Reforms demanded under Gregory XVI.

Secret Manifesto.

Yet, though thousands of her patriots had been either murdered or exiled, Italy still groaned for deliverance from her ghostly oppressors, and like the smouldering fires of Vesuvius previous to eruption, the fires of liberty were just ready to burst forth from their pent-up caverns, when the welcome news of the death of Gregory XVI. spread universal joy throughout the states of the church.

§ 2. Reforms demanded by the Italian People.-The following passages, translated from the conclusion of a "Manifesto of the People of the Roman States to the Princes and People of Europe," issued a short time previous to the death of the old Pope, and secretly circulated, afford abundant evidence of the existence of this spirit among the people, and point out the reforms that were most imperatively demanded :

"We venerate the ecclesiastical hierarchy and the whole clergy. We entertain the hope that it will recognise the noble essence of civilization embraced in Catholicism. Therefore, in order that our views may not be misinterpreted by Italy and Europe, we proclaim aloud our respect for the sovereignty of the pontiff as the chief of the Universal Church, without restriction or condition. As respects the obedience due to him as a temporal sovereign, behold the principles which we propose to him for a basis, and the demands which we make :

"1. That he shall accord an amnesty to all political offenders accused since 1821;

"2. That he shall accord a civil and criminal code, modeled on those of other parts of Europe, establishing the publicity of debates, trial by jury, and the abolishment of confiscation, and of the punishment of death for the crime of treason;

"3. That the inquisition and other ecclesiastical tribunals shall be divested of all jurisdiction over the laity;

"4. That the political trials shall be conducted before the ordinary tribunals, with the ordinary forms;

"5. That municipal councils shall be freely chosen by the people, and their choice approved by the sovereign; that these councils shall nominate provincial councils, and that the supreme councils of state be named by the sovereign from lists presented by the provincial councils;

"6. That the supreme council of state, sitting at Rome, shall have the control of the finances and the public debt, that it shall have i determining voice in reference to the receipts and expenses of the state, and be consulted in reference to all matters of public interest; "7. That all employments and dignities, civil and military, be conferred on the laity;

"8. That the public instruction shall cease to be subjected to bishops and clergy, religious education being reserved exclusively to them;

"9. That the censorship of the press be restricted to the prevention

Pope Gregory and the beautiful Cajetanina.

of injury to the divinity, the Catholic religion, to the sovereign, and to the domestic life of the citizen;

"10. That foreign troops be disbanded.

"11. That there be instituted an Urban guard, charged with the main tenance of public order and of the observance of the laws;

"12. Finally, that the government enter upon the path of all the social ameliorations demanded by the spirit of the age, and practised by the other governments of Europe.'

3. Character of Pope Gregory, and his favorite, the beautiful Cajetanina. Before proceeding to describe the election of Gregory's successor, by whom we shall see that several of the above reforms have been granted, we shall pause, for the purpose of giving a brief sketch of the history and character of Gregory XVI.

"Mauri Capellari was born at Belluno in 1765, and placed by his parents, respectable citizens, in a Benedictine convent of Camaldules. In 1826 he was named Cardinal by Pope Leo XII., and placed at the head of the Propaganda, or missionary school at Rome; and on the 2d of February, 1831, crowned Pope, under the name of Gregory XVI.

"As a man, if not greatly calumniated, he was passionate, not much restrained by his vows of chastity, and habitually addicted to the intemperate use of intoxicating drinks. This last failing enabled the French government to obtain great favors at Rome, by semiannual presents of champagne; and has been well hit off by a pasquinade. It represents the deceased Pope knocking for admittance at the gates of Paradise. Who wishes to enter ?' asks St. Peter. 'Gregory, your successor at Rome.'-But,' replies St. Peter, 'Gregory the Great died, and came here a long time ago. Who are you that have taken his name?'-Why, they call me, in Rome, Gregory Bevone' (the tippler). Oh! I have heard of you; come in."

• The Roman people have a great partiality for these pasquinades and caricatures, and frequently exercise their wit upon a dead Pope, however obsequious to the living one. An amusing caricature and dialogue were got up in Rome, after the death of Gregory-representing St. Peter and Gregory going to Paradise. The journey being hard and tedious for an aged man like the Pope, he complained to St. Peter thus: “ How is it, St. Peter, that our journey is so long? I did not know that Paradise was so far from the Vatican." St. Peter replied, "If you had allowed the construction of railways and steamers in your state, we should have arrived there long ago. But now you must stop for a while in Purgatory."

After having remained some time in Purgatory, where he met his friend O'Connell-so the story goes-Gregory set out with St. Peter again on his eternal journey. Coming in sight of Paradise, the Pope asked St. Peter why the angels and his last predecessors in the Papal chair, did not come out to meet him.

Dear Gregory," replied St. Peter, "as for the Popes, there are few of them in heaven, and the news of your death has not yet reached there: as it would have done, if you had established telegraphs, and granted the freedom of the press."

When the Saint and the Pope arrived at the gates of Paradise, St. Peter asked Gregory for his key, which after some time he found, and handed it to

Curious History of the Pope's Barber.

"When he was crowned, he distributed copper coins to the populace, saying, Aurum et argentum non est mihi, quod autem habeo tibi do.'- Silver and gold I have none, but such as I have, give I unto you.' Yet he has left money and personal property, valued at $2,000,000 to his nephews and nieces; for, of course, he had no direct heirs.

"As monarch of the Papal States, his partisans endeavor to excuse his many faults by saying that owing to his modesty he was overruled by the cardinals; but history will charge him with gross misgovernment and bigoted cruelty. No sooner was he seated on the throne than the occupation of Ancona, by the French, extorted from him a promise of reform and progress. How has he fulfilled it? The answer will be found in his invitation to Austrian bayonets, under Jesuitical influence, to enforce his despotic laws-in the taxes which have oppressed his subjects-in his encyclical letter, which destroyed the liberty of the press-in the maintenance of the Inquisition-and in the pertinacity with which, obstinate in wrong, he has clung to the antiquated prejudices which clog the advancement of society. In no other civilized nation are the people so ignorantno other civilized nation is without a mile of railroad."*

The allusion of the writer just quoted to Gregory's reputed want of chastity, refers, doubtless, to the fact, so notorious in Rome, of his concubinage with the beautiful wife of Count Cajetanino, formerly the barber and intimate associate of Capellari, when a monk; afterward CAMARIERO SECRETO, and chief favorite (always excepting his wife) to the same Capellari, when Pope Gregory XVI. "Other writers," says M. Cormenin, "will unveil, at the proper time, the mysteries of the private life of the Pope, the origin of the astonishing fortunes of Cajetanino, the barber of Cardinal Capellari; they will explain the excessive tenderness of the holy father for the beautiful Cajetanina, and her seven children; they will tell the causes which have given to her an apartment in the Quirinal palace, on the same story with that of the Pope. We will content ourselves with stating that at Rome strange rumors are circulated on this subject, and that Gregory XVI. is openly designated as the father of the children of Cajetanina.”+

4. Curious History of the Pope's Barber, the husband of Cajetanina. The following circumstantial and somewhat amusing account of the rise of this fortunate barber, is related upon the authority of the Rev. Dr. De Felice, of Montaubon, the able and accurate foreign correspondent of the New York Observer :

"While yet a simple monk, father Capellari frequented the shop

him, but it proved to be the key of his wine-cellar. St. Peter was admitted within the gates, but Gregory was lost among the fog.

Correspondent of the Boston Atlas, dated Rome, June 5, 1846.

† De Cormenin's Lives of the Popes, translated from the French; vol. ii., page 431.

Rapid rise of the monk Capellari.

of a barber named Cajetanino Moroni, who was known as a facetious fellow, full of wit and joviality. A sort of intimacy was formed between the monk and the merry barber. They passed sometimes hours together in the most friendly conversation, and Cajetanino said, laughing, to father Capellari: When you shall be Pope, I will still be your barber.' How little did he think that this jest would become on e day earnest!

"In his youth and riper years, the monk Capellari was fond of study. He wrote some books in defence of the Catholic faith. His labors drew the attention of his superiors, and, in 1807, he was appointed, by Pope Pius VII. member of the Academy of the Catholic religion. In this new office, he devoted himself more ardently than ever to theological pursuits. He became successively censor of the Academy, professor of theology, vice-president, and finally prior of the Camaldules in Rome. As might be supposed, the high honors conferred on Capellari would not allow him any longer to frequent the humble barber's shop, and take his turn to sit in the chair with his own clients; but the intimacy between them was not diminished. Cajetanino went on set days to the convent of the Camaldules, to perform small offices for his old friend, and he repeated, with a more exulting air than before: When you shall be Pope, I will still be your barber.

rod.

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"But the protector and his dependant were subjected to severe trials. It was the time when Napoleon ruled Europe with an iron He took the city of Rome, made the Pope prisoner, and the religious congregations were dispersed. Capellari left the convent of Camaldules, and sought an asylum in the Venetian states, his own country. This was a cruel separation, especially to the barber Cajetanino, who was left exposed to the jests of his friends. They asked him ironically Do you still think you shall one day be the Pope's barber?' What prospect was there, indeed, that an exiled monk would ever be called to mount the pontifical throne?

"Things remained thus till 1814. Then Pius VII. returned triumphantly into what is called St. Peter's domains. Father Capellari also left his retreat to resume the government of the monastery of Camaldules. He published a work on the miracles which had restored the pontifical authority, considered as motives to faith. This work, like all the other theological writings of Capellari contained a species of learning mixed with revolting superstitions and ridiculous. reasoning. Such is the employment of professors of theology, and ecclesiastical dignitaries in Rome. Men of very low capacity can attain to these high stations provided they only subserve the interests of the holy see. Capellari's conduct would seem extravagant in another country, but at Rome he was caressed and honored. He became councillor of the Inquisition and of the Propaganda, and in 1826, he received a Cardinal's hat.

"The barber was not forgotten by his fortunate patron. He con

The barber's all-powerful influence.

The silver-pigeon

tinued to perform his office about his person, and when he saw the red cap upon the head of Capellari, he repeated with more assurance than ever: When you shall be Pope, I will still be your barber.' But the last step in the ascent remained to be taken. Cardinal Capellari was appointed Pope. It is easier to imagine than to describe the joy, the transport, the ecstacy, of the barber Cajetanino, when he saw his prediction fulfilled. He was at last, as he had said so many times, called to the honor of being the Pope's barber.

"Accordingly, when Gregory XVI. was installed in the palace of the Vatican, Cajetanino, with his wife and children, occupied splendid apartments in the very dwelling of the Holy Father. The barber was appointed camariero (servant of the bedchamber); he received the respectful homage of the bishops and other ecclesiastical dignitaries, who before had paid him no attention. He was loaded with riches by the Pope's munificence. A journal affirms that Cajetanino now owns several domains of barons, counts, and marquises. He is become, indeed, the most important, most influential man in Rome.*

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Gregory XVI. naturally timid, exchanging suddenly, the quiet life of a monk for the noise, intrigues, and perplexities of his government, sought for a favorite, a confidant in Cajetanino, and imparted to him all his thoughts. After figuring in public and pompous ceremonies, or delivering a speech in the council of Cardinals, he seeks, at night, the family of the barber, to rest from his fatigue and taste the sweets of domestic life. Cajetanino seems to be a man of good sense, who has not become giddy by his great fortune. He is the confidant of the Pope in all his difficulties, his adviser, and the dispenser of his favors.

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Applicants soon discovered the barber's influence, and to him they address their requests, when they wish to obtain any important office, or any other favors of the Holy See. They are careful to add to their solicitations some rich present, or large sum of money to gain the concurrence of the Pope's servant. This is a very lucrative business. I will mention but one example.

"Lately, the Jews of Rome, having been threatened with persecution by the Inquisition, felt that they absolutely needed the good offices of the barber Cajetanino for their security. They took several steps with him without success, because they did not offer money enough. At last they invented an ingenious method to soften the heart of the all-powerful favorite. One morning, when Cajetanino opened his window there entered an automaton-pigeon, a masterpiece of mechanism. This pigeon was of massive silver; its eyes were formed of precious stones; it had in its beak a golden twig, and the petition of the unhappy Jews was hung around its neck by a chain of gold. Cajetanino was enchanted, as you may well think, with this admirable manner of making him a magnificent present.

* This correspondence was dated May 23, 1844.