its concurrence in the principles of free education then being advocated in France, and its compliance in the desire of the French Government for the reduction within moderate limits of the establishments that had been opened in France, more or less clandestinely, by the Jesuits, in evasion of the law. All these circumstances had brought about a degree of inward agitation which, though still outwardly suppressed, was sufficiently declared to be acknowledged by all who had not some special interest in speaking against the truth.
During his reign of sixteen years, it befell Gregory XVI. to create no less than seventy-five Cardinals, which are five more than the Sacred College can count, according to the Bull of Sixtus V., in force. The mortality amongst his nominees was, however, inordinately rapid, for at the moment of the Pope's death the whole College did not amount to more than sixty-two, of whom two dated still from Pius VII. and seven from Leo XII.[1] Those present in Rome
- ↑ Gregory left five Cardinals in petto, whose sealed-up names were communicated to his successor by the Cardinal Camerlengo—the dignitary who takes in charge the inventory of the Papal palace, and therewith of the Pope's writing-table, in which it is customary for him to
