ct harmony with his language. He
applied with no less ardour than ability to the work that lay before him.
In less than two months he accomplished more than can be well conceived,
and further measures were in course of preparation. Those matters to which
he first devoted his chief attention were the Interior Government of Rome,
the state of the Pontifical finances and the territorial independence of
Italy. He found the public treasury in imminent danger of bankruptcy, and
he saved it by obtaining three millions of _ecus_ from the Roman clergy.
Through this munificent donation the minister was relieved from all
disquietude as regarded finance, and so was enabled to direct his energies
to the more difficult task of adapting the administration to the new
institutions. The constitution was, indeed, legally established. The
object now to be aimed at was to bring its wise provisions into practical
operation; in other words, to create a constitutional Pontificate.

With a view to this desirable end, M. Rossi prepared such legislative
measures as were calculated nicely to determine the sphere of action that
should be proper to each of the powers. By such means only could the
disorderly force of popular movements be controlled and restrained within
fixed limits. The Civil Government of the Roman States required to be
entirely reorganized. To this task also the minister diligently applied,
impressed with the conviction that good laws are at once the strongest
bulwark of liberty, and the most efficient check to arbitrary power. Count
Rossi was by birth an Italian. He was so in feeling also, and was
naturally led to consider how he should best avail himself in his
political arrangements, of the sound and enlightened doctrines of Gioberti
and Rosmini. With a view to this end he commenced negotiations at Turin,
Naples and Florence, for a confederation of the Italian States. It was his
policy that all these States should unite under a general government,
whilst each State retained the forms, laws and institutions to which it
had been accustomed. Certain relations between them, suitable to the time
of peace, should be established, as well as such regulations as would
facilitate their common action in case of war. Pius IX. saw the wisdom of
this great design, and favored its realization. It redounds to his glory,
as a ruler of mankind, that he decided for this salutary measure from
which, if it had been carried into effect, might have res