras. What a profpect for the Head 
 of the Church ! 
 
 Clement XIV. began his reign by 
 addreffing vows to Heaven for the ne- 
 ceffities of the Church and State j and, 
 in the next place, by writing to the dif- 
 ferent Monarchs, to mew his pacific 
 difpofition. He appointed Cardinal 
 Palavicini to be his Secretary of State, 
 as aMinifler agreeable to the Kings; but 
 with an intention to govern by himfelf, 
 and to preferve his intentions in 
 inviolabje fecrecy from the whole 
 world. 
 
 The affair of the Jefuits was urged 
 daily by the different Princes and their 
 AmbalTadors j but fuch was the mode- 
 rate fpirit of Ganganelli, whofe love 
 of juftice made him weigh every 
 
 grievance
 
 CLEMENT XIV. w* 
 
 grievance with the minuted attention 
 before he would decide, that four 
 years were employed in the examina- 
 tion. 
 
 Like an indulgent parent, he took the 
 firft fteps to lead to an accommodation 
 with Portugal, and fucceeded in re-efta- 
 bliming the ancient friendfhip which 
 had fubfifted between the two Courts. 
 
 He was crowned in St. Peter's the 
 4th of June 1769, amidft the loudeft 
 acclamations; and on the 26th of No- 
 vember following, he took pofleffion 
 of Saint John de Lateran, with all the 
 magnificence which ufually accompa- 
 nies that pompous ceremony. 
 
 His love of peace, and his follicitude 
 to accommodate matters with the 
 offended Kings, made him omit fome 
 ceremonies at a time when they were 
 expected with their ufual eclat 3 and as 
 this was the effect of his own authority, 
 without any previous confukation, the 
 
 VOL. I. b Car-
 
 x\rf ANECDOTES OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 Cardinals concluded, that he was not 
 to be led, nor even his intentions to 
 be divined. 
 
 Though he was happy in his native 
 fimplicity of manners, Ganganelli 
 knew when to aflume the manners of 
 .a Sovereign Pontiff, and how to dif- 
 play the auguft character with the 
 greateft dignity ; as was feen when the 
 Duke of Gloucefter vifited Rome. 
 Indeed, Grangers of evert country and 
 every rank met with the moil engaging 
 reception, and were all anxious to fee 
 a difciple of Saint Francis who had 
 been preferred to the Roman Princes, 
 and the fons of Kings, in an age moft 
 unfavourable to his profeffion. 
 
 That he might neither be betrayed, 
 nor have his intentions difcovered, he 
 treated with the Kings himfelf ; and 
 by his attention to the wants of the 
 people, guarded againft the evils by 
 which the Eccleiiaftical State had been 
 
 diitrefTed
 
 CLEMENT XIV. xxvii 
 
 diftrefled in the time of his predecefTor, 
 from the villany of monopolizers, 
 who had fent the proviiions to Venice 
 which mould have fupplied the 
 Romans. 
 
 The Cardinals murmured at his 
 want of confidence ; but he faid, That 
 a Sovereign ivbo had a number of confi- 
 dent s> was infallibly governed, and often 
 betrayed \ / Jleep found ivben my 
 fecret is my own. 
 
 His manner of living was as abftc- 
 mious when he was Pope, as it had 
 been while he was Friar at the Con- 
 vent of the Holy Apoftles. When 
 he was told that the Papal Dignity 
 required a more fumptuous table, he 
 anfwered, That neither St. Peter nor Sf. 
 Francis had taught him to dine fplen- 
 didly, and when the head-cook of the 
 Kitchen came to beg that he might 
 be continued; he faid to him, Tou 
 foall not lofe your appointment, but I 
 b 2 will
 
 ANECDOTES OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 valll not lofe my health to keep your 
 hand in, 
 
 He was reproached with being too 
 indulgent in granting Briefs of Secu- 
 larization j but he confidered a difcon- 
 tented Monk as a perpetual difgrace to 
 the community. The greatefl fatis- 
 faction he derived from his being 
 appointed Cardinal, was the power 
 of fometimes affirming his neighbour ; 
 and he never went abroad without 
 giving fome inftancesof his liberality, 
 which were always accompanied with 
 the moft pleafing language. 
 
 A proof of his having the refolu- 
 tion, if he had not the fe verity of 
 Sixtus Quintus, was his arrefting the 
 
 Marquis of for having given the 
 
 Count of a box on the ear in 
 
 public, and fending him inftantly to 
 the Caftleof St. Angelo, to remain there 
 for feven years. Yet no man (hewed 
 fenfibility than he did when 
 
 he
 
 ELEMENT XIV. xxir 
 
 he was informed of a criminal being 
 fentenced to die. 
 
 He difcouraged every kind of flat- 
 tery, and no man was caller with his- 
 friends. He would difpute with the 
 learned, talk politics with the politi- 
 cian, converfe with foreigners, and be 
 fociable with his brethren of St, 
 Francis. One evening he faid, I have 
 been a Prince and a Pope all day. *Tbat 
 I may not be quite f tiff seated, I im/fi be 
 Father Gangamlli again. - Come, let 
 us chat as ive ufed to da. 
 
 To the little artifices praclifed by 
 narrow minds to obtain their ends, he 
 was a {hanger. Though peculiarly 
 calculated for a Court, which is ac- 
 cufed of being the very vortex of in- 
 trigue and chicane, he never deceived 
 the Politicians, but by remaining fi- 
 lent ; for when he fpoke, he uttered 
 the truth. He was too upright a man 
 to act by finifler means, and had, in- 
 b 3 deed,
 
 zn ANECDOTES OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 deed, too great a genius to fland in 
 need of them. 
 
 No one knew better when to feizc 
 the proper moment, when he was nei- 
 ther flow nor precipitate. " The hour 
 " is not come," he would fay, when 
 he was folicited to haften fome opera- 
 tion. He wrote to Cardinal Stoppani, 
 " I miftruft my vivacity, and there- 
 " fore I mail not anfwer till the end 
 " of a week, concerning what your 
 " Eminency requires of me. Our 
 " imagination is often our greateft 
 " enemy ; I amftriving to weary mine 
 " before I aft. Bufmefs, like fruit, 
 tl hath its time of maturity, and 
 " we mould never think of difpatch- 
 " ing it, when it is only half ripe." 
 
 His manner of reading refembled 
 his other operations ; he abftained 
 from books, if he found himfelf dif- 
 pofed to reflect; and as Sovereigns are 
 
 led
 
 CLEMENT XIV. xxxi 
 
 led by circumftances, from whence 
 we may conclude that all men are 
 born dependent, he often kept vigils 
 great part of the night, and ilept in 
 the day-time. " Their Rule, he ufed to 
 " fay, is the compafs of Monks and 
 " Friars ; but the wants of their peo- 
 " pie is the clock of fovereigns : be it 
 " what hour it may, if they want us, 
 " we muft attend them." La buffalo, 
 difratl e la lora regola, ma il bifogno del 
 popolo e forohgio dei fovrani. 
 
 This maxim, when he was Pope, 
 often tore him from his books. He 
 then read only to edify, or to relax 
 from bufinefs. He was of opinion, 
 that all the books in the world might 
 be reduced to fix thoufand volumes in 
 folio, and that thofe of the prefent 
 age were nothing but paintings, which 
 daubers had found the art of cleaning, 
 in order to prefent them in the pro- 
 pereft light to public view. 
 
 b 4 It
 
 xu ANECDOTES OF GANGANILLT, 
 
 It is to be lamented that he pro- 
 duced nothing in the literary way, 
 though fome have afcribed to him 
 part of the Works of Benedict XIV. 
 Wefhouldhavefoundin his writings the 
 phlegm of the Germans, blended with 
 the vivacity of the Italians : but he 
 was fo thoroughly perfuaded that there 
 were too many Writers, that he was 
 always fearful of increafing the num- 
 ber. He faid one day, fmiling, " Who 
 "knows whether Brother Francis 
 " may not one day take it into his 
 " head to write ? I ftiould not be in 
 " the lead aftonifhed to fee fome 
 " Work in his manner ; but furely it 
 ' will not be an hiftory of my ra- 
 ' gouts, or the book muft be very 
 " concife !" 
 
 When any one mentioned to him 
 the fafhionable productions that ap> 
 peared againft ChrifHanity, he would 
 fay, " The more there are, the more 
 
 " th
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 
 
 *' the world will be convinced of the 
 " necefiity of it." He obferved, 
 " That all the Writers who oppofed 
 " Chriftianity, knew only how to dig 
 " a ditch, and that was all they could 
 " fupply its place with." He faid, 
 " That Mr. Voltaire, whofe poetry he* 
 " admired, attacked Religion fo often, 
 " only becaufe it was troublefome to 
 " him ; and that J. J. RoufTeau was a 
 " painter, who always forgot the 
 " heads, and who excelled only in the 
 " drapery." 
 
 He explained himfelf one day upon- 
 2. Work called fhc Syftem of Nature, 
 and added, " What hurts rne is, that 
 *' the more it is founded upon falfe 
 " principles, the more, in an age like 
 " ours, it will gain reputation and 
 " readers ; and it will receive an ad- 
 " ditional value by its being ferioufly 
 " refuted." He afterwards obferved^ 
 that t( the Author of this bad Book is" 
 b 5 " a mad-
 
 ANECDOTES OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 " a madman, who imagines, that by 
 " changing the matter of the houfe, 
 " he can difpofe of it juft as he pleafes, 
 " without reflecting, that no creatures 
 " can breathe but by exifting in God : 
 " in ipfo vivimus, movemur & f umtts. 
 " But every age is diilinguifhed by a 
 " new-fangled mode of thinking. 
 " After the times of fuperflition, are 
 " come the days of infidelity ; and 
 " the man who formerly adored a 
 <f multitude of gods, now affects not 
 " to acknowledge any one. Virtue, 
 " vice, immortality, annihilation, all 
 " appear to him fynonimous terms, 
 " provided fome filly Pamphlet ferves 
 " him as a rampart againfl Heaven ; 
 " and it is in the very bofom of Reli- 
 " gion that thefe fcandalous opinions 
 " originate and multiply. Whilfl Re- 
 " ligion was perfecuted by the Pagans, 
 " a Pope had at leafl the glory and 
 4< the good fortune to defend it at the 
 
 " price
 
 CLEMENT XIV. xxxv 
 
 " prtee of his blood ; but now that 
 " he cannot fly to martyrdom, he is 
 " unfortunately compelled to be the 
 " forrowful witnefs of error and im- 
 ' piety." 
 
 Thefe excellent reflections he made 
 in the prefence of a Commander of 
 Malta, from whom the Author had 
 them, and who affured him, that the 
 Pope was ever ready to facrifice him- 
 felf for the good of Religion, and 
 the interefts of the Church, conlider- 
 ing his life as no object when thefe 
 were called in queftion. 
 
 It was folely for the glory of tht 
 Church that he from time to time 
 created feveral Cardinals, without 
 paying any attention to their private 
 connections. 
 
 Their institution, which commen- 
 ces in the ninth century, had no other 
 object than the benefit and honour of 
 Religion. They conftitute the Coun- 
 cil of the Sovereign Pontiffs, when 
 b 6 they
 
 ANECDOTES OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 they have occafion for advice ; and 
 there were at all times amongft them 
 perfons of eminence, whofe zeal, add- 
 ed to their knowledge, proved of infi- 
 nite ufe to the Church and State. 
 ome carried their courage and their 
 faith to the extremities of the world ; 
 others, with the approbation of 
 Princes, governed with wifdom the 
 moft flourifhing Empires. The lateft 
 pofterity will remember with ad- 
 miration, the Amboifes, Ximenes, 
 Richelieus, and Fleurys, and confider 
 them as the bulwarks of thofe king- 
 doms where they adled as Mini/lers. 
 
 If Clement XIV. did not make any 
 complete promotion of Cardinals dur- 
 ing his Pontificate, it is to be fuppof- 
 ed that he was retrained by other 
 Powers, or that he was puzzled to 
 feledl proper fubjeds. He might pro- 
 bably rather choofe to come to no de - 
 termination, than to difpleafe any of his 
 
 old
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 
 
 old friends, who flattered themfelves 
 with the hopes of obtaining the Purple, 
 and neverthelefs might not be worthy 
 of it. The good qualities neceflary in 
 friendships are not fufficient for a 
 Cardinal. It is a dignity that has too 
 much influence upon the Church, to 
 be beftowed at random. 
 
 To judge properly of the genius of 
 Clement, we mould view him with fome 
 friends, and particularly the Cardinal 
 de Bemis, (whofe different periods of 
 life feem to have been diflinguifhed by 
 the mod flattering epochas, and the 
 moil delicate works of genius) confer- 
 ring upon the fubjecls of the times, and 
 the means of reconciling the interefls of 
 Religion with thofe of the Princes. 
 When the greateft lights had been 
 thrown by thefehis Counfellors upon 
 the fubjecl: in debate, Ganganelli,asthe 
 frimum mobile tf their deliberations,de- 
 cided with manly refolution. The flight- 
 eft
 
 ANECDOTES OF G ANGANELLI, 
 
 eft error would have been of the moft 
 dangerous confequence. The chief 
 point in queftion was to weigh the 
 rights of the" Sovereign Pontiff,- the 
 motives upon which he acted, and to 
 keep within the bounds that fupport 
 the equilibrium between the Holy 
 Father and the other Potentates. . 
 
 The more arduous and difficult are 
 the functions of a Pope, the more he- 
 flands in need of repofe to enable 
 him to fuftain his labours* Caftle- 
 gandolfo, built by the Chevalier 
 Bernini, four leagues from Rome, 
 near the Lake Albano, which com- 
 mands the moft agreeable profpects, 
 is the ufual fummer refidence of the 
 Sovereign Pontiffs- 
 Clement failed not to repair thither 
 in the months of May and October, 
 the moft proper feafons in Italy to en- 
 joy the pleafures of the country -, and 
 it was here, to be intimately acquaint- 
 ed
 
 CLEMENT XIV. xxxix 
 
 cd with him, we mould view him 
 anatomizing an infect, analyzing a 
 flower, purfuing the phenomena of 
 nature, by degrees rifing up to 
 her Author, and at length taking a 
 general view of Earth and Heaven : 
 or, retiring within himfelf by pri- 
 vate meditation j or, at other times, 
 familiarly converting with his friends 
 and intimates. 
 
 His imagination was raifed at the 
 fight of thofe beauties that prefent 
 themfelves in the neighbourhood of 
 Rome to the recollection of the an- 
 tient Romans, who had fo boldly 
 trampled upon the foil : he recalled to 
 his memory the moil fublime and in- 
 genious pa/Tages of the ancient Poets 
 upon the occafion. There are few 
 Italians of any education, who are 
 unacquainted with the Works of A- 
 rioflo, Dante, Tafib, Petrarch, and 
 Metailafio ; tven the women amufe 
 
 them-
 
 ad ANECDOTES OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 themfelves with the perufal of thefc 
 - Poets, and can quote them occafionally. 
 His Philofophy ferved his imagi- 
 nation as an excellent fecond ; it recal- 
 Jed to his memory the different fitua- 
 tions of his life - f at one time in a ftate 
 of obfcure tranquillity, then forcibly 
 agitated in the glare of dignity : like a 
 pilot, who, after a calm ierene morn- 
 ing, in the evening finds himfelf in a 
 violent hurricane, accompanied with 
 thunder, hail, and rain. 
 
 Sometimes, weary of meditation, he 
 would retire with an old Convent Friend, 
 Brother Francis, into fome private ar- 
 bour where they could not be feen. 
 There fome Cloyfter anecdotes a- 
 mufed them, and they feemed in a 
 perfedl ftate of equality. One day, 
 Clement pointing to him, repeated 
 thefe words : " He has kept his habit, 
 and is happier than I am, who wear 
 " the Tiara. It was decreed I fhould 
 
 " be
 
 CLEMENT XIV. all 
 
 " be a Pope, and I very much fear (here 
 " he paufed) however, we mufl fub- 
 " mit to the will of God." 
 
 He was once entertaining himfelf in 
 this manner, when fome AmbafTadors 
 were announced to him. They foundhirrf 
 as ferene and compofed as if nothing 
 agitated his mind ; but he could not 
 help laughing in his fleeve at the per- 
 plexities he excited in the curious. 
 
 While he was at Caftlegandolfo, on 
 giving a fplendid repaft to fome Gran- 
 dees of Spain, he laid afide his Sove- 
 reign authority, and joined them in a 
 friendly manner when feated at table, 
 without furFering them to rife to fa- 
 lute him. 
 
 The Public imagined he had loft 
 fight of the grand affair of the Je- 
 fuits, whilft, according to the cuftom 
 of the Court of Rome, he only fought 
 to gain time. He fometimes fearch- 
 ed the archives of the Propaganda, to 
 
 confult
 
 xlii ANECDOTES OF O ANGANT LL T, 
 
 confult the Memoirs of Cardinal de 
 Tournon, of M. Maigrot, of La 
 Beaume, and of the Jefuit Millen- 
 aries. At other times he had read to 
 him the accufations of the Societyy 
 and their vindications. Every impor- 
 tant publication, pro or con, refpecling 
 the Jefuits, he attentively examined ; 
 whilfl equally diftrufling the eulo- 
 giums and the farcafms paffed upon 
 them, he was biaiTed neither by their 
 Panegyrifts nor their Satirifts. No 
 man was ever more impartial. Equally 
 abfrracling himfelf from his own in- 
 clinations as well as all prejudices, he 
 judged in the fame manner upon the 
 occafion, as poflerity necelTarily mutt- 
 " Let me (faid he to the Sove- 
 " reigns who preffed him to deter- 
 " mine) have leifure to examine the 
 " important bufinefs upon which I am 
 " to pronounce. I am the common 
 " Father of the Faithful, particularly 
 
 " of
 
 C L E M E N T XIV. xliii 
 
 " of the Religious ; and I canrrot 
 " deflroy a celebrated Order, with- 
 " out having fufficient reafonstojufti- 
 " fy me in the eyes of all ages, and, 
 " above all, before God." 
 
 The people, ever idolizing him, 
 ceafed not to blefs his reign ; and their 
 perfeverance in doing fo conilitutes 
 his greateft eulogium. It is well known 
 that the Romans eaiily change from 
 enthufiafm to hatred ; that they have 
 often calumniated thofe Pontiffs 
 whom they have flattered the mod: ; 
 and that a Pope, to pleafe them, {hould 
 not reign above three years. Un- 
 happy, on account of their lazinefs, 
 they conftantly hope, that a change of 
 mailers muft be attended with an in- 
 creafe of happinefs ; juft as fick men 
 are apt to fancy that they fliall be 
 much eafier when they are placed in 
 another pofture. 
 
 The
 
 riiv ANECDOTES OF GANGANELLF,. 
 
 The glory of Clement would not 
 have been complete, if he had not 
 contributed to the embellifhment of 
 Rome, a city fo fufceptible of orna- 
 ments, and fo fertile in riches proper to 
 decorate it. Willing, therefore,topur- 
 fue the paths of SixtusV. Paul V. and 
 Benedict XIV. he compofed a Mu- 
 feum, comprizing every thing that 
 could gratify the curiolity of Anti- 
 quaries and Travellers ; that is to fay* 
 of the fcarceft curiofities that have 
 been tranfmitted by the Ancients. 
 
 It might be faid, on this occaiion, 
 that Rome, defirous of honouring his 
 Pontificate, was eager to difplay the 
 matter- pieces of artwhich lay conceal- 
 ed within her bowels. Scarce ayear paf- 
 fed without vafes, urns, ftatues of ex- 
 quifite workmanmip being dug up, to 
 enrich thefuperb collection begun un- 
 der Lambertini. Here, with the glance 
 of an eye, we may fee the triumph 
 
 of
 
 CLEMENT. XIV. xl* 
 
 of the Chriflian Religion, by the frag- 
 ments that were ufed in the Pagan fa- 
 crifices, and the ruins of all thofe pro- 
 phane divinities, whofe ftatues are no 
 longer held in eflimation, but in pro- 
 portion to the maflerly manner with 
 which they are executed. 
 
 When Clement could relax frorr* 
 the variety of bufmefs in which he 
 was engaged,' he vifited thefe monu- 
 ments with Foreigners of diflinction, 
 and celebrated Artifls, rather as a So- 
 vereign who confiders it as a duty to 
 embellifh his capital, than as an ama- 
 teur who gratifies his tafte. This 
 he faid to the Chevalier Chatelus, a 
 worthy defcendant of the immortal 
 d'Aguefleau, as well on account of his 
 wit as his extenfive knowledge. Af- 
 ter converfing with him upon diffe- 
 rent fubjedls, he added, that being 
 " born in a Village, and brought up in 
 " a Cloyfter, where the love of the 
 
 " arts
 
 xlvi ANECDOTES OF GANGANELLI. 
 
 *' arts was not infpired, he could not 
 " acquire the neceffary judgment to 
 " determine as a Connoifleur upon 
 " themonuments he had collected; but 
 -" that, as a Sovereign, he thought 
 " himfelf obliged to difplay the finefl 
 " models to the eyes of Artifts and 
 f ' the Curious, that they might know 
 " and imitate them." 
 If he did not always, reward the 
 Learned, as they might think they had 
 a right to expect from fo enlightened 
 a Pope, circumftances mould be ad- 
 verted to. The multiplicity of buil- 
 nefs in which he was engaged, joined 
 to the mortnefs of his reign, did not 
 afford him leifure to engage' in thofe 
 purfuits which would have given him 
 the greater!: pleafure. Moreover, a 
 Pope cannot always act agreeably to 
 his own inclinations. There are in- 
 cidents that tie up his hands. Never- 
 thelefs, he was always found attentive 
 
 to
 
 CLEMENT Xrv. xIvS 
 
 to beftow Bilhoprics upon thofe only 
 whom he knew to be men of learning; 
 and to this reafon may be afcribed his fo 
 frequently promoting Priefts of his 
 own Order. 
 
 A Pope is generally very circum- 
 fpeft in the nomination of a Bifhop. 
 He knows that the proper government 
 of a diocefe requires judgment and 
 abilities ; for which reafon the Italian 
 Bifhops areufually as humble as they are 
 learned, and as charitable as they are 
 zealous. They are conftant refidents, 
 and live in -friendmip and cordia- 
 lity with their Curates ; for they muft 
 not be confounded -with thofe Mo?2/ig- 
 nori known in Rome under the titles 
 ofPrelati, and who frequently, not being 
 even in Orders, fill fuch pofts as Lay- 
 *men might occupy, and ferve the Pope 
 in his various functions. 
 
 Clement was not lefs attentive in 
 the nomination of his Nuncios : he 
 
 was
 
 xhiii ANECDOTES OF GANGANELLX, 
 
 was defirous that his Ambaffadors 
 fhould do him honour, as well by their 
 manners as by their learning, and par* 
 ticularly by their love of peace. And if 
 he appointed M. Doria his Nuncio to 
 the Court of France, notwithstanding 
 his youth, it was becaufe he was con- 
 vinced that his extraordinary virtues 
 had outflripped his years, and that his 
 merit already correfponded with the 
 celebrity of his name. It was not till 
 after the confequence this Prelate had 
 gained in Spain (where he was the bearer 
 of the confecrated child-bed linen), that 
 Clement named him Nuncio in France. 
 He fent him there as an Angel of 
 Peace, capable of maintaining the har- 
 mony between the Father and the 
 eldeft Son of the Church. 
 
 Religion has often fuffered by an in- 
 difcreet zeal j and in order to prevent 
 it for the future, as far as pofiible, Cle- 
 ment, whofe prudence ever dictated all 
 
 his
 
 CLEMENT XIV. xlix 
 
 his fleps and refolves, obferved the 
 Evangelical toleration which the Di- 
 vine Legiilator made ufe of towards 
 the Sadncees and the Samaritans. He 
 ufed to fay, " We too often lay a fide 
 Charity to maintain Faith ; with- 
 " out reflecting, that if it is not al- 
 " lowed to tolerate error, it is for- 
 " bidden to hate and perfccute thofe 
 " who have unfortunately embraced 
 " it." 
 
 He watched attentively over the 
 Pontifical treafures. Eefi'des paying 
 all the expences of the Conclave when 
 he was chofen, fome debts of the Apo- 
 ftolical Chamber, and all thofe of 
 his predeceflbr; he eilablimed fome 
 manufaclures, and amply provided 
 for the expences of the ftate, while 
 he gave penftons to decayed gentle- 
 men and new converts. 
 
 While Ganganelli found the trea- 
 fures of the ftate fufficient to fup- 
 port the public expences, and to do 
 VOL. I. c many
 
 1 ANECDOTES OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 many acls of generofity, he was like- 
 wife at conliderable expence in receiv- 
 ing the Princefs Dowager of Saxe, and 
 the Brothers of the King of England, 
 whom he entertained moft royally. 
 
 But what redounds more to his cre- 
 dit, and is very fingular in the hiftory 
 of a Pope, he never once thought of 
 raifing his own family at the public 
 charge, but, on the contrary, feemed 
 totally to negledt them ; although it 
 had been the practice of his predecef- 
 fors to raife their Nephews to the 
 higheft honours. 
 
 The hiftory of Nepotifm, which 
 has been the rock upon which al- 
 moft all the Popes have fplit, teaches 
 u?, that the more devout they were, 
 the more they enriched their Ne- 
 phews, and raifed them to the greateft 
 honours. 
 
 No man ever fet a more ftriking 
 example of difmtereftednefs. He 
 
 even
 
 CLEMENT XIV. li 
 
 even declined to, accept of a fine fnufF- 
 box ; and pulling out his old one from 
 his fleeve, faid it had been his compa- 
 nion in his cell for forty years, and he 
 never would have another. 
 
 Rome had long fufFered from 
 Quacks, who pradifed without inter- 
 ruption ; but Clement XIV. foon put 
 a ilop to the practice of all who were 
 not regularly approved. 
 
 An infbince where he mewed unufual 
 vigour, was upon hearing that one 
 Peter Andrea had fraudulently export- 
 ed fome grain to Fiumicino, in the 
 Pope's own galleys. Forgetting his 
 natural mildnefs of temper, and fee- 
 ing only the danger to which his 
 people might be expofed by fuch vil- 
 lany, he could not contain himfelf. 
 Send him to prifon, faid he, and let him 
 be immediately tried, that the Public 
 may know, that it is death to me to fee 
 the fubfijlencc of my fubjetfs dimi?iified. 
 c 2 After
 
 lii ANECDOTES OF GANGANELLT, 
 
 After the ftricteft examination of 
 every argument which could be pro- 
 duced either againft or in favour of 
 the Jefuits, during an enquiry which 
 continued four years, Clement XIV. 
 at laft named a commiffion confifling 
 of five Cardinals, fome Prelates, and 
 Advocates, to affift him in the execu- 
 tion of his defign ; and after the ma- 
 tureft deliberation, figned the Brief on 
 the 2 1 ft of July, 1773, which fuppref- 
 ed that famous Order. On the loth 
 or Auguil following, at nine o'clock 
 in the evening, the Commiflioners 
 appointed for the execution of the 
 Brief, accompanied by a Notary, and 
 attended by a guard, went to the diffe- 
 rent Houfes of the Jefuits -, and having 
 afTembled the Brethren, read to them 
 the Brief of their extinction ; at the 
 fame time telling them, that the Apo- 
 ftolical Chamber would furnifh each 
 of them with a fecular habit, pay the 
 
 travelling
 
 CLEMENT XIV. liii 
 
 travelling expences of thofe who chofe 
 to quit Rome that their books and 
 efFefts fhould be delivered to them 
 and that they mould have penfions. 
 
 As the Jefuits had a great mare in 
 the education of youth, the (hutting 
 up their fchools might have proved of 
 bad confequence, if Clement had not 
 given a new proof of his attention, 
 genius and abilities. Having fhut him- 
 felf up for fome days, and fketched out 
 a plan of education worthy of the 
 greateft mailer -, he cafl a rapid eye 
 upon fome Priefts and Friars who by 
 their talents and example were capable 
 of replacing the Jefuit teachers, and 
 immediately inftituted them Profef- 
 fors; fo that, to the aftonimment of 
 Rome, there feemed to be fcarce any 
 interval between the departure of the 
 Jefuits and the coming of their Suc- 
 ceflbrs; the fchools being again opened 
 at the very inftant when the Public 
 c 3 thought
 
 II? ANECDOTES OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 thought they muft have remained fimt 
 up for a long time. 
 
 The fuppreflion of the Jefuits hav- 
 ing taken place, the Kings and the 
 Venetian State immediately accommo- 
 dated the difputes which had fubfifted 
 fo long between them and the Court 
 of Rome. 
 
 Clement naturally poffeffing a robuft 
 conftitution, and the regularity in 
 which he lived, promifed a long life ; 
 but the multiplicity of intricate affairs 
 in which he was involved, agitated 
 him fo much, that his health could 
 not fail to be affected. In the 
 month of April 1774, he was firft 
 obferved to decline, and foon after 
 was tormented with cruel pains in his 
 bowels, with which he languifhed 
 for five months, without the Phyfi- 
 cians being able to difcover the caufe 
 of his diforder, or to afford him the 
 lead relief. Upon his death, which hap- 
 pened
 
 CLEMENT XIV. N 
 
 pened on the 22d of September, his 
 body turned inftantly black, and ap- 
 peared in a ftate of putrefaction, 
 which induced the people prefent to 
 impute his death to the effect of poi- 
 fon ; and it was very generally re- 
 ported that he had fallen a facrifice to 
 the refentment of the Jefuits. 
 
 Thus died Francis -Laurence Gan- 
 ganelli, aged 69 years, 10 months, 
 and 22 days, after having arrived at 
 the higheft dignity in the mofl turbu- 
 lent times, without having been for 
 one jQngle inftant dazzled by his ele- 
 vation, or difmayed by the troubles 
 he had to encounter, His life was a 
 mo^el for future Popes; and his death 
 a leflbn to all good Chriftians. 
 
 He was of an ordinary ftiture, had 
 a large forehead, black and very thick 
 eye- brows, lively eyes, and a longifh 
 face. 
 
 PRE-
 
 PREFACE 
 
 By M. CARACCIOLI. 
 
 TH E aftoniming fale of thcfe Let- 
 ters fumciently proclaims their me- 
 rit. Their authenticity cannot be 
 doubted, if we would judge of them 
 merely from their ftriking conformity 
 with the knowledge, genius, and conduct 
 of Clement XIV. 
 
 Befide the honourable teilimonies which 
 Foreigners and the Learned in every part of 
 Europe rendered to Ganganelli before he 
 was advanced to the .Papal Chair, as to a 
 perfon of the greatelt affability and impar- 
 tiality, with the molt enlightened under- 
 ftanding, and moil pacific turn of mind , 
 the fuppreffion of the Bull In C<ena Do- 
 minii and the perfect harmony which he 
 re-eilablifhed between the Court of Rome 
 and the offended Kings, muft mew the 
 world that this immortal Pontiff was not 
 led by opinions or prejudices, but that he 
 really thought too much refped: could 
 not be paid to Sovereigns who had been 
 on all occafions the protectors of the Holy 
 See, and that the Popes can never be 
 
 more
 
 Iviii PREFACE. 
 
 more powerful than when fupported by 
 the Houfe of Bourbon. 
 
 The Letters of Clement XIV. are 
 fully authenticated by his conduct and by 
 his ientiments. They difplay the fame re- 
 ligious principles which he always taught 
 in- public ; the fame maxims which he ob- 
 ferved in his life , and the fame under- 
 ftanding which made him keep at a dif- 
 tance whatever favoured either of fanari- 
 cifm or fuperflition. 
 
 But what more evidently proves that 
 thefe Letters are not counterfeit , I had 
 copied a number of them of the year 1758 
 at Florence, from the originals which were 
 communicated to me by the Prelate Cerct:i 
 and the Abbe Lami, and was defirous to 
 publifh them in the year 1762, when I re- 
 ceived the following anfwer from P. Gan- 
 ganelli (then Cardinal), whofe confent I 
 wifhed to obtain ; an anfwer which at pre- 
 fent lies before me, and which I can mew 
 to any one who is defirous of feeing it. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 y*// Letters which have been communi- 
 cated to you at Florence were written in 
 hafte, and by no means deferve the honour you 
 are inclined to confer en them by a publication; 
 I moft earneftty beg of you^ therefore, not to 
 give them to the Public. What I have 
 written can have no other merit than can- 
 dour
 
 PREFACE. Hx 
 
 dour and truth. I am not the kfs obliged t 
 you, and Jhall always acknowledge the affec- 
 tion you have Jhewn for me. / Jhall feek 
 every opportunity of teftifying my gratitude, 
 and proving to you, with what efteem I de- 
 clare myfelf 
 
 Tour fmcere humble Servant^ 
 F. LAUR. CARD. GANGANELLI. 
 
 ROMK, I9th Sept. 1762. 
 
 It is evident, then, that from the year 
 1762, I had genuine Letters of P. Gan- 
 ganelli ; and it is not lefs evident, that 
 thofe which have come to my hands in the 
 courfe of the lafl year, have fuch a refem- 
 blance to thefe, that they cannot be 
 miftaken. The Author of the Journal 
 des Sciences &f des Beaux- Arts fays, with rca- 
 fon, " That if they will only acknowledge 
 " three of the Letters to be thofe of 
 " Clement XIV. it is neceffary that 
 '* they mould all be fo ; for the fame foul 
 *' and the fame genius hath dictated the 
 " whole." ConnoiiTeurs are not to be 
 deceived, and with only a little tafte and 
 practice, copies are to be diftinguilhed 
 from originals as eafily in Letters as in 
 Painting. The foul of Clement XIV. 
 is feen over the whole, and That cannot be 
 copied. Befides, what is there extraordi- 
 nary in all this ? That Ganganelli, who 
 having attained to be a Cardinal, and af- 
 terwards to be Pope, by his merit , who 
 
 was
 
 U PREFACE. 
 
 was declared In a full Confiftory, by the 
 famous Father Berti, in a public Act, to 
 be a perfon of whom Rome fhould be 
 vain ; who was boafted of as a moft elo- 
 quent Panegyrift by a number of towns in 
 Italy , marked out by the greiit I ambertini 
 (Benedict XIV.) as a fubject of the high- 
 eft hopes ; in fhort, cited as a man of 
 rare accomplimments by every Writer in 
 Italy : what is there, I fay, extraordinary 
 in his having wrote ingenious and learned 
 Letters P If the fpirit of Party had not 
 wifhed to pafs Gangar.elli upon the world 
 fora man of miauling parts, this matter 
 would never have been difputed. 
 
 If Clement XIV. had left a numerous 
 family ; if a fpirit of party had been 
 difcernible in thefe Letters or if the me- 
 diocrity of the Work had required a re- 
 fpectable name to impoie upon the Public; 
 pafiion or inter eft might be fufpected : 
 but in the prefent cafe, we are obliged to 
 acknowledge the truth. 
 
 It is with great injuftice that the Ita- 
 lians are accuicd of knowing nothing but 
 fuperftitious devotion. The moft ex- 
 cellent book of enlightened piety which 
 we have, was wrote by Muratori , and no- 
 body is ignorant of Benedict XiV. hav- 
 ing proved both by his ciifcourfcs and writ- 
 ings, the fovereign contempt in which he 
 held every thing which was only trifling 
 3 attention
 
 PREFACE. IxJ 
 
 attention to church ceremonies ; and that 
 the Sacred College had always men of the 
 brightefl parts. 
 
 It is no lefs certain that among the Re- 
 ligious in Cloifters, efpecially in Italy, 
 many individuals may be found who have 
 knowledge, principles, and ex ten five 
 views, yet want opportunities of difplay- 
 ing their talents to become great men. 
 For example, place P. Gerdil, a religious 
 Barnabite, and Preceptor to the Prince of 
 Piedmont, in a confpicuous light, and you 
 will unqueflionably fee genius and learn- 
 ing mine forth, with a piety totally free 
 from Pharifaical zeal and party-fpirif. 
 To difpute the ability of the Italians to 
 write fenfible, ingenious Letters, is to be- 
 tray arr ignorance of their character. 
 
 The objection made to this Work,. 
 " that there are people at Rome who 
 " know nothing of them," does not 
 deferve to be refuted. We do not call 
 in friends and neighbours as witneflcs 
 when we fit down to write ; and it hap- 
 pens daily, that even thole with whom 
 we live do not know our correfpondents. 
 
 "It would be more honeft, fay they, 
 " to mention the fource from whence thcle 
 " Letters were obtained." But as this is 
 a matter of confidence, and the people 
 from whom we received them are un- 
 willing to appear, we cannct betray their 
 fccret. It requires no great exertion of 
 VOL, I, d mind.
 
 fcii PREFACE. 
 
 mind to divine the motives of their dil- 
 cretion ; they will one day declare them, 
 and it will be feen how well they were 
 founded. 
 
 The inaccuracy of the dates, which arc 
 corrected in this Edition, had no other 
 origin but in the great hurry of the Prin- 
 ters : the greater thefe faults, the lefs 
 ought they to be afcribed to the Editor. 
 
 The great number of Italian words 
 found in the firft Edition, having dif- 
 pleafed many people of tafte by their 
 breaking the difcourfe, or introducing a 
 medley which was not in the original 
 Letters, I have retrenched almoft all the, 
 citations, or rather have tran dated them 
 into the text, 
 
 I have retouched the Letters to Louis 
 XV. Madame Louifa, the Duke of Parma, 
 &c. when it will be fcen (as far as theftyle 
 of the Roman Chancery could admit of it) 
 that they truly refemble the other Letters. 
 I have likewife reviewed the Italian, and 
 have found fome faults in the tranflation 
 which will not appear now, as the 
 thoughts are given in their proper fenfe. 
 It appeared to me, that as all the three war- 
 rants addrefied to Monfignor Girault, his 
 Holinefs's Nuncio, on the fubjeft of Ma- 
 dame Louifa's profefllon and taking the 
 habit, exprefied the fame thing, one was 
 fufficient. 
 
 If
 
 P R E F A C E. ML 
 
 If the Supplement^ which the Public 
 h*ve impatiently expected, has not ap- 
 peared, it is becaufe the Works of Gan- 
 ganelli are not fabricated in France, as 
 has been reported ; and that authentic 
 Pieces are ftill wanting to complete it. 
 Thofe which I have already, with fome 
 that are promifed, will enable me to give 
 another Volume, quite diftinct from, but 
 not lefs interefting than, the Letters -, 
 where fome curious anecdotes and pieces 
 of fmgular eloquence will be found. M. 
 L' Abbe Fabri, Nephew of Clement XIV. 
 will undertake to publifh the Theological 
 Treatifes compofed by his Uncle, which 
 are in the higheft efteem. In his Letter to 
 me from Rome, of the 6th February laft, 
 he fays ; Li quali di qui a non molto i 
 fteffo mandero alia luce. 
 
 Nothing more remains to be faid, than 
 that Pofthumous Works are almoft al- 
 ways fufpected , and though a decree of 
 Parliament was obtained formerly by 
 Monf. Bofluet, Bifhop of Troyes, affirm- 
 ing to the Public, that certain productions 
 which he publifhed under the name of his 
 Uncle, the Bifhop of Meaux, were truly 
 the works of that great Prelate ; yet there 
 are many people who will not believe it. 
 It is to be obierved, however, that lome 
 prejudice, party fpirit, or perfonal in- 
 tereft, generally leads people to contradict 
 and deny what they are ignorant of. 
 
 Thefe
 
 Ik* PREFACE. 
 
 Tliefe Letters will be admired in fpitc- 
 of every obje<5bion , and the more they are 
 known, the more honour will they reflect 
 on Ganganelli, on the Age. and on his 
 Country ; becaufe the memory of the 
 Righteous ought to be eternal, and becaufe 
 he has nothing to dread from prepofTeffion 
 or prejudice. 
 
 The Counterfeits, which multiply on all 
 hands, and fwarfn with errors, oblige me 
 to repeat here again, that the only exact 
 and correct Edition is that which is to be 
 had at Lottin's, jun. Bookfeller at Paris, 
 iigned with his name.. 
 
 N. B. The Counterfeits we fpeak of, in 
 printing the Life of Clement XIV. have 
 .had the aukwardnefs to make their im- 
 prefllon from the firfl Edition, which is 
 exceedingly imperfect Avhen compared* 
 with the laft j and this Life, which they 
 have joined to the two Volumes of Letters, 
 they have diilributed, and declared every 
 where to be an Edition augmented more 
 than one-third. 
 
 LET-
 
 LETTERS, & c ; 
 
 LETTER I. 
 
 TO M. DE CABANE, KNIGHT OF MALTHA. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 THE folitude which you have 
 formed to yourfelf in your own 
 breaft makes it unnecefTary to feek 
 another. Cloifters are only to be preferred 
 in proportion as the mind becomes more 
 recollected there, for the merits of a Mo- 
 naftery are not in the walls. 
 
 The Convent of La Trappe which we 
 have in Italy, to which you purpofe retir- 
 ing, is not lefs orderly than the one of the 
 fr ie Order in France ; but wherefore quit 
 the world while you can improve it ? It 
 will remain forever wicked, if abandoned 
 by all the good. 
 
 VOL. I. B Betides,
 
 a LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 Befides, is not the Order of Maltha, in 
 which you live, a religious Order, and ca- 
 pable of purifying you, if- you difcharge 
 your duty in it ? 
 
 We ought to deliberate well before we 
 take upon us a new load of obligations. 
 TheGofpel is the beft guide for a Chriftian ; 
 and to admit of our being buried in foli- 
 tude, the vocation ought to be well tried. 
 There is fomething extraordinary in 
 whatever takes us out of the common road 
 of life, and in embracing the life of a Monk 
 we ought to dread fome illufion. I truly 
 honour the Monks who follow the inftitu- 
 tions of the Chartreufe and La Trappe, but 
 only a few of thefe Orders are wanted. 
 Befides the difficulty of finding a great 
 number of religious, truly fervent, they 
 ought to be apprehenfive of injuring the 
 ftate, by rendering themfelves ufelefs mem- 
 bers of fociety. We are not born Monks, 
 we are born Citizens. The world requires 
 people to contribute to its harmony, to 
 make empires fiourilh by their talents, 
 labour, and morals* 
 
 Thefe
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 3 
 
 Thefe profound folitudes, which mew no 
 exterior figns of life, are only graves. St. 
 Anthony, who lived long in the defart, did 
 not make a vow to remain always there. 
 He quitted his retreat, and came into the 
 middle of Alexandria to combat Arianifm, 
 and difperfe the Arians ; becaufe he was 
 convinced that the ftate and the caufe of 
 religion were to be ferved by actions more 
 than by prayers. When he had accom- 
 pliflied the purpofe of his miflion, he re- 
 turned to his Hermitage, in forrow for 
 having preferved the little blood which 
 old age had ftill left in his veins, and that 
 he had not fuffered martyrdom. 
 
 When at La Trappe, it is true, you will 
 pray to God day and night ; but cannot 
 you direct your thoughts continually to 
 him, though in the middle of the world ? 
 It is not in words that the merit of prayer 
 confifts ; our fovereign Lawgiver tells us 
 himfelf, that it is not the multitude of 
 words which can obtain for us the favour 
 of Heaven. 
 
 Many refpectable Writers have not hefi- 
 
 tated to impute the remiffnefs in Mo- 
 
 B 2 naileries
 
 4 LETTERS OF GANGANEXLI, 
 naileries to a tirefome repetition of 
 forms of devotion. They thought, with 
 reafon, that the attention could not be pre- 
 ferved during too long prayers, and that 
 t>odily la'bour is of more advantage than 
 continual pfalm-fmging. 
 
 The world would not have exclaimed fo 
 much againft the Monks, if they had been 
 feen ufefully employed. The memory of 
 thofe -who cultivated wilds, and enricbtd 
 cities with fkilful productions, or afcer- 
 tained hiflorical facts or the dates of 
 events, are ftill refpected. 
 
 The Benedictines of the learned Congre- 
 gation of St. Maur in France, which we 
 vulgarly call Maurini, have acquired lad- 
 ing honour by the publication of a num- 
 ber of works both curious and ufeful. The 
 celebrated P. Montfaucon, who is one 
 of their greatefb ornaments, filled all Italy 
 with the fame of his learning, when he 
 dedicated his application entirely to the 
 iludy of antiquity. 
 
 St. Bernard, the reformer of fo many 
 Mcnafteries which follow his rules, ren- 
 dered himfelf very ufeful both to religion 
 
 and
 
 CLEMENT XIV, : 
 
 and his country ; not when he preached 
 up the Crufades, which could only be. 
 juftifkd by the. intention ,. but when he 
 gave ufeful advice both to Popes and 
 Kings, and compofed his immortal works, 
 He had not become a Father of the 
 Church, if he had done nothing but pray. 
 
 Father Mabillon, in his famous treatife: 
 on Monaflic Studies, appear-s to me to- 
 have fully triumphed over the Abbe de 
 Ranee, who aflerts that Monks mould 
 only ftudy contemplation and pfalmody. 
 The defliny of man is to labour. There 
 is but one ftep from a fpectdat-ii-e to an idle. 
 Kfe, faid Cardinal Paleotti, and nothing 'is 
 more eafy than to make that ftep. 
 
 You will do more good by relieving the 
 poor, and comforting them by your dif- 
 courfe, than by burying yourlelf in a de- 
 fart. John the Baptill, who was. the greateft 
 of men, quitted the defart to declare the 
 kingdom of God was approaching, and to 
 baptiie on the banks of the river Jordan. 
 
 Do not imagine, my dear Sir, that in 
 
 fpeaking of a ufeful life, I want to make 
 
 an apology for the religious Mendicants, at 
 
 B 3 the
 
 6 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 the expence of the Anchorets. Every 
 Order has its 'rules ; and the maxim 
 here mould be, that be ivbo dotb not eat 
 Jtejb, Jbould not dsfpife him ivbo dotb eat : 
 but I own I efteem the Brother Minors 
 the more, becaufe they join the active life 
 "of Martha to the contemplative life of 
 Mary ; and I believe, whatever certain 
 enthufiafts may fay, the active life is 
 much the more meritorious. 
 
 St. Benedict was fenfible that we ought 
 to be ufeful to our country, and in confe- 
 quence inftituted a feminary for Gen- 
 tlemen at Mont-Caflino. He knew what 
 fort of laws the love of our neighbour 
 infpires. 
 
 If, however, in fpite of all I have faid, 
 you flill feel a fecret infpiration which calls 
 you to the monaftic life, you will do 
 what you think proper ; for I mould be 
 afraid to oppofe the will of God, who leads 
 his fervants as he plealeth, and often by 
 uncommon means. 
 
 I wifh I could be with you at Tivoli, to 
 meditate in fight of that famous Cafcade, 
 which, dividing into a thoufand different 
 
 torrents,
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 7 
 
 torrents, and falling with the greateft im- 
 jx-'tuolity, prefents to the mind a lively 
 picture of this world, and its various agi- 
 tations. 
 
 I wiih you agreeable holidays, and am, 
 more than Ciceronian eloquence can ex- 
 p;vls, Sir, 
 
 Your moft humble, &c. 
 FR. L. GANGANELLI. 
 
 At the CONVENT of the HOLY APOSTLES, 
 29 Oft. 1747- 
 
 My humble refpe&s to the moft worthy 
 Bifhop. 
 
 LETTER II. 
 
 TO THE ABBE FERGHEN, 
 
 Moxs. ABBE, 
 
 YOU cannot do better to divert your- 
 felf from your troubles and embar- 
 raiTment than to vilit Italy. Every well- 
 informed man owes an homage to this 
 country, fo defervedly boafted of;, and it 
 B 4. will
 
 S LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 will give me inexpreffible fatisfaction to fee 
 you here. 
 
 You will inftantly fee the great bul- 
 warks given us by Nature in the Alps and 
 Appenines, which feparate us from France, 
 and have made them give us the name of 
 Tramontanes. They are a majeftic range 
 of mountains, which ferve as a frame to 
 the magnificent picture within them. 
 
 Torrents, rivulets, and rivers, without 
 reckoning the feas, are objects which pre- 
 fent the molt curious and interefting points 
 of view to foreigners, and efpecially to 
 painters. Nothing can be more agreeable 
 than the mofl fertile foil in the fined cli- 
 mate, every where interfered with dreams 
 of running water, and every where peo- 
 pled with villages, or ornamented with 
 fupcrb cities. Such a country is Italy ! 
 
 If agriculture was held in equal efleem 
 with architecture ; if the country was 
 not divided into fuch a number of govern- 
 ments, all of different forms, and almofl 
 all weak, and of little extent ; mifery 
 would not be found by the fide of mag- 
 nificence, and induftry without activity ; 
 
 but
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 9 
 
 but unfortunately we are more engaged 
 in theembellimment of cities, than in the 
 culture of the country ; and uncultivated 
 lands every where reproach the idlenefs 
 of the people. 
 
 If you- begin your route at Venice, you 
 will fee a city very fingular from its fitu- 
 ation ; it is precifely a great fhip refting 
 upon the waters, and which cannot be ap r 
 preached but by boats. 
 
 The fmgularity of its fituation is not tli* 
 only tiling that will furprife you. The 
 inhabitants in mafque for four or five 
 months in the year ; the laws of a de- 
 fpotic government, which allow the greateft 
 liberty in their amufements -, the rights of 
 a fovereign without authority , the cuftoms 
 of a people who dread even his fhadow, and 
 yet enjoy the greatefl tranquility ; form in- 
 confiftencies, which in a very extraordinary 
 manner, muft affect foreigners. There is 
 fcarcely a Venetian who is not eloquent ; 
 collections have been made of the Ions 
 mots of their Gondoliers, replete with true 
 Attic fait. . 
 
 B 5 Ferrara
 
 io LETTERS OP GANGANELLT, 
 
 Ferrara difplays a vaft and beautiful foil- 
 tude within its walls, almoft as filent as 
 the tomb of Ariofto, who was buried there. 
 
 Bologna prefents another kind of pic- 
 ture : there the Sciences are familiar 
 even to the Fair Sex, who appear with 
 dignity in the fchools and academies, and 
 have trophies erected to them daily. Athou- 
 fand different paintings will gratify your 
 mind and eyes, and the converfation of the 
 inhabitants will delight you. 
 
 You will then pafs through a multitude 
 of fmall towns, in the fpace of more than 
 a hundred leagues, each of which has its 
 Theatre, its Cafm (a rendezvous for the 
 nobility)^ a man of learning, or fome Poet, 
 who employ themfelves according to their 
 fancy, or their leifure. 
 
 You will vifif Lorretto 3> made .famous 
 by the great concourfe of pilgrims from 
 other countries, and the treafures with 
 which the church is magnificently enriched. 
 
 You will then defcry Rome, which may 
 be feen a thoufand years, and always with 
 new pleafure. This city, fituated upon 
 feven hills, which the Ancients called the 
 
 Seven
 
 CLEMENT XIV. H 
 
 Seven MiftrefTes of the World, Teems to 
 command the univerfe,. and boldly to fay 
 to mankind, that fhe is the Queen, and 
 the Chief. 
 
 You will call to mind the ancient Ro- 
 mans, the remembrance of whom can ne- 
 ver be effaced, on calling an eye on the 
 famous Tiber, which has been fo often 
 mentioned, and which has been fo fre- 
 quently i welled by their own blood, and 
 the blood of their enemies. 
 
 You will be in extacy at the fight of St. 
 Peter's, which Connoiffeurs fay is the won- 
 der of the world, .being infinitely fuperior 
 to the St. Sophia at Constantinople, St. 
 Paul's at London, or even the Temple of 
 Solomon. 
 
 It is a pile * which extends in propor- 
 tion as you go over it, where every thing 
 is immenfe, yet appears of an ordinaiy 
 flze. The paintings are exquifite, the mo- 
 numental fculptures breathe, and you will 
 believe that you fee the New jerufalem 
 
 * In the original the words are, Seft t;n vaffiaii, it is 
 a veflll ; but the uncouthnefs-of the exprcffionmade the 
 Translator adopt the word pile. 
 
 B, 6, come
 
 12 LETTERS OF GANG A NELL/, 
 
 come down from Heaven, which St. John.' 
 fpeaks of in the Revelations. 
 
 You will find, both- in the great, and in f 
 the detail, of the Vatican, which was erecl:- 
 ed on the ruins -of falfe oracles, beauties 
 of every kind that will tire your eyes, 
 while they at the fame time charm you. 
 Here Raphael and Michael Angelo, fome- 
 times in a fublime, fometimes in a pa- 
 thetic manner, have difplayed the mafter- 
 pieces of their genius, by expreffing in the 
 mofl lively language the whole energy of 
 their fouls ; and here the fcience and ge- 
 nius of all the Writers in the world are 
 depofited, in the multitude of works 
 which compofe that rich and immenfe li- 
 brary. 
 
 Churches, palaces, public fquares, pyra- 
 mids, obelifks, pillars, galleries, grand 
 fronts of buildings, theatres, fountains, gar- 
 dens, views, all, all will declare to you that 
 you are at Rome -, and every thing will 
 attach you to it, as to the city, which of 
 all others has been univerfally admired. 
 You will not meet with that French ele- 
 gance which prefers the beautiful to the 
 
 fublime ^
 
 C L E M E N T XIV. ir 
 
 fublime ; but you will be amply recom- 
 penfed by thofe ftriking views that ever/ 
 irrftant muft excite your admiration. 
 
 Laflly, in' ail the figures- of painting or 
 fculpture, both ancient and modern, you 
 will fee a new creation, and believe it ani- 
 mated. The Academy of Painting,, filled 
 with French ftudents, will mew you fome 
 who are deftined to become great Mafters 
 in their profeffion, and who by coming 
 to itudy here, do honour to Italy. 
 
 You will admire the grandeur and fim* 
 plicity of the head of the Church, the fer- 
 vant of fervants in the order of humility,, 
 and the firft of men in the eyes of the 
 faithful. The Cardinals who furround him,, 
 will reprefent to you the twenty-four old 
 men who furround the throne of theLamb^ 
 modeft in their manners,, and . inftructive 
 by their morals. 
 
 But this magnificent profpecl will terr 
 minate with a view of groupes of Mendi- 
 cants, .whom Rome improperly fupports, 
 by bellowing mifapplied charity,, inftead 
 of employing them in ufeful labours.: thus 
 k is that the tho.ra is feen with the rofe, 
 
 'and
 
 14 LETTERS OF GANGANELLT, 
 
 and -vice too frequently by the fide of 
 virtue. 
 
 But if you wifli to fee Rome in all her 
 fplendour, endeavour to be there by the 
 feaft of St. Peter. The illumination of 
 the church begins with a gentle light,, 
 which you will eafily miftake for the re- 
 flection of the fetting fun : it then fends 
 forth fome pieces of beautiful architecture, 
 and afterwards finifhes with waving flames, 
 which make- a moving picture, that lafts 
 till day-break. All this is attended with, 
 double fireworks,, the fplendour of which 
 is fo bright, that you would think the flars 
 had been, plucked, from heaven, and burn: 
 upon the earth.. 
 
 I do not mention to you the ftrange me- 
 tamorphofis which has placed the Order 
 of St. Francis even in the Capitol, and has 
 produced a new Rome from the ruins of 
 the old ; to mew the world that Chrif- 
 tianity is truly the work of God, and that 
 he has fubdued the ' mod famous con- 
 querors to eftablifh it in the very centre of 
 their pofleffions. If the modern Romans 
 do not appear warlike, it is becaufe the 
 
 nature
 
 CLEMENT XIV. tj 
 
 nature of their government does not in- 
 ijpire them with valour ; but they have the 
 feed of every virtue, and make as good 
 foldiers as any, when they carry arms un- 
 der a foreign power. It is certain that they 
 have a great mare of genius, a fingular ap- 
 titude in acquiring the Sciences ; and you 
 would imagine they were born Harlequins, 
 fo exprefiive are they in their geftures, 
 even from their infancy. 
 
 You will next travel by the famous Ap- 
 pian Way, which by its age is become 
 wretchedly inconvenient, and you will ar- 
 rive at Naples, the Parthenope of the An- 
 cients, where the ames of Virgil are depo- 
 fited, and where you will fee a laurel 
 growing, which could not poffibly be bet- 
 ter placed. 
 
 Mount Vefuvius on one fide, and the 
 Elyfian Fields on the other, will prefent a 
 mod matchlefs view to you ; and after be- 
 ing fatisfied with this delightful profpect, 
 you will find yourfelf furrounded by a 
 multitude of Neapolitans, lively and inge- 
 nious, but too much addicted to pleafure 
 and idlenefs, to become what they other- 
 wife
 
 itf LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 wife might be. Naples would be a delight- 
 ful place, if it was not for the crouds of 
 people of the loweft rank, who have the 
 appearance of unhappy wretches, or rob- 
 bers, -though often without -being either the 
 one or the other. 
 
 The churches are magnificently deco- 
 rated, but their architecture is in a wretch- 
 ed tafte, and by no means comparable to 
 the Roman. You will have a fingular 
 pleafure in traverfing the environs of this 
 town, which is moft delightful, from its 
 delicious fruits, charming views, and fine 
 fituations. You will penetrate into the fa- 
 mous fubterranean city of Herculaneum; 
 which was fwallowed up in a former age 
 by an eruption of Mount Vefuvius. If 
 the mountain happens to be raging, you 
 will fee torrents of fire iflue from its 
 bowels, and majeftically overfpread the 
 country. You- will- fee a collection of 
 whatever has been recovered out of Her>- 
 culaneum, at Portici ; and the environs 
 of Puzzuolo, fung by the Prince of Poets, 
 will infpire you with a true pafllon for 
 poetry.
 
 CLEMENT XIV. r? 
 
 You muft walk with the -^Eneid rn your 
 hand, and compare the cave of the Cu- 
 msean Sybil and Acheron with what. 
 Virgil has fa id on thofe fubjects. 
 
 You will return by Caferta, which from. 
 its decorations, marbles, extent, and 
 aqueducts worthy of ancient Rome, is 
 the fineft place in Europe : and you. 
 will make a vifit to Mount Cafiino,. where 
 the fpirit of St. Benedict has fubfifted un- 
 interruptedly above a dozen ages, in fpite 
 of the immenfe riches of that fuperb mo- 
 nafcery. 
 
 Florence, from whence the fine arts have 
 ifiued, and where their moft magnificent 
 mailer-pieces are depofited, will prefent 
 other objects to your view. There you 
 will admire a city, which, according to the 
 remark of a Pottugucfe,JbculJcnly befljeiyn 
 en Sundays, it is fo handfome and beauti- 
 fully decorated. You will every where 
 trace the fplendour and elegance of the fa- 
 mily of Medici, infcribed in the Annals of 
 Tafte as the reflorers of the fine arts. 
 
 Leghorn is a well inhabited fea-port, of 
 great advantage to Tufcany. Pifa always, 
 
 has
 
 r8 LETTERS OF GANGANELLT, 
 
 has men of learning, on every fubject, in 
 its fchools. Sienna, remarkable for the 
 purity of its air and language, will intereft 
 you in a very fingular manner. Parma, 
 placed in the midft of fertile paftures, will 
 Ihow yon a theatre which can contain four- 
 teen thoufand people, and where every one 
 can hear what is faid, though fpoken in a 
 whilper. Placentia will appear to you wor- 
 thy of the name it bears, as its delight- 
 ful fituation muft captivate every tra- 
 veller. 
 
 You will not forget Modena, as it is 
 the country of the famous Muratori, and 
 a city celebrated for the name which* it 
 has given to its fovereigns. 
 
 You will find at Milan the fecond 
 church in Italy, for fize and beauty: 
 more than a thoufand marble ilatues. 
 decorate its outfide, and it would be a 
 mailer-piece, if it had a proportionable 
 front. The 1 fociety of its inhabitants is 
 quite agreeable, ever fmce it was befieged 
 by the French. They live there as they do 
 in Paris, and every thing, even to the hof- 
 pitals and church-yards, prefents an air of 
 
 fplen--
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 19 
 
 fplendour. The Am brofi an Library mud 
 engage the curious , and the Ambrofian 
 ritual no lefs engage the churchman, who 
 wifhes to know the ufages of the church, 
 as well as thole of antiquity. 
 
 The Boromean Ifles will next attract 
 your curiofity, from the accounts you 
 muft have had of them. Placed In the 
 middle of a delightful lake, they pre- 
 fent to your view whatever is magnificent 
 or gay in gardens. 
 
 Genoa will prove to you that it is truly 
 fuperb in its Churches'and Palaces. There 
 you will fee a port famous for its com- 
 merce, and the refort of flrangers. 
 You will fee a Doge changed almoft as 
 often as the fuperiors of communities, and 
 with fcarce any greater authority. 
 
 And lafcly Turin, the refidence of a 
 Court where the Virtues have long inha- 
 bited, will charm you with the regularity 
 of its buildings, the beauty of its fquares, 
 the ftraightnefs of its ftreets, and the fpi- 
 rit of the people; and there you will 
 agreeably finiih your journey. 
 
 I hav
 
 2 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI", 
 
 I have been juft making the tour of 
 Italy, mofl rapi-dly and at little expence, 
 as you fee, to invite you to it in reality -, 
 'tis fufficient tojketch paintings to.fuch 
 a mafter as you. 
 
 I make no mention of our morals to- 
 you ; they are not more corrupt than among 
 ether people, let Malice fay what it will ; 
 they vary only their mades according to- 
 the difference of the governments. Ths 
 Roman does not referable the Genoefe, nor 
 the Venetian the Neapolitan ; but you may 
 fay of Italy as of] the whole world, that,, 
 with fome little diftinctiorrs, it is here as 
 it is there, a little good and a little lad. 
 
 I do not attempt to prejudice you in 
 favour of the agreeablenefs of the Italians, 
 nor of their love of the Arts and Sci* 
 encies : you will very foon perceive it when 
 you come among them , you of all men,- 
 with whom one is delighted to converfe, 
 and to whom it will always be a pleafure 
 to fay that one is his mofl humble and. 
 mod obedient fervant. 
 
 I have taken the opportunity of a lei- 
 flire moment to give you fome idea of my 
 
 country \,
 
 C L E M E N T XIV. ai 
 
 rountry; it is only a coarfe daubing, which 
 in another hand would have been a beau- 
 tiful miniaiure : the fubjecl: deferves it, 
 but my pencil is not fufficientiy delicate 
 for the execution. 
 ROME, 12 Nov. 1756. 
 
 LETTER III. 
 
 TO ONE OF HIS SISTERS. 
 
 TT^HE lofs which we have had of fo 
 * many relations and friends, my dear 
 Sifter, declares to us that this life is only 
 "borrowed, and that God alone efientially 
 pofferTeth immortality. What ought to be 
 our comfort is, that we mail be reunited 
 in, if we attach ourfelves conftantly to, 
 him. 
 
 The troubles you fpeak of ought to be 
 -more precious than pleafures, if you have 
 faith. Calvary is in this world the proper 
 place for a Chriftian, and if he mounts 
 upon Tabor, it is only for an inftant. 
 
 My health continues with its ufual vi- 
 gour, becaufe I neither live too fparing 
 
 nor
 
 a LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 nor too full ; fometimes my ftomach in- 
 clines to be fick, but I tell it that I have 
 not leifure, and it leaves ' me in quiet. 
 Study abforbs thofe trifling inconvenien- 
 cies which mankind complain of fo fre- 
 quently. It often happens that we are in- 
 difpofed, thro' idlenefs ; - many women are 
 fick, without knowing where their com- 
 plaint lies, becaufe they have nothing to 
 do : they are tired of being too well, 
 and this fatiety is opprefiive to people of 
 fafhion. 
 
 I am very glad to have fuch good ac- 
 "counts of little Michael. It is a plant which 
 will produce excellent fruit, if carefully 
 cultivated. All depends upon a happy cul- 
 ture i we become every thing or nothing, 
 according to the education we receive. 
 
 You regret that we do not fee one an- 
 other ; but neither our figures nor our 
 words form our friendfhip. Provided 
 our affections and thoughts unite us, 
 what fignifies our perfons being at a great 
 diftance ? When we love one another 
 in God, we fee one another always, for 
 God is over all : he ought to be the 
 
 center
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 13 
 
 center of all our fentiments, as he is of 
 our fouls. 
 
 I embrace you moft cordially, and am 
 fenfible of the value of the Letters you 
 write to me ; they recall the memory of a 
 Father I knew but too little, and of a 
 Mother whofe life was a conftant lefTon of 
 virtue. I have never failed to remember 
 them at the altar, nor my dear fitter, to 
 whom I am beyond all expreffion, 
 
 A moft humble and affectionate, &c. 
 
 LETTER IV. 
 
 TO MONSIGNOR BOUGET, PRIVATE CHAM- 
 BERLAIN TO HIS HOLINESS. 
 
 MY LORD, 
 
 I Will not fail to attend your kind in- 
 vitation, as from one in whom fenfe, 
 knowledge, and gaiety are happily united. 
 If ever melancholy comes to lay hold of 
 me, I will court your agreeable converfa- 
 tion, of which Benedid XIV. fo well knew 
 2 the
 
 &4 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 the value, and which would have made 
 the fame imprefilon upon Saul, as David's 
 harp. You have a talent for narration fo 
 rapid and engaging, that even trifles, from 
 the turn you give them, become mat- 
 ter of folid converfation. 
 
 It is a long time fmce we met at Mount- 
 Trinity. Our Fathers the French Mi- 
 nims deferve to have frequent vifits paid 
 to them ; it is impoffible to be too 
 ftrongly attached to them, when they love 
 both fcience and fociety ; and this attach- 
 ment grows the ftronger when you are 
 with them. 
 
 When you come to fee me, I will ihew 
 you my reflections upon a cafe in wh'ch 
 you are interefted. There are of all kirds 
 in the Holy Office, fome to make us laugh, 
 and others to make us cry; but don't be 
 afraid, I mall not read of the melancholy 
 kind to you. The great art in being 
 well w th fociety, is to ferve every one ac- 
 cording to their tafte. 
 
 Gaiety is the true medicine for the ftu- 
 dious , the mind and heart mould be di- 
 lated, when it has been contracted by ob- 
 
 ftinatc
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 3J- 
 
 flinate toil. Blofibming is as necefiary to 
 the human mind as to trees, to make it 
 recover its verdure, and flourifh ; but'there 
 ^re people like rofe-trees without flowers, 
 whoprefent nothing to your -view but bark 
 and prickles. When I meet Rich, I do not 
 fpeak a word, but pals by as quick as pof- 
 fibly 1 can, for fear of being ftung. 
 
 Gaiety retards old age-, there is al- 
 ways a reviving frefhnefs which accompa- 
 nies gaiety, inftead of the pale wrinkles 
 that are the produce of cares. 
 
 Benedict XIV. would not enjoy fuch 
 good health, if he were not always gay ; 
 he lays down his pen to give vent to fome 
 bons -mots, and refumes it without ever 
 being fatigued. 
 
 You are in the right to graft the Ita- 
 lian gaiety upon the French; it is the 
 way to live to a hundred. 7'hat you 
 may do fo I fmcerely wifh, for I am more 
 than I can tell, 
 My LOR], 
 
 Your moft humble, &c. 
 
 VOL. I.
 
 *4 LETTERS OF GANGANELLT, 
 
 LETTER V. 
 
 TO THE MOST REVEREND ABBE OF MONTE 
 CASSJNO, 
 
 MOST REV. SIR, 
 
 YOU do me too much honour in con- 
 fulcing me about the dates of your 
 two uianufcripts. I believe them to be of 
 die ninth century, by comparing the cha- 
 racters in which they are written, with thofe 
 of that age , and befides, there is one of 
 our Authors eked who lived at that time, 
 whom few people know, and whofe frag- 
 ments upon the fervice of the Mais ftill 
 txift. 
 
 It is very generous in you to take the 
 feeble lights of a little Francifcan upon 
 that fubjeft, while you are the Chief of an 
 Order perfectly verfed in antiquity, and 
 which has given the moft mining and ho- 
 nourable proofs of it, in ail parts of the 
 world. 
 
 We mould be great trifers, were it 
 not for the Benedictines, laid Innocent XI. 
 (Oebfialcbi). Befide their being an honour 
 
 to
 
 C L M E N T XIV. ' a? 
 
 to the Holy See, and the different churches 
 for whole ages, they have been the fathers 
 and prefervers ef hiflory. It is with them 
 that Monarchs have found their moft a- 
 guft and interefting titles; and fcience 
 and faith have been uninterruptedly -pre- 
 ferVed among them, white the thic'keft 
 clouds of ignorance fcemed to overfhade 
 the univerfe. Though rich and power- 
 ful, they have never been feen caballing in 
 kingdoms, nor meddling in intrigues that 
 could be hurtful -, on the contrary, they have 
 proved of great a-fTiftance to Hates ; and 
 Ave may fay, that notv/ithftanding all the 
 wealth and honours they have received, 
 public gratitude hns Mill left them unpaid. 
 
 If I can anfwer your intentions, I wiil 
 moil willingly go to that famous retreat 
 which, has produced a world of faints, 
 and learned men. It would feem, that on 
 treacling the ground which thefe great men 
 inhabited, one partakes of their merits. 
 
 It is impoflible to add to the profound 
 refpect with which I am, &c, 
 
 Rome, 5 March, 1748. 
 
 C 2 LET-
 
 *3 LETTERS OF GATTGANELLJ, 
 
 .LETTER VI. 
 
 TO MR. STUART, A .'SCOTCHMAN. 
 
 I Have followed you in idea^ my deareft 
 Sir, both by fea> .and upon the 
 Thames. As long as my travels in Eng- 
 land are ideal, the populace will not in- 
 lult me ; whereas were I to appear there 
 in perfon, and in my religious habit, 
 God knows how .they might treat me. 
 You muft allow that the Popes are good 
 fort of men ; for were they to make re- 
 priials, they would infill that every Priefl 
 rnd Monk mould have kave to enter Lon- 
 don in their habits, or that no Englifh- 
 man mould be received into Rome. And 
 who would fuffer moil ? You in the firft 
 place, my dear Sir, who love to vifit Italy 
 from time to time ; but I protefl to you, I 
 mould be ftill more mortified than you, 
 for I .am moil fmcerely attached to the 
 Englifc notion, and have received both plea- 
 fure and advantage, from the converfation 
 of its inhabitants, who diftinguiih thern- 
 fclves by their zeal for the culture of arts 
 
 and
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 29 
 
 and fcicnces. I arn delighted with your 
 'famous poets and your eminent philofo- 
 ibphers ; in converfmg with them I find- 
 within me a certain elevation of mind -, 
 methinks I grow fublime, and perceive the 
 world beneath trie. I fometimes make 
 nocturnal viiits to Newton, and at a time 
 when all nature ilecps, I wake to read and 
 admire him. No. one like him ever united 
 fimplicity with fcience. His character 
 and genius were fuperior to pride and 
 oftentation. 
 
 I conclude, that at your return you will 
 bring me the little manufcript of Berke- 
 leys, that illuftrious wrong-bead, who 
 imagined there was nothing really Ma- 
 terial in the world, and that all bodies were. 
 fnerely ideal. What a view would it ex-- 
 hibit of the human intellect, if the 
 learned, who had hitherto bewildered- 
 themfelves in the variety of opinions, 
 fhould at lafl iind themfelves of one mind,, 
 and that this reafon, which has fo long 
 remained incognito^ iliould come at length 
 to enlighten them with its beams ! How- 
 C 3., fur,
 
 jo LETTER-S OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 iurprifcd would they be, and. at the famt 
 time mortified, wJio had the vanity 
 to imagine they were more than infpired ! 
 The world. in all. ages has been- the fcene 
 of difputes and errors , and we ought to 
 think ourfelves happy amidfl fo many 
 olouds of contradiction, to have iuch an 
 unerring light to lead us the right way: 
 I fpeak of the light of Revelation,, which*, 
 in fpite of all tJse efforts o-f infidelity, 
 will never be extinguiflied. Religion, like 
 the firmament, fometimes may appear ob- 
 fcure to us, but at the fame time is not 
 lefs radiant. The pafllons and fenfes are 
 vapours which fprifl-g from the womb of 
 our corruption, and intercept the rays of 
 celeftial truth ; but the man who reflect^ 
 without being alarmed or aftonifhed v/aits 
 the return of a ferene and chearful fky. 
 We have feen die fogs raifed by Celius, 
 Porphyry, Spiriofa, Collins, Bayle, &c. 
 difperfed, and we may be allured that 
 thofc of meder n.philofopby will fhare the 
 fame fate. In every age fome fmgular 
 men have appeared, who fometimes by 
 valence, and "fometimes by ' fiinaticifm, 
 
 feemed
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 31 
 
 feemed to threaten the' annihilation of 
 Chriftianity , but they .have patTed away 
 like thole tempefts which only ferve to 
 fhow the face of heaven more bright and 
 ferene; 
 
 Ic is for' want of principles of folia 
 knowledge that fome men are dazzled by 
 fophiilry ; and the moft trivial objection" 
 appear unanfwerable to the ignorant. In 
 religion, every, thing is united and com- 
 bined ; and the moment we quit our hold 
 of the leaft truth, we find nothing bat a 
 dark abyfs. Such men, inftead of con- 
 cluding, from the view of the wonders they 
 enjoy, that God can undoubtedly confer 
 much greater happinefs' after" this life, 
 judge that, the Divinity, all-powerful as 
 he is, can go no further, and that this world 
 is of courfe the ne -plus ultra of his wifdom 
 and- power. 
 
 I mould be curious to fee a work wnich- 
 could prove demonftratively (and fuch a 
 one might be eafily compofed, provided the 
 author were acquainted with natural philo- 
 fbphy and theology), that the world, fuch 
 as we fee it, is a perfeft riddle, of which 
 C-4
 
 it LETTERS OF GANGANELLI,- 
 
 there can be no folutioa without re- 
 ligion. It is religion which can account 
 to us for the immenfity of that heaven, 
 .of wjhich the unbeliever cannot divine the 
 ufe j for the miseries which we fufFcr, of 
 jvhich the Philofopher cannot affign the 
 t;uile; for the growing defires which agitate 
 us, and whole impetuofity we cannot calm. 
 We have frequently fketched out thefe 
 great fubjects v/hen we have difcourfed 
 iaiTiiliarly together, ibmetimes at the 
 Villa Borghe/e, and fometimes at the 
 Villa Negroni. That time is paft, and a 
 part of our lives with it, becaufe every 
 thing pafieth away, except the fincere 
 attachment with which I am with all 
 my heart, 
 
 My deareft Sir, &c. 
 ROME, 13 May, 1748. 
 
 LETTER VII. 
 
 TO SIGNORA BAZARDL 
 
 Pray you not to confult. me about the 
 religious ftate, which your fon propofes 
 to embrace. If I tell you that he cannot do 
 
 better, 
 
 i
 
 C L E M E N T XiV. 33 
 
 better, you will believe it to be the inte- 
 refted language of a man fpeaking in fa- 
 vour of his Order : if I anfwer on the con- 
 trary, that he had better not think of it, 
 you will conclude it is the advice of a 
 Friar difgufted v/kh his fituation;, or con- 
 vinced that the monadic life is a life of 
 mifery. I will not therefore fay either 
 Yes, or No. Every object has two faces -, 
 you -mould endeavour to difcover and 
 adopt that which is befl. 
 
 If I forefaw that a candidate would be- 
 come eminent either in learning or piety, I 
 would employ every effort to determine 
 him; but v/lien I do not know what may 
 happen, I am extremely referred, and 
 never advife any one to become a Friar, 
 
 I have the honour to be, &c, 
 ROME, isth May, 1748, - 
 
 LETTER VIIi: 
 
 TO THE PRELATE C E RAT T, 
 
 I Will not pardon your depriving the 
 Public of a multitude of aneccjotes 
 vrhicJi-are familiar to you, and which., if col- 
 C 5 leded,
 
 34 LETTERS OF CANGANELLT, 
 ledted, would prove extremely interefting, 
 Henceforth when I fee you, I will take 
 my pencil and write. What would become 
 of Science, were all the learned to purfue 
 your plan ? Con verfation might be brilliant, 
 but reading would not be fo by any means. 
 Monfignor Cerati. ought to think, that 
 while he fpeaks, he is only ufeful to thofe 
 who are about him ; but if he would write, 
 he may prove of lervice to the mofl diftanf. 
 A good book becomes the patrimony of 
 the whole woHd, and equally finds its 
 way to the Ruffian and the Italian. The 
 Pope ought to oblige- you, under pairr of 
 excommunication, to give the Public by 
 means of the Prefs-, all that knowledge 
 whkh you now withhold fix)m them. But 
 perhaps, having feen foreign countries, 
 you may have become fuch a Tramontane^ 
 as to think of eluding the judgement of a 
 Roman decree. Cardinal Porto Carrero 
 faid to me lately, when fpeaking of you, 
 be las feen a great deal, read a great deal*, 
 and retains every thing ; but that will le cf 
 
 no
 
 C L E M E N T XJV. 3 j 
 
 no ufe to us, becaufe he will carry bis kno-&- 
 ledge with him to the other world. . 
 
 Too much has been written, and I am 
 grieved when I reflect upon all the pro- 
 ductions which' licentious fprrits have 
 brought forth i but we .mall never think 
 that too much can be wrote, -if the writers 
 were to produce the excellent . things 
 which you know. As for me, I will have 
 if printed," that they cannot admire you 
 too much, nor repeat too often how much 
 I have the honour to be, &c. 
 
 L: E T T^E R . IX, 
 
 TO THE MARQUIS- -CLBRICI, A MILANESE 
 
 AL L'O - W~ me to inform you, that 
 Jacques Piovi is In the greateft mi-, 
 fery. I do not acquaint you .with' his be- 
 ing one of the Pope's foldiers, for that 
 would be a poor title, of- recommenda- 
 tion to an Auftrian Officer : but ! -remind 
 you of his having fix children; that he 
 C 6 has
 
 3 6 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 has kept his bed thefc nine months, and 
 laftly, that he is your godlbn. 
 
 Gecerofity, which chiefly marks your 
 character, and which only feeks opportu- 
 nities of giving, has here an opportunity 
 of being gratified. If you were one of 
 thofe ordinary fouls who never oblige but 
 with reluftance, I mould not think of im- 
 portuning you. I do not love to obtain be- 
 nefits by force ; I wifh them to flow freely 
 from their fource, and to have their prin- 
 ciple in magnanimity^ 
 
 I think I fee you fmile at the different 
 complexion of this letter from thofe daily 
 written to you by the gentlemen of your 
 own profefiion. The fignature of Frert 
 Gc.ngandli can have no other merit in your 
 eyes, except that of mowing with what pro- 
 found rcfpeft I have the honour to be, &c. 
 
 ROMF, 9th Sept. 1748. 
 
 J> E T T E R
 
 CLEMENT XIV. ;;' 
 
 LETTER X. 
 
 TO MADAM * * *. 
 
 TRUE devotion, Madam, neither 
 confifts in a carelefs air, nor in a 
 brown habit. Mofu votaries imagine, tho' 
 I don't know why, that cloaths of a dark, 
 colour pleafe theceleftial beings more than 
 thofe of a lighter and more lively huej. 
 yet we find the Angels are always painted 
 either in white or blue. I do not love 
 piety which proclaims itfelfj modefty 
 does not depend upon colours ; if it be 
 decent in drefs and manner, it is what ir 
 really ought to be. 
 
 Obferve, moreover, that the lady who 
 talks fcandal in an afTembly, or appears 
 peevifh, or in an ill humour againft man- 
 kind, is moft frequently drefled in brown. 
 Singularity is fo little allied to true devo- 
 tion, that we are ordered in the Gofpel to 
 warn our faces when we fail, that we may 
 not appear remarkable. 
 
 I am therefore of opinion, Madam, that 
 
 you mould make no alteration in the form 
 
 4 or
 
 * LETTERS OF GANGANEL'LI, 
 or colour of your.drefs. Let your heart, 
 be directed to God, and all your actions 
 relate to him j and tjiat-is the-fum of reli- 
 gion; 
 
 The world would not have ridiculed 
 religion fo much, had not its votaries 
 given room for it. Almoft always inflam* 
 ed with bitter zeal, they are never fatisfied 
 except with themfelves ; and they would 
 have every one fubmit to their whims r 
 becaufe their piety is often the effect only 
 of caprice. 
 
 Every perfon. who is truly pious,- is pa- 
 tient, gentle and humble j unfufpecting of 
 ill, never fplenetick, and conceals when 
 he cannot exeufe the faults of his neigh- 
 bour. Every truly pious perfon kugbs- 
 with thcfs that laugh ^ and weeps with them 
 thct iveep, according to the advice of St. 
 Paul, to be wife ivith fobernefs^ becaufe 
 there Ihowld be temperance in all things. 
 
 In fine, trwe devotion is charity, and., 
 without it nothing we can do is of ufe : 
 to f<dvation, Ealfe devotees do. little lefa 
 
 injury
 
 C L E M C NT XIV. >* 
 
 injury to the caufe of religion, than the 
 openly prophane. Always ready to kindle 
 againft thofe who do not- agree with them 
 in their humours and opinions, they have 
 a reftlefs, impetuous, perfecutrhg_ zeal, 
 and are commonly either fanatical or fu- 
 perftitious, hypocrites or ignorant. Jefus 
 Chrift docs not ipare them in the Gofpel, 1 
 that he may teach us to be oir our guard 
 againft them. 
 
 When you find, Madam,- that there is 
 neither rancour in your hearr, nor pride in 
 your mind, nor fingularity in your 'actions, 
 and that you obferve the precepts of God- 
 and his church without affectation or 
 trifling, you may then believe you are in 
 the way of falvation. 
 
 Above all things, make your domeftics 
 happy by abftaining from tormenting them. ; 
 They are counterparts of ourfdves, and 
 we mould conftantly lighten their yoke j 
 die way to be well ferved, Is to have al- 
 ways a ferene countenance. True piety is 
 at all times tranquil, while falfe 1 devotion - 
 is incefTantly varying. 
 
 Support
 
 40 LETTERS. OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 Support your nieces .according to their 
 rank, but do not exact of them to do pre- 
 cifely as you do, becaufe you have a par- 
 ticular turn for mortification. 
 
 This article would require a whole let- 
 ter. Young people are often difgufted 
 with piety, becaufe too great perfection is 
 required ; and works of penitence even tire 
 ourfelves, when they are not moderate. 
 The common way of life is the moft cer- 
 tain, though perhaps not the moft perfect : 
 it is being too violent, to forLid all vi- 
 fiting and relaxation. Take care that 
 your ghoftly Father be not too myftical, 
 aad that his inflructions do not end in 
 making you fcrupulous, rather than a good 
 Chriftian. 
 
 Does piety require us to be felf-tor- 
 mentors ? Religion teacheth us what we 
 Ihould do, and what we ought to believe ; 
 and there can be no better inftructor than 
 the Gofpel. Mingle folitude with focicty, 
 and get acquainted with fuch only as will 
 neither lead you to melancholy, nor to dif-. 
 fipation. 
 
 Vary
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 4* 
 
 Vary your reading. There are fome books 
 for recreation, which may fucceed the more 
 ferious. St. Paul, in giving rules for de- 
 cent converfation, permits us to fay things 
 that are chearful and agreeable , 
 
 It were to ferve God like a flave, to ima- 
 gine we are always offending. The yoke- 
 of the Lord is ^afy, and his burden is light. 
 Lo-je God, fays St. Auguftine, and do wlat 
 thou wilt-, becauie then you will do nothing 
 but what is agreeable to him, and you will 
 act with refpec'i to him, as a fon towards a 
 father whom he loves. 
 
 Above all things, be charitable; and 
 tne more fo, as you are in a fituation to 
 affift the poor. Religion has humanity for 
 a bafis, and they who are not charitable 
 cannot be Chriftians. 
 
 I do not by any means advife you to 
 give to communities : befides that they do 
 not want it, it is not juft to impoverifn fa- 
 milies to enrich them. There is a conti- 
 nual outcry againib the rapacioufnefs of 
 Monks, and you mould not give occafion 
 for new complaints upon that fubject. Our 
 
 repu-
 
 45 LETTERS OF GANGANELLT, 
 
 reputation ought to be our greateft 
 riches, which fhould be founded on difin*- 
 tereflednefs, and the practice of every 
 virtue. 
 
 Although a friend to my profefllon, I mall 
 never engage any one to make, prefer ts to 
 us; norperfuade anybody to becomeaMonk: 
 I dread giving room for reproach and re- 
 pentance, as I dread tiring yon, mould 
 I prolong this epiftle, which has no 
 other merit in my eyes, than the oppor- 
 tunity it procures me of affuring you of 
 the refpect with which I have the honour 
 to be, 
 
 Madam, &c, 
 
 ROME, ^ January 
 
 LET-
 
 X E M E N T XIV. 
 
 LETTER XL 
 
 TO THE REV. FATHER * * *, A FRANCISCAN" 
 FRIAR. 
 
 MY DEAR FRIEND, 
 
 FOR three days together I have been 
 fcribbling over all that you feem to 
 defire. I have endeavoured to introduce 
 into this difcourfe, the pathetic, the fub- 
 lime, the fimple, and the moderate, fo as to 
 have where- withal to pleafe different tafles. 
 You muft endeavour not only to learn it 
 well, but to pronounce it well; not 
 merely for yourfelf, but likewife for your 
 hearers, who will be both numerous and 
 refpectable.. 
 
 This little work will favour of hafte, 
 but then it will have the more fire. My 
 imagination kindles like a Volcano, when- 1 
 am exceedingly hurried ^ 1 collect all my 
 ideas, thoughts, perceptions, and fenti- 
 ments, and the whole together bubbles in 
 my head and upon my paper, moft furgri- 
 jWgljTi 
 
 Not-
 
 4t LETTERS OF GANGANELLT, 
 
 Notwithftanding the warmth which you 
 will find in this production, I have ar- 
 ranged it as well as I could. I lhall be 
 fatisned with it, if you are fatisfied, and I 
 moft earned! y wifli it. 
 
 The war burns more fiercely than evjer,, 
 and they write me from Flanders that the 
 'towns fall like tiles in a ftorm. God fend 
 the French may always prove conque- 
 rors ! You know how much I love that 
 "nation, and how much I intereft myfelf 
 in its fuccefs. I fhould certainly have 
 been born in France : it is the turn of my 
 heart and mind which makes me think fo. 
 
 Do not tell any one that you have heard 
 from me. The Monks are acute, and 
 they will fufpect that your difcourfe came 
 from me, if you by any means recal me 
 to their remembrance. 
 
 I am always wrapt up in my own 
 thoughts, which are either open or referved, 
 according to the work which Providence 
 impofes upon me, or accident produces. 
 My day is often an unintelligible chaos ; 
 I muft pafs from one tafk to another ; and 
 
 thefe
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 4 y 
 
 thefe extravagances are more unlike than 
 White is to black, or day to night. I then 
 throw myfelf into the vortex of the Bro- 
 therhood, talking and laughing ab hoc & 
 ab hac, beeaufe I muft renew my existence, 
 I am fo much exhauiled. I frequent- 
 ly leave the old folks to chat with the 
 young ones, where we joke like children : 
 it is the belt way of refrefhing ourfelves af- 
 ter quitting deep fludy, and it was the 
 method of the celebrated Muratori. 
 
 Adieu ! Love me, beeaufe you ought, 
 fmce I am, as I have been, and always 
 ihall be, your belt friend. 
 
 From the CONVENT of the HOLY APOSTLES. 
 
 LETTER XII. 
 
 TO A CANON OF OSIMO, 
 
 SIR, 
 
 RELIGION mut up in the bofom of 
 God from all eternity, produced k- 
 felf the moment that the univerie fprung 
 from nothing, and came to repofe itfelf in 
 
 the
 
 4* LETTERS OF GANCANELLt, 
 
 the heart of Adam. There was the firft 
 temple upon earth ; and it is from thenct 
 that the moft fervent defires are conti- 
 nually exhaled towards Heaven. Eve, 
 formed in innocence as well as her 
 luifoand, partook of the ineftimable ad- 
 vantage of blefling every inftant the Au- 
 thor of their being. The birds united 
 their warblings, and all Nature applauded 
 the heavenly concert, 
 
 Such was religion, and fuch its worfhip, 
 till fin came into the world to flam its pu- 
 rity ; then Innocence fled away 3 and Pe- 
 nitence endeavoured to fupply ks place. 
 Adam, banimed from an earthly paradife, 
 found no longer any thing but briars and 
 thorns, -vrhere he had formerly gathered 
 tlie fairefl flowers and moft excellent fruits. 
 
 The juft Abel offered his own heart as 
 a burnt- offering to God, and fealed with 
 his blood the love which he had for truth 
 and juft ice. Noah, Lot, Abraham, Ifaac, 
 and Jacob, ferved as guides to one another 
 in obferving the law of Nature, as the only 
 religion which at that time was pleafing in 
 the fight of Gpd, 
 
 Mofes
 
 CLEMENT XIV. r 
 
 Moles appeared like a new ftar feen fliln- 
 
 ing upon Mount Sinai, at the fide of the fun 
 
 of Juftice ; and the Ten Commandments 
 
 were given him to be obeyed without 
 
 any alteration. Thunder was the external 
 
 fign of this new alliance, and the Jewifh 
 
 people became the depofitory of a law 
 
 written by Wifdom itfelf.' 
 
 Notwithstanding the zeal of Mofes and 
 Jofhua, and all the leaders of the people 
 of God, the Chriflian religion alone could 
 produce worfhippers infpirit and in truth. 
 Every thing which was efteemed holy be- 
 iore that time, already belonged to it; and 
 when it was prefented to the world pro- 
 ceeding from the Incarnate Word, it was 
 eitablilhed on the ruins of Judaifm, like 
 a beloved daughter, filia dilefta, and it 
 changed the face of the whole world. 
 
 Wicked defires were forbidden, as well 
 as wicked actions, and the pureft and moft 
 fublime virtues fprung from the blood of 
 a multitude of Martyrs. 
 
 The Church fucceeded the Synagogue, 
 and the Apoftles who were its pillars, had 
 fucccfibrs who were to tranfmit their office 
 
 to
 
 4* L E T ? E R S- OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 to the end of time. According to that 
 heavenly plan, and this divine ceconomy, 
 the fubftance fucceeded to the madow; 
 for the old law was only the type of 
 Jefus Chriftj and the evidence of it after 
 death, will be the recompence of faith, 
 God will be feen as he is, and the faithful 
 will reil eternally with him. 
 
 ,Behold in what manner you fhould fet 
 out in your work upon -religion -,- go to 
 its fource, and fhew its excellence -, afcend 
 with it to heaven, from whence it defcend- 
 ed, and whither it will return. 
 
 Religion will never be perfectly efla- 
 blifhed till k has no other principle but 
 charity j for neither knowledge nor ex- 
 terior magnificence constitute its merit, 
 'but the love of God alone. It is the bafis 
 of our worfhip, and if we are not perfuad- 
 ed of this truth, we are only the images of 
 virtue. 
 
 I confidcr religion as a chain, of which 
 God is the firft link, and which reacheth 
 lo eternity. Without this tie every thing 
 is diffolved and overthrown ; men are 
 creatures only deferving of contempt; , 
 the univerfe not worth our attention j for it 
 
 is
 
 C L X M E N T XlV. 49 
 
 is neither the fun nor the earth that makes 
 its merit, but the glory of being a part of 
 the Supreme Being ; and according to the 
 words of the Apoftle, to lubfift only in Jefus 
 Chrift. Omni a per ipfttm & in ipfo conftant. 
 Take care that there be nothing in your 
 work -which is unv/orthy of your fubjeft ; 
 and when you meet in your way fome fa- 
 mous unbeliever, or celebrated herefu?ch, 
 overthrow him with that courage which 
 truth infpires, but without virulence or 
 oftentation. 
 
 It is fo agreeable to fupport the caufe of 
 a religion which has united every telti- 
 mony of heaven ^and earth in its favour, 
 that it mould not be defended but with 
 moderation. Flights of genius have no- 
 thing in common with truth. // is fufficisr.t 
 to flew religion fitch as it is, faid the holy 
 Charles Borromee, -to make the necejfity of 
 it be known. Men who would give up 
 religion, muft either be reduced to eat 
 acorns, or return to their original ftate of 
 violence and war. 
 
 I have ftudied religion more than forty- 
 five years, and am always more ahd more 
 VOL. I. D ' (truck
 
 50 LETTERS OF G AttG AKEL1/I, 
 ftruck with it. It is too elevated to be of 
 "human invention, although the -wicked fay 
 it is. Jill your mind with the fpirit of 
 God before you begin to write, that you 
 may not make -ufe of vain words. Where 
 the heart is not perfectly confenting with 
 the pen which exprelfeth holy truths, it is 
 feldom that the Reader can be affected. 
 Penetrate their fouls with the fame fpirit 
 whidi -God himfelf brought upon earth, 
 and your book will produce wonderful 
 effects. 
 
 What has made Tbe Imitation of Jefus 
 Clrijl fo valuable and affecting, is, that 
 the Author (Gerfen, Abbe of Verceil in 
 Italy) has transfufed into it all that holy 
 charity with which he himfelf was divinely 
 animated. 
 
 Gerfon is commonly confounded with 
 Gerfen-, neverthelefs it is eafy to prove, that 
 neither Gerfon nor Thomas a Kempk 
 were the authors of that matchlefs book^ 
 .and this I own gives me infinite pleafure, 
 becaufe.I am delighted with the thought 
 of fuch an excellent work being wrote by 
 an Italian. There is an evident proof in 
 4 the
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 5t 
 
 the fifth Chapter of the fourth Book, that 
 it was not a Frenchman who wrote The Imi- 
 tation. It is there exprefied, that the Prieft 
 clothed in his facerdotal habit carries 
 the crofs of Jeius Chrift before him ; no\v 
 all the world knows, that thechafcbles fin 
 France differ from thofe in Italy, in this, 
 that they have the croft upon their backs ; 
 but I will not write a difiertation, being 
 content to allure you that I am, &c. 
 RataE, 6th Feb. 1749. 
 
 LETTER XIII. 
 
 TO COUNT ALGAROTTJ. 
 
 THE Pope is always great, and al- 
 ways agreeable by his Ions mots. 
 -He faid the other day, that he always loved 
 you, and it would be a great pleafure to him 
 to fee you again. He fpeaks of the King of 
 Pruffia with admiration ; and it mufb be 
 owned that he is a monarch whofe hiftory 
 will make one of the nobleft monuments of 
 the eighteenth century. Confefs that I am 
 
 f- Chafubles are a kind of copes which the Priefts wear 
 K Mais. 
 
 D 2 very
 
 5S LETTERS OF GAKGANELLT, 
 
 very generous, for he laughs at the Court of 
 Rome and the Monksj as much as poffible. 
 
 Your laft letter is full of philofophy ; 
 I have fhewn it -to our common friends, 
 who find in it the fire of Italy, with the 
 phlegm of .Germany. This mixture works 
 wonders in the <eyes -of men of fen-fe and 
 genius. 
 
 Cardinal Quermi will not : be fatisfied 
 without having you fome time at Brefcia -, 
 .he told .me one day, that he would invite 
 you to jcome and confecratc his Library ; 
 he is enriching it as much as he can, 
 doubtlefs that it may be worthy of you. 
 
 You will enliven Bologna when you re- 
 turn ; the Mufes are not afleep, but they 
 are not fo animated as they were formerly ^ 
 fuch a fpirit as yours is wanted to electrify 
 the Academicians. 
 
 Rome does not make me forget that 
 town where I patted fo much time. The 
 remembrance of the learned men 1 knew 
 there, renders it always prefent. If the 
 will of the Pontiff did not keep me tied 
 here, I would willingly go and end my 
 days ther-Cj feeing nothing in the career 
 
 which
 
 CLEMENT XIV. jj 
 
 which I have to pafs, that can be more 
 agreeable or more advantageous. I fhouM 
 pofTefs myfelf, and be perfectly content, 
 though it be but a very fmall pofTeflion. 
 The domain of my knowledge is of io lit- 
 tle extent, that by reducing myfelf within 
 my own fphere, I am confined to the fim- 
 pleft mediocrity. 
 
 Natural Philofophy tcHs me from time to 
 time, that I neglect her ; I anfwer, 1 am 
 a greater lofcr than you. But what, would 
 you have me do ? Theology is become my 
 fovereign, and I muft obey her without 
 referve. They who do not know her, fup- 
 pofe her to be a chimera, or an icfol , but 
 for me,, who confider her under every rela- 
 tion, and in her whole extent, I acknow- 
 ledge her to be the true light of the foui; 
 and the life of the Elect. Nothing that 
 flows from God, nothing that- he fays, no- 
 thing that relates to him, can be trifling- 
 or indifferent. There is no harm in 
 my preaching to a philofopher who does- 
 not commonly go to church, and whofe 
 refidence at Pot z dam has not fanctified. 
 him. 
 
 D 3 There-
 
 54 LETTER'S OF OANGANELLI, 
 
 There are. three men of you there, whofc 
 talents would be of great fervice to reli- 
 gion, if you would change their direction- 
 You, Monf. Voltaire, and Monf. Mauper- 
 tuis ; but that is not the ton of the pre- 
 fent.age, and you will be in the fafhion. 
 
 In expectation of this miracle,, which 
 God can bring about fome time or an-, 
 other, although there ia little appearance 
 of it v I have the honour to be with the 
 kgheil refpect, &c. 
 
 LETTER XIV. 
 
 TO THE ABBE LA MI. 
 
 WOULD ghdly revifit Frefcati, that 
 delightful dwelling, where the multi- 
 tude of jets d'eau mooting up towards 
 Heaven without, interruption, is a lively 
 image of ths elevation and humiliation 
 of weak mortals : I have tired my limbs 
 and my eyes by walking and obferving 
 them. The country is not agreeable, but 
 at we open the two great books of botany 
 
 and.
 
 CLEMENT XIV. S ; 
 
 and aftronomy; the one under our fccr, 
 the other over our heads. 
 
 It is wonderful to obferve Iiow the foul 
 is elevated one moment to a ftar, and the 
 next falls down to a grain of fand , how it 
 expands over the immenfity of the hea- 
 vens, and how it fhrinks- back upon itfclf ;. 
 how it analyfes the light, anatomifes an in- 
 fect , how- inceflant are its wimes, yet how 
 limited its faculties! We may fay then 
 with Dante, that the foul is the greatcft 
 wonder of the univerfe. 
 
 The ftudy of Nature is necefTary to 
 know the Author of Nature ; and the 
 great Newton faid, that an Aftronomer or 
 Anatomift abfolutely could not be an 
 Atheift. The air is not perceivable, al- 
 though we erery where feel its influence j 
 it is an image of God Himfelf, who, 
 tho' invifiblc, informs us every inftant of 
 his prefence and action. 
 
 I have recovered a new life in the coun- 
 try to dedicate it more than ever to bufi- 
 nefs. One of the Ancients faid, that Death 
 fhould find an Emperor {landing ; and I 
 D 4 add,
 
 5* LETTERS OF GANGANEXLI, 
 add, that, he fliould find a Counfellor- of 
 the Holy Office with his pen in his hand. 
 You will allow that I have not placed my- 
 felf amifs. 
 
 That laft moment is approaching every 
 indant,. and time is almoft nothing. The 
 paft, the prefent, and the future are fo near 
 iach other, that one has not leifure to 
 diftinguifh them. The year has fcarce be- 
 <^un its courfe when it is at an end. 
 
 I have never wrote a. fmgle word,, nor 
 made a fmgle comma, withoutlookingupon 
 it as a point cut off from my life. This 
 mariner of thinking is the beft means of 
 driving away Ambition ; but I do not. be- 
 lieve that me. will ever come to knock at 
 my gate. I defpife Fortune too much for 
 her to make me any advances. 
 
 But it is a fingular good fortune that 
 I can affure you of all the attachment with 
 which I am, &c. 
 
 ROME, iath Oft. i/49 
 
 LET-
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 57 
 
 LETTER XV. 
 
 TO A CARMELITE NUN. 
 
 IT appears, my reverend Mother, that 
 God Almighty has preferred mountains- 
 as the propereft places for diiplaying his 
 glory and his mercy. Ifee by the Scrip- 
 tures, that Mount Sinai, Mount Thabor, 
 the Mount of Olives, and Mount Calvary, 
 were the moft privileged fpots in the* 
 world, on account of the miracles which 
 were wrought there : and I fee in "the Hif- 
 tory of the Church, , Mount Caffino and 
 Mount Carmei as the fburce of two reli- 
 gious Orders, who do honour to religion 
 by their penitence. 
 
 Holy Thenefa, your illiiflrious Refor- 
 matrix, is one of the greateft fouls that 
 God hath 'raffed up for the good of Chrrf- 
 tianity : a parent of the Church for her ' 
 knowledge and .writings ; -and -a .model of 
 penitence by her auflerities. There is net 
 a cloud which can in the lead obfcure her 
 across, Always with God to ftudy him -, - 
 & 5 always
 
 j* LETTERS OF GANGANFLLI, 
 
 always with the faithful to inftruct them 
 and always in die fame degree of perfec- 
 tion ; fhe is a prodigy of fcience and of 
 fanctity. 
 
 Her works are not fufficiendy known ; 
 the befl is undoubtedly the wonderful" 
 harmony which reigns- among fo many 
 illuflrious females, to whom me is a fup- 
 port and model. 
 
 You have no occafion for any inilruc- 
 tions, my reverend Mother, but what have 
 been given by this great Saint. She hath 
 faid every thing, me hath forefeen every 
 thing, and me hath taught every thing. . 
 The Nuns cannot choofe a better director;, 
 and it is to her that they mould addrefs 
 themfelves, if their piety has none of thofe 
 too keen affections which hurt true devo- 
 tion- 
 
 Confult holy TJierefa then, and not Bro- - 
 ther Ganganelli, who is the weak eft perfon 
 I know. I can only glean after thofe who 
 have reaped a full harveft -, and all the 
 correfpondence that I can have with you, 
 is to beg that you will be fo good as to 
 
 pray
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 5? 
 
 pray for me. The prayers of the Carme- 
 lites are the moil agreeable perfume which - 
 can afcend to the throne of God. But not : 
 to interrupt that filence any longer, which 
 is prefcribed you, I (hall content -myfelf 
 with adding to this letter the refpect wick- 
 which I mall be, all my life, 
 
 Your moft humble, &c. - 
 At the CONVENT of the HOLY APOSTLES, 
 19 June, 1749- 
 
 LETTER XVI. 
 
 TO CARDINAL V ALL NT I, SECRETAR" 1 ' 
 OF STATE. 
 
 MOST EMINENT, . 
 
 THIS letter is the fupplication of a 
 poor Monk, who prays for a poor 
 man, who is lefs than nothing jn< the -eyes 
 of fuch a Lprd as you ; but a fubje<St wor- 
 thy of all your attention, if you -look upon 
 him with that Chriflian philofophy which 
 places mankind on a level, and directs all 
 your actions. 
 
 D 6 TV
 
 6o LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 The fubjed in queftion is Dominick 
 Baldi, a domeflic who has been long at- 
 tached to your fervice, and who has been 
 difmifled for a fally of paflion. As he 
 comes from the place where I was born,, 
 and I know him to have a number of good 
 qualities, efpecially his fingular attachment 
 to you, I venture to fupplicate you in his 
 favour. 
 
 My Lord, you have a great foul, and I 
 am fure of fuccefs, if you will only hearken- 
 a little : your heart will be my beft inter- 
 ceflbr with you. . Men are not angels j 
 fervants have their faults, and fo have their 
 mailers. 
 
 I mould have folicited this favour in 
 perfon , but probably I mould have been 
 obliged to wait in an anti-chamber, on ac- 
 count of the people and bufmefs which befet 
 you, and I have not time to lofe. There 
 are fo many burdens of every kind impof- 
 d upon me, that I have need of all my 
 courage not to fink under them. 
 
 If.
 
 CLEMENT XIV. x 
 
 If you hearken to my prayer, my grati- 
 tude mall be as lafting and extenfive, as 
 the profound 1 refpect with which I am 
 Your Eminence's 
 
 moll humble, &c, 
 ROME, the ift of the Month. 
 
 LETTER XVII. 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 I AM quite vain that an atom mould fix 
 the attention of your Eminence, and 
 that a poor wretch who had only fuch a 
 pitiful recommendation a% mine, fhould 
 be received again- into your fervice. This 
 goodnefs does you the more honour, as it 
 mews you to be a great man without pre- 
 judices, that is to fay, a phcenomenon. 
 
 I have the honour to be, &c. 
 ROME, the *d of the Month. 
 
 L E T-
 
 6a LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 LETTER XVIII. 
 
 TO THE PRELATE CERATI. 
 
 /CHAINED down by my profeflion, 
 \^A tormented with bufmefs, and hur- 
 ried away by the times, I cannot difpofe 
 of my days fo as to be able to join you. 
 I am fo much engaged, that I have only fix 
 hours in the day. I wifh to God, that all 
 thofe whofe time hangs heavy upon their 
 hands could make a prefent of their fparc 
 moments to me; not that I might lead a 
 longer life, but that I might give myfelf up 
 to ftudy more at my eafe, without the 
 dread of becoming too contemplative. 
 
 YQU are happy in being at Florence, 
 where you have no court to make except 
 to monuments, 1 ibraries, or learned men, 
 and where there is no danger of being ill 
 received. 
 
 I will immediately fend you the memo- 
 rial you defire; it fhall be written with 
 all poflible moderation, becaufe it is com- 
 formable with charity, and becaufe works 
 
 written
 
 CLEMENT XIV. ft 
 
 written with pafiion, though they have 
 truth on their fide, do no fort of good. 
 
 In fpite of all your elogies on the plea- 
 fures of gardening, it is impoflible for me 
 to be fond of them ; I know nothing but 
 meadows and fields. When I have need of a 
 walk, chance finds me a thoufand little 
 charming paths where I exceedingly love 
 to wander. 
 
 The Pope only difcharges his duty, in 
 vindicating the memory of Cardinal Nori. 
 It would be cruel to declare a man a here- 
 tic, becaufe he follows the opinions of 
 the Auguftines or Thomifts ; that is to 
 fay, doctrines folemnly approved by the 
 Church , but when we ;?re impelled by fa- 
 natic ifm, we fee nothing, and become deaf 
 to reafon. 
 
 The good Bimop of Spoletto ftill enjoys 
 excellent health ; he writes to me with as 
 much gaiety as if he were only twenty. He 
 is like the Pope (Benedicl XIV.), who is 
 never fad. He complains that the Her- 
 mits who live almoft under his eye are too 
 diffipated : it is a growing evil in almoft 
 nil the communities j they no longer 
 
 ftudy
 
 64 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 ftudy but in extracts. Provided they have 
 only the fcarf-fkin of the Sciences, they 
 think themfelves great doctors. 1 don't 
 know to what this will lead us, but I am 
 afraid we mall infenfibly fall back into the 
 ignorance of the tenth century. Science 
 is like the moon, which after being feen 
 in full, fhews only her hal and at lalt bcv 
 comes intirely hid. 
 
 Sleep, which I m nit/not neglect, tells me - 
 that we muft part. What comforts me is,- 
 that my friendlhip for you never fleeps, 
 and that. I ..am day and night irrevocably 
 
 Your moft humble, &c. 
 ROME, 8th July 1749. 
 
 LETT E-R XIX. 
 TO COUNT ***. 
 
 Si R, 
 
 I WAS too much the friend of your fa- 
 ther, and aril too much^your friend, to 
 let you go aftray as you now do, without 
 recalling you to yourfelf. Is it poflible 
 that that dear child whom I have feen fo 
 gentle, good, and virtuous in his fathers 
 
 houfe,
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 65 
 
 Jioufc, has fo totally forgot what he was, as 
 to become rude, infolent, and irreligious? 
 It is with the utmoft difficulty I can 
 perfuade myfelf that it is fo j but I am fo 
 often allured of it, and by the company 
 with whom you aflbciate, that I can no 
 longer doubu 
 
 I beg of you to come and fee me, and in 
 the efFufions of a heart which tenderly 
 loves you, I will tell you, not what anger 
 infpires, not what prejudice fuggefls, not 
 what is bitter in reproaches, but all that 
 the fmcereft attachment can dictate, to 
 withdraw you from that abyfs into which 
 bad company has hurried you. 
 
 You will neither find me aa imperious 
 monitor, nor an angry pedagogue, but a 
 friend, a brother, who will fpeak to you 
 as he would to himfelf, with the fame le- 
 nity, and with the fame calmnefs. I know 
 that youth is fiery, and that there is : great 
 difficulty in efcaping from the ways of the 
 world, when we are rich, and given up to 
 paflions. But do not honour, decency, 
 reafon, and religion fpeak more powerfully 
 than the paflions and fcnfes ? 
 
 What
 
 3$ LETTERS OF GANGANELLT, 
 
 What is man, my dear friend, if he 
 takes no counfel but of his corrupted 
 heart ? Alas ! I find within me, as well as- 
 you find in yourfelf, wherewithal to lead. 
 me aftray, if I did not hearken to my con- 
 fcience and my duty ; for illufion and cor- 
 ruption are the only portions of humanity. 
 
 ] expect you with the greateft impatience, 
 to ftretch forth my arms and embrace you. 
 Do not flartle at the fight of my cloifter 
 or my habit. On account of my profeflion, 
 I ought to be the more charitable. We will 
 bewail together the lofs of a father who 
 was fo necefiary to you ; I will endeavour 
 to give you fuch advice as to make him 
 live again in you, by the excellence of 
 your morals. Do not difgrace his memorf 
 by the fcandal of a dilbrderly life. 
 
 There is nothing loft yet,, if you will 
 deign to hearken to me , for I am confi- 
 dent that the plan of life which I will trace 
 out to you, will reftpre every thing as it 
 ihould be. Do not be afraid ; 1 will not 
 fend you to do penance either with the Ca- 
 puchins or the Chartreux, for I do not 
 love violence. God will infpire us : God 
 
 does
 
 CLEMENT XTY. CT 
 
 toes not abandon thofe who return to him. 
 I mall not ftir abroad to-morrow, that I 
 may receive you. 
 
 LETTER XX. 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 IS it poffible, my dear Sir, that you not 
 only did not come to me, as I requefted 
 you would, but that you took care to 
 be denied "when I came to fee you ? Alas ! 
 what would your father fay, to whom you 
 promifed in his dying moments, that you 
 would place intire confidence in my ad- 
 vice, and that you would always make it 
 your duty to cultivate my friendfhip ? 
 Once more, what would he fay ? Am not 
 I the fame perfon who have carried you fo 
 often in my arms, who with, the greateft 
 pleafure have feen you growing, who have 
 given you your firfl inftructions, and to 
 whom you have teftified the ftrongeft at- 
 tachment, on a thoufand occafions ? 
 
 Would. 
 
 i
 
 LETTERS OF GANGANE2.LI, 
 
 Would you have me fall upon my 
 to induce you to reftore to me your friend- 
 fhip ? I will do foj nothing fhall be too 
 much for me, when I am to recal a 
 friend to his duty. 
 
 If you had not a noble heart and a good, 
 underftanding, I fhouFd defpair of your 
 reformation,, and of my ow,n advice ; but 
 you have inherited a worthy foul, and an 
 uncommon fagacity. Do you imag'ne that 
 it can be a pleafure to me to find fault 
 with you ? None but falfe devotees find 
 fatisfaction in putting themfelves into a 
 paflion. I have happily read the Gofpel, 
 which is the rule both of your conduct 
 end mine, enough to know how Jefus 
 Chrift received finners, and how attentive 
 we ought to be not to extinguilh the 
 fmoking lamp, nor to break the bruifed 
 reed. I have not forgot that John the Evan* 
 gelift got on horfeback, notwithftanding 
 his advanced age, to fearch after a young 
 man whom he had bred up, and who 
 avoided him. Befudes, have not you long 
 known me for a man who is neither 
 haughty nor peevifh, and who can compaf- 
 
 fionate
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 69 
 
 Sonate human frailty ? The more you 
 avoid me, the more I mall think you guil- 
 ty. Do not hearken to your companions, 
 but let your heart fpeak, and I mail in- 
 ftantly fee you. Mine prompts me never to 
 abandon you. I will perfecute you becaufe 
 I love you, and I will give you no reft till 
 we are reconciled. 
 
 It is becaufe I am your belt friend that 
 I feek to find you, at a time when fcarce 
 any of your relations will hear your name 
 mentioned. 
 
 If 'you dread my remonftrances, I fliall 
 fay nothing to you, becaufe I mail be con- 
 vinced that you will accufe yourfelf, and 
 allow me no time to fpeak. Try at leaft 
 one vifit -, and if it is not agreeable, you 
 mail never fee me more. But I know 
 your heart rl know my own and I am 
 certain, that after one interview you will 
 have no defire to leave me, 
 
 I ought naturally to have a greater 
 .afcendency over your mind, who have 
 known you thefe twenty years, than all the 
 young afibciates whe furround you, to de- 
 vour
 
 7* LETTERS OF GANGANELLT, 
 
 vour your eftate, and are your friend* 
 only to ruin your health and reputation. 
 
 If my tears can affect you, I proteft to 
 you that they flow at this inftant, and from 
 the moft precious motive in the world 
 Religion ancT'Friendfhip. Come and dry 
 them up ; it will prove to me that you ftill 
 remember your father, and arc fenfible to 
 the diflrefs of a friend. 
 
 ROME, ift Feb. 1750. 
 
 LETTER XXI. 
 
 TO THE ABBE NI COL INI. 
 S I R, 
 
 THE picture of infidelity you have 
 drawn alarms, without aftoninV 
 ing, me $ befides its being foretold, even 
 to the leaft iota y in the holy fcriptures, 
 the mind k capable of going aflray the 
 greateil lengths, when the heart is once 
 corrupted. From a defire that there mould 
 be no God to punifh crimes, the wicked 
 conclude that he doth not exiit Dixit im- 
 
 fiuf
 
 C L E M F N T XIV. 71 
 
 in ccrde fuo, N on eft Dens. Deifm leads 
 imperceptibly to .atheifm -, we have na 
 compafs, when we have no religion j k 
 is the only prop by which we can be rea- 
 fonably fupported. 
 
 Notwithstanding the dreadful confe- 
 quences of this new philofophy, I am of 
 'Opinion that we ought not to exafperate 
 thofe who profcfs it. There are people 
 unconvinced who deierve to be pitied, be- 
 caufe, after all, faith is a gift from God, 
 Jefus Chrift, who thundered at the Phari- 
 fees, faid nothing to the Sadducees. Un- 
 believers will be much eafier led back by 
 .gentlenefs than by feverity. They affeft a 
 haughtinefs to thofe who wound them keen- 
 ly ; and the more fo, becaufe they are anfwer- 
 d frequently with much worfe reafoning 
 than is found even in their own difcourfes 
 ;and writings. The moft petty Ecclefiaftic 
 eagerly fets about attacking them, without 
 thinking, that though his zeal is laudable, 
 his underfbanding by no means keeping 
 pace with it, he may do more harm than 
 good.
 
 y* LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 Converts are not made either by decla- 
 mation or invective. Examples, reafon, 
 and moderation are wanted, and we mould 
 begin by allowing, that religion has indeed 
 myfleries which are incomprehenfible, and 
 which cannot all be explained. There is 
 a chain reaching from heaven to earth, 
 and unlefs we keep hold of the links we 
 mail never confute infidelity. Vague 
 declamation is not reafoning. To contend 
 with able men in the arts of fophiftry, 
 knowledge, method, and precifion are 
 wanted. 
 
 When I meet with people who have the 
 prejudices of this new philofophy, which 
 happens pretty often, I begin by infpiring 
 them with confidence, and fpeak to them 
 with the greateft candour. They are fen- 
 fible of this, if they have had only the 
 flighteft tincture of education, and that at 
 Icaft leflens their prejudices. 
 
 Every impetuous zeal which would 
 bring down fire from heaven, ^excites only 
 hatred. The Church has trie reputation of 
 being of a perfecuting fpirk, in the eyes of 
 unbelievers^ from many of its minifters 
 
 fhewing
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 73 
 
 Viewing a too ardent zeal. A good caufe 
 fupports itfelf; fo that Religion needs 
 only to produce its proofs, its traditi- 
 ons, its works, and its gentlenefs, to be re- 
 fpected. Chriftianity of itfelf overthrows 
 every feel: which may be inclined to 
 fchifm, or which breathes a fpirit of ani- 
 mofity. 
 
 I frequently meet with people who 
 really deteft the whole body of the Clergy, 
 and thofe are juft the people whom I en- 
 deavour to be well with. If I had leifure 
 and abilities to combat the new philo- 
 fophy, I have the prefumption to believe 
 that no Philofopher would complain of me. 
 I would lay down principles which could 
 not be denied ; and when I met in my 
 way with thofe too celebrated men who 
 profefs , infidelity, I would mew them 
 with the greateft candour, that they have 
 not taken the holy Scriptures in their 
 true fcnfe, or that they have no good rea- 
 fons for denying their authenticity. 
 
 I am fenfible I mould not convert them, 
 fince it is God alone who enlighteneth the 
 \mderfranding and changeth the heart; 
 
 VOL. I. E but
 
 74 LETTERS OF GANGANELLT, 
 but at leaft they would not be fo apt to 
 inveigh againft the defenders of Religion. 
 We muft endeavour .to gain fomething, if 
 we cannot gain all. 
 
 If- God bears with .unbelievers, we 
 ought to bear with them, nce they make 
 a part of his plan , and by them religion 
 appears ftronger, and the faith of the 
 righteous is exercifed. 
 
 It is not at. all furprifingthat ages of fu- 
 perftition .fhould lead the way to an age of 
 infidelity, but thefe are tempefts which 
 pafs over, and only mew the face of hea- 
 ven more pure and ferene. 
 
 The more that unbelievers increafe, the 
 more ought the Minifters of the Gofpel to 
 be attentive .to render religion refpectable 
 .by their love of fludy, and the purity 
 of their morals. Behold a number of 
 things which you knew before. My pen 
 leads me on infenfibly ; it is a fault with 
 which I frequently reproach it, but it will 
 not correct itfelf. I beg your pardon for it, 
 in favour of my intention, and in confide- 
 ration of the pleafure I have in aflbring 
 you of the refpectful and fmcere attach- 
 ment with which I am, &c. 
 
 I
 
 -L E M E N T XIV. 7 j 
 
 It is fome time fmce I had any accounts 
 of M. Cerati. I am the more uneafy, 
 becaufe he mould have anfwered me upon 
 fomething of confequence. 
 
 ROME, 38 February, 1750. 
 
 LETTER XXII. 
 
 TO CARDINAL CRESCENCL 
 
 MOST EMINENT, 
 
 YOU have folved the cafe of confcience 
 as it ought to be, conformably with 
 the opinion of the wifeft Doctors, and ef- 
 pecially according to the fentiments of St. 
 Thomas, whofe fuffrage is of the greateft 
 weight. 
 
 The Holy Office hath not condemned 
 the men his Eminency fpeaks to me of, 
 as really having commerce with the Devil, 
 but for abufmg the mod holy words of 
 the fervice of the Mafs and the Pfalms, 
 to carry on their extravagant operations. 
 It is known that forcerers now-a- 
 days are not fupernatural agents, and 
 E 2 that
 
 76 LETTERS OP GANGANELLI, 
 
 that a belief of Necromancy (tho* ac- 
 cording to the Scripture the Devil is a 
 real being) is almoft always the effect of 
 fuperftition, or the work of a troubled 
 brain. 
 
 I kifs your hands with the profoundeft 
 refpect, in expectation of the moment 
 when we fhall kifs your feet, if the pro- 
 phecy attributed to St. Philip of Neri 
 takes place, as it is commonly reported. 
 FR. L. GANGANELLI. 
 
 ROME- ift March 1750. 
 
 LETTER XXIII. 
 
 TO A GENTLEMAN OF RAVENNA. 
 Si R, 
 
 I COULD never have fufpected that you 
 would apply to an obfcure Monk like 
 me, to decide a family difpute. There are 
 a great number of learned Lawyers here, 
 who can give you a proper opinion. 
 
 Befides my incapacity in this affair, I 
 do not love to give advice in fecular mat- 
 2 ters.
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 77 
 
 ters. I remember that St. Paul prohibits 
 every minifter of the Lord from interfering 
 in temporals. A man who is dead to the 
 world, mould not intermeddle in the affairs 
 of it. Every religious Society that neglects 
 this maxim, will fink into oblivion fooner 
 or later -, as every Monk who intrudes into 
 families to know their fecrets, to regulate 
 marriages and teilaments, is equally qon- 
 temptible and dangerous. 
 
 We have too many duties of our own, 
 to have leifure to bufy ourfelves in other 
 people's affairs , and at prefent we mould 
 be detefted, if we dared to attempt it. We 
 made noife enough formerly, by ftriving 
 only to preferve the ufe or property of 
 our own rights ; let us not meddle now-a- 
 days with the inheritances of the world. 
 St. Francis, who preached up difmtereft- 
 ednefs and poverty, would anathematize 
 us, , if he faw us attempting to undertake 
 the province of fecular affairs. 
 
 All that I ought, or can do, is to exhort 
 you to peace and concord, and not to mew 
 a criminal avidity for the things of this 
 life, which paffeth away, and leaves us no- 
 thing but cAar works. Let us endeavour 
 E 3 that
 
 ?8 LETTERS OF OANGANELLI, 
 that they be good, that we may not appear 
 before God empty-handed. 
 
 ROME, jd March, 1750. 
 
 LETTER. XXIV. 
 TO CARDINAL QJJ I R I N I- 
 
 MOST EMINENT, 
 
 I LOVE to fee a Library in your Emi- 
 nency's hands j one Is certain that it 
 will not be covered with dufl, nor remain 
 unemployed. By the manner in which you 
 fpeak to me of it, and the difcernment I 
 know you pofiefs, it will be worth the admi- 
 ration of the curious. I mail always re- 
 member the having pafled a day with your 
 Eminency and Cardinal Paffionei, and a 
 
 number of learned men j it will be the 
 
 faireft and moft precious epoch of my life. 
 I then faw the moft learned men in Eu- 
 rope, and I drank at the fource from the 
 two fined intellectual rivers in the world. 
 There they agitated the moft important 
 queftions, without affectation, obftinacy 
 
 or
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 79 
 
 or pride. Only the half-learned and half- 
 wile make themfelves noted by their obfti- 
 nacy and vanity j but what ftruck me 
 moil is, that genius, which does not al- 
 ways accompany learning, feemed there to 
 fpring from the womb of fcience,, like 
 lightning from heaven. 
 
 I Ihould have been glad to fee our mo- 
 dern Philofophers with thefe two great 
 men ; and the more fo, as they would 
 have been delighted with their moderation. 
 Some time ago I reminded Cardinal PafTi- 
 onei of this anecdote , and his memory, 
 which is very great, and always ready, re- 
 peated fuccinclly all that was- faid at that 
 time. 
 
 I very much wim, my Lord, to be able 
 to accompany you to Mount Caflino. You 
 muft appear radiant there, like Mofes 
 upon Mount Sinai : it is your center, and 
 the cradle in which you have acquired the 
 greateft knowledge, to perpetuate the fuc- 
 cefiion of fo many illuftrious men as have 
 fprung from thence. 
 
 It appears to me, my Lord, if I dare 
 
 make that confefiion to you, that your 
 
 laft letter to the Proteftant Clergy, is a 
 
 E 4 little
 
 8o LETTERS OF GANGAKELL1, 
 little too dry. Your Eminency knows bet- 
 ter than I do, how neceflary it is to ufe 
 fweet oil to gain over profelytes. No- 
 thing can be added to the profound re- 
 fpect with which 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 LETTER XXV. 
 
 TO R. P. OUSI, A DOMINICAN, BUT SINCE BE- 
 COME CARDINAL. 
 
 My REV. FATHER, 
 
 HAVE been, ty/ice to call upon y^ 
 without having" the happineis to find.. 
 you, although you are fo iedentary a re- 
 clufe. I wanted to thank you for the book 
 you fent me. I congratulate Italy on the 
 happy production with which you have 
 enriched it. M. Fleury had occafion for 
 a writer to fill up the chafms in his hiftory ; 
 for it muft be confefled, notwithftanding 
 the refpecl v/hich I have for his memory, 
 that he has (lightly touched a number of 
 very important facts. Perhaps he was 
 
 not
 
 CLEM E N T XIV. Si 
 
 not'pofiefied of fufficient memoirs for fome 
 articles : we mould weigh the charge well, 
 before we condemn fo great a man. 
 
 In the mean time, I cannot pardon his 
 having faid almoft nothing of the Church 
 of Ravenna, fo-celebrated in the annals of 
 Italy by a multitude qf incidents relative 
 to its Exarchs. Sometimes it is dangerous 
 to be follicitous of being too concife ; 
 this gives fketches only,, inftead of finifhed 
 pieces. 
 
 We reproach M. Fleury with being too 
 zealous for the liberties of the Galilean 
 Church ; and the French will accufe you, 
 my reverend Father, .of fupporting the ul- 
 tramontane opinions too warmly. 
 
 See then how difficult it is to write to 
 pleafe . every Government ; but fenfible 
 men give up! to the French and Romans 
 their different pretenfions, fo that the faith 
 be not affected. Every country has its 
 opinion, as every individual his whim. 
 
 I wifh that your labours may meet 
 
 with a brilliant recompence, not for your 
 
 glory, but the glory of the Church; 
 
 you have no occafion for the purple to 
 
 E 5 render
 
 to LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 render you illuftrious. As for me, I think 
 myfelf the moft honoured of men, when you 
 receive with cordiality the fincere and re- 
 fpeclful fentiments with which I am irre- 
 vocably, &c. 
 
 ROME, u June, 1750. 
 
 LETTER XXVI. 
 
 TO A PRELATE. 
 
 My LORD, 
 
 I HAVE written fo much, that my hand 
 ought to be tired; but it has morevigour 
 than ever, while it is employed in expref- 
 fing the fentiments with which you infpire 
 jne. 
 
 Notwithftanding my occupations, I have 
 done all that you prefcribed. I have feen 
 the perfon you mentioned; I have got 
 the better of her refiftance. She will take 
 care of the little orphan, as you define. 
 Other people's misfortunes render me fin- 
 gularly eloquent , then my heart, foul, and 
 mind, fpeak al] at once. 
 
 The
 
 C L E M E NT XTV. 83 
 
 The Monks are reproached with being 
 felfifh } in that cafe, I mould never have 
 been one , but it is a calumny which I 
 will not attempt to refute. The mean- 
 nefies of human nature are to be found in 
 Cloifters, only becaufe there are men 
 
 there : yet there are men every where. 
 
 This does not prevent our feeing a great 
 many virtues in a Monaftery. I proteft 
 to you, , I am afhamed of myfelf when J 
 obferve fome venerable perfonages with 
 whom I live, who are employed in no- 
 thing but doing good offices, from morning 
 till night. The world judges of Com- 
 munities only from fome fcandals which, 
 unfortunately blaze abroad, without at- 
 tending to the talents and the virtues which . 
 are perpetuated there. 
 
 The monaftic life would be very ho- 
 nourable, if it was duly honoured : and 
 men powerful both in words and in 
 works would be found there, on every 
 occafion. Emulation is abfolutely necef- 
 fary in a Cloifler, to preferve a love of 
 ftudy j as ambition is- irs fcandal and 
 ruin. There is no greater monfter in 
 E 6 Church .
 
 84 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 Church, or State than an hypocritical 
 ambitious clergyman, who, profeffing to- 
 be humble, is puffed up with pride-, 
 a man who, wearing an outfide of po- 
 verty, feeks only to enrich himfelf-, 
 a falfe devotee, who announces himlelf the 
 fervant of God, yet is only the flave of his 
 own pafiioris. 
 
 When I think that there are Monks, 
 who fly to deftruftion to obtain a wretched 
 fuperiority of rank or preferment, fubjcdt 
 to a thoufand vexations and a thoufand 
 inconveniencies, I cannot define man; and 
 I fay, that he damns himfelf for a very 
 little matter. 
 
 my dear folitude ! my books and my 
 labours ! what vexation would it give me, 
 were I obliged to give you up, tp mix 
 in the tumult of bufinefs and honours ! 
 Even the title of Majefty would not make 
 amends to a man for the liberty he lofes, 
 when he becomes a king. 
 
 1 was taught to believe from my ear- 
 lieft days, t{iat the honour of having an 
 immortal foul is the greateft pofiible glory; 
 and happily I have retained the leflbn. 
 
 I would
 
 CLEMENT Xir 85 
 
 I would not fay this to all the world, 
 for there are very few capable of compre- 
 hending it ; but you, who have a relifli 
 for the ineflimable pleafures of exifting 
 and thinking, underfland me. I em- 
 brace you with all my heart, and am 
 without referve 
 
 Your friend and iervant, 
 
 ROME, 6th November, 1750. 
 
 LETTER XXVII. 
 
 TO MONSIGNOR HENRIQJJEZ. 
 
 MY LORD, 
 
 YOU deign to confult me, while it Is I ra- 
 ther that have need of your counfel. 
 Your underftanding and piety are known, 
 and every one confefTeth that you are the 
 bed guide, and the moft learned Doclor. 
 However, to mew my obedience, I muft 
 fay that the depofit ought to be fent to 
 Peter, although it was deftined for him 
 by John, folely on account of his attach- 
 ment
 
 86 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 ment to the Roman Catholic religion, and 
 tho' he has unfortunately changed his 
 faith. 
 
 It is only necefiary to acquaint him with 
 ' the intention of his benefactor, when he 
 made that bequeft in his favour. But I do 
 not think that the perfon charged with the 
 depofit, can withhold it from him becaufe 
 he has changed his religion. 
 
 You fay, my Lord, that there are peo- 
 ple who maintain that it may be made a 
 gift to fome Monaftery ; and I dare af- 
 fert, Monk as I am, that it would be an 
 unjuft appropriation : in the firft place, 
 becaufe it mould be given to him to whom 
 it was bequeathed ; fecondly, becaufe in the 
 partition of property, families mould always 
 have the preference j thirdly and laftly, be- 
 caufe the poor, who have no means of fub- 
 fiftence, ought chiefly to be fupported. 
 
 Providence is the refource of Commu- 
 nities, and their dependance ought to be 
 rather upon That, than on human means. 
 All religious Orders are only eftimable as 
 they imitate Jefus Chrift -, but we too often 
 have fome worldly views for the fupport 
 of Monafteries, without reflecting that the 
 
 true
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 87 
 
 true Chriftian has no permanent habita- 
 tion in this world, and that nothing hap- 
 pens but as it pleafeth God. 
 
 Neverthelefs I fubmit my judgment to 
 yours, never having any obftinate attach- 
 ment to my own opinions. I difplay them 
 conformably to the dictates of my con- 
 fcience, and I take every pofiible precau- 
 tion to be informed ; for there is no evil 
 we are not capable of, even while we pur- 
 pofe doing good, if we have no other 
 guide than an ignorant devotion. 
 
 J have the honour to be, &c. 
 
 LETTER XXVIII. 
 
 TO THE ABBESS OF A MONASTERY. 
 
 MY MOST REV. MOTHER, 
 
 FROM the narrative which you have 
 fent me, it appears that you cannot 
 conveniently take vigorous meafures. If 
 your Nuns are become difiipated, and they 
 lead you as they pleafe, there is an end of 
 
 all
 
 S8 LETTERS OF GANG A NELL I, 
 all rule. DiiTipation, and efpecially the 
 Parlour, are the ruin of all Convents of 
 Nuns. Recollection and application 
 only can preferve order in the different 
 Communities. The Cloifter is an in- 
 fupportable yoke, while the world is to be 
 feen, and the more frequent opportunities 
 the Nuns have of converfmg, the more they 
 muft become difgufled with their condition. 
 I fuppofe that you frequently afiemble 
 your Community, and, like a good mother 
 who loves her children, fpeak the ef- 
 fufions of your heart to them, upon the 
 necefiity of fulfilling their duties. I 
 would then have you endeavour to per- 
 fuade them, that your confcience re- 
 proaches you for your ill-placed lenity ; 
 and that if you are obliged to appear 
 more fevere y it is becaufe you have a 
 foul to be faved. 
 
 When your Nuns find that you are not 
 governed by any harfhnefs of temper, but 
 by a dread of failing in your duty to God, 
 they will hearken to you with refpect,. or 
 will be of the number of the foolifh Virgins 
 who have neither oil nor light, in their 
 
 lamps
 
 CLEMENT XIV. Sy 
 
 lamps to go and meet the bridegroom. 
 This would be the moft affecting mif- 
 fortune that could happen ; and then, 
 when you have exhaufted every refource 
 which prudence and charity dictate, you 
 muft employ the lawful authority of a 
 Superior to reform them. 
 
 But, my reverend Mother, I prefume 
 that you will not have occafion to come to 
 this extremity. They will murmur againft 
 you for fome time, but the anger of Nuns 
 paffeth like a mower, provided there be 
 no cabals nor parties; but then God 
 only can difpel them. 
 
 It is difficult to refift a Su^rior, who 
 prays, begs and humbles herfelf^'who em- 
 ploys tears, rather than reproaches, to affect 
 and perfuade. Ah ! I wifh to God that this 
 was the ordinary language of all Abbefles ! 
 But alas ! there are too many, who, intoxi- 
 cated with chimerical rank, without merit, 
 but having a great deal of caprice and 
 haughtinefs, live apart from their Nuns, 
 and pafs much of their time at their toilets, 
 and .in the parlour. Thefe are foolifh. 
 Virgins (yet perhaps they do not deferve, 
 
 that
 
 90 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 that name), who are the ruin and fcandal 
 of Communities, and abide in them only 
 like wafps in a hive, to devour the honey 
 and to breed confufion, 
 
 In afking my advice, Madam, you have 
 impofed upon me a fevere talk, for I have 
 no talent for directing, Nuns efpe- 
 cially. I think like our Father St. Fran- 
 cis, pardon my fmcerity, who faid, that 
 God has debarred us from having wives ^ that 
 we may be. infpired 'with a defire of being re- 
 ligious ; but I am afraid the Devil has given 
 us Sifters to torment us. He knew how dif- 
 ficult it is trcnrecl: Nuns, although there 
 are fome among them exceedingly docile,, 
 and of excellent underftandings ; there 
 is not even a fingle Community in which 
 there are not fome worthy of the higheft 
 encomiums. 
 
 After all this, Madam, I muft beg of 
 you not to addrefs me again upon this fub- 
 jeft; and the rather, becaufe I have not 
 time to anfwer you, and that I can fay no- 
 thing better than what your Rules tell 
 you. Talk but little with your Directors, 
 and a great deal with God, and peace will 
 
 fiourifh.
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 91 
 
 flourim again in your Abbey. I wifh. it 
 on your own account, and for the honour 
 of religion, being with all pofiible re- 
 fped, &c. 
 ROME, 10 Nov. 1750. 
 
 LETTER XXIX. 
 
 TO THE ABBE LAMI, PERIODICAL WRITER, 
 AT FLORENCE. 
 
 I Always read your writings with plea- 
 fure, my dear Abbe, but I wifh you 
 would always give the reafons of your cen- 
 fures. Inftead of faying, for example, that 
 the ftyle of fuch a work is incorrett -, that 
 there are trifles which disfigure the beauty 
 of the book ; you fhould plainly mew it. 
 Rules have always need of examples. 
 
 How would you have an author correct 
 himfelf, and the Public adopt your man- 
 ner of judging, if you only cenfure vaguely, 
 and do not point out the place where the 
 writer has forgot himfelf? 
 
 There is hardly any book of which it may 
 
 not
 
 9* LETTERS OF GANGANELLT, 
 not be laid, that it contains fome carelefs or 
 affected exprefiions. When you fpeak in 
 general, it gives room to believe that you 
 have only glanced your eye over the work 
 of which you are giving an account, and 
 that you are in haile to get rid of the 
 trouble. 
 
 Another omiflion is, your not (hewing 
 the bed parts of the work. The good 
 tafte of the Journalift (Reviewer) requires 
 that he fhould be attentive to this. If a 
 work is not worth the trouble of reading, 
 it is better not to announce it at all, than 
 to rail at the Writer. It is illiberal to 
 abufe a work merely to make the Public 
 merry at the expence of the Author. 
 
 It were to be wifhed that Rome would 
 adopt the practice of Paris, and that we 
 mould have feveral periodical meets ap- 
 pear fucceflively. We have only a miferable 
 Diario (Journal), which contains nothing 
 but infipid fluff, without the leaft inftruc- 
 tion. The duty of an enlightened Reviewer 
 is both neceffary and honourable, in a coun- 
 try where letters are cultivated. Nobody 
 knows better than I do what a country 
 owes to a Writer who ties himfelf down 
 
 to
 
 CLEMENT XIV 93 
 
 to give an .analyfis of the books that are 
 printed, every week, or eVery month, to 
 make known the genius of the nation. It 
 is the leail expenfive, and the moft com- 
 pendious method of extending knowledge, 
 and of teaching to judge foundly. 
 
 I mould have no idea of the flate of lite- 
 rature in France, if it were not for the 
 French Journals, which my friends are fo 
 obliging as to fend me. When they are 
 fevere without fatire, exact without trifling, 
 juft and never partial, they difcharge their 
 duty to the fatisfaction of the Public. 
 Mine is compleat, every time that I can 
 renew to you the fentiments of efteem 
 and affection with which 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 ROME, ad Macfa, 1750. 
 
 LET-
 
 94 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 LETTER XXX. 
 
 TO COUNT ***. 
 
 IT is incredible, my deareft friend, how 
 much your three vifits have comforted 
 my foul ; the tears you fhed in my pre- 
 fence, the confeffion you made to me, in 
 joining your cheek to mine, while you 
 prefled my hand, and protefted that you 
 would never forget the anxiety with which 
 1 endeavoured to find you out j the affecting 
 manner in which you promifed me to 
 amend your pad life, and endeavour feri- 
 oufly to re-enter into favour with God, can 
 never be effaced from my memory nor from 
 my heart. I always faid to myfelf, 
 " He hath had a chriftian education he 
 
 will return to his duty; 1 mail fee 
 
 him again ; his wanderings are but a ftorm, 
 which will difperfe." God bepraifed, the 
 calm is returned ! It is not to me, but to 
 him alone, that you mould be thankful. 
 
 Since you wifh that I Ihould lay down 
 a plan to guide you, I mall fimply trace 
 out fuch an one as my weak understanding, 
 
 but
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 9$ 
 
 but ftrong friendfhip infpires : it mall be 
 fhort. The Commandments of God, thofe 
 firft and fublime laws, from whence all 
 others are derived, may be reduced to a few 
 words. Precepts that are clear and 
 founded upon reafon, as well as happinefs, 
 have no need of commentary or difier- 
 tation. 
 
 Read every morning the parable of the 
 Prodigal Son ; repeat the Pfalm Mife- 
 rere, with an humble and contrite heart ;-- 
 That may ierve for prayer. Read fome re- 
 ligious books in the courfe of the day, 
 .not like a flave to finifli his talk, but as a 
 child of God who returns to his Father, 
 and hopes every thing from his mercy : 
 And that it may not difgufl you, your 
 reading need not be long. Acquire the 
 .habit of going to Mafs, as often as you 
 can, but never fail on Sundays and Fefti- 
 vals; afiift there like a fuppliant who 
 beggeth pardon, with hopes to obtain it. 
 
 Make it a duty to fcatter fome charities 
 every day into the bofoms of the poor, that 
 you may repair the wrongs you have done 
 them, in fquandering on criminal pleafures 
 
 and
 
 9 6 LETTERS OF GANGANELL-I, 
 and fuperfluities what was due to them. 
 Renounce thofe companions who have 
 ^ftranged you from God, from yourfelf, 
 and from your true friends , and form 
 fuch new connections as honour, decency, 
 and religion, may avow. It is eafy 
 to difmifs debauched affociates, without 
 affronting them. Speak openly to them of 
 the plan of life you mean to purfue ; pro- 
 p-fe to them to follow it; talk to them 
 on. y -,f regretting the paft, and forming 
 good refolutions for the future, and they 
 v/ill icon difappear; or, if they return, it 
 will be a proof that they have altered 
 their conduct ; and then, inftead of fliun- 
 ning them, receive them with more plcafure 
 than ever. 
 
 Walk often, left retirement fliould make, 
 you grow melancholy ; and provide, if pof- 
 fible, fome perfon ripened by experience, or 
 fome virtuous young man, for a companion. 
 Walk alone as feldorn^ as can be avoided, 
 and efpecially in thefe beginnings, while 
 your refolutions are not well confirm- 
 ed. It may happen, that by giving way to 
 vague thoughts you may foon grow tired of 
 
 yourfelfj
 
 CLEMENT XrV. 97 
 
 yourfelf, and again relapie into your for- 
 mer courfe of life. 
 
 Read fome agreeable but inftru&ive 
 book to entertain yourfelf in virtuous 
 chearfulnefs. Melancholy is the wreck of 
 young people who are employed about 
 their converfion : they are always draw- 
 ing a parallel between the diffipated life 
 they have led, and the ferious life which is 
 prescribed them -, and they end with return- 
 ing to their former courfes. 
 
 Take an exact account of your debts 
 and your income, and by your ceconomy 
 you will find wherewithal to pay your cre- 
 ditors. A man is always rich, when he is 
 in the habit of depriving himfelf of indul- 
 gences j as he is always poor while he re- 
 fufes himfelf nothing. 
 
 You fhould fettle an annuity for life 
 upon the woman you have feduced, that 
 want may not oblige her to continue an ir- 
 regular life ; but upon condition that 
 me goes to a diftance from you : an- 
 nounce your intentions in writing, beg- 
 ging pardon for having feduced her, 
 and conjuring her to forget the crea- 
 VOL. I. F ture.
 
 ^3 LX.TTEHS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 ture, that Ihe may be more attached to her 
 Creator. 
 
 When opportunities -offer of enjoying a 
 little fociety, do not refufe them, becaufe you 
 zmay be properly employed there ; and be- 
 ;caufe you will be fecured from the raillery 
 of the world, which feeks to ridicule piety. 
 . Drefs like the reft of the world, accord- 
 ing to your rank of life, without being 
 .either too foppifh or too negligent. True 
 religion m.uns extremes .; it is only when 
 counterfeited, that .men affect a flovenly 
 drefs, a declining head, an auftere counte- 
 nance, and a whining tone. 
 
 Difmifs the fervants who were accom- 
 plices in your intrigues, and the fharers 
 in your guilt,; although, after having ex- 
 pofed them to fcandal, it would be proper 
 to fe-t them a good example, yet it is to be 
 dreaded, from their knowing your weuknefs, 
 that they might lay fnares to lead you 
 Jback into the road to perdition. You are 
 iliil young enough to fecure your heart 
 with proper guards and fences. 
 
 You
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 99 
 
 You Ihould live with your new clomeflics, 
 whole abilities and fidelity have been pro- 
 perly recommended to you, as a matter 
 who knows the duties of humanity ; as a 
 Chriftian who knows that we are ail equal 
 in the fight of God, notwithstanding the 
 inequality of conditions ; you will let 
 them none but good examples ; watch 
 over their manners, without being ei- 
 ther a tyrant or a fpy ; and attach them to 
 you by your gentlenefs and by your kind- 
 nefles. Nothing can be fo flattering as to 
 render thofe happy who live with us. 
 
 I exhort you to vifit the Chapel in the 
 infide of the Chartreux, which was built 
 by the order of Cardinal Cibo, whofe me- 
 mory I refpecl. Rather than mix his afhes 
 with thofe of his illuftrious progenitors, 
 which reft in fuperb monuments, he would 
 be interred in the midil of his domeftics, 
 whofe epitaphs he made, contenting him- 
 felf only with thefe v.orJs, full of humi- 
 lity : Hie j ace t Cibo, i-crmis immtnidus *. 
 
 This tomb is abfolutely hiJden from 
 the fight of men ; but God, to whom 
 
 * Here lies :ibo, an unclean ,',\im. 
 
 *' 2 all
 
 xoo LETTERS OF GANGANELL1, 
 
 all things are known, \vill make it mani- 
 feft at the laft day, which will be a fad 
 reproach to thofe proud men who are vain 
 even in their coffins. 
 
 You muft think of taking fome charge 
 upon you which will give you employ- 
 ment. We always do amifs when we do 
 nothing. Examine your mind, confult 
 your tafte, afk your foul, but, above all, 
 addrefs yourfelf to God, that you may 
 know what is fit for you, whether civil or 
 military. The life of an Ecclefiailic is by 
 no means proper for you. We ought not 
 to carry into the Sanctuary the remains of 
 a heart ftained by .a commerce with the 
 world, unlefs the will of God is manifefted 
 in an extraordinary manner ; which is very 
 rare, and much more to be admired than 
 imitated. 
 
 Your friends will think next of marry- 
 ing you, and it is my advice not to defer 
 it too long. Marriage, when made with 
 purity of heart, preferves young people 
 from a multitude of hazards j but do not 
 reckon upon my choofing a wife for you. 
 From the moment I embraced my profef- 
 
 fion, 
 
 a
 
 -CLEMENT XIV. ioi 
 
 lion, I promifed to God that I would never 
 meddle in marriages or teftaments. A 
 Monk is a man buried, who ought not to 
 Ihew any figns of life but for things pure- 
 ly fpiritual, becaufe the foul never dies. 
 
 Your relation, with whom I have hap- 
 pily reconciled you, is a man of fenfe, ho- 
 nelty, and integrity, and in a fituation to 
 marry you properly. Religion and reafon 
 ought to be confulted more than inclina- 
 tion, in an eftablifhment that is to laft for 
 life. We rarely fee marriages happy, which 
 have no other motive than love. That 
 pafllon does wonders in poetry and ro- 
 mance, but in real life produces no good 
 effecl. 
 
 I do notfpeak to you of your expences, 
 nor of your table. With fuch principles 
 as I lay down, they muft be moderate, 
 Invite frequently fome virtuous friend to 
 dinner. I do not like to fee you alone, 
 and I recommend to you to be fo as- little 
 as poffible, except when you are at your 
 prayers or reading , // is not good for man 
 to be alone, faith the Scripture. 
 
 F 3 Do
 
 loa LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 D6 not go to your eftate but now-andU 
 then. If you take up your refidence in the 
 country at this time, you will bury your 
 good refclutions, as well as your education. 
 Rural focietks lead only to diflipation ; and 
 however little they are frequented, the 
 effect is, that you forget what you knew, 
 and become ruflic, illiterate, and clownifh. 
 Hunting, love, and wine, too often become 
 the pailimes of men wflo live con- 
 ftantty in the country. Towns polifh the 
 manners, adorn the mind, and prevent the 
 .foul from gathering ruft. Do not be 
 'fcrupuloufly exa& about the hour of 
 rifmg or going to bed. Order is necefTary 
 in all ranks, but conflraint and formality 
 too often produce narrow- mi ndednefs. 
 
 If you look upon religion in the great, 
 as it ought to be viewed, you will not find in 
 it the puerilities of trifling devotion. Never 
 open thole myftical or apocryphal books 
 which, under pretence of nourishing piety, 
 amufe the foul with infignifkant cere- 
 monies, leaving the mind without light,, 
 and the heart without compunction. Trut 
 J) written by the celebrated Mura- 
 
 ton'j
 
 C L EM N T XIV. 103- 
 
 tori, will preferve you from all the dan- 
 gers of a miftaken credulity. I advife you 
 to read that work again and again j and you- 
 will profit by it. 
 
 Do not receive indifcrimmate counfels ; 
 for in thedifeafes of the foul, a& in thofe o 
 the body, every one offers his advice. 
 Avoid the hypocrite as well as the ditfi- 
 pated -, both the one and the other wilL 
 hinder yow from arriving at the point we 
 propofe. I will not look upon you as a 
 convert, till you have been a long time 
 proved. It is not eafy to pafs from Hber- 
 tinifm to the practice of virtue : it is for 
 that reafon that I recommend, for your 
 Dirctor, the good Francifcan, who was 
 your Father's friend, and is mine. He is 
 an excellent, guide in fpirituals , and if he 
 keeps you fome time before you are ad- 
 mitted to the participation of the holy 
 myfteries, it is becaufe he would be af- 
 fured, with reafon, that you are changed, 
 and follow the conftant practice of the 
 Church. Do not be afraid of his feverity ; 
 he will join the tendernefs of a father to. 
 the fteadinefs of a wife director: he 
 F 4 will
 
 104 LETTERS OF G A N G A N E L L T, 
 
 will not opprefs you with attentions to ex- 
 ternals, as lefs knowing Confeffors gene- 
 rally do. If you have finned thro' pride, 
 he will point out to you the means of 
 humbling yourfelf : if through fenfuality, 
 he will prefcribe remedies to mortify you ; 
 thinking, with- reafon, that the wounds of 
 the foul are not to be healed by repeating 
 prayers inhafte, but by labouring to reform 
 the heart. The generality of Sinners, for 
 want of this method, pafs their lives in of- 
 fending God, and then confeffing. 
 
 .Above all things, let there be no excefs 
 in your piety , take no violent courfes ; 
 they will be the means of your relapfmg, 
 
 Behold, my dear fon, my deareft friend, 
 what I thought my duty to fketch out for 
 you. I could not ufe more tendernefs, if 
 you were my own. You will make me die 
 with grief, if the refolutions you fo lately 
 entered into, in my prefence, mould vanifh. 
 What encourages me is, that you are a man 
 of truth, that you love me, and are fully 
 convinced that I fmcefely wifh you well; 
 and in the laft place, that you have 
 
 found
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 105 
 
 found a diforderly life to be an afiemblage 
 of vexation, torment, and remorfe. 
 
 Hearken to the voice of a Father crying 
 to yon from the bottom of the tomb, that 
 there is no happinefs in this world but for 
 the friends of God, and charging you to 
 keep the promife you formerly made to 
 him, of living, with the help of heaven, 
 the life of a good Chriftian. 
 
 I am a great deal more attached to^you 
 than to myfelf. 
 
 CONVENT of the HOLY APOSTLES, 
 zo Nov. 1750. 
 
 P. S. I mail certainly reconcile you to 
 all your family, except perhaps the Mar- 
 chionefs of R***, who is too much a 
 devotee ever to pardon you. I expect 
 you to drink chocolate on Saturday, and 
 to communicate a letter to you from poor 
 Sardi, an- old fervant of your mother, 
 who is really in want. You do not re- 
 quire much time to come from Viterbo to 
 Rome, efpecially if you have horfes w icb 
 can go afoot. 
 
 F 5 LET-
 
 io8 LETTERS OF GANGANELLf, 
 
 LETTER XXXI. 
 
 TO PRINCE SAN SEVERO, A NEAPOLITAN, 
 
 . MY LORD, 
 
 I BEG to prefent my moft humble thanks 
 to you for the great civilities you 
 ihewed M. Wefler upon the recommenda- 
 tion of To inconfiderable a man as my- 
 felf, who do not rank either with the 
 great or the learned. He is exceedingly- 
 vain of fo flattering a reception. He 
 talks with enthnfiafm of all that you have 
 thought of for promoting natural philo- 
 fophy, and the honour of Philofophers. 
 There are always new difcoveries to be 
 made equally ufeful and curious. 
 
 Naples is the moft proper town in the 
 world to exercife the genius of the learned. 
 It prefents on all hands phenomena of 
 every kind, which engage the attention. 
 Its mountains, its caverns, its flones, its 
 waters, and, if we may ufe the exprefllon, 
 the fire with which it is penetrated, are fo 
 
 many objects to be examined. 
 
 I am
 
 CLEMENT XIV. to; 
 
 . I am not at all furprifed, that the King 
 himfelf is flattered with your labours and 
 yourfuccefs. Every Monarch who knows his 
 own glory, knows how much the credit of 
 the learned is reflected back upon him, 
 when he protects them. If thofe Geniufes 
 who are capable of great things were en- 
 couraged among us, Italy would fee great 
 men of every kind fpring up from her bo- 
 fom once more. The feeds of talents (till 
 remain ; they want only to be cheriflied, . 
 to flourifh with magnificence, 
 
 But the Artifts now begin to lofe that crea- 
 tive genius which worked wonders. Their 
 beft pictures and befl ftatues are only like 
 copies : we may fay, that they force the 
 pencil to work in fpite of itielf. There 
 is a hardnefs in the drawing, inftead of 
 that fweet foftnefs which is admired in our 
 firft Painters , and we abfolutely want 
 
 that exprefllon which is the foul of paint- 
 ing. 
 
 We are more rich in Writers. We have 
 
 dill fome, who for energy of ftyle, and 
 
 beauty of images, may be placed by the 
 
 F. 6 fide.
 
 io8 LETTERS OF GAKGANELLI, 
 fide of the Ancients ; fuch as the Abbe 
 Euona-Ffde^ of the Order of 4 Celeflines. 
 
 This is an obligation which we owe to 
 our language. By its charms it engages us 
 to the culture of letters, as you by your ta- 
 lents engage all the world to tell you, that 
 there is nothing more flattering than to be 
 able to allure you of the refpect and admi- 
 ration with which, &c. 
 
 ROME, 17 January, 1750. 
 
 LETTER XXXII. 
 
 TO ONE OF HIS FRIENDS, A FRIAR, APPOINTED 
 PROVINCIAL. 
 
 DIGNITIES afFe<5t me fo little, that I 
 have not courage to pay my com- 
 pliments to thofe who are inverted with 
 them. It is an additional fervitude which 
 muft be added to human mifery, and the 
 more to be dreaded, as it expofes us topride. 
 Man is fo wretchedly filly as to deck 
 himfelf with trifling honours, which are 
 mere outfide fhow, and forget an immortal 
 foul to feed upon chimerical prerogatives, 
 
 which
 
 CLEMENT XIV. i* 
 
 which laft only a few days. Even in 
 the Cloifter, where all ought to be difin- 
 tereftednefs, felf-denial, and humility, we 
 are as vain of fome preferments, as if we 
 had the command of kingdoms. 
 
 I make thefe reflections the more wil- 
 lingly to you, becaufe your turn of mind 
 fets you above all honours, and you 
 have only acquired authority to confer 
 happinefs. I am convinced that you will 
 perfectly temper feverity with gentlenefs ; 
 that a cloud will never be feen on your 
 countenance, nor unevennefs in your tem- 
 per i that you will always be a brother to 
 thofe over whom you are become Superior ; 
 that you will endeavour to prefer them 
 according to their inclination and abilities; 
 and that you will employ no fpies, except 
 to difcover the merit of thofe who are too 
 modeft to let it appear. 
 
 Thus you will do yourfelf honour by 
 the manner in which you will difcharge your 
 duty, and every one mult defire to fee and 
 detain you ; while there are fome Provin- 
 cials whofe vifits are dreaded like a tem- 
 peft. Above all things, take care, my 
 
 dear
 
 no LETTERS OF GANGANELLI* 
 dear friend, of the old men and the young- 
 people, that the former may be fupported, 
 and the latter encouraged, as they ought to 
 be. Thefe are extremes which appear very 
 diftant, yet approach very near, fmce every 
 young man grows older every inftant. Ob- 
 ferve moderation in all your proceedings, 
 and think it much better to yield to 
 an excels of mildnefs, than to give way to 
 too great feverity. 
 
 Speak nobly of Religion, but let it be 
 well-timed -, for people avoid thofe who 
 are perpetually preaching. Jefus Chrift 
 did not make long difcourfes to his difci- 
 ples, but what he faid to them is the fpi- 
 rit and the life. _Words have moft force, 
 when they are mort and pointed. Let 
 there be no affectation in your manner-, 
 there are people who imagine that every 
 thing ought to be formal about thofe 
 in power ; but thefe are little minds. 
 
 I will not mention duplicity, unfor- 
 tunately too much practifed by the Heads 
 of religious houfes. I flatter myfelf, from 
 the good opinion I have of your merit, that 
 you will not prefer a complaint againfl any 
 
 one,
 
 CLEMENT XIV. in 
 
 one, without having feveral times warned 
 him of your intention, or without previ- 
 oufly acquainting him. Be afraid of find- 
 ing any guilty, and when you meet fuch, 
 humble yourfelf by this reflection, that 
 man of himfelf is incapable of doing any 
 good. Be communicative, for we lofe 
 much of the good-will of thofe we govern, 
 by difgufling coldnefs. In a word, be your- 
 felf what you wifhed a Provincial to be, 
 when you was an Inferior. But we too of- 
 ten exact from others, what we ourfelves are 
 not inclined to give. Diftinguifh the faults 
 by the motives and circumftanccs j and 
 know, that though there are fome which 
 ought to be punifhed, there are others which 
 ought not to be feen, becaufe every man- 
 has his imperfections. 
 
 Have few confidents ; but when you 
 make any, let it not be by halves j for 
 they will divine the reft, and are not ob- 
 liged to be fecret. Be fure to have no 
 predilection in favour of one rather than 
 another, except on account of fuperior me- 
 rit. You are then authorifed by the ex- 
 ample of Chrift himfeh", who teftified a 
 
 particular
 
 lit- LETTERS OF G AN-G ANELLI, 
 particular affection for St. Peter and St. 
 John. 
 
 Finally, pafs into the Houfes like a be- 
 neficent dew, fo that they mall regret the 
 time when you leave your office, and fay 
 of you, . Fran/tit benefaciendo -f-. 
 
 Love me as I love you, and look upon 
 this letter as the tranfcript of my heart. 
 . My compliments to our common friends, 
 efpecially our refpcdable old man, whofe 
 good advice has been moft ufeful to me,, 
 and to whom my gratitude is immortal. 
 
 ROME, sift Jan. 1751. 
 
 LETTER XXXIII. 
 
 TO MADAM THE MARCHIONESS R * * *. 
 
 MADAM, 
 
 IT is undoubtedly very diftrefllng to 
 your dear relation M. the Count, that 
 you will not be reconciled to him, not- 
 withftanding his vifit, and the humble and 
 affecting letter he Las written to you. 
 
 f He fcattcred bleffings as he patted
 
 CLEMENT XIV. nj 
 
 Is it thus God Almighty deals with us ? 
 What will the world think of your piety, 
 when they fee you fo exafpefated as to 
 reject the prodigal fon ? For my part, 
 Madam, who have not your virtue, I fleW 
 to him as foon as I knew fteat he was 
 gone aftray, and I hope that God will re- 
 ward me for it. 
 
 You are always repeating, Madam, that 
 he has loft a great deal of money, and that 
 he is a bad man. But what is even the 
 lofs of gold, that you fhould fo much 
 regret it ? You ought only to be grieved 
 at the abufe of fo many good qualities as he 
 poflefTes , and think, if he is really a bad 
 man, that he has more need than ever of 
 advice, and the example of the truly good. 
 
 It is having a very bad idea of religion, 
 to forfake a young man becaufe he has 
 gone aftray. 
 
 Ah ! how do you know, Madam, that 
 this bad man will not next day be accept- 
 able in the light of God, while your fer- 
 vices may by no means pleafe him P For 
 truly one grain of pride is fufficient 
 to fpoil the beft a&ions. The Pharifee 
 
 who
 
 H4 LETTERS OF GANGANELI^r, 
 who fafted two days in the week was re- 
 jected ; and the Publican who humbled, 
 himfelf was juftifiecu 
 
 Charity, with regard to all men, is al- 
 ways charity ; this I Ihall never ceafe to 
 repeat, as perfe&ty agreeable te the mo- 
 rals taught in every Chriilian fchool, and 
 from all pulpits. 
 
 Jf the mercy of God depended upon, 
 certain devotees, iinners would be much 
 to be pitied : falfe devotion knows no- 
 thing but an exterminating zeal; while. 
 God, full of patience, gentlenefs, and for- 
 bearance, waits the amendment of all 
 thofe who have gone aftray. 
 
 Even the blood of Chrift implores your 
 forgivenefs ; and it is not having a proper re- 
 fpeft for him, to refufe your dear relation 
 admittance into your houfe. How do you. 
 know, Madam, but that his falvation de- 
 pended upon thofe very faults of which 
 he now repenteth f God frequently per- 
 mits great diforders, to awaken men out of 
 a lethargy. You are not ignorant that 
 there is more joy in Heaven over one Jin- 
 ntr that repent etb y than over ninety and.. 
 
 nine
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 115 
 
 nine juft perfcns that need no repentance* 
 Befides, will you continue your refent- 
 ment while the aagels rejoice ? That 
 would be a ihocking fort of -piety, in- 
 deed ! 
 
 I tremble for every devotee who be- 
 haves with fuch rigidity \ for God Al- 
 mighty himfelf afTures us, that he will 
 treat us as we have treated others. Be fo 
 good as to read the Epiftle of St. Paul to 
 Philemon, on the fubject of Onefimus, 
 and there you will know, Madam, whe- 
 ther you ought to pardon. 
 
 It is not for us to decide, whether the 
 heart of a man who appears to have enter- 
 ed ferioufly into himfelf is truly changed. 
 Befides, as God alone can know the truth, we 
 ought to prefume that he has reformed. 
 Would you think it very juft in your neigh- 
 bours, who are the witnefies of your good 
 works, if they fuppofed that you acted only 
 from pride ? Let us leave to the Searcher of 
 all hearts to pronounce what are the motives 
 of our actions. The brother of the pro- 
 digal fon is condemned in the eyes of reli- 
 gion
 
 n6 LETTERS OF GANGANELLT, ; 
 
 gion and humanity, for not being proper- 
 ly affected at his return. 
 
 If I was your Ghoftly Father, although 
 the direction of confciences is neither ana- 
 logous to my labours nor inclination, in 
 order to appeafe your anger, I would en- 
 join you to write to him who is fo hateful 
 in your fight to fee him often, and 
 even on the condition of forgetting what 
 is pail. 
 
 If our piety is to be regulated by whim y 
 virtue is only a phantom ; and I certainly 
 prefume, that yours has charity for its 
 foundation, for I never judge unfavour- 
 ably of my neighbour. 
 
 If my letter, contrary to my intention,, 
 appears a little fevere, 1 beg you will 
 think I fpeak in fuch a manner, lefs on 
 your relation's account, than your own ; 
 for your falvation depends upon it. Will 
 you not pardon him, when you have rea- 
 fon to prefume that God Almighty hath 
 pardoned him ? I cannot think it. 
 I have the honour to be y with refpeft, &c.. 
 ROME, jthFeb. 1751. 
 
 LET-
 
 -C L -E M E N T XIV. 117 
 
 LETTER XXXIV. 
 
 TO THE CHEVALIER DE CABANE.. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 YO U perfevere, then, in your intention 
 of burying yourfelf at La Trappe, 
 and to put it out of my power to addrefs 
 you in future, but by writing your epi- 
 taph ? Since it is your determination, I will 
 not perfift in oppofmg you, becaufe you 
 have been long tried, and are not of an age 
 to take any inconfiderate ftep. 
 
 The world will laugh at you, but pray 
 what do they not laugh at ? I know no 
 perfon, no work, no proceeding of any 
 kind, nor even a virtue, without its cen- 
 furers. This mould be a confolation to 
 the religious Orders for the hatred the 
 world bears them, and the contempt with 
 which they are fpoken of. 
 
 Too great encomiums were made upon 
 the religious Orders when they were firft 
 instituted, and fome counterpoife was ne- 
 
 ceflary
 
 ti8 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 ceflary to preierve their humility. The 
 Founders had the befl intentions in form- 
 ing the different inilitutions in the bofom 
 of the Church -, and even the habits which 
 they gave their Difciples, though reckon- 
 ed by the world fantaftical, prove their 
 wifdom and their piety. They thought 
 thefe habits a means of preventing the Re- 
 ligious from mixing with the Seculars, and 
 of excluding them from profane aflemblies. 
 It was natural for men who embraced a 
 kind of life quite different from the cuf- 
 toms of the world, to wear particular ha- 
 bits-. 
 
 Thus, then, they are juftified upon that 
 head. Ah ! how eafy would it be to 
 apologize for the reft, if I was not of the 
 profeflion myfelf ! Read their rules, 
 examine their cuftoms, and it is impofiible 
 not to acknowlege, that all which is re- 
 commended, and all that is obierved in the 
 Cloiflers, leads to God, 
 
 If they have degenerated fince their firft 
 inftitution, it is becaufe man is naturally 
 weak, and at the end of a certain time the 
 greateft fervour muft relax. But nothing 
 
 fcandalous
 
 CC L E SI E N T 'XIV. i^ 
 
 .fcandalous ever became a rule among the 
 religious Orders , there are fome in every 
 houie who declare againft all kinds of 
 irregularities and excefles, 
 
 They who rail continually againft the 
 Monks, who wifh to take their poflef- 
 fions from them, and to banifh them from 
 every State, are certainly ignorant of their 
 being calkd into the different Kingdoms 
 by the Kings themfelves, who endowed 
 them, arki loaded them with benefactions . 
 They mud be ignorant, that if the founda- 
 tions of Kings are not facred, there is no 
 longer any thing in the world that 
 mould be fpared ; and that, in mort, the 
 Monks, whom they fo inveigh againft, have 
 gained by the fweat of their brows, by their 
 vratchings, and by their labours, the 
 bread which nourifhetU tnerp. 
 
 Their pretended rapacioi'fr.efc is only 
 calumny. The Benedictines acquired their 
 property by. cultivating the cpuntyy and 
 the Lord's . ' :-yard, at a time v.L:i; !. ao- 
 rance and corruption made the greateft de- 
 viation. The firft difciples of St. Do- 
 
 minick,
 
 120 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 minick, of St. Francis d'Afiife, and St. 
 Francis dePaul, afked nothing from Kings, 
 while they had their moft perfect confi- 
 dence, and could obtain every thing j as 
 may be proved by their indigence. 
 
 I know there are Monafheries which by 
 their mifconduct have often made a refor- 
 mation neceflary j but neither the Mo- 
 naftic rules nor the Founders deferve to 
 be blamed. A man who lives in a Cloifler 
 according to their rules, cannot but ex- 
 cite the efteem and deierve the attach- 
 ment of all good men. For what is a 
 true Monk but a Citizen of Heaven, who 
 values not this world, who makes a facri- 
 fice f his will and his fenfes to God him- 
 felf, in the perfon of his Superior, and 
 who continually wimeth for the coming 
 of the Lord ; who inftructs and edifies 
 for the good of his neighbour ^ who 
 mews in a chearful countenance the joys of 
 a good confcience, and the charms of vir- 
 tue ; who prays, who labours, who ftudies 
 for himfelf, andfor his brethren ; who lay s 
 himfelf at the feet of the whole world by 
 his humility, but 'is exalted above all men 
 
 by
 
 CLEMENT XIV. in 
 
 by the fublimity of his hopes and his de- 
 fires . who pofiefieth nothing but a foul in 
 peace; who wiiheth for nothing but hea- 
 ven ; who liveth only, to die, and dietli 
 to live again to all eternity ? 
 
 Behold what you are to be, my deareft 
 Sir, the rules of your Order excepted, 
 fmce by the obfervance of them you will 
 have no further commerce with mankind. 
 That is the only thing which gives me 
 pain, becaufe I love that we mould be 
 ufeful to our neighbour. 
 
 Time, which is an oppreflive load" to 
 the generality of men, will be noiiburden 
 to you. Every minute will feem a ftcp 
 towards Heaven ; and night itfelf will be 
 to you as light as day, from the com- 
 merce you will hold with God. Et noxfi- 
 cut dies illuminabitur. 
 
 You will not hear the bell which calls 
 yon to fervice, only as a bell, but as the 
 voice of God; you will not obey the 
 Abbe fimply as a man, but as one who 
 holds the p^ace of Jefus Chrift, and who 
 will fpeak to you in his name ; you will 
 not look upon penance as a ilavery which 
 
 VOL. I. G mud
 
 tr* LETTERS OP GANGANELL1, 
 muft not be difpenfed with, but as a holy 
 pleafure which will be your delight. 
 
 You will omit none of the fmalleft rules 
 which fubdue the fpirit, and oppofe the 
 will ; for a Monk cannot preferve the fer- 
 vour of devotion, but by praflifing ex- 
 actly whatever is recommended : thus 
 you will preferve the liberty of the chil- 
 dren of God, by doing voluntarily and 
 with pleafure whatever may be required 
 from you as a duty of obligation. 
 
 I mail be happy to fee you according to 
 your promife, having no greater fatisfac- 
 tion than to find myfelf with the true fer- 
 vants of God, efpecially as in thefe days 
 they are extremely rare. 
 
 I can add nothing, but that I am, &c, 
 
 ROME, ijth March, 1731. 
 
 LET.
 
 CLEMENT XIV. I2 j 
 
 LETTER XXXV. 
 
 TO THE BISHOP OF SPOLETTO. 
 
 MY LORD, 
 
 WHAT your Lordfliip wrote to me 
 on the fubject of the relics of 
 Saints, does honour to your difcernment 
 and to your religion. There are two rocks 
 to be fhunned by all true Catholics ; that 
 of believing too much, and that of not be- 
 lieving enough. If we were to give credit 
 to all the ftories told of the relics which 
 are mewn in every country, we mull fre- 
 quently luppofe that a Saint had ten heads, 
 or ten arms. 
 
 This abufe, which has procured us the 
 name of fuperftitious, has happily only 
 taken root among the ignorant. Thank 
 Heaven, it is well known in Italy, (and the 
 Clergy repeat it often enough) that there 
 is nothing abfolutely neceflary but the 
 mediation of Jefus Chrift ; and that of 
 the Saints, as the Council of Trent hath 
 formally declared, is only g ood and ufeful. 
 
 G 2 . The
 
 1*4 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 The relics of the BlefTed deferve all our 
 veneration, as precious remains which will 
 one day be glorioufly revived ; but while 
 we honour them, we acknowledge that 
 .they have no virtue in themfelves, and 
 that it is Jefus Chrift, of whom they are 
 in fome fort fragments, and the' Holy 
 Ghoft, of whom they are the true temples, 
 who communicate to them a heavenly im- 
 prefiion capable of working great wonders. 
 
 Notwithftanding this, the attentjon to 
 the worfhip due to God is but too often 
 taken off by that which is paid to Saints. 
 Hence that wife order was given in 
 Rome, never to place relics upon the altar 
 where the lenerabile (the holy facrament) 
 is depofited, left they Ihould divide the at- 
 tention of the people. 
 
 Our religion, which is fo fpiritual and 
 fublime, is unjuftly accufed of countenan- 
 cing abufes of which there is not the leaft 
 veftige to be found in the Cathedrals, or 
 old Monafteries. 
 
 If men will condefcend to hearken to 
 the ignorant, who do not feek inftruction, 
 there is not a itatue but has fpoken, nor 
 
 a Saint
 
 CLEMENT XIV. iaj 
 
 a Saint who has not rifen from the dead, 
 nor a dead perfon whofe apparition has 
 not been feen j but the enemies of the Ca- 
 tholic religion falfely impute to the Church 
 of Rome the apocryphal facts to which 
 fuperftition daily gives vent. It is ufe- 
 lefs to preach to the people on that fub- 
 jecl ; they do not eafily recover from 
 their obftinacy, when they perfuade them- 
 felves of fomething contrary to the doc- 
 trines of the whole Church. 
 
 I lately obliged an Englilhman to allow, 
 that the Proteflants make it their bufmels 
 to charge us conftantly with abfurdities 
 which we reject, and that they have a very 
 unfair method of judging us. 
 
 Italy always had fhining Paftors, who 
 lamented the credulity of weak minds, and 
 the incredulity of Free-thinkers. It is not 
 from the credulity of the common people 
 that a fenfible man would judge of the 
 faith of a country ; but from the tenets 
 which are taught in their catechiims, or in 
 their public inftructions. 
 
 It would be very extraordinary, if Rome, 
 
 the fovereign and mother of all the 
 
 03. churches
 
 1:6 LETTERS OF GANGANELLF, 
 churches that Rome, the centre of truth 
 and unity,- Ihould teach abfurdities. My 
 Lord, fhe is juftly vindicated in the work 
 you fent me, I advife you to publifh it, to 
 Hop the mouths of the enemies of the Holy 
 See ; and to inform the whole world, that 
 if there are perhaps more fuperftitions in 
 Italy than eliewhere, it is becanfe the peo- 
 ple have a more lively imagination, and 
 confequently are more ready to catch 
 .without reflection at every thing that is p re- 
 lented to their minds. Take care of your 
 health, notwithstanding the zeal which 
 v'onfumes you, and deign to believe me to 
 be, with infinite refpect, 
 
 My Lord, &c 
 
 ROME, x?th May, 1751. 
 
 LET-
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 7 
 
 LETTER XXXVI. 
 
 TO CARDINAL QJJIRINI. 
 
 MOST EMINENT, 
 
 THE work I have been reading by 
 your order, is one of the pro- 
 ductions of this age, where there are 
 more paradoxes than reafonings, more ob- 
 jections than folutions, more raillery than 
 proof, more heat than light, more furface 
 than depth. Superficial readers will praife 
 it highly, but men of fenfe will think of 
 it contemptibly yet as they make the 
 fmallefl number, it is a book which will 
 gain reputation, and make a noife. 
 
 Few people know how to value a work. 
 If they are pleafed with the flyle, they give 
 their fuffrage in its favour, and admire in 
 extafy, without reflecting that the colour- 
 ing is the lead merit of a picture. 
 
 It mull be allowed, my Lord, that we 
 
 live in a whimfical age. There never 
 
 was lefs religion, but it was never more 
 
 the fubjed of converfation j. there never 
 
 G 4 was
 
 jaS LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 was more wit, nor was ever wit more abufed. 
 Men would know every thing, yet ftudy 
 nothing j they decide upon every thing, 
 but fift nothing to the bottom. 
 
 It is not to recriminate, that I cry out 
 againfl the age. They may abufe Priefls, 
 arid welcome. 'Tis only for their abufe 
 of religion that I reproach them. They 
 may have reafon when they complain of 
 our too great numbers, as well as of our 
 taking the vows at too early an age in a 
 prbfefllon that is to laft for life : neverthe- 
 lefs it is necefiary to engage early, without 
 which we cannot enter into the fpirit of 
 any profeflion. 
 
 If many of our Paftors would fairly 
 examine themfelves, they would admit, 
 that by their haughtinefs and diflipation 
 they have given room for murmurings and 
 complaints. Wherefore difiemble what 
 all the world knows ? But it is unjuft to 
 make a whole fraternity anfwerable for 
 every one of its individuals, and to con- 
 fider the fault of one man as the fault 
 of the whole. The fin of a brother is not 
 like original fin, common to all. 
 
 You
 
 C L EM E N- T XIV. 1*9 
 
 You fee, my Lord, that I take ample 
 advantage of the liber tyyourEminency hath 
 allowed me, to let my pen run on various 
 fubjccts, when 1 iiave the ineftimable hap- 
 pinefs of writing to you. You know, that 
 being of the Order of St. Benedict, we 
 have not always leifure to keep one object 
 in view. It is only the attachment and 
 refpect due to you which we never lofe 
 fight of, and it is with that double fen- 
 timent that I am 
 
 Your Eminency's, &c. 
 ROME, sd July, 1751. 
 
 LET T E R XXXVII. 
 
 TO THE REV. FATHER SIGISMOND, OF FER- 
 RARA, GENERAL OF THE CAPUCHINS. 
 
 MOST REV. FATHER, , 
 
 1AM extremely thankful that you* 
 apoftolical progreis has not hindered 
 you from remembering me. I wifh I could 
 have accompanied you, as I am convinced 
 that on fuch a journey I mould have received 
 G 5 both
 
 130 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 both inftruction and edification. I mould 
 have admired with you, ho\v much the fa- 
 mily of our holy Founder is increafed, 
 and with what richnefs the virtues are per- 
 petuated in your Order., 
 
 There is not a good which the Capu- 
 chin Fathers have not done, and there is 
 not an evil with which they can be re- 
 proached. The alms given them are a 
 ialary juftly due; for they labour with 
 indefatigable zeal both in town and 
 country for the fupport of Religion, and 
 propagation of the Faith. The four quar- 
 ters of the world have Capuchins ; they 
 are protected even by the moft barbarous 
 princes, and are beloved by all nations. 
 
 I executed the commifiion you charged 
 me with, at the proper time. I had pro- 
 mifed, and my promifes are inviolable ; 
 as I confider fuch obligations to be a 
 duty both of religion and morality. 
 
 Your garden, my moft reverend Father, 
 is always one of my favourite walks. I 
 prefer it to the moft magnificent parks : 
 it feems to breathe an air uninfeded by the 
 depravky of the times. 
 
 J have
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 131 
 
 I have the honour to be, my moft Rev. 
 Father, with all poffible veneration, &c. 
 CONVENT of the HOLY APOSTLES, 
 7 Augufl, 1 75i 
 
 LETTER XXXVIII. 
 
 T O MAD AM B * * *, A V E N E T I A N. 
 
 Y 
 
 MADAM, 
 
 OU do me too much honour in 
 afking my opinion of your admi- 
 rable tranflation of Locke. Is it pofiiblc, 
 that in a town plunged as deep in plea- 
 fures as it is in water, a perfon of your 
 rank mould apply herfelf to the depths 
 of Metaphyfics ? It is an eminent proof, 
 that our foul difengages itfelf from the 
 fenfes, when it would make off matter - 3 . 
 and, confequently, muft be incorporeal. 
 
 1 have read over and over again, with. 
 
 the ftricteft attention, the ineftimable ma- 
 
 nufcript where you have fo nobly difplayed 
 
 G 6 the.
 
 X 3 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 the beauties of our language, and with fo 
 much elegance have changed the parched 
 field of Philofophy into an agreeable par- 
 terre. The Englifh Philofopher would 
 be vain, if he could fee himfelf drels'd 
 in fuch elegant Italian. 
 
 I wilh, if it had been pofllble, that your 
 Ladyfhip had fupprefifed that part of the 
 work where Locke hints that matter may 
 have a power of thinking. It is not like the 
 reflection of a Philofopher who has thought 
 deeply. The faculty of thinking cannot 
 be exercifed but by a Being neceflarily 
 endowed with fpiritual and intellectual 
 powers. Matter can never have the pri- 
 vilege of thinking, any more than darknefs 
 can have the power of giving light ; both 
 the one and the other imply a contradic- 
 tion -, but men rather chufe to fpeak ab- 
 furdly, than not to fay uncommon things. 
 
 I congratulate my country more than 
 ever, on its having a continued fucceffion 
 of karned women in it. It would be 
 very proper to make r. collection of thofe 
 works which dilpiay their fmgular abili- 
 3 ties.
 
 C L E M E N- T XiV. 135 
 
 ties. The tranflation of Locke will hold 
 one of the firft places ; efpecially as 
 you have found the fecret of employing 
 the poetic ftyle frequently to fmoothe the 
 wrinkles of philolbp'iy, whic.'i contracts 
 the brow, and whole exprefllon is necefia- 
 rily hard and dry. 
 
 I entreat you, Madam, to print this 
 work, if it be only to convince Fo- 
 reigners,, that fcience is ftill honoured 
 with us, and that your fex is not fo trifling 
 as they are pleaicd to imagine. 
 
 How could you fingie me out in that 
 croud, where my imall fhare of" merit has 
 placed me ? There are a number of Aca- 
 demicians, efpecially at Bologna, whofe 
 judgement would have been more to be 
 depended on than mine. One is not a 
 Philofopher for having made profeflion of 
 it, and efpecially that of Scctus^ whofe cap- 
 tious fubtilty is nothing but a continual 
 wrangling. 
 
 There is more fubilance in one page of 
 our Metaphyficians of the lad age, than 
 in all the books oi Ariilotle and Scotus. 
 The fame, however, cannot be fail of 
 
 Plato >
 
 i 3 4 LETTERS OF GANGANELLF, 
 Plato ; who in thefe days would have beerr 
 an excellent philofopher, and probably a 
 true Chriftian. 
 
 I find him full of matter and great views. 
 His refearches, without being obfcured by* 
 the clouds which furrounded the Ancients,, 
 extended to the Deity himfelf. 
 
 1 could have wifhed, Madam, that there 
 had not been that playing upon words, in 
 the laft leaves of your tranflation, which 
 difgraces it. That which is of itfelf ma- 
 jeftic, has no occafion for trivial decora- 
 tions. Cicero would not be what he is, 
 had he written like Seneca. Pardon my 
 freedom, but you love truth ; and that 
 quality is greater in my eyes, than all thofe 
 which adorn you. 
 
 You will work a great miracle, if you 
 excite a reliih for philofophy at Venice. 
 It is a country where there is a great mare 
 of genius even among the mechanics; but 
 pleaiure is there, a fifth element, which is 
 a bar to emulation ; the people facrifke 
 their time and reft to it, except the order of 
 Senators, who are fo much employed, that 
 they may be called the flaves of the na~ 
 
 tion.
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 135 
 
 tion. The people are always in gaiety, 
 even while they are at work. But I per- 
 ceive that I am infeniibly fpeaking of go- 
 vernment, and that my letter will very 
 foon become guilty of leze-ferenite, or 
 bigh-treafon^ againft the State. I know, 
 that the Moft Serene Republic is very fcru- 
 pulous about what relates to their ufages 
 and cuftoms, as well as to their laws. 
 
 I will confine myfelf, therefore, Madam, 
 to telling you what will admit of no contra- 
 diction, and be quite conformable to 
 the fentiments of the whole Senate -, which 
 is, that they cannot fufficiently afliire you 
 of the refpect due to your genius, your 
 birth, or your virtue, and with which I 
 have the honour to be, &c. 
 ROME, jo January, 1753. 
 
 LET-
 
 Itf. LE.TTERS OF G AN G A NE-LLI,', 
 
 LETTER XXXIX. 
 
 TO R. P.' LOUIS, OF CREMONA, DIRECTOR 
 OF THE PIOUS SCHOOLS.- 
 
 MY REVEREND FATHER, 
 
 TO -model your preaching after Bour- 
 daloue, is to run the race of immor- 
 tality. We have occalion for an Orator 
 of your abilities and courage, to reform 
 the ftyle of our pulpits. In our fermonr,* 
 we are rather Poets than Orators ; and. 
 unfortunately have very frequently more -of. 
 the Pantomime than the pathetic ; while the 
 word of God requires the, nobleft elo- 
 quence, . and the greatefl circumfpecliion... 
 I am charmed with the manner in which 
 you have translated" fome volumes of 
 Bburdaloue. I- do not doubt but our 
 Moft Holy .Father will applaud your work . 
 with tranfport ; for I know how much he 
 wimes for a reformation iii our Sermons. 
 He does not require that Italian eloquence . 
 fhould become French; --every language 
 has its turns and expreflions ; but he. 
 wilhes that they would fpeak the language 
 
 of
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 137 
 
 of chriftians, which ought to be evange- 
 lical, and which fhould never be disfi-" 
 gured by burlefque. 
 
 The mouth of the preacher is truly the 
 mouth of God. Alas ! then, what Ihould 
 be thought of him who can utter buffoone- 
 ries and trifles from the pulpit! 
 
 Whoever does not find in the Holy 
 Scriptures and the works of the Fathers 
 wherewithal to affeft his hearers, is not 
 worthy of mounting the pulpit. There 
 cannot be finer images of the greatnefs 
 and mercy of God, than in the Pfalms 
 and fpiritual Songs : there cannot be more 
 affecting hiflories than thofe of Jofeph, of 
 Mofes, and of the Maccabees : there 
 cannot be more flriking examples of the 
 divine juftice, than the punifhment of 
 Nadab and Abihu, or of Belfhazzar, who 
 faw a dreadful haad writing in tre- 
 mendous characters his condemnation on 
 the wall! 
 
 In all the books of the world you can- 
 not find iuch flrains of eloquence as the 
 reflections cf Job: all attempts to par- 
 raphrafe only enervate them. Delightful 
 
 dit-
 
 13$ LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 difcourics may be compofed by felecting 
 fome of the moft beautiful pafTages in 
 Scripture, and adapting them to the fubjecl 
 St. Paul, the moft pathetic and fublime of 
 all Preachers, employed only the language 
 of the Scriptures in his Epiftles and they 
 are admirable. 
 
 We mould burn the greateft part of our 
 fermons, to prevent the tafte of our young 
 Preachers from being corrupted. There 
 they fearch for apocryphal facts, Pagan 
 citations, and thence form to themfelves a 
 ftyle truly ridiculous. Sentiments of 
 compunction or terror, which are produced 
 by the exclamations, grimace, and gef- 
 tures of the Preacher, make but mo- 
 mentary impreflions. They are ftrokes of 
 thunder, which aftonifh, and may oc- 
 cafion the audience to make the fign of the 
 -f- Crofs, but do not prevent their laughing 
 the inftant after. 
 
 If your method* moft Rev. Father, can 
 be introduced among us, you will be the 
 reftorer of chriftian eloquence, and all 
 who feel it will blefs you. 
 
 f The people in Italy make the fign of the Crofs when 
 tity bear thunder, 
 
 I had
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 139 
 
 I had for ghoftly Father a Monk who 
 was filled with the fpirit of God, and 
 who was grieved every time he heard fome 
 preachers: but when he hi mfelf preached, 
 it was his heart which fpoke, and con- 
 iequently his hearers were deeply affected. 
 
 I fhall fee you with great pleafure, when 
 you honour me with a vifit ; I (hail 
 have nothing to do then but to liften. 
 
 I endeavour in the midft of my daily 
 occupations to have always fome moments 
 for myfelf and for my friends. The foul 
 has need of fome refpite, that it may the 
 better purfue its labours. The fciences 
 are mountains, which we cannot climb' 
 without taking breath. 
 
 Take care of yourfelf, but lefs upon 
 your own account than ours, who wim to 
 read, hear, and admire you. It is with 
 that defire fo conformable to religion and 
 the wifhes of my country, that I have the 
 honour to be in the fullnefs of my heart, . 
 
 Your moft humble, &c. 
 CONVENT of the HOLY APOSTLES, 
 
 P. S.
 
 140 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 P. S. As to a reform in the Breviary, 
 which you mentioned to me, I wifh our 
 holy Father would think ferioufly of it. 
 However, I am not'of your opinion as to the 
 diftribution of the Pfalms. I mould think 
 it proper, if I was confulted, to leave the 
 Eeali immaculati in via, to be repeated 
 daily. It is a continual proteftation of an 
 inviolable attachment to the law of God, 
 and which is better in the mouths of the 
 minifters of God, than fome obfcure enig- 
 matical Pfalms, which are often unintel- 
 ligible to the generality of Priefts. 
 
 I v/ould likewife leave the Prayer Book, 
 as it is. You will tell me that any fet 
 form of words becomes too much a thing 
 of courfe to preferve its effect; but are 
 we not expoled to the fame inconvenience 
 with regard even to the prayers of the. 
 Mafs, when it is celebrated every day ? 
 
 The notes you lent me on the Imitation. 
 of Jefus Chrijl, are admirable. 
 
 LET--
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 141 
 
 LETTER XL. 
 
 TO COUNT ***. 
 
 I OWE you a Library, my dear friend, 
 but neverthelefs .you ihall pay for it. 
 I promifed to give you a lift of books 
 which I think necefTary for you, and now 
 I muft acquit myfelf of my promife. 
 This lift fhall be fhort, becaufe it is not 
 the multitude of books which makes us 
 learned. It is of no confequence to read 
 much -, but it is of efTential importance to 
 read well. 
 
 The firft book which I would place at 
 the head of your Library is the Gofpet, 
 as the moft neceflary and the moft facred. 
 It is right that the book which contains 
 the principles and bafis of religion fhoukl 
 be the foundation of your ftudies. 
 
 It is there that you will lea-rn to know 
 what you owe to God, and to the wifdom 
 and goodnefs of the Mediator in whom 
 we hope, and who hath reconciled heaven 
 .and earth by the fhedding of his blood.
 
 141 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 That book has been in your hands al- 
 moft from your infancy -, but as you at- 
 tended but little to it then, it will now 
 excite new fentiments in your foul. The 
 Gofpel, when meditated upon with due re- 
 fpect, appears to be the language of God. 
 You will not find in it that oratorical em- 
 phafis which characterifes Rhetoricians , the 
 fyllogiftical arguments which mark the 
 Philofophers ; it is quite fimple, 'all is 
 within the reach of every capacity, and all 
 is divine. 
 
 1 exprefsly recommend to you to read 
 St. Paul's Epiftles. Befide infpiring you 
 with an averfion againft falfe teachers and 
 falfe devotees, who under an appearance 
 of fandlity deftroy the fpirit of it, they 
 will infpire you with univerfal chanty, 
 which takes in all, and which, better than 
 ail the Preceptors in the world, makes us 
 good relations, good friends, and good 
 citizens. At the fchool of the Apoftle 
 we learn all the oeconomy of religion , 
 its length, its depth, iisfublimity -, in. a word, 
 the meft excellent fcience of Jefus Chrift, 
 who would be univerfally adored, if he 
 
 was
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 143 
 
 was more generally known, and by whom 
 the intellectual and material worlds were 
 made. 
 
 The Pfalter as dictated by the Holy 
 Spirit, a work which warms the foul 
 while it enlightens the mind, and which 
 for the true fublime furpafles all the 
 orators or poets that ever wrote, ought to 
 be your conftant Manual. 
 
 I would not recommend to you to 
 take too great a portion of thefe writings, 
 at a time. The holy Scriptures mould 
 not be perufed but with reflection and re- 
 ferve ; for befides that every text affords 
 matter for ample meditation, the word of 
 God deferves another kind of refpect than 
 the words of men. 
 
 Take care to procure the ConfeJJicns of 
 Sf. Auguftine, a book written with his 
 tears , but it is a work better calculated 
 for the heart than the head, and you mould 
 attend to it in that light. To this you 
 Jhould join the collection of the felect pieces 
 of the Fathers of the Church, fo as to know 
 of yourfelf, that chriftian eloquence alone 
 .can truly elevate the foul, and that it is 
 
 a thou-
 
 144 LETTERS OF OANGANELLT, 
 a thoufend times more fublime than all 
 profane oratory, becaufe it has for its ob- 
 jeft God himfelf, the fountain of all great- 
 nefs. 
 
 The Imitation of Jefus Chrift is a book 
 much too holy and inftructive to be left 
 out of your Catalogue. It is an Italian 
 production, notwithftanding what all the 
 writers of DifTertations have faid upon this 
 head, (fince Gerfon, Abbe of Verceil, is 
 the author) in which the foul will find 
 whatever can edify or comfort her. Make 
 frequent ufe of it, as the work in the 
 world the moft fertile in confolations for 
 every fituation in life. 
 
 Study carefully the Introduction to the 
 Cbriftian Doftrine, a work of P. Gerdil, 
 a Barnabite, as it is a book which you 
 cannot read too often ; and intermix 
 the Hiftory of the Church with that 
 of Empires and Nations, fo as not to 
 confufe your mind and ideas. The 
 head mould be always clear, when we are 
 to judge with wifdom and precifion. 
 When you become better acquainted with 
 the French Language, I advife you to 
 
 read
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 145 
 
 read BolTuet's Univerfal Hiftory , and the 
 Thoughts of Pafchal on Religious Truths. 
 
 The Annals of Italy by the immortal 
 Muratori, the Hiftory of Naples by Gian- 
 none, the Campaigns of Don Carlos by 
 Buonamici, the periodical publications of 
 the Abbe Lami, not to teach you to de- 
 cide, but to think rightly, are fo many 
 works which you ought to perufe. 
 
 I do not mention books of natural hiftory 
 and antiquities, which are fubjects no one 
 fhould be ignorant of. 
 
 You muft remember, my dear friend, 
 that Cicero, Virgil, and Horace trod the 
 ground which we inhabit; that they 
 breathed the fame air which we breathe ; 
 and that as they are our countrymen, we 
 mould read their writings from time to 
 time, more efpecially, as they are filled 
 with elegant inftruction. You have made 
 good proficiency in clafiical learning, and 
 it will be eafy for you occafionally to en- 
 joy their agreeable converfation. 
 
 I do not debar you from reading our mo- 
 dern Poets, provided you perufe them 
 with precaution, and do not go to throw 
 
 VOL. I. H your-
 
 U6 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 yourfelf headlong into all their la- 
 byrinths, their grottoes, and their groves : 
 thefe are not proper places for a chriftian 
 foul. I do not like that you fhould re- 
 main too long with the fabulous God- 
 defies ; thefe are fictions, which lead too 
 often to realities. 
 
 I fhould be much better pleafed to fee 
 Pliny's Letters, the Meditations of Marcus 
 Aurelius or of Seneca in your hands ; 
 there you will find fentiments of huma- 
 nity that cannot be too much commended. 
 
 Behold, my dear friend, the whole of 
 the Library I would confine you to ; be- 
 caufe I think we mould have books only 
 for ufe, and not for oflentation. You 
 may add Cardinal Bentivoglio's Letters. 
 
 I neither give you legends, nor myf- 
 ticks. You will find the principal Saints 
 in the Hiftory of the Church ; and the ac- 
 count which is given of them in apocry- 
 phal books, would perhaps only ferve to 
 make you doubt of the wonders they really 
 wrought, and lefTen the refpeft which is 
 due to them. Great men mould not be 
 2 feen
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 147 
 
 feen but in the great, and truth needs no 
 fupport to make it refpected. 
 
 If I have not mentioned books of phi- 
 lofophy to you, it is beCaufe I would not 
 fend you back to fchool to adopt fyftems, 
 and learn to difpute. I am afraid you 
 might pick up fome whimfical notion or 
 other ; and to fpeak impartially, I would 
 not have you efpoule any one opinion of 
 the Schools. 
 
 Philofophy has produced more fophiflry 
 than found reafon ing , and it is fufficient 
 that you have a perfect knowledge of the 
 Heavens and the Earth, a clear and pre- 
 cife idea of our duties, our origin and our 
 deftiny, to be a true philofopher. In the 
 midft of your exercifes and your ftudies, 
 reflect upon thefe great objects ; and when 
 you have determined upon your profeffion 
 in life, you will then be informed how to 
 inltruci yourfelf in what relates to it. 
 
 Good night ! My pen cannot go far- 
 t^r , my head, fatigued by continual ap- 
 plication through the whole day, obliges 
 me to flop here. It is only my heart that 
 H 2 I find
 
 i 4 8 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 I find always in full vigour, when it is 
 employed in afluring you how much 
 
 I am, &c. 
 ROME, jift Dec. 1751. 
 
 LETTER XLI. 
 
 TO CARDINAL PASSIONEL 
 
 MOST EMINENT, 
 
 IF we could make reftitution of our 
 knowledge, as we can of goods we had 
 ftolen, your Eminency would fee me lay- 
 ing at your feet all the fcience I am pofTefT- 
 ed of, as your own property ; and then there 
 would be no room to praife me for my 
 pretended knowledge. Almoft every Sa- 
 turday I go to your Eminency's magnifi- 
 cent library, and fill myfelf as much as I 
 can with whatever excellent things fall in 
 my way. I come there quite indigent, but 
 return exceflively rich fo that my reputa- 
 tion and merit are founded upon thefe fe- 
 cret robberies ; and it is to your books, 
 my Lord, not to my own genius, that I 
 am indebted. 
 
 I fharc
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 149 
 
 I mare in the pleafures they tafte who 
 hear your Eminency in that delightful her- 
 mitage, where Science prefides, where Vir- 
 tue mines, and Friendfhip holds converfe. 
 It is decreed that Brother Ganganelli 
 can only wilh for fuch a gratification, 
 for his employment will never allow him 
 to go and repofe himfelf under the made of 
 your myrtle and orange-trees. That 
 would be too fenfual for a Monk of St. 
 Francis, who ought to know nothing but 
 mortification and poverty. 
 
 What comforts me, my Lord, is, that 
 happily I tafte the pureft pleafure in ful- 
 filling the tafk which is fet me ; and the 
 refpects which I mould otherwife prefent 
 to you at Frefcati, could neither be more 
 profound nor extenfive, than thofe with 
 which I have the honour to be here, &c. 
 
 ROME, 8th May, 1753. 
 
 Ha LET-
 
 jjo LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 LETTER XLII. 
 
 ,, TO M. A Y M A L D I. 
 
 TH E lafl memorial which you fent me, 
 refembles thofe uncultivated coun- 
 tries where there are by chance fome agree- 
 able fpots. I unravelled it with monkim 
 patience, and with the greateft defire to 
 oblige you. There would be too great 
 pleafure in ftudying, if we were to meet 
 with nothing but flowers. Every man who 
 is employed in his clofet mould look upon 
 himfelf as a traveller, who fometimes meets 
 with flowery paths, and fometimes with 
 rugged roads. 
 
 That light production of P. Nocetti 
 the Jefuit, upon the Iris, has a great deal 
 of delicacy in it. You find there that 
 brilliant and poetic imagination which 
 embellilhes the thoughts and the ftyle. 
 The Jefuits have always cultivated the 
 Belles-lettres with fuccefs. Thefe kinds of 
 writing are like vivifying waters to me ; 
 they recal my vital fpirits when I find my- 
 
 felf
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 131 
 
 felf exhaufted with painful ftudies : I 
 fmell to fhem, and recover my ftrength. 
 You know that Science is the grave of the 
 Belles-lettres, if we do not fpare them a 
 few hours, now-and-then, to prevent our 
 forgetting them. My ProfefTor of Theo- 
 logy faid to me, once, " I am fo abforbed 
 " in abftrufe ftudies, that my mind lofes 
 " the relifh for more polite performances." 
 Tafte itfelf becomes blunted, if we give 
 it nothing to reliOi. 
 
 I mall fee the R. P. General of the Do- 
 minicans (P. Bremcnd) on the fubjecl: 
 of your affair, and I believe I fliall fuc- 
 ceed. Befides his being very obliging in 
 his own nature, he has great good-will 
 towards me-, and I mall likewife rerr/nd 
 him, that St. Francis and St. Dominick 
 being good friends, and alfo St. Bona- 
 renture and St. Thomas Aquinas, it is 
 proper that the fame happy harmony 
 mould fubfift among their Diici;.!es. 
 
 Adieu ! Take care of your health, for 
 
 we may wager any thing, that during the 
 
 Pontificate of a learned man your merit 
 
 muft lead to great things. I do not wifh 
 
 H 4 it
 
 ija LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 it fo much on your account, or my own* 
 as for the honour of the Holy See. 
 
 I have that of being, &c, 
 
 ROME, lath May, 1753. 
 
 LETTER XLIII. 
 
 TO DOM GAJLLARD, PRIOR OF THE CHAR 
 TREUX AT ROME. 
 
 My REV. FATHER, 
 
 SINCE you have opened your heart 
 to me about what pafles in your 
 Community, I will open mine to you 
 with the fame candour ; and mufl tell you, 
 that it were much to be wifhed, in an Or- 
 der fo rigid as yours, that the Superiors 
 were more communicative ; that they 
 Ihould not let a week pafs, without vifit- 
 ing their Monks ; that they ought to infi- 
 nuate themfelves amicably into their 
 hearts, and by falutary advice and tender 
 encouragement aflift them to fupport the 
 yoke of Iblitude. 
 
 The
 
 CLEMENT XIV. i J3 
 
 The kingdom of Chrift is not the em- 
 pire of Defpotifm. It is both contrary to 
 religion and humanity, to render men 
 flaves. If a perfon has made a vow to obey 
 his fuperiors, he has not engaged to re- 
 fpeft their caprices. 
 
 It is generally imagined, that the office 
 of Superior is a place of authority, which 
 confifts in commanding,, and feeing the 
 Monks trembling and fubmifiive. But 
 the Chief of a Community is a perfon who 
 mould be all things to all men^ ftudy their 
 different characters, found their geniufes, 
 arid know what is hurtful to one, what is 
 ufeful to another, and what every one in 
 particular is capable of. 
 
 There are fome Monks who have no 
 defire for converfation, becaufe they are 
 naturally of a filent temper ; there are 
 others whom an obftinate filence would 
 render miferable, becaufe they are of a fo- 
 ciable difpofition ; and it is in fuch a fitua- 
 tion that a Superior mould have different 
 ways of conducting himfelf, excufing one 
 rather than the other, if they mould make 
 fome flight infractions of the rules. Every 
 H 5 religious
 
 154 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 religious Order ought to have no other 
 temper than that of our Saviour, who was 
 always gentle and of humble heart ; who 
 treated his Difciples as brethren andfriends, 
 calling himfelf their fervant, and actually 
 performing the functions of a fervant. 
 
 Rules would be like a flep-mother, if they 
 punifhed unmercifully thofe who by too 
 great vivacity, or too great flownefs, mould 
 become guilty of fome omiflions. There 
 are Monks whom a Superior mould vifit 
 more frequently, becaufe they are more 
 frequently tempted, and find it more diffi- 
 * cult to endure retirement : fo that without 
 a fpirit of difcernment and penetration, a 
 Superior would be only an image, whofe 
 government muft be contemptible. There 
 is only^one way of directing, and yet there 
 are as many different directions necefTary, 
 as there are individuals in the Community. 
 One falls off from his duty, if reprimand- 
 ed , while another mall double his dili- 
 gence, if he finds the flighted lapfe ani- 
 madverted upon. 
 
 The Order of the Chartreux deferves.all 
 
 poffible refpeft, as having no occafion 
 
 * either
 
 C L E M E N T XIV. 155 
 
 either for change of difcipline, or for refor- 
 mation, during the feven centuries that it 
 hath fubfifled ; but I confefs to you, that 
 the Priors have always appeared to me to 
 have affected too fnllen and fevere a de- 
 portment, and by going fmgly to the ge- 
 neral Chapters, were both judges and 
 party. 
 
 As they frequently receive vifits, and 
 have the liberty of writing and going 
 abroad themfelves, they mould not be too 
 ftrict againfl a poor Monk for having let 
 a few words efcape his lips. 
 
 They become Inquifitors in their office, 
 when they would punifh every thing, and 
 overlook nothing. There are petty wrang- 
 lings in Communities as well as in fami- 
 lies, whicli fubfift only becaufe their Supe- 
 riors do not know how to defpife them. 
 
 Vifit your brotherhood in friendfhip; - 
 do not fpeak to them of the pafl, and you 
 will fee them afhamed of having caballed. 
 Nothing difarms rage fo much as gentle- 
 nefs : in embracing them with cordiality,, 
 you will mew them that you can conquer 
 yourfelf, and they will be edified.. There 
 H 6 i&
 
 i5 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 is nothing more dangerous for people in 
 office, than never to allow that they have 
 been miftaken. 
 
 Accuftom yourfelf to reform the faults 
 of your Monks in your own houfe, with- 
 out informing the General of them. Such 
 a conduct irritates thofe that are accufed, 
 and fhews a want of the proper talent for 
 governing. 
 
 This is my way of thinking. If I am. 
 deceived,, you will do me a pleafure by 
 proving it : if your reafons are good, I 
 will fubmit; for I am neither prejudiced 
 in my own favour, nor obftinate in my 
 opinions. It is my heart only that fpeaks 
 throughout this letter ; and it is that 
 alfo which aflures you of the fincerity 
 of thofe fentiments with which 
 
 I am, &c. 
 
 ROME, aiftjunc, 1754- 
 
 LET-
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 157 
 
 LETTER XLIV. 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 THE fiefto, or afternoon's nap of Italy, 
 my mod dear and reverend Father, 
 would not have alarmed you fo much, if 
 you had recollected, that when we are at 
 Rome, we mould do as the Romans do. 
 Cum Romano Romanus eris. 
 
 Is it either fin or Ihame, then, for a 
 poor Monk, in a country where one is op- 
 prefTed with excefiive heat, to indulge in 
 half an hour's repofe, that he may after- 
 wards purfue his exercifes with the more 
 activity ? Confider, that filence is beft 
 kept when one is aileep. You who 
 reckon among the capital fins, the pro- 
 nouncing a fmgle word when your rules 
 forbid the ufe of fpeech, take the ex- 
 ample of Chrift when he found his Apof- 
 tles aQeep : Alas, fays he to them, with 
 the greateft mildnefs, could you not watch 
 with me one hour ? 
 
 But
 
 J5 S LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 But how can you confiftently expect 
 from your Monks, the obedience which 
 you refufe to the Sovereign Pontiff ? You. 
 eannot but know, that all the monaftic 
 laws owed their force only to the approba- 
 tion of the Popes ; and if he who reigns 
 atprefent with fo much wifdom, would 
 give your Monks a difpenfation from cer- 
 tain cuftoms, it is abfolutely in his power. 
 There is no contending with the Legifla- 
 tor the right of modifying the laws. 
 
 The foftening fome aufterities which, 
 depend upon time, place, ' and circum- 
 ftance, does not affect the efTence of the 
 vows. The letter kills , but the fpirit brings 
 to life. But there are feme reftlefs Supe- 
 riors who are afraid left they mould omit 
 a fyllable of the conftitutions. For God's 
 fake, be calm, both for the good of your 
 Monks and your own health. While you 
 eonfuk me, I muft reply in this manner r 
 It is net fuirlcient to alledge the dictates 
 of confcience, unlefs it be enlightened. I 
 embrace you with all my heart, being, &c.. 
 
 ROME, aid Sept. 1754- 
 
 LET-
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 15* 
 
 LETTER XLV. 
 
 TO A MONK SETTING OUT FOR AMERICA. 
 
 THE feas will very foon feparate us j 
 but fuch is the lot of this life, that 
 fome are fcattered to the extremities of the 
 world, while others remain always in the 
 fame place. One thing is certain, that my 
 heart follows yours , and that where- 
 ever yours mall be, there will mine be 
 found alfo. 
 
 If you have not laid in an ample flock 
 of piety, I mail be exceedingly in fear for 
 you, on a pafTage where all the words you 
 will hear will not be thofe of edification j 
 and in a country where all the examples 
 that will be prelented to you, will not he 
 found the moft correct models of virtue. 
 America is the earthly Paradife where they 
 frequently eat the forbidden fruit. The 
 ferpent is continually preaching up the 
 love of riches and pleafures, and the 
 warmth of the climate fets the paflions in 
 commotion. 
 
 We
 
 160 LETTERS OF GANGANELLT, 
 
 We are unfortunate enough in this 
 world not to be able to reftrain our paf- 
 fions, when we perceive no other Superior 
 but God, unlefs a lively faith be the prin- 
 ciple of our actions. And fuch is the cafe 
 of the religious who live in America. Not 
 having any Superior, who has a right to 
 prefcribe rules, or an authority to exact 
 their obfervance, they are loft, if the Gof- 
 pel does not reign in their hearts. 
 
 I perfoade myfelf, that you will fre- 
 quently beg of God to give you ftrength 
 to fupport you againft all kinds of dan- 
 gers. Much good effect may be pro- 
 duced, even among the Negroes, notwith- 
 ftanding their being generally addicted to 
 the grofleft vices, provided a Paftor can 
 contrive to gain their confidence, and be 
 able to irnprefs their minds with a certain 
 awe. 
 
 Think that the God of the univerfe will 
 be as near you in America, as in Europe ; 
 that his eye feeth every where, his juftice 
 judgeth all; and that it is for him 
 alone you ought to act. Lead a diligent 
 and regular life ; for, unfortunately, 
 
 Ihould
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 161 
 
 mould indolence once get poflefflon of you, 
 the vices will very foon befet you, and you 
 will not be able to defend yourfelf. 
 
 Never fuffer one word to pafs your lips 
 which can be interpreted againft. religion 
 or morals. Even thofe who feemingly ap- 
 plaud, will, in fact, defpife you, as an un- 
 worthy fervant who makes a mock of the 
 mafter whofe bread he eats, and whofe li- 
 very he wears. 
 
 God preferve you from heaping up 
 riches ! A Prieft who loves money, but 
 more efpecially a Monk who has taken 
 the vow of poverty, is worfe than the 
 wicked rich man, and deferves to be ftill 
 more rigoroufly treated. 
 
 Be fociable, and gain your parifhioners* 
 affections by much affability : let them 
 fee that it is true piety which governs you, 
 and not fancy. 
 
 Do not meddle in fecular affairs, except to 
 accommodate law-fuits, and reftore peace. 
 I will pray for you to Him who commands 
 the waves, who calms the tempefts, and 
 who doth not abandon his people where- 
 ever found. What comforts me is, that 
 
 fouls
 
 i6 LETTERS OF GANGA-NELLI, 
 fouls know no diftance j for by the ties of 
 religion and the heart we are always 
 neighbours to one another. 
 
 Adieu, and adieu ! I tenderly embrace 
 you. 
 
 L E T T E R XLVI. 
 
 TO THE PRELATE CERATL 
 
 YOU are too happy, my dear Prelate, 
 in dividing your time between Pifa 
 and Florence: in the ont% your mind is at 
 its eafe; and in the other, your knowledge 
 finds its proper fuftenance. 
 
 When I think that Tufcany is truly the 
 reilorer cf arts and fcienccs, I greatly re- 
 vere it, and I feel my heart palpitate every 
 time I hear it mentioned. The advantage 
 of the happieft fituation and happieft cli- 
 mate rendered it worthy of this glory ; 
 we breathe a fvveetnefs of air there, which 
 feems to give the foul a new being ; and it 
 is perceivable at every flep, why the Fine 
 
 Arts
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 165 
 
 Arts mould have chofen that fituation for 
 their refidence. 
 
 J knew an old man who had the moil 
 cultivated reafon, and the mod voluptuous 
 mind, who arranged his time fo well, that 
 he paired the fpring every year at Pifa> 
 the fummer at Sienna, the autumn at Leg- 
 horn, and the winter at Florence. He 
 went alternately to thefe four towns, to 
 ftudy the humour of the inhabitants, to 
 give vent to his own, and to tafle the 
 fweets of the moft agreeable fociety. Our 
 converfations begin to degenerate ; they 
 have loft that fpirit with which our fathers 
 fupported them, and it is to the too agree- 
 able French frivolity, which captivates all 
 minds, that we are indebted for the change. 
 
 Every age bears fome mark which cha- 
 racterifes it i luxury, which corrupts our 
 morals, corrupts likewife our difcourfe 
 and our writings : there is fcarce any 
 foul in our conversation, in our writings, or 
 our paintings. We poflefs nothing now 
 but a certain elegance, as fuperficial as the 
 genius which produces it^ and unfortunate- 
 ly even religion partakes of this evil. 
 
 They
 
 164 LETTERS OF GANGANELLT, 
 
 They think they can take whatever is dif- 
 pleafing from Chriftianity, as they can re- 
 trench the ornaments of drefs. 
 
 You are fenfible of thefe evils ; 
 you lament, and you have reafon, 
 
 I have the honour to be, &c. 
 
 ROME, ad Sept. 1754. 
 
 LETTER XL VII. 
 
 TO THE ABBE CANILLAC AUDITOR OF ROTA. 
 
 I CALLED upon you, my Lord, that I 
 might have the honour of delivering 
 with my own hand a volume of Monf. 
 Buffon an excellent book ; an excellent 
 writer, if he was not too fyflematical : 
 there is an energy of flyle and thoughts 
 which tranfports and aftonimes. To afk my 
 opinion of the liberties of the Gallican 
 Church, is to put it out of my power to 
 fpeak. Befides, what fignifies that quef- 
 tion, if the French, like the Romans,, 
 are Catholics, notwithftanding the fenti- 
 ments which divide them upon this arti- 
 cle ? The Popes and the Kings in times 
 
 pall
 
 CLEMENT XTV. 165 
 
 pad were reciprocally wrong, and Benedict 
 XIV. is happily the moft proper Pontiff to 
 make their errors be forever forgotten. 
 
 What you have deigned to recommend 
 to me mall be done as foon as poflible, 
 with a zeal equal to the refpect with which 
 I am, &c. 
 
 ROME, 6th June, 1754. 
 
 LETTER XL VIII. 
 
 TO THE MARQJJIS SCIPIO MAFFEI. 
 
 THE young Monk whom you recom- 
 mended to me, is quite vain of fuch 
 an honour, and I am no lefs fo of your 
 excellent letter : I mall preferve it as a 
 talifman to communicate to me fome 
 fparks of your learning and genius. I 
 would fay a thoufand things, but am a- 
 fraid of you as of a fpirit, and find my- 
 felf interdicted. I recollect the immen- 
 fity of your knowledge, and the merit of 
 your productions ; and that remembrance 
 renders me fo little in my own eyes, that I 
 cannot appear before you. 
 
 Italy
 
 j66 LETTERS OF GANGANELtl, 
 
 Italy will long be vain of having given 
 you birth , and if Verona knew its glory, 
 it would erect ftatues to you , but what 
 renders you fupenor to fuch vain honours, 
 is, that you are the humbleft of men, and 
 know lefs than any man your own worth. 
 I would not pardon.Time, who, without 
 refpe<5l to merit, brings on old age, if I 
 was not perfuaded with you, that a hea- 
 venly life awaits us. We know that Hea- 
 ven is the centre and habitation of all 
 light, and that the knowledge which is ac- 
 quired there in a moment, exceeds beyond 
 the reach of comparifon the feeble glim*- 
 merings which we enjoy here below. 
 
 I mall pay all poffible attention to your 
 recommendation. He mail become my 
 fon, as he has been yours, by the intereft 
 I mall have in his improvement, both in 
 the fciences and in piety. He will find in 
 ' our Order the fame afiiftance which I found 
 there, to inftrucl and form me -, and I can 
 fay, upon this occaiion, without flattering 
 my brethren, that he could not be better 
 fituated for thofe purpofes. They have a 
 
 tafte
 
 CLEMENT XIV. jg- 
 
 tafte for good authors; they encourage 
 emulation j. they give conftant application, 
 and they efteem, in a moft particular man- 
 ner, 1 ! the incomparable Scipio Maffei. He 
 lives in our hearts as he does in his own 
 writings , and this I can certainly allure 
 him of, being more than any one, &c. 
 
 LETTER XLIX. 
 
 TO MONS. CARACCIOLT, NUNCIO AT VENICE, 
 AND LATE NUNCIO IN SPAIN. 
 
 MY LORD, 
 
 I HAVE the honour of fending you the 
 refolution of the Holy Office, which 
 will certainly be agreeable to your man- 
 ner of thinking. I have exprefied in 
 it all the zeal that I am capable of, to 
 prove to you the infinite efteem I have of 
 your worth. 1 wifh the Church always had 
 Prelates as exemplary as your Lordfhip ! 
 It is what the Venetians often fay, and 
 what, tranfports me with joy, when I have 
 a happy opportunity of alluring you of all 
 the refpeft with which I am, &c. 
 Roiie, aift Oft. 1754. 
 
 LET-
 
 i LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 LETTER L, 
 
 TO COUNT ***. 
 
 IF fcruples lay hold of you, my dear 
 Friend, you are ruined; you will 
 either relapfe into diffipation, or ferve 
 God like a (lave. Remember that the 
 Jewim law was a law of fear, but the 
 new law is a law of love. The veflel of 
 clay to which our fouls are attached does 
 not allow of angelical perfection. 
 
 Religion is degraded, when we apply 
 our attention to trifles. While men pray, 
 there will be inattentions ; as long as men 
 ad, there will be errors in conduct, be- 
 caufe every man is fubjecl: to vanity and 
 error Omnis homo mendax. 
 
 There are none but falfe devotees who 
 are fcandalized at every thing, and who 
 fee the Devil every where. Fulfil the law. 
 without labouring in fpirit, and without 
 draining the imagination, and you will 
 render yourfelf agreeable to God. No- 
 thing checks the foul in the road of piety, 
 
 fo
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 169 
 
 fo much as fcruples ill underftood. As 
 too much retirement encourages gloomy- 
 notions, and fociety difpels them, frequent 
 rational company, .and live but little 
 alone. Be not difcouraged, when you 
 feel yourfelf tempted. Temptation is a 
 trial which teaches us to diftruft ourfelves, 
 and adds to our merits when conquered. 
 
 Come and fee me, and we will endea- 
 vour together to find out the fource 
 of thi-fe doubts which torment you. 
 I have nothing more at heart than to be 
 afTured you are a good Chriftian ; but I 
 lhall be unhappy if you give way to fcruples; 
 for then every thing will alarm you, and 
 you will become infupportable to yourfelf. 
 
 I have always forgot to fpeak to you 
 about your worthy relation. See what 
 fad tricks my abfence of mind fometimes 
 plays me ; but the heart has no mare in the 
 omiffion. The Marchionefs, more ftartled 
 than penetrated with my remonftrances, 
 does not know how to act. --When devotion 
 once hefita'tes about being reconciled, you 
 muft only expect doubtful proofs of it : 
 But as we take what we can get of a bad 
 
 VOL. I, I debt,
 
 !?o LETTERS OF -G A'NG ANELLI, 
 debt, fo mould you take in good part 
 the flighted marks of politenefs that your 
 dear Coufm may henceforward think 
 proper to mew you. 
 
 Perfevere, my dear friend, perfevere. I 
 am edified by your courage, and happy 
 that you are pleafed with the guide I gave 
 you. Is he not a worthy /nan, and one 
 that will certainly lead to heaven ? He 
 has a wonderful fkill in difcovering peo- 
 ple's difpofitions, and is the mL.> in the 
 world the mod proper for gaining their 
 confidence. 
 
 I approve of what you lay afide for 
 charitable purpofes - y but I do not love 
 beftowing drop by drop, or tying one's- 
 felf down to regular alms-giving, fo as to 
 have nothing left for an object in extreme 
 want. It is better to refcue one or two 
 families from diftrefs, than to fcatter a few 
 pieces at random, without compleating 
 any purpofe. Befides, it would be pro- 
 per to have always a fum in referve for ex- 
 traordinary cafes ; for by this oeconomy you 
 will have a remedy at hand for unforefeen 
 
 Do
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 171 
 
 Do not give into that wrong notion of 
 charity, which, without confidering either 
 birth or extraction, would have all its 
 objects clothed and red like the meaneft of 
 the people. 
 
 Chanty humbles nobody, and mould 
 be proportioned to circumflances and 
 conditions. To give haughtily, is worfe 
 than to withhold. Diftribute your alms 
 in fucli a manner, as to appear more 
 humble yourfelf" than they who receive. 
 Religion is too noble, to approve of thofe 
 little fouls who oblige with infolence, and 
 make the importance of their fervices be 
 felt. 
 
 Be not content with giving, but lend like- 
 wife, according to the precepts of the 
 Scripture, to him that is in need. I do 
 not know a more contemptible object than 
 money, if it be not employed to affift our 
 neighbour. Can the infipid pleafure of 
 heaping up crowns, be compared with 
 the fatisfaction of conferring happinefs, 
 and the felicity of attaining heaven ? 
 
 When you are become an oeconomift 
 
 without avarice, and generous without 
 
 I 2 pro-
 
 i7a LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 prodigality, I will look upon you as a 
 rich man who can be faved. Prevent wants, 
 without waiting till you be afked : true 
 charity can divine. 
 
 Adieu.- It appears fuperfluous to re- 
 peat, at the end of this letter, that I am 
 your bed friend and humbleft fervant. 
 Certainly you do not doubt it, or you af- 
 front me moft fenfibly. 
 
 ROME, j 9th April, 175!. 
 
 LETTER LI. 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 YO U afk me, wherefore there are 
 days that, given up to melan- 
 choly without knowing the caufe, we are 
 a burden to ourfelves ? To which I anfwer, 
 
 Firft, It is becaufe we are dependent up- 
 on a body which is not always in perfect 
 equilibrium. 
 
 Secondly, Becaufe God Almighty would 
 make us fenfible that this life is not our 
 happinefs, and that we mall always be ill at
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 173 
 
 cafe till we leave it ; and it was for that 
 reafon the Apoftle longed after the things 
 that are eternal. 
 
 There are fogs in the moral as well as 
 in the natural world ; and the foul, like 
 the fky, hath its clouds. 
 
 The beft way to difpel fuch glooms is 
 to feek employment. We have not lei- 
 fure to become either fad or languid, when 
 we are ferioufly occupied. Study is the 
 clement of the mind. Ton will r.i'^ber It 
 a lurden to yourfelf nor to others, faid Seneca, 
 ifyouloveftudy. It is inconceivable 
 many wretched quarters of hours there 
 are in life, from which employment 
 would defend us. You cannot be happy 
 in this world, but by knowing how to 
 blunt your forrows. He who has no 
 vexation at prefent, either has had or will 
 have fome , becaufe pain and forrow are 
 an inheritance from our firft father, and 
 we cannot entirely preferve ourfelves from 
 them. 
 
 I am, with all my hea r t, c. 
 
 ROME 2?th April 1754. 
 
 I i L E T-
 
 174 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 LETTER LII. 
 
 TO MONSIGNOR F IRNIANI, BISHOP 
 OF PERUSA. 
 
 MY LORD,. 
 
 ' | s H E fuitor you recommend to me 
 feems to prefer the Order of the Au- 
 guftines to the Francifcans ; and far from 
 being diffatisfied at ir, I have juil no-w been 
 to conduct him to a Monk who is one of 
 ii iy friends ; he will take all poflible care 
 of him, and after a proper trial, will give 
 him the habit of St. Auguftine. 
 
 Provided we bring the true fpirit of 
 piety with us, it is no matter in what 
 Convent we are placed. All the diffe- 
 rent Orders make but one and the fame 
 family, in my eyes : and happily I have 
 no partiality for my own Community, to 
 the prejudice of another. Befides, the 
 Auguftines always connected knowledge 
 with virtue j and no man, whofe heart is 
 we'll difpofed, can fail to receive excellent 
 
 initructions among them. 
 
 The
 
 CLEMENT XIV. i? 5 
 
 The P. Capuchin, who fpoke to your 
 Lordlhip fo favourably of me, has feen 
 but little of me , he judges of me as of a 
 landfcape, which is imagined to be fome- 
 thing fine, at a diftance , but is found on 
 a nearer view, to be nothing extraordi- 
 nary. I will oblige him to recant, when 
 he returns to Rome, becaufe he mall then 
 fee me as I really am. It is the bed 
 way that I know of correcting the mif- 
 taken notions which men may have formed 
 of me. 1 recommend myfelf to your 
 prayers, which! believe to be moft effectual 
 before God, and I have the honour to 
 be, &c. 
 
 ROME, atfth Aug. 1753. 
 
 LETTER LIII. 
 
 TO THE PRELATE GERATI. 
 
 My LORD, 
 
 I HAVE jufl now been to fee your 
 good old friend, IVL Bottari, and found 
 him, as ufual, immerfed in the deepefl and 
 moft interefting ftudies. He pa/Ted from 
 I 4 that
 
 176 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 that to a picturefque converfatiori, which 
 delighted me exceflively , for he does not 
 fpeak, but paints. He is fententious and 
 figurative; and never fails perfectly to 
 characterife the books and people lie de- 
 fer ibes. 
 
 We had a good deal of difcourfe about 
 the Roman Antiquities, and the variety of 
 our Libraries, which, tho' not all of equal 
 excellence, form an admirable collection. 
 Two well informed Englifhmen fnared in our 
 converfation, and fpoke fo as to demand 
 attention. They are a people that travel 
 to advantage, profiting by whatever they 
 fee. They are faid to take the fubflance 
 of things, while the French are content 
 with the furface. But I leave you to de- 
 cide, whether for commerce with mankind, 
 it is better to be fuperficial and agreeable 
 or profound and gloomy. . 
 
 Cardinal Bentivoglio faid, that we Jhould 
 Jce an Englijhman when we want to think, 
 and a Frenchman when we want to converfe. 
 
 I open my cell to both one and the 
 other with the greateil pleafure, confefilng. 
 to you always that the French vivacity has 
 
 fome-
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 177 
 
 fomething very attracting for me. One 
 loves to meet his own likenefs ; and you 
 know that I am neither (low, nor filent. 
 
 You Ihould have received the book 
 which P. MafToleni of the Order of the 
 Oratory fent you. You will find it both 
 interefting and well executed. Methinks 
 I fee you plunged into this work, without 
 being able to tear yourfclf from it. The 
 retired man has real pleafures, which fur- 
 pafs all the joys of the world. But hum ! 
 that is a fecret of the ftudious, which 
 mould not be divulged. 
 
 1 have the honour to be, &c. 
 
 ROME, 13 Nov. 1753. 
 
 LETTER LIV. 
 
 TO A FRANCISCAN FRIAR. 
 
 I FEEL fomething within me which 
 makes me take pen in hand; and whif- 
 pers in my ear to write to you, that it is a 
 great while fmce I have had that fweet 
 I 5 pleafurc ;
 
 i;8 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 pleafure ; and it is my friendfhip for you 
 which procures it me at prefent. 
 
 It muft be confefled, as St. Auguftine 
 fays, that friendship has fomething very 
 charming in ;'/', and that whoever dees not 
 know its delights^ Jhotdd be excluded from fo- 
 ciety. The Saviour of the world hath ca- 
 nonifed it, by his particular attachment to 
 St. John, and we fee that the greateft 
 Saints have cultivated it with the moft re- 
 ligious attention. 
 
 Continue to be always my good friend. 
 Although the world fays that Monks love 
 nobody, I have found the moft fincere 
 and friendly hearts in the Cloifter : but 
 the world will believe nothing of this, be- 
 caufe it will have us to be wrong in every 
 thing , but what fignifies that to us, while 
 we tafte the fweets of luch a fympathy, 
 and that I continue no lefs than ever, 
 
 Your friend and fervant. 
 F.OME, soth Dec. 1754. 
 
 E
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 17* 
 
 LETTER LV. 
 
 TO LADY PIGLIANI. 
 
 IT is not an indifferent matter, the 
 keeping your two daughters with you : 
 the condition of a mother impofes the 
 mofl important duties on you. The 
 world will continually interpofe between 
 you and your children, if you do not take 
 
 care to keep it at a diflance; not 
 
 with auilerity, which excites only mur- 
 muring, but with that prudence which 
 gains confidence. 
 
 Your daughters will only prove hypo- 
 crites, if you perplex and incumber them 
 with inftruftions ; inftead of which tlicy. 
 will love religion, if you know how to- 
 make them do fo by your example, and by 
 your gentlenefs. 
 
 Girls of twenty are not to be ufed as if 
 
 they were but ten ; there is a treatment 
 
 and method of mflruciion iuited to different 
 
 ages, as well as to different conditions of life. 
 
 I 6 Encourage
 
 iSo LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 Encourage a tafle for good Authors, 
 and for employment, as much as you can ; 
 but with that freedom which does not tie 
 them down to the minute ; and with a 
 fpirit of difcernment, which knows how 
 to diftinguifh what is proper for a fecular 
 houfe, from what would more fitly become 
 a Cloifter. 
 
 Eftablifh your daughters according to 
 their fortunes and rank, without reftrain- 
 ing their inclinations, unlefs they mould 
 tend to difilpation or folly. Marriage is 
 the natural condition of mankind ; but 
 there are exceptions to this rule, when it 
 may be difpenfed with. 
 
 -Without being in love with the vanities 
 of the world, do not make yourfelf ridi- 
 culous by oppofing the cuftoms of the 
 times. Piety becomes a fubjeft of rail- 
 lery, when it appears to afFecl: fingularity ; 
 a prudent woman mould avoid rendering 
 herfelf remarkable. 
 
 When a woman is born to a certain 
 rank of life, me mould drefs fuitably to 
 her pretenfions ; but ftill within that line 
 which modefly and decency prefcribe. 
 
 See
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 181 
 
 See that your daughters mix in good 
 company. True devotion is neither ruftic 
 nor auflere. Solitude ill employed irri- 
 tates the pafiions, and it is often better 
 for young people to fee well chofen 
 company, than to remain alone. You 
 mould infpire them with chearfulnefs, 
 that they may not affume a fanftified air. 
 Their recreations mould be walking, and 
 little innocent paftimes , but when you 
 come to talk of application, do not men- 
 tion deep ftudies, nor abftraft fciences, 
 which often make the fex vain and talkative. 
 Above all things, make yourfelf be- 
 loved i it is the greateit pleafure that a mo- 
 ther can afpire to, and the greateft pre- 
 rogative me can enjoy, in order to effect 
 the good me purpofes. 
 
 Take care tha: your domeilics be religious 
 and honeft ; they are capable of every thing 
 that is bad, if they do not fear God. 
 They mould not be treated either with 
 haughtinefs or familiarity, but as people 
 who are of the fame nature, but your in- 
 feriors. Juftice is the mother of order : 
 every thing has its proper place, when we 
 act with equity. 
 
 Never
 
 i8a LETTERS OF GANGANELLf, 
 
 Never punlfn but with regret, and al- 
 ways pardon with pleafure. 
 
 Frequent your parim church, that the 
 fheep may be often found with their Paf- 
 tor j it is a practice conformable to the 
 holy Canons, as well as of antient ufage. 
 
 Your own wifdom will teach you the 
 reft. I depend much upon your under- 
 ftanding and goodwill, as you may be af- 
 fured of the refpediful confideration with 
 which I have the honour to be, &c. 
 ROME, 15th Nov. 1754. 
 
 LETTER LVI. 
 
 TO COUNT ALGAROTTI. 
 
 MY DEAR COUNT, 
 
 MANAGE your matters fo, that in 
 fpite of your philofophy, I may fee 
 you in Heaven j for I mould be exceeding- 
 ly grieved to lofe fight of you for an eter- 
 nity. 
 
 You are one of thofe iingular men, both 
 in head and heart, whom we would wifii 
 
 to
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 183 
 
 to love beyond the grave, when we have 
 the pleasure of knowing them ; and no- 
 body has more reafons than you to be 
 perfuaded that the foul is incorporeal 
 and immortal. The years pafs away 
 for the Philofopher, as they do for the 
 fool ; but in what they are to terminate, 
 mufl engage the mind of a thinking 
 man. 
 
 Confefs that I know how to accommo- 
 date my fermons, fo as not to flartle one 
 of the beaux-efprits : and if difcourfes were 
 oftener made with as much brevity and 
 friendlhip, you would fometimes, perhaps, 
 liften to the preachers. But it is not 
 enough to hear them ; what is faid mould 
 find its way to the heart. May it produce 
 good fruit there j and may the amiable Al- 
 garotti become as good a Chriilian, as he 
 is a Philofopher, and then I (hall be dou- 
 bly his friend and fervant ! 
 
 ROME, nth Dec. 1754. 
 
 LET-
 
 184 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 LETTER LVII. 
 
 TO MONSIGNOR ROTA, DECIPHERER. 
 
 I BELIEVE, my Lord, that to make it 
 poflible for us to meet, it is neceflary 
 to make an appointment. I beg of you 
 to fix the time, and moft certainly I will 
 not fail to attend you. 
 
 There is no time I regret the lofs of fo 
 much, as that which is fpent in anti- 
 chambers. Time is the moft precious 
 gift which God hath" given us, and man 
 difiipates it with a profuficn equally ex- 
 travagant and unaccountable. 
 
 Alas ! time is a property expofed to be 
 pillaged, and every one robs us of a part ; 
 in fpite of all my care to preferve it, I 
 fee it flip through my hands, and I can 
 fcarcely fay that it flies before it is already 
 gone.- 
 
 I wait your orders to attend you, and to 
 tell you, if there are moments in which 
 you are to be feen, that there are none in 
 
 which
 
 CLEMENT XIV. ,85 
 
 which I am not with equal attachment and 
 refpecl, my Lord, 
 
 Your moft humble, &c. 
 
 ROME, 3d Jan. 1754. 
 
 LETTER LVIII. 
 
 TO THE HOLY STANDARD-BEARER OF THE 
 
 REPUBLIC OF SAINT MARINO. 
 
 MY DEAREST FRIEND, 
 /\ LTHOUGH you are only the little 
 JLJL fovereign of a very little ftate, you 
 have a foul which puts you on a level with 
 the greateft Princes. It is not the extent 
 of empires which conflitutes the merit of 
 Emperors. A father of a family may have 
 much virtue, and a chief magiftrate of 
 Saint Marino a great reputation. 
 
 I find nothing fo delightful as being at 
 the head of a little Canton, fcarce per- 
 ceivable in the map, where neither war nor 
 difcord are known, and where there are no 
 ftorms but when the fky is darkened ; 
 where there is no ambition, except that of 
 fupporting one's felf in fiknce and medio- 
 crity-
 
 i8<S LETTERS OF GANGANEtLI, 
 crity ; where all property feems to be in 
 common, from the cuftom of every one's 
 being ready to a/lift his neighbour. 
 
 O, how that little nook of earth 
 pleafes me ! How happy to live there ! 
 Not in the midft of tumults which diftracl: 
 great cities , nor in the midft of the great, 
 who opprefs the fmail ; nor in the fcenes 
 of pomp, which corrupt the heart and 
 dazzle the eyes ! It is a place where I 
 would willingly pitch my tabernacle, and 
 where my heart has long fixed its abode, 
 from the friendlhip I have for you. 
 There cannot be a greater burden than 
 fovereignty ; but your's is fo light, that 
 it leaves your movements free , efpecially 
 when I come to compare it with thofe mo- 
 narchies which the Sovereign cannot go- 
 vern without multiplying himfelf, and 
 having eyes every where. 
 
 Every thing confpires againft a Prince 
 who is at the head of a great king- 
 dom. They who are about him feek to 
 deceive him, at the very time when he per- 
 fuades himfelf that they are paying him 
 their court, If he is debauched, they flat- 
 ter
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 18? 
 
 ter him in his vices ; if he is pious, they 
 play the hypocrite, and put on the mafk 
 of religion ; if he is cruel, they fay he is 
 juft, and he never hears the truth. 
 
 He muft often defcend into his own 
 heart to feek it j but, alas ! how he is to 
 be pitied, if he does not find it there ! 
 Hiftory would not be filled with the reigns 
 of fo many bad princes, if they had not 
 loved to live at a diftance from truth. 
 Truth is the only fafe friend of Kings, 
 when they will hearken to it ; but they 
 often deceive themfelves, looking upon it 
 as an importunate monitor, that fliould be 
 kept at a diftance, or puniihed for its in- 
 trufion. 
 
 As for my part, who loved it from my 
 infancy, I think that I fhall always love 
 it, though it ftiould fay the fevereft things. 
 Truths are like bitter medicines, which 
 difpleafe the palate, but reftore our health. 
 Truth is certainly better known at St. 
 Marino than anywhere elfe : it is feen 
 only obliquely at great courts, but you 
 look it full in the face, and embrace it 
 with the affection of a friend. 
 
 I will
 
 188 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 I will not fend you the book you want 
 to fee ; it is an ill-formed production, 
 badly tranflated from the French, and 
 abounds with herefies againft mora- 
 lity and found doctrine. It fpeaks, never- 
 thelefs, of humanity -, for now- a-days That is 
 the plaufible phrafe, which is fubftituted 
 in the room of charity \ becaufe humanity 
 is but a Pagan virtue, and charity is a 
 Gbrtftian one. The modern Philofophy 
 would have nothing to do with any thing 
 that relates to Chriftianity, and thereby 
 iKews to the eye of Reafon that it prefers 
 what is defective. 
 
 The old Philofophers, who were not en- 
 lightened by faith, and had not the advan- 
 tage of knowing the true God, wifhed for 
 a revelation ; while the modern ones reject 
 that which they cannot miftake : but in f > 
 doing they betray themfelves ; for if they 
 had a right turn of mind and a pure heart, 
 and were as humane as they pretend to be, 
 they would receive with up-lifted hands a 
 religion which condemns even bad inclina- 
 tions, which exprefsly commands the love 
 of our neighbour, and promifeth an eter- 
 nal
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 189 
 
 nal recompenfe to all thofe who have afiift- 
 ed -their brethren, who have been faithful 
 to their God, .their King, and their Coun- 
 try. If we are virtuous, we cannot be 
 averfe to a religion which preaches and 
 enjoins nothing but virtue. 
 
 When I fee the words legijlation, pa- 
 triotifm, humanity^ conflantly flowing from 
 the pen of thofe Writers who anathematife 
 Chriftianity, I fay, without any apprehen- 
 flon of deceiving myfelf, " Thefe men mock 
 " the Public, and inwardly have neither 
 " patriotifm nor humanity." From the 
 abundance of the heart the mouth fpeak- 
 eth i but fuch men only eftablifh this ge- 
 neral rule, by their being an exception 
 to it. 
 
 This is the way in which I would attack the 
 modern Philofophers, if I thought I had 
 fufHcient ftrength to combat them. They 
 might cry out againft my argument, be- 
 caufe I mould prefs them clofely ; but 
 they mould have no reafon to complain of 
 my fupercilioufnefs. I would fpeak to 
 them as the tendereft friend, equally zea- 
 lous
 
 f9o LETTERS OF GANGANELLT, 
 lous for their good, as for my own ; as a 
 candid and impartial author, who would ac- 
 knowledge their abilities, and do juftice 
 to the excellence of their genius. I am fo 
 prefumptuous as to believe that they would 
 have efteemed me, although their antago- 
 flift. 
 
 I cannot execute this defign, becaufe 
 here I do not enjoy that happy tranquility, 
 \vhich you are in porTefllon of at Saint 
 Marino : there you live in a ftate of hap- 
 py leifure and repofe, which emulates die 
 condition of the bleft. 
 
 However, this tranquility muft be 
 fatal to the Sciences and the Belles-lettres, 
 fmce I do not fee, in the immenfe ca- 
 talogue of celebrated Writers, any of the 
 natives of Saint Marino diftinguimed for 
 their literature. 1 advife you to fpur np 
 your fubjedts while you are in place ; but 
 make hafte , for it is not of your kingdom 
 that it is faid, // will have no end. There 
 is genius in your country, and it wants 
 only to be routed. 
 
 Behold
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 19, 
 
 Behold a letter as large as your ft ate, 
 efpecially if you attend to the heart which 
 dilates it, and in which you often occupy 
 a very confiderable place. Thus they 
 write and love, who have been together at 
 college. Adieu. 
 
 LETTER LIX. 
 
 TO COUNT * * *. 
 
 I WOULD not have had you ftudy Ma- 
 thematics, my dear friend, till you were 
 confirmed in the principles of Religion. 
 I was afraid that by applying yourfelf to a 
 fcience which will admit nothing but what 
 is demonftrative, you would do as many 
 Mathematicians do, who think of making 
 our myfteries fubmit to demcnftration. 
 The Mathematics, extenfive as they are, 
 are very limited, when we think of what 
 relates to God. All the lines t!it car. be 
 drawn upon earth, all the points that can 
 .be made, are but infinitely fmall in com- 
 
 parifon
 
 Ifa LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 parifon of that immenfe Being, who nei- 
 ther admits parallel nor proportion. 
 
 Mathematics will enable you to think 
 iuftly. Without them, there is a certain 
 method wanting which is necefTary to rec- 
 tify our thoughts, to arrange our ideas, and 
 to determine our judgments aright. It is 
 eafy to perceive in reading a book, even 
 a moral one, whether the Author be a 
 Mathematician or not. I am feldom de- 
 ceived in this obfervation. The famous 
 French Metaphyiician would not have 
 compofed 'The Inquiry after Truth -f, nor 
 the famous Leibnitz his Theodice^ if they 
 had not been Mathematicians. We per- 
 ceive in their productions that geometri- 
 cal order which brings their reafonings 
 into fmall compafs, while it gives them 
 energy and method. 
 
 Order is delightful ; there is nothing 
 in nature but what is (lamped with it, and 
 without it there could be no harmony. 
 We may likewife fay that the Mathematics 
 are an univerfal fcience which connects all 
 the reft, and difplays them in their hap- 
 pieft relations. 
 
 f Malebranchc. 
 
 The
 
 C L I M E N T XTV. 193 
 
 The Mathematician, atthefirftlook, isfurc 
 to analyfeand unravel a fubjecl or propofi- 
 tion with juftnefs ; but a man who does not 
 underftandthisfcience, fees only in a vague/ 
 -and almofl always in an irnperfeft manner. 
 Apply yourfelf then to this great branch 
 of knowledge, fo worthy ef our curiofity* 
 and fo neceflary to the ufes of life j but 
 not in fuch a degree as to throw you into 
 abfence : endeavour *o be always recol- 
 lefted, whatever are your ftudies. 
 
 If I was as young as you, and had your 
 leifure, I would acquire a more extenfive 
 knowledge of Geometry. I have always 
 <:herimed that fcience with a particular 
 predilection. My turn of mind made me 
 feek with avidity every thing that was me- 
 thodical ; and I pay but little refpecl: to 
 thole works which are only the exercifcs of 
 imagination. 
 
 We have three principal fciences, which 
 I compare to the three efTential parts of 
 
 the human compofition : Theology, 
 
 which, by its fpirituality-, refembles our 
 foul -, the Mathematics, which, by their 
 
 VOL, I. K co.'nbi-
 
 T94 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 combination and juftnefs, exprefs our rea- 
 .fon -, and Natural Philofophy, which, by 
 its mechanical operations, denotes our bo- 
 dies : and thefe three Sciences (which 
 Bought to maintain a perfect harmony) 
 while they keep within their proper fphere s 
 necefTarily elevate us towards their Author, 
 :thc fource and fullnefs of all light. 
 
 I formerly undertook a work, while I 
 -was at Afcoli, the intention of which was 
 to mew the perfect agreement between all 
 the Sciences. I pointed out their fource, 
 their end, and their relations j but the 
 exerciies of the Cloifter, and the lectures 
 J was obliged to give, prevented me from 
 finifhing it. I ftill have fome fragments, 
 which I mall fearch for among my pa- 
 pers, and you may read them, if you think 
 .they can amufe you. There are fome 
 ideas ; and fome views, but it is only a 
 Iketch, which mult be filled up by the 
 "Reader, and you are perfectly capable of 
 she tafk. 
 
 Philofophy without Geometry, is like 
 medicine without chemiflry. The greater 
 number of modern Philofophers reafon in- 
 
 .conclufively,
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 19* 
 
 conclusively, only becaufe they are un- 
 acquainted with Geometry. They miflakc 
 fophifms for truths , and if they lay down 
 juft principles, they deduce falfe con- 
 clufions from them. 
 
 Study alone will not make a learned 
 man, nor a knowledge of the fciences a 
 Philofopher. But we live in an age where 
 great words impofe, and where men think 
 themfelves to be eminent geniufes, if they 
 only contrive a fett of fingular opinions. 
 Diftruft thofe Writers who employ them- 
 felves rather about the ftyle than the mat- 
 ter, and who hazard very thing for the 
 fake of furpriflng. 
 
 I mail fend you, by the firft opportunity, 
 a work upon Trigonometry ; and if it is 
 neceflary, I will prove to you geometri- 
 cally, that is to fay to a demonftration, that 
 I am always your bed friend. 
 
 ROME, aad June, 1753. 
 
 K 2 LET.
 
 1 5 5 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 LETTER LX. 
 
 TO A FRIAR OF THE MINOR CONVENTUALS, 
 
 YOU are miftaken in thinking, my 
 reverend Father, that I take no part 
 in our general Chapters. I feel a warm 
 intereft in them-, not like an ambitious 
 man who defires to obtain promotion, but 
 as a friend of our Order, who wifheth ar- 
 dently that piety and fcience may hold the 
 firft rank in it. A Superior who is only 
 learned may do much harm ; and he who 
 is only a devotee may do much more. It is 
 a moft judicious reflection of St. Therefa, 
 that there is no refource, where there is no un- 
 dsrftanding. Befides fcience and piety, a Su- 
 perior has need of a fpirit of wifdom and 
 difcernment ; for there is a great deal of 
 difference between teaching and governing. 
 It has been remarked, that all the Writers, 
 even thofe who have given the fineft leflbns 
 to Kings, have not been fit for admini- 
 ftration. Good fenfe is a furer guide 
 
 than
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 197 
 
 than fine parts, or even genius, to conduct 
 men prudently. They who have too 
 much vivacity, have too many ideas, and 
 are continually changing their refolu- 
 tions. 
 
 I employ myfdf with all pofiible zeal, 
 to have thofe chofen Superiors who are 
 fitted for governing, but without any 
 felfifh view or intrigue. I wiih. for no 
 other empire but my Cell ; and even there 
 have trouble enough to reflraiamy thoughts 
 and imagination within bounds. Man is 
 io much the puppet of his pafllons, that 
 he does not always what he would, al- 
 though always free to acl, or to remain in- 
 active. 
 
 What you defire mall be propofed in 
 the next afTemblyi an d I prefume, as far 
 as one can anfwer for a multitude of opi- 
 nions and different fpirits, that they will 
 agree to it. Truth ought naturally to 
 draw all men after it , but it prefents itfelf 
 under fo many different afpects, that every 
 one judges according to his own eyes; 
 the view varies according to our notions, 
 and according to our interefts. 
 
 K 3 Be
 
 *9 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 Be convinced that I am, as I have been, 
 always ready to oblige you, and always 
 your good friend and fervant. 
 
 LETTER LXI. 
 
 TO CARDINAL SPINELLI. 
 
 MOST EMINENT, 
 
 YOUR Eminency may be fure that 
 the book will be approved as it de- 
 ferves. It contains nothing but what is 
 moil orthodox and practicable, whatever 
 feme people, who think themfelves infpired, 
 may fay. If Pharifaical zeal was allowed 
 to govern, we mould very foon have no- 
 thing in the Church but trifling ceremony-, 
 and Religion, which is fo beautiful and 
 fublime, would become a round of fu- 
 perftitions. 
 
 People generally love thofe things which 
 do not tend to reform the heart; and 
 are pleafed with growing old without 
 rooting out bad habits, believing a few 
 prayers repeated in hafte fufficient to carry 
 them to Heaven. 
 
 It
 
 C L E M E NT XIV. 194 
 
 It is not aftonifhing . that the world 
 (hould feduce us -, but it is furprifmg that 
 men who fet thetnfelves up to oppofe its 
 maxims, do not preferve the fouls of the 
 people from this feduction. Pharifees have 
 lived in aH ages, and will continue tcrthe 
 end of the .world. They; build whitened 
 fepulchres, inftead of erecting temples to 
 the Eternal; and they lay the faithful 
 aileep, by amufing them with ceremonials, 
 which neither influence the heart nor un- 
 derftanding. 
 
 It were to be wifhed that all the world 
 faw with the fame eyes as your Emi- 
 nency. What a reformation of abufes ! 
 What abfurd ufages fupprefted ! When 
 the Paftor nourilheth himfelf with the 
 Holy Scripture,, the Councils, and the Fa- 
 thers, there is no danger of his Diocefe be- 
 coming fuperilitious. Muratori faid, that 
 trifling devotions for the moft part refembled 
 the ccmpqfitions for taking cut ftains^ wbicb 
 lejfen the fpot only in appearance, but , in faH* 
 make it larger. 
 
 Although loaded with bufmefs, I will 
 
 prove to you, my Lord, by charging my- 
 
 felf with whatever commands you pleafe 
 
 K 4 to
 
 400 LETTERS OF GANG A NELL I, 
 to lay upon me, that I will never refufe 
 the happinefs of convincing you of the 
 profound refpect with which I am, &c, 
 ROME, 3d July, 175*. 
 
 LETTER LXII. 
 
 TO THE ABBE LA MI. 
 
 I DO not know how I mail be able to 
 recoiled myfelf in the midil of the dif- 
 orders which reign in my Cell and in my 
 head. Erery thing is pell-mell there: 
 one muft write to a methodical Author, 
 like you, to unravel fuch a chaos. 
 
 If you had characterifed the poetic ge- 
 nius of each nation, your laft letter would 
 bave been a mafter-piece,. The Italians 
 are not fuch Poets as the Englifh, nor the 
 Germans fuch as the French. They re- 
 femble each other in principles, but they 
 cliffer in fervency and enthufiafm. The 
 German poefy is a fire which fhines j the 
 French, a firs that fparkles j the Italian,. 
 
 afire
 
 CLEMENT XIV. aoi 
 
 a fire that burns ; and the Englilh, a fire 
 that blackens. 
 
 We accumulate too many images in our 
 pieces in verfe ; and were we lefs prodigal 
 of them, they would make a more lively 
 imprefiion. Nothing awakens the reader 
 better than furprife ; and that cannot hap- 
 pen when thofe things are too often multi- 
 plied which produce this effect. 
 
 Happy the fober fpirit, which in poetry,, 
 as in profe, is delicately fparingin epiibdes 
 and defcriptions ! I foon grow tired in a 
 garden in which I fee cafcades and thickets 
 every where ; but am charmed with groves 
 and pieces of water difcovered by chance. 
 Violets appear infinitely more beautiful, 
 when feen only, by halves under a thick 
 foliage. A flower withdrawing from the 
 view excites our curiofity. 
 
 There is nothing beautiful but by com- 
 parifon. If .every thing was equally mag- 
 nificent, the eyes would foon grow tired 
 with continued admiration. Nature, which 
 ought to be the model of all writers, varies 
 her objects fo as never to fatigue, the fight : 
 the richeft meadow is found in the neigh- - 
 K 5. bourhoodi
 
 aos LETTE'RS OF GANGANELLI, 
 bourhood of the fimpleft valley , and fre- 
 quently a charming river at the fide of 
 a gloomy hill. 
 
 Repeat thefe leflbns, my dear Abbe, to 
 correft our Poets, if poffible, of their 
 profufion of beauties, which refemble heaps 
 of gold piledup withouteitherorder or tafte. 
 Your detached fheets are admired as much 
 as your genius ; and when a Journalift has 
 acquired this double fame, he may talk 
 like a matter, with a certainty of being at- 
 tended to. 
 
 When I was a young fcholar, I loft one 
 of my companions, to whom fympathy had 
 ftrongly united me. Alas ! after having 
 taken many folitary walks together, and 
 made many reflections upon things which 
 we knew not at that time, but wilh- 
 cd to know, he died ; and I thought I 
 could not find a better way of aflu aging 
 my forrows, than by addrefling fome 
 verfes to him, from a conviction which I 
 then had, and ftill have, that we only 
 change one life for another when we ap- 
 pear to die, 
 
 I chiefly
 
 CLEMENT XfV. aoj 
 
 I chiefly praifed his candour and piety, 
 for he was a model of virtue. But the 
 fault of this evdogium, as I was made to- 
 obferve, was its being overloaded with 
 defcription. I introduced all the beau- 
 ties of the country, and did not give my 
 reader time to breathe. It was a tree 
 choaked with leaves and branches* where 
 there was no fruit to be feen. 
 
 From that time I never attempted any 
 more verfes. I contented myfelf with 
 reading the Poets, and applying myfelf to 
 know their faults and their beauties. All 
 that vexed me was, that my Poem being 
 fo full of errors, would not defcend to 
 poflerity, and that my friend on every 
 account deferved the honour of being im- 
 mortalized. 
 
 | He will never be effaced from my heart : 
 and thus it is that true friends have a re- 
 fource in fentiment, when they have not 
 fufficient genius to perpetuate the memory 
 of their affections. This is my pofition 
 in. refpecl: to you. Withdraw your atten- 
 tion from thefe thoughts of mine to fix 
 it upon the attachment I have vowed to 
 K 6 you,
 
 104 LETTERS- OF C ANG ANE LLI,. 
 you, and you will find that if I am not a- 
 good fpeaker, I am at leaft a good friend, 
 and a good fervant. Put me to the proof, 
 ROME, icth Dec. 1755. 
 
 LETTER LX1II. 
 
 TO BARON KRONECH, A GERMAN. 
 
 I DO not know, Sir, whether I mould 
 admire moft, your genius or agreeable 
 manners. Nothing can prove better than 
 your example, how eminently the Germans 
 ere endowed with the neceflary qualities 
 ibr forming friendfhips. All thofe with 
 whom I am acquainted,, have the mofl 
 amiable difpofitions in the world. 
 
 If you continue to employ yourfelf ufe- 
 fully, you will do honour to your nation v 
 and to all thofe who have known you. I 
 congratulate myfelf that an accident pro- 
 cured me the pleafure of your agreeable 
 converfation. I have always been a gainer 
 by being communicative ; for I have met 
 
 with.
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 205 
 
 with people who have merited the ftrongeft 
 attachment, or who have needed advice 
 and afilftance. 
 
 It is fo agreeable to oblige, that when 
 we are led by that motive, we cannot make 
 too great advances to thofe that fall in our 
 way. I could wifh not to fini/h this let- 
 ter, from the defire I have to entertain 
 you ; but I mufl attend prayers, and my 
 ufual employments, and am alfo afraid of 
 tiring you. Receive, then, without cere- 
 mony, the vows which I put up that I 
 may fee you again, and that I may repeat 
 how much I have the honour to be, 
 
 Tour's, &c. 
 
 I:ET-
 
 *>* LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 LETTER LXIV. 
 
 TO MONSIEUR DE LA BRUYERE, CHARGED 
 WITH THE AFFAIRS OF FRANCE, AT THE 
 COURT OF ROME. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 I CALLED at your houfe, with a de- 
 fign to Heal at leaft one hour of your 
 time, with a certainty of improving by it ; 
 but I could not penetrate into that pre- 
 cious clofet, from whence you correfpond 
 with that of Verfailles in a manner fo ho- 
 nourable for yourfelf, and advantageous 
 for your amiable nation. 
 
 I retired very fpeedily, as I have no po- 
 liticks, but that of taking care to be en- 
 gaged in none ; and I returned faying to 
 myfelf, that I ought not to appear again at 
 your houfe unlefs I am fent for* 
 
 Neverthelefs, if I knew the hour you de- 
 dicate to your good friends the Belles Let- 
 tres, I would anxioufly endeavour to ap- 
 proach you. Something would ifliie from 
 your excellent memory and brilliant ima- 
 gination.
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 107 
 
 gination, which would embellifh mine, 
 and ferve to diftinguifh me in fociety. 
 
 I always regret having heard but 
 half the reading of a certain manufcript, 
 where Rome, Ihewn as fhe is, moft amply 
 fatisfies the curiofity. There the flowers are 
 mixt with the fruit, and it is the moft a- 
 greeable bafket which can be prefented to 
 people of tafte. My foul is impatient to 
 hear the reft. I know you are too obliging 
 not to fatisfy her defire. 
 
 You could not have chofen a happier 
 epoch than the reign of Benedict XIV. 
 to paint Rome to advantage. It feems as 
 if he revived this City in the eyes of Fo- 
 reigners, and that the Sciences refume 
 frefh luftre to pay their court to 
 him : fo true it is, that a Monarch only is 
 wanted to give life and motion even to 
 things that are inanimate. 
 
 If by great accident there happens to 
 be one hour with which you are embar- 
 rafled, fend for Ganganelli, and he will 
 prove to you that there is neither ftudy, 
 bufmefs, nor vifit, which can detain him, 
 
 whea
 
 SOS LETTERS OF GANGANELLT, 
 when he is called upon to prove the zeal 
 with which he has the honour to be, &c.. 
 , ad March 1753, 
 
 LETTER LXV. 
 
 TO THE SAME. 
 
 INDEED you are too generous, wheiv 
 you would give me three hours of 
 your time, and leave them to my own 
 choice. To-morrow, then, fmce you al- 
 low me, I will go and enjoy the benefit of 
 your kindnefs. It would be in vain to 
 whifper to my Genius, to deck herfelf out. 
 for this interview with all the elegance me 
 is miftrefs of-, for me muft be content with 
 admiring you in filence. Timidity, with a 
 confcioufnefs of poflefling but few or tri- 
 fling accomplimments, will hinder her from 
 appearing to the leaft advantage before 
 you. You mufl therefore expect to be at. 
 the whole expence of the entertainment 
 yourfelf ; and no one but you, who are as 
 
 modeft
 
 C 'L E M E N T XIV. 20* 
 
 modeft as you are well informed, will 
 repine at it. 
 
 Notwithftanding all the pleafure I mail 
 have in waiting on you, I mould ftill have 
 more, if the Duke de Nivernois is yet 
 with you, whofe foul and genius is uni- 
 verfally admired. He is one who is only 
 learned with the learned, and whofe fcience, 
 if we may ufe the expreflion, is interwoven 
 with rofes and jefTamine. 
 
 I will communicate a production of one 
 of our young Monks to you, which will 
 convince you that there is not only learn- 
 ing, but likewife genius to be met with 
 in the Cloifter, when talents are exercifed 
 as if they were encouraged. Plants that 
 have been thought barren, have fometimes 
 produced molt excellent fruit. 
 
 I have the honour, &c, 
 
 ROME, 3d March, 1753. 
 
 LET?
 
 tlo LETTERS OF G AN aANELLT, 
 
 LETTER LXV. 
 
 TO CARDINAL OJJIRINI, BISHOP OF 
 BRESCIA. 
 
 MOST EMINENT, 
 
 YOUR Erninency does me too much 
 honour, and has too good an opi- 
 nion of my weak abilities* when you deign 
 to afk me how Theology mould be Ihidied 
 and taught. 
 
 Formerly th^re was .only one way of un- 
 folding that fublime fcience, which having 
 its fource in God himfelf, fpreads in 
 the midft of the church like a majeftic 
 and moft abundant River -j and that was 
 called the Pojitive. 
 
 From the refpect which was paid to the 
 facred doctrines of the Holy Scriptures, 
 the Councils, and the Fathers, the Pro- 
 fefibrs of Theology were undoubtedly con- 
 tent to place morals and the evangelical 
 opinions quite fimply before the eyes of 
 the iludents. Thus the Commandments 
 
 of
 
 CLEMENT XIV. an 
 
 of God were propofed formerly to the Jews 
 without a commentary, and they treafured 
 them up in their hearts and memories, as 
 what ought principally to engage them, 
 and be the means of their happinefs. 
 
 The Church, although feated upon the 
 Holy Mountain whofe foundations are eter- 
 nal, has been always agitated by tempefts, 
 and has feen rebellious children fpringing 
 from her bowels, from time to time, who 
 had learnt the delufions of fophiftry , and 
 it was their artful language whieh obliged 
 the Defenders of the Faith to afiume the 
 method of fyllogifm. 
 
 All the world knows the time when 
 certain teachers were obliged to arm them- 
 felves with enthymemes and fyllogifms, to 
 drive thofe heretics from their laft en- 
 trenchments, who cavilled at the mean- 
 ings of the Scripture, and at all its terms. 
 
 Thomas, that Angel of the Schools, and 
 Scotus, that fubtile Doctor, thought they 
 muft make ufe of the fame form -, and 
 their method, fupported by their mining 
 reputation, infenfibly^ prevailed in the 
 Univerfities. 
 
 But
 
 2 j* LETTERS OF GANGAJTELLT, 
 
 But as every thing commonly degene- 
 rates, it was not pofiibie to keep t\\e pojiti-ve 
 Theology in ufe ; and the manner of teach- 
 ipg in the Schools, which thence -got the 
 name of fcholaftic^ lan too often upon 
 words and diilindlions. I hey perplexed 
 every thing from their folicitude to clear 
 up every thing,, and often replied to no- 
 thing, from their defire to anfwer all. 
 
 Befides that this wrangling only fuited 
 Philofophy, it had the appearance of ren- 
 dering the moil certain things problema- 
 tical : and this was the more unhappy, as 
 they agitated fome ridiculous queftions, 
 and fplit upon myfteries, whofe fublimity 
 and depth ought to have flopped every 
 man of reflection. 
 
 However, as the Scholaftic method had 
 the advantage of afiifting the memory, by 
 giving form to reafonings ; and the abufe 
 with which it is reproached, never darken- 
 ed the holy truths,, whofe reign is as 
 lafting as God himfelf ; it was thought 
 proper Hill to prefer ve it. 
 
 I have always thought, my Lord, that 
 the Scholaftic manner mo'dified, as it is 
 
 taught
 
 C L E M E N T XIV. 213 
 
 taught at the Sapienza in Rome, and in 
 -the firft fehools of the chriftian world, 
 might fubfift without enervating morals, 
 or altering doctrines, provided the Pro- 
 fefibrs be men of found underftanding, 
 and not apt to miftake fimple opinions 
 for articles of Faith. 
 
 Nothing is more dangerous than to 
 give as a matter of faith, what is only a 
 matter of opinion, and to confound a 
 pious belief with a thing which is re- 
 vealed. The true Theologift employs 
 only real and folid diftinftions, and draws 
 no confequences but from clear and pre- 
 cife principles. 
 
 A truth is never better eftablimed than 
 by the univerfal approbation of all the 
 Churche's, which is a circumftanee the 
 greater part of modern Theologians do not 
 fufficiently attend to. The tenets of the 
 Eucharift never appeared more folidly efta- 
 blimed, than when the doctrines on that 
 fubjecl: among the Roman Catholics and 
 the Greek fchifmaticks were fhewn to be 
 fo Jimilar. 
 
 Theology,
 
 ai 4 LETTERS OF GANGANELLl, 
 
 Theology, to be folid and fhining, that 
 is to fay, to preferve its moft efiential at- 
 tributes, needs only a clear and fimple ex- 
 pofition of all the articles of the Faith, 
 and then it will appear fupported by all 
 its proofs, and all its authorities. 
 
 If Theologians would eftablifh, for ex- 
 ample, the truth of the myftery of the In- 
 carnation, they muft fhew that God, who 
 could not act but for himfelf, had in view 
 at the creation of the world, the Eternal 
 Word by whom the world was made ; and 
 tt>at in forming Adam^ as Tertullian fays, he 
 traced out the lineaments of Jefus Cbrift. 
 This is conformable to the doctrine of St. 
 Paul, who declares in the moft expreis 
 manner, that all exifts in the Divine Me- 
 diator, and fubfifts only by him. Omnia 
 per ipfum & in ipfo conftant. 
 
 They prove afterwards by the types and 
 the prophecies, whofe authenticity they 
 mew, that the Incarnation is their object, 
 and that there is nothing in thefe holy 
 books which does not relate to it, directly 
 or indirectly : then they mew the time and 
 the place where this ineffable myftery was 
 accomplimed, examining the character of 
 
 the
 
 'CLEMENT XIV. nj 
 
 'the figns which accompanied it, the wit- 
 nefTes who attefted it, the wonders which 
 followed it, and difplay all the traditions 
 upon that fubject 
 
 They next demonftrate the autho- 
 rity of the Fathers of the Church, the 
 force of their reafonings, the fublimity 
 of their comparifons ; and employ the 
 fcholaftic method to unravel the fophif- 
 tries of herefiarchs, to combat and con- 
 quer them with their own weapons. 
 
 Thus Pofitive theology refembles a mag- 
 nificent garden, and theScholaftic method 
 of reafoning is a hedge (luck with thorns, 
 to prevent noxious animals from getting 
 in and ravaging it. 
 
 If I taught only the Scholaftic method 
 'when I was Lecturer in theology, it \vas be- 
 'caufe, being of the fame brotherhood with 
 Scotus, I could not decline teaching after 
 liis method. An individual cannot change 
 the mode of inftruction in an Order of 
 which he is a member, but with an ill 
 grace; it might be often attended with 
 bad confequences not that we mould 
 fervilely embrace fantaftical opinions. 
 
 For
 
 4i6 LETTERS OF GANGANBLLT, 
 
 For you, my Lord, who, in quality of 
 Bifhop, have an inconteftible right to pre- 
 fcribe the method of teaching, and give it 
 what form you pleafe, I beg of you to re- 
 commend to your Theologians to ufe the 
 Scholaftic mode with difcretion, for fear 
 of enervating Theology. 
 
 I believe your views would be anfwered, 
 if they were to draw from the fources, in- 
 flead of limply copying from the manu- 
 fcript theologies ; and if they would be 
 content to explain the doctrines of the 
 Church without giving into difputes, or 
 party fpirit. 
 
 This fpirit is the more dangerous, my 
 Lord, as they then fubftitute their own 
 opinions for eternal truths, which every 
 one ought to refpect ; and enter into alter- 
 cations which, under pretence of fupport- 
 ing the caufe of God, extinguifh charity. 
 
 Do not permit them to fupport free 
 will, by denying the almighty power of 
 grace-, nor, by enhancing the value of that 
 ineftimable and intirely free gift, to deftroy 
 liberty ; nor from too great refpedt 
 for the Saints, to forget what they owe 
 
 to
 
 CLEMENT XIV. si? 
 
 to Jefus (Thrift. All theological truths 
 are but one, in the mariner they hold to- 
 gether ; and there are fome covered 3 with a 
 myflerious veil, which it is iinpcfTible to 
 draw afide. 
 
 The great fault of fome Theologians is 
 a defire to explain every thing, and not 
 knowing where to flop. The Apoflle has 
 told us, for example, in fpeaking of 
 Heaven, that eye hath not feen, nor ear 
 heard what God has referred for his 
 Saints ; and yet they give us a defcription 
 of Paradife as if they had juft returned 
 from thence. They afiign ranks to the 
 Chofen, and would almoft cry out " He- 
 " refy !" againft the men who mould dare 
 to contradict them. The true Theologian 
 flops where he mould ; and when a thing 
 has not been revealed, or the Church has 
 not pronounced upon it, he does not take 
 upon him to decide. There will always 
 be an impenetrable cloud between God 
 and man, till the moment of eternity. 
 
 The types ceafed with the Old Law, to 
 give place to reality ; but the evidence is 
 not to be found till after death ; fuch is 
 
 VOL. I. L the
 
 ai8 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 the oeconomy of Religion. It were to be 
 wifhcd, my Lord, that in fpeaking of 
 God they would always pronounce his 
 name with a holy fervour j not as a Being 
 whom they read, but as a Spirit whofe im- 
 menfe perfections excite the greateft re- 
 fpeft and admiration. Thus, inftead of fay- 
 ing that God would be unjuft, God would 
 be a liar, God would not be all-powerful, if 
 fch and fuch things happened j they mould 
 take care that no fuch injurious expref- 
 fions be joined to that name. Let us be 
 content to anfwer with St. Paul , " Can 
 " there.be any injuilice in God ? God for- 
 " bid :" Numauid iniquitas apud Deum ? 
 Abfit. 
 
 The name of God is fo awful and holy, 
 that it fhould never be introduced into hu- 
 man compofitions or debates. Is it not 
 enough that man may cxercife his talents 
 upon the phenomena of nature, that he 
 may difpute about the elements and their 
 effects, without making God himfelf the 
 
 jccl of his argument? 
 i'his has rendered Theology ridicu- 
 lous in the eyes of Freethinkers, and 
 
 has
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 219 
 
 has perhaps taught them to ufe the Al- 
 mighty's name in all their objections and 
 their farcafms : for how can theology, which 
 is the difplay of the wifdom of Provi- 
 dence, and the attributes of an infinite Being 
 who is all-excellent and all-powerful, ap- 
 pear to be a trifling fcience, except from its 
 being prefented without dignity ? Shall 
 the nature of a grain of fand that the 
 wind fporteth with at pleafure, of an in- 
 fed that is trod under foot, of the earth 
 itfelf which is perifhable, be fludied 
 before the knowledge of God himfelf ? 
 that God from whom we have our being, 
 in whom we live and move, before 
 whom the fea is but a drop of water, the 
 mountains a point, and the whole uni- 
 verfe an atom ? 
 
 It is with the grandeur of the immenfe 
 and Supreme Being, that the. Theologian 
 fhould begin his courfe of theology. After 
 having demonftrated his abfolute necef- 
 fary exiflence, and that it is necefiarily 
 eternal ; after having fought for the crea- 
 tion of fpirits even in his bofom ; after 
 having proved that all flows from him as 
 L 2 its
 
 -. -LETTERS OF GA:NGANELI/T, 
 
 its firft principle ; that all breathes in him 
 .as its center ; that all returns to him as its 
 -end : lie mould then display his immenfe 
 avifdom and his infinite goodnefs, from 
 AV hence refults Revelation, and the WON 
 hip k has ordained. 
 
 Then the natural law, the writtenlaw,ancl 
 the law of Grace, mould appear each in their 
 pre-eminence, and accordingto the order of 
 chronology. He mould next demonftrate 
 .how God was always worshipped by a final! 
 number in fpirit and in truth j how -the 
 Church annihilated the Synagogue, and 
 from age to age cut off thofe rebels who 
 would have corrupted its morals and opi- 
 nions ; and how, always powerful in words 
 and works, it was fupported by learned teach- 
 ers, and preferred its purity amidft the 
 moft dreadful fcandals and cruel divifions. 
 
 It is neceflary that thofe who ftudy The- 
 ology mould be edified by what is taught 
 them, and not be amufed by falfe glimmer- 
 ings, more capable of dazzling than illumi- 
 nating them. Let them be led to the pureft 
 fource under the guidance of St. Au- 
 guftinc and St. Thomas, and Ihun with 
 
 care
 
 CLEMENT XIV; mv 
 
 care whatever has the appearance of novelty j- 
 let them be infpired with a fpirit of evan- 
 gelical toleration, with a tendernefs even 
 for thofe who combat the Faith, and be- 
 imprefTed with the fpirit of Jefus Chrift, 
 which is not that of harfhnefs or o 
 tyranny. 
 
 It is not by invectives againft heretics, 
 nor by giving vent to a bitter zeal againft 
 unbelievers, that they are to be led ba^k 
 into the way of truth, but by manifefting a- 
 fincere defire for their converfion-, and irv 
 fpeaking of, to mew a fincere love for, 
 them, even at the time when their fo- 
 phiftries are to be expofed^ 
 
 It is neceffary that the ProfeiTors of^' 
 Theology mould oppofe the Pagan Theo- 
 logians to the Chriftian, as the fureft 
 means of overturning their My thology, co- 
 vering their ancient fuperftitions with per- 
 petual ridicule, and raifmg the doctrines 
 of the Incarnate Wcrd on their ruins. 
 
 It is yet more neceffary that thefe Profef- 
 fors be notfyftematical. They mould depend 
 upon the Church, tlie-Scriptures, and Tradi- 
 tion, when they teach eternal truths, becaufe 
 
 I* 3 they.
 
 a; LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 they are then deputed by the body of Paf- 
 tors to teach in their name, and to exer- 
 cife their power. 
 
 Would to God they had faithfully fol- 
 lowed this method ! The Church would 
 not have feen the moft afflicting and ob- 
 ftinate difputes arife in her bofom. Paf- 
 fion takes place of charity, and the ha- 
 tred of the Teachers produceth the moft 
 fatal effefts. 
 
 Hence it follows, my Lord, that your 
 Erninency cannot be too attentive in ap- 
 pointing moderate men as Theologians, from 
 the apprehenfion that bitter zeal may do more 
 hr.rm than good.. The fpirit of the Gof- 
 pel is a fpirit of peace, and it is not right 
 that they who preach it mould be turbu- 
 lent. 
 
 If I dare, my Lord, I would beg your 
 Eminency to compofe a body of Theology 
 which mould be the eftablifhed lefTon of 
 yourdiocefe, and would certainly be adopt- 
 ed by a number of Bifhops. The liberty 
 of the fchools mould only be allowed in 
 indifferent queftions j becaufe there is 
 only one Baptifm and one Faith. 
 
 The-
 
 CLEMENT XIV. saj 
 
 Theology fhonld not be employed to 
 exercife the genius of young people, but 
 to enlighten them, and to raiie them up, 
 even to Him who is the fulnefs and fource 
 of all light. 
 
 It will be proper to provide the fcholars 
 with the beft books relative to the doc- 
 trines which are taught them. The bed 
 way of fludying Religion, is to make them- 
 felves well acquainted with the Holy Scrip- 
 tures, the Councils, and the Fathers. 
 Such a courfe of ftudy will prevent them 
 from ftraying into the paths of error, and 
 teach them to fpeak of Chriftianity in a 
 manner worthy of the fubjecl:. 
 
 I have nothing farther to add, my Lord, 
 but that a Profeflbr of Theology mould 
 be equally learned and pious. Eternal 
 truths mould, as far as it is poflible," be 
 only heard from lips that are holy. 
 There will refult from thence a blefling 
 from heaven upon the mafter, the fcholars, 
 and an odour of life upon the whole dio- 
 cefe. Italy has always had Theologians 
 whofe life kept pace with the purity of 
 their Theology. 
 
 L 4 Excufe
 
 a*4 LETTERS OF GANG A NELL I, 
 
 Excufe my temerity, my Lord, which 
 would have been unpardonable, if your 
 Eminency had not commanded me to give 
 you my opinion. 
 
 I fubmit it wholly to your judgment, 
 having the honour to be with the moft 
 perfect obedience, and the profoundelt 
 refpeft, &c. 
 ROME, jift May, 1753. 
 
 LETTER LXVII. 
 
 TO THE COUNT DE BIELK, A SENATOR OF 
 ROME. 
 
 I WILL wait upon your moft illuflrious 
 Lordfhip as foon as I poffibly can, to 
 examine the manufcript you did me the fa- 
 vour to mention. There is no place where 
 a Monk can be more at his eafe, than with 
 your Excellency. He there finds delicious 
 retirement, exquifite books, and your 
 amiable converfation. There is nothing fo 
 agreeable in the commerce of life, as that 
 
 philo-
 
 CLEMENT XIV. sj 
 
 philofophic liberty which makes off" lervi- 
 tude, elevates itfelf above grandeur, acts 
 without conftraint, and is governed by- 
 no rule but duty. 
 
 And yet you tell me that you arc not 
 happy. Alas ! what is it you want to 
 make you fo ? Thofe haughty Romans 
 who formerly inhabited the Capitol where 
 you refide, notwithstanding their reputa- 
 tion and philofophy, poflefTed not your 
 tranquilityj they lived in the midft of 
 tempefts, and you are in the center of 
 peace : They were always in, war, and 
 Rome is how the city of which the Pro- 
 phet fpeaks, istbofe borders were peace:- 
 Qui pcfuii fines fuos pacem. 
 
 It is neither in riches nor in buftle that ' 
 we can be happy ; but in a well chofen 
 ibciety of books and friends. We are 
 undone if humour or caprice gets poffrf- - 
 fion of us , -they are our greateft eaemies. 
 
 Your Excellency has iuch reiburces in 
 your own mind, that you ought never t<? 
 complain of liftleflheis. For my part, I 
 have only a fort of dictionary knowledge 
 of that evil. But if it was at any time 
 L 5 to
 
 226 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 to intrude into my cell, I Ihould foon find 
 a remedy for it : I would come and profit 
 by your knowledge, and often repeat to 
 you the fentiments of refpect and efteern 
 with which I am, &c. 
 
 CONVENT of the HOLY APOSTLES. 
 
 LETTER LXVIIL 
 
 TO COUNT ***. 
 
 WELL, my dear friend, what are 
 you doing ? It is a long time 
 fmce I faw you , I certainly do not deferve 
 to be deprived of that pleafure. You 
 know that I willingly quit my pen, my em- 
 ployment, and my books, when you 
 come to fee me. 
 
 They who come to vifit us, have no oc- 
 cafion for our ftudies nor our bufinefs ; 
 and that is what very few reclufes think 
 of. They are only employed about them- 
 felves or their intereft, when you meet 
 them, without reflecting that they ought 
 
 to
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 227 
 
 to dedicate themfelves intirely to thofe who 
 come to feek them. 
 
 I have always made it a law to receive 
 every perfon well who honours me with a 
 vifit, even the man that comes to importune 
 me: it is fufficient that 'he is my neigh- 
 bour. Now judge after this, if you will 
 be well received. 
 
 It is almoft eighteen days fince I faw 
 the little Abbe. 1 am afraid, but I dare 
 
 not tell you that The art of being 
 
 filent is a great virtue: happy they who 
 fay nothing but what they ought to fpeak ! 
 Accuftom yourfelf to be fecret, without af- 
 feeling difcretion : a myfterious man is 
 infufferable in fociety ; and it requires 
 little fagacity eafily to penetrate the views 
 of him who always appears to keep his 
 mind to himfelf. 
 
 I am not referved, but I make nobody n;y 
 confident, with regard either to my cor- 
 refpondents or relations. Never employ 
 fmefie , it is a wretched refource, incom- 
 patible with probity, and eafily difcovcrecl. 
 
 I have been already told who the lac/ 
 
 is that is defined for you j and after the 
 
 picture which has been given of her, as n 
 
 L 6
 
 saS LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 pcrfon who has neither falfe devotion, pre- 
 tended modefty, nor fantaflical humours. 
 I think fhe will fuit you. 
 
 I will tell you more when we meet ; but 
 let it be loon, to-morrow, to-day, in- 
 ftantly. I am without referve your fer- 
 vant and beil friend, &c. 
 
 LETTER LXIX. 
 
 TO R. P. CONCINA, A DOMINICAN. 
 
 T is undoubtedy very flrange, my re- 
 verend Father, that in an age fo en- 
 lightened there fhould be Cafuifts to 
 teach the abominations which you combat. 
 They who find your zeal too bitter, do 
 not know what Religion exacts, when mo- 
 rals and opinions are attacked. In fuch a 
 cafe 'tis right to fay to you : Clama^ ne 
 ce/es f. 
 
 If the Church had never exclaimed with 
 a loud voice, every fort of error would 
 
 ^ Cry without ceaiing. 
 
 have
 
 CLEMENT XIV. aa? 
 
 have ftolen imperceptibly upon her ; but 
 whenever a heterodox or relaxed opinion 
 Itarted up, immediately the facred trum- 
 pet was founded, that Paftors might watch 
 inceflantly to flop the fource of the evil. 
 
 Your work gave me a moft fenfible plea- 
 fure. I found it in that holy zeal which 
 characterifes the Fathers of the Church. I 
 would very willingly come to fee you; but 
 your employments, like mine, prevent me 
 from gratifying the inclination I mould 
 have, to aflure you verbally of the re- 
 fpeftful confideration with which I have 
 the honour to be, &c. 
 ROME, 7th March, 1753. 
 
 LETTER LXX. 
 
 TO CARDINAL GENTILI. 
 
 MOST EMINENT, 
 
 I WILL attend exafbly at the hour your 
 Eminency hath appointed, being jea- 
 lous of proving upon every occafion how 
 much your orders are refpectable in my 
 
 fight.
 
 ajo LETTERS OF GANGANELLT, 
 
 fight. It will be impoffible for me to bring 
 the writing you mention, as it is not finifh- 
 ed ; but I will endeavour to fupply what is 
 wanting from my memory. Sometimes it 
 _ferves me very well. I am with the pro- 
 foundeft refped, 
 
 Your Eminency's, &c. 
 ROME, yth March 1753. 
 
 LETTER LXXI. 
 
 TO MONSIGNOR ZALUSKI, GRAND REFE- 
 RENDARY OF POLAND. 
 
 MY LORD, 
 
 I HAVE fruitlefly fearched for the- 
 book you afk of me: it is neither 
 in our library, nor in all Rome. It will 
 require a fagacity equal to your own to be 
 able to difcover it : for what work is there 
 which you have not dragged from its con- 
 cealment ? There is not a bock in the 
 world which does not owe you homage, or 
 
 can efcape your fearch, 
 
 You
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 23! 
 
 You will perpetuate the honour which 
 the Polifh nation hath acquired at all 
 times, by fignalizing your uncommon eru- 
 dition. We fhall never forget Copernicus 
 for Natural Philofophy, Hofius for The- 
 ology, Zalufki for Hiftory, Zamoifki for 
 the Belles-Lettres, the Fathers of the Pious 
 Schools for learning, and Sobielki for the 
 art of war. 
 
 The library which you have made pub- 
 lic, in concert with your illuftrious bro- 
 ther the Bifho of Cracow, is filled with 
 Polim writers, who diftinguifh themfelves 
 on every fubject. It is a pity fo celebrated 
 a Republic mould not encourage a love of 
 fcience among its fubjects, and that the 
 fpirit fo natural to your worthy country- 
 men mould remain uncultivated. 
 
 The wars, of which Poland has been fo 
 often the dreadful theatre, has made a 
 number of Authors mifcarry. They would 
 have penned the productions 'of their ge- 
 nius with indelible ink, as they have writ- 
 ten the proofs of their valour with their 
 own blood. 
 
 Circum-
 
 aj* LETTERS OF GANGANELLT, 
 
 Circumftances almoft always determine 
 the fate of men :~one ftifles his tafte for the 
 fciences by turning foldier ; another re- 
 commends himfelf by his learning, becaufe 
 he leads a private life; and it is Provi- 
 dence which difpofeth all for the bed: 
 fortiter fuaviterque diffonens omnia. 
 
 I wifh, my Lord, , that your love of 
 books and fcience would infpire you with a 
 defire to revifit Rome. You came formerly 
 to be inftrncted ; you will come now to 
 give leflbns, to receive the refpefls of all 
 the world, and in particular thofe of 
 
 Your moft humble, &c. 
 ROME, 9th July, 1755. 
 
 LETTER LXXIL 
 
 TO A MONK, ONE OF HIS FRIENDS* 
 APPOINTED A BISHOP. 
 
 AFTER having been an humble 
 dilciple of St. Francis, behold you 
 have got into the rank of the Apofties ! 
 It is fufficient to tell you, my dear friend, 
 
 that
 
 C L E 5! E N T XIV. ass 
 
 that you ought not toraife yourfelf to dig- 
 nity, except to be truly the fervant 
 of all -, you ought not to mine, but by 
 the luflre of your virtue. 
 
 There is not a dignity upon earth fo 
 formidable in the eyes of the Faith, as that 
 of a Biihop. He muft watch night and 
 day over the Flock of Jefus Chrift, and 
 think that he is to anfwer at his tribunal 
 for every flray fheep. He muft renew 
 himfelf, that he may not tire ; multiply 
 himfelf, that he may be every where; 
 and be alone, that he may ftudy and pray. 
 
 There are two things fo efiential for 
 Bifliops, that they cannot deferve the title, 
 without poffeffing them in an eminent de- 
 gree; Purity, to render them like the 
 Angels themfelves, and which has pro- 
 cured them that name in the Holy Scrip- 
 tures, as appears in the firft chapters of 
 the Revelations : and Knowledge, which, 
 the Gofpel itfelf, intitles them to the honour 
 of being called the light of the world. As 
 men bearing an immaculate character, they 
 ought not in the lead to have their morals (uf- 
 pecled j and are likewife obliged to preferve 
 
 others
 
 524 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 others from corruption ; and are therefore 
 called the fait of the earth. With refpect to 
 their learning, they ought to be eyes to the 
 blind) feet to tbe lame^ and the light of the 
 world. It is not fufficient that a Bifhop 
 be virtuous, and confult learned men 
 to know what he mail do , he ought to 
 be able to difcern good from evil, and 
 truth from error, for he is to judge of 
 doctrines and morals ; and if he does net 
 poflefs a talent for judging, he will not 
 have a talent for governing, and will be 
 eafily deceived. 
 
 What comforts me is, that you are fo- 
 lidly inflru<fted, and that you will fee All 
 yourfelf j which is abfolutely necefTary, 
 that you may not be the dupe of hypo- 
 crites or informers. 
 
 I do not doubt of your having already 
 meditated ferioufly upon the Epiftle of 
 Paul to Timothy, and of St. Peter to all 
 the Faithful. In the firft, you muft have 
 feen that a Biihop ought to be irreprehen- 
 fible, fober, chafte and peaceable , that he 
 may not live like thofe Prelates whofe hif- 
 tory is exactly that of the rich man 
 
 clothed
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 435 
 
 clothed in purple and fine linen, and who 
 live every day in fplendor, but leave La- 
 zarus to die at their gate. 
 
 From the fecond you will have learned 
 not to domineer over any Ecclenaftic under 
 your care ; for the fpirit of Jefus Chrift is 
 not a fpirit of dominion, but a fpirit of 
 gentlenefs and humility ; fo that a Bifhop 
 ought to look upon the Curates as his 
 equals, in the order of chriilian charity, 
 though they are not fo in that of the Hie- 
 rarchy. His houfe ought to be ever open 
 to receive them. 
 
 Do not flightly difpenfe with your fel- 
 dom preaching the word of God, remem- 
 bering what St. Paul faid, that be was not 
 fent to baptife^ but to preach. Manage 
 fo, that there be no Sacrament which you do 
 not adminifter from time to time, to mew 
 your Diocefans that you devote yourfelf to 
 them in ficknefs or in health, at their 
 births as well as at their deaths. 
 
 Above all, vifit regularly the diocefe 
 which is intrufted to you, and take care 
 that your vifits be not like tempefts which 
 
 infpire
 
 236 LETTERS OF GANGANELL^. 
 
 infpire terror, but like beneficent clews, 
 fpreading chearfulnefs and fertility. 
 
 If you find by chance any' of your af- 
 fiftants who have finned, ftretch aver him 
 the cloak of charity, to lead him back to 
 his duty by gentlenefs, and to hide the 
 fcandal as much as pomble. If it is a 
 crime, engage him fecretly to quit his 
 fituation, but fecure. a retreat for him be- 
 fore he leaves it. 
 
 I will not defire you to have a paternal- 
 tendernefs for the Monks ; That would. 
 be to offend you. You owe to them 
 what you now are, and it was at their 
 fchool that you, as well as I, learnt all- 
 that we know. Vilit them often with cor- 
 diality ; it is the way to excite a jufl emu- 
 lation among them, and to make them re- 
 fpefted. It is to do honour to one's felf,. 
 to honour thofe whofe lives are a continual 
 labour. A general who fhould defpife. 
 his officers,, would deferve the greateft con- 
 tempt himfelf. 
 
 Do not. fuffer the piety of the Faithful 
 to be fed with falfe legends, nor to be oc- 
 cupied in petty obfervances ; but teach 
 them to inftrud their flock to have re- 
 
 courfe
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 237 
 
 COttrfe conftantly to Jefus Chrift, as our 
 only Mediator, and to honour the Saints 
 only in reference to him. The method of 
 inftruftion is left to you, and you fhould 
 know what they teach. 
 
 Do not eafily confent to admit nto Or- 
 ders , becaufe Italy abounds in fupernume- 
 rary Priefts, who carry their ignorance and 
 poverty into foreign nations, debating the 
 dignity of the Priefthood, and diihonour- 
 ing their country. 
 
 Give benefices which have a charge 
 of fouls, only to .perfons of acknow- 
 ledged merit, efpecially in learning and 
 ,piety ; and pay attention to rum who has 
 long laboured, in preference to one newly 
 ordained. 
 
 Afibciate with you for the government 
 of your Diocefe thofe only who have 
 grown grey in the miniftry, and whofe 
 age, as well as virtue, will give them au- 
 thority. A Bilhop is defpifed who has 
 only young people for his fociety and 
 council, becaufe on every occafion they 
 can influence his judgement. The Pope has 
 
 only
 
 238 LETTER* OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 only one Vicar General, and confequently 
 one is fufficient for you. 
 
 Let the loweft of your titles be my Lord, 
 and thofe of Father and Servant be much 
 more dear to you ; for the fajhion of this 
 world -paffeth away, and all grandeur with it. 
 
 In fine, while in the midfl of riches 
 and honours, do not receive more than is 
 necefiary to fupply your wants, and make 
 you refpecledj reflecting, that Saint Paul 
 kept his body in fubjeftion^ and that every 
 Chriftian ought to mortify himfelf. 
 
 Above all, I fay, refide, and I fay again, 
 refide. A fhepherd who keeps at a dif- 
 tance from his flock without reafon, has 
 no right to eat. 
 
 Thefe are harm truths ; but as we can- 
 not change them, you muft either fubmit 
 to them, or abdicate. 
 
 Let the poor be your friends, your JDro- 
 thers, and your companions. You can- 
 not give too much. Alms-giving is one 
 of the molt eflential obligations of a Bifhop, 
 and muft be done in houfes, in priibns, in 
 public places, indeed eyery-where, to fol- 
 low the fteps of our Divine Saviour, who 
 
 never
 
 CLEMENT XIV. *jf 
 
 never ceafcd during his -mortal life to do 
 good. But give with chearfulnefs bilarem 
 da tor em dlligit Deus -f- and give in fuch a 
 manner that you become indigent yourfelf. 
 
 I fay nothing to you about your domef- 
 tic employments, convinced that you will 
 divide your time between prayer, ftudy, 
 and the government of your Diocefe. A 
 Bilhop never tires of reading the Scrip- 
 tures and the Fathers, when he knows their 
 value, when he doth not live in difllpation, 
 and is fenfible that a Biihopric is a for- 
 midable burden, and not a fecular dignity. 
 
 Hear all the world, and make yourfelf 
 popular after the example of our Divine 
 Mailer, who allowed even little children 
 to approach him, and fpoke to them with 
 the greateil goodnefs. Frequently vifit 
 thofe individuals of your Diocefe who have 
 met with any misfortune, that you may be 
 their help and their comfort. 
 
 It is an odious thing in a Bifliop to 
 know none but thofe of rank and fortune 
 
 f God lotctha chearful.' giver. 
 4 in
 
 240 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 in his Diocefe. The lower people mur- 
 mur, and with reafon ; for they are of- 
 ten more precious in the fight of God. 
 
 If there mould be any difpute among 
 the inhabitants of the town where your bi- 
 Ihopric lies, inftantly become a mediator. 
 A Bifhop mould know no law-fuits but 
 ihofe of other people, and labour to ac- 
 commodate them. 
 
 Examine the Ecclefiaftics, yourfelf, who 
 apply for orders, and take care that they 
 never be afked queftions that are childim, 
 or foreign to what they ought to know. 
 Take care that your ConfefTors obferve the 
 Rules of St. Charles in the Tribunal of 
 Penitence. 
 
 Do not, on pretence of bufmefs, fall 
 into the habit of going but feldom 
 to your Church. The Public will 
 not be fadsfied with fuch reafons ; they 
 defire to be edified ; and who will pray to 
 God, if the Bifhop will not ? 
 
 When you have thus filled up the mea- 
 fures of your time, you will find your- 
 felf furroumkd with a multitude of good 
 works at the hour of death. You know 
 
 that
 
 ELEMENT XIV. tyi 
 that they follow us into eternity, while 
 pride, grandeur, and titles, are loft in the 
 darknefs of the grave, and leave a fright- 
 ful void in the foul. Read often what is 
 faid to the Biihops defcribed in the Reve- 
 lations, and tremble. 
 
 I believe I have run over all the duties 
 of a Bilhop, in this letter; it is for you 
 to practife them. You have certainly faid 
 to yourfelf, and much better than I can, 
 what I have juft now reminded you of, 
 but you called upon me for my counfels. 
 They proceed, I fwear to you, from the 
 moft lively friendship and fmcere defirc to 
 fee you labour effectually toward your own 
 falvation, in labouring for that of others. 
 You are doubly obliged to it, both as 
 a Monk and a Bifhop. 
 
 , I wait your being inducted, to write to 
 you with more ceremony. Adieu ! I em- 
 brace you with all my heart. 
 
 CONVENT of the HOLY APOSTLES, 
 3oth May, 1755, 
 
 .Voi. I. M LET-:
 
 
 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 LETTER LXXIII. 
 
 TO THE ABBE LAM I. 
 
 I AM enchanted with your laft meet. 
 Your criticifm is accurate, and it is 
 thus you mould cenfure, without impa- 
 tience, caprice or partiality, according to 
 the rules of juftice and tafte. Growing 
 talents have often been difcouraged by 
 being judged with too much rigour. I 
 do not know any one work, ancient or 
 modern, which will not appear defective, 
 if you are difpofed to criticife every part 
 of it. Authors have need of the indul- 
 gence of Reviewers ; and Reviewers them- 
 felves, of the indulgence of the Public, be- 
 caufc there is nothing abfolutely perfect. 
 
 I am much obliged to you for the ac- 
 count you give us from time to time of 
 French books. Thofe of the laft age had 
 more force, but thofe of the prefent are 
 more pleafmg. It is common enough to 
 have the fine give place to the pretty ; it 
 is the diminutive which is derived from 
 
 the
 
 CLEMENT XIV. * 4 J 
 
 the fubftantive. Your eulogium of Cardi- 
 nal Lance is juftly due to him. He edi- 
 fies the whole Church by his fhining vir- 
 tues, and they are accompanied with an 
 immenfe variety of knowledge. I mould 
 be delighted, if he lived at Rome; I 
 would endeavour to merit his approbation, 
 in order to enjoy the benefit of his en- 
 lightened underftanding, He is a pupil 
 of the Congregation of St. Genevieve in 
 France, fo renowned for knowledge and 
 piety, and wore the habit of that Order 
 for fome time. 
 
 LETTER LXXIV. 
 
 TO A GENTLEMAN OF TUSCANY. 
 
 THE education you propofe giving 
 your children will be only a varniih, 
 if it is not founded upon religion. There 
 are fome occafions in the courfe of life, 
 where probity is not fufficiently ftrong to 
 refift certain temptations, and where the 
 M 2 foul
 
 344 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 foul is debafed, if it is not raifed by tire 
 firm belief of Immortality. 
 
 It is neceffary for the wifdom and hap- 
 pinefs of man, that he mould have a view 
 of the Deity from his tendereft infancy, as 
 the principle and the end of all things j 
 and reafon and faith -mould tell him, that 
 it is defcending to the rank of bcafts 
 to be without either worihip or law : he 
 fhould be made to know that Truth being 
 one, there can be only one Religion ; and 
 if our belief was not determined by au- 
 thority, every one would have his own 
 fyftem, and his own opinion. 
 
 It is not by an attention to trifling cere- 
 monies that you will make your children 
 true Chriftians. Chriftianity is the greatefr. 
 enemy to Pharifaical zeal and fuperftition. 
 The Church prefcribes duties enough 
 without our endeavouring to multiply 
 them. We too frequently neglecl: what is 
 precept, to follow what is only advice, 
 becaufe we love rather to hearken to ca- 
 price than to reafon; and becaufe pride 
 and fmgularity perfectly agree. 
 
 You
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 245 
 
 You mould take a great deal of pains 
 to elevate the fouls of your three young 
 people, and to convince them, that the 
 greateft plcafure of man is to reflect, and 
 to be confcious of his exiftence. .This is a 
 pleasure fo. fublime, and fo worthy of a 
 heavenly fpirit, that I look upon him who 
 knows not this happinefs, as a wretched, 
 cr, at leaft, an infenfible being. 
 
 The Catechifrn is furficient to teach re- 
 vealed truths : but in an age of infidelity, 
 fomething more is wanted than the Alpha- 
 bet of Religion : You fhould therefore fill 
 you children's minds with thofe pure 
 lights which difiipate the clouds of modern 
 philofophy, and the darknefs of corrup- 
 tion. 
 
 A few but folid books will make your 
 children well-informed Chnftians. Let 
 them be read lefs with an- intention to fix 
 them in the memory, than to grave them 
 on the heart. It is not necefTary to form 
 young people to defend a thefis, but to be 
 obliged as rational creatures to convince 
 themfelves of eternal truths. 
 
 M 3 When
 
 46 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 . When youth have ftudied religion from 
 its firft principles, they feldom fuffer 
 themfelves to be feduced by fophiftry 
 and impiety, unlefs the heart be intirely 
 corrupted. 
 
 You Ihould watch carefully to preferve 
 them fpotlefs, not by employing informers 
 and fpies, but by having your ears and 
 your eyes every where to imitate the Deity 
 whom we do not fee, but who feeth over 
 all. 
 
 The children ihould not perceive that 
 they are diftr lifted and obferved, for that 
 will diicourage them, and make them 
 murmur j they will conceive averfion 
 againfl thofe they ought to love, fufpect 
 an evil which they would not have thought 
 of, and feek only to deceive : Hence it is 
 that all Scholars aft only from fear, and are 
 never more pkafed than when at a diftance 
 from their Superiors. 
 
 Be lefs the mafter than the friend of 
 your children , and then they will be 
 tranfparent to your eyes, and even tell 
 their faults themfelves. Young folks have 
 a hundred times told me their griefs and 
 
 their
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 247 
 
 their errors, becaufe I always treat them 
 with mildnefs : they will give you the 
 key of their hearts, when they find that 
 you fmcerely wifh them well, and that it 
 is a pain to you to reprove them. 
 
 There are many reafons which induce 
 me to advife a domellic education, and 
 there are ftill more which hinder me from 
 perfuading you to it. Domeftic education is 
 commonlythe beft calculated tofecure their 
 morals ; but it prefents fuch a famenefs, it is 
 fo luke-warm and languid, that it difcou- 
 rages all emulation : befides, as they are 
 watched too narrowly, they more frequently 
 become hypocrites than good pupils. 
 
 Nevertheless, if you can find a Precep- 
 tor gentle, patient, fociable, and learned, 
 who can unite condefcenfion with fteadi- 
 nefs, wifdom with gaiety, temperance with 
 amiablenefs, I mould defire you to make 
 the trial, being perfuaded that you will do 
 nothing but in concert with him, and that 
 you will not feek to controul him. There 
 are too many Fathers who look upon a 
 Preceptor as a mercenary, and illiberally 
 M 4 think
 
 34,8 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 think they are his mafter, becaufe he re- 
 ceives their wages. 
 
 Truft your fons only to a man upon- 
 whom you can depend as upon your- 
 felfi but after you have found fuch a 
 man, do not hefitate to leave him entire- 
 ly mafter. Nothing difgufts a Tutor fo- 
 much, as diftruft and a diffidence of his. 
 capacity. Take care what fervants you 
 admit about your children ; it is generally 
 through them that youth are corrupted. 
 
 Manage fo as to have an amiable ferenity 
 <jonftantly mining on your face and in your 
 eyes, and that every thing be done as you . 
 would have it,, without reftraint or fear. 
 Nobody lov.es a ftorr% but all the world 
 rejoices in fine weather. 
 
 Attach pleafures to every kind of. ftudy 
 which you propofe for your fons,. by ex- 
 citing a keen defire of knowledge,, and an 
 ardent impatience of ignorance. 
 
 Take care that they, have relaxation 
 from their fludies, that their memories 
 and judgments may not grow tired., 
 "When difguft. is joined with ftudy, they 
 
 conceive
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 249 
 
 conceive an averfion to books, and figh af- 
 ter idlenefs and fupinenefs. 
 
 Inftruct them by making them love 
 your documents, not by the fear of pu- 
 nimments -, and for this purpofe take 
 care to enliven them by fome little hifto- 
 ries or fallies, which may awaken atten- 
 tion. I knew a young man at Milan who 
 became fuch a lover of ftndy, that he 
 looked upon holidays as neceffary for re- 
 laxation, but confidered them, as days of 
 forrow : his books were his pleafure and 
 his treafure. It was a good Prieft who by 
 gaiety, and the refources of his imagi- 
 nation, had infpired him with a love for 
 works of tafte and learning. He would 
 have been one of the moft learned men in 
 Europe, if death had not flopped him in 
 his career. 
 
 Adapt their ftudies to their times of life, 
 and do not think of making them Meta- 
 phyficians at twelve years old: That is not 
 educating young people,, but teaching 
 words to Parrots. 
 
 Learning is like food. The ftomach 
 
 of a child requires light nourilhment ; and 
 
 M. 5 - it
 
 85 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 it is only by degrees that he is ac- 
 cuftomed to more folid or fubftantial 
 diet. 
 
 Never fail to let an amufing fucceed a 
 ferious book, and to intermix poetry with 
 profe. Virgil is not lefs eloquent than 
 Cicero , his defcriptions, images, and 
 expreflions, give fancy and elocution to 
 thofe who poffefs it not naturally. Poetry 
 is the perfection of language ; and if peo- 
 ple do not apply to it while they are young, 
 they never acquire a tafte for it. It is im- 
 pofilble, after a certain age, to read verfe 
 long, without having a real tafte for poetry. 
 
 Neverthelefs, moderate the ftudy of the 
 Poets; for, befides that they very often take 
 liberties contrary to good morals, it is 
 dangerous to love them too much. A 
 young man who only fpeaks and raves of 
 verfe, is infupportable in company ; he is 
 both a fool and a madman. I except 
 thofe whofe genius is only proper for effays 
 or exercifes of this kind , and then they 
 are recompenfed for this enthufiafm, by 
 the honour of becoming like Dante, Ari- 
 
 ofto,
 
 CLEMENT XIV. aji 
 
 ofto, Tafib, Metaftafio, Milton, Corneiile, 
 or Racine. 
 
 Let the hiftory of the world, nations, 
 and countries, be made familiar to your 
 children, without becoming a dry fludy ; 
 it mould be accompanied with fhort and 
 precife reflections, to teach them how to 
 confider events with judgment, and to ac- 
 knowledge anUniverfal Agent, of whom all 
 mankind are but the inftruments, and all 
 revolutions the combined and foreknown 
 effects of his eternal decrees. 
 
 Hiftory is only an inanimate reading, if 
 they attend only to the dates and facts ; 
 but it is a book full of life, if they obferve 
 the playing of the paffions, the fprings of 
 the foul, the movements of the heart, and 
 efpecially if they difcover a God, who, al- 
 ways mafter of events, produces, directs, 
 and determines them, according to his 
 good pleafure, and for the accomplifh- 
 ment of his fublime purpofes. 
 
 Our carnal eyes fee in this world 
 
 only a veil, which covers the actions of our 
 
 Creator - t but the eyes of faith fhew us, 
 
 M 6 that
 
 *S* LETTERS OF GANG A NELL I, 
 
 that whatsoever happens is from one caufe y 
 and that this caufe is truly God. 
 
 Take care that a good Rhetorician 
 gives a tafte of true eloquence to your fons v 
 rather by example than by precept. Make 
 them comprehend, that what is- really beau- 
 tiful does not depend upon either modes 
 or times ; and that if there are different 
 ways of exprefling things according to dif- 
 ferent ages, there is only one of conceiv. 
 ing them properly. 
 
 Guard them againft that childifh elo- 
 quence, which, playing on words, is dif- 
 gufting to true tafte , and perfuade them- 
 that no gigantic ideas or expreffions ever 
 enter into an elegant difcourfe. , Altho' we 
 ought never to be fated of true eloquence,, 
 man is fo fantailical as to be glutted with 
 it ; and it is owing to this, that we fee a 
 fingular and trifling diction preferred to the 
 commanding language of the orators of 
 the lad age. 
 
 There are jmen and periods of time 
 which have eftablifhed the ftandard of 
 tafte in every thing; and it is on their 
 productions that the eyes of your childrea 
 
 fhould
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 
 0iould be conftantly fixed, as the beft 
 dels ; not, however, to make themfelves- 
 flaves, for they fhould not be fervile imi- 
 tators of any perfon. 
 
 I love that the fancy fhould take wing,, 
 and aft from, itfelf, inftead of being a 
 copy for want of invention. We have 
 men of fine parts ; and we mould have 
 men of genius, if they did not too me- 
 chanically follow the beaten road. He 
 knows little, who knows only one path. 
 The fpirit of invention is inexhauftible, 
 when we dare make the attempt. I often 
 tell young people who are under my care, 
 4 * Be yourfelves ; think in your own way." 
 It is a melancholy thing to employ young 
 people, for whole years, in learning no- 
 thing but the art of repeating. 
 
 When your children have acquired the 
 age of maturity, then is the time to fpeak 
 to them, as a friend, of the nothingnefs of 
 the pleafures in which the world places its 
 happinefs ; of the misfortunes in which 
 they engage us ; the remorie they excite ^ 
 the injury they do both to body and foul j. 
 
 th*
 
 154 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 the abyfs they dig under our fleps, while 
 they appear only to fcatter flowers. 
 
 It will be no difficult matter for you to 
 point out to them the dangerous rocks of 
 fenfuality, either by vigorous exprefiions, 
 or ftriking examples ; and to perfuade them 
 that without idlenefs, the greater part of 
 the pleafures to which people addict them- 
 felves fo immoderately, would have no 
 attractions. In idlenefs, as in fleep, they 
 form to themfelves the mofl brilliant ideas, 
 and reprefent a thoufand agreeable chi- 
 meras which have no exiflence. 
 
 When a fon is perfuaded that a father 
 talks only reafon to him, and folely from 
 tendernefs, he hearkens to him, and his 
 advice produces the beft effects. 
 
 Laftly, after having erected this edi- 
 fice, there ftill remains what I look up- 
 on as the mod difficult of all ; I mean, 
 the choice of a profefiion. This is com- 
 monly the touchflone of fathers and mo- 
 thers, and the moft critical point for chil- 
 dren. 
 
 If you will be perfuaded by me, you 
 wiil give them a year to themfelves to re-
 
 CLEMENT XIV. ftjj 
 
 fletft upon the kind of life that fuits them, 
 before you fpeak to them of one profef- 
 fion in preference to another. The good 
 education they will have received, the 
 knowledge they will have acquired, will 
 naturally lead them to a happy ifiue j and 
 there will be good reafon to hope they will 
 then decide for themfelves, according to 
 their inclinations, and according to reafon. 
 It will then be neceflfary to fpeak fre- 
 quently to them of the advantages and 
 difadvantages of the different conditions 
 of life, and to let them know how much 
 their temporal and eternal interefl is con- 
 cerned in the faithful difcharge of their 
 duty. The facerdotal and monkifh pro- 
 feffions furnim ample matter upon the 
 ineflimable happinefs they muft tafte who 
 are truly called to them j and the terrible 
 calamities which they muft experience, who 
 have the ramnefs to embrace them with- 
 out any but worldly views. The rank 
 of an Officer or a Magiftrate pre- 
 fents a multitude of duties to difcharge , 
 and it is fufficient to lay thefe duties be- 
 fore
 
 5j LETTERS OF GANG A NELL I, 
 
 fore them, to convince them of their im- 
 portance. 
 
 After thefe precautions, and after hav- 
 ing often implored the affiftance of Heaven, 
 your fons will enter refolutely upon the 
 plan of Life they have chofen; and you will, 
 have the confolation of being able to fay, 
 before God and man, that you have re- 
 garded their inclinations and their li- 
 berty. Nothing is fo fatal as for fathers to 
 thwart the inclinations of their children ; 
 they expofe them 'to perpetual repinings, 
 and themfelves to the moft bitter re- 
 proaches, and even imprecations, which 
 they have unfortunately deferved. 
 
 Since Providence has given you wealth, 
 and you were born in a diflinguiihed rank, 
 you mould fuppcrt your fons according 
 to theirfortune and condition , letting them,, 
 however, always feel ibme wants, and keep- 
 ing, them always within the bounds of mo- 
 deration, to teach them that this life is not 
 the ftate of our happinefs, and that the 
 higher they are raifed, the lefs ought they 
 to become proud. Take care to give them 
 money, that they may learn from your- 
 
 fclf
 
 CLEMENT XIV. *jr 
 
 &lf not to become mifcrs, and that they 
 may have it in their power to ailifl the un- 
 fortunate. It will be proper to obierve 
 with your own eyes, the ufe they make of 
 it ; and if you find them addicted either to. 
 avarice or prodigality, you fhould leiTen 
 their allowance. 
 
 J_,aftly, my dear and refpectable friend, 
 attend more to. the hearts than the under- 
 Handings, of your fons : if the heart is. 
 good, all will go well. 
 
 Circumftances mud teach you how to 
 govern them ; you mould appear fometimes 
 indulgent, at other times fevere, but al- 
 ways juft and candid. Thofe young peo- 
 ple who will not be wife are diftrefled by 
 a fpirit of equity, becaufe they find, 
 againft their inclination, that they cannot 
 reply. 
 
 Leave them a liberal freedom, fo that 
 their father's houfe may not be their laft 
 choice ; it is neceffary that they mould be. 
 happier there than elfewhere, and find 
 thofe pleafures which may reafonably be 
 expected from a parent who, though a 
 friend to order, is indulgent from affection.
 
 >5 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 My pen hurries me on in fpite of me ; 
 as if it had fentiment, and relimed the 
 pleafure which I tafte in fpeaking to 
 you of your dear children, whom I love 
 better than myfelf, and a little lefs than 
 you. May God heap his bleflings upon 
 them, and they will be what they ought to 
 be ! The education which you will give 
 them, muft blolTom to eternity. There 
 it is that parents reap the fruit of the good 
 advice they have given to their children,, 
 and that worthy fathers find themfelves, 
 with their worthy fons, to be for ever 
 happy. 
 
 ROME, i6th Aug. 1753. 
 
 LETTER LXXV. 
 
 TO THE PRELATE CERATI. 
 
 IF this letter was to carry all my fenti- 
 ments, you would not find it a light 
 one ; for I would load it with all the efteem, 
 all the attachment, and all the admiration 
 I am capable of, to convince you, more 
 
 than
 
 CLEMENT XIV. ajj 
 
 than ever, how much I revere, and how 
 much I love you. 
 
 1 have feen the Auguftine Monk whom 
 you recommended to me, and have found 
 him, as you told me, full of the Fathers of 
 the Church. They are upon his lips, they 
 are in his heart, and he is the man in the 
 world that we can perufe with the greateft 
 pleafure, when his full value is known. 
 His hero is, with reafon, St. Auguftine, 
 becaufe he was an univerfal teacher, em- 
 bracing all Science, and was fingularly 
 favoured by it. Excellent encomiums 
 have been made upon that incomparable 
 man ; but he has not been praifed as he 
 deferves. Some time ago I advifed an 
 Ecclefiaftic who confulted me about 
 compofmg a panegyric on that great Saint, 
 to fay nothing of his own, but to extract 
 all from the holy Father's writings, think- 
 ing that Auguftine himfelf only was capable 
 of praifingSt. Auguftine worthily. He has 
 followed my advice j and we have feen the 
 moft fublime and affecting paflages of this 
 great Teacher compofe his eulogium. It was 
 extremely well connected, though here and 
 
 there
 
 6o LETTERS OF GANG A NELL I, 
 
 there interrupted with exclamations and 
 ejaculations, which affefted the audience. 
 When will our Rhetoricians and our 
 Preachers know that true eloquence does 
 not confift either in being witty or elegant ; 
 but in an expreffion of the foul, an ebulli- 
 tion of the heart, which burns, aftonifnes,. 
 and works wonders 2 
 
 There are certain moments where the 
 great Orators feem neither to have ftyle 
 nor words, left the fublimity mould be 
 altered by fludied phrafes. 
 
 There are people who put themfelves" 
 into an alemlic to be eloquent, and no- 
 thing iffues from that operation but forced 
 conceits and bombaft phrafes , whereas, if 
 they would give themfelves up to the 
 energy of their hearts, they would have 
 golden tongues. 
 
 I find nothing but elegance in almoft 
 all the writings of the times, and yet they 
 are very far from being eloquent. Ele- 
 gance pleafes, but eloquence captivates; 
 and when it is natural, it amalgamates it- 
 felf with all the beauties of nature and 
 genius, to Ihew them in all their luilre,
 
 C L E M E N T XFV. *$< 
 
 <and according to truth : it is, in a word, 
 .fuch as that part of your compofition 
 which you iliewed me fome time ago, 
 where I could fee the true touch of De- 
 mofthenes, notwithftanding the immenfe 
 interval which has paiTed from his time to 
 your's. 
 
 Nothing is more admirable than to 
 approach to the Ancients, and, notwith- 
 ftanding the diftance of time, to adhere 
 ftrongly to them, as j if you were their co- 
 temporary ; for it muft be confeffed, that 
 they have reaped all, and we come only to 
 glean. 
 
 I was requefted fome time ago to com- 
 pofe a Scientific Difcourfe, which was to be 
 placed at the head of a book of Geometry. 
 I collected my whole force, and in the 
 ebullition of a work which lafted more than 
 a week, 1 thought I had produced fome- 
 thing very interefting and quite new ; but 
 I cannoc tell you how I was furprifed and 
 humbled to find all my thoughts fcattered 
 over a few pages of the Ancients. In the 
 mean time I was no plagiary -, but the 
 mind of man having only one circle, all ge- 
 nerations
 
 d LK-rTERS OF GANGANELLf, 
 
 nerations nearly refemble each other in 
 their manner of thinking, although the 
 tints may confiderably differ. 
 
 I have lately had a perfon, of the name 
 of Sagri, prefented to me, juft come from 
 the fchools of Pifa , he appears to have 
 where-withal to make a confiderable figure. 
 But into what hands will he fall ? The 
 moment a young man leaves College, is the 
 inftant which decides his fate : and all ei- 
 ther proves abortive, or all comes to good. 
 I have feen fome who have gained all the 
 prizes, and have been mentioned with ho- 
 nour as true Coriphaeus's, yet, notwith- 
 ftanding all this emphatic admiration, have 
 become lefs than nothing. They have 
 been entangled by criminal pleafures, or 
 engaged in mechanical employments ; or 
 their talents, after having made an effort, 
 were exhaufted by the laborious opera- 
 tion, and could produce nothing more. 
 They are like too early fruit, which 
 charms by the gaiety of the colours and 
 the novelty, but is blighted at the mo- 
 ment you admire, and are difpofed to ga- 
 ther it. 
 
 4 What
 
 CLEMENT XIV. <* 
 
 \Vhat a deal of trouble before the mind 
 arrives at perfection ! All that I know is, 
 that mine thinks it has gained it, when it 
 mares with yours by a communication of 
 ideas, and that it puts me in a fituation to 
 repeat my fentiments of attachment and 
 refpect, &c. 
 
 ROME, *7th Aug. 1754. 
 
 LETTER LXXVI. 
 TO CARDINAL QJJIRINI. 
 
 MOST EMINENT, 
 
 THE different reflections which your 
 Eminency has made upon the diffe- 
 rent ages that have pafs'd from the be- 
 ginning of the world, are worthy of fuch 
 a genius as yours. I think I fee Reafon 
 weighing all thefe ages, fome like ingots, 
 others like leaves of tinfel. In fact, there 
 are fome fo folid, and others fo light, that 
 they make the moft aftonifhing contraft. 
 Our's, without contradiction, is more 
 marked than any other by its lightnefs ; 
 
 but
 
 **4 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 fcut it p'eafes, it feduces, efpecially by 
 the good offices of the French, who have 
 given it an elegance, which, in fpite of us, 
 we find agreeable. 
 
 The Ancients would have murmured, 
 and with reafon ; neverthelefs, if they had 
 lived in our times, they would have fuffer- 
 ed themfelves to be led away as we are, and 
 been as well amufed with our trifling dif- 
 -courfe and airy writings. 
 
 The antient Roman tafte and correct- 
 jiefs might not perhaps have relifhed fuch 
 flight compofitions ; but the Romans of 
 thefe days are not fo nice as formerly. 
 French elegance has parTed the Alps, and 
 we have received it with complacency, at 
 the very moment we were criticifmg it. 
 
 Your Eminency, who loves the French, 
 has certainly looked with a forgiving eye 
 upon their prettinefs? though it might 
 have offended the fuperior tafte of the an- 
 cient manners. There is no evil but may 
 be found collectively in all ages , there 
 are fparks and flames, lillies and blue- 
 bottles, rains and dews, ftars and meteors, 
 rivers and rivulets, which is a perfect pic- 
 4 ture
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 265 
 
 ture of nature -, and to judge of the world 
 and of times, you muft unite the different 
 views, and make but one piece of the 
 whole. 
 
 The ages do hot all refemble one an- 
 other-, it is their variety which helps 
 us to judge ; without this difference there 
 "would be no comparing. I know we mould 
 prefer living in an age which prefenteft no- 
 thing to the view but what was great ; bat 
 we muft take the times as they come, and 
 not continually regret the paft, in being 
 tied to the chariot-wheels of the Ancients. 
 Let us endeavour to preferve their tafle, 
 and we mall have nothing to fear from our 
 own futility. 
 
 We cannot look without horror upon 
 the gulph from whence the times ifTue, 
 and that into which they are precipitating. 
 What a number of years, months, days, 
 hours, minutes, and feconds, are abforbed 
 by eternity, which is always the fame, 
 and remains immoveable in the midft 
 of changes and revolutions ! It is a 
 rock in the midft of the Sea, againft 
 which the waves beat in vain. We are 
 VOL. L N bur
 
 a6 LETTERS OP GANGANEJLLI, 
 but like grains of fand, with which the 
 wind fporteth, if we do not attach our- 
 felves immoveably to that point of fup- 
 port. It is there your Eminency hath caft 
 anchor, and which has made you under- 
 take fo many learned writings that all 
 Europe admires, and religion applauds. 
 
 I never am tired with reading the ac- 
 count of your travels, efpecially the de- 
 fcriptions you have given of Paris and 
 France. Befides that the Latin may be 
 compared with that of St. Jerome, there 
 are admirable reflexions on every thing 
 which your Eminency has met with. What 
 a penetrating eye is your's ! It fearches 
 the eflence of things, the fubflance of 
 writings, and the fouls of the writers. 
 You have had the happinefs to tee feveral 
 great men at Paris who are ftill alive, the 
 precious remains of the age of Louis XIV. 
 and who muft have convinced you that 
 that age has not been exalted beyond its 
 merit. 
 
 Nothing opens the mind fo much as 
 travels , 1 read them as much as I can ; 
 that I may make my thoughts range, tho* 
 
 3 wy
 
 CLEMENT XfV. z6f 
 
 my body is fedentary. What I am certain 
 of is, that I am often in idea at Brefcia, that 
 town which y our Lordlhip enriches by your 
 example and precepts, and where you hourly 
 receive homage, to which I unite, with all 
 jny foul, the profound refpect with 
 I am, &c. 
 
 ROME, zoth Dec. 
 
 LETTER LXXVII. 
 
 TO CARDINAL BANCHIERL 
 
 MOST EMINENT, 
 
 IH A V E not yet feen the perfon from 
 Fcrrara whom your Eminency deigned 
 to recommend to me ; but I have neverthe- 
 lefs announced him to the Keeper of the 
 Ara Cr/;, who will do every thing in his 
 power to prove to you how much the in- 
 tereft you feem to have in this perfon, is 
 dear to him. 
 
 I wifh my employments would allow 
 
 vme to take a journey to Ferrara, that 
 
 town fo celebrated for many events, and 
 
 N 2 which
 
 a63 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 which has the happinefs to pofTefs your 
 Eminency, and the afhes of Ariofto. My 
 firft care would be to go and vifit them. 
 Some poetic fparks would ifiue forth and 
 feize me, and enable me to allure you in 
 verfe, as well as in profe, that nothing 
 can equal the profound relpecl with which 
 I am, &c. 
 
 ROME, 7th January, 1755. 
 
 LETTER LXXVIII. 
 TO A CANON OF MILAN. 
 
 S I R, 
 
 A PANEGYRIC on Saint Paul is 
 no fmall undertaking. It requires 
 a foul equal to the Teacher of the Gen- 
 tiles, to celebrate him in a manner worthy 
 of him. His eulogium is the eulogium 
 of Religion i they are fo efTentially united, 
 that they cannot be praifed feparately. 
 
 You find in this great Apoftle the fame 
 fpirit, the fame zeal, and the fame cha- 
 rity. How rapid mould your pen be, if 
 
 y u
 
 CLEMENT XTV. s6j 
 
 you would defcribe his Travels and Apof- 
 tolical Labours ! He flies as fwift as 
 thought, when he is about to undertake 
 a good work -, and breathes nothing but 
 Jefus Chrift, when he preaches the Gof- 
 pel. One would believe, by the manner 
 in which he multiplies himfelf,thathe alone 
 formed the whole Apoftolical College : he 
 is at the fame inftant on land and fea, al- 
 ways watching for the falvation of the 
 Faithful, always defiring the palm of 
 inartyrdom, always prefTing forward to 
 eternity. Nobody was fo good a citizen, 
 fo good a friend , he forgot nothing , he 
 remembered the fmalleft fervices that were 
 done him, and his heart did not once 
 palpitate, but with a defire for Heaven, 
 which enlightened him ; or with a move- 
 ment of love for Jefus Chrift, who con- 
 verted him ; or with an a<5t of ac- 
 knowledgement to tliofe Chriflians who 
 aflifted him. 
 
 Panegyric, in general, is a kind of 
 
 writing which mould not refemble a fer- 
 
 mon , it fhould lighten, but the flames 
 
 fliould burft from a fund of morality, 
 
 N 3 which
 
 a?p LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 which fhould be the bafis of the difcourfe. 
 They do not inftruft who only praife; 
 and they do not celebrate their Hero, who 
 confine themfelves Iblely to inftrucl:. 
 
 The Ikill of the Orate r confifts in pro- 
 ducing from the bofom of the eulogium 
 Ihining reflexions, which ihould have in 
 view the reformation of morals. But 
 above all things, my dear Friend, take 
 care that you do not make a panegyric for 
 one Saint at the expence of another -, no- 
 thing can better prove the fterility of the 
 Orator, Every illuftrious perfon has his 
 merit, and it is an infult to the memory 
 of one fervant of God, who looked upon 
 himfelf as the loweft of all, to raife his 
 glory to the prejudice of another. 
 
 Let there be no digreffions foreign from 
 your fubjecl:. Do not lofe fight that it is 
 St. Paul whom you mean to praife, and 
 if is to mifs your aim, if you attach your- 
 felf to any thing but his eulogium. 
 
 No languors are to be excufed in Pane- 
 gyric ; all ought to be rapid, and efpe- 
 cially in that of the great Apoftle, whofe 
 zeal was always aftive. Your audience 
 
 mould
 
 CLEMENT XIV. tji 
 
 fhould believe they fee and hear him, that 
 they may fay, " It is he, behold him." You 
 fhould, like him difplay all the powers of 
 grace ; like him, difcomfit all thofe who 
 would leflen the abfolute dominion of 
 God over the heart of man ; and like 
 him, thunder againft the falfe Prophets, 
 and the corrupters of morals. And in the 
 end, you mould give a fuccinct account 
 of his different Epiftles, and prefent thent 
 burning with the flames of Charity, and 
 radiating with the lights of Truth. 
 
 No forced comparifons fhould here have 
 place ; they ought to rife out of the fub- 
 ject : no ufelefs words be admitted every 
 fentence mould be inltructive , no bom- 
 baft phrafes they ought to be all natural. 
 Your heart fhould be the Orator in this 
 difcourfe, and nor your imagination : re- 
 ferve your rhetorical flights for the Aca- 
 demies, when you are to pronounce an 
 Eulogium there ; but the dignity of the 
 Pulpit, the fanftity of the Temple, the 
 eminence of the fubject,. in fine the Pane- 
 gyric of Paul, are all fuperior to anti- 
 thefes. 
 
 N 4 Human, ,
 
 a?a LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 Human eloquence is intended to praife 
 human actions , but divine eloquence is 
 requifite to celebrate divine men. It is 
 not among the Poets that you mould ga- 
 ther flowers to crown the Elect, but from 
 among the Prophets. I am more than I 
 can tell, &c. 
 ROME, ijth Oft. 1755. 
 
 LETTER LXXIX, 
 
 TO THE ABBE LAMI. 
 
 I CANNOT join in your opinion, my 
 dear Abbe, of the book you have criti- 
 cifed with fo much feverity. I do not think 
 fo indiffereatly of it as you do. There 
 are principles, views, and beauties in it, 
 which render it interfiling. Some negli- 
 gences of flyle do not disfigure a book al- 
 together. The ftylc is only the bark; 
 and fometimes the tree may be good, 
 though the bark is good for nothing. 
 Unfortunately, in this age, we are lefs at- 
 tached
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 273 
 
 tached to things than to words. The 
 diction too often determines the fate of 
 a book. I have run over a multitude of 
 Pamphlets printed at Paris, which had 
 nothing in them but a rapid and feducing 
 ftyle. One is obliged to afk himfelf what 
 the Author meant to fay, and yet he does 
 not know. It is not furprifmg, that in a 
 country where they are fo fingularly fond 
 of drefs and tinfel, they mould be pleafed 
 with a production whofe outward appear- 
 ance conititutes all its merit. 
 
 There are fome fubjedls that of them- 
 felves are fufficient to captivate the atten- 
 tion , while there are others which will 
 not be regarded, without the pafTport of 
 a brilliant flyle. An able Writer mould 
 attend to this difference. 
 
 I mall be very glad if you will analyfe 
 two different works which have juft ap- 
 peared htre j Cmverfa!ir,i with 0;;e's-felf r 
 and The Elements of Mttepbyfics. The 
 firil is fingularly interefcing, as it elevates 
 the foul upon the wreck of the pafllons 
 and fenfes, The fecond is not leis fo, as 
 N 5 it
 
 374 LETTERS OF CAN CAN ELL I, 
 
 it tends to render its fpirituality and im- 
 mortality demonltrable. Thefe are two 
 metaphyfical productions differently pre- 
 fented : the Confer fafion \yith a clearnefs 
 which makes it univerfally underftood ; 
 the Elements with a depth which prevents 
 its being generally read. 
 
 I look upon your Papers as an alarm-bell, 
 which prevents our Italians from fleeping 
 over Literature and the Sciences. In a 
 warm climate there is need of being fre- 
 quently roufed, in order to ftudy. The 
 mind (lumbers like the body, if we do not 
 take care to fpur it up, and in that ftate 
 we have neither fpirit to read nor to 
 think. 
 
 Florence was always renowned for learn- 
 ing and tafte, and I am not afraid of the 
 Florentines degenerating while you con- 
 tinue to inftrucl: them. A periodical work 
 executed with dilcernment, gives light to 
 the underftanding, fupports emulation, and 
 makes up for the want of perufmg a mul- 
 titude of works, which we have not time 
 to read, or means to procure. 
 
 When
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 2 ;j 
 
 When I read a journal which gives ac- 
 count of the productions printed in Europe, 
 I learn to know the genius of the different. 
 Nations, and I perceive that an Englifh- 
 man does not write like a German, nor 
 think like a Frenchman. This national 
 difference, which diftinguimes the people 
 by their manner of writing and thinking, 
 perfuades me that the moral world is a 
 copy of the natural one, and that there 
 are minds like faces, which have no fort 
 of refemblance. 
 
 Adieu, I leave you to throw myfelf 
 among the thorns of controverfy, where 1 
 certainly mall not find the flowers which 
 I perceive in your writings. 
 ROME, jth Nov. 1755. 
 
 N 6 LET-
 
 LETTER LXXX. 
 
 TO A CURATE OF THE DIOCESE OF RIMINI. 
 
 IT is with great rafhnefs, my dear Paf- 
 tor, that you judge your father, mine, 
 the Father of all the Faithful, the great 
 JLambertini, for whom all the churches 
 have the greateft veneration. Befides his 
 being celebrated for his extenfive and 
 fublime knowledge, for his penetrating 
 genius, for his confummate prudence ; he 
 is the chief of our religion, the Sove- 
 reign Pontiff, of whom we cannot fpeak 
 any ill without blafphemy. You are not 
 ignorant of St. Paul's having begged par- 
 don of the High Prieft of the Syna- 
 gogue, although it was expiring, be- 
 caufe he had called him a whi ted wall. 
 
 The treaty which Benedict XIV. made 
 with Spain, that the Spanilh Clerks mould 
 come no mo/e to Rome, has prevented, I 
 do not know how many, young Eccle- 
 fiaftics from being vagabonds and leading 
 licentious lives. Isothing is more proper 
 
 than
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 277 
 
 than to fee thofe who are deftined for the 
 Miniftry ftudying under the eyes of their 
 own Bifhops, who le^rn to know them, 
 and do not lofe fight of them. 
 
 Befides, there are fo many reafons requir- 
 ed for judging a Sovereign with equity, that 
 if we do not know what pafles in the Ca- 
 binets of Princes, the nature of events, the 
 confequences which an affair may have, 
 and if even we cannot penetrate the fouls 
 of thofe who act themfelves or employ 
 others to do fo, we cannot form any 
 judgment but an unjuft one. 
 
 Alas ! who are we who condemn the 
 Vicar of Chrift ; and, above all, while we 
 are ignorant of the motives of his pro- 
 ceedings, or without knowing what he 
 could forefee ? In every kind of bufmefs, 
 prejudice mould be in favour of the 
 Judge. How can they be juftified who 
 take the liberty, on flight appearances, to 
 blame the conduct of the Sovereign Pon- 
 tiff? This is undoubtedly to give arms 
 to the Proteitants, and to fail eifentially 
 in the refpect that is due to him whom 
 God has eftabifhed upon a throne, to fee 
 
 and
 
 2:8 LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 and to judge-, and whom he hath ordained 
 that we mould hearken to, as to himfelf ; 
 I fay more, it is to rifk falvation. 
 
 There is not a circumftance, nor a mo- 
 ment, that our hearts or opinions mould 
 be capable of rifing up againll' the pro- 
 ceedings of the Sovereign Pontiff, unlefs 
 we are of his Council. He fees what you 
 cannot fee and if he does not account to 
 us, it is becaufe he is bound by confidera- 
 tions which withhold both his tongue and 
 his pen. There is a Chriftian policy, 
 which, without injuring truth, does not de- 
 clare the whole of it ; and which enve- 
 lops itfelf in a prudent referve, when it is 
 proper to keep filence. How can you 
 preach to your Parilhioners the refpect due 
 to the Head of the Church, if they hear 
 you yourfelf declaim againft him ? Suppofe 
 . even that he has done amifs, you ought, . 
 as a Chriftian, as a Prieft, as a Paftor, 
 to excufe him in public, and irr.pofe an 
 eternal filence on thofe who would dare to 
 attack him. Thefe are my fentime.,rs with 
 regard ijo Sovereign Pontiffs. Th-.y r.re 
 the anointed of the Lord, the Chrifts, of 
 
 whom
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 279 
 
 whom we never mould fpeak ill : Nolite 
 tangere Chriftos meos, & in Propbetis meis 
 malignari *. 
 
 1 flatter myfelf that you will get the 
 better of this prejudice, and that you 
 will approve my reafons, becaufe you 
 have a reaibnable mind and a good heart. 
 It is an effervefcence of the imagination 
 which led you to condemn Benedict XIV. 
 whofe proceedings are weighed in the 
 fcales of juftice, and even in the fanctuary 
 of truth. 
 
 I embrace you, my dear Paftor, and 
 am, &c. 
 
 ROME, i4th May, 1755. 
 
 * Touch not my anointed, and do ray Prophets 
 no barm. 
 
 LET-
 
 a8o LETTERS OF GANGANELLI, 
 
 LETTER LXI. 
 
 TO MR.MEKNER, A PROTESTANT GEN- 
 TLEMAN. 
 
 I AM forry, my dear Sir, to hear you 
 perpetually repeating a multitude of 
 objections which have been employed 
 againft the Church of Rome, and which 
 M. BofTuet, a French Bilhop, has demo- 
 limed in his Expofition of the Catholic 
 Faith, and in his excellent work on the 
 Diverfity of Opinions. It is impofiible to 
 follow the track of a Proteftant, becaufe 
 inftead of waiting an anfwer to his quef- 
 tion, he propofes a new one, and never 
 gives time to breathe. 
 
 If you fpeak to me all at once of Purga- 
 tory, the Eucharift, and the worlhip of 
 Saints, it is impoffible for me to reply to 
 three points at one inftant. A contro- 
 verfy mould be carried on in a rational 
 manner, if we would underftand it ; and, 
 confequently, it is neceflfary that one fub- 
 
 jeft
 
 CLEMENT XIV. 281 
 
 jeft be examined to the bottom, before 
 you pafs to another. Without that, we 
 flrike the air, and fhall have the fate of 
 all wranglers, who, after having difputed, 
 end with remaining obftinate in their 
 original opinions. 
 
 You are fatisfied with the plan I have 
 laid down, to prove all the truths which 
 you conteft by the Gofpel, and by the 
 Epiflles of St. Paul, which you receive as 
 infpired works, and to mew you that un- 
 interrupted tradition hath always taught 
 them, 
 
 If it was otherwife, you mould know 
 the day and the date when we made the 
 innovation ; at leaft, if you would not 
 perfuade us that the whole Church, in the 
 twinkling of an eye, notwithflanding its 
 members are difperfed all over the world, 
 did change its belief without perceiving it. 
 What an abfurdity ! 
 
 The reproaches which you are conftantly 
 making againft the Romim Churcft, my 
 dear Sir, on the celibacy prefcribed to the 
 Priefts, and on the cup which is with- 
 held from the faithful in partaking of the 
 
 holy
 
 a** LETTERS OF GANGANELLT, 
 
 holy myfteries, fall of themfelves, when 
 we think that marriage and the priefthood 
 are united daily among the Greek Catho- 
 lics , and there alfo they give the faith- 
 ful the Communion in both kinds. 
 
 Return to the Church in good faith, 
 and the Pope, who governs at prefent, 
 will not reject you from his bofom, be- 
 caufe you have miniiters who are married, 
 and becaufe you defire the ufe of the cup. 
 His prudence will find a modification 
 which will grint you all that he can grant,, 
 without altering opinions and morals, but 
 only changing the difcipline, which has at 
 all times varied. 
 
 Cardinal Quirini, whofe zeal for your 
 return confumes him, will be your media- 
 tor with the Holy Father. In returning 
 to the Pope, you will return to him who 
 was formerly your Chief, for "it is you who 
 have withdrawn. The abufes which reign- 
 ed at that time in the Church, becaufe it is 
 neceffary, as Jefus Chrift faid, that there be 
 fcaydals and herefies> cannot abfolutely au* 
 thorife your anceftors in revolting and fe- 
 
 parating
 
 CLEMENT XIV. j. 
 
 parating thcmfelves. They had no other 
 method but that of remonftrating ; and if 
 they had flopped there, without mixing 
 cither fournefs, gall, or a fpirit of rebel- 
 lion, they would certainly have obtained 
 fome reform. To heal fome tumors in 
 the body, we neither think of mutilating 
 or fmothering it. 
 
 Many Proteftants would return, if they 
 were not withheld by wretched worldly 
 reafons , for it is impoffible but in read- 
 ing the Holy Scriptures fo often as they 
 do, they mult perceive the prerogatives of 
 the chief of the Apoftles, and the infalli- 
 bility of the Church, which can never teach 
 any error ; and the more fo, as Chrift is 
 truly with her, even to the confummation 
 of time, without interruption : Omnibus 
 diebus vit^i ufqite 'ad ccnfummationem f<- 
 cult. 
 
 There need but eyes to fee -whether 
 the Romilh or the Proteftant Church is 
 right. The one appears to be that Holy 
 Mountain, of which the Scripture fpeaks ; 
 
 and
 
 sS4 LETTERS OF GANGANELLT,, 
 and the other, a vapour which dims the 
 fight, and has no folidity. 
 
 I would give the laft drop of my blood, 
 my dear Sir, to fee you all reunited to us 
 again, being certain that you have broken 
 the chain which tied you to the centre of 
 unity, and that you are no longer but fo- 
 litary beings, without compafs, guide, or 
 chief. 
 
 God makes you feel it in the moft terrible 
 manner, in giving you up to I don't know 
 how many errors, which form almoft as 
 many different fec~ls as there are commu- 
 nions : and that circumftance proves to us, 
 that fmce there is no longer an authority to 
 unite the Faithful, they trufl to their own 
 judgments, and are led away by preju- 
 dice. 
 
 Do not imagine that I mean to infult 
 your fituation* Alas ! every thing tells 
 me that you have the good faith ; but 
 that will not juftify you before God, who 
 requires a ftri<5b examination upon fo eflen- 
 tial an article , and the more fo, as no 
 one is more capable of judging than you 
 
 are yourfelf. 
 
 The
 
 CLEMENT XIV. a8j 
 
 The fentence which one pronounces 
 againft one's felf, when in the wrong, is the 
 beft reproof, and is worthy of your candid 
 foul and good heart. Your candour pro- 
 miles me, that you will inform yourfelof 
 the truth, and will not reject it when you 
 you fee it. It is upon the lips of good 
 Catholics, and in hearing them, you hear 
 it. I defire it in all the fullnefs of my 
 heart, by the fincere ardour I have to find 
 my felf with you in the dwelling of peace, 
 where there will ( be only thofe who are 
 marked with the fign of the Faith, Judge 
 by that of the extent of attachment with 
 which I have the honour to be, &c. 
 
 ROME, i4th May, 1753, 
 
 END of the FIRST VOLUME,
 
 This book is DUE on the last 
 date stamped below. 
 
 10M-1 1-50(2555) 470 REMINSTON RAND - SO
 
 Clemens XIV - 
 
 Interesting let- J1 IIIIIIIIII 
 
 ters of Po^e * ^58 00983 081 
 
 Clement xiv 
 
 BX 
 
 1357 
 
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 1777 
 
 v.l 
 
 A 000007525 9