THE BULL AT ROME AND IN FRANCE. 25$

well do so, for they had not been consulted in any way upon
this new constitution. Father Tellier and his friends had had
the art and the audacity to obtain the publication of it without,
submitting it to them. The Pope, as I have said, had been
forced into acquiescence, and now, all confused, knew not what-
to say. He protested, however, that the publication had been
made without his knowledge, and put off the cardinals with
compliments, excuses, and tears, which last he could always-
command.

The constitution had the same fate in France as in Rome.
The cry against it was universal. The cardinals protested that
it would never be received. They were shocked by its con-
demnation of the doctrines of St. Augustin and of the other
fathers; terrified at its condemnation of St. Paul. There were
not two opinions upon this terrible constitution. The Court,
the city, and the provinces, as soon as they knew the nature of
it, rose against it like one man.

In addition to the articles of this constitution which I have
already named, there was one which excited infinite alarm and
indignation, for it rendered the Pope master of every crown I
As is well known, there is a doctrine of the church, which
says:—

An unjust excommunication ought not to hinder [us] from
doing our -duty.

The new constitution condemned this doctrine, and conse-
quently proclaimed that—

An unjust excommunication ought to hvnder [us] from
doing our duty,

The enormity of this last is more striking than the simple
truth of the proposition condemned. The second is a shadow
which better throws up the light of the first. The results and
the frightful consequences of the condemnation are as clear as
day.

I think I have before said that Father Tellier, without any
advances on my part, without, in fact, encouragement of any
kind, insisted upon keeping up an intimacy with me, which I
could not well repel, for it came from a man whom it would