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THE IRISH ECCLESIASTICAL RECORD.

FEBRUARY, 1865.




CARDINAL CONSALVI AND NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.

[Concluded from page 167.]


This laconic answer produced on Napoleon an extraordinary effect. He
started, and fixed on the Cardinal a long and searching look. The man of
iron will felt that he had to deal with another will, which, while it
matched his own for firmness, surpassed it in the power that ever
springs from self-control. Taking advantage of the Consul's surprise,
Consalvi went on to say that he could not exceed his powers, nor could
he agree to terms in opposition to the principles of the Holy See; that
it was not possible in ecclesiastical matters to act as freely as was
allowable in urgent cases wherein only temporal matters were concerned.
Besides, in fairness the rupture could not be laid to the Pope's charge,
seeing that his minister had agreed to all the articles with one single
exception, and that even this one had not been definitely rejected, but
merely referred to the judgment of his Holiness.

Somewhat calmed, the Consul interrupted, saying that he did not wish to
leave after him unfinished works; he would have all or none. The
Cardinal having replied that he had no power to negotiate on the article
in question as long as it remained in its present shape, Napoleon's
former excitement flashed out once more as he repeated with fire his
resolution to insist on it just as it was, without a syllable more or
less. "Then I will never sign it", replied the Cardinal, "for I have no
power to do so". "And that is the very reason", cried the other, "why I
say that you wished to break off the negotiations, and that I look on
the business as settled, and that Rome shall open her eyes, and shall
shed tears of blood for this rupture". Then almost rudely pushing his
way through the company, he went about in every direction, declaring
that he would change the religion of Europe; that no power could resist
him; that he would not be alone in getting rid of the Pope, but would
throw the whole of Europe into confusion: it was all the Pope's fault,
and the Pope should pay the penalty.

The Austrian minister, the Count de Cobenzel, full of consternation at
the scene, ran at once towards the Cardinal, and with warm entreaty,
implored of him to find some means of averting so dreadful a calamity.
Once more had the Cardinal to hear from lips to which fear lent most
earnest eloquence, the harrowing description of the evils in store for
religion and for Europe. "But what can be done", he replied, "in the
face of the obstinate determination of the First Consul, to resist all
change in the form of the article?" The conversation was here
interrupted by the summons to dinner. The meal was short, and was the
most bitter the Cardinal had ever tasted in his life. When they returned
to the saloon, the Count resumed his expostulations. Bonaparte seeing
them in conversation, came up to the Count, and said that it was a loss
of time to try to overcome the obstinacy of the Pope's minister; and
then, with his usual vivacity and energy, he repeated his former
threats. The Count respectfully answered that, on the contrary, he found
the Pope's minister sincerely anxious to come to terms, and full of
regret at the rupture; no one but the First Consul himself could lead
the way to a reconciliation. "In what manner?" asked Bonaparte, with
great interest. "By authorising the commissioners to hold another
sitting", replied the Count, "and to endeavour to introduce some such
modification of the contested point as might satisfy both parties".
These and other remarks of the Count were urged with such tact and
grace, that after some resistance, Napoleon at last yielded. "Well,
then", cried he, "to prove to you that it is not I who seek to quarrel,
I consent that the commissioners shall meet on to-morrow for the last
time. Let them see if there be any possibility of an agreement; but, if
they separate without coming to terms, the rupture may be looked on as
final, and the Cardinal may go. I declare, likewise, that I insist on
this article just as it stands, and I will allow no change to be made in
it". And so saying, he abruptly turned his back on the two ministers.

These words, ungracious and contradictory as they were, nevertheless
contained the promise of a respite. It was resolved at once to hold a
sitting the next day at noon in the usual place, in the hope that,
having come to some agreement between themselves, they might win the
First Consul's consent, through the influence of his brother Joseph, who
had a great regard for De Cobenzel, and who was desirous of peace.

That night, following a day of such anxiety, and preceding a day of
dreadful struggle, brought but little repose to Cardinal Consalvi. But
when the morning came, a circumstance occurred which filled to
overflowing the cup of bitterness he had been condemned to drain. At an
early hour Mgr. Spina came into his room with sorrow and embarrassment
in his countenance, to report that the theologian, P. Caselli, had just
left him, after having announced that he had spent the night in
reflecting on the incalculable mischief likely to follow from such a
rupture; that its consequences would be most fatal to religion, and, as
the case of England proved, without a remedy; that, seeing the First
Consul inflexibly bent on refusing any modification of the disputed
article, he had come to the