the conclavist says, on the throne of St. Peter. Cardinal Imperiale is a great enemy of his, but that would rather be of service to him than otherwise. On the whole, it is hardly likely that he should be the successful candidate. He was not so on this occasion; but from the next Conclave, six years later, he came forth as Innocent XI., and showed himself to be the right man in the right place, as regarded the needs of the Church at that time, to a degree which the elections of the Sacred College have rarely equalled.

Albizzi, ninth on the list, is a very different sort of man. Haughty, bold, enterprising, ambitious, every man in the Sacred College is afraid of him. The Spaniards would absolutely refuse to accept him. The French would not object to him because he is objected to by the Spaniards, and because "they have nothing to lose in Italy." The Florentines would naturally be in his favour as a countryman of their own, but that they are afraid of him. He is one of Barberini's candidates, as having been a "creature" of Urban; but neither Chigi nor Rospigliosi with their respective adherents would hear of him, deeming him "a man too terrible and exceedingly learned."

Cardinal Cibo, the brother of the reigning Prince of Massa, is the tenth of the papabili. There is little else than good to be said of him. He is a man of exceeding pleasing and popular manners, and would, the conclavist thinks, make a very good Pope. He would be acceptable to the crowned heads, who in his case probably would not be rigorous in adhering to their maxim of requiring a Pope to be not less than seventy. Barberini

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could, the conclavist thinks, have no objection to him. And the squadrone volante, of which he is a member, could not but be pleased to see so creditable a member of their party raised to power. The Medici, too, would not refuse to concur in his election. Nevertheless, with all this, he will not be proposed by the leader of any faction, and "therefore he must recommend himself for aid to the Holy Ghost, since he has an objection to anything simoniacal." The reader is left to conclude that his chance is a desperate one.

Of the Venetian Cardinal Ottoboni the conclavist writes only this: "So many are the writings current in Rome respecting the Venetian Ottoboni, that it is unnecessary to say anything here about him, save that, during all the time that he governed the Dataria, he has shown himself so hostile to princes and to men of merit, that it is hardly likely, despite his sardonic grin, that he should ever at any time attain to the Papacy." Nineteen years subsequently, however, after Altieri had reigned more than six as Clement X., and Odeschalchi had reigned more than twelve as Innocent XI., this Ottoboni was elected Pope, "despite his sardonic grin," as Alexander VIII. But promotion came to him, as to so many another, too late, and he reigned only sixteen months.

We come next to Cardinal Spada, a Lucchese, in his seventy-third year. He was the favourite candidate of the squadrone volante, and was probably the man whom Barberini would most willingly have contributed to elect, if he should be unable to secure the election of Facchinetti. The whole of the squadrone would vote

for him; and it was thought that Cardinal Azzolini, one of their number, would very possibly be able to persuade Rospigliosi and the Clementine cardinals to acquiesce in his election. Chigi and the Alexandrines would oppose him; but it was calculated that, unless the French party and the Medici party joined Chigi in his opposition, he would hardly succeed in preventing his election. In short, Spada's chance was thought a good one.

Another cardinal from Lucca is the thirteenth on the list, his Eminence Bonvisi, now in his sixty-third year. He is described as naturally candid, open to conviction, liberal, kindly, and sincere. He is said to possess a very intimate knowledge of the European Courts and of the policy of their rulers, though, as clerk of the Apostolic Chamber, his own special business had led him to be more versed in legal matters. It is remarked that he is, as a Lucca man, specially well informed of all that is going on in Europe, from the particular care which that republic takes to keep itself well acquainted with such matters. And "as the people of that nation (the Lucchese) are known to be industrious, affable, and courteous," it would, says the conclavist, be much for the advantage of the Church and the city of Rome to have a Pope with such qualities. The chief objection to so admirable a candidate ("such is the perversity of the world!" ejaculates our conclavist) is, that Francesco, his nephew, is too clever by half! On the contrary, our author maintains, the nephew would furnish an excellent complement to the qualities of the uncle, who, by reason of failing health, might be found to be slow, and too

much inclined to let things take their own course; whereas Francesco Bonvisi is a man of an active, resolute, frank, and bold turn of mind, well versed in public affairs, industrious, assiduous in the despatch of business, in such sort that "the conjunction of the suavity of the uncle with the authority of the nephew would form such a compound," that it would be the very thing wanted. Chigi would be opposed to him, at least till after proof of the impossibility of electing either D'Elci or Celsi. Neither the French nor the Spaniards would specially oppose him. The squadrone would be divided as regarded him; but this, remarks the writer, might do him more good than harm with all those who, disgusted with recent events,* wish for a Pope capable of managing his own affairs.

Next comes Vidoni, fourteenth on the list, born in Cremona, and now in his sixtieth year. He, apparently, would be the Pope, if our conclavist had the making of one in his hands, notwithstanding all the grand things he has said of others. "He alone," says the writer,

possesses all those grand qualities which are needed to constitute a great Pontiff." The austerity of his aspect does not interfere with the remarkable affability of his behaviour to all who are brought to speak with him; and the better he is known the more surely do those who know him find that this kindly manner is the outcome of genuine goodness. His well-known parsimony is, in the present condition of circumstances, a recommendation, since "the Church does not need a Pontiff

He is alluding to the pontificate of Pamfili, Innocent X., and the scandals of Olympia.

whose liberalities would consummate her ruin, experience having taught us how pernicious to the people is the prodigality which gives away the property of others." He would be a most vigilant and zealous Pope in ecclesiastical matters, and absolutely indefatigable in the transaction of business. It is not true that he is an unduly severe man. On the contrary, he is prone to pardon-too prone, indeed, as it is asserted that he was when legate at Bologna-a defect which is objected to him with absurd inconsistency, at the same time that he is accused of harsh severity. He has had much experience in the management of State affairs, and the registers of the Papal Secretary's office furnish abundant testimony of his diplomatic successes when employed as nuncio in Poland. It cannot be supposed that he would be otherwise than acceptable to Barberini, seeing that Urban made an uncle of his a cardinal. It was Innocent X. who sent him to Poland, and it must be believed, therefore, that the squadrone volante would be favourable to his candidature. The good opinion of the Emperor, which he won on that occasion, would probably serve his cause with the Spaniards, while the fact that he was made cardinal at the request of the King of Poland might dispose the French to look favourably on his candidature. This phoenix of a cardinal is the only one in the list to whose candidature our conclavist finds nothing to oppose, and intimates no hostility as threatening. But Cardinal Vidoni did not become Pope.

*

The group of cardinals so called, and so often referred to, consisted mainly of the "creatures" of Innocent X.