to the scrutiny, San Sisto having felt the pulse of his creatures, thought it was his best policy to agree to their sentiments, and seem as forward as he could in declaring for Montalto. Putting himself, therefore at the head of them, he enters the chapel, where, while some were proposing a scrutiny, he, to enhance his merit, joining himself with Alessandrino, goes immediately to Montalto, whom these both compliment, by crying out, "The Pope, the Pope.' The greatest part of the college applauded what they had done, and approved of it, by imitating their example. But the dean Farnese not liking this tumultuary proceeding, ordered them all to their places again in order, to proceed in a regular manner to the scrutiny.

'Montalto hereupon slily whispers San Sisto, desiring him to see that it may be done without prejudice to the adoration already performed, which made both him and Alessandrino cry out twice, 'Without prejudice to the adoration.'

'As soon as Montalto perceived that above half the votes were for him, without staying till the scrutiny was ended, he leaps out of his seat, throws away his staff, that had hitherto supported him instead of a crutch, into the middle of the place, and begins to stretch out himself, insomuch that he soon appeared half as big again as he was before: but that which was most surprising, he fetches such a lusty hem, that a young man of thirty could scarce reach. We may well think that the cardinals were startled at this sudden alteration. The old dean began immediately to see repentance in the countenances of Alessandrino and San Sisto, and said aloud, Let us not go too fast; there is an error in the scrutiny.' But Montalto, knowing that the time

was now come wherein he might speak for himself, resolutely told him, That the scrutiny was good, and according to form.' And a little after, he that within an hour or two had scarce strength sufficient to enable him to cough, roared out the Te Deum with such a thundering voice, that the roof of the chapel began to shake.

'As he was kneeling before the altar, according to the custom, to make a small ejaculation, the master of the ceremonies, observing the usual formalities, asked, 'If he accepted of the papal dignity?' He, putting on a grave and majestic countenance, answered, 'That he had received one popedom already, which, consequently, he could not accept of again: but if they had another to give him, he was ready for it; for, thanks be to God, his shoulders were strong enough to bear double the weight of what was yet put upon them.' Farnese, as well as the rest of the cardinals, hearing these words, turned to Santa Sevarina, and said, 'They thought they had placed an idiot in St. Peter's chair, but now, I perceive, we have gotten a pope who will make fools and asses of us.' Santa Sevarina shrugged his shoulders, but could return no other answer than, The Lord have mercy upon us.'

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As the masters of the ceremonies were putting on his pontifical robes, he, as if he were weary of that formal and decrepid posture which he had so long kept himself in, stretched out his limbs with that vigour as astonished all the beholders. Rusticucci hereupon presuming upon his former familiarity, said to him, 'Holy father, I perceive the holy chair contains a sovereign remedy for all distempers, since it restores health and youth to old

and infirm cardinals.' To which he, screwing up his face as formally as he could, replied, 'I feel it.' When Medici told him, 'That he seemed now to have a different mien and air from what he had whilst a cardinal.' 'I was looking then,' says he,' for the keys of Paradise, and, therefore, held down my head; but now I have found them, I lift up my eyes to heaven, having nothing else to seek for on earth.' 'It was no unpleasant sight to Farnese, when he beheld Este, Medici, and Alessandrino, instead of expressing their joy for having a pope of their own creation, look very melancholy upon it; wherefore he said to Sforza, as he was going out of the conclave, 'That Charles V. having abdicated the empire in the morning, repented of what he had done before night; which, I believe,' continues he, 'those three cardinals are not to begin to do now.' I shall count them happy,' replies Sforza, 'if their repentance last no longer than that emperor's did.''

This narrative may excite a smile, but it is not without its high value, as it exhibits the working of the mystery of iniquity in the so-called infallible church. There is, further, reason to believe that Sixtus V. made a simoniacal contract with Cardinal Este before he was elected to the papal chair. If so, according to the bull of Julius II. he was no true pope, and his acts were void. Yet the cardinals created by him raised Aldobrandino (Clement VIII.) to the popedom, from whom the stream of popish authority has flowed to the present time. It might, therefore, puzzle the Vatican to prove, how, even on their own principles, there has been, for the last two centuries, a genuine successor of St. Peter.

AUGUSTINE.

THE EXPERIENCES OF THE VENERABLE MOTHER.

[Continued from page 341.]

I TRUST that the impression I produced last month upon my reader was not so slight as to render it necessary for me to remind her that I am a widow, boarding in a seminary for young ladies, kept by certain ladies, of the name of Latifear, in an ancient Convent of White Nuns-that I choose to be called Euphrasia, and that I have promised to introduce my reader to the venerable mother of the household.

I had been in the house several weeks before I saw Mrs. Latifear. It seems that she had been ill, and confined to her bed. It was, therefore, the commencement of autumn, just at the time when evenings are beginning to lengthen, and empty grates look comfortless, that I, one morning, received by the hand of the old lady's personal servant, a very small delicately-written note, requesting the honour of my company to tea at five o'clock, in Mrs. Latifear's apartment.

I immediately prepared an answer in the same form as the invitation, that is, neatly written and sealed; and at the appointed hour Mrs. Selby came to conduct me to her mother's side of the house, she having also received an invitation. I love to be particular, and thus, if possible, to bring every

scene which I wish to describe before my reader. To go to Mrs. Latifear's apartments from mine, it was necessary either to take an immense circuit, or to pass through the school-room which was over the inner gateway; through this, therefore, I was led; and as it was precisely the hour when a game of play was allowed to the young people, it required some little skill to avoid hazardous rencounters between a party of oranges and lemons, which, just at this crisis, were rolling against each other in as high a state of excitement, as ever were the green and red factions in Constantinople, or the big-endians and littleendians in Lilliput; but being passed this point of peril, and having crossed a large room beyond, where the two teachers were enjoying a little space of rest, with their feet on the fender, in the interval of their labours, we entered on a long gallery, terminated by a gothic window, at the right-hand of which was the door which opened into Mrs. Latifear's apartment. This window looked out on the garden, and the state of the light without was just sufficient to shew the gothic tracery of its frame and mullions in perfect relief. There was no sound in this place, but a sort of sighing of the wind, endeavouring to make its way through the long irregular passages, and now and then interrupted by the echo of some young voice from the play-room.

6

These ancient buildings,' I remarked as I walked along, suggest many thoughts.' And, also,' Mrs. Selby replied, ‘teach many profitable lessons to a prepared mind; but where the mind is not prepared, these lessons fall as lightning on the ice.' We were, by this time, at the old massive door of Mrs. Latifear's apartments; and Mrs. Selby having first knocked,