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King of Poland. It concerns a philosophical commission, which, the writer says, he had executed as well as he could, considering he was still in the prison where he had continued for three years, by order of the Holy Office, for having printed the Dialogue concerning the two systems, although with the license of the same Office, that is, of the Master of the Sacred Palace in Rome. This, and other similar books, he knew were seen by his Majesty and his savans, who could therefore judge, whether there were in them doctrine more scandalous, more detestable, and more pernicious to Christianity, than is contained in the books of Calvin and Luther, and all the other heresiarchs put together. This opinion, however, was so impressed upon the mind of the pope, that the book remained prohibited, and himself was afflicted with ignominy, and condemned to prison at the will of his holiness; "which," he adds "will be for ever. But whither is passion transporting me? I return to the lenses," &c.[1]

  1. —— restando in tuttavia nella carcere, dove da tre anni * * * * sebenne con la licenza del medesimo S. Officio, cioè del maestro. * * * * eppure questo concetto è stato talmente impressionato nella mente del papa, che il libro resta proibito, ed io con ignominia afflitto e condannato alla carcere ad arbitrio di sua Sautità, che sarà in perpetuo. Ma