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perhaps than any other incident in his career； the stuff that
Manning was made of。 Power had come to him at last； and he seized
it with all the avidity of a born autocrat； whose appetite for
supreme dominion had been whetted by long years of enforced
abstinence and the hated simulations of submission。 He was the
ruler of Roman Catholic England； and he would rule。 The nature of
Newman's influence it was impossible for him to understand； but
he saw that it existed； for twenty years he had been unable to
escape the unwelcome itterations of that singular； that alien；
that rival renown； and now it stood in his path； alone and
inexplicable； like a defiant ghost。 'It is remarkably
interesting；' he observed coldly； when somebody asked him what he
thought of the Apologia： 'it is like listening to the voice of
one from the dead。' And such voices； with their sepulchral
echoes； are apt to be more dangerous than living ones； they
attract too much attention； they must be silenced at all costs。
It was the meeting of the eagle and the dove； there was a
hovering； a swoop； and then the quick beak and the relentless
talons did their work。
Even before his accession to the Archbishopric； Manning had
scented a peculiar peril in Newman's Oxford scheme； and so soon
as he came into power； he privately determined that the author of
the Apologia should never be allowed to return to his old
University。 Nor was there any lack of excellent reasons for such
a decision。 Oxford was by this time a nest of liberalism； it was
no fit place for Catholic youths； and they would inevitably be
attracted there by the presence of Father Newman。 And then； had
not Father Newman's orthodoxy been impugned？ Had he not been
heard to express opinions of most doubtful propriety upon the
question of the Temporal Power？ Was it not known that he might
almost be said to have an independent mind？ An influence？ Yes； he
had an influence no doubt； but what a fatal kind of influence to
which to subject the rising generation of Catholic Englishmen！
Such were the reflections which Manning was careful to pour into
the receptive car of Monsignor Talbot。 That useful priest； at his
post of vantage in the Vatican； was more than ever the devoted
servant of the new Archbishop。 A league； offensive and defensive；
had been established between the two friends。 'I daresay I shall
have many opportunities to serve you in Rome；' wrote Monsignor
Talbot modestly； 'and I do not think any support will be useless
to you； especially on account of the peculiar character of the
Pope； and the spirit which pervades Propaganda； therefore； I wish
you to understand that a compact exists between us； if you help
me； I shall help you。' And a little later he added； 'I am glad
you accept the league。 As I have already done for years； I shall
support you； and I have a hundred ways of doing so。 A word
dropped at the proper occasion works wonders。' Perhaps it was
hardly necessary to remind his correspondent of that。
So far as Newman was concerned； it so fell out that Monsignor
Talbot needed no prompting。 During the sensation caused by the
appearance of the Apologia； it had occurred to him that it would
be an excellent plan to secure Newman as a preacher during Lent
for the fashionable congregation which attended his church in the
Piazza del Popolo； and； he had accordingly written to invite him
to Rome。 His letter was unfortunately not a tactful one。 He
assured Newman that he would find in the Piazza del Popolo 'an
audience of Protestants more educated than could ever be the case
in England'； and 'I think myself；' he had added by way of extra
inducement； 'that you will derive great benefit from visiting
Rome； and showing yourself to the Ecclesiastical Authorities。'
Newman smiled grimly at this； he declared to a friend that the
letter was 'insolent'； and he could not resist the temptation of
using his sharp pen。
'Dear Monsignor Talbot；' he wrote in reply； 'I have received your
letter； inviting me to preach in your Church at Rome to an
audience of Protestants more educated than could ever be the case
in England。
'However； Birmingham people have souls； and I have neither taste
nor talent for the sort of work which you cut out for me。 And I
beg to decline your offer。
I am； yours truly；
JOHN H。 NEWMAN。'
Such words were not the words of wisdom。 It is easy to imagine
the feelings of Monsignor Talbot。 'Newman's work none here can
understand；' he burst out to his friend。 'Poor man； by living
almost ever since he has been a Catholic； surrounded by a set of
inferior men who idolise him； I do not think he has ever acquired
the Catholic instincts。' As for his views on the Temporal Power
'well； people said that he had actually sent a subscription to
Garibaldi。 Yes； the man was incomprehensible； heretical；
dangerous； he was 〃uncatholic and unchristian。〃' Monsignor Talbot
even trembled for the position of Manning in England。 'I am
afraid that the old school of Catholics will rally round Newman
in opposition to you and Rome。 Stand firm； do not yield a bit in
the line you have taken。 As I have promised； I shall stand by
you。 You will have battles to fight because every Englishman is
naturally anti…Roman。 To be Roman is and effort to an Englishman。
Dr。 Newman is more English than the English。 His spirit must be
crushed。'
His spirit must be crushed！ Certainly there could be no doubt of
that。 'What you write about Dr Newman；' Manning replied； 'is
true。 Whether he knows it or not； he has become the centre of
those who hold low views about the Holy See； are anti…Roman； cold
and silent； to say no more； about the Temporal Power； national；
English； critical of Catholic devotions； and always on the lower
side。 。。。 You will take care；' he concluded； 'that things are
correctly known and understood where you are。'
The confederates matured their plans。 While Newman was making his
arrangements for the Oxford Oratory； Cardinal Reisach visited
London。 'Cardinal Reisach has just left；' wrote Manning to
Monsignor Talbot： 'he has seen and understands all that is going
on in England。' But Newman had no suspicions。 It was true that
persistent rumours of his unorthodoxy and his anti…Roman leanings
had begun to float about； and these rumours had been traced to
Rome。 But what were rumours？ Then； too； Newman found out that
Cardinal Reisach had been to Oxford without his knowledge； and
had inspected the land for the Oratory。 That seemed odd； but all
doubts were set at rest by the arrival from Propaganda of an
official ratification of his scheme。 There would be nothing but
plain sailing now。 Newman was almost happy； radiant visions came
into his mind of a wonderful future in Oxford； the gradual growth
of Catholic principles； the decay of liberalism； the inauguration
of a second Oxford Movement； the conversionwho knows？of Mark
Pattison； the triumph of the Church。。。。 'Earlier failures do not
matter