Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-11-15


conclave, unless prepared to remain
there, according to the ordinances oil the
bulls, as long as it lasts.
The hour of closing he conclaVe be-
ing arrived, the first master of the cere-
monies rings small bell, to notify the
ambassadors, princes, prelates, and
other distinguished persons who may be
present, to retire. Every body having
withdrawn, the doors and windows are
built uh* except a small aperture tor
the admission of light. The only COM
municatlon with the exterior is by means
Of boxes turning on pivot, such as are
seen in converts. II cardinal desire
to leave the cOnclave either from lndls-
position, or any other serious cause, II Is
permitted, but he thereby loses his vote,
Those Cardinals who have not gone IN,
have three days to decide, whether they
will join ii or not; alter which they are
DO longer permitted to do so; but are
considered as being al Rome incoSnito.
The next day, the elder CARDINAL ad-
dresses discourse to his colleagues TO
exhort them to go seriously to work tor
the election of a Pope. The same day
they begin, and the Cardinals hold their
assemblies in the chapel for voting, with
out disseminating, morning and evening.
The assembly is thus convened: a mas
ter of the ceremonies goes through the
whole conclave every morning al nine
o'clock, and in the afternoon at o'clock,
ringing little bell, and exclaiming ad
caheliam, domini-(o the chapel, my
]ords.) Every evening the same master
of ceremonies announces with his little
bell, the hour of retreat, saying, ad cei-
lam, domini-(to your cells, my lords.)
There are four acknowledged forms OF
election, according to different times
The first is by compromise; the second.
by alteration or inspiration; the third by
ballot, and the fourth BY accesSH, or APP
proaches. The third, by closed ballots,
is the form now in use. In the midst OF
the Swine chapel before mentioned,
long table is placed, having at each end
two vessels filled with ballots. Cups to
receive the ballots are placed on the Ia
bic. The Cardinals being all assem-
bled, go by seniority and deposit THEN
ballots, whilst those attending the sick,
if any, go to receive their ballots in their
cells. All the ballots being given in,
one OF the Cardinals, the head OF an or
der, that is to say, either bishop, a
prizes, or deacon, turns them out on The
table, and one Of the tellers opens the
ballos, and reads aloud the name writ
ten thereon. Thereupon the other tel
lers mark off on the list Of the cardinals,
(Which lists are daily renewed the num-
Der OF votes for eash, and he who unites
two birds Of The votes, is reported ca
noncaly elected.
There are many circumstances which
concur in the choice of such or such
person for Pope. The sacred college
is divided INTO furtions and according
10 the nun Der OF Cardinals made under
each pontlficate, IS the number Of fac
tons. the l. nperor, the King Of France
and Spain, and other powers, also have
their factions, composed OF cardinals
born her So oJects. The chiefs Of these
factions are those whom the King en-
truss with this secret. Generally the
chiefs OF factions are sure OF the votes OF
those depending upon them, and if two
or three chiefs or factions, however little
numerous, agree, they can control the
election. Hence the sovereigns named,
and who takes great part in the cleo
ton OF the Pope, cause the Cardinal
whom they do not approve to be excIud
ed; and once excluded from the Ponu-
iicate, he scarcely ever reaches it. There
are only the three crowns above named
that have this right of exclusion. Thus
the Cardinal who is charged with the
secre; of his crown, makes his protest,
in the name of his master, that he will
not have such Cardinal, being we'll in
formed tina, he is no, well inclined to his
interest: but it must be observed thai
only one Cardinal can be excluded by
each crown. Aad here il is that all the
Roman policy is displayed; for (for IN
stance) as soon as it is perceived that
such or such power wishes to exclude
certain person, another, not more
agreeable, and to whom ii is almost Ger
tain that negative will be given, is al
most invariably proposed.
When the tellers have ascertained
that any Cardinal has two thirds of the
votes, then one of Them raising his voice
aloud, with gave information, proclams
the name Of the Cardinal, in moment
all the Cardinals on his right hand and
left, separate from him. His consen, is
then asked to the election which has