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UNFUNDED DEBT.

An Account of the UNFUNDED DEBT and DEMANDS OUTSTANDING on the 5th Day of January, 1816.

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PARLIAMENTARY REPORTS.

Abstract of the Report of the Committee on the Laws and Ordinances existing in Foreign States, respecting the regulation of their Roman Catholic Subjects, in Ecclesiastical matters.

THE various documents referred to were obtained by instructions which Lord Castlereagh gave in 1812, and subsequently, to the ministers resident at foreign courts.

The committee refrain from adverting to any question of theological controversy.

The attention of the committee is directed to two objects

1st. The appointment or election of the Catholic Clergy, principally those of the episcopal order.

2d. The restraints imposed upon the intermission of Papal rescripts; with this they have joined the appellative jurisdiction, exercised by the supreme secular magistrate.

Under a third head they include other matters of ecclesiastical regulation.

They distinguish between regulations obtaining in those states which are in communion with the See of Rome; those of the "non-united" Greek and Russian church; and those of the Augsburgh and Helvetian confessions.

1. AUSTRIA, BOHEMIA, HUNGARY.

The Austrian bishops are nominated or appointed by the Emperor, which appointment is in

lieu of the election or postulation of the chapters of their respective cathedrals, and has the same effect; the papal confirmation being afterwards obtained through the Austrian minister at Rome. To this mode of election the archbishop of Olmutz forms the sole exception, the right of choosing him resting entirely in the chapter of his see.

In Hungary the Emperor appoints all bishops, who perform every part of their functions which relates to jurisdiction before they have been confirmed by the Pope. In other parts of the imperial dominions this is not the case.

In Austria the placitum regium is the right of requiring that all ecclesiastical statutes and ordinances be submitted to the state before their publication. Absolutions are excepted, when granted by the Roman penitentiary, whenever they concern conscience only, when the case admits of no delay, or when the reputation of any one is in danger.

No Austrian subject can be cxcommunicated without the Emperor's consent.

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III. STATES OF ITALY--THE MILANESE AND AUSTRIAN LOMBARDY.

The archbishoprick of Milan, the bishopricks of Pavia, Cremona, Lodi, and Como, are at the immediate nomination and presentation of the Emperor of Austria, who is, however, with regard to the four last bishopricks, principally to appoint those subjects that may be recommended by the Pope.

In these states the sovereign right of the regium placitum remains in its full force and exercise.

IV. VENETIAN STATES.

In these states, while independent, the two patriarchs of Venice and Aquila were chosen by the Senate on a vacancy of an episcopal see, the names of three ecclesiastics were transmitted by the Senate to Rome, and the requisite bull of institution was sent by the Pope to the first on the list.

The same regulations existed here as in the other states already mentioned, respecting the regium placitum.

V. TUSCANY.

On a vacancy occurring in any Bishop's see, the Tuscan government presents to the Pope the names of four individuals, recommending, at the same time, by

means of the minister at Rome, the one more particularly designated to fill the vacancy.

Here also the regium placitum exists.

VI. NAPLES AND THE TWO SICILIES.

In Naples a negotiation is now going on respecting the appointing of bishops.

In Sicily the nomination is exclusively in the crown.

In both there is the regium placitum.

VII. SARDINIA, PIEDMONT, AND

SAVOY.

By a brief of Pope Nicholas V. of 1451, the Sovereign of Sardinia has the privilege of naining to all the bishopricks. The same was extended by a concordat, in 1727, to Savoy.

The regium placitum is completely recognized.

VIII. FRANCE.

By the pragmatic sanction of St. Louis, in 1268, the bishops of France were elected (by the Deans and Chapter); but these elections were not valid, without the congé d'élire of the King.

By the concordat settled at Bologna, between Pope Leo X. and the King, Francis I. in 1515, the French Monarchs have exercised the nomination of all bishops.

In France the regium placitum is established.

IX. SPAIN.

The patronage of all ecclesiastical benefices is in the King. He presents to all vacant sees, and requires that the necessary bulls should be immediately transmitted by the Pope to the newly appointed prelate.

All bulls and rescripts subject to the regium placitum.

X. POR

X. PORTUGAL AND THE BRAZILS.

The prerogatives of the crown have been uniformly contended for and supported, both with respect to the nomination of bishops, and a control upon the intromis. sion of papal rescripts.

XI. SWITZERLAND.

At Coire the Court of Rome has no right to interfere in the election of bishops, which is made freely by the 24 canons. It is only after the election that Rome gives the placet.

In the Valais, the Chapter proposes four individuals to the Diet, which selects one, and presents him to the Pope, who first rejects and then names him, of his own authority.

In the Catholic cantons, the immediate monasteries elect their own prelate, without the least influence on the part of the governments, their confirmation depending upon the apostolic see.

The regium placitum is in force in Switzerland.

A11. THE GREEK CHURCH, EMPIRE OF RUSSIA.

The archbishop of Mohilow, and all other bishops, are named by the Emperor, who are confirmed by the Pope.

The regium placitum exists in Russia.

XIII DENMARK.

No Catholic bishops. Catholic priests receive their appointments from the bishop of Hildersheim, who exercises the delegated authority of a vicar apostolic, in relation to several states of Germany, in which he is not resident.

No regium placitur in Denmark.

XIV. SWEDEN.

The King authorises, "by di

ploma," the vicars-apostolic to exercise their functions throughout the kingdom, conforming themselves to the edict of toleration. There is no provision for the exercise of the regium placitum.

XV. PRUSSIA.

The appointment to the episcopal order is generally in the Crown; but whenever the appointment or nomination of the bishop has not been reserved to the Crown, the Chapter exercises the right of election.

The regium placitum in force in Prussia.

XVI. NETHERLANDS.

Negotiations are now going forward respecting new regulations between the Pope and the King.

XVII. HAMBURGH.

No Catholic bishops, and no papaledict allowed to be published.

XVIII. SAXONY.

No Catholic bishop since the reformation, except the confessor of the King, who has the authority of a vicar apostolic.

No information has been obtained respecting the regium placitum.

XIX. HANOVER-HESSE BADEN.

Negotiations are now pending relative to ecclesiastical regulations.

XX. CANADA AND THE BRITISH COLONIES.

The manner in which the bishops are appointed is detailed in the appendix. The King of England nominates the bishop to each vacant see, who is afterwards consecrated by the Pope.

No regium placitum in feree in the colonies.

Documents in the appendix explain the nature of the election by

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the Chapter. The report would have been more satisfactory if it had more fully examined this part of the subject. In vol. 3. b. 5. e. 1. ar. 3. of Dr. Smith's Wealth of Nations, is the following ac count of it." In the ancient constitution of the Christian church, the bishop of each diocese was elected by the joint votes of the clergy and of the people of the episcopal city. The people did not long retain their right of election. The clergy found it easier to elect their own bishops themselves. The sovereign, though he might have some indirect influence in those elections, and though it was sometimes usual to ask both his consent to elect, and his approbation of the election, yet he had no direct or sufficient means of managing the clergy." After describing the encroachments of the see of Rome in the 14th and 15th centuries, Dr. Smith says, " In this situation of things, the sovereigns in the different states of Europe endeavoured to recover the influence which they once had in the disposal of the great benefices of the church, by procuring to the deans and chapters of each diocese the restoration of their ancient right of electing the bishops. The re-establishment of this ancient order was the object of several statutes enacted in England, and of the pragmatic sanction established in France in the 15th century."

Report of the Lords of the Committee of Council, appointed to take into consideration the State of the Coins of this Kingdom,

and the present Establishment and
Constitution of his Majesty's
Mint, to his Royal Highness the
Prince Regent, dated the 21st of
May, 1816.

At the Council Chamber, Whitehall, the 21st of May, 1816, by the Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of Council, appointed to take into consideration the State of the Coins of this Kingdom, and the present Establishment and Constitution of his Majesty's Mint :

His Majesty having been pleased, by his Order in Council of 7th February, 1798, to direct this Committee to take into consideration the state of the coins of this realm, and the present establishment and constitution of his Majesty's Mint, the Committee, in discharge of their duty, have already submitted to his Majesty their opinions on some of the points so referred to them.

A new Mint has, at their re commendation, been erected, and furnished with a most complete and extensive coining apparatus, including all the modern improvements; and in a representation to your Royal Highness in Council, of 6th March, 1815, this committee suggested several alterations in the establishment and constitution of his Majesty's Mint, which your Royal Highness was graciously pleased to approve, and which will, it is presumed, render that establishment more efficient.

These preliminary steps having been completed, the committee have availed themselves of the return of general peace, to resume the consideration of the important subject referred to them, which

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