83
our own times — certainly with circumstantial variations of things and degrees, but with substantial identity. Such literary composition, to borrow a term from the school of painting, is intelligible and harmless enough, besides its real truth and use. But when it is reflected, how often and almost irresistibly it is misrepresented by unprincipled persons as forgery and intentional imposition — a misrepresentation, of which, while the authors are conscious, they avail themselves of the benefit, and repeat the slander as long as they feel that it is believed and works; it might be advisable, either to discontinue the practice altogether, or to be very cautious in the use of it.
It has been pretended, that the damnatory Indexes of Rome have no force — "no force whatever," according to Dr. Murray's solemn declaration before the Parliamentary Commissioners — in this united empire. From pages 38 and onwards of the Literary Policy, it will appear, that the very first Index invested with direct Papal authority and responsibility, that of Paul IV. was expressly founded on the Bull Cænæ Domini, which is said to have been first published by Urban V. in his first Constitution. This Constitution, how-
