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was, at the same time, actually trenching on the authority of the see of Rome by two ordinances issued by him this year relative to ecclesiastical affairs. By the first of these he forbad all the religious orders within his dominions from holding any correspondence, on spiritual or temporal subjects with their respective chiefs, while these were resident in any foreign parts. By the other it was enacted that no bull, brief, or other instrument issued by the apostolic see, should be received within the emperor's dominions, till it should be rendered valid by the sovereign's sanction. The latter of these tended directly to diminish the authority of the Romish church; and, by making it subordinate to the civil power, to restore that harmony between the temporal and spiritual authority which is essential to the welfare of a state. The former destroyed that intimate communication which had subsisted between the several fraternities dispersed through Europe and their generals, resident at Rome; and disunited and weakened them by breaking off that chain by which each was connected with the see of Rome, as a common bond of union.*

Nor was his imperial majesty the only one of the sons of the Romish church who shewed his disobedient temper at this period.His brother, Leopold, archduke of Tuscany, discovered an equal determination to rectify those encroachments which the spiritual had made on the temporal power during the prevalence of superstition, and to give the latter that ascendency which is essential to the well being of a state. He began in the first year of this pontificate, with ordaining, "that all "ecclesiastical possessions in his states should thenceforward be subject to "the same contributions as other property: and he fixed the age at which "his subjects might be admitted into a religious order."-Three years after, he revived the pretensions of the dukes of Tuscany to the duchy of Urbino. He caused the members of the several orders to be numbered, and took account of their revenues. He enjoined them gratuitously to give the first elements of instruction to youth; and obliged them strictly to observe the rules of their respective institutions; rendering their superiors responsible for the conduct of the brethren.-Pursuing the same line of policy, he kept pace with the emperor in his reforms; and he countenanced and supported Ricci, bishop of Pistoia, a man of a violent temper, who was proceeding

a

Ann. Regist. 1784. 5.

Life of Pius. 2. 2.

proceeding in similar measures in his diocese with an ardour untempered 1781 with discretion.

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Pius received some consolation under the mortification which he experienced from these catholic princes in the testimonies of good will shewn to the Romish church by the king of Sweden. That monarch published an edict, this year, favourable to the catholics of his kingdom; signifying to the pope, "that the style of it was adapted to the conceptions of the "Swedish nation, but that the statutes were conformable to the spirit of "the mildest toleration."-Gustavus, visiting Rome two years after, gave further testimonies of his respect for the reverend father of the Romish church, and was gratified with his acknowledgments of them.

GERMANY.

His imperial majesty, being loosed from the restraint which a division of power had laid him under, seemed determined to make the commencement of his reign the era of reform in his dominions. To promote their welfare, as well as to strengthen the sovereign authority, appear to have been his grand objects, and a persuasion of the salutary nature of his undertakings, his chief motive. Yet we cannot but observe in him how difficult it is to reconcile the ardour which is requisite in a reformer, to enable him to surmount the difficulties which will ever obstruct his progress, with the caution which is essential to the success of signal enterprises. Hence it arose, that his proceedings, though many of them were meritorious in themselves, were dishonoured in the eyes of the world by the appearance of an impatient spirit of innovation; which might have been avoided by advancing gradually and with more reflection.-To a prince so fond of power, so desirous of making every person in his dominions contribute his due share to the public good, it was very offensive to see so large a proportion of authority and wealth in the possession of the religious orders. We, accordingly, find him immediately adopting measures for remedying this evil. Two ordinances were, this year, published at Vienna, to serve as rules

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rules for the monastics; one by which they were forbidden to hold any correspondence with their respective chiefs, while resident in any foreign parts; the other prohibiting any bull, brief, or other instrument issued by the apostolic see, to be received within the imperial dominions, till it should be rendered valid by the sovereign's sanction. These ordinances, which struck at the foundation of that power which had been usurped by the church of Rome to the prejudice and disturbance of civil government, was not more alarming to the zealous papists than a subsequent measure, by which the free exercise of their religion was granted to the protestants in every part of the Austrian states. It was with grief that the warm supporters of the papal hierarchy saw the descendant of those monarchs who had been the strenuous champions of the Romish church relaxing in his principles respecting ecclesiastical matters so far as even to discover to the world that he thought that christians of every denomination ought to enjoy the privilege of worshipping God in their own manner, provided they do not interfere with the public peace.

As if confident that his own personal conduct and the measures of his government were stamped with such rectitude that they would bear the strictest scrutiny, and might bid defiance to satire, Joseph, at this time, enlarged the liberty of the press. The decree for this purpose, written with the emperor's own hand, permits the discussion even of religious subjects, provided the writers should not attack the roman catholic, the lutheran, or calvinist faith and it permitted strictures even on the conduct of the sovereign, provided the writings did not come under the description of pasquinades or libels.-This was followed by another act which deserves to be recorded in letters of gold; that was an edict by which slavery was for ever abolished in Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia; where the peasantry had, for ages, existed in that state of abject vassalage to their lords which is inconsistent with human nature, and had been repeatedly driven into rebellion by their oppression.-Had this monarch adhered uniformly to a line of policy so wise, generous, and beneficent, had he not been actuated by a restless ambition which, not satisfied with the glory of having emancipated the minds as well as persons of his subjects from slavery, thirsted after a greater extent of dominion, he might have defied the shafts dis

charged against him by those who were affected by his reforms, and would, probably, have prolonged a reign which was already rendered memorable by his patriotic actions.

Of all the objects to which the emperor's thoughts were directed none appeared to be more interesting to him than commerce. He saw that this was become a principal source of revenue as well as wealth to every flourishing state in Europe. He was determined to use every practicable mean to extend that of his subjects. And he was favoured in his design by the present circumstances of the neighbouring powers; when Great Britain, France, and Spain, were involved in hostilities which had exhausted their finances; when the Dutch states, forgetful of their true interests, founded on an industrious cultivation of the useful arts and attention to trade, had suffered themselves to be drawn into a war which eventually threw the republic into a state of internal distraction; and when the American provinces, whose commerce had been appropriated to Great Britain, whilst subordinate to that kingdom, were courting a free intercourse with all nations. With a view of availing himself of these propitious circumstances, Joseph, this year,t visited the Netherlands: and after performing the ceremony of installation in the duchy of Brabant, and regulating affairs at the court of Brussels, preparatory to the arrival of his sister and her husband, duke Albert of Saxe Teschen, whom he had invested with the government, he devoted his attention to commerce.-Repairing to Ostend, he prepared for the measures by which he proposed to make that place one of the principal emporiums in Europe by conversing freely with all who were likely to give him information upon this subject. And, that he might pursue his purpose more effectually, he summoned a committee of merchants who were most esteemed for their commercial knowledge; and, after conferring with them in a body, he took their opinions separately upon the means which he should employ for the advancement of the commerce of that port and of the low countries in general.-In pursuance of their advice, the emperor declared Ostend a free port; and, that he might provide a harbour more correspondent to his design, he ordered a considerable

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siderable bason to be constructed at his own expence.-These judicious measures for the benefit of the low countries endeared him to the inhabitants, as a prince eminently endowed with patriotic virtues. And in consequence of them, and the encouragement given to foreign settlers, he had soon the satisfaction to see the town crowded with people, all contributing to the prosperity of the state by their active. exertions, and every spot in its environs covered with houses for their accommodation.

These were not the only advantages which the emperor derived from the present situation of the great neighbouring powers. By the barrier-treaty, in 1713, several of the strongest fortresses in the Netherlands were committed to the Dutch states, to be held in trust, as a barrier, both for themselves and the Austrian states, against the invasions of France. At that time, when Austria was weak and exhausted by a long war, it was deemed an advantage to be disencumbered of the expence of maintaining them, and to throw the burthen on an opulent neighbour, who was better able and equally interested in opposing their common enemy. But the circumstances of the court of Vienna had since been materially changed. Its strength was augmented and its finances improved; and it was now in close alliance with that power against which this defensive measure was adopted. Joseph, therefore, consulting only his own interests, and regarding only the existing circumstances of himself and the powers interested in the observance of this treaty, determined on a resumption of the barrier towns. And the event was, that, after some negotiations with the Dutch states relative to the revenue drawn from them and the money expended in their reparation, their high mightinesses consented to the cession of them, and the Dutch garrisons were immediately withdrawn.

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Annual Register. 1784. 11.

Idem. 2.

PRUSSIA.