The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-10-23

,
of Christ upon earth, and the last
hope of his Kingdom.
What however has recently been done is
not unknown to YOU, venerable brothers-
rope Plus the 9TH. a man the most upright.
innocent and holy. has been basely captiva-
ted and carried away into exile and impri-
so that henceforth the right OF
command in holy things is to be sought in
lust and insO,ence, or is il to be me
by every lawful resistance. And truly were
It permitted in christian to drive an old
man out of his house, his country, to
dash down an innocent bishop. to deprive
the church of her patrimony, to harrass me
rit with contumely what can be unla " full
1T 1t was not wicked to deceive Christ by
perjury, to spit upon him when bound, to
FNunder him when suffering, what can be
Thought the most atrocious impiety? But
all are affected by this last injury. that
which is OF the highest interest to the church
and TO the human race, being supposed OBJ :.
noxiors to one alone, he would compel us to
appear to wish to be separated from the Ca
thohc unity, or to abet the enemies of the
British empire, whom by the admonition of
Christ, by the faith of an oath, and finally
by the love OF country, we are bound to Oh.
pose, not only with our counsels and exbor-
tations, but if necessary by shedding our
blood and with our lives; and that this pri
mary duty OF christian shall be fulfilled by
us We most sacredIy promise, and call on
God and you TO witness.
These matters have been acted upon in
our general convention held at Dublin. and
it was resolved that nur sentiments should
be so expressed. as to make it manifest that
we have been both eo!icitous for the unity of
the church and the honors Of Tius the 9Th.
AUG az the same time, that We wished 10
provide against those dangers which are
feared. Therefore. the Following points fave
been discussed. adjudged and determined as
perpetual memorial of our sentiments
whereas the most holy and glorious POPE
Plus VII having been taken away from his
own residence by military order and force.
without any crime nf his own, and commit.
TED an exile into custody and whereas il
may be feared, that overcome by solitude
and misery the mind of the said Plus NAV
De impelled. and he may by compulsion alb
dicate his Office, the highest in the Church.
and forced to subscribe his name to such alb
dic atom, as II 1t were voluntarily and freely
made
Wherefore, we, by common consent, ha-
wing considered the premises, hereby reject.
abjure, dees,. declare void and to every eff
fect OF law, cancel the bulls genuine or pre-
tended, rescripts of every Kind whatever.
Letters in the form of Briefs, in whatever
form conceived, if any such should declare
the cesslon. dismission or abdication of the
fapacy IN the name of Plus the seven tn.
until he shall be restored to the free exercise
of MS Office and jurisdiction, and until the
recovery of that liberty shall be made known
nor oy cessions only, APPROPRIATIONS or con-.
hrmations. bur by indubitabe proofs.
u, ana If the most holy Lord Pope Piu, tie
VII. even under mitigated custody, shall
cede or shall have seemed to cede az afore
said we declare that such ccssion is yyasand
will be null. and the years of his Pontificate
only Will be reckoned, the abdication being
unacknowledged.
1.-THE same Lord Pope Plus the VII, be-
ing IN custody, as he now is, shall exchange
lie tor death, we decree the Apostolic see
shall be considered vacant, until a Ieeit;
mate, holy and free election of the SOVEREIGN
Pontif shall be fully anG economically proved
to the Churches in Ireland.
These things we decree and pronounce in
the name OF our Lord Jesus Christ, and in
the Unity of his Spirit, and ia the faith If the
Catholic Church.
These oar proceedings, as you see. tend
not to subvert the prerogatives of the HOLY
pee, which supremacy obtains in the
Church, but that we may vindicate its per
petual authority from injury and infamy.
and that the cement of Unity, founded by
Christ in his Church, may moi be dissolved
by tyranical frauds. to the subver sion of faith
and OF the public peace, with the deepest
degradation Of the Apostolic See.-Where-
tore we commend our deliberate sentiments
to your fraternity, and we pray for the sake
OF Christ and of his body, that your stua
ton do not allow you to follow our example.
you may afford the aid your prayers-Fare-
we'll the \ nrd
rable Brothers
Done at Dublin in the General Convention
OF the Bishops of Ireland, Sd March. the
1s1oth year of our Redemption, and tenth
OF the Pontifcate of our Lord Pope Plus
VII.
NORFOLK, October 10.
We are indebted 10 Captain Maxwell
M Nh L.-.rr n