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majesty into a duchy. These new triumphs also gave the emperor Napoleon an opportunity of rewarding the fidelity of some other princes of his family. His adopted son, prince Eugene Beauharnais, after having married a princess of Bavaria, united Dalmatia and the country of Venice to the kingdom of Italy which he governs; and prince Joseph, after having directed the army, which penetrated into the states of Naples, in the month of February, 1806, was appointed king of Naples and Sicily. An imperial decree, passed at the same period, adopted the princess Stephanie, a relation of the empress; the emperor gave her hand to the electoral prince of Baden, and this marriage was celebrated early in April at the palace of the Tuileries, in the presence of a numerous and brilliant court.

Memoirs of J. G. DANTON, One of the Members of the French Con.

vention.

(Continued from our last, page 137.) He then called for a plan to raise an army capable of crushing the enemy. On the 3d of September he supported the law for fixing the price of corn, in order to prevent the people from forcing from the rich and powerful what the law ought to grant them; he voted for the formation of a revolutionary army, to be followed by a tribunal, which should pass immediate judgment on conspirators and monopolizers; and obtained a decree for paying forty sous to every citizen who should be present at the assemblies of the sections. On the 6th of September, he was again elected a member of the committee of public safety, and on the 9th declared his continued resolve not to accept this office. On the 26th of November, the festivals, called those of Reason, at which the Hebertists presided, induced him to declaim once more against the unseasonable attacks made

on the ministers of divine worship, required the cessation of anti-religious masquerades, in the convention, mov. ed for the organization of public instruction, and the national festivals, which he termed the bread of reason, and even proposed to consecrate a day to the Supreme Being; 61 for," said he," we did not strive to aunihilate superstition for the sake of establishing the reign of Atheism.”

By these words he accused Hebert and Chaumette, who were marked supporters of materialism, and he leagued with Robespiere to bring them to the scaffold, but this league lasted not long, the smothered enmity subsisting betwixt them was already beginning to attract the notice of every body. When Danton, on the 3d of September, was beginning to suggest to the Jacobins, that they ought to be independant of all autho rity, and distrust those who wanted to hurry the people beyond the limits of the revolution," he was received with murmurs; astonished at the dis approbation he met with, and remem. bering the accusations that had been directed agamst him already, he insisted on justifying himself in the sight of the people. "defy my enemies," said he, " to bring the proof of any crime against me; you shall try me in the presence of the people; I shall no more tear the page of my history than you will tear the pages of yours," Robespierre, who was not yet prepared to attack him, declared him innocent of those projects of royaly attributed to him by the aristocrats. On the 5th of January, 1794, when accusations were directed against Philippeaux in the Jacobin society, he declaimed against the separatists: "Let us," said he, have something to be done by the guillotine of public opinion; let us render our private hatred subservient to the general interest, and let us grant to aristocrats only the priority of the poniard." He afterwards defended Camille Desmoulins, caled on

him not to be alarmed at the somewhat severe lessons of Robespierre, and warned the society to beware, lest in judging Desmoulins, a severe attack should be made on the liberty of the press. When Fabre d'Eglantine was arrested, he proposed that he should be heard at the bar, and tried before all the people, and that the convention should reflect on means to do justice to all the victims of arbitrary arrest, without impeding the course of revolutionary government. At the same time he voted for the exclusion of the nob'es from every employment, and moved that every revolutionary committee should be compelled to send to the committee of general safety a table. of its members and its measures. After the death of Hebert, the hatred which subsisted between Robespierre and Danton was converted into open war. Danton was desirous of overturning the despotism which Robespierre exereised over the committee, and Robes - pierre with more address sought to destroy Danton, in order to free himself from a dangerous rival. An attempt was at first made to reconcile them, and they were brought to a dinner together, when Danton said to his antagonist, "It is just to restrain the royalists, but we ought not in our justice to confound the innocent with the guilty, and our power should extend no farther than to strike for the good of the republic." Robespierre, with a frown, answered, "Who told you that any innocent person had been executed? From this instant all hopes of réconciliation was done away, and Danton on going out, said, "I must shew myself; there is not a moment to be lost." But the measures of his rival were already taken; Saint Just lodged an information against him with the committee of public safety, and he was arrested in the night of March the S1t, 179k, with those who were called his accomplices. When imprisoned in the Luxembourg, he affected forced gaiety, and owned to Lacroix,

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that he had been forewarned of his arrest, but had not been able to credit it. "What," answered his colleague you were forewarned and yet saf fered yourself to be taken; your indo. lence and self-indulgence have indeed ruined you! how often have you been cautioned against this event."

On his removal to the Conciergerie, his air become gloomy and ferocious, he appeared more particularly humiliated at having been the dupe of Robespierre, and all he said shewed a strange mixture of repentance and pride. At the time of his examination he answered with calmness," I am Danton, well known in the revolution; my home will shortly be annihilation, but my name will live in the Pantheon of history." The revolutionary tribunal condemned him to death on the 5th of April, 1794, "as an accomplice in a conspiracy tending (who could suppose it!) to restore munarchy." It appears that a party of Cordeliers had resolved to save their chief at the moment of execution, but this design failed from the rapidity of the steps taken at his trial. His friends also accused a certain general, who had till then been his creature, of having thwarted those measures for resistance which he might easily have organized. It was said of him, that Robespierre had overreached him, and, indeed, Danton was greatly his supe rior in courage, in political and revo lutionary resources; was equal to his in popularity, and inferior only m cuaning and hypocrisy.

In the discussions of his canse the judges made use of every device to keep back his defence. The presi dent of the tribunal reproached his with his boldness: "Individual boldness," said he, "is doubtless repre hensible; but national boldness, of which I have given so many exam. ples, is allowable and even necessary, and I glory in possessing it." When desired to cease from recrimination, and to address the jury, he answered,

i

"An accused man, who, like me,
knows words and things, answers the
jury but does not address it." He
then vehemently insisted that the wit-
nesses should be heard: "There are,"
he said, "a few wretches who would
sacrifice us to their ambition, but they
shall not long enjoy the fruit of their
ill-gotten and criminal advantage."
The decree which excluded him from
the debates, transported him with un-
speakable rage; he was like a roaring
lion, the names alone of Saint Just,
of Robespierre, of Billaud, whom he
called infamous tyrants, passed his lips.
On his return to the Conciergerie he
exclaimed, "It is the anniversary of
the day on which I caused the insti-
tution of the revolutionary tribunal,
for which I implore pardon of God
and men!! I leave every thing in
dreadful confusion: there is not one
among them who understands any
thing of government. After all, they
are such brethren as Cain; Brissot
would have had me guillotined."
When somewhat recovered from his
first paroxysms, he ascended the fatal
cart with resolution and without re-
sistance: his head was raised, and his
looks bespoke pride; he appeared, to
command the crowd who surrounded
One
him at the foot of the scaffold.
thought, one feeling turned towards
his family, and affected him a moment.
"Oh, my wife, my best beloved,"
cried he, "I shall see thee then no
more !" Suddenly breaking short,
however, he exclaimed, Danton,
no weakness!" and immediately as-
cended the scaffold: Though poor
and greatly involved before the revolu
tion, at the time of his death he left
a considerable fortune, great part of
which had been acquired during his
embassy to Holland.

Catholic Grievances,
(Continued from page 107 of our last.)
It should be considered, that the
attempt to enforce this obedience
FOR APRIL, 1812, VOL. V.

would, if successful, defeat its object;
because the secrets, sought to be ex-
tracted, will never be entrusted to the
Priest, if there ceases to be a moral
certainty that they will be religiously.
preserved.

The public confidence in the secresy of private confessions being once extinguished, there will be an end of unreserved disclosure to the Priest-and no information can be had from him, who will have none to give s thus, in fact, this rigorous proceeding is utterly unavailing to any public purpose, and unprofitable to the general administration of Justice. It merely involves the Bench in an ungracious and ineffectual struggle, in which the public voice will ever sustain the Priest suffering in the cause of Duty, Honour, and Truth, and condemn the ill-timed and indiscreet exercise of summary Jurisdiction.

Certainly, it may be affirmed with perfect confidence, that no Catholic Priest in Ireland will be found to yield obedience in this respect, by betraying the secret trust reposed in him. His conscientious belief is, that the Sacra ment of Penance is of divine institution; that Confession is one of its essential parts; that an inviolable secresy attaches to the Sacramental Confes sion; that the Confessor is bound to suffer death, rather than reveal (by word or sign, directly or in directly) any sin or crime, or any circumstance attending them, mentioned by the Pe nitent in Confession: yea, that the whole Confession is to be buried in eternal oblivion, and that, according to the Laws of the Catholic Church, he would expose himself to degradation for life, as a punishment for the crime of violating of such a trust, and forfeit eternal Salvation, hereafter. He would be immediately deposed from all his Priestly functions, and con signed to universal abhorrence.

It was so decreed by the General Council of Lateran, held, in 1215, under Pope Innocent:

Chap. Omnis utriusque Sexus.

X

De

"De Pænitentia. Caveat autem Sa«cerdos omnino, ne verbo aut signo, aut "alio quovis modo, aliquatenus prodat "peccatorum- -Qui peccatum in pa "nitentiali Judicio sibi detectum pra"sumpserit revelare, non solum a Sacerdotali officio deponendum decernimus, verum etiam ad agendum per"petuam pænitentiam in arctum monas "terium detrudendum."

We are thus particular in stating this Prohibition, because Courts of Justice in Ireland appear to consider the Catholic Clergy as only bound to Secrecy, in such cases, by a mere form of Ecclesiastical regulation, which of course might yield to the pressure of temporal authority, or the supposed exigencies of public Justice. But it is far more cogent, and, indeed is in violable.

We find, too, a peculiar respect towards a trust of this nature evinced by the established Church. In the 113th Canon of the Church of Eng. land, (see the Body of Canons, drawn up in 1603) there appears the follow. ing clause: "provided always, that if any man confess his secret and hidden sins to his Minister, for the unburdening of his conscience, and "in order to receive Spiritual consolation and ease of mind from him, we "do not any way bind said Minister by this our Constitution, but we do strictly charge and admonish him, "that he do not at any time reveal and "make known to any person whatsoe"ver, any crime or offence so com"mitted to his trust and secresy, &c.

Here we fell pleasure in adverting to the sentiments of the late Lord Kenyon, Chief Justice of England, upon a case nearly similar to the pregent. A case having been cited before him, (the King. Sparkes) where the prisoner being a Catholic, had made a confession before a Protestant Clergyman, of the crime, for which he was afterwards indicted, and, that confession having been permitted to be given in evidence upon

the trial, he was convicted and executed, Lord Kenyon instantly declared, with a generous disapprobation of of such a proceeding "That he would "have paused before he admitted such "evidence as had been there admitted." In fact, the hardship thus inflicted upon the Catholic Clergy might easily be alleviated, without offering any violence to established principles.The law has already provided for other cases, perfectly analagous to the present. For Quakers (who, from conscientious scruples, refuse to take any oaths) are permitted, in all civil cases, to make simple affirmation only, and such affirmation is rendered, by express Statutes, of equal credit with the oath of another. Thus we see the rigid rule of evidence dispensed with, in order to accommodate persons who are governed by inviolable principles of a sacred nature.

Again, Barristers and Attornies may refuse, when examined in the Courts of Justice, to answer any question tending to a Disclosure of any Confidence reposed in them by their Clients; nay, they are not permitted to answer such questions; this is the Privilege of the Clients, not theirs.

Surely, then, a similar protection is due to the Catholic Clergy and Peo ple.-Equal respect and tenderness ought, in justice and in courtesy, to be shewn towards their just scruples of Conscience, so necessary to be entertained, so ancient and long esta blished, and so obligatory upon every feeling of Morality, Honor, and Religion.

III." The Catholic Clergy are "liable to be punished, by "civil Action, for excommu"nicating unworthy members "of their own Communion." The Power of Excommunication forms a subject, upon which very great pains have been taken of late years, but fruitlessly, to excite odium against the Catholic Clergy of Ireland. Lord Redesdale, who had no inter

course

course with any Irish Catholics, or any means of obtaining correct information, confidently declared in a great public Assembly, that "Excommuni"cation from the Catholic Church is, "in Ireland, not simply a separation " from the Body of the faithful, but, "to all intents and purposes, an In"terdiction, ab aqua et igni: that no "Catholic dares to administer a cup "of cold water, or a crust of dry "Bread, or any other necessary sus"tenance to an excommunicated person; and that the offence which "draws down this heavy sentence, is, any friendly intercourse which a "Catholic may be found to hold with "Protestants."

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All those assertions, we must distinctly say, are directly contrary to the fact,

The truth is, that this Punishment, so much misrepresented, is actually limited to the "Separation of a Chris"tian, leading a disorderly Life, dis"gracing his profession, from the "Christian Congregation, and a " banishment of such person from the "Church."

It amounts to neither more nor less than the removal of a Member of any other Religious Society from that Society, for disorderly and disgraceful conduct, would amount to. There ensues no Interdict against any other person communicating with the expell. ed Member in Temporals, except so far as such Communion may extend to a wanton and contumacious encourage ment and approbation of the conduct so punished. On the contrary, the Catholic Discipline expressly declares several kinds of temporal communion to be wholly unaffected by Excommanication. They are compressed, for brevity's sake, in the following Line:

"Utile, Lex, Humile, res ignorata, nécesse."

These five Heads of Exception to the temporal consequences of Excommunication are so comprehensive, as

to embrace every supposable temporal case they are construed with great indulgence, and accepted with every Latitude. The Excommunicated person retains his claim to all the offices of Charity, to relief in his necessities, to employment for his Industry, to associate with others for all useful or necessary purposes, and to maintain the ordinary Relations of Society, as Master, Husband, father, soldier, Trader, &c. &c.

As for Excommunication of any person for associating with the expelled Member, or even for encouraging and abetting him, we believe that no instance of the kind has occurred: at least, none with the sanction of any Catholic Bishop in Ireland.

The Catholic Clergy have been un justly accused of pronouncing this Sentence in light and frequent cases.

Now, on the contrary, it is reserved as the punishment of crimes of gross enormity or turpitude. Only two instances of it have occurred, during the last 24 years, in the populous Arch-Diocese of Dublin, wherein, from the vicious habits of a great Capital, the most numerous instances of the exercise of this power may naturally be supposed to have existed. During the preceding 17 years only two other instances of the like nature occurred-Yet none of the persons, so excommunicated; appear to have suffered any temporal injury from the sentence. They have continued in their respective Trades and occupa tions: have not been in any manner molested: and they have met their Catholic Neighbours, and been dealt with, as before.

So discreetly, too, is the exercise of this Power limited, and so jealously is it watched, by the Catholic Hierarchy, that, according to the Disci pline of the Catholic Church in Ireland, no Clergyman of the second order can issue an Excommunication without previously laying the case before the Bishop of the Diocese, and obtaining

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