appointed to deliberate and advise upon many subjects of proposed reform.  Great, indeed, was the need of change in the institutions of the Pontifical States; but the Government had a delicate part to play in amending them, and it wisely determined not to be precipitate in its measures.  “Already the Liberals had conceived boundless desires, and the Retrogradists were haunted with unreasonable fears.  The Government had, to-day, to moderate on the left, circulate despatches, wellnigh to scold men for hoping too much.”

But the friends of change, says Farini, were for the most part measured in their wishes and cautious in their proceedings; for all prudent men were exerting themselves strenuously to keep the impatient in hand, with excellent effect.

We cannot follow in detail the Pope’s measures down to March, 1848, till which period the movement may be considered as all his own, emanating from his free choice and not from the pressure of outward circumstances or from revolutions in foreign States.  He did enough during these twenty months to establish his character as a wise, humane, and liberal sovereign, eager to promote the temporal and religious interests of his people, and prompt to give political power into their hands as fast as they showed themselves capable of using, and not abusing, it.  He instituted a civic guard throughout his dominions, modelled on the French National Guard, and disbanded the Gregorian Centurions and volunteers.  All his court was opposed to this measure as premature and dangerous; and even Cardinal Gizzi resigned his place in consequence of it.  But the Pope persevered, and Cardinal Ferretti, still more inclined to liberalism, was appointed in his place.

He conceived the idea of an Italian customs league, after the model of the German one, and pressed it with so much earnestness that in November, 1847, it was instituted for the Roman, Tuscan, and Sardinian dominions, and every effort was made to render it acceptable to the other powers of Italy.  He established a municipal government for the city of Rome, which had hitherto remained without one; and he created a Council of State for all his dominions, to consist chiefly of the laity, one person being chosen for each Province by the sovereign, out of a list of three, nominated by the provincial authorities.  This Council was to sit in Rome, and aid the Government with its advice in putting the various departments in order, in constituting municipalities, and in other public concerns.  He created, also, a Council of Ministers, which Farini calls the most important act of his reign, “As being that by which the executive power acquired an organization worthy of a civilized state, and altogether novel in that of Rome.”  There were to be nine departments, and, with the exception of the president of the Council and its secretary, the ministers need not be cardinals.  All those first appointed, however, were cardinals or prelates.