with reference to the usurpations of the Court of Rome, were drawn up and ratified.

In these resolutions the ancient discipline of the German Church is asserted, with respect to nominations and elections to ecclesiastical benefices; and it is declared that "No bulls, briefs, or ordinances of the Pope shall be binding on the bishops, unless the latter regularly signify their formal assent."

III. STATES OF ITALY--THE MILANESE AND AUSTRIAN LOMBARDY.

The archbishoprick of Milan, the bishopricks of Pavia, Cremona, Lodi, and Como, are at the immediate nomination and presentation of the Emperor of Austria, who is, however, with regard to the four last bishopricks, principally to appoint those subjects that may be recommended by the Pope.

In these states the sovereign right of the regium placitum remains in its full force and exercise.

IV. VENETIAN STATES.

In these states, while independent, the two patriarchs of Venice and Aquila were chosen by the Senate on a vacancy of an episcopal see, the names of three ecclesiastics were transmitted by the Senate to Rome, and the requisite bull of institution was sent by the Pope to the first on the list.

The same regulations existed here as in the other states already mentioned, respecting the regium placitum.

V. TUSCANY.

On a vacancy occurring in any Bishop's see, the Tuscan governinent presents to the Pope the names of four individuals, recommending, at the same time, by

means of the minister at Rome, the one more particularly designated to fill the vacancy.

Here also the regium placitum exists.

VI., NAPLES AND THE TWO SI

CILIES.

In Naples a negotiation is now going on respecting the appointing of bishops.

In Sicily the nomination is exclusively in the crown.

In both there is the regium placitum.

VII. SARDINIA, PIEDMONT, AND

SAVOY.

By a brief of Pope Nicholas V. of 1451, the Sovereign of Sardinia has the privilege of naming to all the bishopricks. The same was extended by a concordat, in 1727, to Savoy.

The regium placitum is completely recognized.

VIII. FRANCE.

By the pragmatic sanction of St. Louis, in 1268, the bishops of France were elected (by the Deans and Chapter); but these elections were not valid, without the congé d'élire of the King.

By the concordat settled at Bologna, between Pope Leo X. and the King, Francis I. in 1515, the French Monarchs have exercised the nomination of all bishops.

In France the regium placitum is established.

IX. SPAIN.

The patronage of all ecclesias tical benefices is in the King. He presents to all vacant sees, and requires that the necessary bulls should be immediately transmitted by the Pope to the newly appointed prelate.

All bulls and rescripts subject to the regium placitum.

X. POR

X. PORTUGAL AND THE BRAZILS.

The prerogatives of the crown have been uniformly contended for and supported, both with respect to the nomination of bishops, and a control upon the intromission of papal rescripts.

XL SWITZERLAND.

At Coire the Court of Rome has no right to interfere in the election of bishops, which is made freely by the 24 canons. It is only after the election that Rome gives the placet.

In the Valais, the Chapter proposes four individuals to the Diet, which selects one, and presents him to the Pope, who first rejects and then names him, of his own authority,

In the Catholic cantons, the immediate monasteries elect their own prelate, without the least influence on the part of the governments, their confirmation depending upon the apostolic see.

The regium placitum is in force in Switzerland.

All. THE GREEK CHURCH, EMPIRE OF RUSSIA.

The archbishop of Mohilow, and all ether bishops, are named by the Emperor, who are confirmed by the Pope.

The regium placitum exists in Russia.

XIII DENMARK. No Catholic bishops. Catholic priests receive their appointments from the bishop of Hildersheim, who exercises the delegated authority of a vicar apostolic, in relation to several states of Germany, in which he is not resident.

No regium placitum in Denmark.

XIV. SWEDEN.

The King authorises, "by di

the Chapter. The report would have been more satisfactory if it had more fully examined this part of the subject. In vol. 3. b. 5. c. 1. ar. 3. of Dr. Smith's Wealth of Nations, is the following ac. count of it." In the ancient constitution of the Christian church, the bishop of each diocese was elected by the joint votes. of the clergy and of the people of the episcopal city. The people did not long retain their right of election. The clergy found it easier to elect their own bishops themselves. The sovereign, though he might have some indirect influence in those elections, and though it was sometimes usual to ask both his consent to elect, and his approbation of the election, yet he had no direct or sufficient means of managing the clergy." After describing the encroachments of the see of Rome in the 14th and 15th centuries, Dr. Smith says, "In this situation of things, the sovereigns in the different states of Europe endeavoured to recover the influence which they once had in the disposal of the great benefices of the church, by procuring to the deans and chapters of each diocese the restoration of their ancient right of electing the bishops. The re-establishment of this ancient order was the object of several statutes enacted in England, and of the pragmatic sanction established in France in the 15th century."

Report of the Lords of the Committee of Council, appointed to take into consideration the State of the Coins of this Kingdom,

and the present Establishment and
Constitution of his Majesty's
Mint, to his Royal Highness the
Prince Regent, dated the 21st of
May, 1816.

At the Council Chamber, Whitehall, the 21st of May, 1816, by the Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of Council, appointed to take into consideration the State of the Coins of this Kingdom, and the present Establishment and Constitution of his Majesty's Mint :

His Majesty having been pleased, by his Order in Council of 7th February, 1798, to direct this Committee to take into consideration the state of the coins of this realm, and the present establishment and constitution of his Majesty's Mint, the Committee, in discharge of their duty, have already submitted to his Majesty their opinions on some of the points so referred to them.

A new Mint has, at their recommendation, been erected, and furnished with a most complete and extensive coining apparatus, including all the modern improvements; and in a representation to your Royal Highness in Council, of 6th March, 1815, this committee suggested several alterations in the establishment and constitution of his Majesty's Mint, which your Royal Highness was graciously pleased to approve, and which will, it is presumed, render that establishment more efficient.

These preliminary steps having been completed, the committee have availed themselves of the return of general peace, to resume the consideration of the important subject referred to them, which

the

the unusually high prices of the precious metals, and other circumstances arising out of a state of war, had obliged them to suspend; and they now take leave humbly to represent to your Royal Highness, that an immediate coinage of gold and silver monies would be of great public benefit: but that if your Royal Highness should be pleased to give directions for carrying the same into effect, they do not conceive it would be advisa le to make any alteration either in the standard, weight, or denominations of the gold coins. The committee are, however, of opinion that it should forthwith be proposed to parliament, to pass an act declaring the gold coin alone to be the standard coin of this realm; and that the silver coins are hereafter to be considered merely as representative coins, and to be a legal tender only in payment of sums not exceeding two guineas

The committee do not think it necessary to state to your Royal Highness the reasons which have led them to recommend that the gold coin alone should be declared to be the standard coin of the realm, because they conceive that such a declaration by parliament would in truth be merely in confirmation of a principle already established by the universal consent and practice of his Majesty's subjects, and which appears to he in a great measure recognised by the act of 38 Geo. III. chap. 59.

With respect to the silver coins, of which an immediate supply appears to be more indispensably necessary for the public convenience, the committee are of opinion, that no alteration should be

made either in the standard of fineness or in the denominatious of the coins; but they think it will be advisable to diminish the weight of the pieces, in order to prevent a recurrence of those inconveniencies which have hitherto arisen from the melting of the new and perfect silver coins as soon as they have appeared in circulation, for the purpose of converting them into bullion, in which state they have generally been more valuable than as coin: the committee are therefore of opinion, that it should be proposed to parliament to authorize his Majesty to direct, that in all future coinages of silver, sixtysix shillings (and other coins in proportion) shall be struck from each pound weight troy of standard silver, instead of sixty-two.

It has hitherto been the practice in his Majesty's Mint to return to those who import silver for the purpose of having it converted into coin, a quantity of coin equal in weight to the quantity of standard silver so imported, the expense of coining being borne by the public. So long as the silver coins were considered to be the standard coin of the realm, this principle appears to this committee to have been a wise one, and they conceive that it should still be adhered to in respect of the gold coin, which is now to be declared the standard coin of the realm; but the committee are of opinion that the charge of coining the silver coins, as well as a small allowance for seignorage, ought to be deducted; and that his Majesty should be authorized to direct the Master of his Mint to retain four shillings

out

out of each pound weight troy of silver coin hereafter to be coined, for the charge of brassage and seignorage; and that the money received for the same should be applied to the public service, in discharge of the interest of the sum expended in the erection of the new Mint, and in defraying the general expenses of the mint establishment. In thus stating the number of pieces to be struck from each pound of silver, and the amount of the sum to be deducted for brassage and seignorage the committee have, to the best of their judgment, endeavoured to fix on such a rate as will on the one hand be sufficiently high to protect the new coins, by a small increase of their nominal value, from the danger of being melted down and converted into bullion when the market price of silver rises; while, on the other, it will, they trust, not be found to be so low as to afford any encouragement to the issue of counterfeit coin, if the market price of silver should fall.

Should your Royal Higness think fit to adopt the plan which the committee have thus recommended, they think it would be advisable that a sum of not less than 2,500,000l. in silver coin should actually be coined, before any issue of new coin takes place; viz. £,000,0001. for the use of Great Britain, and 500,000l. for the use of Ireland.

weight of such coins, arising out of the acts of 18 Charles II. ch.5; 7 and 8 William III. ch. 1, sec. 1 and 2; 14 George III. ch. 42, sec. 1; 38 George III. ch 59, sec. 2, should be repealed; and with this view, the committee take leave to recommend, that in the bill to be proposed to parliament provision should be made for the removal of those prohibitions. When that shall have been effected, the committee will proceed humbly to recommend to your Royal Highness the regulations which they conceive will be necessary with respect to the time and mode of calling in the silver coins now in currency; as well as with respect to the allowance (if any) to be made hereafter for reasonable wear, in each denomination of the proposed new coins. The committee think it right, however, now to state as their opinion, with respect to the silver coins at present in circulation, that it should be proposed to parliament to authorize his Majesty, whenever he shall see fit to call in such silver coins, to direct that all such pieces as shall be judged by the officers of the Mint to have been actually coined in his Majesty's Mint, should be received by tale, and that the holders of the same should receive in return an equal value by tale of the new silver coins.

on Tithes.

1. Resolved, That it is the opinion of this committce, that it is expedient to enable ecclesiastical proprietors of tithes to grant

leases