is
impossible to mention anything connected with the establishment of the
hierarchy which can at all explain the violence of the bishops and clergy
generally of the establishment. The popular commotion arose from
misconception and the absurd falsehoods that were industriously
disseminated. The masses were still raging, when Dr. Wiseman, who had just
been raised to the dignity of Cardinal, published an appeal to the people
of England, in which he showed that the measure which had occasioned so
much disturbance concerned only the internal organization of the Catholic
church, that the Pope had not sought such a measure, but had only acceded
to it at the earnest request of the bishops, vicars-apostolic of England:
that there was nothing connected with it contrary to the laws of the
country, or that could not be reconciled with liberty of conscience, which
was now so completely and generally recognized. It was as ridiculous as it
was illiberal to heap torrents of abuse on the Pope, as if he had sought
to usurp the rights of the Crown, or seize on the territory and revenues
of the established Anglican church. As for himself, he was reviled because
he had received the title of Archbishop of Westminster, whilst, in
reality, as regarded the church of that name, and any territory or
property connected with it, it was only an empty title. He was to be
metropolitan. The title of London was inhibited by law. Southwark was to
be itself a diocese. To have taken the title of a subordinate portion of
the great metropolis, such as Finsbury or Islington, would only have
excited ridicule, and caused the new episcopate to be jeered at.
Westminster was naturally selected, although not by himself, as giving an
honorable and well-known title. He was glad that it was chosen, not
because it was the seat of the courts of law, or of parliament, but
because it brought the real point of the controversy more clearly and
strikingly before the opponents of the hierarchy. "Have we, in anything,
acted contrary to law? And if not, why are we to be blamed?" But he
rejoiced, also, for another reason. The chapter of Westminster had been
the first to protest against the new archiepiscopal title, as though some
practical attempt at jurisdiction within the Abbey had been intended. To
this more than absurd charge, the Cardinal eloquently replied: "The
diocese, indeed, of Westminster, embraces a large district, but
Westminster proper consists of two very different