The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-12-28
LETTER YR0N Rome.
FORCED AUCTION OF THE IRISH COLLEGE
PROPERTY.

FORCED AUCTION OF THE IRISH COLLEGE
PROPERTY.
Rome, November 29.-On Monday, cath
November, the British Catholics residing
| In Rome were startled by the appearance
OF large placards announcing the sale by
of the lands belonging to the "Irish Col
lege and the four Irish Archbishops." 1t
was generally believed that the English,
| Irish, and Scotch Colleges were altogether
exempt from the operation of the Law for
Suppression of Religious Orders, as they
tions, being simply educational establish
ments for British Catholic youths intended
for the priesthood. Earl Granville in
J formed the deputation of tn Catholic
Union of Great Britain, which waited on
him at the Foreign Office, in February
last, that "Sir Augustus Paget had con-
veyed to him the distinct assurance of the
Italian Government, that the English,
Scotch, and Irish Colleges were not affect
ed by the proposed law, and he believed
that that representation would prove cor
rect" And in the reply of Lord Granville
to the Catholic Union of Ireland, dated
from the Foreign Office, on the 22nd Feb
ruary, 1873, and signed, &C. Hammond"
that assurance was, to all appearance, made
doubly sure. "Sir A. Paget"-so that re-
ply states-"has now received the memoir
andum from the Italian Minister for For
| elgu Affairs, drawn up by the Minister of
Grace and Ju tice, in which it is stated that
| the three colleges last mentioned" THAT is
| the English, Irish, and Scotch Colleges)
"are not included in the Bill, because the
this nature, which are either the same as
| seminaries, which were not comprised in
any of the laws of suppression or belong
| to those Catholic institutions, with regard
| to which article 13 of the Law of Guaran
| tee, determines that they shall continue
80 Ill Ill t. sn ~.
| clear from the above quoted statements of
Earl Granville and Sir A. Paget, based on
official communications with Visconti Ven
osta, the Italian Foreign Minister, that the
foreign character of the property Of the
| Irish, and other colleges in Rome, was
the Italian Government did not intend to
touch that property by the Act for Sup
| preston, and it is further beyond doubt
| that the other British ecclesiastical insti
! tutes we're promised an interval Of two
years, dating from the promulga of the
| law, to enable them to sell their land
property, and change themselves from
monastic corporations into educational
establishments. 1t may we'll, therefore,
| excite establishment to find the property of
"the Irish College and the four Irish Arch.
| bishops''-as the auction bills specify
| announced for sale, at 10 A. NJ of Deem
| Der 18th. No previous intimation of this
intended sale was given to tho rector or
officials of the Irish College, who only
learned the fact of the posting of the bills
on the walls of the streets, through friends
who brought to them the unwelceme It'd
iugs.- communication made to,
British Legation that the lands of the Col
lege were to be auctioued. OF course the
first step taken by the Rector of the Irish
College was to call upon the Minister of
Her Majesty, Sir A. Paget. But the Bri
tish Minister was out when the Rector first
cal cd n
otherwise engaged, and could not give the
Rector a personal interview. written
statement, with formal request for inter-
vention, was then delivered at the British
Legation.
The reply of Sir A. Paget to the written
application of Mgr. Kirby, the Rector of
the Irish College who expected at least to
delay the auction, takes away all hope OF
assistance from tho British Minister. His
reply delivered late on the evening of Fri
day the 18th, contains the astounding in
formation that Earl Granville's previous
ideas have been altered, and that the as
surances given by him, based on the state
ments of the Italian Minister, was utterly
useless. 1t seems Incredible, yet it is true,
that Sir A. PaGet now informs Mgr. Kirby
that Earl Granville received Information,
subsequently to the declarations made by
his lordship in February last to the Cath
lie Union, which induced lin, after con-
sulGng the law officers of the Crown, to
Instruct Sir A. PaSet that there was no
room for diplomatic interference on behalf
of " the so-called Irish College, in Rome
However, as Mgr. Kirby asserted that por-
tions Of the property were bought by the
four Archbishops as Britieh subjects, lie is
requested to lay before Sir Augustus Paget
his reasons for this assertion, and they will
be duly taken into consideration. It re-
mains to be explained how Her Majesty's
Ministers, having conveyed 20 tho parties
interested, the distinct assurance that the
Irish College was to be untouched by the
Suppression Act, and having subsequently,
altered their opinions, made no communi-
cation to the Irish College respecting this
change, but allowed tho assurance to re
main, and permitted the Irish College to
be taken by surprise, and its lands to be
set up for auction without any previous
notice Sir a. Pagct was aware for he
received nstructons-that he was to mako
no effort to protect the College. Why did
he not inform the College officials that they
had nothing to expect from him, andIso put
them on their guard against surprise ?
WIN NNes he nov term the institution the |