ANCESTORS OF THE AUTHOR.

H

that the Papal government should defray the enormouscosts which had been incurred on both sides. But theTheocratic government refused submission to the solemndecree of its oivn supreme tribunal! What power had anyindividual to compel it ? Every pretence of justice or law ;or the hypocracies even, being set at naught by the holydespots ! Nothing but force could possibly prevail againstthem;—and possessing no such physical force, my grand-father was compelled to renew the suit. This, after severaladditional years of persevering exertion, produced a seconddecree of the same tribunal, confirmatory of the former.

This second triumph proved as sterile and ruinous to thevictor as had been the first. The Pope again refused com-pliance with the decrees of reluctant “justice.” It waspretended that the tribunal of La Rota enhanced its reputa-tion for integrity by these two decisions against the govern-ment ! I will not waste a word on so disgusting a delusion ;but as briefly as possible proceed to state the almostincredible fact, that my grandfather, strong in the convictionof having with him right and equity—and even law,renewed his desperate application for the interference ofLa Rota. For fifteen years he fought against the cavils andsubterfuges of the priestly robbers, and then, actuallyobtained a third decision in his favour! “ Favour,” do Isay ? the word is a mockery ! To him it w r as the “ favour ”of being utterly ruined! inasmuch, as this third decree wasno more heeded by the Pope than either of the others !This Pope was called Pius VI . His piety and virtues havebeen much extolled!

The first great expenditures and losses of my grandfatherat La Tolfa, and the enormous costs of the protractedmockery of judicial procedure, had at last thrown him intopecuniary difficulties. Some of his property was sold ;some mortgaged ; almost all embarrassed in one way or