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consequences of its being known, that this last direction was ever given, that I have not thought proper to mention it to several of my Brethren."

"You well know," he says again in the same letter, " that in our free and jealous government, where Catholics are admitted into all public Councils equally with the professors of any other Religion, it never will be suffered that their ecclesiastical Superior (be he a Bishop or Prefect-Apostolic) receive his appointment from a foreign State, and only hold it at the discretion of a foreign tribunal or congregation. If even the present temper or inattention of our executive and legislative bodies were to overlook it for this and perhaps a few more instances, still ought we not to acquiesce and rest quiet in actual enjoyment: for the consequence sooner or later would certainly be that some malicious or jealous-minded person, would raise a spirit against us, and under pretence of rescuing the State from foreign influence and dependence, strip us perhaps of our common civil rights."'

The tidings of his appointment found the Rev. Mr. Carroll undecided as to his course. The appointment was not one that he desired. He had a decided repugnance to accept any position, and especially one merely at their pleasure, from the Congregation de Propaganda Fide: to accept it hampered by restrictions and little power for good was a step from which he shrank. "I do assure you," he wrote to his friend, Rev. Charles Plowden, "that nothing personal to myself, except the dissolution of the Society, ever gave me so much concern; and if a meeting of our gentlemen, to be held the 9th of October, agree in thinking that I can decline the intended office without grievous interference, I shall certainly do so."

1 Letter to Rev. Mr. Thorpe, February 17, 1785.

The proceedings of the Chapter, as we have seen, took no official notice of the appointment of Rev. Mr. Carroll, although it was known by private letters. His appointment was indeed satisfactory, but the nature of the office kept alive fear and distrust.

A memorial protesting against the creation of a bishop for the United States, was drawn up by Rev. Bernard Diderick, but it was injudicious in matter and form, so that Dr. Carroll objected to it. There is little doubt, however, that it was forwarded substantially in the same terms to Rome, and if not formally presented, was known and had some effect.

That an influence was exerted is certain, and the appointment of Rev. Dr. Carroll as Vicar-Apostolic, which his Holiness intended to carry into effect in 1785, was laid aside.

CHAPTER VI.

VERY REV. JOHN CARROLL, PREFECT-APOSTOLIC OF THE UNITED STATES, 1784-1790.

On receiving the documents investing him with spiritual authority over the Catholics in the United States, the Very Rev. Dr. Carroll prepared a circular to be transmitted to each priest. In the draft of one, which was apparently not used, he discussed at length their dependence on the Propaganda.

"I consider powers issued from the Propaganda, not only as improper, but dangerous here," wrote Dr. Carroll. "The jealousy in our governments of the interference of any foreign jurisdiction is known to be such, that we cannot expect, and in my opinion, ought not to wish that they would tolerate any other than that which being purely spiritual, is essential to our Religion, to wit, an acknowledgment of the Pope's spiritual supremacy, and of the See of St. Peter being the centre of the Ecclesiastical Unity. The appointment, therefore, by the Propaganda of a Superior for this country, appears to be a dangerous step, and by exciting the jealousy of the government here, may tend much to the prejudice of Religion, and perhaps expose it to the reproach of encouraging a dependence on a foreign power, and giving them an undue internal influence by leaving with them a prerogative to nominate to places of trust and real importance, and that 'ad suum beneplacitum.'

"The Congregation of the Propaganda, if I understand its institution, was formed only for the government and super

intendence of missions, &c. : and I observe, that they affect in their commission to me and other acts, to call our ecclesiastical state here a mission; and the laborers therein missioners. Perhaps this denomination was heretofore proper enough; but it cannot now be so deemed. By the constitution, our Religion has acquired equal rights and privileges with that of other Christians: we form not a fluctuating body of laborers in Christ's vineyard, sent hither and removable at the will of a Superior, but a permanent body of national clergy, with sufficient powers to form our own system of internal government, and I think, to choose our own superior and a very just claim to have all necessary spiritual authority communicated to him, on his being presented as regularly and canonically chosen by us. We have further a reasonable prospect, which I soon hope to see realized, of forming an establishment for educating and perpetuating a succession of clergy among ourselves; and as soon as that measure is in a promising forwardness, we shall have a right to a diocesan Bishop of our own choice. 'Ought not the immense territory possessed by the United States to have an Ecclesiastical Superior as independent as the Bishop of Quebec?' says one of our zealous friends in England."

The fear of their having some stranger forced on the Catholics of this country as their Bishop had not been laid aside: "I am, moreover, advised by Cardinal Antonelli, that his Holiness intends to appoint hereafter (but no term mentioned or even insinuated) a Vicar-Apostolic with Episcopal character, and with such powers as may exempt this country from every other Ecclesiastical dependence, beside that on the aforesaid Congregation. But not the slightest intimation is given of the person designed for that preferment." "We shall in a few years stand in absolute need of a Bishop, but that a Bishop Vicar-Apostolic would give great umbrage, on

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account of this entire dependence, both for his station and conduct, on a foreign jurisdiction: he must be a diocesan Bishop, and his appointment must come neither from his Holiness, for that would create more jealousy in our government, than even in France, Germany or Spain, nor from the Assemblies or different Executives . . . . but he should be chosen by the Catholic clergy themselves." "

The position into which the Catholic body in the United States had been forced by the wretched intrigue to impose a foreign bishop on them was a sad one. But as the acceptance of the Prefecture by Rev. Mr. Carroll would pave the way to a more satisfactory organization, while his refusal to undertake the duty imposed upon him, would almost certainly result in the imposition of some stranger on the Catholics in the United States, he yielded to the arguments of his fellowclergymen and decided to accept the onerous position.*

On the 27th of February, 1785, he addressed Cardinal Antonelli, Prefect of the Propaganda, apologizing for the delay, returning thanks for the good-will shown him personally, and for the interest manifested in the advancement of the Catholic cause in the United States; and he begged him to convey to the Sovereign Pontiff his absolute devotion to the Holy See, and his thanks for the important trust confided to

1 Very Rev. J. Carroll, Draught of a circular letter announcing his appointment as Prefect.

"Nothing but the present extreme necessity of some spiritual powers here, could induce me to act under a commission, which may produce, if long continued, and it should become public, the most dangerous jealousy."-Very Rev. Dr. Carroll, MS. draft of a circular announcing his appointment as Prefect. The Rev. Messrs. Lewis, Molyneux, Farmer, Leonard Neale, and others had urged him to send his acceptance at once; but it is evident that some, still distrustful, regarded Dr. Carroll's appointment only as temporary, and an entering wedge to despoil the Church of its property. See letters in "U. S. Cath. Mag.," 1844, pp. 798, etc.