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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