Shearman, M.R.I.A.; Rev. John O'Hanlon, C.C., M.R.I.A.; and W. J. Fitzpatrick.

A worthy priest who took a deep interest in Dr. Lanigan's memory, anxious fully to identify the spot, brought with him Kelly, who had dug the grave, and hoping to find the coffin plate, excavated to a considerable depth, but without success. The investigator was so moved by enthusiasm, that he forgot to ask permission from the Protestant Rector, who, hastening to the spot, protested warmly against the intrusion, and asked what should be thought if he were to open a grave in Glasnevin without leave. The bones of Lanigan, however, as they lay exposed, warned the rival priests that life was too short to quarrel, and, instead of fighting, as too literal interpreters of the "church militant" might have done, jungamus dexteras, in the spirit of our 112th page, was the result, and the altercation ended by the Rector bringing the Priest to his manse, and showing him some relics of his predecessor, Parnell.*

We cannot, perhaps, more fitly conclude than with the following original lines, placed at our disposal by a

* Vainly would some Old Mortality of a future period decide on the authencity of an entry in the parish register of Finglas for the year 1828 (p. 1), were he not in possession of other data to elucidate this village necrology. Thus runs the mortuary and annalistic

Our readers need scarcely be reminded, that the foregoing record must stand for the celebrated John Lanigan, D.D. Little heed took a careless scribe of his fame and memory, whilst penning the untrue notice of his interment. This original roll may be inspected among the archives of the Protestant Parish Vicar, who resides in the manse of the former poet-pastor, Parnell, who, if living, would doubtless have flung a more appreciative ægis around the Doctor's dust than subsequent incumbents seemed disposed to extend.

distinguished Irishman, and ardent appreciator of Lanigan's labours:

ELEGY ON THE GRAVE OF DR. LANIGAN.

Toilworn, yet tireless, passed his well-spent years,
And when his lamp of life was quenched in gloom,
No friends, few kinsfolk, came to weep sad tears,
As menials bore him to the silent tomb.

Yet wherefore weep, or mourn his blest release?
A spirit dimmed was his, a mind inane;
Far better closed his thoughts and eyes in peace,
Than range on objects shapeless, clouded, vain.

With that declining form in honoured age,
His genius unrequited passed away;
Researchful lore bestowed on storied page
Waned as the twilight of departing day.

From heritage of trials summoned forth,
Earth's gifted sons from men and memory fade;
By learning, virtue, truthfulness, and worth,
Thus oft, alas! the debt of nature's paid.

Swift years have sped since sure and sad decay
Consigned thy dust to that unsheltered grave,
Commingling with its cold, neglected clay,

Rest thee, poor toiler, where the night winds rave!

Still shall the patriot just emotion feel

For him who lived to serve his land, and die;
Still shall the Christian pilgrim muse and kneel,
Beside his lonely grave, with moistened eye!

APPENDIX.

THE IRISH COLLEGE AT ROME.

REFERENCE has been made (at p. 27, ante) to an elaborate report, drawn up under the auspices of Cardinal Marefoschi, Lord Protector of Ireland, regarding the alleged maladministration of the Irish College by a distinguished order of religious. The Rev. Dr. Slevin, in his voluminous evidence before the Commissioners of Education Inquiry, 28th October, 1826, explains the character of this now obsolete office, the very title of which will be new to some ecclesiastics:

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'Q. Who filled the office during the year you were at Rome ?

"A. I believe there was no such personage in my time; the Cardinal Prefect of the Propaganda transacted every business relating to the Irish mission.

"Q. In the pamphlet of Dr. Butler referred to, we observe this expression in relation to that office,That he is a person higher in dignity, relatively to us, than the Legate at Brussels.' Who do you conceive Dr. Butler

meant by that expression?

"A. The Cardinal Protector of the ecclesiastical concerns of Ireland.

"Q. He assigns to him, does he not, a higher degree of dignity than to the Pope's Legate ?

"A. He does, with relation to Ireland.

"Q. Does not the word Protector' imply that the protection is to be extended against something or some person?

"A. Not when applied to a Cardinal. I conceive it means nothing more than to protect the interests of the Church or College which the Cardinal may voluntarily take under his protection" (pp. 209-10). Dr. Slevin added that "his protection was purely in spiritual matters," but it will be

seen that the ægis of his protection extended to some temporal concerns too.

There will be persons found, no doubt, including even learned ecclesiastics, to censure us for "re-opening a question which the restoration of the Jesuits in 1814 closed." But it is not we who re-open the question, nor did that act of grace close it. All enlightened divines, secular and regular, are for full ventilation of that interesting point; and candour has equally distinguished both sides. The revelations made by Fr. Theiner, Prefect of the Secret Archives of the Vatican, led Fr. Roothaan, General of the Jesuits, to write a long letter to Fr. de Ravignan, dated December, 1852, urging him, as his biographer says, to write a book on Clement XIII. and Clement XIV., the high-minded champion and the reluctant destroyer of the Society; and he proposed to give glory to the former and to justify the latter, and to show that on this point, as on all others, the expression of the Count de Maistre, which he took for his motto, is verified, and that the Popes have need of nothing but the truth."

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"All," writes the enlightened and venerable General of the Jesuits" all goes to show only too clearly the truth of the expression, Compulsus feci-I was forced to do it; and the Pope's frequent changes of mind, and his long delays, all indicate anguish of conscience. It is clear that Clement XIV. put it off as long as he could; he endured unprecedented violence. This business poisoned his whole pontificate. Poor Pope,' wrote St. Alphonsus Liguori; che poteva fare—what could he do?' Then there are God's judgments," proceeds the good General, still addressing De Ravignan-" faults, even serious faults, in many members of the Society. In so great a number, is it surprising? It seems God wished to purify and to chastise the Society. Did he not wish at the same time to punish the world? Was there not also great mercy shown to the Society in saving it from great misfortunes, by withdrawing it from scandals which perhaps it would have wanted strength to resist." De Ravignan ably carried out the plan which the morally courageous General mapped out for him, and we learn that the present illustrious Pontiff was well pleased with the way in which De Ravignan dis

charged his task. "The truth," we are told, "was recognised, that Fr. de Ravignan had deserved well of the Church and of the Society." (Life of De Ravignan [p. 498], by Fr. de Ponlevoy, S.J., Dublin, W. B. Kelly.)

The original report on the administration of the Irish College by the Jesuits, edited by Cardinal Marefoschi, is in the Italian language; and the following translation has been made in Rome with scrupulous regard to literal accuracy. The statement and evidence being exceedingly voluminous, it has been found desirable, in some obvious places, to give a careful abstract only. It is important that it should be read by the light of our remarks at p. 27, et seq., with which, indeed, it is in special connexion. Its severe criticism of tone towards the Jesuit Fathers, no doubt, derived its inspiration from the prevalent political prejudices of the day-now happily subdued-to which in their once powerful effects we have fully referred in our third chapter. It has been remarked by the Dean of Limerick, formerly a professor of theology, that even theological opinions catch very much the hue of the day; and churchmen often remind each other of the apothegm of Horace : Tempora mutantur et nos mutamur in illis. The tone of some passages in the statement is, perhaps, unnecessarily severe, and evinces an animus imbibed from contemporary events and revolutions.

It is surely a bright page in the annals of the College when, under the sway of the Jesuits, that worthy and distinguished member of the order, the Father-General Mutius Vitelleschi, presented the Irish students with a house worth 2,000 scudi, standing close to another which he purchased for them, upon the sole condition that a few masses should be annually said.

This report on the Irish College is by no means entirely from the pen of the Lord Protector. A large mass of the evidence came from the students; and there is, perhaps, some of the guile of the serpent as well as the simplicity of the dove, traceable in their apparently plain, unvarnished tale. The good Franciscans, who administered the College previous to the Jesuits, are always warmly praised, with the object of drawing a contrast between the rival orders. Ganganelli had been a Franciscan friar, loved the order