by Michelangelo in a letter to his “dearest friend,” Giovan Francesco Fattucci at Florence.  It breathes so pleasant and comradely a spirit, that I will translate more than bears immediately on the present topic:  “Dear friend, although we have not exchanged letters for many months past, still our long and excellent friendship has not been forgotten.  I wish you well, as I have always done, and love you with all my heart, for your own sake, and for the numberless pleasant things in life you have afforded me.  As regards old age, which weighs upon us both alike, I should be glad to know how yours affects you; mine, I must say, does not make me very happy.  I beg you, then, to write me something about this.  You know, doubtless, that we have a new Pope, and who he is.  All Rome is delighted, God be thanked; and everybody expects the greatest good from his reign, especially for the poor, his generosity being so notorious.”

Michelangelo had good reason to rejoice over this event, for Julius III. felt a real attachment to his person, and thoroughly appreciated both his character and his genius.  Nevertheless, the enemies he had in Rome now made a strong effort to dislodge Buonarroti from his official position at S. Peter’s.  It was probably about this time that the Superintendents of the Fabric drew up a memorial expressive of their grievances against him.  We possess a document in Latin setting forth a statement of accounts in rough.  “From the year 1540, when expenditures began to be made regularly and in order, from the very commencement as it were, up to the year 1547, when Michelangelo, at his own will and pleasure, undertook partly to build and partly to destroy, 162,624 ducats were expended.  Since the latter date on to the present, during which time the deputies have served like the pipe at the organ, knowing nothing, nor what, nor how moneys were spent, but only at the orders of the said Michelangelo, such being the will of Paul III. of blessed memory, and also of the reigning Pontiff, 136,881 ducats have been paid out, as can be seen from our books.  With regard to the edifice, what it is going to be, the deputies can make no statement, all things being hidden from them, as though they were outsiders.  They have only been able to protest at several times, and do now again protest, for the easement of their conscience, that they do not like the ways used by Michelangelo, especially in what he keeps on pulling down.  The demolition has been, and to-day is so great, that all who witness it are moved to an extremity of pity.  Nevertheless, if his Holiness be satisfied, we, his deputies, shall have no reason to complain.”  It is clear that Michelangelo was carrying on with a high hand at S. Peter’s.  Although the date of this document is uncertain, I think it may be taken in connection with a general meeting called by Julius III., the incidents of which are recorded by Vasari.  Michelangelo must have demonstrated his integrity, for he came out of the affair victorious, and obtained from the Pope a brief confirming him in his office of architect-in-chief, with even fuller powers than had been granted by Paul III.