'.■ ' i I 
 
^:>^y\y^^ 
 
 PRINCETON, N. J. ^^ 
 
 Presented by Vr'<2.^\cX<a/VAV VdAV-Vor^. 
 
 BR 879 .A44 185 5 
 American and Foreign 
 
 Christian Union. 
 The story of the Madiai 
 
THE 
 
 ^VITH 
 
 NOTICES OF EFFORTS MADE, 
 
 IN 
 
 EUROPE AND AMERICA 
 IN THEIR BEHALF. 
 
 COMPILED AND EDITED 
 
 BY THE 
 SECRETARIES OF THE 
 
 AMERICAN AND FOREIGN CHRISTIAN UNION 
 
 rTEW-YOEK: 
 
 AEMEICAN AND FOEEIGN CHRISTIAN UNION, 
 
 156 Chambers-st. a few doors West of the 
 
 Hudson Eiver Eail Eoad Depot 
 
 1855. 
 
 D. Fanahaw, Printer, 35 Ann-street, comer of Ns 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 This Volume contains a record of the im- 
 prisonment, trial, and condemnation of two 
 persons, in comparatively humble life, in Ital^, 
 on grounds, which seem to American minds, 
 most extraordinary. They had come, through 
 the reading of the Scriptures, and other means, 
 to the knowledge of what they deemed to be 
 the true Gospel, and had, as a consequence, 
 abandoned the Eoman Cathohc Church — the 
 established Church of Tuscany. Following 
 their convictions of dut}^, they endeavored to 
 impart the knowledge of what they believed to 
 be the " Truth as it is in Jesus " to their friends 
 and neighbors, beginning with the members ot 
 their household. For this purpose they read 
 the Bible, in the Protestant version, that of 
 Diodati's, which they very naturally preferred 
 to that. of Martini, which is Eoman Catholic. 
 In doing all this, they believed that they were 
 not violating the laws of their country — much 
 less those of God. They did no more than what 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 every man in tliese United States believes that 
 lie has the right to do, not only from the Con- 
 stitution and laws of his country, but also from 
 the duties and responsibilities with whicli he is, 
 in his very nature, invested, and from the com- 
 mands of his Maker. 
 
 The intelligence of their imprisonment and 
 final condemnation to forced labor in a peniten- 
 tiary for long years, both astonished and grieved 
 the hearts of millions in the Old World and the 
 ISTew. Great efforts Avere made to procure their 
 pardon and liberation. The clemency of the 
 Grand Duke of Tuscany -v^as invoked, by a 
 Deputation of distinguished Christian gentle- 
 men from England, France, Holland, Germany, 
 and Switzerland. The good offices of the 
 monarchs of Great Britain and Prussia were 
 interposed, as well as those of the President 
 of the United States, in a kind and unofficial 
 way, and therefore not calculated to give rea- 
 sonable offence. 
 
 For a long time all was in vain, and the 
 conclusion in many minds was that the suf- 
 ferers bade fair, owing to their feeble health, to 
 end their days in prison. But when all hope 
 seemed to fail, the sufferers are suddenly libe- 
 rated, and hurried out of the country ! The 
 
INTRODUCTION. 9 
 
 pressure from witliout was too great for the 
 Government of Tuscany longer to withstand.* 
 The Madiai, at the time of this writing, are in 
 France. The Government of Sardinia has 
 offered them an asylum in Piedmont. They 
 have been invited to spend the remainder of 
 their days in Switzerland, in England, in Prus- 
 sia, and in these United States. It is not 
 known what is their determination. It would 
 seem most natural, and therefore most proba- 
 ble, that they would choose Piedmont as not 
 only their future home, but the field of their 
 efforts in behalf of that Gospel for which they 
 have suffered so much. 
 
 * It is said, and we suppose with tmth, that the Grand 
 Duke felt it to be impossible to resist longer the influences 
 to which reference has been made above ; but still he was 
 unwilling to yield to the earnest remonstrances of England, 
 as set forth in Lord John Russell's letters to Mr. Bulwer, 
 the British Ambassador at Florence, and to appeals from 
 other Protestant countries. In this state of things, the ex- 
 Duke of Parma, (formerly Duke of Lucca, and himself a 
 Protestant at heart, if not by profession,) suggested that the 
 Tuscan Government might yield to France what could not 
 be conceded to England and other Protestant nations. In 
 consequence of this, Louis Xapoleon was induced to ask, as 
 a favor, the pardon of the Madiai. This favor was promptly 
 granted ; the prisoners were released, and sent as secretly 
 and as expeditiously as possible, out of Tuscany, and into 
 France ! 
 
6 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 This work embraces three subjects. 1. The 
 history of the arrest of Francesco Madiai and 
 his wife, their imprisonment in the Bargello at 
 Florence, the receptacle of all sorts of criminals, 
 where they passed many months in the society 
 of the vilest felons. This account is extracted 
 from letters written by English Christians re- 
 siding in, or then visiting Florence, and ad- 
 dressed to Christian friends in England. We 
 have good reason for saying that the simple and 
 minute recital of facts which these letters con- 
 tain is authentic, for we are well acquainted 
 with an American gentleman of the strictest 
 veracity, who informed himself, on the spot, of 
 its exact truth, and who has confirmed to us 
 that recital in every important particular. 2. 
 The Trial of the Madiai, including the speech 
 of the Prosecuting Attorney, Signor Bicchierai, 
 the speech of their noble-minded young advo- 
 cate, Signor Maggiorani, and the decision of 
 the Court, as presented by Signor Nervini, the 
 presiding judge. Thus far the work is the 
 same as that which appeared in England, some 
 months ago, under the title of the Prisoners 
 OF Hope. 8. The last part contains a notice of 
 what was done in Europe, as well as America, 
 to secure the liberation of the Madiai — the 
 
INTRODUCTION. 7 
 
 noble Deputation from England, France, Hol- 
 land, Germany, and Switzerland, and their pro- 
 ceedings ; the public meetings in England and 
 in the United States ; the conduct of the Papal 
 hierarchy and their journals, among us, etc. etc. 
 The book closes with an account of the man- 
 ner in which the Madiai were at length, through 
 God's good providence, and in answer, we can- 
 not doubt, to the prayers of His people, deli- 
 vered from what bade fair to be a long, if not 
 fatal, imprisonment. We have done Arch- 
 bishop Hughes the justice to give his letter in 
 reference to the matter, as well as one or two 
 of the replies which were made to it. 
 
 This Volume we cannot but deem both 
 valuable and opportune. It demonstrates, in 
 an age of great unbelief, as well as material 
 prosperity in the world, that there is still an 
 efficacy in true Christianity which can, and 
 will, through God's abundant grace and bless- 
 ing, sustain the soul in seasons when called to 
 endure severest persecution and bitterest trials. 
 The examples which it exhibits to our view 
 are most interesting and instructive in this 
 point of view. An unbelieving age had almost 
 come to the conclusion that the stories of the 
 sufferings of the Martyrs partake more of the 
 
8 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 fabulous than tlie true. But we are here made 
 to see that man, and even feeble woman, can 
 still suffer for Christ, and be sustained under 
 those sufferings. 
 
 This Yolume also shows, what so many 
 among us have been slow to believe, that 
 Eome is the same unrelenting enemy to the 
 true Gospel that she was in the Middle Ages. 
 The intolerant and persecuting spirit which 
 she has displayed in the case of the Madiai and 
 other witnesses for the Truth in Tuscany, is 
 precisely the same that she displayed against 
 the Albigenses and the Waldenses of old. 
 And as she incited the Kings of France to 
 destroy the former, and the Dukes of Savoy, 
 (the ancestors of the present King of Sardinia,) 
 to destroy the latter, so now she is inciting the 
 Grand Duke of Tuscany to destroy what she 
 calls " Heresy," but what is in reality the true 
 Gospel, in his dominions. It is well that the 
 world should know that Eome is unchanged, 
 and we may add, unchangeable. Wherever and 
 whenever she has the power, she will perse- 
 cute — even unto death ! And what a Christi- 
 anity is that ! It is a base dishonor to the 
 Author of Christianity to call such a religion 
 by His glorious name, — in whose instructions 
 
INTRODUCTION. 9 
 
 not a word, riglitlj interpreted, can be found 
 wliicli sanctions or approves persecution. 
 
 This Volume demonstrates the falsehood of 
 the organs and advocates of Eome, in this 
 land, that have asserted that the Madiai were 
 condemned for "political offences," that they 
 were connected with Mazzini and the other 
 republicans and revolutionists, etc. Not a 
 word of this is true. These people had never 
 meddled with politics ; they were quiet, obe- 
 dient, and loyal subjects of their prince, for 
 whom they seem to have entertained great 
 respect ; and their only crime (to use the lan- 
 guage of the Court which condemned them, — 
 three judges against two,) was "impiety, com- 
 mitted by means of proselytism." That was 
 all. And for that the Roman Catholic Church 
 teaches the Grand Duke of Tuscany that he 
 ought to doom his subjects, for long years, to 
 imprisonment and forced labor! All this is 
 wrong, and directly contrary to the Gospel of 
 Christ. But what cares Rome for that ? She 
 holds that she has the right to make and 
 enforce what laws she pleases ; that she can 
 bind the conscience ; that the Pope is the 
 Yice-gerent of Christ ; that Christ has, in fact, 
 abandoned the government of this world, at 
 
10 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 least till the Day of Judgment, — having given 
 •up all power to lier as the only Church, and 
 that she has the right^ if not the power ^ to 
 make new laws for the Church and for the 
 nations, and put down and raise up whom she 
 pleases! She has not renounced one of her 
 ancient claims. Pio Nono would be another 
 Hildebrand, if he could. This he has clearly 
 intimated in his "bull" in condemnation of 
 the writings of Professor Nuytz of Turin, issued 
 in 1851. It is well, — it is even high time, — 
 that our American people should know all 
 this. 
 
 It adds to the interest which attaches to the 
 history of the Madiai, that the events which it 
 records occurred at Florence, so dear to the 
 hearts of the lovers of Literature and Art — to 
 Florence, so dear to the heart of the Christian 
 student, who loves to look back to the dark 
 ages which preceded the glorious Reformation, 
 and contemplate the heroic conduct of Savo- 
 narola,* who preached the Gospel to audiences 
 
 * Girolamo Savonarola was bom in Ferrara, in the year 
 1452. From his youth he was of an enthusiastic turn of 
 mind. He entered a Convent of the Dominicians at Bologna, 
 and became greatly distinguished both for learning and elo- 
 quence. In 1484 he delivered a remarkable course of lectures 
 
INTRODUCTION. 11 
 
 that filled tlie vast cathedral of that city, and 
 sealed his testimony against Eome by the mar- 
 tyr's death. As in the days of Savonarola, so 
 now, the ancients of Eome cannot endure that 
 the Holy ScrijDtures should be known by the 
 people. She dreads the sacred volume, and 
 
 on the book of the Eevelation, at Brescia, and with much 
 eftect. Five years later he took up his residence at Florence, 
 where he was both respected and feared by Lorenzo de 
 Medici, the destroyer of his country's liberties, and to whom 
 Savonarola refused to give absolution, when on his dying 
 bed, because he would not promise to restore the Eepublic 
 of Florence, which he had overthrown. 
 
 Savonarola's powerful denunciation of luxury, and vice, and 
 tyranny, led, for a time, to a great reformation of manners 
 among the Florentines, and the overthrow and banishment of 
 Pietro, the haughty and luxurious successor of Lorenzo. But 
 the Franciscans and Augustinians, who were jealous of Savo- 
 narola, combining with the faction of the Medici, succeeded in 
 crushing the distinguished Reformer, who had by his burn- 
 ing eloquence denounced not only the vices of the -people, 
 but also those of the clergy — not even sparing the Pope, the 
 infamous Alexander VI. The Republic was a second time 
 overthrown, and Savonarola, with two other monks, was 
 brought to the stake on the 23rd of May, 1493. When the 
 bishop who presided at the ceremony, with a loud voice, 
 pronounced them separated from the <* Church," Savonarola 
 exclaimed, "From the Militant,"— intimating that he be- 
 lieved that they were about to enter the " Church Triumph 
 ant." Thus died this remarkable man, who has been ju-tly 
 stj'led one of the " Reformers before the Reformation." 
 
 AmericaxV Editor. 
 
12 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 all wIlo go to it alone, as tlie only true source 
 of divine knowledge. She persecutes the 
 Bible-readers of Florence, — imprisons and ban- 
 ishes them, — now-a-days, just as she persecuted 
 unto death Savonarola and his followers. 
 
 It is proper to state that for the last ten or 
 twelve years some attempts have been made 
 to introduce the knowledge of the true Gospel 
 into Florence, and not in vain. Even before 
 the Revolution of 1848, many copies of the 
 "Word of God and of some excellent tracts and 
 books, in Italian, had been circulated in and 
 about Florence. When the Constitution of 
 1848 was granted, the door was for a time 
 opened for doing a good work. Several young 
 Waldensian ministers went down to Florence 
 for the double purpose, of improving their 
 knowledge of the Italian language, and to 
 preach the Gospel to the natives who desired 
 to hear it. A faithful minister of the Free 
 Church of Scotland was also very useful in the 
 good work which commenced about this time 
 in that city. 
 
 For nine months this good work was pros- 
 ecuted with vigor and success. Several thou- 
 sand copies of the Bible and religious books 
 and tracts were disseminated. But soon a sad 
 
INTRODUCTION. 13 
 
 change took place. The Grand Duke, restored 
 by Austrian bayonets, revoked the Constitu- 
 tion, and rehgious Kberty was aboHshed. The 
 Waldcnsian ministers were forced to retire to 
 their mountain-home. The converts at Flo- 
 rence were first suspected ; next put under the 
 surveillance of the police, and finally several 
 of the men of influence among them were 
 arrested and thrown into prison. Among them 
 was Signor Piero Guicciardini, a nobleman of 
 distinguished family, and universally respect- 
 ed for his excellent character and his great 
 efforts in behalf of Infant Schools. Findino: 
 that he was suspected, and hoping that his 
 withdrawal for a time from Florence might 
 lead the government to release its pursuit of 
 the Uvanrfelici, (Evangelicals,) as the new sect 
 was called, he prepared to set out on a visit to 
 England. When nearly ready to leave, he 
 prepared a statement of his religious belief, 
 that his countrymen might know what he pro- 
 fessed. This document is dated on the Srd of 
 May, 1851. On the evening of the 7th of that 
 month, calling to bid farewell to a friend, he 
 spent some time with a few persons, six in 
 number, in reading the 15th chapter of the 
 Gospel by John. In the midst of this service 
 
14 INTRODUCTIOIf. 
 
 they v/ere broken in upon by tlie police, and 
 dragged to prison. Without trial, and simply 
 by a police-order^ he was banished for six 
 months, to one of the worst prisons in Tus- 
 cany — the pestiferous Maremma. This sen- 
 tence was afterwards commuted into exile from 
 Tuscany for a year, we believe. 
 
 The admirable document of Count Guic- 
 ciardini was published after he had left Italy, 
 and created much sensation. Its sentiments 
 and doctrines are entirely evangelical, and 
 worthy of the Italian Protestants of the IGtli 
 century. 
 
 We bring this introductory notice of the 
 book in hand to a close, with the following 
 quotations from the English edition : 
 
 "Full evidence is here given that the oppo- 
 sition of Eomanism to the Word of God con- 
 tinues the same, and that English Christians 
 are only misinformed when told that " Vulgar 
 translations of the whole Scripture are upon 
 sale, and open to every one, in Italy itself, with 
 the express permission of the Eoman Pontiff."'^ 
 Romish authorities may tell us this ; but, alas I 
 the prisons of Italy, and the sufferings of 
 
 * ■' End of Religious Controversy," Iby the R. C. Bp. 
 Milr.er, Letter xlvii. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 15 
 
 Christians there confined, bear a diiferent and 
 incontrovertible testimony. 
 
 "It Las indeed been said that the priests of 
 Eome have no more to do with these persecu- 
 tions, than ministers of the Gospel in England 
 have ^yith the carrying on of criminal prosecu- 
 tions ! But what causes the possession of the 
 Word of God to be regarded as a criminal 
 charge ? The dogmas of Eome, as taught by 
 the priests (Jesuits probably) to the Tuscan 
 authorities. If any Eomanist disclaims per- 
 secution, it goes no farther than himself; he is 
 in that particular a dissenter from his Church. 
 So long as Eome recognises the decree of the 
 Lateran council under Innocent III. requiring 
 the temporal powers to persecute "heretics,"— 
 so long as she authorizes "Instructions to 
 Theological Candidates," hinting not obscurely 
 (by condemning the contrary as heresy) "that it 
 is according to the mind of the Spirit to burn 
 heretics," — and so long as every Eomish Bishop 
 swears that he will persecute and oppose all he- 
 retics^ — so long shall we be justified in charging 
 on Eomanism as a system, and on its priests 
 as the ministers of that system, the persecutions 
 which are carried out by the secular authori- 
 ties which profess that religion." 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Introduction Page 3 
 
 Letter I. — Search of the house of Francesco Madiai, August 17. — 
 Bibles seized. — Francesco and three others arrested.— One, an English- 
 man, liberated. 19 
 
 Letter II. — Two Florentines banished without trial, simply for the 
 confession of the Gospel. — Arrest of Rosa Madiai, Aug. 27. — Not per- 
 mitted to see her husband. — Sept. 6, charge of proselyting brought 
 against the Madiai. — False charges against Signora Madiai. . . 21 
 
 Letter III. — The prisoners still kept in separate cells. — Difficulty 
 of any lawyer acting for them, — Maggiorani undertakes to be their 
 advocate — Illness of the prisoners. — An arrest through the confes- 
 sional 24 
 
 Letter IV. — Increase of persecution. — Rosa Madiai very ill ; not 
 allowed to see her own doctor. — A reader of the Bible imprisoned 
 through his wife's confession. — Priests employed as spies. — Severity 
 against Evangelici. — Sixty said to be in prison for affairs of con- 
 science ; not allowed to see their friends ! — Treated worse than mur- 
 derers 26 
 
 Letter V. — Occurrences of the night of November 15. — D 
 
 hears that B 's house was to be visited, and informs A ; they 
 
 go to B 's, and see him arrested. — They warn his brothers.— 
 
 A finds the police in his own house ; Providential deliverance. — 
 
 A escapes from P'lorence 29 
 
 Letter VI. — Details continued. — Courage of Signora A ; her 
 
 alarm for her husband ; succeeds in warning him. — Anger of the gens- 
 darmes ; repeated searches of the house. — Eftbrts on behalf of Rosa 
 Madiai in her sufferings 36 
 
 Letter VII. — Improved health of Rosa Madiai. — Her examination 
 before tlie magistrates. — Francesco Madiai sent to the Murate prison. — 
 Interview between the husband and wife. — Refusal of bail for them. — 
 Danger incurred by an advocate in defending prisoners. . . 38 
 
 Letter VIII. — Reference to another case of suffering. — Two per- 
 sons imprisoned through the Priests. — Trial of the Madiai put off till 
 March ^ . . . . • -43 
 
CONTENTS. 17 
 
 Letter IX. — Prayers for the sufferers. — Continued trials. — The 
 two arrested on account of the sick man. — Florence a city quite 
 Catholic, Apostolic and Roman. — Evangelica or Sabina. . . 45 
 
 Letter X. — Preparation.s for the trial of the Madiai. — February 26, 
 Sentence on the two men before mentioned. Acquitted by the tri- 
 bunals, but sentenced by the police. — Extracts from the decreto. . 48 
 
 Lefter XI. — Carrying out of the sentence on the two men ; the 
 one banished ; the other taken to Piombino to be imprisoned in the 
 fortress 50 
 
 Letter XII. — Witnesses against the Madiai? ingratitude of a 
 family whom they had aided. — April 15. The trial still postponed. — 
 Francesco's Letter. 51 
 
 From Francesco Madiai to H. E. 
 
 Letter XIII. — His arrival at Florence when 16. — Conduct of his 
 Confessor. — Nineteen years of unsatisfactory ideas on religion. — 
 Reads the English Prayer Book ; goes to America ; bis first Commu- 
 nion, Trinity Church, Boston. — Returns to Florence ; goes to Rome 
 
 with the Misses J ; meets Rosa Pulini ; she explains the Bible to 
 
 him. — Marries Rosa Pulini.— ^His Prayers 53 
 
 Letter XIV. Trial again put off. — Annoyance to the Prisoners. — 
 Francesco's calmness ; Rosa's grief. — They meet for a moment. . 56 
 
 Letter XV. — Hopes that the trial may come on soon. — Maggiora- 
 ni's diligence. — Question as to the application of the law. — Rosa's im- 
 proved health 58 
 
 Letter XVI. — The trial : commences June 5. — The prisoners meet 
 in the dock.— The .Attorney-general proposes that the trial be private. 
 — Some have permission to stay. — Witnesses for the prosecution pre- 
 pared by the priests. — Papers and tracts read. — Francesco's answers ; 
 forbidden to quote Scripture. — Witnesses for the Madiai. — Rosa's an- 
 swers.— Maggiorani's speech.- Reply of the Attorney-general ; he 
 suggests the sentence to the judges.— Deliberation of the Judges, June 
 7 and 8. — Sentence on the Madiai. — How received by them ; their sepa- 
 ration 59 
 
 Letter XVII.— Rosa Madiai to her husband. ... 66 
 
 Letter XVIIL— Rosa Madiai's dejection of spirits ; her ill health.— 
 
 Maggiorani's application to the Minister of Justice.— The appeal to the 
 
 Court of Cassation.— 22d : Contrast between the Florentine rejoicings, 
 
 at "the Feast of St. John," and the condition of the imprisoned. . 69 
 
18 CONTENTS. 
 
 Letter XIX. — Publication of Maggiorani's defence; interest ex- 
 pressed about it. — Bicchierai's speech against tlie Madiai published. — 
 His admissions in favor of the character of the accused. . . 72 
 
 Letter XX — The case heard before the Court of Appeal. — The 
 judges apparently favorable. — August 7. The former sentence con- 
 firmed. — The Leopoldine laws set aside. — A petition to the Grand 
 Duke prepared 73 
 
 H. M y to N and L . 
 
 Letter XXI. — Rejection of the Petition for grace ; Visit to Francesco 
 Madiai in the Murate prison ; his submission and message to his wife. 
 — Visit to Rosa in the Bargello ; her sutlerings ; her prayer ; Her re- 
 moval to Lucca. — Her message to her friends 77 
 
 H. E to F.D . 
 
 Letter XXII. — Remembrances of visits to the Madiai. . 80 
 
 Report of the trial. — Speech of the Public Minister, Signor A. 
 
 Bicchierai. — Defence of the accused by the Signor Ovardo Mag- 
 
 giorani 86 
 
 The Sentence 171 
 
 Opinions of the Lawyers 178 
 
 Additional facts relating to the trial. . . . 179 
 Conduct of the Prisoners after the Trial. . . . 184 
 The Effect of the trial and condemnation upon the 
 
 Christian Public 189 
 
 Answer of the Minister 192 
 
 Address 194 
 
 Correspondence between the Deputation and the Con- 
 verts IN Tuscany 197 
 
 Lord Roden's Visit to the Imprisoned Madiai. . , 204 
 
 Proceedings in America. 
 
 Chapter I. A Notice of a Meeting in Metropolitan Hall. Statement of 
 
 Facts. — Resolutions adopted. — Declarations of Principles. — Dr. Be- 
 
 thune's Address. — Popish Opposition. — Meeting in Newark.— Meeting 
 
 in Baltimore. — Resolutions of New-York Legislature. — Resolutions of 
 
 the United States Senate.— Mr. Everett's Letter 210 
 
 Chapter II. Archbishop Hughes' Letter. .... 233 
 
 Reply to Archbishop Hughes' Letter. 
 
 Chapter III. Mr. Phelps' Letter. 249 
 
 Why have the Madiai been treated so cnielly ? . . . 290 
 Their Liberation. , 299 
 
STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 BEING 
 
 LETTEES EEOM FLOKENCE, &a 
 
 LETTER I. 
 
 Search of the house of Francesco Madiai, August 17. — Bibles 
 seized. — Francetico and three others arrested. — One, an 
 Englishman, liberated. 
 
 Florence, August 20, 1851. 
 My dear L., — The persecutions still continue. 
 Last Sunday, the 17th, a case of gross injustice and 
 abuse of power occurred in Piazza Santa Maria No- 
 vella. At about half-past seven m the evenmg a 
 visit was made by the gensdarmes to the house of 
 Francesco Madiai, and, although both himself and 
 his wife were from home, the house was searched 
 from the roof to the cellars ; and the object of the 
 search was revealed by the capture of two Bibles 
 and an English book (Hawker's Morning Portion, I 
 believe.) An Englishman had chanced to call in to 
 see Francesco, and was awaiting his return, and 
 there were also two ether individuals waiting for 
 him ; these three were immediately arrested, and 
 
20 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 their persons searched ; and the holiest gensdarmes 
 swore they found them reading the Scriptures.* In 
 the meantime Francesco Madiai returned home, and 
 he was arrested; and shortly after, all four were 
 carried off to the Bargello, the common prison of 
 Florence, in spite of warm remonstrances on the 
 part of all. Poor dear Rosa, who had also returned 
 home, behaved with her usual dignity ; she encou- 
 raged her husband, saying, he had done nothing 
 wrong, and therefore he need not be ashamed ; and 
 that she hoped he would be liberated after a few 
 hours' detention : — thus they parted. May her hopes 
 indeed be realized ! The Englishman was kept in 
 prison twenty-two hours, and was only eventually 
 released through the exertion of his relations and the 
 strong remonstances of the legation at Florence. I 
 will not add more now, as I hope to write again very 
 shortly, when I may be able to give you an account 
 of the release of the other three prisoners. 
 
 Yours affectionately, 
 
 D. K. 
 
 * This was about eight o'clock ; when on August 17, it is 
 quite dusk at Florence, so that even if reading God's word 
 were an offence, they could not have been guilty at that time. 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. 21 
 
 LETTER II. 
 
 Two Florentines banished witliout trial, simply for the con- 
 fession of the Gospel. — Arrest of Rosa Madiai, Aug. 27. — 
 Not permitted to see her husband. — Mode of procedure 
 against suspected persons. — Sept. G, charge of proselyting 
 brought against the Madiai. — False charges against Signo- 
 ra Madiai 
 
 Florexce, Aug. 29, 1851. 
 
 My dear L., — You Avill be anxious to hear the 
 flite of the three poor prisoners for the Gospel's 
 sake, whom I named to you in my last. Madiai and 
 the other two, who are also Florentines, were placed 
 in seperate cells, and no one has been allowed to see 
 them. I believe they have had several secret exami- 
 nations; for justice in this country now is rarely 
 public. The two men, after being detained in prison 
 seven days, were offered their choice either of indefi- 
 nite imprisonment or indefinite exile ; of course, they 
 chose the latter. And thus are these poor fellows, 
 the one a shoemaker, the other a valet out of place, 
 cast forth into the wide world as wanderers, without 
 means, without friends, but such as our heavenly 
 Father may raise up to them ; — without trial, or any 
 cause assigned: their crime being that they were 
 found in the house of the Madiai, and that they both 
 confessed the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their private 
 examinations, and also avowed that they read the 
 Bible. 
 
22 STORY OF THE MAD I A I. 
 
 And now comes the most affecting of all my 
 communications, and one for which we were but lit- 
 tle prepared : perhaps, you will scarcely believe my 
 report, when I tell you that poor dear Eosa Madiai 
 has been taken into custody and imprisoned ! a 
 woman — a poor sickly woman. This took place 
 two days ago, i. c. ten days after her beloved hus- 
 band's imprisonment. She also has been carried to 
 the Bargello, where they remain in separate cells, 
 not having seen each other since the affecting evening 
 of the 17th. She has been unceasing in her efforts 
 to obtain permission to see her husband, but has 
 been invariably refused with the utmost harshness. 
 Still we never thought it would come to this. Just 
 see how that shameful edict of April the 25th* 
 already works. If you have read Gladstone's Let- 
 ters, you have just the manner of arrests here. Per- 
 sons are taken up upon suspicion, and then they seek 
 in all directions for witnesses to inculpate them. 
 Alas, poor Rosa! How will she bear her narrow 
 close cell? the vermin — the bugs — so numerous that 
 they actually drop upon their persons and into their 
 food 1 I will write again in a few days. 
 
 Sept. 6. To resume : for I would not send my 
 letter without more information about poor dear 
 Rosa. They have had several examinations, (I mean 
 
 * The edict wMck is mentioned in tlie Introduction, by 
 wMch such extensive powers were given to the police, irre- 
 spective of the ordinary and legal tribunals. 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. 23 
 
 separately,) but, as usual, hitherto conducted in pri- 
 vate; and I understand that in prison they have 
 boldly and consistently avowed themselves Evan- 
 gelid. Under these circumstances fresh charges 
 have been sought and made out, against the man of 
 endeavoring to proselytise, (in this country a very 
 serious accusation,) and against the wife, of immoral 
 conduct. Now tliis infimous charge militates against 
 the whole tenor of her life ; and it only shows the 
 rancor of the feeling against them ; for really they 
 have no offence whatever with which to charge them, 
 except upon the ground of worshippmg God m that 
 way which they call heresy. 
 
 Yours affectionately, D. K. 
 
 LETTER III. 
 
 The prisoners still kept in separate cells. — Difficulty of any 
 lawyer acting for them. — Maggiorani undertakes to be their 
 advocate. — Trial not likely to come on before Christmas. — 
 Food sent to the prisoners. — Illness of the prisoners. — An 
 arrest through the confessional. 
 
 Florexce, Sept. 15, 1851. 
 My DEAR L. — I have no favorable news to com- 
 municate. Our two dear prisoners are still confined 
 in their separate cells, and no one, as I said before, is 
 allowed to see them. They have engaged a lawyer 
 to look after their affairs ; but you have no idea of 
 
24 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 the difficulty, in this country, of finding any one 
 willing to undertake the case of those accused, or 
 suspected, of holding views contrary to the dogmas 
 of Rome; they are so afraid of getting involved 
 themselves ; or rather, through the influence of the 
 Government and the priests, of finding themselves 
 utterly ruined. Several who were asked to under- 
 take the case of the Madiai, absolutely refused, say- 
 ing they had families, and they could not risk the 
 ruin it might entail upon them. Nevertheless one 
 called Maggiorani, has nobly and kindly undertaken 
 their cause ; he is considered to be a talented young 
 man; at least, he has an independent spirit. We 
 hear there is no hope of anything being decided upon 
 before Christmas, and then great fears are enter- 
 tained that some very severe punishment will be 
 awarded them. 
 
 You will be glad to hear that a most attached 
 and devoted friend of the poor prisoners has under- 
 taken to send them food that they can eat, for the 
 prison fare is so disgusting that few can eat it ; this 
 friend of theirs is an admirable little creature, full of 
 heart and courage. May God reward her for her de- 
 voted kindness! Poor Rosa has been, and still is 
 very ill ; but both she and her husband are full of 
 faith and Christian courage. Another poor fellow 
 has been arrested in consequence of secrets obtained 
 THROUGH THE CONFESSIONAL by meaus of a wife and 
 a son! they have confessed to the dreadful crime 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. 25 
 
 that he reads the Bible ; — he too, is in solitary con- 
 finement. ******* 
 Yours affectionately, D. K. 
 
 LETTER IV. 
 
 Increase of persecution. — Rosa Madiai veiy ill; not allowed 
 to see her ovra doctor. — A reader of the Bible imprisoned 
 through his icifc's confession. — Priests emploj-ed as spies. — 
 Severity against Evangelici. — Sixty said to be in prison for 
 affairs of conscience ; not alloAved to see their friends ! — 
 Treated worse tlian murderers. — Their confession of the 
 Gospel in their examinations. — Source of the trial to the 
 Madiai ; a servant in the confessional. — Continued desire 
 for the Bible. 
 
 Florence, Sept. 22, 1851. 
 My dear L. — I should have answered your kind 
 letter immediately, but I have been so very un- 
 well, not to say ill, that I felt it quite impossible to 
 use either head or pen, and one needs to be so well 
 in these trying times and circumstances. I hope that 
 you received my letter in which I gave an account 
 of the fresh persecutions ; they are so increased in 
 severity, that it is impossible not to have sad fore- 
 bodings for those now in bonds. Francesco has now 
 been in prison more than five weeks, Rosa almost 
 four; and nothing is as yet decided. The same 
 severity continues ; and no one is allowed to see 
 them. Poor Rosa is very ill ; she very much wishes 
 3 
 
26 STORY OF THE MA DIAL 
 
 to be allowed to see her own doctor, but is not per- 
 mitted to do so. Poor I is also still in prison, 
 
 and nothing is kno^ii of him. There is another man 
 in prison through the confession of jhis wife ; she, 
 poor thing, did not intend to betray her husband, but 
 it was dragged out of her that he read the Bible ; and 
 though the gensdarmes found nothing, not even his ' 
 Bible, they nevertheless carried him off to prison. 
 This is another instance that the Priests are spies 
 of the Government. 
 
 The severity against the EvangeUci is increasing 
 every day ; spies are watching all the suspected 
 houses. Were two even found together reading 
 God's precious Word — for that crime they would 
 instantly be marched off to jail. We heard to-day 
 that sixty are in prison for affairs of conscience ; 
 were they murderers they might be permitted to see 
 their friends, but in matters of conscience, greater 
 severity must be used, and they are denied this con- 
 solation. How gladly, alas ! would I give your 
 sympathizing message to the dear prisoners in bonds 
 for truth's sake, had I any means whatever of doing 
 so •, for truly it would cheer their hearts to know 
 how many have fellowship with them in their sor- 
 row. In general, all that passes within those gloomy 
 walls partakes of the stillness of the grave. Still, we 
 do hear that, in their examinations, they boldly con- 
 fess their faith, and that really they implicate them- 
 selves. Like all the rest, they decidedly declare that 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. 27 
 
 they do not belong to the Roman Catholic Church. 
 When asked — Did they try to convert? They re- 
 plied — No one can convert but God. Still, if any one 
 asked us what we thought of such and such a passage, 
 we simply told our belief Francesco is in a most 
 spiritual state of mind ; he truly glorifies his Master. 
 When the Government has finished with these, 
 they will, most probably, lay their hands upon 
 others. We have at length found out the source of 
 all this trial to the Madiai — a servant, who had lived 
 with them some time, and whom her mistress thought 
 
 to be converted. T thought the same, but 
 
 S and I did not ; in fact, there were very diffe- 
 rent judgments about her. When this girl was dis- 
 charged from the service of the JNIadiai she went 
 home to the neighborhood of Lucca, and her mother- 
 in-law found out that she had prohibited books, and 
 IN THE CONFESSIONAL made this known. The girl 
 was called, up, and either through fear or bribery, 
 (the latter we rather think,) she has betrayed all 
 that she could betray : thus you. see, the Priests 
 have an interest in condemnmg, and the Government 
 to please them will do their worst. No one knows 
 how many witnesses they have contrived to get, nor 
 of what kind ; but all this long time they have been 
 occupied in trying to get depositions to make out a 
 case. Are you not tired of these details of sorrow ? 
 Nevertheless, they work the peaceful fruits of righte- 
 ousness. The desire for the Bible is more earnest 
 
28 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 than ever ; the desire to understand it more ardent 
 than ever. 
 
 Yours affectionately, D. K. 
 
 LETTER V. 
 
 Occurrences of the night of November 15. — D hears that 
 
 B 's house was to be visited, and informs A ; they 
 
 go to B 's, and see him arrested. — They warn his 
 
 brothers. — A finds the police in his o^\'n house; 
 
 Providential deliverance. — A escapes from Florence ; 
 
 danger of arrest at the gate, and deliverance. — Eeaches 
 Leghorn. — His escape by sea. — His wife's trials on that 
 night: the search; her Bible. — Books seized. — Many ar- 
 rests on that night. — The condition of the Madiai. 
 
 Florence, Nov. 27, 1851. 
 
 Mr DEAR L. — % % ^ I Y^Q^y begin 
 my detail of the occurrences of Saturday night, Nov. 
 15th, and especially respecting one very dear to 
 many, whose courage, generosity and devotedness, 
 cannot be surpassed. May the Lord grant that it 
 may reach you in safety. 
 
 A is a schoolmaster, and gives lessons in 
 
 Italian, Latin, &c. in every case of difficulty he was 
 always ready to put himself forward for others. He, 
 as well as his interesting wife, are Clmstians. On 
 Saturday night at about eleven, a friend of liis called 
 
 D , was' in a cafe, and heard that B was to 
 
 have a perquisition in his house, and that many 
 others also were to be visited ; he rushed with in- 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. 29 
 
 credible speed to A 's house, who was in bed 
 
 and told him what he had heard. A immedi- 
 ately threw on some clothes, and without stopping 
 to hide away his own things rushed out of his house, 
 saying, " Perhaps we shall be in time to save or help 
 
 B ." In ten minutes after he had left, six cara- 
 
 binicri were in his own house, and they would 
 
 have arrested him in bed. He and D went to 
 
 B 's house, and in his eagerness, he rang violent- 
 ly at the bell ; as he received no answer, he rang 
 again — no answer: they thought, perhaps, he was 
 
 concealing some papers ; but D said, " Do not 
 
 ring again, perhaps they are already there ; let us 
 hide ourselves in a corner." They had not concealed 
 themselves many minutes when the door was opened, 
 and they saw their friend looking very pale, in the 
 midst of four carabinieri led off to jail ! To finish this 
 case, not one single thing was found in his house, not 
 even the Bible ; nevertheless he is still in prison, as 
 they call it, upon suspicion, and there he may remain, 
 who knows how long?'* 
 
 A and D immediately went to the cafe, 
 
 to warn his two brothers, but they found no one 
 there ; they then returned, and soon after met the 
 
 two brothers of B , who w*ere going to their 
 
 brother's house ; they were told what had occurred, 
 
 * The result of this case was, that B , on other 
 
 alleged grounds, was sent to Elba, to be imprisoned in a 
 fortress for one year. 
 
30 STORY OF THE MA DIAL 
 
 and advised to go and see if anything was doing at 
 their own houses. One found, from the lights in 
 various apartments, that his house was also invaded 
 by the ^ensdarmes ; of course he did not go in ; or 
 he, also, would have been marched off to prison. 
 
 After this, A thought he had better return 
 
 home, and said, in a kind of careless way, " It would 
 be singular if they Avere in my house, too." Again, 
 a third time, God's protecting hand was over him. 
 
 D 's dog ran forward, and, in order not to lose 
 
 him, he ran after him, and in stooping down to catch 
 him, was in such a position as to observe, to his 
 
 great surprise, lights in A 's sitting room, at two 
 
 in the morning ; he, therefore, stopped A , whose 
 
 hand was on the bell, saying, " Do not ring, they are 
 also in your house ; rather make your accustomed 
 wdiistle,'and your wife will hear you. He did so, 
 but received no answer; and then he whistled a 
 second time, and soon after they saw a hand slowly 
 waving them away ; also, in a few minutes, his maid- 
 servant opened the door, and said. Fly, fly." When 
 the door was opened without a ring at the bell, 
 
 A thought it was one of the gensdarmes to take 
 
 him, so he rushed away. D heard the message, 
 
 and ran after him ; in the hurry the little dog was 
 left behind, and began to bark on the stairs. But I 
 
 will continue A 's story. At the corner of the 
 
 street the two friends parted, and D was obliged 
 
 to go to his own house to arrange his affairs. A 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. 31 
 
 having no money In his pocket went to a friend and 
 borrowed a little : as he again passed near his own 
 house, he met a gensdarme, sent to arrest him, who 
 stopped close to him. He immediately lifted up his 
 heart in most earnest supplication to the Lord, to 
 deliver* him, and had the presence of mind to turn 
 his back to the gensdarme, and calmly light his 
 cigar; the man, after a faw minute's hesitation, 
 walked on. 
 
 Poor A then made for the nearest gate, and 
 
 again he. prayed earnestly, before calling to have the 
 gate opened, thinking they might arrest him there. 
 But the Lord again delivered him. The man said, 
 '•'■Felice notte f to which the other most cordially 
 
 replied, " Felice notteP A says, that once out 
 
 of the city, he breathed more freely. You may 
 imagine the conflict of thoughts and feelings which 
 passed through his heart on that sad night ! his wife, 
 his three little children ! his country, that he loves 
 so deeply, thrusting him from her bosom, solely be- 
 cause he reads and spreads God's Word and reli- 
 gious books. 
 
 He kept on walking between the two gates, out- 
 side the walls, for some time, almost frozen with 
 cold : at last, overcome with fatigue, he lost all con- 
 sciousness, but was aroused by hearing the clock 
 strike three. He then thought he would walk on to 
 the first station ; but as we have lately had a flood, 
 the water and mud prevented him, and so he was 
 
32 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 obliged to retrace his steps, and B^tfive he threw him- 
 self into the train for Leghorn, where he arrived at 
 nine on Sunday morning. About the same time, 
 my faithful N. N. told me the events of the night, 
 as far as he knew them. 
 
 I felt sure that A would go to Leghorn, 
 
 ^' * so that N. N. was sent off by the 
 first train to know wha1> he thought of doing. We 
 could get no tidings till Monday morning ; you may 
 imagine our anxiety all the day. On Monday we 
 learnt that he was safe, and that he wanted some 
 clothes immediately, for he hoped to get off soon. 
 A few hours after we heard from another, that it 
 was quite impossible to get him a passport; the 
 messenger was sent again, and his friends had the 
 joy to hear that he was on the sea ; the /io?/?, it is im- 
 possible to tell — it would be too dangerous ; suffice 
 it to say, that it was one of those remarkable inter- 
 positions which, when they do occur, look more like 
 romance than truth. There was not time even for 
 him to get his clothes. But our gracious Father, 
 who has so marvellously delivered him, will still 
 care for him. May all these sorrows and trials be 
 blessed to his soul. 
 
 His dear wife has had much anxiety. On that 
 fatal night, ten minutes after her husband had left, 
 she heard a loud knocking at the door ; being uneasy, 
 she herself looked out of the window, and asked, 
 "Chi e?" The wretches replied, "Amici." But 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. 33 
 
 WHAT friends ? " La polizia." She refused to open, 
 saying, her husband was out, and she was alone ; but 
 they insisted, and she was obliged to obey. Six of 
 them came at once into her room, and searched in 
 all directions. She only/ thought of her nice large 
 Bible, and, in order to save it, threw it out of the 
 window, as she thought, into the garden ; but, unfor- 
 tunately, it fell into a cistern of water. She after- 
 wards rescued it, and tried to dry the leaves, but a 
 second visitation from the poHce obliged her to 
 throw it into the fire, and burn it. The only things 
 they found were, seventy of a second edition of ■ 
 Count G 's Confession, six of Gladstone's Let- 
 ters, and Lucille,'" in Italian ; but for this, if arrested, 
 he would probably be sent to the galleys, and hard 
 labor ! ! 
 
 The gensdarmes have been four different times 
 to the house, always in the dead of the night — the 
 last time at two in the 'morning. They hmited the 
 
 * A work by M. Adolphe Monod, of Paris. There is an 
 English translation, entitled, " Lucilla, or the Eeading of the 
 Bible." Whoever is acriuainted with this book, must know 
 how obnoxious it is to those who wish to hinder God's Word 
 from beiug read, or who deny that the Spirit of God can, 
 and does, teach the individual Christian how to understand 
 those things which the Scripture contains. One of the most 
 important points, with regard to " Lucille," is, that the facts 
 and arguments are strictly true ; the only fiction employed 
 is, the introduction of such names and localities as shall con- 
 ceal the real parties 
 
34 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 roof, garden, and every possible place for her hus- 
 band. All this has, of course, made her very un- 
 well, especially as she had hardly recovered from 
 her last confinement. That night numbers were 
 taken from their bed to prison ! Some say sixty ; 
 some, more ; but as nothing is made public, who can 
 tell 1 The next day we continually saw men car- 
 ried to prison. One of the gensdarmes had a Bible 
 in his h^^id, and numbers with little parcels of new 
 books. The injustice of the Government, and the 
 misery of the people, is ' almost beyond endurance. 
 La Signora Madiai, about a week since, was suppos- 
 ed to be dying in prison, but she is still alive, and 
 getting better, though in bed, in prison. Her hus- 
 band glorifies God by his sweet Christian spirit. 
 Yours affectionately, D. K. 
 
 LETTER VI. 
 
 Details continued. — Courage of Signora A ; her alarm 
 
 for lier husband ; succeeds in warning him. — Anger of the 
 gensdarmes ; repeated searches of the house. — Eflorts on 
 behalf of Kosa Madiai in her sufferings ; she and her hus- 
 band seen by a few. — Persecufion seems to deter none 
 from reading the Scripture. — Determination of Landucci 
 to put dowTi the " heresy." 
 
 Florence, Nov. 28, 1851. 
 My dear L. — I now give a few more details 
 which I was obliged to leave out yesterday ; I well 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. 35 
 
 know what a deep interest you all take in these sad 
 persecutions, and how earnestly you bear these dear 
 sufferers upon your hearts. How remarkably in 
 this history do we see the protecting hand of God 
 over his servants, probably in answer to the many 
 prayers so constantly offered. The dear wife of 
 
 A showed such courage in her trial ; when the 
 
 six gensdarmes were making their search, her great 
 anxiety was about her husband, thinking* he would 
 surely return and be taken ; however she listened 
 most attentively to all they said ; they took down 
 
 notes of all they thought would criminate A , 
 
 but, excepting the books 1 have named, nothmg was 
 found. 
 
 They asked with great eagerness when her hus- 
 band would come home ; she replied she could not 
 tell, that sometimes on Saturday ho passed the night 
 at the villa of some of the friends of his boys, which 
 is true ; these gensdarmes were in the house with 
 this poor creature alone from eleven to three. 
 Whilst she was sitting with them, she says she 
 lifted up her heart often to God to protect her hus- 
 band ; at two, when she heard his well-known whis 
 tie, she was ready to flunt, expecting that'the next 
 moment the bell would ring, and that she should have 
 the agony of seeing him, whom she so much loved, 
 carried off to the Bargello ; still she dared not move, 
 it seemed as if some invisible force held her down ; 
 at length she heard a second whistle, and as the men 
 
36 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 were busy writing and talking together, she arose 
 and said, " Excuse me, I think my baby wants me ;" 
 and went into another room, where not daring to 
 open the window, she made the sign which was so 
 
 providentially seen by D ; she also said to the 
 
 maid, " Creep down stairs quietly and say, fly, fly." 
 This succeeded, but the dog unfortunately was left 
 in the passage, and began to bark. The chief officer 
 immediately called out, " AVhose dog is that f 
 
 Madame A said, " Oh ! the door must have 
 
 been left open, and sonH dog is come in ;" then turn- 
 ing to the maid, said, " Go, and shut it, but mind, be 
 attentive if your master should return ;" the poor 
 thing did not know what to say, the officer at once 
 iniderstood the whole affliir ; turning quite black, 
 nero — 7iero — and stamping with his feet, he said, 
 " Ah ! yes, I dare say he will take pretty good care 
 not to return." The gensdarmes soon after went 
 away. 
 
 The whole of that night this poor creature had 
 to pass in the most cruel anxiety. They have since 
 searched the house three different times, and threat- 
 ened her, and tried to frighten her ; she has now, I 
 am happy to say, gone to her father and mother ; as 
 to the school, it must, I suppose, be given up ; but 
 the Lord will care for them. 
 
 Poor dear Eosa Madiai continues so weak and ill 
 that, perhaps owing to the strenuous efforts made on 
 •all sides in her favor, (for she was well known, and 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. 37 
 
 lovod by some of the firsl^families here and in Eng- 
 land, they may let her out to die. Her ilhiess is 
 entirely occasioned by the severities of her impri- 
 sonment, upon a very delicate constitution. She 
 may die^ but she will never deny her Saviour, or 
 make one retrograde step ; no one but God can know 
 how very deeply she has felt her trial, and how 
 greatly she has suffered ; it is so cruel not to let 
 the poor husband and wife meet under these trying 
 circumstances. 
 
 Francesco Madiai loves his wife so very ten- 
 derly, that that is his only trial ; he says, even if 
 they burn his body, it is only his body, they cannot 
 touch liis soul. Quite lately the prison doors for 
 these two have been opened to a very few, I lon'^ 
 to see them, but am not likely to do so. 
 
 The question naturally arises, in the midst of 
 these persecutions, are any deterred from reading 
 the Word and following Christ ? We have not 
 heard of one even ; the only difference is, they can- 
 not meet together ; but the work being of God, who 
 can put it down 1 It is said that Landucci, the :Min. 
 ister of the Interior, has declared that he will put 
 down the heresy, even though his fate should be 
 that of the Duke of Athens." 
 
 Yours affectionately, D. K. 
 
 * This historical reference would be familiarly understood 
 at Florence. In 1341, while the Florentines were negocia- 
 ting with Mastiuo della Scala, Lord of Verona, for the pur- 
 4 
 
88 STORY OF THE MADIAI 
 
 LETTER VII. 
 
 Improved health of Eosa Madiai. — Her examination before 
 the magisti'ates. — Francesco Madiai sent to the Murate 
 prison. — InteiTiew between the husband and wife. — Eefu- 
 sal of bail for them. — Danger incurred by an advocate in 
 defending prisoners. — Case at Pisa. — Prisoners for opi- 
 nions. — Case oi four such. — A 's letter to his wife. — 
 
 His voyage. 
 
 Florence, Dec. 24, 1851. 
 My dear L. — * * % J j^y^^ gyj.Q 
 it will be most gratifying to you to hear that our 
 Heavenly Father has heard the many prayers offer- 
 ed, so far as in His wisdom He hath seen right. Both 
 
 chase of Lucca (which he then held,) the Pisans seized that 
 city by force. The Florentines to gain possession of Lucca 
 had sent to Eobert, King of Naples, for aid, and troops ac- 
 cordingly came, under the command of Walter de Brienne 
 Duke of Athens. He arrived in 1342, just when the Flo- 
 rentines were openly disaffected to those whom they had 
 set at the head of the affairs of the republic. The military 
 command was at once given to the Duke, who then executed 
 many who were obnoxious either to the great men, or to the 
 common people ; others were exiled, and others heavily 
 fined. In the then state of discontent at Florence, this ren- 
 dered the Duke popular with all except the middle class of 
 citizens. Having occupied Florence with foreign troops, 
 he caused (Sept. 8, 1342) a proposition to be made to the 
 people that the administrative power should be given to him 
 for one year; the people with acclamation decreed it for 
 life. The Duke and his companions abused their power iu 
 every way ; no one's life or property was safe. At length 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. 39 
 
 those Avithiii prison, and those without are, I may 
 say, mercifully sustained, and a shield of protection 
 seems to be thrown around them which surprises all 
 Rosa Madiai, who at one time was thought to be 
 dymg in prison, has been wonderfully restored to 
 health ; at the time of her sickness and acute suffer- 
 ing she had an extreme longing to be removed from 
 prison, but now her patience is restored, and she ia 
 quite willing to wait God's time, and is cheerful and 
 happy and full of firmness and faith. She has lately 
 prayed earnestly that her weak body may be strength 
 ened, lest her accusers might impute her bodily weak- 
 ness to a less firm and determined resolution, at all 
 costs, to abide by her confession of faith. 
 
 A few days since she was again called before her 
 judges, who asked her if she was the person accused 
 of impiety and blasphemy. " If," she replied, " to 
 believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as my onl}- Saviour 
 be this, then I am the person, but let God judge." 
 All the prisoners have lately been declared criminals, 
 
 he caused the tongue of Bettoue Cini to be torn out, for 
 speaking of him too freely, and this act of cruelty (which 
 occasioned Bettone's death) roused all Florence against the 
 Duke. (July 2Gth, 1343.) The Duke, besieged in the pal 
 ace, abdicated, basely surrendering his cempanions to be 
 put to death, on condition that he should be conducted 
 safely to Casentino. (Sept. 6.) 
 
 Thus "the fate of the Duke of Athens " expresses the 
 ignominy of one who is expelled for lawless cruelty, and 
 purchases his life by selliag his associates to be executed ! 
 
40 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 and are to have, I am most happy to say, a public 
 trial. In consequence of this the men have been 
 transferred to another prison,* but Eosa, perhaps 
 because she is so very weak, is left in the Bargello. 
 Great interest was made that the husband and 
 wife should meet before he was removed, and they , 
 did meet in the presence of the jailer ; they had not '^ 
 seen each other since the 17th of August. It was 
 sadly affecting, for the husband also has been lately 
 ill, and is very much bent from suffering ; he has, I 
 am sorry to say, a liver complaint, wliich close con- 
 finement greatly increases ; they encouraged each 
 other, and were thankful to be counted worthy to 
 testify for their Lord and Master whom they love. 
 The highest interest has been exerted on their behalf 
 to let them out on bail, but they are criminals and 
 cannot be let out of prison. Now they desire to get 
 the best defence they can, and w^e think Maggiorani, 
 though young, will prove as able an advocate as 
 any. In this country it is difficult, for a man may 
 ruin himself in defending another. It was only a few 
 weeks since that a lawyer in defending a case at 
 Pisa, observed upon the ill conduct of a gensdarme, 
 
 * Francesco Madi&i was now sent to the Murate prison, 
 which is professedly on the plan of that at Pentonville ; the 
 Peutonville prison, however, is for those who have been con- 
 victed and sentenced; whereas Francesco Madiai was sub- 
 jected to this severe and solitary confinement preparatory 
 to trial. 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. 41 
 
 and though perfectly true, he has been sent to prison 
 for twelve months. How then can we expect men 
 to risk so much ? Nevertheless every effort will be 
 made to get the best pleader. The day of the trial 
 is not yet fixed, for they like to keep them in prison 
 as long as possible. It is quite sure that whatever the 
 skill of the defence may be, the sentence is already 
 fixed ! But the trial will arouse public opinion. 
 
 The report is that the prisons are full, and mostly 
 with persons put in for opinions ; many are what are 
 here called Liberals, but what in our country would 
 almost be called Conservatives ; most of these poor 
 fellows read the Bible, and some of them, through tho 
 grace of God, have become true Christians. 
 
 I heard a few days since a touching story of four 
 of them. They had been kept in prison for eight 
 months unjudged, and were then tried and found guilty 
 and sentenced to a year's hard labor ; they were re- 
 proached for being Uvangelici, and for having been 
 present at a religious meeting ; they replied that if they 
 had been, they would have confessed it, for they were 
 children of the Gospel. How many more such 
 may still be suffering in bonds, unknown to us. 
 
 I will conclude this letter with the sequel of 
 
 A 's story. I related how wonderfully the Lord 
 
 had shielded him from danger, and had put it into 
 the heart of a Christian Captain to take liim with 
 
 him. A has written one of the most beautiful 
 
 letters I ever perused, to his wife. When on board, 
 4* 
 
42 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 he says, he prayed ; oh ! how he prayed — he felt as 
 if he had never prayed before, and he earnestly 
 entreated his wife to cast every burden on the Lord; 
 his trials, together with the naanifest goodness of the 
 Lord, have awakened in his soul feelings which 
 he had never felt before, and have deepened those 
 that he had. All indignation, so natural to his 
 character, seems quite gone and changed into the 
 deepest sorrow for his beloved country, and the 
 most earnest prayer for her deliverance. 
 
 They encountered storms at sea, and at one time 
 were nearly lost, still he had not one moment's fear 
 — ^he was ever calm and peaceful. The ship did not 
 
 intend to go to Q , but owing to contrary winds 
 
 they came within sight of the land ; the captain then 
 asked him if he would like to be landed ? he replied, 
 *' Yes." Accordingly he was landed one night alone, 
 on that far distant shore, poor fellow ! yet his heart 
 was full of gratitude for his deliverance, and of 
 thankfulness for the great kindness he had received ; 
 he had a letter to some kind friend there, whom he 
 happily found, and now he is provided for ; in course 
 of time probably his wife and children will follow him. 
 
 This touching letter has been read by some of 
 
 A 's friends, not many, and yet the police have 
 
 heard of it, and the wife was obliged to get rid of it 
 to a stranger who is not suspected, to keep for her, 
 for she could not burn it. 
 
 And now, beloved L , farewell. Tell our 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. 43 
 
 friends that they have comforted and sustained many- 
 hearts by their prayers and sympathy. It is a sweet 
 and precious thought that you have so kindly remem- 
 bered, before the Lord, all who so greatly need to 
 be remembered, and that so many dear to Christ are 
 fellow-workers with llirn in this service; there is 
 great need for a continuance of your prayers, that 
 the light may not be quenched through the wiles of 
 Satan and evil men. 
 
 Yours, affectionately, D. K. 
 
 LETTER VIII. 
 
 Eeference to another case of suffering. — Two persons im- 
 prisoned through the Priests. — Trial of the Madiai put 
 off till March. — Arrangements for A 's wife and child- 
 ren to join him in Febiiiary. — January 21. The two per- 
 sons acquitted by one court. 
 
 Florence, January 20, 1852. 
 
 My dear L. — I hope you received my last, 
 detailing a new case of suffering — two persons ar- 
 rested at the sick bed of a friend, it is true they im- 
 prudently let the Priests know their sentiments, 
 and in a very short time after both were in the Bar- 
 gello ; as yet we have not been able to get tidings, 
 but we hope to hear something this evening. I am 
 sorry to say the trial of the Madiai is not likely to 
 come on now before March. 
 
 If the trial is printed, I will be sure and send you 
 
44 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 a paper ; we mean to go and hear it if it is public. 
 Maggiorani, who is thought to be a first-rate pleader, 
 has undertaken it, though every one -is quite certain 
 that the sentence is already determined upon, and as 
 events have taken such an adverse turn we fear 
 greatly ; but they cannot go beyond the will of the 
 Lord. These dear persons have already made much 
 progress in spiritual life since their imprisonment, so 
 that I hear that it is a real refreshment to see them ; 
 I never hope to have this comfort, because fresh 
 orders have been given not to admit visitors. 
 
 I hear that A is extremely liked at Q , 
 
 but they say that when alone his spirits sink very 
 much, he is so attached to his wife and children, as 
 well as having a most ardent love for his country 
 and a great desire for her moral improvement. I 
 am happy to tell you that arrangements are in hand 
 to send his wife and two little boys the beginning of 
 February ; the little one at nurse will be left in the 
 care of its relations. 
 
 ***** 
 
 I am so thankful to think that the circumstances 
 
 which caused such sorrow and trial here have been 
 
 a link to unite Christians together amongst you ; I 
 
 quite believe we have an abundant answer to your 
 
 prayers ; there is more grace to endure, more quiet 
 
 steady determination to follow on to know God. 
 ***** 
 
 January 21. Yesterday evening we heard that 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. 45 
 
 one court had absolved the two men I spoke of; it 
 is well, however, to remember that two courts also 
 absolved Guicciardini and the six arrested with him, 
 but they were, nevertheless, afterwards punished by 
 the police, so we fear it will be in this case. 
 
 Yours, affectionately, D. K. 
 
 LETTER IX. 
 
 Prayers for the sufferers. — Continued trials. — The two 
 arrested on account of the sick man. — Florence a city 
 quite Catholic, Apostolic and Roman. — Arrangements for 
 
 A 's wife and children to join her husband. — Case of 
 
 a woman whose husband is in prison ; reviled for believing 
 in God. — Evangelica or Sabina. 
 
 Florence, January 30, 1852. 
 
 ]\Iy DEAR L. — I cannot express to you how much 
 it rejoices my heart to hear tliat you so continually 
 remember all the dear persecuted ones at Florence, 
 and that such a Catholic spirit is exhibited ; that so 
 many dear to the Lord join in sympathy, prayer 
 and help. Be assured, dear L. they feel the effects 
 of your prayers according to God's o^^ti -svill, not in 
 deliverance out of oppression, but in His granting 
 grace to endure, and in their increased courage to 
 confess Christ as their only Saviour. 
 
 Feeling, as I do, the oneness of spirit which 
 unites us, I always desire to let you know when any 
 fresh sorrow and trial happens, that you may be 
 
40 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 able to present those things before our Heavenly 
 Father, and thus help them in their time of need. 
 The poor little flock continues to be so driven about, 
 persecuted, exiled, imprisoned, that one's heart would 
 almost fail did we not know that God is stronger than 
 man, and that man cannot go beyond God's will. 
 The two men arrested on account of the sick man are 
 still in prison, and will probably be exiled, but when? 
 One of them is known to have fetched the Swiss 
 minister to the dying man, and this is a venj great 
 crime, and moreover he has declared himself Evan- 
 gelical, and that Evangelical he will remain. The 
 magistrates say they will not have such people in 
 Florence — a city quite Catholic, Apostolic and Ro- 
 man ; they are determined to put down the heresy. 
 
 You will be glad to hear that A 's wife and 
 
 her two children will now soon join her husband ; she 
 has had no difficulty in getting her passport, which 
 they were almost afraid would have been refused 
 her. Poor thing ! she goes away with many mixed 
 feelings ; delighted to go to her beloved husband, 
 and yet it seems as if taking a last farewell of mother, 
 father, country and friends ; still to be free to bring 
 up their children according to their own faith is a 
 great blessing. 
 
 I am afraid the Madiai's trial will not come on 
 before March ; but they seem to increase in patience 
 and faith, and submission to God's will. This is a 
 blessed fruit of tribulation. Addio for the present. 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. 47 
 
 Saturday. I heard last evening that a woman 
 whose husband is in prison, had again been examined 
 by the Delagato, this functionary, like many others, 
 regularly abuses the poor people, and he was not at 
 all sparing in bad names to her ; she has a good deal 
 of intelligence, and answered very well. She asked 
 to have her husband's watch to put it in pawn. " Oh, 
 you pretend to be poor do you ?" She happened to 
 say that God would help her ; " Oh, you, then, are 
 one who believes in God ?" Fancy a magistrate say- 
 ing this in what is called a Qn-istian country. " ] 
 dare say you are Evangelici P " No, Eccellenza," 
 she replied, "I am called Sabina." She quite under- 
 stood what she was saying. 
 
 Thus you see, dear L. the state of Florence at 
 present. There is much, very much to be thankful 
 for, and much to keep one in constant prayer and 
 dependence upon God, for each day we know not 
 what may happen next. 
 
 * * -s- * * 
 
 What can we say to a Government, which instead 
 of seeking to improve the people, tries in every way 
 to corrupt them, and by every bait to tempt them to 
 become spies ; there are many affecting instances of 
 these temptations when driven almost to despair by 
 
 want or oppression, and then they fall into the snare. 
 
 * -it * * * 
 
 Yours, aftectionately, D. K. 
 
48 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 LETTER X. 
 
 Preparations for the trial of the Madiai. — February 26. 
 Sentence on the two men before mentioned. Acquitted 
 by the tiibunals, but sentenced by the police. — Extracts 
 from the decreto. 
 
 Florence, February 2, 1852. 
 My dear L. — * % * There are now 
 long folios ready for the Madiai's trial. Maggiorani 
 is said to be an able pleader ; if he does justice to his 
 subject, it will indeed be a most interesting trial, but 
 can he know his Bible sufficiently 1 Now they say it 
 
 cannot come on until the end of March. 
 
 % * % % * 
 
 February 26th ^' '^ We are greatly 
 in hopes that the trial will now come on soon, for all 
 the lawyers have finished some little time, and it 
 only remains for the Government to fix the day. 
 * * * % * 
 
 Tlie two men who were imprisoned on the sick 
 man's account eight weeks ago, have received their 
 sentence. The Tribunale della Prima Istanza entire- 
 ly acquited both ; then the police, under that edict 
 of April, 1851, condemned both — one to be forever 
 banished Tuscany, the other to six months' imprison- 
 ment in the fortress of Piombino. I send you a few 
 sentences extracted from this last decreto. " The ex- 
 istence of a secret association is proved, to insinuate 
 and spread sentiments and principles contrary to the 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. 49 
 
 fundamental dogmas and precepts of the Roman 
 Catholic Apostolic religion, with the scope of over- 
 throwing more easily, by this means, the actual poli- 
 tical order of the different States of Italy. * * * 
 It is evident the part that the young man has taken 
 in this plot to alter the religion of the State ; his own 
 confession affords an undoubted proof of his apostacy ; 
 declaring that he belongs to the Protestant Evangeli 
 cal sect, many Anti-Catholic books found in his pos- 
 session, and his repeated attempts, as imprudent as 
 they are detestable, to hinder the dying man from 
 having the succors of our religion, and for having in- 
 stead, procured liim the assistance of a pastor of the 
 Evangelical Reformed Church. 
 
 ***** 
 
 The old man is charged * * * * ^^-j^ 
 the impiety of his frequent visits ^\'ith the young 
 man to the house of the sick man, during the illness 
 of this same sick man ; and the old man's confessed 
 apostacy, professing himself a follower of the Evan- 
 gelical Reformed worship * * * his 
 co-operation in machinations to overthrow the reli- 
 gion of the State * * * * on tliis 
 account they are sentenced," as before mentioned. 
 ***** 
 
 Your remembrance of the poor persecuted ones 
 
 is quite touching; the Lord judges the heart and 
 
 sees the desire to sympathize and help ; indeed, the 
 
 friends in England have been a great blessing to the 
 
 5 
 
50 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 tried ones here, for surely blessing in answer to 
 prayer is no small boon. 
 
 Yours affectionately, D. K. 
 
 LETTER XI. 
 
 Carrying out of the sentence on the two men ; the one ban- 
 ished ; the other taken to Piombino to be imprisoned in 
 the fortress. 
 
 Florence, February 28, 1852. 
 My Dear L.— ^* -^ ^ I told you in my 
 last the condemnation of the two persons on account 
 of the sick man. The old man has been allowed a 
 week to settle his affairs ; he has behaved very well 
 — most firm and courageous. The Government re- 
 fused the petition for the punishment of the other to 
 be commuted into exile, so to-morrow morning he 
 is to be conveyed to the fortress of Piombino. The 
 poor mother said, with big tears rolling do^^^l her 
 cheeks, " to think that my son should be conveyed 
 all across the town, and to Piombino, in the midst 
 of carabinieri, like a common felon ;" we tried to 
 comfort her by recalling how the Apostles, and 
 even our Lord himself had been treated, and that 
 no shame could attach to this, that it was rather an 
 honor to suffer so distinctly for the Lord's sake. 
 We understand that he has answered with the ut- 
 most boldness and decision, refusing to answer what 
 he did not choose to answer. These things make 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. 51 
 
 one feel the reality of one's faith, how in the midst 
 of all, God gives his peace, and his sustaining grace ; 
 how brightly shines out the faith of these poor peo- 
 ple. The numbers increase every day, I hear ; and 
 it is a great refreshment, I am told, to watch the 
 progress of many of these dear Christians. 
 
 Yours affectionately, D. K. 
 
 LETTER XII. 
 
 "Witnesses against the Madiai ; ingratitude of a faniily 
 whom they had aided. — April 15. The trial still post- 
 poned. — Francesco's Letter. — Day named for the ti'ial, 
 April 27. 
 
 Flore.vce, March 20, 1852. 
 
 My Dear L. — I told you that the large folios 
 had been -wTitten for the trial of the Madiai ; when 
 for the first time it was ascertamed who were the 
 witnesses against them. Besides that wicked girl 
 from Lucca, a family have come forward against 
 them whom they rescued from the most abject pov- 
 erty; though certainly not rich themselves, they 
 supplied them continually from their own table, and 
 were unwearied in recommending them, on account 
 of their poverty, to the compassion of others; but 
 these ungrateful creatures have brought forward 
 some of the strongest evidences against them ; false 
 witnesses of course they are, and this either through 
 feai', or for gain. I should tliink the latter, for the 
 
(52 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 family are suddenly become very well off; there 
 are many others, taken from the lowest class, but 
 always from among those to whom they had shown 
 khidness and compassion ! Alas ! alas ! . . . 
 
 April 15th. You see March is ended, and still 
 the trial is not come on ; and these poor creatures 
 are still lingering out their lives, in their solitary 
 cells, but still sustained by our Heavenly Father. 
 I accidentally saw a letter of Francesco's the other 
 day, which a friend had translated ; it so shows the 
 guilelessness, and simplicity of his character, that I 
 will enclose it for your perusal.* Never for one mo- 
 ment has this poor man been cast down in his spirit, 
 his body has often suffered, but it is one continued 
 outpouring of praise and thanksgiving to God, to 
 think that such as he should be counted worthy to 
 suffer for Christ ; his long imprisonment tells upon 
 him, poor fellow, for his face quite twitches with 
 nervousness, and yet such calmness, such joy, such 
 submission ; truly it must be a privilege to see him. 
 I should think that all who came near him, must 
 feel the silent power of his testimony. It is now 
 positively said that the trial will come on on the 
 27th of this month. May it be so ; and may this 
 long and sad imprisonment shortly afterwards be 
 ended. 
 
 Yours affectionately, D. K. 
 
 * See the following Letter. 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. 53 
 
 LETTER XIII. 
 
 From Francesco Madiai to H. E. 
 
 His arrival at Florence when 16. — Conduct of his Confes- 
 eor. — Nineteen years of unsatisfactory ideas on religion. 
 — Reads the English Prayer Book ; goes to America ; 
 his first Communion, Trinity Church, Boston.— Eetums 
 
 to Florence ; goes to Rome Avith the Misses J ; meets 
 
 Rosa Pulini ; she explains the Bible to him. — Marries 
 Rosa Pulini. — His Prayers. 
 
 Now I wish to tell you something in a few 
 words, but as I am very ignorant, I pray you to 
 pardon me. At the age of sixteen I came to Flo- 
 rence to be cured of a liver complaint ; I was cured 
 by Professor Mazzini, who afterwards ordered me 
 to eat meat every day. Easter falling soon after, I 
 went to perform my devotions in the Cathedral ; 
 and having eaten meat, as the doctor had ordered 
 me, I wished to tell this to my confessor. Accord- 
 ingly, I went to a canon (whom I have already 
 named in my examination.) When he heard that I 
 had eaten meat, he turned on me like a barbarian, 
 saying, "Thou art damned in body and soul," and 
 then shut to the door in my face, so enraged was he. 
 From that time, I was nineteen years without know- 
 ing of what religion I was : still, however, I went to 
 Church, but I did not feel that I was satisfactorily 
 performing my Christian duties. The time now 
 came when 1 went on my travels, and the Holy 
 5* 
 
54 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 Scriptures were made a little kno\vii to me ; and al- 
 though I understood them very imperfectly, I saw 
 that the Priests had deceived me. At last I was 
 able to read a little of the English Prayer Book, 
 and then my mind became calmer. I now went to 
 America to see my brother, and I had there forty 
 lessons in the English language. Then I was al- 
 most entirely persuaded of the truth of that religion, 
 and I made my first communion in Trinity Church, 
 Boston.* This was in 1840: but all this was still 
 but little for me, seeing that I understood so im- 
 perfectly the English language. 
 
 I now returned to Florence, and there met the 
 
 Misses J with a governess. I accompanied 
 
 them as courier, to Eome. We left the governess 
 and took La Pulini (afterwards my wife.) We then 
 went on to Naples, and afterwards returned to the 
 Baths of Lucca, where we spent the summer. I 
 took with me a small box of English books, which 
 I showed to La Pulina, and she exclaimed, ''What 
 good books thou hast got there !" I asked her if 
 she would explain to me a few chapters of the Holy 
 Scriptures, and she said she could do so after tea, as 
 during the day-time she had much work to do for 
 the ladies. After tea then I used to read a chapter, 
 which she explained to me in Italian. You may 
 miagine with what pleasure I heard explained the 
 word of God for the first time. Then was there 
 
 * One of the Episcopalian Churches of that city. 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. 55 
 
 nourished in me more and more the love of the 
 Scriptures, but still I professed nothing. 
 
 We went afterwards to Florence, and there we 
 parted with La Pulini. She dwelt not greatly in 
 my imagination, but in the evenhigs I thought ol 
 her and her good explanations. 
 
 Not long afterwards I left my situation, and 
 married Rosa Pulhii ; and I may m truth say that 
 the Spirit of God reigned in me and my wife ; but 
 we did not yet know His secret ; but I am certain 
 we knew it after some time, and sure I am that we 
 became very zealous for the Word of God, and so 
 shall we ever be (God willing.) Amen. 
 
 I should like the Misses to be told that I 
 
 send them my grateful thanks for their kindness and 
 bounty to me : I have no other recompense to offer 
 them. I wish them to know that from the time I 
 first knew them, I ever felt towards them much at- 
 tachment, (such as a servant ought to have for his 
 employers.) I forget no one ; I pray for my ene- 
 mies ; and especially do I pray for all my brethren, 
 and for those who have shown us so much kmdness. 
 I pray God to shower do\vn upon them His most 
 precious blessmgs, temporal and eternal. 
 
 Francesco Madiai. 
 
 March, 1852, Murate Prison. 
 
66 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 LETTER XIV. 
 
 Trial again put oiF. — Annoyance to the Prisoners. — 
 Francesco's calmness ; Kosa's grief. — They meet for a 
 moment. 
 
 Florence, April 28, 1852. f 
 My Dear L. — Alas ! alas ! I have nothing but 
 disappointment and sorrow to communicate, but I 
 will begin my story regularly. At nine o'clock 
 yesterday morning the prisoners were severally 
 brought from their different prisons, and lodged 
 in different rooms to wait until called for. 
 Many persons interested in the case were in 
 court at an early hour. After waiting some time 
 it was said, that the cause must be put off for a 
 few hours, but that it would come on at three. 
 Numbers left and returned at that hour, but after 
 waiting some time they were at last told that the 
 case was put off indefinitely, in consequence of the 
 illness of one of the principal witnesses. Few be- 
 lieved in this illness, but thought it was only an ex- 
 cuse for some sinister purpose, so little is there of 
 integrity and justice in the country now. 
 
 You may imagine the vexation and disappoint- 
 ment this occasioned to all ; but how much more to 
 the poor prisoners themselves ! Maggiorani had to 
 communicate these sad tidings to them. In doing 
 so, he tried to cheer them with a hope, which per- 
 haps he hardly felt himself, that it would be merely 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. 57 
 
 a month's delay. Still, to go back to prison, in the 
 same uncertainty in which they had been kept there 
 long long months, was no small trial. 
 
 Francesco received the news with his accus 
 ton\ed calmness and resignation, merely saying, 
 " Tlie will of the Lord be done." He had, during 
 that long day, occupied himself in walking up and 
 down the horrid room he was put into, repeating 
 Psalms, chiefly the cxvi. Rosa received the intel- 
 ligence with great grief — she was completely over- 
 come by it, for she had so buoyed up her hopes, 
 she had so looked on to this day, as ending her un- 
 certainty, and perhaps secretly hoping it might put 
 a term to her dreadful imprisonment. I must not 
 forget to tell you, that once during the day the poor 
 husband and wife met for an instant. They were 
 confined, as you know, in separate rooms, and 
 guarded ; but both doors happened to be opened at 
 the same time, and they rushed into each other's 
 arms. They were again instantly separated ; but 
 tlie comfort of this moment's interview greatly con- 
 soled them. All night long poor Rosa has been ill 
 — she has now fever, and is suffering greatly. They 
 need your prayers. 
 
 Yours, affectionately, D. K. 
 
58 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 LETTER XV. 
 
 Hopes that the trial may come on soon. — Maggiorani's 
 diligence. — Question as to the application of the law. 
 — Rosa's improved health. 
 
 Florence, May 20, 1852. 
 
 My Dear L. — ... It is still hoped that the 
 trial will come on during this month, but if not, it 
 will surely be early in June. In the mean time 
 the advocate, Maggiorani, is using the time most dili- 
 gently, in seeking out other important 'witnesses for 
 the accused. It is evident, from all we hear, that 
 the Government is determmed to make the worst 
 case possible against the prisoners. The most im- 
 partial lawyers affirm that the law of '86, upon 
 which they pretend to judge them, is not applicable 
 to the case ; nevertheless, we fear all will be over- 
 ruled to please the priests. Francesco still conti- 
 nues in a most lovely and tranquil spirit. Rosa is 
 greatly better in health, and is again become peace- 
 ful in her spirit. I will add no more, for in a few 
 days I hope to give you the results of the trial. 
 
 Yours, affectionately, D. K. 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. 59 
 
 LETTER XVI. 
 
 The Trial : commences June 5. — The prisoners meet in 
 the dock, — The attorney-general proposes that the trial 
 be private. — Some have permission to stay. — Witnesses 
 for the prosecution prepared by the priests. — Papers and 
 tracts read. — Francesco's answers; forbidden to quote 
 Scripture. — Conduct of both the Madiai. — Proceedings 
 against them last two days. — Witnesses for the Madiai. 
 — Questions put to Francesco as to his religious profes- 
 sion. — Rosa's answers. — Maggiorani's speech. — Reply of 
 the attorney-general ; he suggests the sentence to the 
 judges. — Deliberation of the judges, June 7 and 8. — Sen- 
 tence on the Madiai. — How received by them ; their 
 separation. 
 
 Florence, June 8, 1852. 
 
 Mr DEAR L. — I hasten to send you a few lines 
 to make you acquainted with the result of the trial 
 of Francesco and Rosa Madiai, after nearly ten 
 months' close imprisonment. It commenced on the 
 5th, and ended this day at half-past three, P. M. For 
 some time before, Rosa had manifested great calm- 
 ness and rest of spirit, and seemed much more than 
 usually happy in the Lord. 
 
 On the morning of the 5th of June the long ex- 
 pected trial of Madiai and his wife commenced ; 
 they were placed in the dock, guarded by several 
 gensdarmes on each side of them; they looked calm 
 and dignified, and quietly awaited the entrance of the 
 lawyers, and bench of six judges, who acted as jury, 
 
60 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 as well as judges. Francesco appeared much pleased 
 at once more seeing his wife, and pressed her hand. 
 The attorney-general opened the case, and first pro- 
 posed that the trial should be private ; this being 
 agreed to by the judges, the court was cleared of all 
 the reporters, and most of the Italians ; several Eng- 
 lish, and some of the Italian Christians, were allowed 
 to remain, about eighty or one hundred having, like 
 myself, obtained permission from one of the secre- 
 taries to stay ; and there were also a great many 
 priests present. Witnesses for the prosecution were 
 next examined by the judges, and in a way that 
 clearly showed the sentence on the Madiai had al- 
 ready been determined on. Words were often put 
 into witnesses' mouths when they seemed at a loss, 
 and they professed to remember nothing when their 
 evidence was contrary to the written statement 
 which had been taken down from their lips on pre- 
 vious examinations. I could not but be astonished 
 at the bare-faced shamelessness with which the bench 
 thus carried on the prosecution. All seemed to 
 have one body and one mind, owing to the way in 
 which they had been prepared by the priests. 
 
 In the course of this examination Count Guicci- 
 ardini's confession of faith was read out, and many 
 tracts which had been found in the Madiai's rooms 
 were also read out in full ; and a picture likewise 
 found there which represented the errors of Popery 
 contrasted with texts of ScripturCj was produced, 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. 61 
 
 and the texts, &c. which were in English, translat- 
 ed into Italian. Thus, much truth reached the ears of 
 the judges and audience. Francesco also frequently 
 quoted Scripture when he was asked about his reli- 
 gious opinions, and this made the judges very angry, 
 and the president frequently forbade him to quote 
 the Bible, as they did not wish to hear his religious 
 dogmas. Nothing could exceed the Christian beha- 
 vior of both Francesco and Rosa. She was very 
 particularly sustained, and all who heard her fre- 
 quently exclaimed in a whisper, w^ith how much dig- 
 nity and propriety she gave her answers, especially 
 when one of the judges wished to confuse her by a 
 series of irrelevant cross questions ; several times 
 she silenced him by her replies, amidst evident sen- 
 sation throughout the court ; and once he threw him- 
 self back in his chair in complete confusion, when 
 she was declaring in what her change of religion 
 consisted. Madiai also, in questioning some of the 
 witnesses, spoke to them in a very Christian and 
 even tender way, lamenting their unfaithfulness 
 and the falsehood they uttered. To one he said, 
 " Go, my chains are of much greater value than all 
 the false evidence w^hich thou hast given against 
 me." Upon which the president of the court, in a 
 rage, told him " not to make a martyr of himself, 
 and not to utter one word more than was necessary, 
 especially before a Catholic public." 
 
 The exammation against them lasted two days, 
 6 
 
62 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 and some clever legal men declared that there was 
 not one ivord or incident which in any way ren- 
 dered them guilty — supposing even all that had 
 been said against them was true. Afterwards the 
 judges examined the witnesses for the Madiai, and 
 their manner of giving testimony was a striking 
 contrast to that of the witnesses against them, as 
 they spoke boldly, and fearlessly, and openly, and 
 proved by the manner of their giving evidence that 
 they were speaking the truth ; they proved that the 
 Madiai had ever respected the opinions of others, 
 and had by no means attempted to proselyte to 
 their own opinions, in the manner that their accusers 
 conte7ided — for conversion, they said, can only be 
 from God; moreover, this testimony brought to 
 light most beautiful traits of Christian love and 
 conduct in the accused, and nothing appeared which 
 could in any way dim the integrity of their private 
 life. In the course of the defence Madiai was asked 
 " if he was not born in the bosom of our Holy 
 Mother, the Roman Catholic Church 1" He answered, 
 " Yes, but I am now an Evangelical Christian." 
 " Who made you such, and does any act of abjura- 
 tion exist in the hands of those with whom you have 
 united yourself?" "My convictions have existed for 
 many years already, and they have acquired strength 
 through the study of the Word of God ; it is a 
 thing entirely between myself and God, which 
 nevertheless was openly manifested when I took the 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. 63 
 
 communion in the Swiss Church." Rosa replied to 
 her interrogator that " she had not lightly changed 
 her religion, or to please man, since in that case she 
 would have done it in England, where she had lived 
 for sixteen years ; but that, after having read much, 
 and studied the Word of God, and compared it with 
 the doctrines of the Roman Church, she had remain- 
 ed convmced, and had abandoned that Church ; and 
 that she had chosen the moment to make her public 
 confession of faith, by taking the communion, when 
 the laws gave and protected the liberty of citizens." 
 (This must have been in 1848.) 
 
 There were twelve witnesses against, and six 
 for, the Madiai ; and finally Maggiorani, the coim- 
 sel for the prisoners, closed the case, by making a 
 speech which lasted three hours ; setting forth first 
 the legal question, then quoting from the Fathers, 
 and largely from the Scriptures, in proof of the 
 soundness of the doctrines they held, and that they 
 should not be treated as heretics ; and then closed 
 with an analysis of the evidence against them, and 
 completely showing how false it all really was. The 
 attorney-general replied, and ended by advising the 
 judges to sentence the prisoners, Francesco to fifty- 
 six months' imprisonment and hard labor, and Rosa 
 to the same for a period of forty-six months, and 
 both to solitary confinement. The court was then 
 closed, and all went away, and notice was given that 
 sentence would be pronounced on the following day. 
 
64 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 Tlie bench deliberated that same evening for 
 three hours, without being able to come to any con- 
 clusion. The next day at ten o'clock the whole 
 place was filled with persons of all classes; the 
 bench had already been deliberating since nine 
 o'clock, but half-past two came, and still they could 
 not agree, and we began to hope for a favorable sen- 
 tence ; at length, at half-past three, after nine and 
 a half hours' deliberation, the judges entered the 
 court. The president read a long paper, recapitulat- 
 ing the evidence, and then quoted a law which in 
 no-wise applied to the case ; and finally pronounced 
 sentence on the Madiai for transgressing it ! I was 
 sitting, at this time, in front, with several friends, 
 and turned to look at the prisoners, who were only 
 two or three paces distant from me. They were 
 perfectly composed, and manifested a most remark- 
 able degree of resignation. 
 
 It now appears that the cause of the long delib- 
 eration of the judges was, that they could not agree ; 
 some desiring a milder sentence, and the president 
 himself, at length, gave the casting vote for the con- 
 demnation of the accused. The sentence was (to 
 the astonishment of all) exactly that which had been 
 asked for by the attorney-general, viz: Francesco 
 Madiai to suffer four years' and eight months' soli- 
 tary confinement and hard labor, and Rosa three 
 years and ten months of the same. The ten months 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. 65 
 
 which they had already passed in prison, were not to 
 be reckoned as part of the sentence. Besides this, 
 they are to be subjected to three years' surveillance 
 of the police after the term of their imprisonment is 
 ended. (The surveillance of the police is most ha- 
 rassing ; they enter your house as often as they 
 please, during the day or in the dead of night. You 
 must show yourself to them, whether you are sick or 
 well, and must never be out of your house after 
 eight o'clock in the evening, &c.) All the expenses 
 of the trial are also to be paid by the Madiai. The 
 prfson selected for him is at Volterra. She is sen- 
 tenced to the Ergastola, at Lucca — a most dreaded 
 prison. 
 
 At the close of the sentence both immediately 
 arose from off their seats, and looked at each other, 
 as if greeting one another after many months' ab- 
 sence ; they then shook hands, both smiled on each 
 other, embraced, and in a few moments disappeared 
 amidst the bayonets of their guards. I may men- 
 tion, in conclusion, that the sole accusation against 
 them was one grounded upon their open confession 
 of the name of Jesus, and desire to lead others to 
 faith in Him, and they were not even accused of 
 any political motives. The books which were read 
 m court were produced to prove their apostacy from 
 the Roman Catholic Church and her doctrines, and 
 French, English, and Italian Bibles were quoted in 
 their accusation. All tended both to show the re- 
 
 6* 
 
66 STOET OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 ality and the simplicity of their faith, and also to 
 publish the truth. 
 
 I send you a letter written by Eosa Madiai to 
 her husband, after the trial, and before the sentence 
 had been pronounced. It will be found to be a 
 striking instance of the grace of our Lord in answer 
 to prayer, when the state of the poor sufferer is re- 
 membered, and the depth of her feeling of disap- 
 pointment two months ago, when her trial was 
 off. Yours, affectionately, D. K. 
 
 LETTER XVn. 
 
 Hosa Madiai to her Hushand. 
 
 Mio CAiio Madiai. — Tusai, se to ti ho sempre 
 amato, ma quanto piu ti devo amare, ora che siamo 
 stati insieme alia battaglia del gran Re, e che siamo 
 stati abbattuti ma non vinti ! lo spero che, per il 
 merito di Gesu, Iddio Padre abbia accettata la nostra 
 testimonianza, e che ci dara la grazia di poter bere 
 fino air ultima goccia la pozione di quel calice ama- 
 ro che ci e preparato con rendimenti di grazie. 
 
 Mio buon Madiai ! La vita nostra, che e ? Un 
 giorno, un giorno di dolore ! ieri giovani, oggi vec- 
 chi 1 ma pero noi possiamo dire col vecchio Simeone, 
 " Ora, Signore, rimandi il tuo servitore in pace, pos- 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. G7 
 
 cia che gli occlii nostri hamio veduta la tua salva- 
 zione." 
 
 Coraggio, mio caro ; poiclic noi conosciamo per 
 lo Spirito Sano che quel Cristo carico di obbrobrio, 
 calpestrati ed inguiriate, e il nostro Salvatore, e 
 noi per la sua santa luce e potenza ci troviamo a di- 
 fendere la santa croce e Cristo spirante per noi, rice- 
 vando i suoi obbrobri per noi partecipare della sua 
 santa gloria. Non teme se la condanna sara forte. 
 Dio che fece cadere la catena a Pictro e aprivala 
 porta della sua prigione non dimentichera ne anche 
 noi. 
 
 Sta di buon animo ; rimettiamoci intieramente 
 in Dio ; fammetti vedere lieto, come spero per la 
 medesima grazia mi vedrai lieta. 
 Ti abbraccia di cuore 
 
 La tua affezionata moglie, 
 
 Rosa Madiai. 
 
 Qucsta lettera e stata scritta dalla jNIadiai in car- 
 cere il di 7 Giugno, 1852, quando il pubblico Min- 
 istro aveva gia concluso perche fosse condannata, 
 come poi fu condannata alia pene di 4G mese di 
 Ergastolo, e il marito ai 56 mesi di casa di forza e 
 pubblici lavori. 
 
68 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 {Translation.) 
 She encourages him ; our ground of confidence in God. 
 
 My dear Madiai. — Thou knowest how I have 
 always loved thee ; how much more, then, must I 
 love thee now, that we have been together in the 
 battle of the Great King, and that we have been 
 cast down, but not vanquished. I hope that through 
 the merits of Jesus, God the Father has accepted 
 our testimony, and that He will give us grace to be 
 able to drink, even to the last drop, the bitter cup 
 which is prepared for us, and that, too, with thanks- 
 giving. 
 
 My good Madiai ; our life — what is it ? A day, 
 a day of grief ; yesterday, young ; to day, old ; but, 
 nevertheless, we can say with old Simeon — " Now 
 lettcot thou thy servant depart in peace, since our 
 eyes have seen thy salvation." 
 
 Courage, my beloved ; since we know, by the 
 Holy Ghost, that ihai Christ who was laden with re- 
 proach, trodden under foot, and despised, is our Sa- 
 viour, and by his holy light and power we find our- 
 selves set to defend his holy cross — and Christ dying 
 for us, we receiving his reproaches, that we may af- 
 terwards partake of his holy glory. Do not fear, if 
 our condemnation be severe ; God, who caused the 
 chains to fall from Peter and opened the gate of his 
 prison, will not forget even us. 
 
 Be of good courage ; let us cast ourselves en- 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. 69 
 
 tirely into the hands of God ; let me see thee joyful, 
 as I hope, through the same grace, thou wilt see me 
 joyful. With all her heart embraces thee, 
 
 Thy affectionate wife, 
 
 Rosa Madiai. 
 This letter was ^vl'itten by La Madiai, in prison, 
 June 7, 1852, when the public minister had already 
 determined that she should be condemned, as she 
 afterwards was condemned, to the penalty of 46 
 months of the Ergastolo ; and her husband to 56 
 months of Casa di forza and public works. 
 
 LETTER XVIII. 
 
 Rosa Madiai's dejection of spirits; cheered after awMle; 
 her ill health. — Maggiorani's application to the Minister 
 of Justice. — The appeal to the Court of Cassation. — 22d : 
 Hopes that a fresh trial at Lucca may be ordered. — ^24th : 
 Contrast between the Florentine rejoicings, at " the feast 
 of St. John," and the condition of the imprisoned. 
 
 Flore.vce, Jime 18, 1852. 
 My Dear L. — My last letter contained an ac- 
 count of the trial, and the very severe sentence 
 passed upon Francesco and Rosa Madiai. You must) 
 have observed that remarkable self-possession she 
 exhibited in court, and in what a truly Christian 
 spirit she wrote that beautiful letter to her husband ; 
 
70 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 she was afterwards sadly cast down, and lost pa- 
 tience for a short time. Truly we hold this treasure 
 in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of 
 God. Her kind lawyer and friend, who had power 
 to see her, succeeded in comforting her after a time, 
 and in a few days she had recovered her usual calm 
 resignation. We must remember how very weak 
 poor Rosa is in health, and what an effect continued 
 solitude has on minds — in some cases even inducing 
 insanity ; and then we must also remember how 
 very vexatious to a nervous temperament must have 
 been the constant disappointments to which she had 
 been subjected ; so that, perhaps, our wonder should 
 rather be, that she had been enabled so constantly 
 to exhibit such submission, and not only so, but 
 such an ardent desire to glorify God in her suf- 
 ferings. 
 
 On the 12th poor Rosa was very unwell, and 
 suffering from fever and nervous excitement; she 
 was told that a petition would immediately be pre- 
 sented for a commutation of the sentence, and also 
 of a notice of appeal to the Court of Cassation. Fran- 
 cesco was marvellously strengthened ; his only desire 
 was, that the will of God should be accomplished in 
 him — ^he was in perfect peace ; poor Rosa, through 
 extreme weakness of the flesh in nervous agitation, 
 did not enjoy this rest. On the 15th she had still 
 much fever and loss of appetite, but had great unity 
 of spirit with her husband. It was hoped that they 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. 71 
 
 might have the consolation of seeing some Christian 
 friends, indeed it was promised, but upon application 
 for admittance it was peremptorily refused ; I heard, 
 however, that one friend had been permitted to see 
 them occasionally. 
 
 Yesterday Maggiorani saw the minister of justice 
 for an answer to the petition for grace ; the reply 
 was very tersely given. The case must first go to 
 the Court of Cassation, and after the result of that 
 appeal was known, the petition will be considered ; 
 but without any pledge as to the nature of the reply. 
 It must take at least a month before the appeal can 
 be made, so that the prisoners are at once subjected 
 to this extension of imprisonment, with all its uncer- 
 tainties. I trust that God will, in His infinite mercy, 
 sustain and comfort them in this fresh trial. 
 
 22nd. They say now, the result of the appeal 
 cannot be known until the 21st of July ; if the iniqui- 
 tous sentence to which they have been doomed should 
 be broken, a fresh trial will take place at Lucca, and 
 there appears to be a good hope of a favorable result. 
 The Lord has sustained Francesco in uninterrupted 
 peace ; he says he has given himself up entirely into 
 the hands of God, that He may do what He ^vill with 
 him, and to Him he entirely leaves his destiny ; he 
 was glad to sufler for the Lord ; he had read, ho 
 said, that thus the Lord has always led his children 
 through persecutions, and was it not the very reli- 
 gion for which he suflered that made him so happy ? 
 
72 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 the only grief he had was to tliink of his dear wife's 
 sufferings. 
 
 * ^t * «• * 
 
 24th. To-night there will be fire- works in honor 
 of St. John,* and all will be apparently festivity and 
 joy ; and yet, in the jails of this very city, shut up in 
 close narrow cells, are some dear to Jesus, suffering 
 for His name's sake. 
 
 Yours, affectionately, D. K. 
 
 LETTER XIX. 
 
 Publication of Maggiorani's defence ; interest expressed 
 about it. — Biccliierai's speech against the Madiai pub- 
 lished. — His admissions in favor of the character of the 
 accused. 
 
 Florence, July 6, 1852. 
 My dear L. — * * Maggiorani's admirable 
 defence has been published ; it has made much stir 
 among all classes. Even the Grand Duke has read 
 it. Many quite unknown to the author have written 
 to him, complimenting him in strong and feeling 
 terms upon his able and classical defence of the 
 Madiai. Some of these letters are from the first 
 lawyers of the Tuscan bar. Landucci forbade adver- 
 tisements of it at the corners of the streets, but it 
 
 * St. John the Baptist is the Patron Saint of Florence ; 
 his festival occurs on Midsummer-day. 
 
 1 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. 73 
 
 has been advertised in all the papers except the 
 Mo?iitore, which refused to insert it. Copies have 
 been sent to various places ; I hope you will soon 
 get one. 
 
 Bicchierai has published his speech against the 
 accused. It commences with a sort of laudation of 
 the Madonna. One remarkable admission he makes, 
 " that although the Madiai's witnesses have proved 
 their natural probity^ their beneficence^ kuidness and 
 charity, that this only made him the more regret 
 their having left the Church, and did not make their 
 crime the less. What a noble testimony, from their 
 bitter persecutor, in their flivor ! 
 
 Yours, affectionately, D. K. 
 
 LETTER XX. 
 
 The case heard before the Court of Appeal. — The judges 
 apparently favorable. — August 7. The former sentence 
 confirmed. — The Leopoldine Laws set aside. — A petition 
 to the Grand Duke prepared. — The tried condition of the 
 prisoners. 
 
 Florence, July 31, 1852. 
 My dear L. — * * The Court of Appeal 
 has heard the case of the Madiai this morning. 
 Maggiorani, as usual, spoke remarkably well, and 
 was listened to ^vith the most intense interest by all 
 the court, who seemed to be much better disposed 
 7 
 
74 STORY OP THE MADIAI. 
 
 towards the accused than the former court had been; 
 and there is but little doubt now that they will find 
 for an appeal, and then the matter will be heard 
 over again at Lucca ; and most likely the court will 
 consider their past imprisonment as sufficient, and 
 ask for their discharge. Oh, what a mercy it will be, 
 should they be set free ; we must still hope in the 
 Lord. If it is His will to deliver. He will deliver ; 
 if not, He will give more grace to endure. I will not 
 send this letter until I hear the ultimate decision, so 
 farewell for the present. 
 
 August 7th. — Alas ! all our hopes have been dash- 
 ed to the ground. This morning the Supreme Court 
 rejected the appeal made to it, to set aside the sen- 
 tence pending against the Madiai. All the legal men 
 agree in opinion that this refusal to hear the case 
 over again is as usual, first, against the evidence ad~ 
 duced against the Madiai, which evidence cannot on 
 any grounds condemn them ; second, that in con- 
 firming the sentence of the first court, they, like it, 
 violate the true interpretation of the Leopoldine 
 Laws.'* This court, therefore, enforces in every par- 
 
 * The Leopoldine Laws take their name from Peter 
 Leopold, (or Leopold I.) Grand Duke of Tuscany, from 
 1765 to 1790. His reforms in the criminal and civil admin- 
 istrations of justice were alike remarkable. "In his new 
 code, the criminal section was especially bold, inasmuch as 
 it swept away at once torture, confiscation, secret trial, and 
 even the punishment of death. * * * All privi- 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. iO 
 
 ticiilar the first sentence ; so you see that no court 
 of law in this country is free and independent ; for, 
 instead of being expounders of the law, they are 
 rather interpreters of the will and wishes of the 
 government, who wish that the case of the Madiai 
 should serve as a precedent for any other similar 
 case which may come before them, so that all may 
 know what to expect. 
 
 Maggiorani has prepared another petition, which 
 will be presented immediately to the Grand Duke, 
 and it is the opinion of all that it will be granted. 
 Nevertheless, in all probability the government will 
 allow both the IMadiai to be carried to their different 
 prisons, and after keeping them there a couple of 
 
 leged jurisdictions were destroyed, and the public courts 
 fortified in their independence and authority. * * * * 
 Leopold's ecclesiastical reforms were equally daring, and 
 gave deep offence to the Papal goverament. * * * He 
 SUPPRESSED THE LvQuisiTioN ; lie imposcd severe limita- 
 tions on the profession of monks and nuns," &c. — Spalding's 
 Italy, ii. p. 307. 
 
 On the death of the Emperor, Joseph II. in 1790, his 
 brother, Peter Leopold, succeeded him as Leopold II. be- 
 stowing the Grand Duchy of Tuscany on his second son, 
 Ferdinand III. Avho was the father of the present Grand 
 Duke, Leopold II. who succeeded in 1824. 
 
 The general tenor of the Leopoldine Laws was to confer 
 on the Tuscans personal and ecclesiastical freedom of action, 
 and to render public all the proceedings of government. 
 
 Where are now the Leopoldine liberties ? Even if there 
 be pensieri liberi, parole strctte must accompany them ! 
 
76 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 weeks, will then commute their punishment into per- 
 petual exile, and thus show how tender and conside- 
 rate they are in the midst of victory. It is a question, 
 in my mind, whether either of the Madiai will be 
 able physically to bear the first shock of a removal 
 to the galleys. They will no longer believe in a 
 commutation, because their hopes have been so often 
 frustrated. But the Lord is able to help — " My grace 
 is sufficient for thee ;" and His promises are able to 
 lift them above all circumstances and pain, notwith- 
 standing that the flesh is so extremely weak through 
 long and wearisome imprisonment. Let us pray 
 that the poor Madiai may " hope in God, who raiseth 
 the dead," and rejoice in a certain resurrection. 
 When the result of the petition is known I will 
 write to you again. Maggiorani has shown himself 
 extremely kind and feeling throughout this long 
 affair. I must now close this letter. 
 
 Yours, affectionately, D. K. 
 
LETTERS FROM TLORENCE. 77 
 
 LETTER XXI. 
 
 H. M—y to N and L . 
 
 Rejection of the petition for grace.— Visit to Francesco 
 Madiai in the Murate prison ; his submission and message 
 to his wife.— Visit to Rosa in the Bargello; her suffering!; 
 her prayer.- Her removal to Lucca.— Her message to 
 her friends.— Husband and wife not allowed to meet since 
 their trial, 
 
 Florence, August 10, 1852. 
 My DEAR Friends :— The petition for grace was 
 peremptorily rejected ! This summary proceeding, 
 which allowed no opportunity for the interference of 
 the Prussian or English minister, was known to a 
 few on Monday. IVfaggiorani, their lawyer, was 
 absent at Leghorn, and did not hear of it till Tuesday, 
 when he immediately returned here. We went to^ 
 gether to the Murate prison ; Madiai was in perfect 
 peace ; he received the final blow in a spirit of holy 
 submission, and the only expression of suffering 
 was, squeezing my hand, saying, "There is need of 
 patience," but cheerfulness beamed in his counte- 
 nance, although suflering from continual physical ill- 
 ness. He also said, " The comfort and joy of th? 
 Holy Spirit never changes with me; however it may 
 be with my poor body, I am always happy ; God 
 has been with me all the time of my imprisonment, 
 and He will always be with me as long as I remam 
 7* 
 
78 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 in prison, and I am as sure that He will be with me 
 unto death." He wished to have with him a supply 
 of clean linen, &c. adding, "If permitted;" we found 
 on inquiry, that this ivas not permitted ; he instantly 
 smiled, saying, "Well, all things according to the 
 will of God." He talked beautifully about his wife, 
 and requested me to tell her that his prayer was that 
 God would go with them to their prisons, and that 
 he felt sure that God would be their companion there. 
 I have seen Christians die in perfect peace and hap- 
 piness, but I have never seen so complete a triumph 
 in the midst of life, the will in the sweetest accord- 
 ance with the Divine will, the whole man following 
 Jesus in the simplicity and gentleness of a new born 
 inflmt, and at the same time with the dignity of a 
 man ! 
 
 Afterwards we went to the Bargello : her suffer- 
 ings were great, but they speedily assumed the charac- 
 ter of Christian fortitude. She at once took leave of 
 the various topics of hopes and fears, w^hich had long 
 kept her noble spirit in painful exercise, and turned 
 to her stronghold. " Tell all, not to pray for our 
 liberation, but for that increase of fliith which may 
 enable us to suffer cheerfally." And then, before us 
 all and the attendants, she burst forth into fervent 
 prayer, especially for more faith, more love to Jesus ! 
 The doctor was in the prison at the time, she sent for 
 him ; I was much pleased with him ; and although it 
 was unusual, he said he could give her a certificate as 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. 79 
 
 to the state of her health, requiring diet diflerent 
 from that of the common prisoners, as absohitely 
 important to her life. We remained an hour Avith 
 her. ^laggiorani has fixed to go to Lucca to see that 
 everything is provided that can be permitted, and 
 perhaps I may go also. 
 
 This morning early I received a most unexpected 
 notice from one of the prison officers, that she was 
 gomg off instantly, and wished to see me. I filled a 
 small basket with tea, sugar, &c. When I arrived 
 
 at the Bargello, K very kindly let me go to her 
 
 cell. I found her meeting this trying moment most 
 nobly. She explained to me that she wanted her 
 bonnet, gown, shawl, &c. these were under the care 
 
 of W . I soon brouglit them. She asked me 
 
 to leave her for a few moments, when she quickly 
 dressed, and appeared smiling. She said, "I have 
 done nothing to my hair, for they will cut it off." 
 She sent much love to you all, and so did he, men- 
 tioning you by name ; she said with much feeling, 
 " Remember me to all the brethren, and tell them, 
 should they be called to follow us, to bear what may 
 be appointed them to suffer, but never to forsake 
 their God ! I desire not only to take up the Cross, 
 but to bear it cheerfully with abounding thanks- 
 giving. What an honor it is for such unworthy crea- 
 tures to be called to sufl'er in the Lord's cause." I 
 handed her into the carriage, and we parted under a 
 great blessing j she was attended by a female jp-iler 
 
80 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 and some gensdarmes. I can give you no account of 
 his departure to Volterra; no doubt he is gone. 
 What barbarity, thus to separate husband and wife, 
 who have never met since their trial. I can mal^e 
 no comment. 
 
 Your sincere friend, H. M y. 
 
 LETTER XXII. 
 H. E to F. D- 
 
 Rememhrances of visits to the Madiai.— Francesco almost 
 always composed and happy, resigned to the will of God : 
 his firmness in his Evangelical profession.— Agitated at a 
 false deposition against his wife ; his deep feeling for her. 
 —Left in his cell while unlocked ; effect of the stillness 
 of the prison on his nervous system.— Mass in prison on 
 Festas.— The prayers of the Madiai for their enemies.— 
 Rosa's inferior health and nervous temperament; occa- 
 sional despondency; contrition of spirit; sustained by 
 faith.— Anguish at the sufferings around her. 
 
 Folkestone, Sept. 4, 1852. 
 
 My dear Eriend, — Eindlng that Miss W- 
 
 had sent away her copy of Francesco's letter,* I 
 have again translated it for you ; it is, in my opinion, 
 a precious document now, showing in Madiai's own 
 
 * Inserted above ; Letter XIII. This letter from H. E. 
 was written in answer to an application for a copy of Fran- 
 cesco's letter, to be inserted in this series of extracts. 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. 81 
 
 simple, truthful way, his growth in grace, and in 
 the knowledge and love of his Saviour. We think 
 that you may like to have some of our well- 
 remembered conversations with our dear Madiai; 
 we may, but I do not think we do, put an undue 
 vaHie upon them. Make what use you like of the 
 information I give you; interweave parts, or all, 
 or omit it altogether in your pamphlet of extracts 
 from D. K.'s letters, as you think best; but I can- 
 not but believe, that having this mformation from 
 those who had heard such noble professions from 
 the lips of the prisoners, would give an additional 
 interest and force to the perusal of your work, 
 should it fall into the hands of the incredulous and 
 the scoffer, having had your information from those 
 whose high privilege it had been to visit these 
 noble Christians in their prisons, and who had be- 
 held with wonder and admiration the sustaining 
 power of grace and simple faith, evinced by the 
 holy submission of those dear prisoners. I will 
 write the different circumstances as I remember 
 them, without amplification or comment ; the truth, 
 the simple truth, and nothing but the truth, do I 
 communicate to you. 
 
 With one exception, we always found Fran- 
 cesco Madiai perfectly composed and happy: un- 
 moved by the hopes and fears of his friends 
 respecting his ultimate fate, he ever calmly and 
 sweetly expressed "his entire resignation to the 
 
82 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 will of God in all things." He once said, " I de- 
 sire to be as a lamb in His hands, to do with me 
 whatsoever seemeth to Him good." When some 
 one remarked, that perhaps the authorities were 
 detaining him long in prison in order to induce him 
 to recant, he answered warmly, "I abjure my faith 
 and deny my Saviour "? who, even in my bonds 
 makes me so happy ! Never ! They may do what they 
 please with this poor body of mine ; I may, perhaps, 
 die in prison, but, with God's help, I will never deny 
 Him ; and what I say for myself, I am as sure of 
 for my poor wife, who, weak and ill as she is in 
 health, is firmer than myself in faith; wxll do I 
 know this." The only time when we saw him 
 agitated and unhappy, was after having heard that 
 a false witness had deposed that his wife had, on 
 one occasion, taken from her her rosary and had 
 flung it into the Piazza ; he grieved lest any one 
 should believe that his wife was capable of com- 
 mitting so violent and unseemly an action. He used 
 sometimes to say, "I should be a stock, or a stone, 
 were I not to feel my imprisonment and separation 
 from my wife and friends; I do feel it deeply, 
 sometimes, but still God makes me so very happy, 
 that, were it not for my poor wife I should be con- 
 tent to remain here. Sometimes, indeed, the devil 
 (il Maligno) comes to tempt me to despond ; when 
 he does so I rise instantly, and rapidly walk up and 
 down my cell, repeating my psalms, and then pray- 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. 83' 
 
 ing earnestly to my Saviour for help, and soon do I 
 become calm and happier than before." 
 
 Very beautiful and very affecting was it to see 
 him sometimes with clasped hands, and up-turned 
 tearful eyes, praise and thank his merciful Saviour 
 for all his great kindness to him, a miserable sinner, 
 and then repeating with much emotion his favorite 
 116th and 51st Psalms. 
 
 One day he told us that, the lock of his cell 
 door having been broken, his jailers were consulting 
 where to place him, whilst it was being sent to be 
 repaired, as the prison was so full there was no ad* 
 jacent vacant cell ; " Leave me where I am ; were 
 every door in the prison open, I promise you ] 
 would not go out of it until I had been tried, and 1 
 had made my public confession." "And so they did 
 leave me," he said, laughingly. When his friends 
 told him that they had in vain endeavoured to ob- 
 tam leave to see him more frequently, he said, 
 smiling, " I am very grateful for all your kindness, 
 and it is a great pleasure to see you ; but still, I 
 confess, that if I had never seen any one, I am sure 
 I should have been happy, for my good Saviour is 
 ever present to comfort me." 
 
 His demeanor towards his jailors was most 
 gentle and courteous ; he was always unwilling to 
 occupy his cliair until thoy also were accommodated. 
 He sensibly felt the terrible silence and stillness of 
 his last prison, the Murate, where he passed six 
 
84 STORY OF THE MA DIAL 
 
 months in solitary confinement previous to his trial • 
 he said, " It was the silence of the tomb," no sound 
 of clock or bell reached him. He asked, as a favour, 
 to have his watch returned to him, "as a com- 
 panion ;" it was refused, and he patiently bore his 
 disappointment. The window of his cell was built 
 up, convent fashion, so as to admit light and air, 
 but to exclude all view of the outer, living world. 
 Happy as he ever was, it was painful to see his 
 physical, nervous derangement, in the twitchings of 
 the face, and the trembling of his hands ; still was 
 he more than conqueror, through Christ strengthen- 
 ing him. 
 
 It appears that on Festas, mass was performed in 
 the prison chapel ; during which the door of every 
 cell was opened half-way, so as to permit each pri- 
 soner to see the altar. When asked what he did on 
 such occasions, Madiai answered, " I retire to the 
 furthest end of my cell, and repeat my psalms, and 
 pray." During all his trials and sufferings, no 
 anger, no bitterness did he express against his per- 
 secutors. Neither Madiai, nor his wife, ever uttered 
 a word of disaffection, or of disloyalty ; on the 
 contrary, they frequently prayed for their enemies, 
 that it might please God to touch their hearts and 
 to open their eyes to the truth, before it was too late. 
 
 Poor Rosa's broken health, and highly nervous 
 and sensitive temperament, caused her to feel her 
 suffermgs and trials more acutely, and sometimes 
 
LETTERS FROM FLORENCE. 85 
 
 she temporarily gave way to despondency and fear ; 
 and deeply touching it was to witness her deep and 
 humble contrition for her occasional lack of faith. 
 " Oh, how unlike am I to St. Paul ! I ought, but do 
 not, always rejoice in tribulation^ and never to faint, 
 but the spirit is indeed willing, though the flesh is 
 very, very weak ; oh ! pray for me that my faith 
 may increase." And truly, her faith enabled her to 
 make as bold and noble a confession as did her more 
 constantly rejoicing husband. When told of her 
 husband's firmness and happy state of mind, she 
 exclaimed, " Oh ! what good tidings are these, 
 better, far better to me than would be the posses- 
 sion of any worldly good." One of her great trials 
 was in seeing the anguish and misery of her fellow- 
 captives, and being unable to aid them ; this, to her 
 compassionate and tender nature, was a grievous 
 sorrow. She was often, during the nights, roused 
 from her slumbers by the moans of newly arrived 
 prisoners, whom they were conducting to their cells; 
 and for several successive nights she was distressed 
 by the screams and violence of a female prisoner, 
 next door, who was accused of murder. Such wer* 
 some of our dear prisoners' trials; happy pri 
 soners ! — 
 
 " They wlio to the end endure 
 The Cross, shall wear the Crovs-n '" 
 
 Ever your affectionate, H. E. 
 
 8 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 
 
 From the Gazzetta dei Tribunale, Elorence, 12th 
 June, 1852. 
 EoYAL Court of Florence. 
 Camera Criminale decidente, sitting of 4th June, 
 1852. President, Counsellor of State Signor Ni- 
 coli Nervini ; Public Minister, Proc. Gen. A. 
 Bicchierai ; Counsels for the defence, A. Maggio- 
 rani and R. Tenici. 
 
 Trial of Madiai. — Impiety. 
 Not having been able to assist at the debate on 
 this interesting cause, as it was held, by request of 
 the Public Minister, with closed doors, we hasten to 
 publish the act of accusation and the sentence. 
 
 Act of Accusation. 
 The Hoyal Procurator- General to the Royal Court 
 of Florence^ deposetli : 
 That the Chamber of Accusation {Camera o?' 
 accusa.) of the Royal Court aforesaid, by a decree 
 set forth 25th November last, has ordered that 
 Francesco and Rosa Madiai, husband and wife, and 
 Pasquale Casacci, be accused of the Crime of Im- 
 piety. 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 87 
 
 In compliance with this decree, the undersigned 
 havmg examined the regular instructions compiled 
 in the tribunal of the first instance, of Florence, de- 
 clares that from the same substantially results what 
 follows : — 
 
 As regards the Madiai, there has existed here 
 for some time, and, unhappily, it has been sought 
 to propagate amongst us, a heterodox confession, 
 called " Tlie Evanorelical relimon, or relifrion of the 
 pure Gospel," which, refusing in many points the 
 Roman Catholic faith and discipline, and substitut- 
 ing private judgment concerning the knowledge 
 and mterpretation of the Scriptures for the authority 
 and traditions of the Church, im^^iously attempts to 
 displace from the minds of the believers the pure 
 and healtliful principles of Catholicism, and to put 
 in their stead false and condemned doctrines, to in- 
 crease the number of its followers, and to enlarge 
 its boundaries, to the insult and prejudice of our 
 most holy religion, and the civil ordmances on which 
 this rests. 
 
 To this confession belong Francesco and Rosa 
 Madiai; who, not content with having apostatized 
 from* Catholicism, in which they were born and 
 brought up, have even sought to disseminate and in- 
 sinuate in others their errors, without regard to age, 
 sex, or condition, and directing this wicked propa- 
 ganda against the weakest and least experienced, 
 placed, also, under their authority. 
 
88 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 It is likewise ascertained that they lent their 
 dwelling for the convenience of reunions, both for 
 religious exercises and for the instruction of the 
 members, particularly after these meetings were 
 put dowTi in other localities ; that such a reunion 
 was held on the 17th of August last, when the pub- 
 lic force discovered it, and made arrests and perqui- 
 sitions ; that at various times books, tracts, and he- 
 terodox works were deposited and kept there, and 
 afterwards distributed by decurioni ; that, at the 
 said reunions for instruction, many came, even more 
 than twenty Catholics, (not excluding children,) 
 some of whom thus imbibed and were confirmed in 
 the errors of their sect, and that the Madiais, even 
 out of this reunion, profited by every favorable occa- 
 sion to exercise proselytism, preaching and insinua- 
 ting, amongst other things, maxims contrary to the 
 sacrament of confession, to the real presence in the 
 Holy Eucharist, to the sacrifice of the Mass, to the 
 doctrine of Purgatory, to the worship of the Sacred 
 Image, to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin and 
 the Saints to the Priesthood, to the Pontificate, to 
 the observance of certain feast-days, to the forbid- 
 ding of certain food, &c. They also distributed 
 Bibles, translated, and not approved by the Church, 
 and books of prayers corresponding with the errors 
 mentioned. 
 
 Some persons declare that they refused to join, 
 in spite of repeated insistance j others, that they in- 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 89 
 
 curred the risk of falling; and one (Antonietta Mar- 
 sini, their servant,) confessed that she indeed fell 
 into error, so far as to partake twice of the Commu- 
 nion that they celebrate in commemoration of the 
 Last Supper, and to follow in some things Rosa Ma- 
 diai, who urged her to break the beads of her rosary 
 and the scapulary she had on her neck, as being ob- 
 jects of idolatry. 
 
 The Madiais confess to their apostacy, and deny 
 the proselytizing, but admit having taught the truth 
 to those who sought it from them. They are con- 
 tradicted in this by not a few witnesses. 
 
 hi consequence, Francesco, son of the late Vin- 
 cenzio Madiai, 48 years old, married, without child- 
 ren, native of Diaceto, in the prefecture of Pontas- 
 siene, livmg in Florence, a courier, and letter of lodg- 
 ings ; and 
 
 Rosa, daughter of the late Stefano Pulini, wife 
 of the said Madiai, native of Rome, living in Flo- 
 rence, aged 50 ; 
 
 Are accused of impiety, committed by the above 
 mentioned individuals in the course of last year; 
 and particularly by the Madiai, workers of a propa- 
 ganda and proselytism to the so-called Evangelical 
 Confession, or the Religion of the Pure Gospel, not 
 so much by teaching as by the distribution of books 
 and tracts, to the prejudice and insult of the Catho- 
 lic Religion predominating in the Grand Duchy ; a 
 crime foreseen and punishable by the 60th article of 
 
 8* 
 
90 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 the law of 30th November, 1786, and by judicial 
 observances. 
 
 Written at the office of the Eoyal Procurator- 
 General, at the Koyal Court of Florence, 6th De- 
 cember, 1851. 
 
 A. Becciuerai, Royal Proc. Gen. 
 
 Speech of the Puhlic Minister^ Sign. A. Bicchierai. 
 
 I have the honor of again speaking in your pre- 
 sence, in a cause grave, extraordinary, and delicate, 
 and on this account necessary to be noticed, as op- 
 portune and in its juridical position. 
 
 I should never have .believed that our office 
 would have needed to hear accusations in defence of 
 the religion of the state in this country, where every 
 memorial, every building, every institution, every 
 object of art — I would almost say, where even the 
 very stone and cement speak to the mind, and the 
 heart of all, of that august daughter of Keaven, 
 under whose wings the country and people of Tus- 
 cany have become illustrious, respected and en- 
 vied. 
 
 Still less should I have believed it, after that the 
 so-called civil progress had shown itself pending and 
 inclinhig before Her, almost to attain to that conse- 
 cration, which is alone worthy to accredit and 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 91 
 
 give strength to innovation's, and great and splendid 
 undertakings. 
 
 Still less should I have feared to recognise in the 
 enemy's ranks any sons of this same religion, after 
 the extravagances of the flinatic, Jean Souchott, af- 
 terwards passing into England, and thence to Ame- 
 rica and Switzerland; divided and subdivided into 
 many more branches and twigs, all working with 
 most impotent means to diffuse and spread abroad 
 Bibles adulterated, mutilated, or changed according 
 to their fancy, and without authorized commentaries, 
 in every spoken language, and even in Italian, per- 
 mitting every one to read, comment upon, and un- 
 derstand it according to his own private judgment, 
 or the explanations of anti-Catholic ministers. 
 
 The Romish Church has made head agamst them 
 as it could, by authority and instruction, by record- 
 ing and reviving the discipline and prohibitions of 
 the Council of Trent, and the provisions of Benedict 
 XIV. Thus did Pius VII. Leo XII. Pius VIII. and 
 more particularly Gregory XVI. in the encyclical 
 letter of 8th May, 1844, written explicitly to con- 
 demn the Society of the Christian Alliance, which 
 was instituted at New- York m 1843. 
 
 Of this encyclical letter, (referred to in Cappel 
 letti's History.) the following quotation is worthy a 
 notice : — " It is clear, and proved by a long experi- 
 ence of past times, that to draw the people from 
 fidelity and obedience to their princes, there is no 
 
92 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 method so easy as that indifference to religion which 
 the sectaries propagate under the name of religious 
 liberty. Nor do the new members of the Christian 
 Alliance deny this, for though they profess them- 
 selves averse to exciting civil seditions, they never- 
 theless confess that, by giving the multitude the 
 right of interpreting the Scriptures, and thus diffus- 
 ing among the Italians w^hat they call total liberty 
 of conscience, the political liberty of Italy will, spon- 
 taneously, arise therefrom." 
 
 These words are an anticipated comment on the 
 events of our time. Civil liberty being extended, 
 and time being given to constitutional systems, as if 
 by the consent of these, the dissenting or Protestant 
 confessions, transformed and with various titles, 
 though identical in substance, emerged from their 
 hiding-places, or poured forth from America, Swit 
 zerland and England, into Italy and Tuscany, and 
 worked hand in hand ; not so much to establish 
 themselves for the private benefit of their followers, 
 as to propagate their principles by gaining proselytes 
 even from the Catholics. And when the Italian go- 
 vernments were in the height of disorder and of 
 internal revolt, we saw this propaganda increase in 
 numbers and boldness ; for to those who studied to 
 pervert by means of religious sects, the political agi- 
 tators joined themselves, and alternately gave and 
 received help from the others; thus both parties 
 proceeded, th^ir ends not always the same, their 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 93 
 
 means also different, but producing and working the 
 same effect, doing harm to the morals and religion 
 of the State, and thus to public order, on which soci- 
 ety rests. Hence impious public preaching, which 
 you condemned in the parish-priest Barni ; hence 
 the offences against the Catholic religion and the 
 pontificate by means of the press, which you repeat- 
 edly punished both in the journals and in the printers ; 
 hence other singular acts of impiety, also repressed by 
 penal justice. 
 
 But the work most hidden, though extensive, and 
 most destructive precisely, because so hidden and 
 carried on msidiously, is that of the Heterodox sect 
 called the Evangelical Confession, or of the Pure 
 Gospel, and sometimes also called the Brethren. 
 This could not be efficaciously laid hold on, notwith- 
 standing the many cares, attempts and measures 
 adopted by government to get at it, and although it 
 was well known to be much extended in Florence 
 and in other towns, as wxll as in the country. 
 
 It was only on Sunday evening, the 17th August, 
 1851, that this was accomplished, by means of access 
 and arrests at the house of the accused, !Madiai, fol- 
 lowed up by the regular instructions which opened 
 the way to this trial. 
 
 Speaking now on this matter, and it being my 
 duty to sum up the tesults, and present them before 
 you, I must premise that of direct political elements, 
 the cause of the Madiai offers no trace. They figure 
 
94 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 in it solely for the religions element, and for the con- 
 sequences thus produced upon public order. You 
 will soon, indeed, have to know and judge another 
 affair, already passed to the stadio difensionale, in 
 which both elements are combined, and where that 
 of religion figures only as a means to political dis- 
 turbance. We cannot, however, affirm, nor do we 
 allege, that the Madiai knowingly worked as the in- 
 struments or organs of a political sect. The fleets 
 objected against them by the accusation were direct- 
 ed to themselves, and considered in their nature and 
 religious tendency; but in this end, and in these facts, 
 exists in reality the crime of attacks upon the religion 
 of the State, and it is therefore indirectly political. 
 
 This mode of expressing ourselves will clearly 
 show the spirit understood to be given, and which 
 will be maintained with regard to the accusation. 
 No ; penal justice is not so rash or foolish as to pre- 
 sume to avenge the offended Majesty of God. And 
 when we hasten to the defence of the religion of the 
 State, we consider Catholicism not as what it is in 
 itself and its relations with God, but as it regards the 
 advantages which it renders to public order and to 
 society, which entertains, venerates, and favors it as 
 a fundamental necessity of its institution. 
 
 The intrinsic dogma of the infallibility of its na- 
 ture and essence, while it does not permit one to 
 suspect that the roch will ever shake, nor that the 
 doctrine which rests upon it will diminish by one 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 95 
 
 iota, yet is not a warrant or assurance that it will be 
 permanent in our countries. This doctrme does not 
 support that idea, and history proves the contrary. 
 Therefore, the protection and defence which penal 
 justice affords is not to it nor for it, by means of it 
 to the country and to society ; and thus it is a defence 
 of the State, of its order, its existence and prosperity. 
 
 Far hence, then, be every apprehension, every 
 anxiety which — not in your minds, but in those of 
 others less experienced — might give rise to inoppor 
 tune fear or exaggerate wicked comments. The pre- 
 sent cause was not originated, nor was it fed, by 
 indiscreet and intolerant religious zeal. The criminal 
 acts of others gave rise to it, political necessity re- 
 quired it, our duty demanded it. 
 
 But not for this have we exceeded, nor shall we 
 exceed by a single line, pure legality. We venerate, 
 (and who would not do so '?) equally with any one, 
 individual liberty of conscience, as an internal sanctu- 
 ary which cannot be violated by civil authority with- 
 out the risk of disturbing the human race. 
 
 We respect religious tolerance so far as the 
 guardian laws consent thereto, so far as is compati- 
 ble with civil good order ; and this is tantamount to 
 saying, so long as tolerance exists, so long as it does 
 not degenerate into lisence or indifference, whence 
 would arise that confusion, that clashing of different 
 beliefs, which would end m the most deplorable civil 
 disorder. 
 
96 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 But what, it will be urged, are the limits marked 
 out by the laws of the country for religious tolera- 
 tion'? You, gentlemen, will fix them in the sentence. 
 We will without further delay trace them out. 
 
 The Madiai were Catholics by birth, by educa- 
 tion, and by many years' profession. They lately 
 apostatized to join the Evangelical Confession, and 
 this they professed inwardly, and also externally in 
 the private meetings of their co-religionists here in 
 Tuscany, and more particularly in Florence. 
 
 But for apostacy from Catholicism, neither the 
 accusation nor our tribunal has made nor does make 
 any reproaches. Neither is the private profession of 
 the new faith imputed to them as a crime, although 
 substantiated by an exterior act, perhaps, of some 
 notoriety; because the law Avas placed under the 
 necessity either to leave unpunished such an act, al- 
 though connected with an innovation of a bad prece- 
 dent, and therefore dangerous — or -to render illusory 
 individual liberty of conscience by hindering those ; 
 who unfortunately changed their faith from those ex- 
 ternal acts and practices, private indeed, but neces- 
 sary to satisfy the requirements of the worship em- 
 braced ; the law of the country, I say, has thought 
 it prudent and discreet to pass over the first, rather 
 than the second inconveniency. 
 
 In this they are more liberal than many Avi-iters 
 of worth, and certainly not intolerant, (such as 
 Cremani and Forte,) who, in the profession of a hete- 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 97 
 
 redox faith by one previously a Catholic, considered 
 an external act to constitute a real crime, punishable 
 by the tribunals of the State where Catholicism is pre- 
 dominant. They are likewise more condescending 
 than legislation, much more modern, particularly the 
 penal code of Sardinia of 1839, which would have 
 sanctioned the same principle in the articles 1G4 and 
 165, accordmg to what the lawyer Negroni observes, 
 in his treatise " On Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction in 
 Criminal Cases, &c." printed at Novara in 1843, 
 § 22 to 24. 
 
 Let us proceed, gentlemen, to the 6th article of 
 the law of the 5th July, 1782, and to the 6th and 
 7th articles of the other law of the 30th October, 
 1784, and from these combined, (not modified in 
 this respect, as concerns the laity, by the articles 
 agreed with Eome 25th April, 1851,) it will be easy 
 to gather that apostacy, heresy and schism, as long 
 as they are the individual defection of the Catholic 
 citizen, cannot be judged and punished in a general 
 way as real crimes ; and that the most that can be 
 done in similar cases is by admonitions and other 
 ecclesiastical recalls, and afterwards by imploring the 
 secular power as a precaution to send them into exile, 
 lest contact with the erring should corrupt the good. 
 
 In this sense must be understood Poggi's " Elem. 
 Jurisp. Crim. lib." 2 § 27, 32 and 34, where he ad- 
 mits exile against the apostate, the heretic and the 
 schismatic. 
 
 9 
 
98 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 But valuable to all are the remarks of " Carmi- 
 giani, Jur. Crim. elem. torn. 2 § 715." "It is neces- 
 sary that a Catholic prince diligently protect the 
 holy religion of our Fathers. But as we should 
 blush to speak without having the right to do so. 
 There is no appointed punishment in our constitution 
 against heretics, apostates and schismatics ; it is suffi- 
 cient, if they only exist and have been proved to be 
 obstinately attached to their errors, that they be 
 banished from the State, lest they should corrupt 
 others by their persuasions or example." 
 
 And I add, (from a complete exposition of Tus- 
 can legislation,) that the same project of our penal 
 code, now pending in examination, proceeds in arti- 
 cle 159, upon the same premises, i. e. not to admit 
 under the category of crimes simple and individual, 
 apostacy and heresy ; and there have been given the 
 reasons for this in the relative report printed a. c, 
 97 e. segg. 
 
 But though we do not prosecute the Madiai for 
 apostacy from Catholicism or their own personal 
 profession of the Evangelical Confession, we cannot 
 say the same of their acts and efforts directed to 
 spreading among others the same errors, to propa- 
 gate in a Catholic country, and to the prejudice of 
 Catholicism, this anti-Catholic confession. 
 
 When dissent in religion proceeds from personal 
 individuality, and is declared externally with a view 
 to the corruption of others, or by assuming the cha- 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 99 
 
 racter of proselytism, all -s^Titers, even the most tole- 
 rant and liberal, (except, perhaps, those who have 
 been, or are, the voice of revolution,) agree in recog- 
 nizing it as a crime. In such a case, the religion of 
 the State suffers from an attack on itself and its pro- 
 fessors ; public order is disturbed by it, and society 
 would compromise itself if it left such an act un- 
 noticed and unpunished. The individual cannot then 
 complain of restricted liberty of conscience, of inva- 
 sion of the secrets of his belief, nor of coercion on 
 his thoughts. It is not an evil of the mind, but a 
 voluntary delinquency manifested in an external act, 
 that we oppose : it is against the evil which the 
 seductive efforts would propagate, that we place a 
 barrier : it is for the defence of others that we provide. 
 
 And here really lies, and very reasonably, the 
 difference between the religion of the State and the 
 other professions which are tolerated there; since, 
 while one should and does favor the diffusion of the 
 former, (as Cremani observes, and after him, the 
 above-mentioned report supplemental to the new 
 penal code,) to the other professions is permitted its 
 private exercise to those who belong to it ; but it is 
 forbidden them to form a propaganda, or engage in 
 the work of proselytizing, as this is not necessary to 
 the maintenance and free profession of one's ovm 
 convictions and the peculiar principles of one's faith. 
 
 We will now proceed to the authorities, and be- 
 gin at the source. After the peace given to the 
 
100 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 Church by Constantine, and after the Catholic was 
 pronounced to be the religion of the State, [l. cunctos 
 popiclos cod. de suum trinil,) the Emperors Theo- 
 dosius and Valentinian, in the I. eum quis cod. de 
 apostat, thus expressed themselves: — "We find it 
 good to punish by death and confiscation of property, 
 him who by service, pers.uasion, or by constrained 
 advice, has passed from the worship of the Christian 
 religion to any of those infamous sects or rites." 
 
 " If a Jew persuades a Christian to embrace his 
 religion, he shall be proscribed, and suffer the punish- 
 ment of death." 
 
 Descending to periods less remote, we may re- 
 mark that Ferdinand, the third Medicean Grand 
 Duke, when on the 10th June, 1593, he granted the 
 well-know privileges to the Jews and others not 
 Christians, to attract them to Leghorn an^ Pisa, 
 took the precaution to declare, article 20, that " you 
 must not dare to attempt in any way to persuade 
 any Christian to join your ritual, and in case of such 
 action we desire that you be punished severely, in 
 conformity with the laivs.'''' 
 
 I omit the historical fact of the Huguenots, not 
 accepted to people the Maremme, and that of ce- 
 meteries and chapels so lately conceded to Protes- 
 tants within the Grand Duchy for their private 
 religious services, although these also prove the care 
 always taken by the Prince and Government of 
 Tuscany to defend the country from heterodox 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 101 
 
 proselytism. I return to the writer on Criminal 
 Law. Cremoni, § 15, expresses himself thus: 
 
 " The Catholic prince has always been careful 
 that those who oppose themselves to Catholicism 
 should exercise themselves in their own religion in 
 private only; and that they should do it without 
 harm, he made them embrace the abjured religion, 
 or Catholic, in public. He had a^so other rights, to 
 prevent them from being easily seduced by those 
 who are abandoned to errors. 
 
 " But if the guilty person dares to preach apos- 
 tacy among us, and does not blush to join himself 
 to a party, he shall undoubtedly undergo the pun- 
 ishment appointed by our law against other impious 
 persons, the enemies of society." 
 
 Forti admits the same principle, Istiting^ Civ. 
 art. 115: "If an unhappy creature, having had the 
 misfortune to be born in a place where the divine 
 light of the Gospel had not shed its rays, persists 
 in the error of a false belief; if others, though 
 born in the bosom of the true religion, lose their 
 way in the holy doctrine taught by the Redeemer, 
 proclaimed by the Councils, and acknowledged by 
 the Church, to enter the road to perdition, falsely 
 persuaded that this will lead him to the gates of 
 salvation ; or if he unhappily nourishes in his 
 thoughts some other abominable impiety, but, not- 
 withstanding this, respects outwardly the public 
 religion and public worship, does not outrage the 
 9* 
 
102 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 general belief, and does not seek to diffuse in others 
 his errors for the purpose of finding companions in 
 iniquity, or to become the apostle of unbelief, — 
 society cannot have recourse to those punishments 
 which refer to the external actions of man, and con- 
 sequently cannot apply to merely internal faults. 
 The law cannot exalt itself to be the supreme di- 
 rector of consciences, nor has it the right to arm 
 itself to constrain them to the true faith ; by so 
 doing, it would put itself in opposition to the 
 maxims of that same august religion that it desires 
 to protect, and far from removing impiety and er- 
 rors, and preventing public scandals, would operate, 
 perhaps, more widely to diffuse them, and would 
 occasion, by the punishment, those evils which the 
 guilt itself would not cause. 
 
 " Punishments are bat evils, to which recourse 
 must only be had in cases absolutely necessary to 
 obviate greater evils. Hence the principal faults 
 connected with religious belief, when they do not 
 degenerate into proselytism, being faults only of 
 the mind, can only be corrected by means tending 
 to enlighten the mind, instead of those directed to 
 coerce the will," &c. 
 
 And this principle is sanctioned for us in the 
 60th article of the law of 30th of November, 1786, 
 and by the existing Legislation that explains it. 
 
 Article 60. "Whoever with impious intent 
 dares to profane the divine mysteries, by violently 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 103 
 
 disturbing the sacred functions or otherwise com- 
 mitting public impiety, and whoever teaches pub- 
 licly maxims contrary to our holy religion," &c. 
 
 Here, every one will feel, three hypo^ieses are 
 contemplated : 
 
 1. The profanation or disturbance of the divine 
 mysteries (turhatio saciorum). 
 
 2. The act of public impiety. 
 
 3. Public teaching of maxims contrary to the 
 Catholic religion. 
 
 But with regard to the three categories, as well 
 as to the public it f/ inherent in the impious act of the 
 second, and the false teaching of the third case, it is 
 known how civil law, urged by the necessity of not 
 recognising defects in the law, or to supply them 
 with common right, has fixed and always observed, 
 amongst others, the following two canons : 
 
 1. That the publicity above referred to occurs 
 when the act has been directed to 7iot less than 
 three persons, although not on purpose gathered 
 together. 
 
 2. That even should publicity be absolutely 
 wanting, the crime would not therefore cease, but 
 would be punished with a less hard penalty than 
 that of forced labour, (now the Ergastolo,) as it 
 should be remembered that the 60th article of the 
 law of 17S6 does not precisely define the limits of 
 the crime against the religion of the state ; but 
 rather indicates demonstratively to what one should 
 
104 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 have recourse for the purpose of measuring the 
 imputation and the penalty ; and that for the defi- 
 nition and circumscription of the crime, one must 
 recur to ^e public right, modifying and applying 
 the penalty with the spirit of the law just quoted, 
 of 1786. 
 
 I do not cite particular authorities with which 
 all are acquainted, and which you, gentlemen, have 
 often examined and applied in the last two years. 
 The resolution in the case of Manfredini, in 1804, 
 may suffice for all. 
 
 Neither do I fear that that will be maintained 
 which was mentioned before the Council Chamber 
 by the honorable defender of the Madiai, namely, 
 that the fundamental statute of 1848, not yet abo- 
 lished at the period of the crime in question, en- 
 larging the circle of toleration, and giving liberty to 
 every belief, rendered almost imiwssible under its 
 dominion the crime of religious loroselytimn. 
 
 No: the condition of Tuscany was, in this 
 respect, under the statute what it had been before, 
 and what it has now returned to be. If the statute 
 did not declare, conformably with the law of 1st of 
 May, 1814, that the Roman Catholic and Apostolic 
 was the dominant religion, at least it called it " The 
 only religion of the State ; " and the other religions 
 are spoken of in the following terms : " The other 
 professions now existing are permitted conformably 
 with the laws." This permission, thus subordinate 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 105 
 
 conformably to the existing laws, proves evidently 
 that all the principles of law and jurisprudence, till 
 then put forth, remained in full vigour ; and it was 
 so much the more necessary to respect them, that 
 the dangers to be avoided for the religion of the 
 State were increased, by enlarging ci\al liberty, 
 and admitting all the citizens to the public em- 
 ployments. 
 
 Besides, it would be quite unreasonable to pre- 
 tend that this liberty opened the way to such great 
 and lax toleration, since every one might have said, 
 done, and preached, or at least taught in matters of 
 religion, whatever they pleased to the Catholics. 
 Knowledge of such a flict would of necessity have 
 led to latitudinarianism, and thus have cancelled the 
 fu"st words of the statute, that it was founded only 
 on Catholicism. 
 
 Too many, both here and elsewhere, have, in 
 fact, shown that they understood it in the former 
 manner, because that suited them; but this was 
 license, not liberty, not rectitude but calumny, not 
 right but crime. And one should be answerable 
 for this. 
 
 Gentlemen, I have endeavoured thus far to ex- 
 plahi, with doctrinal and reasonable deductions, all 
 that m history or right seemed to me strictly 
 necessary clearly to dispose, appreciate, and resolve 
 on the present cause. I will now come nearer the 
 case itself, and speak of Francesco and Rosa Madiai. 
 
106 STORY OP THE MADIAI. 
 
 The act of accusation, already known, dispenses 
 with the necessity of making a long exposition of 
 the elementary facts which are there collected, and 
 I believe, with truth, precision, and without ex- 
 aggeration. 
 
 The results of the trial seem to me to have 
 verified and explained them, as much as was neces- 
 sary not only for legal, but moral conviction. 
 
 I mention particularly the entire, irrefragable 
 depositions of Antonietta Marsini and Antonia 
 Zaccagnini, which are very full upon all the charges 
 brought to bear not only on Madiai, but also on 
 his wife. Their modes of deposition, the coincidence 
 between them in many circumstances, as well as in 
 other depositions and. in the documents: the fact 
 .that they could have had no interest to lie or ca- 
 lumniate, powerfully speaks iii their favor, and 
 recommend them to your justice and conscience. 
 I cannot admit any valid objections against belief 
 in their testimony. If there appear to be any, they 
 are hazarded with respect to the woman Madiai, 
 but all irrelevant, inconclusive, and not verified, nor 
 capable of being verified. These depositions suffice, 
 in my opinion, to decide in favor of the accusation. 
 
 We may, nevertheless, also take into account 
 the frequent discussions of Vecchioni, either with 
 Madiai or his wife, in which they inculcated false 
 and impious principles, intending "to turn aside 
 her also," so that for this reason she ceased to 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 107 
 
 ■work in their service. Nor must we overlook the 
 depositions of Bucciolini with regard to the wicked 
 insinuations of Madame Madiai, and the doubts of 
 the above-mentioned Marsini and Zaccagnini at an 
 unsuspected period. 
 
 We may also add, with regard to Francesco 
 Madiai, the depositions of Guiseppe Centofonti, 
 Guiseppe Cavaciocclii, Serafmo Vannini, and Enrico 
 Matterassi. 
 
 From the declarations of the witnesses above- 
 named, it is proved that the Madiai gave accom- 
 modation in their house to the Evangelical reunions, 
 not only for the exercise and confirmation of the 
 converts, but also for instruction for others, for 
 the most part Florentines of low extraction, and 
 Catholics, and also little children, who should have 
 been sustained and brought up in Catholicism. 
 That these were generally gathered together in 
 the evening, and sometimes in the day, and that a 
 certain Malan, an Evangelical minister, came there 
 to teach those initiated, but not ^yet admitted to 
 communion, and after he was banished from 
 Florence, others came in his stead and performed 
 his part. 
 
 It has been proved that in this house they re- 
 ceived, kept, and distributed, personally, and by 
 means of decurione, books and tracts of the Evan- 
 gelical sect, printed in London, Florence, or else- 
 where ; that this distribution in the town and 
 
108 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 country was not made by Macliai alone, but also 
 by his -ft^ife (as well as others,) who sometimes 
 rejoiced, at the increase of brethren, and the recent 
 success of the propaganda, compared with the pre- 
 ceding sterility. Among the said books were the 
 Bible in the Italian of Diodati, and prayer-books of 
 the Protestant sects, which were given to Zaccagnini 
 and Marsini, and sold for a small sum also to 
 Materassi and Centofanti, as well as to others not 
 known. 
 
 It has been proved that the Madiai (who had 
 hung up in a room a small print quite opposed to 
 Catholicism) did not lose opportunities to instruct 
 in, and draw to, their creed even Catholics, by ridi- 
 culing and throwing discredit on the fundamental 
 principles of the Catholic dogma, and substituting 
 others of their sect. The act of accusation sums 
 up the principal errors by them inculcated, which 
 are many and diverse. All have been proved by 
 the depositions of the witnesses, and they may also 
 be proved by tiie so-called articles of religion in 
 the said book of Protestant prayers given to Mar- 
 sini by Madame Madiai. These errors, and this 
 impiety, cannot be classed as such without the judg- 
 ment of the Church. But as they consist in the 
 elementary principles, it will be sufficient to refer, 
 as was done in the case of Barni, to the most obvious 
 and elementary opinions of the Christian doctrine, 
 as well as to the rules and discipline of the Council 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 109 
 
 o{ Trent. I will not pause to make the comparison, 
 for fear of further wearying the court, but I can 
 assure you that there is no error mentioned in the 
 act of accusation which has not been condemned by 
 a canon of the said Council, or other earlier oecu- 
 menical Councils. 
 
 It has been proved, finally, that the woman 
 Zaccagnini was much loosened from her Catholic 
 convictions by the plausible address of Madame 
 ]\Iadiai, and perhaps, also, by the benefits she 
 bestowed or procured for them from others ; and 
 ]^,Iarsini was still more disturbed, and was induced 
 by the insinuations of IMadame Madiai to dispense 
 with scapularies and rosaries, and was induced 
 twice to partake (as they say) of the communion ; 
 it signifying little that the first time she did it of 
 her own will, blinded by the corruption of her 
 mind, caused by the teaching of the said woman 
 Madiai. 
 
 In these facts, it seems to me, there is proof of 
 entire and consummate impiety, of proselytism, 
 1 which, I repeat, ought to be considered as impiety of 
 act resulting, that is, from smgle or diverse acts, in 
 which oral teaching only constitutes one part, and 
 which, therefore, will fall under the second rather 
 than under the third category (though this a matter 
 of mdifference) of crimes in the GOth article of the 
 law quoted of 1786. 
 
 Neither is it necessary to recur to the aid of the 
 
110 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 jurisprudence as far as regards publicity^ since the 
 teaching has been secretly diffused, and given or 
 procured individually, or almost individually. That 
 did not consist merely in oral teaching of anti 
 Catholic doctrines, if we duly appreciate the de 
 positions of the oft-mentioned Zaccagnini and 
 Marsini. 
 
 But leaving this, and proceeding with the crite- 
 rion of regarding proselytism as an ascertained fact, 
 resulting from many and diverse individual facts, 
 it is easy to arrive at the flict of publicity^ and not 
 only that real, actual, effectual, which would, 
 indoed, be sufficient as far as regards the natural 
 inevitable consequence of the act, but also that 
 inherent to the act itself, and thus part or portion 
 of the same. 
 
 The repeated admission to the domestic con- 
 ferences of many people, (sometimes above thirty, 
 often more than ten, latterly only, in consequence 
 of the increased risk incurred on account of the 
 greater vigilance of the Government, reduced in 
 number to four or five,) this repeated and frequent 
 admission, I say, of many people, not yet all se- 
 parated from Catholicism, but on the way to sepa- 
 ration, and to perfect or confirm themselves in the 
 evil ; the convenience and aid afforded to the dis- 
 tribution of books and tracts calculated to lead 
 astray, are facts which plainly and truly indicate 
 publicity, and which cannot be separated from this 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. Ill 
 
 without destroying them. In this sense, and with 
 these same causes, does Raffaelli understand publi- 
 city in his Nomatesia Fenale, quoted and reported 
 by Robertl Diritto Penale, torn, iv., art. 53 ; the 
 said Roberti likewise understands it in this sense, 
 and thus, also, the Sardinian penal code, cit. art. 
 164, recognising it in the dispatch or distribution of 
 books, or other printed works attacking religion, as 
 well as in public teaching or public harangues. ( V. 
 Negroni^ toe. cit. sec. 22.) 
 
 For the rest, it was public and notorious that 
 there existed a confession of the pure Gospel ; public 
 and notorious that this was directed against Catho- 
 licism, and loudly and unweariedly declared against 
 certain legislative and Government measures ; public 
 and notorious that the Madiai belonged to the said 
 confession ; finally, public and notorious (and this is 
 to the point) that they took part efficaciously and 
 heartily in the propagation of the false doctrine, in 
 the distribution of wicked books ; so that the priest 
 of their parish felt himself compelled to make a 
 report of it to the episcopal authority, to be ena- 
 bled to provide a remedy, as it treated really of 
 doctrine. Thus publicity in the sense and for the 
 requirements of the law was not wanting ; on the 
 contrary, it was great, therefore scandalous and 
 highly hurtful. 
 
 Of the guilty intention, I do not think a ques- 
 tion can arise. It is inherent in the criminal fact. 
 
112 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 Whoever works the Protestant propaganda, to the 
 prejudice of Catholicism, intends and desires that 
 this should fall, and that prevail. No one would 
 proselytize without desiring to do harm to the 
 object against which he wars. This appears clear 
 to me, and this exhausts the formal reality of the 
 crime. The analogous terms, if you choose, may ' 
 be seen in the learned observations of the " Ruota 
 Criminale," in the celebrated cause of sacrilege 
 and falsity, against the priest Borsini, concluded 
 by the decision of 14th May, 1831. — Belatore 
 Bologna. 
 
 I will not expatiate on the depositions of the wit- 
 nesses, called in favor of the Madiai, and particu- 
 larly of Hosa.* They appear to me quite irrelevant 
 to the cause. Most of them apply to a period pre- 
 vious to that in which Madame Madiai declares to 
 have decidedly and really abandoned the Catholic 
 communion, to join the Evangelical ; and all those 
 who speak of acts of respect to the articles of reli- 
 gion, to the sacraments, priests, saints, undoubtedly 
 refer to a time previous to that included in the 
 present cause. None of them, besides, relates facts 
 
 * The advocate then entered on a long argument in favor 
 of Rosa Madiai, on the plea that she had, on various occa- 
 sions, as declared by the witnesses, acted as though she had 
 still been of the Eomish church. This was done in order to 
 prove that she did not openly insult the Roman Catholic reli- 
 gion. We do not undertake to defend his line of argument. — 
 Trans. 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 113 
 
 which destroy or shake those of the accusation. That 
 to a priest and Catholic cure, conducted into their 
 house by a relation, the Madiai should even in 
 1851 show themselves as Catholics, and not tempt 
 to convert him, was but too natural, and I will say 
 necessary, as well as prudent, particularly at a time 
 when the Government operations had, in many 
 ways, and on many occasions, shown themselves 
 against the work of their sect. The same will hold 
 good with respect to what Rosa did before a person 
 who, at another time, had seen her maintain the part 
 of a good Catholic, at the bedside of an infirm and 
 dying woman. 
 
 The acts of goodness, natural probity, and bene- 
 volence, that Madame Madiai wished to urge in ar- 
 rest of judgment, may cause one to grieve more 
 over her separation from Catholicism, but cannot 
 free her from the present crime and accusation, nor 
 diminish the imputation cast upon her. 
 
 To estimate this, one must, I think, take into ac- 
 count the more aggravated evil, that the Madiai 
 were Catholics, and the greater scandal that this 
 circumstance produced and maintains, and their ob- 
 stinacy, which does not decrease, but rather gains 
 strength in the face of the special government and 
 legislative measures. 
 
 Neither do I think that after these measures, par- 
 ticularly after the law of the 25th April, 1851, and 
 the condemnation, in consequence, of Count Guicciar- 
 10* 
 
114 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 dini, of Betti and others, their co-religionists, one 
 can speak of the good faith of the Madiai, or of their 
 having any doubts as to the nature of what they 
 did cautiously and with reserve, plainly showing 
 their consciousness of not being permitted to do so. 
 Things being in this position, the case of the 
 Madiai offers, if I mistake not, all that weight of 
 criminality for which the 60th article of the law of 
 1786 desires, that such crimes be punished " with 
 the utmost rigor, and never with a less penalty than 
 of forced labor ;" which had, and still has, means to 
 apply itself to the greatest as well as to the least 
 degrees of crime. I do not propose a difference be- 
 tween the two accused, because their guilt appears 
 to me equal, considered thus in the lawful facts of 
 harm, as in the formal reality of action. 
 
 In the case of Buletti, (decided 7th August, 
 1851,) you fixed the term of imprisonment at thir- 
 teen months ; in thatofMesseri, (decided the 13th of 
 the same month,) you ordered the same punish- 
 ment for a year. But in these cases the impiety 
 consisted in single and isolated facts of contempt for 
 the sacred image ; scandalous facts, undoubtedly, but ; 
 such, however, while they show the depravity of ^ 
 mind, and irreligion of the agents, as do not so 
 easily disturb the faith of others, nor bear a hostile 
 attack on the religion of the state, being in their na- 
 ture disagreeable and repulsive. The crime of the 
 Madiai, politically considered, in itself and in the 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 115 
 
 means employed, is much graver and more hurtful 
 than those. I do not thhik I shall exaggerate, how- 
 ever, if I make my final request for one of the infe- 
 rior degrees oi" exemplary punishment. 
 
 Defence of the Accused^ by the Sign. Odvardo 
 Maggiorani. 
 
 " In matters of religion we ought to avoid the 
 use of the penal laws. It is true that these laws 
 cause fear: but since religion has its own penal 
 laws, which also cause fear, one must be conquered 
 by the other." Placed between these two, the 
 minds of men become ferocious. 
 
 Eeligion has great threatenings, and, at the same 
 time, great promises ; so that when these are pre- 
 sent to our mind, " whatever may be done by the 
 judge to make us abandon our religion, it seems as 
 though he leave us nothing if he take that away, and 
 that he takes away nothing if he leave us that."* 
 
 These solemn words of Montesquieu sum up all 
 the questions which I shall propose to you. They 
 are at the same time the conclusion and the com- 
 mencement of the weighty arguments by which I 
 desire to be able to prove to you, that society has 
 ntothing to hope from judicial inquisitions, but rather 
 
 * Montesquieu, de I'Esprit des Lois, liv. xxv. ch. 12. 
 
116 STORY OF THE MADIAI 
 
 everything to fear, if it is attempted, by means 
 of these, to arrest the progress of heterodox ideas. 
 Such proof would not be without its value. It 
 would seem to me opportune, when, for the first 
 time in these halls is sounded an accusation of pros- 
 elytism^ and the wise custom is broken which ban- 
 ished from our law the sanction of this crime. It 
 would seem to me opportune, when you and I (in- 
 deed who does not see it ?) are witnesses of the inter- 
 est taken in this judgment by the public conscience, 
 which, a short time ago, had not even a suspicion 
 that the bases of civil and religious society were un- 
 dermined, and which now stands in apprehension 
 lest the already enormous weight of our political 
 calamities, if not added to, should be aggravated by 
 a question which of itself alone, (I will not say 
 where the fault lies,) has sufficed to desolate, for 
 many centuries, the greater part of the Christian 
 world. The public mind had not foreseen this mis- 
 fortune at which to-day it feels so troubled. Not 
 long ago it openly applauded a great genius^' who, 
 treating of the political question, proclaimed that 
 Italy could never become Protestant ; and this ap- 
 plause, if it was a homage rendered to truth, should 
 have been worth, as a guarantee, that no one would 
 be hardy enough to lend a hand to the rash undertak- 
 ing. This unusual cry of the accusation fills with 
 sudden terror the ignorant city, which cannot per 
 
 * Gioberti, 3el Primato morale e civile degl' Italiani. 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 117 
 
 suade itself that its religion can have so suddenly 
 been placed in so much danger, that the disturbance 
 of a trial can be preferable to that generous and in- 
 trepid toleration which, in our public right, is almost 
 traditional. 
 
 The novelty of tlie accusation, however, the pub- 
 lic fear, the harm which is certain to arise from this 
 judgment would persuade me to discourse, at some 
 length, on the great questions summed up in the 
 words of the ancient President of the Parliament of 
 Bourdeaux. But I am not of such long standing, 
 neither is this the place to discuss that which apper- 
 tains to a merely moral order, unless it reflects di- 
 rectly on the judicial question. 
 
 To define, by its extremes, the crime of pros- 
 elytism — to inquire if these extremes are to be 
 found in the flicts objected against the accused — to 
 show the invalidity or irrelevance of these facts: 
 such is the office to which it is necessary that I con- 
 fine myself. 
 
 And I announce it to you, now : but that I may 
 propose to you an exact definition of the title^ I must 
 premise, with some considerations, which are of use 
 to separate it from what does not belong to it. You 
 and I ought to determine the crime of proselytism 
 by the guidance of our civil and penal laws: to sepa- 
 rate from this cause all that regards a different and 
 superior order, and which might easily be confused 
 in our researches. To this I confine myself, examin- 
 
118 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 ing what are the relations of these laws with reli- 
 
 'b 
 
 Liberty of conscience, the toleration of all reli- 
 gious opinions, these great fundamental principles of 
 our public right, are those which rule the question. 
 Political reasons, civil reasons* economical reasons, 
 moral or Christian reasons, all concur in guarantee- 
 ing its inviolability. 
 
 The state represents, in the political order, soci- 
 ety such as it is, in its reality, in its internal divi- 
 sions, with its intellectual and moral dissensions. 
 Its purpose is to assure to all men, whatever the 
 differences that separate them, those conditions of 
 their intellectual, moral, religious or material devel- 
 opment, which the conscience of each one has 
 judged preferable. Even the atheist, according to 
 Filangieri, has a right to social protection. Accord- 
 ing to others, to him alone may this protection bo 
 denied, because atheism is not a religious doctrine, 
 and the State need not lend it any succor : secondly, 
 every man ought to be free to profess the religion 
 which best pleases him, but one he ought to profess, 
 and there is no religion without the eternal principle 
 of God. Therefore, every religion has a right to be 
 tolerated by the state, which abandons error to the 
 fate reserved for it, that is, to be destroyed by the 
 progressive knowledge of the truth. 
 
 And that which is in the nature of the state ia 
 also for its best interests. Since sound policy re- 
 
 I 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 119 
 
 quires that men should not be provoked to violation 
 of the law, nor to martyrdom ; and whoever acts 
 otherwise, may be called as imprudent, as inhuman. 
 
 And if it is important to society that every in- 
 dividual should have a religion, what can it augur 
 from him who should be obliged to profess to 
 have one, to which his conscience cannot lend 
 itself? 
 
 More than this: material punishment inflicted 
 by the state exalts the error, and confers upon it an 
 importance which, perhaps, it has not : irritates the 
 mind, invites retaliation, and renders legitimate, in 
 some manner, civil war. 
 
 To these political reasons may be added civil 
 ones. Since the first possession of man is that of 
 the thoughts and conscience, a possession free and 
 inviolable, a faculty which cannot be coerced, upon 
 which God himself acts by the grace and light of 
 truth. " If the origin of social power should be de- 
 rived from the tacit or presumed consent of the peo- 
 ple, it is easy to prove that it could never have been 
 the intention of any man to limit personal liberty, 
 beyond what was necessary for the preservation and 
 advancement of the social condition."* Hence one 
 eould not, without invading the most sacred of pos- 
 sessions, impose on the human conscience a religion 
 istasteful to it. 
 
 ai. 
 
 * Forti, ist. civ. lib, 2 cap, 2 $ 56. 
 
120 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 In the third place, we haye economical reasons : 
 since there cannot be material prosperity in a state 
 where religious intolerance makes of a part of the 
 citizens, and sometimes the most considerable, a 
 class of persons unrecognized, denies them the bene- 
 fits of the common law, interdicts them public offi- 
 ces, degrades in them the moral sense, and clips the 
 wings of all noble aspirations. This, besides being an 
 enormous injustice, is a political error. It is an in- 
 justice, because if you except the atheist or him who 
 professes a religion of depraved morality, every dis- 
 senter may not only nourish, but constantly exercise 
 most scrupulously, the maxims of honesty and up- 
 rightness. It is a political error, because, if no one can 
 deny that religion, as an internal sanction of the 
 truth, is one of the greatest guarantees for the good 
 of society, then it is likewise certain that, considered 
 in this point of view of social utility, it satisfies 
 the civil wants of men under whatever form of wor- 
 ship, and with whatever dogmatical doctrine. True 
 it is that one ought not to participate in the errors 
 of others; but society ought not to expel others 
 from her midst because they hold different convic- 
 tions. " One ought not to hate him who errs 
 on account of the error, nor love the error on ac- 
 count of love to him who errs."* History warns us 
 how, in former times, the economical conditions Oi 
 
 * Greg. I. 43. 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 121 
 
 society were extremely deteriorated where intoler- 
 ance flourished, whereas they were wonderfully ad- 
 K'antaged where the contrary principle was carried 
 |0ut. The Republic of Venice, compared with the 
 rest of Italy, and still more strikingly with the other 
 nations at that struggling epoch, proves this truth. * 
 
 But even if all these, and many other reasons, 
 ifailed to persuade one that the principle of liberty 
 of conscience and religious toleration should be re- 
 pspected. Christian morality would yet plead for it, 
 femd the interests of religion, in the name of which 
 jprimitive justice is invoked. 
 
 " The morality of the Gospel was announced to 
 jthe nations as a law of charity. According to the 
 A-postle Paul, charity enlivens faith, and holds the 
 [irst place among the Christian virtues. This charity 
 embraces all the human race, comprehending Chris- 
 tians and infidels, righteous and sinners. The differ- 
 mce of faith does not free one from the natural 
 obligations of humanity, nor from the civil obliga- 
 tions imposed by the law, or arising from convention, 
 rhe Christian ought to hate the sm, flee from the 
 dangers to which the sinner might expose him ; but 
 cannot, by reason of the sin, cease to consider as a 
 jnaan him whom he knows to be guilty. To those 
 fw-ho err, should be given counsels, admonitions, and 
 iraternal correction ; but they cannot be put beyond 
 
 * Darn, Hist, de Venise. 
 11 
 
122 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 the law of humanity. This doctrine, derived from 
 the purest fountains, was taught even in those times 
 when practice seemed most to contradict it. Those 
 very laws which conceded unbounded lisence towards 
 the persons of the heretics, nevertheless supposed 
 that they acted without hatred or without personal 
 rancor, almost as delegates of the public authority. 
 
 * % % Human life is a time of grace and hope, 
 nor can man, who is ignorant of the mysteries of 
 Divine Providence, take upon himself to decide if 
 his brother, who lives in error, may not in time ren- 
 der the most splendid testimony to the truth. * 
 
 * ^' To punish error with temporal penalties, is 
 to anticipate Divine justice, and almost to despair 
 of truth. Persecution renders the persecuted more 
 obstinate ; gives the consolation of the affections to 
 their opinions ; cuts short the road to mature reflec- 
 tion, and multiplies the moral impediments to re- 
 pentance. Hence it appears that the practice of 
 seeking out the private opinion of individuals, and 
 making it an article of crime, is opposed to the good 
 of religion. The distinction between the internal 
 and external forum is essential not only to civil, but 
 to ecclesiastical laws." ^'' 
 
 Droz, after having said that he hopes never more 
 to see persecutions nor religious wars, and that this 
 century may not end before the work of re-union 
 
 * Forti, loc. cit. 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 123 
 
 already attempted by Bossnet is undertaken again, 
 adds : " To prepare the way for that union which 
 will fill heaven and earth with joy, let us show our- 
 selves always just, affectionate, ready to do service 
 to our deluded brethren. Much is done towards 
 the union of mind when hearts are brought near 
 together. They know not how much harm they do 
 who exaggerate Catholic principles, and thus, without 
 intending it, alter the Word of God. They terrify 
 minds which need encouragement ; their bitter lan- 
 guage drives back those who would walk towards 
 them, while the voice of charity produces effects 
 very different."* 
 
 If to these reflections you would add the authority 
 of the Church, you will find as much as you can 
 desire. 
 
 St. Gregory, in the most unhappy times of 
 Cliristianity, denominates tyrannical the punish- 
 ments inflicted on heretics, since the misfortune 
 which is a consequence of the fault seemed to him 
 sufficient punishment. He says there are evils 
 which cannot be cured by punishment, but must be 
 tolerated. And even the Apostolic Constitutions 
 contain this teaching, said to be of St. Ambrose, f 
 
 * Droz, pensieri sul cristianesimo, e prove d'ella sua 
 verita — versione italiana del padre Tauzini $ 27. 
 
 t Greg. ii. 34 ; v. 2 ; xii 24 xi. 46. Conct. ap. vi. 23. 
 Ambr. ep, 82. Greg. xiii. 2. 
 
124 STORY OF THE MA DIAL 
 
 In another place, after having inculcated that 
 Dissenters should not be driven back with violence, 
 Gregory adds, that whoever acts differently, shows 
 that he has at heart his own cause more than that of 
 God. 
 
 % * * * % 
 
 With these maxims, and to this teaching, fact 
 does not always accord. Let us cover with a black 
 veil those monuments of the ferocity which dared to 
 call itself the keeper and vindicator of the Gospel. 
 We should regulate our actions by the divine law, 
 and not by human passions; and the divine law 
 cannot be more explicit. 
 
 The Apostolic Constitutions declare that it w^as 
 forbidden to every bishop, priest, or deacon to speak 
 to the unbelievers, or to force them to change their 
 religion. Chrysostom teaches that one ought not to 
 recall Christians from error by coercion and violence, 
 because against error no other force is given to 
 Christians but that of the word ; and if this does not 
 avail, all is lost. 
 
 These are the rules of Christian morals, which 
 make liberty of conscience and religious toleration 
 a necessary, inviolable principle. Sound philosophy 
 had indicated this before the light of revelation shone 
 on the human mind. Cicero had proclaimed that 
 religion cannot be preserved by violence and fear, 
 but by those relations with wliich man binds himself 
 to God. 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 125 
 
 And conformably to these maxims \vc find the 
 Fathers of the Church to have acted. Indeed more 
 than once St. Gregory gave a safe conduct to the 
 heretics, to take away every suspicion that he wished 
 to use violence ; which proves that he had the power 
 to punish, but did not choose to make use of it. 
 And St. Ilario prayed the emperor to permit the 
 people to choose freely their masters, and bitterly 
 lamented that the church would constrain people to 
 the faith by exiles and prisons, almost accusing of 
 weakness that Christ, whose name they make a cloak 
 for their own ambition. 
 
 I will not go on seeking the many examples I 
 could adduce to prove to you that civil persecution 
 never succeeded in extirpating heresies, but rather 
 taught how they miiiht be maliciously propagated. 
 If you glance at the history of the first centuries of 
 the Christian era, down to modern times, you will 
 find sufficient to persuade you of this. From the 
 time of the Goths who, under Theodoric brought 
 Arianism among us, down to the errors of Hermes 
 and Ronge, what has not been done to extirpate 
 Anti-Catholic creeds'? Still we have never succeeded, 
 and the occasion for heresy, given by St. Paul,* has 
 now received the seal of nineteen centuries. 
 
 To one single example will I refer, to prove that 
 
 * 1 Cor. xi. 19. " For there must also be heresies among 
 you, that they which are approved may be made manifest 
 among you." 
 
 11* 
 
126 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 only with mildness and counsel it has been possible 
 in some places to obtain what processes and condem- 
 nations did not procure in the greater part of the 
 world. The blood of the Huguenots inundated, for 
 two months, in the sixteenth century, the whole of 
 Trance. Was heresy conquered? Civil war arose 
 more tremendous than ever, and in 1598 was pro- 
 mulgated the edict of Nantes, which secured to the 
 Protestants the exercise of their worship, and the 
 rights of citizens. Such was the last result of the 
 massacre that rendered memorable the fearful night 
 of St. Bartholomew. 
 
 In one place only the horrid carnage was not 
 executed. Jean Hennuyer, Bishop of Lisieux, op- 
 posed all the force of his authority and his character 
 to the royal lieutenant who communicated to him his 
 barbarous mission; and the Huguenots of Lisieux 
 were saved. And Maimbourg, in his History of 
 Galvanism, states that in this place alone were the 
 Huguenots persuaded to abandon their faith.* 
 
 Eeason, science, experience, history, all support 
 the authority of the principle of liberty of conscience 
 and religious toleration. Let not the words appear 
 idle which I have spent on these arguments; they 
 bear directly on the interests of the defence. Vattle | 
 says it is a shame to humanity that a truth of this 
 
 * Maimbourg Hist du Calvinism, liv. vi. page 355-358. 
 t Le droit des gens. liv. 1 $ 127. 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 127 
 
 nature needs to be proved. He says this, however, 
 after having clearly demonstrated it. For there is 
 no principle, be it ever so true and clear, which ought 
 not to be amply demonstrated when it is destined to 
 exert a powerful influence on the case in question. 
 
 Applying tliis principle with that system of 
 elimination which ought to lead us to circumscribe, 
 in its true terms, the idea of the crime of proselytism, 
 it is quite clear that there cannot now be question of 
 apostacy nor of heresy in the civil tribunals. Our 
 laws, indeed, which, particularly after the reform of 
 1786, were inspired by the principle of toleration of 
 the celebrated treaty of Westphalia, do not make 
 mention of these crimes. Roman, or anterior legis- 
 lation relative to these, have certainly no weight 
 with us now. The Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo, 
 who decreed punishment ^ov 2nihlic iinpiety^ excludes, 
 by omitting from the list of crimes, heresy and apos- 
 tacy, which, as they only offend against God, ought 
 to be judged and repressed by God, and not by 
 man. 
 
 Apostacy and heresy are not then among our list 
 of crimes. The principle of liberty of conscience and 
 religious toleration assures us the power of modify- 
 ing or changing our belief. The laws do not oppose 
 themselves to the free exercise of this faculty. 
 
 All this proceeds upon the foundation, that human 
 justice ought not to make itself the vindicator of out- 
 raged divinity, nor arrogate to itself the rash office of 
 
128 STORY OP THE MADIAI. 
 
 searching into the secret relations between man and 
 God. While man neglects the duties which he has 
 as a man, towards God, society cannot interfere. In- 
 stead of being an act of justice and faith, it w^ould 
 rather be one of pride and unbelief: it would be ap- 
 pearing to consider one's own strength greater than 
 the Divine power. 
 
 • But every man has also his duties as a citizen ; 
 and the same principle of liberty of conscience and 
 religious toleration which is his right, forces also an 
 obligation upon him — that of respecting in others the 
 exercise of the same right. Therefore, every time 
 that he neglects this obligation, which is altogether 
 civil, he commits a crime against society, and it is 
 then that human justice can place him under the 
 penal laws. 
 
 This, then, is what determines the action of these 
 laws: Social evil a consequence of civil guilt. 
 
 This distinction did not escape Pagan policy, and 
 much less that of the Christians. 
 
 The Republic of Rome repressed the Bacchantes 
 and the Druids, but for political and not religious 
 reasons. The Bacchantes put in danger the security 
 of the people and government, and corrupted moral- 
 ity. The dispersion of the Druids was necessary to 
 secure to Rome the dominion of Wales and Britain. 
 Cicero, Valentinian, Adrian, &c. all agree that none 
 should be condemned for profession of Christianity, 
 bui should only be interfered with when their machi- 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 129 
 
 I nations harmed the empire, or when they were guilty 
 
 1 of civil crime. 
 
 i Such likewise is the doctrine of our most cele- 
 
 ; brated authorities; Ci'emani, Nani, Poggi, &c. de- 
 
 I clare that man cannot punish those evils which offend 
 
 I God, unless they are prejudicial to public order or 
 
 I the tranquillity of the State. 
 
 I Let us now examme the crime of proselytism. 
 
 I As crimes are imputed politically, not on account 
 of their natural pravity, but for the harm they ren- 
 der to civil society, it follows that the crimes of reli- 
 gion cannot be imputed, except as contrary to social 
 
 ; order ; and therefore should be distinguished by the 
 extremes of acts politically prejudicial. 
 
 1. External action; 
 
 2. Direct intention to overthrow or suppress 
 religion ; 
 
 3. Publicity or public scandal. 
 Here it would be superfluous to bring forward 
 
 jdoctrines, for our laws could not be more clear and 
 precise. 
 
 The 60th Article of the Reform of 30th Novem- 
 ber, 1786, contains evidently all the theory that we 
 biave premised : " Whosoever with impious designs 
 iares to profane the divine mysteries, disturbing the 
 sacred functions with violence^ or otherwise commits 
 ')tLblic impiety ; and \vh.oe\er publicly teaches maxims 
 iontrary to our holy Catholic religion, towards which 
 we have always nourished, and will always maintain 
 
180 PTORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 constant our love and zeal, we wish, that as a distur- 
 ber of the order upon which society is maintained in 
 tranquility, and as an enemy to society itself, he shall 
 be punished with the greatest and most exemplary 
 rigor, nor ever with less penalty than the public 
 forced labor, for a time or for life, according to the 
 circumstances of the case." 
 
 The law thus requires that the action be per- 
 formed with guilty intention, and accompanied by 
 puhlicity. Only then can it punish, as only then it 
 recognizes in it a civil crime. 
 
 % * % * % 
 
 Thus impiety could not be imputed to him who 
 reasons of his heterodox belief, with others profess- 
 ing the same creed ; nor to him who, from zeal for 
 his own convictions, is discovered maintaining them 
 by conversing and discussing privately* with indi- 
 viduals to whom he is related by parentage or friend- 
 ship ; nor, still less, to him w^ho, questioned concern- 
 ing his belief on this or that subject of religion, 
 replies according to his own convictions, though 
 these be contrary to the Catholic faith, if this be the 
 religion of the State. 
 
 Here one must reflect : how could our laws, 
 which do rrot recognise a crime in apostacy or heresy, 
 proceed so severely against the apostates or heretics 
 as not to tolerate, that in any circumstances, or with 
 any persons, they should manifest their belief? 
 
 It is hardly worth while to consider the case in 
 
REIORT OF THE TRIAL. 131 
 
 which the dissenter makes a profession of his prin 
 ciples with his co-religionists. In those countries 
 where a religion of the State is recognized, the law 
 may hinder dissenters from the public profession of 
 their faith. That is to say, they cannot, without per- 
 mission from the authorities, erect temples, publicly 
 invite the faithful to their offices, or assume any pub- 
 lic organization whatever. But if the law consent to 
 liberty of conscience, how can it forbid them to ex- 
 ercise privately the worship of the religion to which 
 they belong 1 One must suppose in the law an in- 
 consistency or breach of fliith, which is contrary to 
 all rule. 
 
 Besides this, when the law forbids the inculcation 
 of heterodox maxims, it excludes the case of teaching 
 among persons belonging to the same communion, 
 since this would not be teaching, but worship. This, 
 then, is a case where there could be no question of 
 impiety or proselytism. 
 
 Let us imagine another case. Suppose that a 
 Calvinist is reproved by some one for not venerating 
 the saints, not fulfilling the pascal injunction,* or 
 that of fasting, not attending at the holy services ; 
 and if this reproof, made with acrimony and inso- 
 lence, provoke the Calvinist, or at least place him 
 under the necessity of expressing his convictions; the 
 law, which does not blame him for belonging to that 
 
 * That is to say, at Easter, eveiy individual Catholic 
 Calvinist is commanded to take the Eucharist translation. 
 
132 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 confession, can it in this case punish him because he 
 has diffused impious doctrines, contrary to Catholi- 
 cism '? It would be absurd. 
 
 Society, you will agree with me, tolerates all re- 
 ligions, if they are not opposed to its life and pro- 
 gress ; but in exchange for its toleration, it requires 
 that every one have a religion, which he must sin- 
 cerely profess and cultivate. Hypocrites are not less 
 prejudicial to society than are atheists; and religious 
 indifference keeps j)ace with hypocrisy and atheism. 
 Society cannot therefore permit that submission to 
 the dominant religion should push the heterodox per- 
 son so far as to make him dissimulate his own reli- 
 gion or transgress the precepts which it enjoins. 
 
 And if the hetorodox person, to whom, by chance, 
 an explanation is required of some Biblical passage, 
 or some point of doctrine or moral, reply contrary 
 to his convictions and his belief, w^ould he not be 
 guilty to society of that hypocrisy and that religious 
 indifference which is so prejudicial to it ? 
 
 All this seems to me strictly logical and natural. 
 Proselytism can neither be imputed to him who 
 communicates with his co-religionists, to him who 
 maintains his religion against attack and outrage, 
 nor to him who, being consulted, replies according to 
 the religious doctrine to which he has devoted him- 
 self. 
 
 But this is not all. The principle of liberty of 
 conscience and religious toleration, joined to the po- 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 133 
 
 litical necessity that every one have a religion which 
 he must tenaciously and sincerely observe, leads to 
 other consequences. 
 
 One cannot exact impossibilities ; and as there is 
 an impossible in physical order, so is there in moral 
 order. " The law," says Nani, " cannot require from 
 a man that which it is impossible for him to observe, 
 from the irresistible impulse which he has by nature." 
 And nature has given man a necessity to expand and 
 communicate with others. 
 
 Now religion is the life of the soul, the treasure 
 of all hope, and the supreme law of man ; all created 
 things are subordinate to this ; it watches over the 
 conscience and affections ; rewards and punishes, 
 grieves and consoles. Who can then pretend that 
 the father or friend does not desire to share with his 
 beloved ones, the benefits of that faith from which 
 alone he hopes for salvation 1 Could the father, whom 
 nature prompts to educate and assist his children, 
 without failing in the most sacred obligations, direct 
 them to a way which, in his convictions, can only 
 lead to error? How could he inculcate in his child- 
 ren an idea of God, which does not correspond with 
 that God from whom he hopes and fears everything? 
 And is it not the same if we speak of friend or con- 
 fidant 1 Since friendship unites two hearts into one, 
 and institutes relationships which nature has not 
 formed, but which she watches and seals, and, I 
 would almost say, renders more sacred and inviola- 
 12 
 
134 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 ble, because they depend solely on man's choice. 
 
 The judicial idea of the crime of proselytism can- 
 not then be enlarged ; it must rather be restricted to 
 the narrowest limits, if we would not deny that 
 which is essential to humanity, and to the interests 
 of civil society. 
 
 To require that the citizen should not join in the 
 worship of his religion with his co-religionists ; that 
 he should suffer in peace, the outrage of his religious 
 convictions, without seeking to defend them ; that he 
 should reply against his conscience by dissimulating 
 his views, or pretending opposite convictions in pre- 
 sence of those who ask counsel of him ; to require, 
 finally, that he should not love to inculcate these in 
 the minds of persons dear to him, would be to desire 
 things at once prejudicial and impossible. You would 
 suppose the law to be inconsistent or unfaithful ; you 
 would condemn society to tolerate hypocrisy and in- 
 difference, evils which are at the head of practical 
 atheism ; because the man, degraded and humiliated 
 to the necessity of imposing silence on his own con- 
 science, and externally following a faith which he 
 does not feel in heart, becomes the most formidable 
 and cunning enemy to every religious belief. You 
 would pretend to the impossible, because you would 
 seek to give the sanction of human justice greater 
 force than that of Divine justice. 
 
 In none of these cases, in which there is an exter- 
 nal profession of heterodox maxims, can the accusa- 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 135 
 
 tion of prosclytism be propounded, since that profes- 
 sion is not animated by impious designs, nor the 
 direct intention of overturning the dominant reli- 
 gion ; an impious design or intention, guilty intention 
 in fact, which science, law and jurisprudence, proclaim 
 a necessary extreme of crime. 
 
 But the guilty intention does not suffice, there 
 must also be the evil done. Here is another extreme 
 necessary, in order that the judicial idea of the crime 
 may be applied to the fact. Affectus sine effectu ne 
 impute tur. 
 
 And in order that the evil may be verified, it is 
 necessary that the means employed by the delin- 
 quent to accomplish the proposed miquity be pro- 
 portioned to the end. 
 
 I will not stay to repeat the elementary theories 
 
 of criminal right. It is a common maxim of this 
 
 science, that as from inopportune and feeble acts, 
 
 society need fear nothing, so the law may, without 
 
 danger, leave these unpunished. 
 
 ***** 
 
 In the crime of proselytism, the evil naturally 
 ought to consist in that civil offence from which soci- 
 ety suffers when its religion is subverted ; in the 
 disturbance of 2mblic order. And, in fact, our wise 
 legislator ordains that the impious man be repressed 
 only as a disturber of public order, on which society 
 rests, and its tranquility depends. * * * Well, 
 then, in order that public order be disturbed, in order 
 
136 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 that public scandal be produced, what is necessary 1 
 That the preaching or instruction be public also. 
 Without this, there is no possibility of crime. 
 
 Publicity of teaching as the means of evil, dis- 
 turbance and public scandal as an effect of the crime, 
 these are the other two extremes of prosely tism. 
 
 "If the violation of religion," says Giuliani,* "is 
 committed in secret, and leaves no permanent trace 
 behind it, even though it come by chance to the 
 knowledge of one or two citizens, pnhlicity being 
 wanting^ the political evil would vanish also. To 
 make it public (note well these words) by a trial 
 would cause more evil than advantage. Besides, to 
 penetrate the domestic walls to bring to light such 
 actions, would give a shock to public tranquility, 
 would absurdly substitute the political magistracy 
 for the pious functions of the pastors of souls, and 
 would open the way for vexation and calumny." 
 
 Publicity has always been considered an extreme 
 of the crime of religion. I say always, excepting 
 perhaps those times in which humanity was scourg- 
 ed by the impious zeal of the fanatics, and impious 
 party anger. The crime of proselytism in particu- 
 lar, cannot be conceived without this postulate. Let 
 the principle be established, that only those actions 
 can be civilly criminal which are oflences against the 
 order of the city, and the consequence naturally fol- 
 
 *Istit. di dir. Crim. lib. iv. part. 1, trat. 2, $ 1. 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 137 
 
 lows that that only can be a crime in religion which 
 is committed in a public place and in presence of the 
 congregated public. ***** 
 
 To go back to the Valentinian and Justinian codes, 
 we find that they consider publicity to exist only 
 when religious subjects afe treated of to a crowd as- 
 sembled and listening. The commentators, and the 
 well-known ^vriters of the law, Nani, Cremani, &c. 
 all prove that impiety to be considered as a civil 
 crime, must be committed in public. The absurdity 
 of considering an act public when performed in the 
 presence of three persons, is so preposterous as not 
 to need long arguments to refute it. 
 
 Let then those maxims be no more invoked, 
 which some magistrates sought to establish in the 
 beginning of this century. They were an offence 
 against the law, which you should now repair. The 
 law was in those days violated, and much more 
 would it be so at the present time, when the princi- 
 ples of liberty are receiving increasing development. 
 
 Liberty of conscience, toleration of all religions, 
 are two cardinal doctrines of our public right. The 
 penal law cannot meddle with certain questions 
 without causing a wound in society greater than that 
 which it would prevent or heal. If the crime of re- 
 ligion becomes a civil disturbance of public order, 
 human justice may interfere with this disturbance. 
 If not, Deorum injurioe diis curce* 
 
 * Tacit. Ann. i. 73 
 12* 
 
138 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 Our laws are, thank God, formed on these three 
 principles: — guilty intention, publicity, and evil. 
 These are the extremes of prosely tism : 
 
 Guilty intention, that is the direct intention to 
 overthrow the religion of the state. 
 
 Publicity of the action, because without that there 
 call arise no harm nor crime. 
 
 Evil done, an indispensable element of every 
 crime. 
 
 Let us apply these theories to fact. 
 
 In the course of my arguments I ought now to 
 examine if in the facts imputed to the Madiai there 
 exists the first extreme of the crime of proselytism, 
 guilty intention. 
 
 I could, indeed, omit this inquiry. Why go 
 back to the nature of the crime, where there is not 
 material for it? Why should I seek to discover 
 who killed Clodius, if it is proved that Clodius is not 
 dead ?* Why the delinquent, if there is no crime 1 
 The defence might be concluded without this second 
 inspection. Nevertheless, because the accusation 
 has not withheld imputations, and because it is 
 never superfluous that the defence consider even the 
 least supported hypotheses, and finally because it is 
 necessary that the order observed in the questions 
 of right should be maintained in the examination of 
 facts, I will begin by the inquiry : If the accused 
 
 * Cicero pro Milo. 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 139 
 
 ever proposed to make proselytes to their faith by 
 means of overthrowing the religion of the state. 
 
 You see them, gentlemen: There are those 
 apostles of heresy on whom the accusation, after 
 having found words to denounce them to you as 
 destructive of society, propagators of false doctrines, 
 subverters of consciences, has also invoked upon 
 them the severity of your judgment. You see them, 
 you have heard them, and you can imagine how 
 dangerous they must have been to the state. 
 
 He descended, when a youth, from the hill of 
 Casentino, where he left his flither and brothers at 
 the plough, was domestic servant for many years to 
 our patricians. Later, he travelled as courier with 
 foreign families. He thus visited many parts of 
 Europe and even America, and only from time to 
 time remained a few hours amongst us. 
 
 Her destiny has not been different. From Rome, 
 where she was born, she went as ladies' maid to 
 wealthy families in England, Belgium, and Germany. 
 She lived more than twenty years in London. Re- 
 turning to Italy, she met Madiai at Florence, having 
 kno\^'n him already on the other side the Alps. They 
 became man and wife. Her feeble health did not 
 permit her again to attempt a wandering and trou- 
 bled life. Joining her scanty savings with those of 
 her husband, they furnished a house, and let it to 
 foreigners, and particularly to the English, who from 
 the wealthy and free coasts of their island, mistress 
 
140 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 of the seas, desired our balmy air and sunny sky, 
 and who liked the ample resources which, at one 
 time, made our civil life so happy. 
 
 Thus, neither extraordinary nor common culture, 
 neither natural greatness of mind nor strength of 
 soul, neither abundance of words nor the subtleties 
 of metaphysics, neither social grade nor conspicuous 
 position, invited them to enterprises so vast and 
 perilous. Their only care was, by their industry to 
 gain the means of subsistence. The wife provided 
 for the interests of their house in Florence ; the hus- 
 band, who enjoyed good health, continued his wan- 
 dering and precarious life, the greater part of the 
 year in distant countries, he spent the least part 
 by his own fireside. 
 
 Could these persons cherish in their minds the 
 idea of overturning society ? of snatching it from its 
 belief, of throwing down the throne of Peter to 
 place in its stead that of Calvin, of destroying the 
 work of so many centuries, of changing the faith of 
 our fathers 1 Do you believe that the Madiai medi- 
 tated these things 1 
 
 But they have abandoned the religion in which 
 they were baptized ; they have confessed to belong 
 to the Evangelical communion. Thus cries the ac- 
 cusation, as if one must from this necessarily infer 
 the charge of proselytism. That the Madiai should 
 have professed the Evangelical religion, though born 
 in the bosom of the Romish Church, cannot cause 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 141 
 
 wonder, and you would not deduce from that, that 
 they arc guilty of prosely tism. 
 
 It is no wonder, I say, to any one who considers 
 their long residence in the centre of the Protestant 
 communion. And not only have they lived in the 
 cities of America, England, or Prussia. There they 
 had not their owti house nor their own family ; no 
 parents, brothers, or friends, with whom to stir 
 themselves up to the observances of their own fiith. 
 They lived in the bosom of protestant families ; they 
 shared their joys and sorrows ; they brought up, as 
 was their duty, tender children to the English faith ; 
 they must often have heard the catechism of that 
 confession ; the exercise of that fliith must always 
 have been before their eyes, great were the flxcilities 
 for cultivating that religion, less great than for re- 
 specting the precepts of their native faith. Less 
 great, I say, not because the nations were guilty of 
 intolerance, but because the rigorous exercise of 
 their worship was incompatible with the duties they 
 owed to their masters. Besides, attractions were 
 not wanting which by degrees took hold on their 
 minds. The followers of the Reform and their reli- 
 gion are not of depraved morality. These persons 
 may serve as an example, whose virtues the sus- 
 tainer of the accusation himself appreciated, so that 
 in recording them, loyal and generous as he is, he 
 was moved almost to tears, deploring more bitterly, 
 that they should be disjoined from our Church. The 
 
142 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 Evangelicals are Christians and rigid observers of 
 Christian morality ; and although they do not recog- 
 nise the authority of Rome, and disagree with some 
 points of doctrine, they profess all those principles 
 which best satisfy the human heart, and best content 
 the mind. Besides this, the quality of the persons 
 whom the accused served, most conspicuous from 
 lineage or education, must have caused their influ- 
 ence over their subordinates to have been great, 
 and in these to have commanded obedience. 
 
 No wonder then, that they turned to another 
 faith. If even all these arguments were vain and 
 insufficient, who would arrogate to himself the foolish 
 and rash pretence of searching into the secrets of 
 their conscience 1 De internis judicat Dens ! 
 
 But none can infer or conclude from this, that 
 they designed to proselytise by overthrowing the 
 dominant religion to which they paid always that 
 civil obedience which the law requires. You heard, 
 indeed, that while both the accused cultivated in 
 secret the Evangelical faith, from the time that they 
 were far from us, they abstained from making a for- 
 mal profession of it until the force of the civilta, and 
 the honest counsels of the crown introduced also in 
 Tuscany a statute of civil franchise. Then they pro- 
 fessed it, because all existing forms of worship were 
 not only tolerated, but permitted amongst us,* at 
 
 * Constitutional statute of 15th Feb. 1848. Art. 1. 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 143 
 
 which time the principle of civil liberty of conscience, 
 which was already in the spirit of our laws, was 
 also translated and consecrated in the letter. This 
 certainly is a proof of their submission to the civil 
 law. They understood that no one could oblige 
 them to believe in a certain way, but that the law 
 could hinder them from openly separating from that 
 communion to which the whole city belongs. 
 
 Many other proofs there are which exclude the 
 charge made agamst them ; and you have heard the 
 statements of many witnesses, who declare that the 
 Madiai uniformly respected their convictions, nor 
 ever spoke to them abusively of the doctrines of the 
 Romish Church.* * * * * 
 
 I must now examine the means which the Ma- 
 diai are said to have employed to effect the not small 
 undertaking of proselytism. 
 
 These may be reduced to three categories : — 
 
 1. Teaching the doctrines of the Evangelical reli- 
 gion to several individuals separately. 
 
 2. Diffusion of heterodox books. 
 
 3. Re-union or congregation of persons in the 
 
 * The advocate here entered on a long argument in favor 
 of Rosa Madiai, on the plea that on various occasions, as de- 
 clared by witnesses, she had acted as though she were still a 
 Roman Catholic ; the facts deposed having occun-ed previ- 
 ous to her conversion. The design of the advocate in bring- 
 ing forward these acts of apparent conformity, was to prove 
 that she had never openly insulted the .Catholic religion, nor 
 Bought to make proselytes by force. 
 
144 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 house of the accused, to exercise themselves in the 
 reading of these books. 
 
 Let us consider the depositions of the witnesses 
 for the prosecution. 
 
 I loudly declare that my soul revolts from de- 
 scending to their infamous ranks. They expect per- 
 haps to acquire indulgences by raising the funeral 
 pile, and lighting the fire, to scatter to the winds 
 the ashes of the victims of fanaticism ! God him- 
 self has willed that time past should not return ; and 
 there are things which could only, perhaps, be re-pro- 
 duced, if former times were to return. I must how- 
 ever name these witnesses to you, as was my duty, 
 and a painful one, to hear them. I am also sure that 
 they are not men long versed in the basest acts of 
 an ignorant and corrupt populace. We should all 
 think that human nature would not be calumniated 
 by having attributed to it the excesses and defects 
 of those who are cast forth on the streets from their 
 childhood, to grow up in idleness or beggary, father 
 of all vices. No ! I must name four women, and a 
 youth, not yet twenty. I will not enter into the 
 specialities of their depositions. It is enough to 
 touch upon them, for they must appear undeserving 
 of attention. 
 
 First, note how the greater part of these wit- 
 nesses constitute, so to speak, but one body and 
 one mind. 
 
 Enrico Materassi has heard say from Marsini, 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 145 
 
 that before dinner the ^ladhiis repeated a prayer, 
 after their own mode of thinking. lie has heard 
 sat/, from the same Marsini, that llosa ]Madiai, seek- 
 ing to convert her, took away her scapulary, and 
 broke and trod on tlie beads of her rosary. He has 
 besides heard say from Zaceaguini, who learnt it 
 from Marsini, that on all fete days, at certain hours, 
 some persons assembled in the house of the ^ladiai 
 to receive instruction in Protestantism. He has fi- 
 nally heard say from Zaceaguini, that the Madiai as- 
 sembled people in their house to read the Bible. 
 This is not all, he has also heard saij^ but this time 
 he does not recollect fix)m whom, that they had 
 books which they kept hid under the bed, between 
 the mattresses, and in the cellar. 
 
 Luisa Bucciolini has heard say from Zaceaguini, 
 that Rosa ]\Iadiai had given her a book. She has 
 heard say, from the same Zaceaguini, who had it as 
 usual from Marsini, that the Madiai had in their 
 house re-unions of Protestants, and what not. She 
 has finally heard say, and this time also from Zacea- 
 guini, that Madame ^fadiai related that Teresa Pet- 
 ruggi had been called to the tribunal, that they 
 made her swear upon Christ, and that that stupid 
 creature believed it. 
 
 Docs it not appear to you to be present at a 
 phantasmagoria, and to see going round and round, 
 alternately changing names and faces, Marsini and 
 Zaceaguini, and Zaceaguini and Marsini ? Would 
 
 13 
 
146 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 you not say that these two women are souls which 
 enter into all bodies 1 And I will also tell you that 
 I was deceived. I had thought them rather igno- 
 rant and unlearned, but it appears impossible that 
 they should need to be two servants ! You heard 
 with what copious language and knowledge they re- 
 cited their parts. Nor is Faustina Vecchioni less 
 instructed. I think she might even be called " teacher 
 of those who know." 
 
 Let us now speak of this pretended instruction. 
 Who are the disciples of those fital teachers of 
 heresy? The accusation has sought them from 
 among the known and unknown. These seven who 
 here gave proof of such animosity and hatred to tho 
 Madiai, were not sufficient. It has made to pass 
 across its disc a confused multitude, agitating in se- 
 cret, and insinuating the fearful idea of a subterrane- 
 an society. 
 
 The most odious of these pretended disciples, 
 who have here been interrogated, is a woman : — 
 Faustina Vecchioni. You must have remarked with 
 what fury, worse than hostility, she has launched 
 forth against the accused. According to her, there 
 is no occasion in which they have not, in sj)eaking, 
 committed a crime ; they have not exchanged a sin- 
 gle word with her which did not horrify her. It 
 seemed that she could not even wait for the interro- 
 gation of the judge, so great was the fury which 
 prompted her to aggravate the melancholy condition 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 147 
 
 of those unhappy people. Not only with words but 
 with gestures and glances, she sought to instil in 
 your mind her own fierce passions ; and even when 
 removed from your, sight she had gone to sit with 
 the witnesses already interrogated, she did not 
 cease her insults, more brutal than ever, — now 
 mocking the defence of the accused, now praising 
 the accusation. 
 
 What more ? So great was her animosity that 
 she even wished to bring forward facts exstraneous 
 to the cause. She could not say that the accused 
 had diffused hetorodox books. It seems that this 
 ignorance caused her great sorrow. Therefore she 
 went searching and re-searching her memory, and 
 thought it a happy chance that the thought flashed 
 across her which enabled her on this point also to 
 bring her pious contribution to the accusation. She 
 related that a certain Bargigli, living about a mile 
 out of the Porta Romana, an inn-keeper, showed her 
 in the early months of 1851, a book which had been 
 left in his shop, by some person unknown. Having 
 discovered that this book contained, as she said, a 
 confusion of the Acts of the Apostles, (she is well 
 versed in divinity! ) she counselled Bargigli to re- 
 store it to whom it belonged, as she thought it must 
 be prohibited. One of the reasons for considering 
 it such, as she has declared at this trial, was that 
 once, many years ago, she found in a cupboard of 
 Casa Pandolfiini, a heterod -)x book ! ! ! 
 
148 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 Tills grossly ignorant witness only merits your 
 contempt. The language of truth is never passion- 
 ate and hostile, but cold and impartial. Who can- 
 not keep within bounds in saying, cannot in imagin- 
 ing. What a difference between this witness and 
 the accused ! And I do not speak of him to whom 
 nature has administered more strength of mind, and 
 less sensitive feeling ; but of Rosa Madiai, whose no- 
 ble bearing may serve as an example as singular as 
 rare, frf)m that place of trial, which if it cause 
 anguish to all, does not cause humiliation or shame. 
 
 Not only is the testimony of Vecchioni unworthy 
 on account of its animosity, but also for the incon- 
 sistency of the deposition, and even for its falsity. 
 It is not my intention here to discuss the religious 
 doctrines of the Evangelical communion. I protest 
 that as I would have desired that this trial should 
 not take place, 1 will be cautious lest my words 
 should increase the risk and scandal. But how can 
 I refrain from pointing out flicts 1 
 
 And it is a flict, as Rosa Madiai affirmed, that 
 the commandments of God are as binding on Evan- 
 gelicals as on Catholics. The Evangelicals also ac- 
 cept the Bible, and all the Bible. The difference lies 
 in the interpretation, and in the value set on the 
 Pentateuch. Now, Vecchioni said that the Madiai, 
 in reading the Decalogue, restricted the command- 
 ments to eight only. Is this true ? Can it not at 
 once be recosnised as llilse'? 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 149 
 
 She related in the second place, that Rosa Ma- 
 diai denied the existence not only of Purgatory, but 
 of Paradise and Hell. Do the Evangelicals then, 
 not believe in Paradise and HelH I have only to 
 refer you to those very books used by the accusa- 
 tion to prove the heresy of their doctrmes, and \vhich 
 are in your hands. ' 
 
 In the third place, Vecchioni told you that Rosa 
 Madiai maintained that Jesus Christ did not die on 
 the cross to save our souls. But do you uphold that 
 the Madiai operated an Evangelical propaganda, or 
 an Israelite propaganda 1 If Evangelical, how could 
 she deny that doctrine which is the principal founda- 
 tion of the Reform 1 Has not INIarsini stated, having 
 been taught by the accused, that the ceremony of 
 the communion in both kinds is made by the Evan- 
 gelicals in commemoration of the last supper par- 
 taken of by Clirist Jesus before he died for us; and 
 is it not an essential doctrine of their religion that 
 our souls cannot be saved by our works, but through 
 the merits of the Redeemer ? 
 
 Lastly she has told you that the Madiai never 
 named Jesus Clirist, but always the Gospel. Sho 
 has said it so as to infer that they did not believe in 
 Him; or that they made Him subordinate to the 
 Gospel. With this understanding, she has repeated 
 it many times with that action and tone which leave 
 no doubt of the state of her own mind. Do not the 
 
 13* 
 
150 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 Evangelicals then believe in Christ 1 Do they not 
 believe in the Apostles'? This she told you also. 
 
 Now, all that is false ; you cannot give heed to it, 
 since those depositions are not ^Yorthy of belief which 
 affirm, (as Cremani teaches,) things impossible in 
 their nature, or such as, considering the condition of 
 the guilty person, and the circumstances of the case, 
 appear improbable. And the testimony, erroneous or 
 imtruthful in part, is presumed to be so in the whole, 
 though relating to separate things."^' 
 
 'V: Vc % vV ^ 
 
 But accepting for true all that she has narrated, 
 can you infer from that that Madame Madiai had a 
 school for heretical doctrines ? 
 
 Vecchioni went there to work by the day. Place 
 this vroman by the side of two dissenters; make them 
 casually meet in any place whatever — I declare to 
 you that she would accuse them of a propaganda if 
 they had only said a few words. Since, if she only 
 suspected that their belief was a little less than Cath- 
 olic, she would provoke them with the spirit of a 
 Torquemada, and would put so much of bitterness 
 with the salt of her knowledge, that they would be 
 obliged to reply, and if they reply by a single sylla- 
 ble here, they are propagandists. Oh ! it is not a 
 rare thing to make people say that which they would 
 not wish to say ! 
 
 * Eot. Flor. dec. 17th Feb. 1719, cor. Beliizzi, n. 14. 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 151 
 
 The teaching of heterodox doctrhies, made for 
 the cause of proselytism, must be distinguished from 
 academical or occasional converse. Glance at the 
 deposition of Vecchioni. She did nothing but sustain 
 objective conversations, now with one, now with the 
 other. Calvin is named — one sends him to hell, the 
 other raises him among the first. They quote Dio- 
 dati's Bible, and this, for one, is an accursed book, 
 for the other a code of religion. Is this teaching? It 
 may be : but who holds the pulpit, and who is seek- 
 ing to work a conversion 1 The witness or the ac- 
 cused? Change their places, and Vecchioni would be 
 more guilty than Madiai. 
 
 Tvcflect well on the disposition of this woman — 
 on the circumstances that I have placed before you, 
 more particularly the one last mentioned. I do not 
 doubt that you will reject the deposition of a witness, 
 invalid on account of so many defects. 
 
 The second of the seven disciples of the Madiai 
 is another servant — Antonia Zaccaguini. She also 
 desired to forge a link for the chain of the accused. 
 She has also confessed having long received generous 
 bounties from them, yet has herself ministered to 
 their sufferings. She, observe, has been three times 
 interrogated; twice by the instructing judges of the 
 process, once by you. 
 
 The first and second time she had not before her 
 eyes these unhappy beings, so that she could forget 
 she had known them. Then, frankly and quickly, (it 
 
152 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 must have been so, as the judge could not remind 
 her of what she had to depose,) she related a long 
 story, alleging herself the victim of a constant perse- 
 cution, by which the Madlai sought to draw her away 
 from the holy Catholic religion, to lead her to tliat 
 of the Gospel. Indeed, the second time, not content 
 with relating what directly concerned the subject 
 under examination, she made idtroneoiis, (and there- 
 fore invalid,) statements, and began narrating how, 
 in ascending to the hall of justice, she met a woman 
 with a baby, who besought her to have pity on 
 Madame Madiai, and how she had replied not to de- 
 sire to deceive any one, but to speak the whole truth. 
 Then she continued describing the appearance of the 
 woman, and seeking by every means to draw, not 
 only upon her, but upon all her family, the attention 
 of justice. 
 
 Now, this witness, so zealous for the prosecution, 
 and so well informed, how did she appear before you 
 in this room ? You saw her. She had hardly voice 
 to make herself heard ; she could not raise her eyes 
 to the accused, nor to you. When told to turn to 
 them, that they might hear what she with so low and 
 trembling a voice related, she seemed nailed to her 
 seat, and would have desired to turn her back upon 
 the seat of the accused. Everything revealed in 
 her, hesitation and remorse. And neither was her 
 memory propitious, because she would have remem- 
 
REPORT OF TUE TRIAL. 153 
 
 bered nothiiig \vithout the aid of the explicit .and de- 
 terminate interrogations of the counsellor. That she 
 did not contradict herself was, perhaps, from fear 
 that the court should suspect m her answers the 
 crime of false witness. 
 
 Well might the presence of the accused render 
 her vacillating and uncertain, since she was stung 
 with remorse for her atrocious ingratitude. I agree 
 that the witness must not perjure herself on account 
 of gratitude towards the accused. The counsellor 
 told this to Rosa Madiai when, in a moment of noble 
 indignation, she let fall from her lips a bitter reproof. 
 Truth, I say above all, truth and loyalty. Thus, if 
 Zaccaguini had deposed nothing but the truth, we 
 should only have to pity her that she was under the 
 pamful necessity of administering hemlock to one 
 who had fed and succored her. But she has pre- 
 tended and dissimulated much. She dissimulated 
 when she withheld the fact, tiiat if they conversed on 
 religion with her, if they had her to read the Bible 
 with them, if they read it to her, or presented her 
 with one, it was because she asked it ; because she 
 pretended to share their faith, in order that she 
 might more profitably draw forth their charity. She 
 did not, however, so dissimulate, but that you could 
 discover the truth, for, more than once, she has told 
 you that the reason she did not break away from the 
 net in which these evil people held her, was because 
 
154 STORY OF THE MADIA I. 
 
 of her interest in remaining witli them.** These 
 reiterated declarations ought to slied a clear light on 
 what she has concealed in her deposition. 
 
 See, then, the ingratitude of this witness ; ungrate- 
 ful, not for having revealed the truth, but for having 
 counterfeited it, and for having lied. And of her 
 habitual fraud and dissimulation we have ample 
 proof, so God's justice wills it, administered by 
 herself. 
 
 Zaccaguini has told you that after having re- 
 ceived from Rosa Madiai the Bible, translated by 
 Diodati, and other heterodox books, she took them 
 all to a monk, excepting one, which she burnt. 
 Nevertheless, she continued to frequent the house 
 of the Madiai, and to beg the aid of an ill-spent 
 generosity. Thus, a kiss, an embrace, a feast, often 
 cause to fall the victim of a traitor. 
 
 * She replie'3 thus to the judge, and repeated it at the 
 trial. She said she was only once present at the reading of 
 the Bible raade by the Evangelicals at the house of the 
 Madiai. and tnat — they are her own words — " She went there 
 expressly to see if they gave her something for her family, 
 because she was in need, since many times they had given 
 her something for charity; but to her, (Rosa Madia,) she 
 found the excuse that she had gone on purpose to hear the 
 Bible read." She added that once, to please Itosa Madiai, 
 *' because she often gave her six crazer, or a paul, or some- 
 thing to eat," she went to see their church. She said that 
 Tvhen the Madiai spoke to her of the Madonna and the saints, 
 according to the Evangelical doctrme, " she gave no heed to 
 tnem, but did not let them know that." 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 155 
 
 I cannot leave this witness without Le":2fin2 you 
 to meditate on one other fact to Avhich she has re- 
 ferred. She related that being once in extreme 
 need of help, she went as usual to Madame Madiai, 
 who, having kindly given her as much as she was 
 able, but not all that she needed, advised her to 
 apply to the fathers of Santa Maria Novella. Zacca- 
 guini accepted the advice, but the fathers not only 
 refused her all assistance, but expressed their re- 
 fusal with words, and in a manner, according to her, 
 far from benevolent. In many other places Zacca- 
 guini made the same attempt with the same success. 
 She then returned to Madame Madiai, and so worked 
 on her compassion by tears and entreaties that she 
 directed her to the minister of the English church, 
 with a note, as the witness declares, and the accused 
 denies. This minister, after having received her m 
 a kind manner, gave her five pauls. — See ! cries the 
 accusation, she was then in correspondence with the 
 minister of the English church, and sent him tliis 
 poor woman, the victim marked out for a wicked 
 propaganda. 
 
 Oh, tender and faithful accusation, who could 
 more than you smell out heresy from so far 1 And 
 why from the very same fact from which you draw 
 j such sinister conclusions, may I not infer that Madiai, 
 j purposely, not to distress the timorous conscience of 
 I Zaccaguini, directed her first to the priests before 
 ; she sent her to the English muiister, and that she 
 
156 STORY OF THE MA DIAL 
 
 would not have sent her to him if the others had 
 assisted her. Wouldst thou condemn her, because 
 moved to so much pity by the complaints of that 
 poor woman, who appeared, alas ! worthy of her 
 compassion ? And if thou dost insist on believing 
 that she recommended her to that minister with a 
 note, what canst thou infer from that, on accusation ? 
 Was that a crime ? And I do not ask thee if it 
 would be one for Madiai evangelical, but if it would 
 be for the most ardent Catholic 1 
 
 Let us pass to the third witness for the prosecu- 
 tion, and she also is a servant. I speak of Antoni- 
 etta Marsini. I protest that of this witness, consid- 
 ered of such interest to the accusation, and on ac- 
 count of whose illness the trial was delayed till now, 
 I will not discourse at any length. 
 
 I will first observe that this appears to be the 
 only person who by means of the Madiai has fallen 
 into religious error. I say by means of the Madiai, 
 but not even in this case is there proof of the crime 
 of proselytism ; since, to commit this crime, it is not 
 sufficient to convert a single individual, much less 
 their house servant. 
 
 Besides the Madiai are not responsible for the 
 apostacy, since all that she has related is improbable, 
 false, and therefore unworthy of attention. 
 
 She has related to you Uiat when she first went 
 to school to learn to read the Madiai forbade her 
 to take with her any of their books, or to speak of 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 157 
 
 their religious belief. If that be true, no one can 
 doubt but that the Madia used every caution to 
 guard their secret. Let us concede more ; let us 
 suppose that conscious, of disobeying the laws, they 
 wished to prevent the risk of Marsini revealing the 
 practices employed by them to draw her from the 
 Catholic faith. Well, if they were so careful of that, 
 is it conceivable that to her, so young, inexperi- 
 enced and light-minded, whom they hardly knew, 
 they should have confided the important secret of 
 the pretended society of brethren organized by tens 
 and hundreds. And what other proof has there 
 been of this pretended association, that one must at 
 once give credence to what this woman says ? It is 
 strange indeed, that the fruitful imagination which 
 created this new society to add to it the exterminat- 
 ed series of others, did not raise to the ranks of hun- 
 dreds to make it at least more extensive. 
 
 What shall we say to the other insinuation of 
 Marsini, that Rosa Madiai counselled her to break 
 the objects of Catholic worship, that is, her rosary 
 and scapulary 1 Supposing that the Evangelical Ma- 
 diai, when Marsini herself had become evangelical, 
 did tell her that these objects were signs of idolatry, 
 since their decalogue docs not permit them. Would 
 that be a crime when the witness herself had joined 
 the same religious communion ? What would we 
 say of a converted Turk who preserved his talis- 
 mans 1 
 
 • J4 
 
158 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 You will be better able to judge of the invalidity 
 of her statements by reflecting on what Rosa Madiai 
 has herself said to you, and which has been confirm- 
 ed by Maria della Lena, with regard to the fault 
 committed by Marsini, and by her cruelly turned 
 over to Madiai, namely the ceremony of the commu- 
 nion, of which she partook in the Evangelical Church. 
 Eosa Madiai told you, and Maria della Lena con- 
 firmed what she said, that far from instigating Mar- 
 sini to such a step, it was done spontaneously and to 
 the surprise and grief of her mistress. She herself 
 wished to go to the Evangelical Church attached to 
 the Prussian legation, and then in the Via de' Ser- 
 ragli : and there profiting by the moment when her 
 mistress, wrapt in her own thoughts, was withdraw- 
 ing from the altar, she went there unseen by her, and 
 to the scandal of those present. 
 
 You should also consider a circumstance only 
 brought to light two days ago, that of Marsini's 
 anger and rancor against her mistress for not per- 
 mitting an unknown youth to come into her house, 
 whom she wished to introduce there. I will say no 
 more about this. May her placid dreams not be dis- 
 turbed by the dark vision of the bed of grief, on 
 which, in prison, these, her victims imist lie ! Can 
 you not now conceive it possible, nay probable, that 
 these rancorous feelings have some connection with 
 the present accusation 1 
 
 Now we come to the examination of the deposi- 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 159 
 
 tions of the other four pretended disciples of the 
 Madiiii. 
 
 With respect to the first, Luisa Bucciolini, 1 wUl 
 premise that she cannot say that Madiai taught her 
 heterodox maxims, since she herself admits that once 
 only he spoke to her irreverently of the priest and 
 the mass. ^luch less can one from this infer the 
 crime of proselytism. " The same "svord," says 
 Filangieri, " uttered in one way, raise a certain idea, 
 uttered in another tone or with a different gesture, 
 it wakes quite an opposite idea. How often have 
 the most honest men been accused of irreligion, im- 
 piety and sedition, for some words misunderstood by 
 some stupid person, ignorant of the circumstances in 
 which they were uttered, and not distinguishing irony 
 from the truth of expression. The fires of the Inqui- 
 sition would have burnt many less, unhappy persons, 
 if there had been less faith given to the testimonies 
 against them." 
 
 Will you now remark the resemblance between 
 this deposition and that of Zaccaguini 1 You have 
 not forgotten that Zaccaguini took counsel with her 
 as to the use of the books she had requested and re- 
 ceived from the Madiai. You have not forgotten 
 that Bucciolmi has obligations, (dangerous indeed,) 
 on the gratitude of Zaccaguini for not small sums 
 and for signal bounties. You must finally have re- 
 marked, that Bucciolini, Zaccaguini, and Marsini, 
 seem almost to have lent the book to each other U 
 
160 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 learn their parts. Each one of the witnesses has re- 
 lated her own, but all from the same drama. 
 
 You Imve another proof of the darmg lies of this 
 witness. She asserts having seen frequently go into 
 the house of the Madiai, and even a few days before 
 their arrest, a man whom, from her description of 
 him, you concluded, and she agreed that it was so, 
 to be Fedele Betti. How ! Fedele Bctti, who, on 
 the 16th of May, 1851, was sent by the police for six 
 months to Ortobello, and on the 21st of the same 
 month, having obtained commutation of the penalty 
 for exile elsewhere, left Florence ; he on some days 
 near the 17th of August of the same year, was again 
 in Florence, and seen by this woman entering the 
 house of the Madiai 1 Such is the ingenuity and good 
 faith of the witnesses for the prosecution, who, wish- 
 ing to oppose the equivocal and old facts of the depo- 
 sitions for the defence, by recent certain facts, and 
 play a trick with truth, and mock the inexorable 
 logic of the calendar. 
 
 The fifth disciple, according to the accusation, is 
 Gurico Materassi, and he also comes to throw a 
 stone at the head of his pretended masters. Nephew 
 of Bucciolini, he shares with pious obedience and 
 affection, the pilot of the three women. And this is 
 little. He says more, in the declaration that he 
 frankly made, that he first refused with a species of 
 holy indignation, but afterwards requested from 
 Madiai the Bible, which that person had, he says, 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. IGl 
 
 shown him; and that he asked for it with the .sole 
 intention of consigning it to his mother. In a youth 
 not yet twenty years old, such deceit and fraud can- 
 not, it seems to me, be expiated by his determination 
 to withdraw to a cloister. Perhaps in those sacred 
 recesses, thinking by-and-by on past times, he will 
 grieve over his anger and unadvised injustice towards 
 these unhappy creatures. May he give to youths 
 the example of repentance and amendment, as he 
 now, alas ! offers them that of a precocious malignity. 
 
 But w^hat can be concluded from the substance 
 of his deposition 1 He has related that Madiai being 
 requested by him to teach him to read the French 
 language, placed under his eyes a Bible translated in 
 that tongue. He has also added the usual story 
 already explained by Zaccaguini and Bucciolini with 
 regard to the usual insults offered by Madiai to the 
 priests, monks. Virgin and saints: uniim eumclemque 
 meditatcm sermonem. Now is it credible that Madiai 
 should have held discourses of this tenor with this 
 youth who displays so much Catholic zeal, which he 
 says took place at the door of the house, when he 
 did not hold similar discourses with other people, 
 who would have placed a better construction on 
 them, and with whom he had quite another way of 
 conversing, such as Giorni, Fantoni, Simoni, and so 
 many others'? This deposition proves nothing. 
 
 As to Guiseppe Cavaciocchi, and Serafini Van- 
 nini, the two last of the seven pretended disciples, 
 14* 
 
162 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 recollect how doubtful both were ; if they affirmed 
 anything it was not without many contradictions, 
 .and you remained doubtful if they referred to the 
 written examination, or if they remembered what 
 they had said. Besides, what sort of discourses did 
 Madiai hold with Cavaciocchi and Vannini ? To one 
 he explained some principles of his religion and his 
 own opinions, as for example, the duty of not pray- 
 ing to the Virgin and saints, the too great number, 
 according to him, of churches and priests, &;c. To 
 the other he once said, if I mistake not, that the oil 
 of the light for the Madonna might have been con- 
 sumed for some other purpose. Is this the teaching 
 that can constitute the imputed crime % 
 
 But not only towards these is it pretended that 
 the Madiai exercised the teaching of heterodox doc- 
 trines ; it is said that they did so with little children. 
 And here the accusation is destroyed by what 
 Antonietta Marsini herself deposed. They were all 
 the children of Evangelical parents. And if such 
 -were the case, who can reprove the Madiai for hav- 
 ing instructed them in their religion? Can it be 
 said that they have subverted their principles, or 
 made proselytes, when the sovereign will of the 
 father of the flimily destined them to that confession ? 
 
 I think I have thus confuted one of the heads of 
 the accusation, the teaching of false doctrine. For I 
 will recall this to your minds, that to contract the 
 crime of proselytism^ it is not sufficient to have pro- 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 1G3 
 
 fessed with this or that person an ti -Catholic maxims, 
 they must have been professed with the direct inten- 
 tion of making proselytes^ and overthrowing the reli- 
 gion of the State ; they must have been professed in 
 public to crowds assembled a7id listening ; they must 
 have been sustained in public controversy, public 
 order must have been disturbed. 
 
 Nor is the other head of the accusation, namely, 
 the ditmsion of heterodox books, more established. 
 If you exclude those received by Marsini and Zacca- 
 guini, and which cannot constitute dij/'usion, since 
 they have been rather yielded by the Madiai than 
 given, and since the number is too small for them to 
 be said to be diffused, excluding these, whence can 
 you conclude the said diffusion ? 
 
 Would you conclude it from the deposition of 
 IMaterassi, to Avhom Madiai gave a Bible that he 
 might exercise himself in the French language, and 
 while they stood at the house door? lias he not 
 said that Madiai refused to give him the book when 
 he asked for it 1 Will you conclude it from the de- 
 position of the Padre Guiseppe Ricca, curate of 
 Santa Iklaria Novella, who asserts that the Madiai 
 diffused heterodox books, because he heard say so 
 from an English Catholic ivho has left Florence, and 
 whose name he does not know, and has also heard it 
 from Francesco Centofantil What authority can 
 this witness have who only deposes de audi to, and 
 who, from a single word come to his ears from two 
 
164 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 persons, hastened to denounce to the Ecclesiastical 
 Court two citizens whom he never approached, 
 though he suspected their error, to manifest towards 
 them those acts of pastoral solicitude which his ser- 
 vice enjoins on him 1 
 
 Let us, besides examine the deposition of Cento- 
 fan ti. He relates, that in 1850, having met Madiai 
 alone at the door of his house, (it is singular that 
 the accused so often chose that place for making a 
 propaganda !) the latter said to him, that he would 
 give him a book which narrated a fact that had oc- 
 curred in the Low Countries, and for w^hich book he 
 had paid three pauls, adding, that for three pauls he 
 had procured a true Gospel. He did not, however, 
 give Centofanti this book, or if he did give it him in 
 the evening, it was returned next morning without 
 being read, for the witness, more solile, did not ap- 
 pear to have his memory very clear on that point. 
 This, he says, he related to the Padre Ricca, and no 
 one else ; besides this, he does not know that the 
 Madiai diffused heterodox books. Are these com- 
 bined testimonies of any value ? 
 
 I will not return to the depositions of Marsini 
 and Zaccaguini, the invalidity of their evidence has 
 been already proved. And supposing it to be true 
 that the Madiai kept a large number in their house 
 to distribute, may it not be believed, as the accused 
 maintain, that they only gave them to their co-reli- 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 165 
 
 gionists 1 And does not this verify the diffusion 
 contemplated in the penal law of 17SG ? 
 
 Several books and evangelical works were found 
 in their house. Well ! Have not wc all, have not 
 you yourselves, more than one serious "book in your 
 house, and more than one copy of the same book 1 
 And even of this the Madiai could have offered a 
 plausible reason ; that they had been left behind by 
 foreigners who had lived in their house, and which 
 they had kept because they were evangelical, or be- 
 cause they would have needed to restore them to 
 their owners. In short, there is not one circumstance 
 capable of proving this point of the accusation. 
 
 1 will not discourse at any length on the third 
 objection of the accusation, that of re-unions held at 
 the house of the Madiai, for the purpose of reading 
 the Bible translated by Diodati. The same witness- 
 es who related this fact, could not omit one circum- 
 stance in which they all agree, viz : that these re- 
 unions were composed exclusively of individuals be- 
 longing to the Evangelical confession. And when 
 the public force, on the evening of ITth August, ex- 
 pected to surprise a re-union of propagandists^ it 
 only found there four persons : one born in the An- 
 glican faith ; two already evangelical, one for three 
 and the other for fourteen years, the fourth, a child 
 of evangelical parents, and brought up in the evan- 
 gelical confession. Could this re-union constitute 
 material for a crime 1 
 
166 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 Neither the teaching of heterodox doctrines, nor 
 the diffusion of heterodox books, nor criminal re- 
 unions, nothing is proved to justify the accusation 
 under which these unhappy people have so long suf- 
 fered. 
 
 Not teaching, because such is not the merely in- 
 dividual expression of anti-Catholic sentiments or 
 opinions, and because it is not a crime when exer- 
 cised towards those already joined to the heterodox 
 communion, or who spontaneously and deliberately 
 not wait for, but seek it ; nor when it is privately 
 exercised within the domestic walls. It is not there 
 that they can harangue an assembled croivd, excite 
 commotion or sedition among the feo'ple ; it is not 
 there that they dispute in public, to insinuate false 
 doctrines into the general mind. None of these 
 things have been done by the Madiai. 
 
 Not the diffusion of heterodox books, because 
 such is not that small distribution which has been, 
 if you choose to believe it, proved. It is not diffu- 
 sion, because the number of books distributed was 
 very few, and the mode of doing it not pvblic^ or 
 such as to disseminate false doctrine in the minds of 
 the people^ [in vulgus,) and because diffusion is not 
 a crime when it does not go beyond the circle of co- 
 religionists. 
 
 Not the re-unions, or assemblies, because the he- 
 terodox do not violate the law if, in exercising the 
 rites of a worship which the law tolerates, they re- 
 
HEPORT OF THE TRIAL. It'iT 
 
 tire into closer and private places, since no scandal^ 
 or civil disturbance, can arise therefrom ; scandal or 
 disturbance being facts which determine the judicial 
 idea of crime. 
 
 Nothing of this kind is proved ; and nothing 
 could certainly be proved by means of witnesses so 
 little worthy of attention. 
 
 But now they may rest in peace ; since it has 
 taken me so long to wake them to a sense of tardy 
 acknowldgment of error, and it will be better for 
 me " to leave behind me a sea so cruel."* I will 
 only now make a contrast between the witnesses 
 for the prosecution, and those for the defence. 
 
 The greater part of the former would have remem- 
 bered nothing, if what they had before deposed had 
 not been read to them almost word for word. I 
 have admired the patience of the coimsellor who 
 had to interrogate them in their own words, and to 
 awake, with studious care, their weary memories on 
 all the particulars of their depositions. But I have 
 also admired the supreme justice of God, when I 
 saw those accusers, who were so bold when alone in 
 the room of the judge, placed, to-day, face to flice 
 with the accused, lose almost their tongue and voice, 
 pale, hesitating, deaf, forgetful and stupid. 
 
 On the contrarv, how did the witnesses for the 
 defence appear before you ? Have they feared your 
 
 1* "Di lasciar dietro a me mar si crudele." — Dante, Purga- 
 torio. c. 1. 
 
168 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 interrogations ? Have they ever contradicted them- 
 selves ? Did they not plainly speak the simple lan- 
 guage of truth ? And how much are they not supe- 
 rior to their adversaries for faith, customs, gravity, 
 and esteem ? In which do you see the integrity of 
 face, honesty, as our wise men understood it. 
 
 I now conclude my not short discourse. I pre- 
 mised it with the words of one of the most celebrated 
 writers, that the penal law can ill pretend to judge 
 in questions of religion ; and I have sought to deter- 
 mine when the civil power could wisely and legiti- 
 mately interfere. In this disquisition I have seen 
 fit to speak of the great principle of religious tolerar 
 tion and liberty of conscience. The most splendid 
 authorities, called to the aid of reason, must have 
 persuaded you (and surely, there was not need of 
 so much) that this being a principle, as it is, of our 
 political constitution, is also sacred and inviolable 
 for the interests of all times and all societies. 
 
 Then, only, I told you, can human law meddle 
 with religious questions, when it is necessary to 
 guarantee the free and full exercise of that right 
 which is a civil right ; to restrain the abuse of it ; 
 to prevent others from making arms wherewith to 
 disturb society ; to restore it if disturbed. 
 
 Thus establishing the generic idea of the crime of 
 religion civilly punishable. I have delineated the 
 specific idea of the crime of proselytism, and have 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL 1G9 
 
 spoken of the guilttj intention^ the evil done, and the 
 puhlicity. 
 
 I have examined the flicts, and found that there 
 are no proofs of the existence of these. 
 
 Not guilUj intention, because a thousand facts 
 adduced for the defence prove the habitual respect 
 of the accused for the convictions of others, and be- 
 cause the facts brought forward for the prosecution 
 are inconclusive and equivocal. 
 
 Not evil done, because no conscience has been 
 subverted, no apprehension was caused before this 
 trial came on, no disturbance has happened in the 
 city. 
 
 Not publicitf/, because the accused have not 
 preached from the pulpit, have not disputed in the 
 cathedrals, have not harangued the crowds, nor dif- 
 fused books in the public road. They exercised their 
 faith in private meetings, in secluded places, and 
 amongst persons already connected with their com- 
 munion. 
 
 I have thus finished the defence. I have shown 
 you the innocence of those tried. It now remains 
 for you to pronounce their acquittal. 
 
 I have been told that the times are grave and 
 suspicious. The pious counsel has also insinuated 
 that I ought to abstain from defending two unbeliev- 
 ers. I declare to you that I shrunk from the base 
 insinuation. Even if I should have run some risk I 
 would have repelled it. The sacred office of the de- 
 
170 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 fence, the shield of my conscience, and the force of 
 truth, would have rendered me fearless. But I re- 
 plied with a protest, which 1 felt was due to all the 
 order of the court. 
 
 The times are grave and threatening, if you will. 
 Within here governments do not change, political 
 faith is not cancelled. The magistracy consults the 
 laws and its own conscience ; it judges, not governs; 
 it moderates passions, not seconds them. I do not 
 fear for those whom I recommend to you, much 
 less do I fear for myself Indeed, I think that hav- 
 ing defended them makes me worthy of your con- 
 sideration. 
 
 For I did not come to implore your indulgence 
 for the thief or murderer, who, nevertheless, have a 
 right to be defended. I came to confute a vain and 
 unjust accusation : an accusation that dares approach 
 the sanctuary of the conscience, the relations of man 
 with God, the solution of the most tremendous 
 problem which is reserved for us after life. I came 
 to protect two pious, upright and honest persons, if 
 there ever was any ; pious, upright, and honest, by 
 the confession of those who have most studiously la- 
 bored to bring charges against them. 
 
 I defended them with that fidelity for which I 
 pride myself, and which at the beginning of this 
 grave trial, the President was pleased to remind me: 
 a fidelity which, as it ought to be a measure of the 
 
REPORT OF THE TRIAL. 171 
 
 liberty of defenders, so ought to be measure of your 
 sovereignty, magistrates. 
 
 I defended them with the full confidence which 
 the conviction of their innocence inspired ; and it is 
 pleasing to me to repeat to them publicly the hom- 
 age of my esteem and affection, now that, my office 
 finished, I recommend them to your justice. 
 
 I feel sure you will fulfil my wishes. For with- 
 in these precincts we have one only banner, one only 
 end in our debates : for you, as for us, condemnations 
 are defeats, acquittals are victories. 
 
 THE SENTENCE. 
 
 Sentence against Francesco, son of the late 
 Vicenzio Madiai, and Rosa, his wife, accused of 
 impiety. 
 
 The decree of this Court, of 25th November, 
 1851, having been examined, and likewise the act of 
 accusation of the same year, the witnesses having 
 been heard in a public discussion, the public minis- 
 ter having summed up, and Odvardo Maggiorani, 
 counsel for the Madiai, with the accused themselves, 
 liaving been last heard, the results of the discussion 
 seem to be the following : — 
 
 That Francesco and Rosa ^Madiai, born and 
 brought up in Catholicism, separated from it four 
 or five years back, to embrace the religion called 
 
172 STORY OF THE MADIA I. 
 
 by them Evangelical, or religion of the pure Gospel. 
 
 That they lent their house for reunions, and 
 when the teacher who generally presided at these 
 was banished from Tuscany, and by means of the 
 police this sect was broken up, and the number of 
 those who assembled at the house of the Madiai 
 much diminished ; the meetings, nevertheless, still 
 continued, and one was held on the 17th August, 
 1851, when the public force surprised three indivi- 
 duals there, who, together with a child of fifteen, 
 w^hom the Madiai had lodged in their house for a 
 short time, were occupied in reading the Bible, 
 translated by Diodati, each one having a copy under 
 his eye. 
 
 That in the house of the said Madiai were, not 
 only many copies of the said Bible, and others in 
 the English language, and books of prayers for the 
 use of the heterodox, but besides, various works of 
 the same nature, and even many copies of each. 
 
 That Francesco Madiai, profiting by the oppor- 
 tunity of teaching the French language to a lad of 
 sixteen, labored, though without effect, to detach 
 him from the Catholic faith, seeking to persuade 
 him that it was false, and offering him, together with 
 his wife, a prohibited copy of the Bible in French 
 and Italian. 
 
 That, also, with others, Francesco held language 
 insinuating that the so-called " Evangelical " religion 
 merited preference to the Catholic belief. 
 
THE SENTENCE. 173 
 
 That with two women who served the Madiai, 
 and a third who lived with them about eight months, 
 from December, 1850, they displayed the intention 
 of leading them to abjure Catholicism, and embrace 
 the Pure Gospel, holding with all, readings and dis- 
 courses tending to throw discredit on the clergy, and 
 the doctrines taught by them, particularly on purga- 
 tory, denying its existence ; upon the holy sacrifice 
 of the mass, declaring it an invention of the priests, 
 and impugning the real presence in the consecrated 
 host; upon the intercession of the blessed Virgin 
 Mary and the saints, declaring it impossible, and 
 dishonoring to God ; upon the authority of the high 
 pontiff, denying his power; upon the observance of 
 other festivals than Sunday; and upon the mortifica- 
 tion, consistintT in abstaining: from certain kinds of 
 food, declaring it an invention of sinful men ; upon 
 the sacrament of communion, and upon sacramental 
 confession, declaring the first misunderstood and 
 wrongly administered, because it is not true the 
 chancrinor of the bread and wine, and because the 
 wine ought not to be denied to the laity ; and re- 
 proving the second, because made to man and not 
 to God. 
 
 That with one of these women, older than the 
 others, who generally maintained the discussion 
 upon such matters, their attempts were of no effect. 
 That with the younger, needy and very ignorant, 
 aided with pecuniary assistance, and by continued 
 15* 
 
174 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 instruction, together with books adapted to their in- 
 tentions, the result was serious doubts upon the true 
 faith. That with the third, little more than twenty 
 years of age, and removed from all religious instruc- 
 tion, they succeeded in making her abandon the true 
 religion, to adopt that professed by her masters. 
 That the Madiai also gave themselves the trouble of 
 teaching her to read, that she might be able to under- 
 stand the books which they afterwards supplied, 
 namely, the Bible, translated by Diodati ; and another, 
 entitled " Book of Common Prayer," printed in 
 London, in 1848, by the "Society for the Promo- 
 tion of Christian Knowledge," in which are found 
 those maxims and doctrines condemned by the Cath- 
 olic Church, which the Madiai had verbally taught, 
 particularly that the existence of purgatory and the 
 worship of images are foolish inventions, that in the 
 sacrament of the eucharist there is not any transub- 
 stantiation, and other similar notorious heretical 
 depravities above mentioned. 
 
 That the same young woman, admitted to the 
 reading of the Bible, which they did together, com- 
 menting on it in the way already mentioned, aban- 
 doned the practice of the Catholic worship, and to 
 obey the injunctions of Madame Madiai, who accused 
 her of idolatry, she left off using the rosaries which 
 she possessed, partook twice (being conducted to the 
 place by Madame Madiai,) of the communion made 
 by them, in commemoration of the last supper, and 
 
THE SENTENCE. 175 
 
 did not awake from her error till reconducted to 
 her paternal house for a few days, and carrying with 
 her the Italian Bible ; this being found, caused the 
 discovery of her wanderings. 
 
 That the Madiai denying that sectarian meet- 
 ini{s were held at their house, acknowledije that a 
 few friends there met together to attend to the prac- 
 tices of the newly-embraced religion, and declare the 
 apostasy of the young woman in their service to 
 have been made spontaneously by her, and not in 
 consequence of their insinuations. 
 
 That notwithstanding this, neither their opposi- 
 tion nor the witnesses brought forward, have suc- 
 ceeded in destroying the facts objected against them 
 in the accusation. 
 
 That Francesco has suffered imprisonment for 
 the present procedure, from the 17th August 1851, 
 and Rosa Madiai from the 27th of the same month 
 and year. 
 
 Whereas, with regard to the Madiai, accused of 
 impiety committed by means of proselytism, it ap- 
 peared foreign to the question all that referred to 
 liberty of conscience and religious toleration, because 
 the first is not offended when the citizens are com- 
 manded to render an account merely of external 
 acts, and the latter is guarded, not trampled upon, 
 when it seeks to hinder others from beinsj seduced 
 to abandon the religion they profess. 
 
 Whereas, precisely for this, the penal laws, agree- 
 
176 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 ably with the declarations of the clearest writers, 
 recognise in proselytism a crime civilly imputable. 
 
 Whereas, resulting from the preceding facts, it 
 is undeniable that the Madiai labored on many dif- 
 ferent occasions, and even with success, to make 
 proselytes to the religion newly embraced by them, 
 it only remained to be considered whether in such a 
 fact existed the extremes required by the 60th Art. 
 of the law of 30th November, 1786, for the appli- 
 cation of its penal ratification. 
 
 Whereas, the extreme of guilty intention in such 
 a crime occurs whenever the intention of the agent 
 is directed to increase the ranks of dissenting sects, 
 to the prejudice of the religion of the state, and that 
 of evil done according to the facts now established 
 in our jurisprudence, it is certified that these acts, 
 though not committed in public places, have been 
 done in the presence of many persons, and are exten- 
 sively propagated, and engendered a grave scandal. 
 
 It is declared evident that impiety was committed 
 Iby Francesco and Rosa Madiai by means of prose- 
 lytism to the so-called Evangelical confession, or re- 
 ligion of the pure Gospel, to the prejudice of the 
 Catholic religion, predominant in the Grand Duchy, 
 in the time and way above mentioned. 
 
 And whereas the crime of impiety, by means of 
 proselytism, is manifestly contemplated by the 60th 
 article of the law of the country of 30th November, 
 1786, and is repressed never with less than most 
 
THE SENTENCE. 177 
 
 exemplary punishment ; of which, all the circum- 
 stances of the case being considered, it appears that 
 the second degree is proportioned to the delinquency, 
 represented in virtue of successive laws, by the na- 
 ture and amount of penalty afterwards mentioned. 
 
 Whereas the deductions of the defence have all 
 been replied to by the previous proposition of facts 
 and consideration of right. 
 
 The following articles having been examined; 
 the GOth of the law of 30th November, 1786 ; 1, 4, 
 9, 14 of the Decree of 4th March, 1849, confirmed 
 by the other of 5th ^lay following, and 34 and 35 
 of the police regulations of 22d November, 1849, 
 and 55 of the above-mentioned law of 30th Novem- 
 ber, 17SG, d:c. 
 
 Francesco, son of the late Vincenzio Madiai, and 
 Rosa, his wife, are condemned, the former to the 
 punishment of 56 months' seclusion in the prison of 
 forced labor at Volterra, and the latter to 45 months 
 of Ergastolo (the female galleys) calculated in the 
 one case from the 26th of November, 1851, and in 
 the other from the 27th of the same month and year ; 
 they are likewise condemned to pay the expenses of 
 the trial, and made subject to the surveillance of the 
 Police for three years after the completion of their 
 imprisonment. Such was the termination of this 
 important trial. 
 
178 STORY OF THE MADIAI 
 
 OPINIONS OF THE LAWYERS. 
 
 The case of the Madiai having been considered 
 and examined by the Signori Salvagnoli, Mori, and 
 Galeotti, three celebrated lawyers of Florence, they 
 having also seen the heads of the defence, gave their 
 full approbation of the ground on which the defence 
 was made, and their conviction of its justice. 
 
 The first says: — "The State must be laic not 
 atheistic. And being laic and not atheistic, whether 
 one religion is fixed as its own or not, it can impose 
 none on the citizens, and ought to preserve the pub- 
 lic worship or private exercise of every religion. 
 Coming to the case under examination, I cannot but 
 approve of the proofs brought forward by the learned 
 counsel, and I add my firm opinion that no action, 
 recognized as criminal by our laws, can be imputed 
 to the Madiai." 
 
 The others add : — " Having examined, with the 
 greatest diligence, the cause of proselytism charged 
 against the Madiai, we are persuaded that not only 
 do these charges, in flict, not exist, but that in this 
 case may be justly claimed the fundamental princi- 
 ples of public right. Therefore, from a sense of 
 truth, and with firm and tranquil conviction, we 
 agree to the line of defence adopted by the learned 
 counsel of the Madiai." 
 
ADDITIONAL FACTS. 179 
 
 Additional Facts Relating to the Trial. 
 
 We give, from authentic Italian sources, the fol- 
 lowing notices of the trial, which will be read with 
 interest. 
 
 The presiding judges (as there was no jury) were 
 Sig. Nervini, who, during the whole trial, appeared 
 very bitter against the culprits ; Cocchi, the interro- 
 gating Judge, the same who received a hard rebuke 
 durmg the State trial of Guerrazzi ; and Bicchierai, 
 the public prosecutor. 
 
 At ten o'clock, A. M., the gendarmes brought 
 three prisoners into the court — Pasquae Casacci, 
 the informer, was the picture of an unhappy man ; 
 Francesco Madiai appeared happy to see his wife 
 again, and pressed her hand ; and Rosa (his wife) 
 was pale, and trembled with emotion. The few 
 persons present were surprised, and moved with the 
 tranquillity and firmness of the two accused. 
 
 At the commencement of the trial, the presiding 
 Judge asked from Francesco Madiai if he was born 
 in the bosom of the Holy JMother, the Roman Ca- 
 tholic Church. 
 
 A. Yes, sir, was the reply; but now I am a 
 Christian according to the Gospel. 
 
 Q. Who has made you such, and does there 
 exist an act of abjuration amongst those you are 
 united tol 
 
 A. My convictions have existed for many years, 
 
180 STORY OF THE MADIAI 
 
 but have acquired strength from the study of the 
 word of God. 
 
 Q. Who advised you to leave the Catholic faith 1 
 
 A. Nobody ; it has been a matter between God 
 and my own soul. 
 
 Q. Have you ever made a public abjuration? 
 
 A. Yes, sir. 
 
 Q. When and how 1 
 
 A. When I took the communion in the Swis3 
 church. 
 
 Q. Have you distributed among the people any 
 publication contrary to the dogmas of the Roman 
 church *? 
 
 A. No, sir ; the tracts I gave people to read 
 contained only passages of the Holy Scriptures, but 
 nothing of controversy between the two commu- 
 nions. 
 
 Q. Did you ever hold religious meetings in your 
 house ? 
 
 A. Yes, sir. 
 
 Q. What did you say and do 1 
 
 A. That we were all believers in the Evangelical 
 church, and as such we used to congregate and pray. 
 
 Here Casacci said to the President that many 
 were Catholics, and Francesco Madiai and Rosa (his 
 wife) persuaded them to leave the Papal church. 
 
 Q. What have you to say, Francesco Madiai, 
 against the deposition of the present witness 1 
 A. Those who were yet Catholics desired to be- 
 
ADDITIONAL FACTS. 181 
 
 come acquainted with the eternal truth, and under 
 such circumstances I could not refuse them admit- 
 tance to my house. 
 
 Q. Have you ever had any religious controversy 
 during the time you spoke against the church ? 
 
 A. Yes, sir, only when I was provoked ; I spoke 
 of the dogmas of the church as contrary to the Bible, 
 but have never used, during this conversation, any 
 disrespectful language. 
 
 Hereupon the President ordered Francesco Ma- 
 diai to sit down. His wife was called to stand up. 
 
 Q. Have you changed your religion for any ma- 
 terial object? — did you ever receive any pecuniary 
 remuneration 1 
 
 A. No. sir ; I have not changed my former 
 religion lightly, or to please men ; in such a case I 
 could have done it when I was in England, where I 
 lived seventeen years. 
 
 Q. What, then, could induce you to take that 
 stepi 
 
 A. The reading of the Bible convinced me of the 
 error and contradictions of the Romish doctrines. 
 
 Here the presiding Judge imposed silence on the 
 prisoner. 
 
 Q. Have you ever made any public abjuration 1 ' 
 
 A. Yes, sir; as soon as I became firmly convinced 
 of the truth of the Evangelical doctrine I abandoned 
 the church, and made a public confession of faith by 
 partaking of the Lord's Supper. 
 16 
 
182 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 Q. Where did the public confession take place ? 
 
 A. In the Swiss chapel, at Florence, when the 
 former laws of our country gave and protected re- 
 ligious liberty. 
 
 Q. Have you, at any time, called the Holy 
 Apostles men of hatred ? 
 
 A. No, sir; that accusation is totally untrue. I 
 have never been guilty of such a thing, and shall 
 prove the contrary by the words of St. Luke, chapter 
 xxii, from verse 28th to 31st. But the Judge inter- 
 rupted Rosa Madiai, saying, " We are not speaking 
 about religion now." The defendant replied, " As I 
 am accused of religion, I am to answer and defend 
 myself on that subject." 
 
 The President, with a stern look, bid her silence, 
 for the second time. 
 
 Q. Have you ever said that the Christian reli- 
 gion has but eight commandments, and that our 
 creed allows fornication ? 
 
 The prisoner hereupon rose indignantly, and 
 said, in a high tone of voice, that as her only reply 
 to that infamous charge, she should be allov>'ed to 
 say the Ten Commandments, in order that they 
 might judge whether there were eight or ten. 
 
 " Silence !" vras answered by the court ; upon 
 which, being angry, the defendant replied, " that it 
 was not justice to impose silence on one's own de- 
 fence." 
 
 The Judge appeared somewhat milder, and 
 
ADDITIONAL FACTS. 183 
 
 asked the prisoner if she and her husband observed 
 the ten Commandments ? 
 
 " Certainly," she answered, " as God dictated 
 them to ^Moses on ^Mount Sinai." 
 
 Here the M'ord " silence " was repeated, and the 
 examination of Rosa Madiai was closed by the 
 Judge saying " that is sufficient." 
 
 The small audience, composed of a few English 
 gentlemen, who had been admitted through the in- 
 fluence of Sir Henry Bulwer, were struck with the 
 simplicity and sincerity of the Madiai. 
 
 On the following day the witnesses were ex- 
 amined. On the 6th of June Sig. Maggiorani an- 
 nounced to the court that he was ready for the de- 
 fence, which he made with so much warmth and 
 feeling as to draw tears even from the eyes of the 
 prosecuting attorney. 
 
 Pasquae Casacci, who denied everything, was 
 acquitted of the criminal charge, but was detained 
 to answer two questions against him, by the police, 
 according to the law of April, 1851. 
 
 The conduct of the Madiai, during their trial, 
 did them the greatest honor, and awakened the ad- 
 miration of the audience. They listened to the sen- 
 tence with great firmness and dignity. Francesco 
 was in perfect peace, and received the final blow in 
 a spirit of holy submission ; and the only expression 
 of suffering was squeezing the hand of a friend near 
 by, saying — "There is need of patience — and the 
 
184 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 comfort, the joy of the Holy Spirit never changes 
 with me, however it may with my poor body. I 
 am always happy. God has been with me all the 
 time of my imprisonment, and He will always be 
 with me as long as I remain in prison, and I am 
 as sure He will be with me unto death." 
 
 Conduct of the Prisoners after the Trial. 
 
 Rosa Madiai, as soon as she returned to the Bar. 
 gello prison, knelt and prayed for some time ; after- 
 wards she wrote the following letter to her hus- 
 band : — 
 
 "My dear Madtai. — You know that I have al- 
 ways loved you ; but how much more ought I to 
 love you now, that we have been together in the 
 battle of the Great King — that we have been beaten, 
 but not vanquished. I hope that, through the merits 
 of Jesus Christ, God our Father will have accepted 
 our testimony, and will give us grace to drink, to 
 the last drop, the portion of that bitter cup which is 
 prepared for us, with returning of thanks. My good 
 Madiai, life is only a day, and a day of grief Yes- 
 terday we were young, to-day we are old. Never- 
 theless we can say with old Simeon : " Lord, now let- 
 test thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes 
 hath seen thy salvation." Courage, my dear, since 
 we know by the Holy Spirit that this Christ, loaded 
 
CONDUCT AFTER THE TRIAL. 185 
 
 with opprobrium, trodden do\\Ti and calumniated, is 
 our Saviour ; and we, by his holy light and power, 
 are called to defend the holy cross, and Christ who 
 died for us, receiving his reproaches, that we may af- 
 terwards participate in his glory. Do not fear if 
 the punishment be hard. God, who made the chains 
 fall from Peter, and opened the doors of his prison, 
 will never forget us. Keep in good spirits ; let us 
 trust entirely in God. Let me see you cheerful, as, 
 I trust, by the same grace you will see me cheerful. 
 I embrace you with my whole heart. 
 
 " Your affectionate wife, 
 
 "Rosa Madiai." 
 
 Before leaving the Bargello for his final impri 
 sonment, Francesco Madiai applied to be allowed to 
 carry with him a supply of clean linen, clothes, &c. 
 But this was not permitted. He smiled, saying, 
 " Well, all things according to the Avill of God." He 
 spoke very laudably of his wife, and requested a 
 friend to tell her, " that his prayer was that God 
 would go with them to their prisons, and tl:iit he felt 
 sure that God would be their companion there." He 
 was not allowed to see his wife, but was conveyed to 
 his goal of Volterra, and thrown among criminals. 
 A few days after he was removed from the common 
 galleys, and put into cellulary confinement. 
 
 The same gentleman who had visited Francesco 
 Madiai while in the city prison, went to see his wife, 
 who, hearing of the sudden departure of her husband, 
 
186 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 became much oppressed ; and her mind was also 
 tortured by the idea, that, at her advanced age, hav. 
 ing always lived amongst virtuous and religious peo- 
 ple, she should now be thrown with females of bad 
 conduct. At the same moment, and almost unex- 
 pectedly, the prison-keeper brought a message from 
 the police that Rosa Madiai should be taken away 
 from the Bargello and carried to the prisons of 
 Lucca. 
 
 At this dreadful notice, in presence of all the at- 
 tendants and gendarmes, she burst into fervent pray- 
 er, asking God for more faith, more love to Jesus. 
 Her kind lawyer, Signor Maggiorani, promised to 
 go to Lucca to see that everything that could be 
 permitted should be provided for her : and the phy- 
 sician, who was also present, said that, although it 
 was unusual, he would give a certificate as to the 
 state of her health requiring diet different from that 
 of the common prisoners, as absolutely important 
 to her life. 
 
 Having quickly dressed herself, she asked for 
 her bonnet, and to a remark made by one of the 
 jailors, why she did not comb her hair, answered, 
 " For what use, as in a few hours they will cut it off." 
 She bid farewell to all those assistants, and told an 
 English gentleman, in whose service she had been, 
 " Remember me to all the brethren, and tell them, 
 should they be called to follow us, to bear what may 
 be appointed them to suffer, but never to forsake 
 
CONDUCT AFTER THE TRIAL. 187 
 
 their God." This advice was addressed to the nu- 
 merous prisoners who were yet under trial in the 
 several prisons of Florence, accused of the same 
 crime for which the Madiai had been condemned. 
 
 A special order of the Tuscan government pre- 
 scribed that the jMadiai should be entirely de- 
 prived of all religious service and books of their 
 faith, nor should any Protestant clergyman be al- 
 lowed to visit them — a rule which is not even ap- 
 plied m the same country to the worst criminals. 
 They were soon separated from all the prisoners, 
 and kept in a private and solitary cell — the husband 
 on the hills of Volterra, and the wife at Lucca, a dis- 
 tance of fifty miles. When they are allowed to 
 walk about, it is in a yard, surrounded by walls 
 from which you see nothing but the sky. 
 
 Dressed after the manner of all criminals, for the 
 first weeks they were nourished with the common 
 and unhealthy victuals of the prison, and it was but 
 lately that they were allowed to receive victuals from 
 without. In the cell of Rosa Madiai can be seen a 
 laro;e chain hano-incr to the wall, as a threat in case 
 she should rebel against the prison discipline. 
 
 Not long after her arrival at her new prison-house 
 in Lucca, Madame Madia' wrote the folio wmg letter 
 to her husband at Volterra : — 
 
 " The new? I received of your being better, gave 
 me great pleasure, and many were the tears of joy 
 wliich bathed my cheeks, for two reasons — first, be- 
 
188 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 cause God has made you worthy of suffering with 
 His beloved Son — second, because He restores your 
 health. Oh, if we knew how to appieciate these 
 humiliations that we suffer, from having acknow- 
 ledged that there is but one Mediator between God 
 and man! My dear, you say that we expect grace; 
 but allow me to tell you that we have already 
 received that great grace, when, after being separated 
 by force, driven from our dwelling, and our property 
 dispersed as dust before the wind, we have been re- 
 duced, you see, to what a state ; and yet, with ail 
 this, we would not, for all Pharaoh's treasures, as also 
 Moses would not, lose that holy gift which the Holy 
 Ghost has, through His grace, made us, of believing 
 in His divine Word. This, I call a grace, and a very 
 great one. If a star is to shine, it will be the star of 
 justice. We have done no harm to any one ; on the 
 contrary, we were injured, having been sold for a few 
 dollars. Our accusers are descendants from Judas. 
 I fear for their souls. I pray that God grant them 
 the tears of Peter, not the punishment of Judas, and 
 that they may one day enjoy the eternal happiness 
 which has been purchased. Were they to come and 
 ask alms from me, I would give it to them as I did 
 formerly, and may God help us ! Amen. My dear, 
 let us be ready to do the Father's will, as His Son, 
 our Master, did it. Let us not torment ourselves. 
 Peter trembled while walking on the ser, fearing the 
 flowing of the waters, and forgot that if the Saviour 
 
EFFECT OF THE CONDEMNATION. 189 
 
 walked towards him, on the same waters, he was not 
 to fear; he feared and cried out — 'Lord, save me!' 
 The beneficent hand helped him, saying, 'Man of 
 little fliith, why fearest thou V If the waves of this 
 earth cause us to fear, more shame for us ; let us re- 
 member the sacred words : ' Although I were to 
 walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I would 
 fear no evil, for Thou art with me.' My dear, rest 
 in the Lord for M^elfare as well as for sufferinnrs. 
 Every thing passes away. Eternity is the most essen- 
 tial part. Be cheerful, and try to recover. God 
 bless you, and cover you under the shade of His 
 wings, for the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 " Your affectionate wife, 
 
 " Rosa Madiai." 
 
 The Effect of tlic Trial and Condemnation 
 upon the Christian Public. 
 
 The news that the Madiai had been condemned 
 for having become Protestants, and for proselytism 
 against the Papal Church, (for it amounted to that,) 
 awoke the indignation of all Protestant countries, 
 and even of liberal Roman Catholics, as may be seen 
 from an elaborate article which appeared in the 
 Journal des Debats of Paris. At a meeting of the 
 Swiss Evangelical Alliance, held in Geneva, Profes- 
 sor Gaupen was deputed to write to the Earl of 
 Shaftesbury, as President of the " Protestant Alii- 
 
J90 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 ance " in England, and request the British Christians 
 to take up the case. This led to the holding of pub- 
 lic meetings of sympathy in London and other prin- 
 cipal cities on the British Isles. Similar meethigs 
 were held on the Continent. The Earls of Roden 
 and Cavan, and Captain Trotter, were appointed 
 members of a Deputivtion to the Grand Duke of 
 Tuscany, to intercede ui behalf of these persecuted 
 people. Deputies were also appointed on the Conti- 
 nent, and in the latter part of October, 1852, these 
 gentlemen were on their way to Florence. The 
 Deputation was as folloM^s : — • 
 
 From England. — Tlie Earl of Roden, Peer of 
 England ; Lord Cavan, Peer of Ireland ; and Captain 
 Trotter. 
 
 Erance. — Count Agenor de Gasparin, Deputy of 
 Erance under Louis Philippe ; and M. De Mimont, 
 cx-Captam of Etat the Major. 
 
 Germany. — Count de Bonin, Captain of the Roy- 
 al Guards of his Majesty the King of Prussia ; and 
 Count Albert de Pourtales, former Minister at Con- 
 stantinople. 
 
 Holland. — Mr. Elout de Soetherwoude, Chan- 
 cellor of the Royal Court of Amsterdam. 
 
 Switzerland. — Colonel Tronchin and Count de 
 Saint George. 
 
 Upon the arrival of these distinguished men at 
 the Tuscan capital, the following correspondence 
 took place. 
 
EFFECT OF THE CONDEMNATION. 191 
 
 " Florence, Oct. 24, 1852. 
 
 To His Excellency the Duke of Casigliano, 
 
 Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Tuscany. 
 
 "Sir — We apply to your Excellency in order 
 that you may beg of his Imperial Highness to grant 
 us an audience. We wish to have the honor of 
 placing before him the expressions of sympathy that 
 Mr. and ^Irs. J^Iadiai have obtained in every Protes- 
 tant community. We come as simple delegates of 
 Evangelical Christians of several countries. We ac- 
 kno\Yledge that as such., we have no right to implore 
 the favor of a reception from his Imperial Highness; 
 wo consider it as an important point that a religious 
 attempt be not misunderstood for an intervention, 
 or, as we would term it, a political expression. For 
 this purpose we come without the mediation of any 
 ministers accredited to the government of the Grand 
 Duchy, hoping that our demand will meet with a 
 welcome acceptance, being only in our own name. 
 
 " His Imperial Highness will, no doubt, appreciate 
 the sentiment which such demeanor inspires us with, 
 as well as that which induces us to recommend, 
 most respectfully, to his consideration, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Madiai. 
 
 "Receive, Duke, the assurance of our most pro- 
 found esteem, Roden, A. De Gasparin, 
 Cavan, F. De !MiN0NT, 
 Trotter." 
 
192 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 Answer of tlie Minister. 
 
 "Florence, October 25, 1852. 
 
 "My Lord, — ^I have placed before ray sovereign 
 the letter addressed to me on the 24th inst. by sev- 
 eral distinguished persons, among whom appears 
 your name. His Imperial and Royal Highness ap- 
 preciates your form of request, as he certainly would 
 have deprecated any political expression, and the 
 honorable diplomatic agents residing near this court 
 would doubtless have reprobated such a course. 
 
 " The two mentioned Madiai, husband and wife, 
 Tuscan subjects, have been condemned by the ordi- 
 nary tribunals to five years imprisonment, for the 
 crime of Protestant propaganda, which is punished 
 by our laws, as it attacks the religion of the State. 
 The punishment inflicted on them is merely the ap- 
 plication of those same laws, and their appeal has 
 been rejected. 
 
 " His Imperial and Royal Highness, reserving to 
 himself the power of exercising his high privilege in 
 the manner he considers most convenient, could not 
 allow the intervention of any one whatsoever in an 
 affair which concerns the administration of justice in 
 our States, and his manner of proceeding towards 
 liis own subjects. My royal sovereign, aware of the 
 benevolent sentiments with which you are inspired 
 
EFFECT OF THE CONDEMNATION. 193 
 
 in taking this step, but not considering that he must 
 allow an intervention of any kind in this transaction, 
 directs me to inform you, my lord, that he is sorry 
 not to be able to grant the audience implored by 
 yourself and the others who have signed the letter 
 addressed to me. 
 
 "Receive, my lord, and communicate to those 
 gentlemen, the assurance of my very profound es- 
 teem. The Duke of Cassigliano." 
 
 "To the right Honorable, the Earl of Roden, 
 Peer of England, at Florence." 
 
 As soon as the deputation, who were in perma- 
 nent sitting, had received this answer, they agreed to 
 write an address to the Grand Duke, and sent it, as 
 is customary, enclosed in the following letter to the 
 Minister of Foreign AfHiirs : — 
 
 " To His Excellency the Duke of Casigliano, 
 Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Tuscany," 
 
 Sir, — "We have received the letter by which 
 your Excellency does us the honor of informing us 
 that His Imperial Highness has appreciated the form 
 given to our request, and does not, however, think 
 of granting us the implored audience, but reserves 
 to himself the use of his high privilege in the way 
 which he will consider most convenient. 
 
 " All that remains for us to do now is to perform 
 our mission as well as we can, by conveying to your 
 Excellency the expressions of those sentiments 
 
194 STORY OF THS MADIAI. 
 
 which we had been charged with presenting to His 
 Imperial Highness, and had placed in the enclosed 
 address. 
 
 "We hope that if His Imperial Highness will 
 vouchsafe to read them, he will perceive nothing but 
 what is becoming to the religious character of our 
 peaceful intervention, and the profound respect that 
 abides within us. 
 
 " Please, accept Duke, this new testimony of our 
 very profound esteem. 
 
 KODEN, A. De GaspariNj 
 
 Cavan, a. De Bonin, 
 
 Trotter, De Mimont." 
 
 "P. S. — In order not to make your excellency 
 wait for the answer which is due to you by us, we 
 sign this letter before the arrival of the other depu- 
 ties, who are already on their way to Florence, and 
 whom we consider as here present, aware of our de- 
 mand. They are Albert de Pourtales, from Berlin; 
 Colonel Tronchin; the Count of St. George, from 
 Geneva ; and the Counsellor Elout de Soetherwoude, 
 from Amsterdam." 
 
 ADDRESS. 
 
 " Imperial and royal Highness. — Your Impe 
 rial and Royal Highness knows with what views we 
 
EFFECTS OF THE CONDEMNATION. 195 
 
 have the honor of appearing before you. We not 
 only abstained from having recourse to a diplomatic 
 intervention, which would have compromised the 
 exclusively religious character of our mission, but 
 we openly show, from this very moment, the wish 
 that this mission may never henceforth serve as a 
 pretext to any political action. 
 
 " We are but simple Christians, and representa- 
 tives of millions of other Christians, who use no 
 other arms than prayer, no other strength than that 
 of their Divine Master. Our embassy is quite of a 
 new kind, and we believe is to be considered as a 
 testimonial of respect which is shown to the Prince 
 to whom it is addressed. 
 
 " Our brethren have said to us : — Go, not in the 
 name of this or of that Protestant power, but in the 
 name of the Lord Jesus ; go and acquaint the sove- 
 reign of Tuscany with the expression of profound 
 sympathy excited by the condition of Mr. and Mrs. 
 Madiai ; we hope that such general sympathy will 
 be taken into consideration by your Imperial and 
 Royal Highness. 
 
 " We will not attempt, your Highness, to judge 
 about the convenience of the law, nor its application. 
 It is certainly not our business to meddle with the 
 legislation or administration of justice in your 
 States. We only feel the want of adding a word of 
 justification to our steps, which is, that we never re- 
 fuse to those contrary to our faith, what we wish in 
 
196 STORT OF THE MADIA I. 
 
 favor of our Protestant brethren. The Roman Cath- 
 olic is free in the countries which we rJjpresent. 
 Your Imperial and Royal Highness understands the 
 meaning of these words. How could we ever have 
 dared to address you this petition in favor of our 
 brethren, the Madiai, if we knew not how to accept 
 the condition of granting freedom to Roman Catho- 
 lics 1 We should have omitted the profound respect 
 due to your Imperial and Royal Highness had wc 
 hesitated in speaking thus. 
 
 " Respect is not only on our lips, but we feel it 
 in us. The Evangelical Christians who have sent us 
 hither, have all learned, from a study of holy books 
 to respect constituted powers, and their prayers for 
 your Imperial and Royal Highness have joined to 
 those which are now offered in all parts of Europe 
 and America for our brethren Madiai. 
 
 " We sincerely hope, your Highness, that your 
 answer will be such as to afford full consolation to 
 those who sent us. 
 
 " RODEN, GaSPARAN, 
 A. DE BONIN, CaVAX, 
 
 De Mamont, Trotter." 
 Tlius terminated the efforts of the Deputation, 
 so far as the Tuscan Government was concerned. 
 Soon afterwards they left Florence for their respec- 
 tive countries, to make report to those who had 
 sent them. It would seem that they left Italy with 
 the hope that the prisoners would, after a few weeks 
 
THE DEPUTATION AND CONVERTS. 107 
 
 or months, be released, through the grace of the 
 Grand Duke — a hope which has been utterly dis- 
 appointed. 
 
 Correspondence between the Deputation and the 
 Converts in Tuscany. 
 
 Before the Deputation left Florence they re- 
 ceived the following interesting letter from a com- 
 mittee (whose names must remain unknown to the 
 world) of the Converts from Popery in that city and 
 its vicinity, and made a suitable reply : — 
 
 " To the Christian Brethren forming the various Deputations sent to 
 appeal in favor of Francesco and Rosa Madiai, held Prisoners in 
 Tuscany for the cause of the Gospel. 
 
 " Beloved brethren in the Lord^ — The evangelical 
 Christians in Tuscany, greatly moved by the earnest 
 proof of Christian love shown to them by many 
 brethren of various countries and languages, but 
 united to them in one common bond of faith, desire 
 to express their thankfulness and gratitude for the 
 love that has led you, unsolicited by them, to come 
 hither for the sole purpose of endeavoring to alleviate 
 the sufferings of our brother and sister, Francesco 
 and Rosa Madiai, now enduring hard bondage for 
 reading the Word of Life, and for the open and free 
 confession of that truth, believed and held by them 
 with that constancy and steadfastness alone worthy 
 
198 STORY OF THE MA DIAL 
 
 of those who, like faithful sheep, know the voice of 
 the ' true Shepherd ' that died to save them, and 
 ' follow him whithersoever He goeth ;' but for 
 which steadfastness they are now accused of impiety. 
 "We believe it unnecessary to recapitulate the 
 painful history of their long and severe sufferings, 
 inasmuch as you are already well-informed of all 
 that has happened to us, and have with so much 
 love watched all the trials we have been subject to 
 within the last few years. You have heard, that 
 having been bred up and instructed to assume at 
 least the outward garb of religion, even if accom- 
 panied by a fatal and passive indifference, provided 
 we did not openly question the customs and tra- 
 ditions imposed upon us ; many of us became either 
 solely wrapped up in the political vicissitudes of our 
 unhappy country, or, ' ignorant of God^s righteous- 
 ness,' went about ' to establish our own righteous- 
 ness, not submitting ourselves unto the righteousness 
 of God.' Romans, x. 3. In this fatal delusion we 
 must have remained, had we not had free access to 
 the unadulterated Word of God, ' able to make us 
 wise unto salvation.' It is through His mercy and 
 grace alone that we now abide faithful unto that 
 Word, notwithstanding the many trials daily re- 
 newed against us by our rulers. For these, indeed, 
 we continually pray, knowing the many difficulties 
 and obstacles they have to contend with from those 
 who are the worst enemies to the diffusion of God's 
 
THE DEPUTATION AND CONVERTS. 199 
 
 Word, and whose influence our rulers have sought 
 to enlist, by concessions in their flxvor, and by 
 severity against those who have separated them- 
 selves, under the idea that to uphold the predomi- 
 nant religion of the State is the best guarantee for 
 the peace and prosperity of the country. 
 
 " We are truly sorry that at this time, especially, 
 we cannot personally render you an open testimony 
 of our gratitude and love for the singular proof you 
 have given us of your sympathy with our suffering 
 brethren ; but you are well aware that we are not 
 permitted now even to meet together for mutual ed- 
 ification, and that we are obliged to abstain from 
 assembling ourselves together, even for the sole pur- 
 pose of worshipping God, through fear of either im- 
 prisonment or exile, and the consequent distress of 
 our families. We are thus in difficulty between the 
 laws of our country and the express laws of our 
 God. Heb. x. 25. We would gladly forego many 
 of the rights of citizens, or willingly bear any other 
 burthen, if in exchange we could meet in the name 
 of our Lord. 
 
 " But though we cannot openly and collectively 
 offer you the expression of our gratitude for the sym- 
 pathy which you have so manifested towards us in 
 our trials and sufferings, we cannot be hindered from 
 offering up our prayers to the ' Father of Mercies ' 
 and ' God of all Grace,' that He may crown your 
 mission with success, and may grant us better days, 
 
200 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 when we may ' worship God in quietness, none 
 daring to make us afraid.' 
 
 "If, however, it must needs be that we should yet 
 suffer for the truth, we commit ourselves in confi- 
 dence to our Father in Heaven, who will not permit 
 us to be tried above what we are able to bear, and 
 who has graciously assured His people that ' as 
 their days are, so shall their strength be.' Deut. 
 xxxiii. 25. And we abide the issue of these trials 
 with the calm assurance that He who permits them, 
 will overrule them for His own glory, and for our 
 good ; and that the things that befall us shall turn 
 out, as in the early days of His Church, rather to 
 the furtherance of the Gospel. 
 
 " One other matter we cannot pass by. We have 
 been accused of making a profession of the Gospel 
 for the sole purpose of endeavoring to undermine 
 the present political state of the country ; but your 
 deputation, coming from so many friendly States, is 
 a clear and undeniable proof that we have not been 
 actuated by political motives in searching, as we 
 have done, the Scriptures of truth. 
 
 *' We entreat you, that when you return again to 
 your native lands you will convey to our brethren 
 who sent you the expression of our deepest grati- 
 tude; and tell them that we feel encouraged and 
 sustained by their sympathy, and that the moral 
 support of all the evangelical Christians of Europe is 
 of the greatest value and consequence to God's peo- 
 
THE DEPUTATION AND CONVERTS. 201 
 
 pie in this land, who desire to know for themselves 
 the Word of Eternal Life. Above all things, re- 
 quest them to imite their prayers with ours, that the 
 Lord may uphold us in all our need, and prepare U9 
 for all that lie has prepared for us ; and that His 
 AYord may have free course in this land and be glo- 
 rified. Finally, that in all that concerns us. His will, 
 and not ours, may be done. Our trust is in Him 
 from whom our strength cometh, and whose grace is 
 sufficient for us ; and for the joy set before us we 
 gladly endure the passing afflictions of the present 
 time, knowing that ' He who hath loved us and 
 washed us from our sins in His own blood ' shall 
 guide us at last ' to the rest that remaineth,' when 
 ' the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall 
 feed us, and shall lead us to the living fountains of 
 water, and God shall wipe away all tears from our 
 eyes.' 
 
 '• May our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who 
 hath abolished death, and hath brought life and im- 
 mortality to light through the Gospel, strengthen, 
 comfort, and bless you above all that you can ask 
 or think ; and to His name be all the praise." 
 
 " Florence, October 2yth, 1852." 
 
 Reply of the Deputation to the Address of the Evangelical Christians 
 in Tuscany. 
 
 ^''Beloved Brethren in the Lord Jesus Christ. — • 
 Though we entertained no doubt of the warm sym 
 
202 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 pathy you would feel for us while exerting ourselves 
 in favor of a suffering brother and sister of your owii 
 body, yet we must assure you of the joy that has 
 filled our hearts at the address we have just received. 
 This joy is increased, not only by the Christian cha- 
 racter of the sentiments therein contained, but by our 
 knowledge that it emanates from a body so nume- 
 rous that it makes us lift up our hearts to the Lord 
 with thankfulness for the fact, that even in this land, 
 where darkness so long prevailed. He has been ad- 
 ding daily to the church those that should be saved. 
 Acts, ii. 47. 
 
 " As our 0V4T1 mission has been throughout free of 
 every worldly or political object, we have the less 
 scruple in exhorting you to continue in the same 
 course. We know that the more truly you are 
 evangelical Christians, the better subjects you will 
 be ; mindful of that Scripture, that, ' Whosoever 
 resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God.* 
 Rom. xiii. 2. ' Let not then your good be evil 
 spoken of Rom. xiv. 16. This counsel we would 
 tender to you, in all simplicity ; ever mindful, how- 
 ever, of that last appeal to be made to all rulers in 
 extreme cases. ' Whether it be right in the sight of 
 God to hearken unto you, more than unto God, 
 judge ye ' Acts, xiv. 10. followed as it must be, 
 in manners of conscience, by the reply. ' We ought 
 to obey God rather than men.' Acts, v. 29. 
 
 It is unnecessary to suggest to you that we must 
 
THE DEPUTATION AND CONVERTS. 203 
 
 all be prepared with patience to endure suffering for 
 conscience sake. For us^to hear of your sufferings 
 is grievous ; for you, it is even ' thankworthy ; if a 
 man for conscience sake towards God, endure grief, 
 suffering wrongfully,' 1 Pet. ii. 19. for (must glo- 
 rious of consequences!) 'if, when ye do well and 
 suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is accepta- 
 ble with God.' 1 Pet. ii. 20. The remedy is in 
 God's hand. He has already filled the hearts of 
 those who have not been 'counted worthy to suffer,' 
 with sympathy for those who have ; and if ye only 
 pursue your present course* of submission to His 
 will, and to those appointed under Him — of love for 
 the truth, strengthened rather than weakened by 
 persecution; and of close union, as brethren and fel- 
 low-suflerers for Christ's sake — ye must not doubt of 
 that help from the Lord, who has promised to listen 
 to the prayers of them that ask Him. 
 
 " We know that if a man's ways please the Lord, 
 * He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with 
 him.' Prov. xvi. 7. 
 
 "Already the prayers of hundreds of thousands of 
 Protestant Christians are raised to Him, not only in 
 favor of the Madiai, whose sufferings are known, but 
 for the unknown multitude who, like you, are hinder- 
 ed in their course by those who love not the light. 
 
 " That these acts will strengthen and not weaken 
 your faith, we are confirmed in believing; while we 
 witness in your ardor of love for the Saviour, little 
 
204 STORY 05 THE MADIAI. 
 
 dreamed of by many who have free liberty to con- 
 fess Him, and to call upon Him, to feast on His 
 words of comfort, and to join in the pure worship of 
 Him as the sole Mediator between God and man. 
 Thus, then, must we continue, in hope, in faith, in 
 love, to offer up this prayer for you — ' The God of 
 all grace, who has called us unto His eternal glory 
 by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered awhile, 
 make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.' " 
 1 Pet. V. 10. 
 
 Lord Roden's Visit to the imprisoned Madiai, 
 
 Before leaving Tuscany, the Earl of Roden re- 
 quested permission of the Tuscan Government to 
 visit the Madiai in their prisons. The following are 
 the " notes " which he made of those visits. They 
 cannot be read by any Christian without deep 
 emotion. 
 
 Note of my Conversation with Francesco Madiai in the 
 prison at Volterra, 3rd November, 1852. 
 
 " Having arrived here last night, T proceeded at 
 ten o'clock this morning to the great prison, allotted 
 to persons convicted of the worst crimes ; containing 
 within its walls at the present time above 500 crimi- 
 nals. This most imposing building is situated on 
 the summit of the heights of Volterra, 1,800 feet 
 
LOUD roden's visit. 205 
 
 above the level of the sea. I waited on the direttore, 
 ■who received me with civility. I presented to him 
 my passport, that he might identify me as the person 
 whom he had received orders from the Government 
 to admit to visit the prisoner, Francesco Madiai. 
 He introduced me to the sub-direttore, desiring him 
 to conduct me to Madiai's room. We passed through 
 a very long corridor, with cells on either side, and 
 reached the door of the infirmary, where Francesco 
 was confined. I was shown into a small room, 
 where the -svindow was on a level with the table, 
 and there was air and light in abundance. Francesco 
 rose from his chair when the sub-direttore told him 
 who I was ; he then shut the door and retired, so that 
 I had full opportunity to converse with the prisoner 
 alone. In about a quarter of an hour the sub-diret- 
 tore returned with the doctor. I thanked them both 
 for their kindness to Francesco, particularly the lat- 
 ter ; and I told Madiai, in their hearing, that I was 
 at the head of a deputation which had come from 
 England, France, Germany, Switzerland and Hol- 
 land, to implore the Grand Duke's clemency towards 
 him and his wife ; that, in so doing, we were not only 
 influenced by compassion for them, and the deepest 
 sympathy for their sufferings, but that our special 
 object was to endorse the principle which they had 
 maintained, and for which they were now suflering, 
 namely, that every individual in the world had a 
 right to read the Word of God without note or com- 
 
200 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 ment; and that tha: principle was near and dear to 
 our hearts as Christians. Neither the sub-direttore 
 nor the doctor made any remark to this ; but the 
 latter said, that Francesco's health had improved, 
 that all fever had left him, though there was still 
 much weakness. I then told Francesco that I had 
 visited him and his wife at the request of my brother 
 deputies, who, together with all who loved and 
 valued the Word of God, were warmly attached to 
 them both, and were thankful to God for the confes- 
 sion which they had been enabled to make, and for 
 the support which He had given them under their 
 heavy trials, during fifteen months' incarceration, 
 several months of which I was aware had been spent 
 in the Bargello^ the common prison of Florence, 
 where the treatment of them had beCL aiost cruel — 
 indeed, barbarous. 
 
 " The sub-direttore and doctor having retired, he 
 spoke much to me of the state of his health, saying 
 he was better ; but in his weak and reduced frame 
 I could too plainly see the effects of all through 
 which he had passed, and, although comparatively 
 better, I have no doubt that a much longer confine- 
 ment must terminate in his death. He talked of the 
 comfort which he had in the Scriptures ; he found the 
 testimony of the Lord Jesus in them his great sup- 
 port ; he cared little for other books in comparison 
 with the Word of God ; he was allowed the Roman 
 Catholic Bible by Martini, with notes. 
 
LORD roden's visit. 207 
 
 *' I told him that his wife, whom I had seen two 
 days before, requested me to tell him that she was 
 well. He was looking forward with great hope to 
 his speedy liberation, and seemed much disappointed 
 at the failure of our application. I said that the 
 King of Prussia had taken a special interest in their 
 ease, and had sent a nobleman from Berlin, Count 
 Arnim, to plead their cause before the Grand Duke. 
 His eyes then filled with tears, and he exclaimed, 
 ' How can I ever be grateful enough to God for His 
 mercies to me !' He spoke of his own nothingness, 
 and that therefore it could only have been God who 
 had put it into the hearts of kings and nobles, and of 
 Christians of distant countries, to be so interested in 
 their behalf. He added, that he felt that he was in 
 God's hands, and that he would do with him as He 
 pleased. 
 
 " I found in Francesco Madiai a simple-minded 
 Christian, greatly depressed and worn down by 
 severe suffering, mental and bodily. He made no 
 complaints, and spoke with the greatest respect of 
 the Grand Duke, his sovereign, to whom, I had pre- 
 viously heard, he had been always a most attached 
 and loyal subject. He evidently would have entered 
 more at length into the particulars of his case, but I 
 told him that I already knew them. When I asked 
 him if I could do anything for him, he said, ' Nothing 
 but to pray for him.' I then offered up a short 
 prayer with him for the contmuance of God's favor 
 
208 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 and support towards him and his wife, and bade him 
 farewell with feelings kindred to those with which I 
 had taken leave of his poor wife." 
 
 "RODEN." 
 
 We subjoin to the Earl of Roden's " Notes," an 
 extract of a letter from a Christian friend in Florence, 
 dated some weeks after the Deputation had left, to 
 show that the Government of Tuscany has increased 
 the rigor of its course. 
 
 " You are aware of the two new decrees, the first 
 of which re-establishes the pain of death for crimes 
 of public violence against the government and against 
 religion ; and the second authorizes the police to 
 search and imprison, without judgment or sentence 
 from the ordinary tribunals. These decrees were 
 published on the 17th November, and on the 18th, 
 at five o'clock A. M. Angiolo Guarducci was arrest- 
 ed, he being still in bed, his lodgings searched, and 
 himself taken to the Murate, where he has been for 
 the last fortnight. 
 
 "We have passed many a happy hour during the 
 presence in our city of so many dear brethren from 
 several cities ; but the sun which shone for a short 
 time was soon overclouded. Lord Roden went to see 
 Rosa Madiai on the 31st Oct. and Francesco on the 
 8d of November. Their faithful and alway devoted 
 
 friend Mr. C , saw Francesco on the 6th ; but some 
 
 days after, hearing that he was conlined to his bed, 
 and wishing to see him, this consolation was refused 
 
LORD roden's visit. 209 
 
 him. Recent and severe orders only allowed one 
 visit a month. Sir H. Bulwer's interference, to 
 mitigate this order, was useless. We are aware 
 
 that since Mr. C left, Madiai's physical weakness 
 
 has been very great. For several days he refused 
 his medicines, and even his coffee and milk, through 
 fear of being poisoned. On Saturday this gentleman 
 returned to Volterra to see the prisoner — the time 
 prefixed since his last visit being expired." 
 
 18* 
 
210 STORY OF THE MADIAI 
 
 PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 A Notice of a Meeting in IMetropolitan Hall. Statement of 
 Facts. — Resolutions adopted. — Declaration of Principles. 
 — Dr. Bethune's Address. — Popish opposition. — Meet- 
 ing in Newark. — INIeeting in Baltimore. — Resolutions of 
 New- York Legislature. — Resolutions oflf United States 
 Senate. — Mr. Everett's Letter. 
 
 Americans had watched the movements of the 
 Papal Powers in Europe, and with grief had seen 
 the recently brightened prospects of the friends of 
 freedom, and of Evangelical Religion there, rapidly 
 receding from them, and Popery with primitive 
 energy, seeking to re-establish itself, to regain and to 
 hold its former dominion, by the most unjustifiable 
 and cruel measures. Fines, imprisonment, banish- 
 ment, confiscation of goods, and death, were com- 
 mon inflictions on those who did not conform to all 
 its requsitions. The Madiai fell under its displea- 
 sure, but they were not alone. There were many 
 cases very similar, which were known to the people 
 of this country ; but by the directions of an over- 
 ruling Providence the Madiai were made to hold 
 a prominent place in the public view. 
 
 Previously there had been no little conversation 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 211 
 
 in social circles in regard to them, and an occasional 
 paragraph in Newspapers concerning them had also 
 appeared. But in the Autumn of 1852 a crisis 
 seemed forming. Large numbers of all classes who 
 had been interested in them, and in their associates 
 in suffering in Tuscany for the cause of Christ, be- 
 gan to talk of some public expression of American 
 Sentiments npon the subject. The feeling of sym- 
 pathy fur the sutlerers grew daily in intensity ; and 
 m the month of December the public mind was 
 ripe for the expression of its deep and sacred emo- 
 tions, its utter abhorrence of intolerance and perse- 
 cution on account of religious faith and practice. 
 
 At the suggestion of a joint committee from the 
 American and Foreign Christian Union, and The 
 Evangelical x\lliance, who were ajipointed to make 
 arrangements for a public meeting of the " friends 
 of religious liberty," without regard to sect or party, 
 the following call, signed by thirty men of the first 
 respectability in the city of New-York, was publish- 
 ed in several of the leading Secular and Religious 
 Newspapers, viz. 
 
 '• The undersigned would respectfully suggest the 
 propriety of convening a public meeting, to be held 
 at Metropolitan Hall on Friday evening, January 
 7th, for the purpose of expressing the sympathy of 
 the Christian community, and of the friends of re- 
 ligious liberty, with the ' Madiai' family and others, 
 imprisoned in the Grand Duchy of Tuscany for pos- 
 
212 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 sessing and reading the Holy Scriptures, and to con- 
 sider what measures may properly be taken for the 
 relief of their present sufferings, and for their release 
 from imprisonment." 
 
 In accordance with this Call, on Friday evening 
 January 7th, 1853, an immense concourse of people 
 assembled at the Metropolitan Hall. The Honora- 
 ble Jacob A. Westervelt, the Mayor of the city, pre- 
 sided, and was supported by a large number of Vice- 
 Presidents, lay and clerical. 
 
 The meeting having been organized, by reading 
 the " Call," and the choice of its officers, was opened 
 with prayer by the Eev. Thomas De Witt, D. D. 
 The Rev. Robert Baird, D. D. then submitted a 
 brief statement, comprising the leading political 
 events in Tuscany during a few past years — the re- 
 ligious condition of the people — facts concerning the 
 Madiai, — their social relations, conversion to Chris- 
 tianity, quiet and exemplary lives, arrest, trial, con- 
 demnation and imprisonment, — and the efforts which 
 had been made in Europe, but in vain, for their release. 
 
 In behalf of the committee of arrangements for 
 the meeting, the Rev. W. Patton, D. D. then sub- 
 mitted the following resolutions, which were received 
 by the audience with great favor, viz. 
 
 RESOLUTIONS. 
 
 *' Whereas this meeting has learned, with profound 
 sorrow, that Sig. Madiai and his wife, together with 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 213 
 
 Other worthy persons in the Grand Duchy of Tus- 
 cany, liave been torn from their homes and thrown 
 into prison, subject to coercive discipline, or other- 
 wise persecuted, for possessing and reading the 
 Bible ; and whereas it is believed that general mani- 
 festations of public opinion have been found in all 
 civilized countries to exert a happy influence npon 
 governments as well as upon those who sufler : 
 
 " Resolved^ 1. That this meeting would express its 
 deep sympathy for these sufierers for conscience sake 
 in their severe trials, and offer its prayers to Heaven 
 that they may be sustained by God's grace under 
 them, and that these persecutions may have a speedy 
 termination. 
 
 " Resolved. 2. That his Excellency, the President 
 of the United States be, and hereby is, requested to 
 exert his kindly influence in such manner as he may 
 deem most judicious and most compatible with the 
 duties of his official position, in behalf of these peo- 
 ple, in the hope that the Government of Tuscany, in 
 compliance with a respectful expression of the per- 
 sonal wishes of the Chief Magistrate of a nation 
 which welcomes all who come to its shores, what- 
 ever may be their creed, and gives them equal and 
 complete religious liberty, may at least allow Signor 
 Madiai and his wife to quit their prisons, and emi- 
 grate, if so dir^posed, to our country, at our expense. 
 
 " Resolved, 3. That this great meeting, convened 
 without distinction of sect or party, and composed 
 
214 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 of friends of Religious Liberty, avails itself of tho 
 occasion, in this solemn and formal manner, to de- 
 clare to Europe and to the whole world, that an ex- 
 perience, running through many years, has demon- 
 strated to our unanimous judgment the safety, har- 
 mony and prosperity which entire religious liberty 
 secures both to the State and to Religion. 
 
 " Resolved^ 4. That this meeting firmly believes 
 that it is the duty of the Government of the United 
 States to protect all our citizens in their religious 
 rights whilst residing or sojourning in foreign lands ; 
 approves in the fallest manner of a noble attempt 
 of a distinguished Senator from Michigan, (Gen. 
 Cass,) to call the attention of the Government and 
 the public to this important subject; and entertains 
 the confident hope that this Government will spee- 
 dily secure to its citizens, by the express stipulations 
 of international treaties, the right to worship God 
 according to the dictates of their conscience in every 
 foreign land. 
 
 *' Resolved. 5. That this meeting is of the opinion 
 that the benevolence which the Gospel teaches and 
 inspires, should lead the Government of these United 
 States, and the Governments of other countries 
 which enjoy the blessings of religious liberty, and 
 have experienced its advantages, to exert a judicious, 
 proper, and peaceful influence to secure these bless- 
 ings and advantages to all nations which do not pos- 
 sess them. 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 215 
 
 " Resolved^ 6. Finally, that whereas the Bible is 
 acknowledged by all Christians to be from God, 
 and to contain a revelation of His will concerning 
 men, and lies at the foundation of Christianity, this 
 meeting affirms, in the most emphatic manner, its 
 unwavering conviction, that as every man is respon- 
 sible to God alone for his religious belief, that no 
 government, civil or ecclesiastical, has the right to 
 forbid any man to possess and read that sacred 
 volume for himself, or read it to his family, to his 
 neighbors, to his friends, and to all who desire to 
 hear it. 
 
 '■'■Additional Resolution. That inasmuch as wo 
 have learned that several of these persecuted people 
 are in exile and in want, and others in prison, and 
 that their families are reduced to great distress, and 
 some of them to utter destitution, this meeting re- 
 commends that contributions be made by the be- 
 nevolent, without delay, for their relief, and that a 
 committee be appointed to receive and expend the 
 funds which may be raised." 
 
 The Rev. John Kenneday, D. D. of Brooklyn, 
 N. Y.— the Rev. N. Murray, D. D. of Elizabeth- 
 town, N. J. and the Rev. William Hague, D. D. of 
 Newark, N. J. respectively, and in the order named, 
 delivered very able and interesting addresses, which 
 were received by the meeting with very great satis- 
 faction, and warm expressions of applause. 
 
 The Congregation then rose, and sung, standmg, 
 
216 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 to the tune of Old Hundred, the 117th Psalm, be- 
 gmnmg " From all who dwell below the skies," 
 when at its close the Rev. E. R. Fairchild, D. D. 
 in behalf of the Committee, read the following De- 
 claration, wliich was also received with approba- 
 tion, viz: 
 
 DECL ARAT ION. 
 
 "1. It has been proposed to invoke the influence 
 of the President of the United States to induce the 
 government of Tuscany to pursue a milder policy, 
 because it is believed that the affair of the Madiai 
 has reached such a point, that, in answer to a kind 
 request coming from the Chief Magistrate of this 
 country, not in the way of ordinary diplomacy, or 
 as a political question, but as an act of personal fa- 
 vor to him, and as a favor to this nation, clemency 
 may be shown to these sufl*erers, and they may be 
 allowed to come to us. This request is made the 
 more readily to our worthy Chief Magistrate, be- 
 cause it is within our knowledge that a similar influ- 
 ence has been not once but several times exerted in 
 favor of clemency by several of his predecessors, 
 and not in vain. This happened in relation to a per- 
 secution, a few years ago, at Hamburg, the massacre 
 of the Jews at Damascus, as well as in other in- 
 stances. 
 
 *' 2. With equal readiness should we unite with 
 our fellow-citizens in invoking that influence in the 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 217 
 
 case of any persons sufiering for conscience' sake, 
 whoever thoy might be, whenever it can be sho^^^l 
 that such interposition, personal rather than ofiicial, 
 would be likely to prove effectual. 
 
 " 3. Whilst this meeting, fully believing that God 
 has given to no man the right to hold error, or prac- 
 tice a false worship, yet that, in this respect he is 
 accountable to Him w^ho alone is Lord of the con- 
 science, who has given him His word to enlighten 
 and guide him, if he will submit to its teachings ; 
 and that no man, no combination of men, nor human 
 government, has the right to compel men to believe 
 as theij do, " under pains and penalties ;" therefore 
 this meeting reprobates that state of things, in any 
 country, by which dissent from the Established 
 Church is viewed and treated as constructive treason. 
 
 "4. It is not the object of this meeting to boast of 
 our political institutions, or to meddle with questions 
 of a political nature. We have no desire to wound 
 the feelings of other nations by touching questions 
 that relate to the forms of the civil government — 
 questions which we hold, that every nation has the 
 exclusive right to decide for itself, and may justly 
 demand that its decisions shall be respected. 
 
 " 5. Neither have we come together to abuse the 
 rulers of any country in Europe, or of any other 
 part of the world ; but, appreciating in some good 
 degree the difficulties under which some of them 
 and their governments lie at present, we would set 
 19 
 
218 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 before them what we have found to be so beneficial 
 to all concerned in our country, and make some sug- 
 gestions w^hich may (with God's blessing) not be 
 without use to them. 
 
 "6. This meeting would consider the subject be- 
 fore them, not as a Protestant or Roman Catholic 
 (.[uestion, but as one which concerns the interests of 
 humanity entire, especially the interests and honor 
 of Christendom. We desire liberty of conscience 
 for all, whoever they may be, and we reprobate and 
 stigmatise persecution on religious grounds, wher- 
 ever it may exist. We live under a government, 
 we are happy to say, whose constitutional provisions 
 guarantee to the population (native and foreign) the 
 enjoyment of the rights of conscience, the rights of 
 private and public worship, the right to liold and to 
 propagate their religious opinions respecting doc- 
 trines and worship in all proper and peaceable 
 ways — a government which has made no law, that 
 we are aware of, with the intention of preventing 
 men from holding or imparting to their fellow-men 
 such opinions as may seem to them right on the 
 subject of religion. 
 
 "7. The religious liberty so fully enjoyed by all 
 in the United States justifies us in appealing to the 
 liberality. of the rulers and governments of Europe, 
 to conced:fi!. all the liberty of worship and of opinion 
 which mc^. be consistent with mternal peace, and 
 due to natiojial comity. The people of the United 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 219 
 
 States, chiefly Protestants, cannot look upon the 
 punishment of men for no other oflence than Pro- 
 testantism, without that dissatisAiction which must 
 strongly act upon all Protestant people, and prepare 
 a state of opinion which may one day be very un- 
 favorable to the peace of the world. 
 
 '• S. Still further : the people of the United States, 
 when conflagration or famine overwhelms with dis- 
 tress or ruin any other people, do not stop to in- 
 quire into the religious or political opinions of the 
 suflTerers, but fly promptly to their relief, as has been 
 twice done in relation to Madeira, and also to Ire- 
 land, Scotland, and Greece. This liberality on our 
 part entitles us to, at least, a respectful hearing, 
 when we speak of religious liberty to the nations of 
 the earth, especially as we have had ample experience 
 of its blessed influence. 
 
 " 9. Christendom has long submitted to a law of 
 nations. And even the comity of nations^ if it has 
 not commanded so general an assent, has at least 
 exerted a wide and perceptible influence. But a 
 public opinion of nations is rapidly growing into 
 power, and its influence will be far more eflectual 
 and controling than either. The facilities of tra- 
 velling, the wonders of the telegraph, the increase of 
 knowledge, are opening the way for an interchange 
 of opinions which must remove many difficulties, 
 and thus bring about a unity of sentiment on very 
 many subjects on which men have heretofore been 
 
220 STORY OP THE MADIAI. 
 
 divided. It will become a matter of necessity that 
 rulers and governments prepare for this change, and 
 so modify their laws and regulations as to make du'^ 
 concessions to this new state of things." 
 
 The Rev. George W. Bethune, D. D. of Brook- 
 lyn, New- York, next addressed the meeting in - 
 very able and appropriate speech, and which was 
 received with very great enthusiasm. That the 
 reader may enter into the spirit, the feelings, and 
 the high and worthy aims of the meeting, the follow- 
 ing, but greatly condensed report of this excellent 
 speech, which occupied nearly an hour in its de- 
 livery, is submitted : — 
 
 DR. BETHUNe's address. 
 
 *The Rev. Dr. Bethune said this was to him a 
 most solemn occasion. He felt as if he were called 
 again into the presence of centuries long past. He 
 seemed to hear those sublime words ringing in his 
 ears : ' I believe in the Holy Ghost, and in the 
 holy Catholic church, and in the communion ot 
 sahits.' There is but one head, and but one body ; 
 and wherever there is one who believes in Jesus 
 Christ, there is a member of that church ; and if one 
 member suffers, all the members suffer with it. If 
 we have the Holy Ghost within us, if we have be- 
 come vitally united to the body of our blessed Lord 
 by a living faith, there '.s not one of us whose heart 
 
PROCEEDINGS OF AMERICA. 221 
 
 is not bleeding with those beloved Christians who 
 are now crushed beneath the foot of the oppressor ; 
 and we must, before God, who gave us hearts and 
 faith, speak out. I am sure we must all feel it, and 
 our s^-mpathies must find relief; and if it reach no 
 further than to give us relief from this pent-up emo- 
 tion, this meeting is a blessing to the freemen and 
 inhabitants of New-York. (x\pplause.) I said I 
 felt as if I were called into centuries long past away. 
 We read of the sufferings of the primitive Christians 
 — we read of them who were stoned and sawn 
 asunder — who sang amidst the smoke of their fires 
 — who perished in dungeons with the long pain of 
 fatal hunger ; and, until a very short time ago, we 
 had felt, as Christians, that these days were past. 
 There were some prophecies that, interpreted in a 
 particular light, seemed to tell us that the days of 
 that persecution might return, but we had been long 
 in the habit of feeling that those days had gone. 
 
 "It is not long since we had the privilege to wel- 
 come the stranger among us, and it was a higher 
 privilege to wolcome those exiles from the island of 
 Madeira. Then, for the first time, we were per- 
 mitted to see the ' confessors,' such as are now 
 canonized by that same Church of Rome. And 
 now we are told that two obscure individuals, in 
 the midst of that church, are incarcerated and treated 
 as felons, for no crime but reading the Bible. From 
 my heart I sympathise with those two persons, that 
 10* 
 
222 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 brother and sister in Christ ; but much remains yet 
 behind to be filled up of the sufferings of Christ. 
 There remains yet a necessity for the sufferings of 
 the people of Gocl, to prove in the first place the 
 evil of that spirit which exalts itself against the 
 Scriptures ; and, in the second place, to prove ihe 
 divinity of that faith which upholds the soul above 
 torture and imprisonment and death. 
 
 " This proves that the spirit of that power is un- 
 changed. It is impossible for an American, brought 
 up from his childhood amidst the light and liberty, 
 and privileges which we enjoy in this land — it is im- 
 possible for him to conceive the tyranny and op- 
 pression which exist in the Old World, and when 
 we tell him of it, he tells us that we are calumniating 
 our brethren, and that it is not right to bring such 
 charges against men because their ancestors in past 
 centuries have been guilty of crimes, and that the 
 growing light of science and the interchange of phi- 
 lanthropic feeling have wrought a great revolution 
 in the spirit of that church which was formerly 
 recognized as a church of persecution. Here is a 
 fact rising up before us, which tells us that the 
 spirit which persecuted the Albigenses is still there, 
 not dead, but rampant and ready, so far as it has the 
 power, to crush now, as it was ready to crush five 
 hundred years ago. Am I wrong in thisl I see a 
 brother here up< n the stage who told me once, in 
 preaching preparatory to the sacrament, he took 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 223 
 
 occasion to explain the fallacy of the doctrine of 
 transubstantiation held by the Catholic Church, and 
 that one of liis parishioners complained of his slan- 
 dering the Catholics ; " for we all know," said the 
 man. " that nobody can believe such nonsense." 
 This was the light he took of it, and precisely in the 
 same manner do we find people believing it impos- 
 sible that the spirit of persecution can still exist as it 
 existed in former years. Tlie spirit of Antichrist is 
 the same at all times. The spirit of Christ says, 
 *' Search the Scriptures," and wherever there comes 
 a spirit which forbids you to search the Scriptures, 
 you may depend upon it that there is the spirit of 
 Antichrist, because it is opposed to it. (Applause.) 
 And now we know that this oppression exists, does 
 it not become ns to aid the oppressed 1 Are we not 
 a republic ? and are we not the only nation on the 
 face of the earth — except it be the little republic on 
 the shores of Liberia — in which religious liberty is 
 entire. (Applause.) Since we are in this country 
 as republicans, and bearing our testimony to the 
 value of republican principles in the flice of the 
 whole earth, should we not believe that it is part of 
 our mission not only to enjoy what God has sent us, 
 but to ditllise it to others ? This is the only country 
 in which the principle of religious liberty has been 
 permitted to work itself out ; and as all our churches 
 have flourished and grown strong, and been a bless- 
 ing to us under the system, I say it is our duty, not 
 
224 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 as Protestants merely, but as freemen, to lift up our 
 voice against religious oppression wherever it may 
 exist. (Loud applause.) Now I wish to speak a 
 few words in relation to the Romish Church. What 
 is the meaning of the words " Protestant country," 
 as applied to the United States 1 I now read as 
 follows : — 
 
 I suppose that at last it will come down to signify 
 nothing more than that the majority of the inhabi- 
 tants are Protestants; but has it never occurred to 
 those who would make such an objection, that majo- 
 rities and minorities are mere accidents, liable to 
 change ! whereas the constitution is a principle and 
 not an accident; "its great" — and mark you this — 
 "its great and unappreciable value is that it pre- 
 scribes the duties of the majority, and protects with 
 equal and impartial justice the rights of the manority. 
 In this country the constitution of the United States 
 says the majority shall rule." 
 
 God grant it! "Now, in pursuance of the consti- 
 tution, this is neither a Protestant nor a Catholic 
 country, but a broad land of civil and religious free- 
 dom and equality to all." This is the euloghim pro- 
 nounced upon the constitution of the United States 
 by Archbishop Hughes. Now, I have not the honor 
 of knowing that gentleman personally, but we aro 
 sufficiently well known to the public to warrant my 
 not waiting for an introduction, and I call upon him 
 in the name of the liberties which his Church has 
 
T-xt'. ^ ulDINCS IN AMERICA. 225 
 
 eiijoyed — iii ttie name of that freedom which every 
 Protestant in this house, that is worthy the name of 
 Protestant, is Avillinir to accord to every Roman 
 Catholic in the land — I call upon him in gratitude to 
 the Baltimores and Williamses, and those whose 
 spirits made that constitution of ours free from every 
 ytain of religious restraint — I call upon him to join 
 us in calling upon the Duke of Tuscany to set free 
 these people. (Tremendous applause.) If this op- 
 pression be not the work of Roman Catholicism, he 
 cannot, he M'ill not refuse to join in the extension of 
 that principle over which he rejoices. (Cheers.) If 
 he does not join us we shall believe that such oppres- 
 sion is part and parcel of Roman Catholicism, and 
 that if they had the power here, they would act like 
 the Duke of Tuscany. This is the point to which we 
 come. We have stronger sympathies in one cause 
 than another, and it is possible that I may have them ; 
 but I verily believe, if I know my own heart, that if 
 this were a case of religious oppression of a Jew or 
 Turk, much more the oppression of a Roman Catho- 
 lic, who yet I hold to be a fellow Christian — I may 
 say my indignation would be as strong as it is now; 
 and I would lift up my feeble voice in advocacy of 
 the great principle, that, let man be Jew, Turlv, Pa- 
 pist or Protestant, let him alone. (Loud applause.) 
 Let him talk with. his God, and let his God talk 
 with him; and therefore it is not as a Protestant, 
 but as a Chi-istian citizen of a free land, that I aro. 
 
226 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 glad to see my Catholic fellow-citizens as free as my- 
 self — therefore it is that I desire to protest against 
 this oppression, and I call upon my Catholic brethren 
 to join with me in the protest. (Applause.) It will 
 not come ; depend upon it, it will not. 
 
 Every one who knows anything about Italy for 
 years since, is aware that this very Duke of Tuscany 
 was so kind, so clement, and so lenient a prince, that 
 he may be said to have been the best beloved of all 
 European sovereigns, unless it may be perhaps the 
 Emperor of Eussia, who is regarded with a sort of 
 religious affection ; and I will tell you more, that if 
 that conspiracy which broke out some years ago to 
 consolidate Italy into one kingdom had been success- 
 ful, the leaders would have placed him at the head 
 of the kingdom. And why ? Because of his liberal 
 sentiments and kind heart, they wished to put him 
 npon the throne. If that conspiracy had been suc- 
 cessful, he would have filled the throne as the most 
 <ilement prince that Italy had. I have seen, sir, this 
 ')ld man walking with his hands behind his back, 
 superintending the improvements at Leghorn, and 
 other parts of his dominions, patting the little child- 
 ren on the head, talking to the working people, and 
 nodding familiarly to the market-women — the very 
 picture of a good king. Has this man changed? 
 Yes. At that very time the minions of the Pope 
 endeavored to use him in oppressing the people ; but 
 he put them one side, and set his face against the in- 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 227 
 
 fluoncc of religious tyranny. But he has now grown 
 old, his brain has become weak, his heart fearful, and 
 he has changed. It is not the Grand Duke of Tus- 
 cany now, it is the priest. Am I wrong in charging 
 this upon the priesthood ? The Pope is a priest, and 
 the Pope is supreme at Rome. Let the Pope decree 
 religious liberty — let the Pope wash his hands of 
 religious oppression, let religion be free in Rome, 
 and then shall I believe that religious oppression is 
 not the act of the priest, but of the government. 
 
 But this very night there is within the city of 
 Rome, a narrow street, with a gate at each end, into 
 which is crammed every night from seven to eight 
 hundred human beings. Drive through that street 
 in the day-time, and you need perfume to keep you 
 from fainting, such is the consequence of this dense 
 population. Who are these people? They are al- 
 most under the shadow of the Vatican. And this 
 most Christian sovereign of the most Christian 
 Church has the power to set them free, but he closes 
 the gates upon them at 8 o'clock every evening in 
 winter, and 9 o'clock in the summer, and opens them 
 in the morning at a corresponding hour. Why is 
 this ? Because they are Jews, and the Roman Catho- 
 lic relicrion tolerates no relisrlon but its own. If we 
 are guilty of slander — if it seems like calumny to 
 charge oppression upon those who profess in some 
 respects the same faith as ourselves, let them wash 
 their hands of these things. The Pope ought to be 
 
228 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 the champion of religious freedom. He should set 
 the example to the world by allowing truth to come 
 into contact -with error. 
 
 1/ there be a city next to Jerusalem itself, filled 
 wi .h consecrated recollections, it is Rome — Eome, 
 r nose grounds are honey-combed with the tombs of 
 arly martyrs. A little while since, when there 
 fi^as danger, w^hat did you see % A sovereign Prince, 
 jhe representative of the Apostle — puts on a livery 
 and gets behind a travelling carriage, and flies like a 
 lackey! The coward fled ! And he whose voice of 
 authority liad roared like a bull from the Vatican, 
 roared from the palace of Gjeta, like a petted calf! 
 
 Are you here to sympathize with a gentleman, a 
 nobleman % This man who is imprisoned is what is 
 called a lackey^ a hired servant. This man, when 
 called to give up his Bible, did he fly 1 fly like a 
 Pope 1 No ; superstition has made a Pope a cow- 
 ard, while the Bible has raised a lackey to the dig- 
 nity of a nobleman. 
 
 He now 'called upon the priests to join in main- 
 taining civil liberty. But he believed, if they con- 
 trolled the municipal authorites of this city, as they 
 do the Duke of Tuscany, his head to-morrow morn- 
 ing would not be worth a six-pence. And yet, said 
 he, I here declare before God, that I hope I have the 
 spirit of my country's history, and have drunk deeply 
 enough of the spirit of religious liberty, to lay my 
 head upon a block, and have it chopped ofl", before a 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 229 
 
 single hair of the head of the most Ligottcd Papist 
 in this hmd should sufier the least harm by religious 
 persecution. [Here the audience broke out in the 
 most uncontrollable applause, and the speaker took 
 his scat.] 
 
 The Rev. S. H. Cox, D. D. of Brooklyn, N. Y. 
 made the last address, which was highly appropriate 
 and well received, but very short, m consequence of 
 the lateness of the hour. 
 
 Having adopted the resolutions offered by a for 
 mal vote, the meeting was dissolved by pronouncing 
 the Apostolic Benediction; 
 
 Never before in this country was any religious 
 meeting so distinguished, by the presence of so many 
 persons of talent, piety, and influence, in the various 
 walks of life. Its object was benevolent and Chris- 
 tian, and all except the bigotted Papist, inflituated 
 and blinded by his false religion, were happy in being 
 called to attend its solemnities. Popish priests, and 
 others in connection with them, opposed it, and 
 sought to disturb its hallowed proceedings, and to 
 destroy the accomplishment of its end. But the 
 effort was unavailing.— ^It went onward to its close 
 in the happiest form, and its salutary influence soon 
 began to show itself all over the land. 
 
 In Newark, N. J. a similar public meeting of 
 great interest was held on Thursday evening, the 
 20th of January, at which the IMayor of the city, the 
 Honorable Mr. Quimby, presided. Excellent ad- 
 
230 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 dresses were delivered, and appropriate resolutions 
 were adopted. 
 
 In Baltimore also, a great and enthusiastic meet- 
 ing in behalf of religious liberty was held on the 
 evening of the 19th of February following, at which 
 it was computed that there were present at least, 
 four thousand people, when the subject was discuss- 
 ed with great ability, and important resolutions were 
 adopted. 
 
 By the Legislature of the State of New York the 
 following resolutions were adopted, viz : 
 
 Resolutions of the New-York Legislature. 
 
 Resolved^ (If the Assembly concur) That the Le- 
 gislature of the State of New- York have regarded 
 with deep solicitude and regret the recent persecu- 
 tions to which Francesco Madiai, and his wife Rosa 
 Madial have been subjected in the Kingdom of Tus- 
 cany, for the alleged crime of reading the Holy 
 Scriptures. 
 
 Resolved^ (If the Assembly concur) That the con- 
 gratulations with which the State of New York, for- 
 mally and by public act, hailed, in 1S47, the efforts 
 of Pius IX, to am.eliorate the condition of the Italian 
 people, and to bestow upon them the incalculable 
 blessing of national independence and constitutional 
 freedom, make eminently proper at this time a for- 
 mal and public remonstrance against cruel and fla- 
 grant oppression in the same land. 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 231 
 
 Resolved^ (If the Assembly concur) That the Pre- 
 sident of the United States be respectfully requested 
 to exert his best influence with the government of 
 Tuscany to obtain, as a favor asked by a people 
 which welcomes all strangers and protects all reli- 
 gions, permission for the Madiai, and their fellow- 
 prisoners for the same offence, to emigrate to this 
 country. 
 
 Resolved^ (If the Assemby concur) That a copy 
 of these resolutions be duly aathenticated and for- 
 warded by the Governor to the President of the 
 United States, and to each of the Senators and Rep- 
 resentatives in Congress from this State. 
 
 Meanwhile the subject reaches the Congress of 
 the United States which was then in session, and 
 was brought before the Senate by the Honorable 
 Lewis Cass, and the House of Pepresentatives by 
 the Honorable Mr. Wilcox, particularly in its rela- 
 tion to American citizens, while residing or sojourn- 
 ing in foreign lands : and a few days before its ad- 
 journment the Honorable J. P. Underwood, Chair- 
 man of the Committee on Foreign Pelations, at the 
 close of an able Peport upon it, submitted the fol- 
 lowing Resolutions to the Senate, and recommended 
 their adoption, viz : — 
 
 RESOLUTIONS OF THE SENATE. 
 
 ^^ Resolved, That it would be just and wise, on 
 the part of the Government of the United States, in 
 
232 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 future treaties \vith foreign nations, to secure, if 
 practiciible, to our citizens residing abroad, the right 
 of worshipping God, freely and openly, according to 
 the dictates of their own consciences, by providing 
 that ' they shall not be disturbed, molested, or 
 annoyed in any manner, on account of their religious 
 belief, nor in the proper exercise of their peculiar 
 religion, either within their owii private houses, or 
 in churches, chapels, or other places appointed for 
 public worship ; and that they shall be at liberty to 
 build and maintain places of worship in convenient 
 situations, interfermg in no way with, but respecting, 
 the religion and customs of the country in which 
 they reside. 
 
 " Resolved further, That it would be just and 
 wise, in our future treaties with foreign nations, to 
 secure to our citizens residing abroad the right to 
 purchase and own bnrial-places, and to bury any of 
 our citizens, dying abroad, in such places, with those 
 religious ceremonies and observances deemed appro- 
 priate by the surviving relatives and friends of the 
 deceased." 
 
 Before closing this chapter, the reader should be 
 informed that at an early day the attention of the 
 Honorable Millard Filmore, the President of the 
 United States, had been called to the case of the 
 Madiai, by a Committee appointed for that purpose 
 in the city of New-York, and his influence solicited, 
 so far as the duties of his o.3ice would permit ; and a 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 233 
 
 letter was consequently soon dispatched by the 
 Honorable INIr. Everltt, the Secretary of State, to 
 the Grand Duke of Tuscany, asking their release. 
 It can hardly fail, though unofficial, to receive a 
 respectful consideration ; and it may be followed by 
 the restoration of those pious people to their homes, 
 or at least, by a permission to leave Tuscany and 
 come to this country. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Archbishop Hughes' Letter. 
 
 The meeting whose proceedings and some of its 
 effects are noticed in the preceding chapter necessa- 
 rily bore with considerable severity upon the Popish 
 system of religion, and exposed its intolerant and 
 persecuting spirit. The cause which the friends and 
 advocates of that system chose to pursue, in regard 
 to the meeting and the objects of it, demonstrated 
 more clearly than it had been done in this country 
 before, that these traits attach to the American 
 branch of the establishment, as really as to the Eu- 
 ropean. Romanists, in common with all other citi- 
 zens, were invited to attend and to give their influ- 
 ence against religious intolerance, and in favor of 
 religious freedom. They did not comply with the 
 invitation. They withheld all cooperation, and in 
 the way of lectures, sermons, and newspaper arti- 
 20* 
 
234 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 cles, simultaneously put forth throughout the coun- 
 try in large numbers, misrepresenting the whole 
 matter, and vindicating the action of the Grand 
 Duke, in his treatment of the Madiai, sought to 
 embarrass, if not to break down and destroy the 
 good influences which the friends of religious free- 
 dom had set in motion. 
 
 Various pens had ably corrected many of the 
 misrepresentations that had been made by Popish 
 Priests, lecturers, correspondents and editors, when 
 the Archbishop of New-York, the Rev. John Hughes, 
 D. D. deemed it necessary to bring the weight of 
 his personal influence, and the power of his reason- 
 ing to bear upon the matter, that the attention of 
 the public might be diverted from the real question 
 at issue, and the Popish operations in this land still 
 be undisturbed, and the true character of Popery be 
 saved from, at least, a hazardous exposure. There- 
 fore on the 18th of February, six weeks after the 
 meeting in the JNIetropolitan Hall, the following let- 
 ter from him, though addressed to the Freeman's 
 Journal, was published in the New- York Daily 
 Times. The next day it appeared in the New-York 
 Plerald, and also in the Freemans' Journal to which 
 latter it was addressed. It is a remarkable docu- 
 ment, and shows to what extremes one may be led 
 against humanity, courtesy, reason and truth, when 
 committed by vows to a false system of religion 
 and politics, as is the system of Popery. The 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 235 
 
 reader will see that it counts very largely on the ig- 
 norance, credulity, and forbearance, of the American 
 people ; and shows an indifference to facts, and a 
 willin<Tness to mislead, which are sadly at variance 
 with moral uprightness. Here it is. 
 
 " To the Editor of the New- York Freemans' Journal." 
 
 "The heading of this communication suggests 
 the matter which it proposes to discuss. No pre- 
 face or introduction is necessary. The case of the 
 Madiai, as reported in newspapers, had already at- 
 tracted the attention and active sympathy 'of distin- 
 guished gentlemen, especially in England, previous 
 to its having been taken up in this country. It had 
 been the occasion of meetings at Exeter Hall in 
 London. It had been especially adopted by Sir 
 Culling Eardley and Lord Roden, who are by no 
 means distinguished as promoters of religious liber- 
 ty in their own country. Under such sanction in 
 England it would be strange if the movement did 
 not produce some corresponding action in this coun- 
 try. For latterly it seems as if the philanthropists 
 of this land deem it their highest honor to be imita- 
 tors of the corresponding class in England. There 
 is nothing done by the aristocracy of England in the 
 name of benevolence and philanthropy, which doe? 
 not immediately provoke the desire of imitation 
 among the aristocracy here. And the only example 
 that we have failed to imitate is the establishment 
 
236 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 of Ragged Schools, which have become so popular 
 in London and its vicinity. This we have not ven- 
 tured on, although Heaven knows, so far as the title 
 is concerned, the materials are not wantinof. Ens:- 
 land, as an accompaniment of the emigration of at 
 least her Catholic subjects, has not allowed them to 
 leave her shores unprovided with all the requisites 
 fitting them for admission into Ragged Schools. 
 
 " With this exception, whatever becomes popular 
 among a certain class of English nobility and gentry 
 is sure to be imitated on this side of the ocean. In 
 this way' we can account for the convocation of a 
 Madia! sympathy meeting at Metropolitan Ilall. 
 The call of the meeting was signed by some of our 
 most respectable citizens. It was attended by a 
 very large assemblage of persons who would attend 
 the meetings of Exeter Hall against Catholics with 
 as much sympathy and pleasure. The proceedings 
 of the meeting were in strict accordance with its 
 purpose, which was to shut off all free discussion, 
 and to excite an unkind, uncharitable, and bitter 
 Protestant feeling against the Catholics of the United 
 States and of the world. I should perhaps observe 
 in this place, to the credit of the Protestant clei-gy 
 of this City, that if they attended the meeting at all, 
 it was only in the capacity of silent spectators — - 
 while the resolutions were brought forward, and 
 speeches delivered by reverend brethren imported 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 237 
 
 apparently for the occasion, from the suburban and 
 neio-hborinoj villasrcs around New- York. 
 
 " I need not refer to the course which was given 
 to the whole discussion on that occasion. I may re- 
 mark, however, that it comprised a scurrilous de- 
 nunciation of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, of the 
 Jesuits, of the Pope, of Catholic Governments in 
 Europe, of the Catholic citizens of the United States, 
 and of the Catholic religion and its members of all 
 times and places. This was the purpose to which 
 the Madiai meeting directed its powers of eloquence 
 and denunciation. Whether the gentlemen who 
 signed the call for that meeting, Hon. Luther 
 Bradish, Collector Hugh Maxwell, Hiram Ketchum, 
 Esq., and other gentlemen of equal respectability, 
 intended to furnish an occasion for denouncing their 
 Catholic fellow-citizens in this country, is more than 
 I can take upon me to decide. From my previous 
 knowledge of some of these gentlemen, and my re- 
 spect for all, I should be unwilling to believe that 
 they would loan their honored names for a purpose 
 so unworthy of their social position, and so much at 
 variance with the civil institutions of their country. 
 I cannot, however, acquit them of responsibility in 
 this — that having accepted, or assumed the trust of 
 calling a public meeting, they delegated that trust to 
 other trustees, in whom the public could not have 
 the same confidence. Other meetings like that at 
 Metropolitan Hall have already been held in other 
 
238 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 parts of the country, and the probability is, that 
 Messrs. Bradish, Maxwell and Ketchum, whether it 
 was their intention or not, will have inaugurated a 
 Protestant crusade against their Catholic fellow- 
 citizens hardly less violent, or less dishonorable, 
 than that which resulted from the ' Awful Disclosures 
 of Maria Monk.' 
 
 " The wisdom and expediency of giving any en- 
 couragement to religious excitements in connection 
 with civil and social rights, appear to me extremely 
 doubtful. The Catholics of this country have had 
 nothing to do with the trial and the imprisonment 
 of the Madiai in Florence. What good effect, there- 
 fore, will be produced by an attempt, through the 
 medium of public meetings, to denounce them for an 
 act which they had no power either to accomplish or 
 prevent ? Is it wise to encourage strifes among the 
 various denominations of which the people of the 
 United States are composed 1 Would it not be 
 wiser to recognize the rights of such denomination 
 and of each individual, fully and frankly, as they are 
 recognized by the Constitution of the country ? 
 Some have the same right to be Catholics as others 
 have to be Protestants. All have the right to pro- 
 fess what religion they please. And since this is 
 the condition of all the people of the United States, 
 is it wise or just to denounce any portion of them 
 for the offences, real or imaginary, committed by 
 their brethren of the same creed in foreign coun- 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 239 
 
 tries? The time may come, and perhaps sooner 
 than is expected by our wisest public men, when the 
 United States will have need of the support of all 
 her citizens. Who can tell whether the future of 
 this country may not reveal dangers either from 
 foreign enemies or from internal divisions, which 
 will test the loyalty and fidelity of every citizen, of 
 whatever religion 1 In such an emergency the Ca- 
 tholics, in spite of the denunciations to which they 
 have been lately exposed, will be found among the 
 fastest friends of the Union and the bravest defenders 
 of the soil. They have ever been such — and during 
 the last few years, when even statesmen, not of their 
 religion, were ready to follow the lead of a foreign 
 demagogue, the Catholics have exhibited evidences 
 of self-control, of calm and wise loyalty to the United 
 States, of a well-poised self-possession which have 
 entitled them to the respect of their countrymen. 
 If it be true, then, that from the earliest colonization 
 of these States, and through all the struggles which 
 they had to undergo in peace or in war, the Catho- 
 lics have ever sustained an untarnished reputation, 
 have never furnished a coward on battle-field, or a 
 traitor in council : if they have discharged honoral)ly 
 their civil duties in times of peace, and their obliga- 
 tions of patriotism in times of war, why should they 
 now, under the auspices of the gentlemen who called 
 the meeting at Metropolitan Hall, be given over to 
 
240 STORY OF THE MADIA I. 
 
 the coarse and vulgar denunciations of the reverend 
 orators who figured on that occasion 1 
 
 The charge alleged in the preamble of the reso- 
 lutions adopted at that meeting, and on which the 
 resolutions themselves are founded, is that for no 
 other crime except that of ' possessing and reading 
 their Bible,' the Madiai, husband and wife, were tried, 
 convicted, and incarcerated by the Government of 
 Tuscany : if this charge be the truth, the whole truth ; 
 and nothing but the truth ; I am quite free and wil- 
 ling to denounce the proceedings of the Government 
 of Tuscany as oppressive, unjust and cruel; Such 
 an act w^ould be a disgrace to any Government, 
 Catholic or Protestant. But I must beg leave to 
 say that I do not believe the truth of the charge. I 
 regard it as a falsehood, and I have no doubt that it 
 will turn out to be so. If this should prove to be 
 the case, the proceedings at Metropolitan Hall will 
 reflect but little credit on those who sanctioned and 
 took part in them. Observe, I do not doubt the 
 truth of the statement that the Madiai ' possessed 
 and read their Bible,' but I do doubt and deny that 
 for this alone, they were tried and condemned to 
 prison. I must observe at the same time, that I 
 have no knowledge of the circumstances of the case, 
 except what has come under the notice of every one 
 who has read the newspapers of the day concerning 
 it. I have come to this conclusion on grounds of 
 probability, which to my mind are not less strong in 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 241 
 
 their aggregate than positive and direct testimony. 
 Fir^it — There is no law in Tuscany against 'pos- 
 sessing and reading the Bible.' Second — Even if 
 there was such a law, it is impossible that the Ma- 
 diai should have been convicted under it, inasmuch 
 as, in their very prison, they are allowed to ' possess 
 and read their Bible.' It is not probable that any 
 country would punish an offender for a crime, and 
 yet allow them to continue, during the penalty, in 
 the commission of the same. For instance, in our 
 own courts, men convicted of forgery are not allowed 
 to carry on the trade in the State's Prison. I think 
 that these reflections will satisfy any candid mind 
 that the Madiai arc not condemned solely^ for the 
 crime of ' possessing and reading the Bible.' And 
 if they are not condemned solely for this, it follows 
 that the proceedings at Metropolitan Hall are found- 
 ed on positive flilsehood. This circumstance, how- 
 ever, was not thought worthy of consideration, and 
 the truth would have been rather a detriment than 
 an advantage to the purpose of the meeting. The 
 impression intended to be made by the speakers on 
 that occasion was that the Government of Tuscan )> , 
 the Jesuits, the Pope, and the members of the Cath 
 olic Church throughout the world have a mortal 
 dread of the Bible. This would be strange indeed. 
 To them, the book, the New Testament at least, 
 was originally given in manuscript by its inspired 
 authors. They have been its witnesses and its guar- 
 21 
 
242 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 dians from the beginning. It has been recognized 
 and used by them as, in so far as it goes, a dupli- 
 cate in parchment of the doctrines which our Sa- 
 viour had inscribed with a pencil of divine fire in cha- 
 racters of living faith on the heart of the Church, The 
 art of printing facilitated its diffusion, and the Church 
 availed herself, with eagerness, of that art for the 
 purpose of multiplying copies of the Holy Scrip- 
 tures. Numerous editions of the Bible were pub- 
 lished in the principal languages of Europe under 
 the patronage of Popes, Cardinals and Bishops, long 
 before Protestantism came into being. The Italians 
 were well acquainted with the Bible in their own 
 beautiful language before Martin Luther was born. 
 The first Italian edition was published in Venice in 
 the year 1471, and forty successive editions were 
 published in the different cities of Italy anterior to 
 the date of the Protestant translation which was pub- 
 lished, not in Italy, but in Geneva, in the year 1562. 
 In the very year of American Independence the 
 Arch-bishop of Florence brought out another trans- 
 lation, for which he received the special thanks of 
 Pope Pius VI. In our own country, the Catholics 
 have published not less than twenty or twenty-five 
 editions of the Holy Scripture, of every size, from 
 the folio down to the octavo, many of which are 
 stereotyped. Is it not surprising then that our Pro- 
 testant neighbors will persist in supposing that we 
 are afraid of our own original and hereditary docu- 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 243 
 
 ments that have never been out of our possession ! 
 Connected with the case of the Madiai, a new 
 national policy has been broached in the Senate of 
 the L'nited States, by no less distinguished a Senator 
 than General Cass. This policy, with which the gen- 
 tlemen at Metropolitan Hall appeared to be very 
 familiar, purports to us a vindication of the rights of 
 conscience, to be secured to all American citizens, in 
 whatever countries they may choose to travel or so- 
 journ. The ground on which this policy is advanced 
 is that in this country strangers of every nation are 
 allowed to exercise their religion as their conscience 
 may dictate, and therefore in all other countries 
 Americans have the right to claim and exercise a 
 similar privilege. It is hardly necessary for me to 
 observe that freedom of conscience which is here con- 
 tended for is inviolable in its very nature and es- 
 sence. To say that any man or any nation has 
 either physical or moral power to destroy freedom 
 of conscience, is to give utterance to a patent ab- 
 surdity. Conscience without freedom is not con- 
 science, but for this very reason the freedom of con- 
 science is beyond the reach of man's power. God 
 has provided in the human soul a fortress to which 
 it can retreat, and from which it can hurl defiance 
 against all invaders. I presume, therefore, that there 
 is a confusion of ideas in the mmds of those who, 
 with Gen. Cass, plead eloquently for that which re- 
 quires no pleadmg, namely, freedom of conscience. ' 
 
244 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 That is universal — that is indestructible — that is in- 
 violable. They must be understood to mean liberty 
 of external action according to conscience, which is 
 quite a different thing. This external liberty of ac- 
 tion, according to conscience, in all countries, is regu- 
 lated to a certain extent by the enactment of positive 
 laws. In some countries the range is wider, in 
 others more restricted ; but it is limited in all, not 
 even excepting the United States. The liberty of 
 conscience which is recognized and applauded in 
 Connecticut will not be tolerated (on certain sub- 
 jects) in South Carolina or in Alabama. The Mor- 
 mons have been obliged to seek retirement in Dese- 
 ret in order to enjoy what they call liberty of con- 
 science. And the liberty which they there enjoy 
 would not be allowed them under the toleration of 
 the laws of New-York. Is it expected then, in the 
 project of Gen. Cass, that they, too, shall have the 
 privilege of exercising liberty of conscience in their 
 peregrinations among foreign States ! 
 
 Again, the assumption of General Cass is a fal- 
 lacy. He assumes that the freedom of religion in 
 this country is a boon^ conceded by Protestant libe- 
 rality to all the inhabitants of the land. This is not 
 so. It is a privilege which was won by the good 
 swords of Catholics and Protestants in the battles 
 for National Independence. It is a common right, 
 therefore, and is not to be regarded as a concession 
 ■ from one to the other. This arrangement, in regard 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 245 
 
 to liberty of conscience, suited the policy of the 
 country, and was absolutely indispensable after the 
 revolutionary war. Does General Cass mean to say, 
 that because it suited us, all other nations must adopt 
 it, whether it suits them or notl As well might 
 England say, that because it suited her finances to 
 adopt Free Trade, she will insist upon it that all 
 other nations shall do the same. Gen. Cass knows 
 as well as any man living, that until this country 
 becomes vastly stronger, and foreign States much 
 weaker than they are, all pleadings on this sul)jcct 
 will be treated as drivelling by foreign States. Oh, 
 if you have a mind to arrange the constitutions and 
 laws of European States by the power of armies and 
 navies, that indeed is another matter. But the United 
 States will expose themselves to ridicule if they drag 
 in such a question into their diplomatic intercourse 
 with foreign governments. 
 
 It is a recognised principle in this country that 
 every sovereign and independent nation has the right 
 to adopt its own constitution and laws. The consti- 
 tution and laws of a country are but the ajzgregato 
 of general principles applicable to the peculiar situa- 
 tion, protection and welfore of the citizens or subjects 
 of which it is composed. They may be regarded as 
 the public and permanent expression of the aggregaU 
 conscience of that State. Thus, without going out oi 
 our o\K\\ country, Massachusetts has one form o\ 
 public ^^^nscience, Louisiana has another. Does Mr. 
 
246 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 Cass mean to say that an obolitionist from Boston, 
 under the plea of liberty of conscience, still has the 
 right U talk in New Orleans, and preach, and 
 harangue, and write, and publish, on the subject of 
 Slavery as he might choose to do in Faneuil Hall? 
 If not, I would say, with all respect, that the policy 
 in regard to this subject, which General Cass advo- 
 cates in the Senate, is calculated to- have no practical 
 effect, either at home or abroad, except to stir up 
 sectarian animosities against his Catholic fellow-citi- 
 zens, and this is hardly worthy of his patriotic ser- 
 vices, advanced age, or accumulated honors. 
 
 Indeed, I am quite persuaded that the country has 
 lowered itself in dignity, if it be true, as the newspa- 
 pers have stated, that the President, through Secre- 
 tary Everett, has become a petitioner, side by side 
 with Lord Roden, and taken his place of expectation 
 and hope in the ante-chamber of the Grand Duke of 
 Tuscany. The supreme government of this country 
 ought not to stoop to an investigation, however 
 sacred may be the occasion, of a political trial in the 
 petty States of Italy. In doing so, it exposes itself 
 to humiliation and rebuke without redress. The 
 Grand Duke can easily ask Mr. Secretary Everett 
 certain questions about the liberty of conscience in 
 this country, which the latter would find himself ex- 
 ceedingly puzzled to answer. If the Grand Duke or 
 his Minister should ask Mr. Everett whether liberty 
 of conscience is recognized in the United States as 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 247 
 
 unlimited — the same in one State as in another — the 
 Secretary will have to reply, " No." If the same in- 
 terrogator should ask Mr. Everett what became of 
 the helpless female inmates of a certain Convent in 
 Charlestown, near Boston, who were driven out with- 
 out accusation, or trial, or condemnation before any 
 civil tribunal ; expelled from their peaceful home in 
 the depths of night, their house and furniture com- 
 mitted to the tlames. Can Mr. Everett tell what 
 happened to them afterwards 1 Again the Secretary 
 would have to answer, " No." Did the State of 
 Massachusetts make any compensation to these per- 
 sons for the destruction of their property, or the 
 violation of their rights'? Mr. Everett would have 
 to answer, "No." Is the State of Massachusetts 
 bound to protect the individual rights of her citizens? 
 Mr. Everett would have to answer, " Yes," in theory; 
 in practice, in this case, at least, " No." How, then, 
 it might further be asked, do you pretend that liberty 
 of conscience is extended to all the citizens of the 
 United States'? Is there any practical difference be- 
 tween the social intolerance which prevails in your 
 country, where there are so many religions, and the 
 legal intolerance of our dominions, where there is but 
 one? It seems to me that the Secretary of the 
 United States, who has it not in his power to give 
 different answers to questions such as these, rather 
 exposes himself and his native State, if not his coun- 
 try, by going all t^e way to Florence to plead for 
 
248 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 liberty of conscience, while such violations of its 
 rights have been perpetrated and left unrecompensed 
 at his own door. Other violations of liberty of con- 
 science in different parts of the country are by no 
 means rare in our history. They occurred in Phila- 
 delphia, where churches and convents were burned 
 to ashes by the intolerance of the mob. There is 
 this, however, to be said in extenuation, that at least, 
 if the civil authorities of Pennsylvania did not pro- 
 tect its citizens from these outrages, it allowed com- 
 pensation for the damage done to their property. I 
 fear much that social intolerance is not to be ascribed 
 so much to the principles of any religion, as to the 
 diseased moral nature which is the common inheri- 
 tance of us all. The evidence of this can be discovered 
 no less in the United States than elsewhere. There 
 is among us a superabundance of social and domestic 
 intolerance, in despite of those laws of religious free- 
 dom of which we are so ready to boast, but which 
 unfortunately have no power to protect the object of 
 that intolerance. Is it rare that poor servants are 
 driven out from their employment, because they will 
 not, against their conscience, join the domestic reli- 
 gion "of State," which the family has made exclusive? 
 Is it unusual to hear of men disinheriting their own 
 offspring for no cause except that of practising their 
 acknowledged rights of conscience ? These are matters 
 with which we are made too familiar, notwithstanding 
 our boasted rights and liberty of conscience. 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 249 
 
 I. have oflorcd these remarks not in any spirit of 
 controversy, but in the spirit of peace and of truth. 
 There are moments when every citizen who feels 
 that he can say something, promotive of the welfare 
 of his countrymen, and of advantage to his country, 
 is authorized to give public utterance to his senti- 
 ments, however humble soever he may be. With 
 such a feeling, I offer the foregoing reflections to the 
 consideration of my fellow-citizens for w^hat they are 
 worth — no more. 
 
 t JOHN, Archbishop of New-York. 
 
 Replies to Archbishop Hughes. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 Mr. Phelps' Letter. 
 
 In America it would be ruinous to Popery and 
 the prospects of its Priesthood to have their hostility 
 to the people's possession, and use of the Bible, 
 generally kno^\^l. To conceal this hostility, the 
 chief cause of the persecution of the Madiai was an 
 important object in the Archbishop's letter ; and the 
 language employed in it was so artfully arranged as 
 to imply that the Papacy had always cherished the 
 Scriptures, and amply provided for their general 
 distributions, and that no obstacle existed to their- 
 unrestricted circulation and use in Italy at the pre 
 
250 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 sent time. Therefore, on the 23d of February, five 
 days after its publication, the following letter, ad- 
 dressed to the Archbishop by the gentleman whose 
 name it bears, was published in various newspapers 
 in the city of New-York, and also in a number of 
 other cities of the United States. But it failed to 
 procure from him, or any of the authorities of the 
 Papal church, the desired information — and this 
 failure, on their part, must necessarily be regarded 
 as a cautioned acknowledgement that the Bible can 
 NOT be distributed among, and read by the people 
 in Italy, with the approbation of the Papal powers. 
 But we subjoin the letter : — 
 
 " Tlie Madiai Meeting at Metropolitan Hall 
 
 ** To Rev. Archbishop Hughes : 
 
 " Sir, — As one of the Committee engaged in 
 making arrangements for the ' Madiai Meeting ' in 
 Metropolitan Hall, I beg leave to call attention to a 
 statement in your letter, that the occasion was made 
 use of ' to denounce our Catholic fellow-citizens in 
 this country ;' ' to inaugurate a Protestant crusade 
 against our Catholic fellow-citizens.' Reports of all 
 the speeches made on the occasion are easily acces- 
 sible, and prove that anything more false than this 
 accusation was never stated by any authority, cleri- 
 cal or laical. The principal speakers used nothing 
 but the kindest and most respectful language in re- 
 gard to our Catholic fellow-citizens, and urged them 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 251 
 
 to join with us in denouncing and petitioning against 
 all such outrageous tyranny and injustice as that 
 practiced upon this poor family, for conscience sake. 
 Every honorable man, of the thousands present at 
 the meeting, will testify to this fact, and it will re- 
 quire something more than your bare assertion to 
 convince the intelligent and respectable of your o^v^l 
 community of its falsity. 
 
 " It is true that a good deal of laughter was ex- 
 cited by the extracts read by one of the speakers 
 from your unfortunate lecture on the subject of 
 'Civil and Religious Freedom,' delivered in the 
 same Hall ; but it was all in good humor, and at 
 your expense. 
 
 " In regard to your statement that ' the art of 
 prmting facilitates the diffusion of the Holy Scrip- 
 tures, and that the Church avails herself with eager- 
 ness of that art for the purpose of multiplying copies 
 of them,' we beg leave to ask you which translation 
 of the Holy Scriptures into the Italian language is 
 acceptable to the Church, and sure to meet with the 
 ' pa»tronage of Popes, Cardinals and Bishops V and 
 we pledge ourselves to print a large edition of 
 tliis translation, and send it to Italy for gratuitous 
 distribution. Wo wait anxiously a reply to this 
 inquiry, as our otTer is made in perfect good faith, 
 and we shall be glad to get your guarantee against 
 the pecuniary risks of our enterprise. 
 
 " Anson G. Puelps, Jr." 
 
252 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 Reply hy an Officer of the Amer. ^ For. Christian Union. 
 
 Tlie unmistakable evidence of sympathy on the 
 part of the Popish Priests, in tliis country, with the 
 Grand Duke of Tuscany, and their approbation of 
 his oppressive acts, gave a new view of Popery, and 
 its spirit, to many Americans, and forced deep and 
 abiding convictions upon them in regard to it, which, 
 previously, they had not entertained. In consequence 
 of this the letter of the Archbishop received a more 
 general attention than would otherwise have been 
 given to it ; and several replies of an interesting 
 Gharacter touchmg different parts were published, in 
 •Jiiferent places. The following, exposing its mis- 
 f epresentations and sophistries, is more full than was 
 warranted by the objects which the writer of the 
 preceding one had in view ; and was published on 
 the 2d of March, one week later, in the New- York 
 Daily Times, one of the journals through which the 
 Archbishof> had given his communication to the 
 public. If it is severe, it is so by reason of its 
 iTuthfulness. 
 
 The Archbishop has not answered the calls nfade 
 on him in it ; and his silence is necessarily regarded 
 as an acknowledgment of his inability to make 
 good some of his affirmations, or to defend the po- 
 sitions he had taken. But we subjoin the letter : 
 
 To the Rev. John Hughes, 
 
 PLoman Catholic Archbishop of New York, 
 
 Dear Sir, — In your remarkable letter of the 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 253 
 
 18th inst. upon the subject 'of the Madiai meeting,' 
 held in the INIetropolitan Hall, in this city, in Janu- 
 ary last, and ' the proceedings in the United States,' 
 you say : ' There are moments when every citizen 
 who feels that he can say something promotive of 
 the welfare of his countrymen, and of advantage to 
 his country, is authorized to give public utterance to 
 his sentiments, however humble he may be;' and 
 you offer it in justification of what you had the^ 
 ^vritten. You will accept it, I trust, as my justifica- 
 tion in addressing to you the present communica- 
 tion. 
 
 I have read your letter attentively, and cannot 
 but regret that you were induced by any considera- 
 tion whatever to send it forth into the community, 
 conveying, as it does, the impression that you re- 
 gard its sentiments as verities, and the belief ot 
 them, to be promotive of the welfare of the people. 
 For, with all impartial readers, it must necessarily 
 affect their estimate both of your head and your 
 heart, very unhappily ; and also do much to destroy 
 the hope which many had of late entertained, in re 
 gard to the Church of which you are an honored 
 minister, and in regard to yourself as a friend of re- 
 ligious freedom, according to statements from youi 
 pen made not a great while ago. 
 
 " It was hoped that the progress of the Nine 
 teenth Century, in literature, arts, science, and civili- 
 zation, had produced many and important changes 
 
254 STORY OP THE MADIAI. 
 
 in the dogmas and practices of the Roman Catholic 
 Church; and especially, that the intolerance which 
 distinguished it in the ' dark ages ' had given place 
 to what was more worthy of the Christian name. 
 But the spirit of your letter, the things you have 
 chosen to say, and the manner in which you have 
 executed the whole document, make it quite certain 
 that it is vain to hope, in regard either to yourself as 
 iffi American citizen, or in regard to Roman Catholi- 
 cism as a religion, adapted to do good to this or any 
 other land. 
 
 " No one, on reading your letter, can avoid the 
 conviction, that you descend from your high posi- 
 tion, and duties as a minister of religion, who should 
 ' study the things which make for peace,' to do the 
 work which, if uncorrected by other hands, must re- 
 sult in strifes, and hatreds, and divisions, and other 
 evils. But it is to be hoped that your movements 
 and Romanism too, will be understood, and that 
 what now see7ns to be your purpose, will be thwarted. 
 
 " You sneer at England, in the reference you 
 make to her ' aristocracy, ' ' nobility,' and ' gentry,' — • 
 and your rudeness, not to say insult, to Americans 
 in the affirmation that, in their movements to pro- 
 mote benevolent objects they are merely ' imitators 
 of the English aristocracy,' might perhaps have been 
 expected from a Roman Catholic less enlightened 
 than yourself, and in the heat of controversy — but 
 they were not to have been expected from you. They 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 255 
 
 are, howevar, deliberately put forth, and they seem 
 designed to create and to foster unhappy feelings. 
 England, [ know, indeed, has declared for, and de- 
 fended the rights of conscience, the unrestricted cir- 
 culation and use of the Holy Bible, and constitution- 
 al Government, too firmly, and faithfully, to hope 
 for favor from Romanists in Continental Europe, or 
 in any Roman Catholic country ; but you are ui the 
 United States, the land of Liberty, and it was natu- 
 ral to expect you to give your influence, whatever it 
 might be, to the cause of freedom, and also that you 
 would treat with decency and respect all your fellow 
 citizens. But we are disappointed. 
 
 " There is no ' aristocracy ' known in America ; 
 and yet you speak of such a class as actually existing 
 here, and you affirm, that the ' call of the meeting ' 
 originated in a disposition to * imitate the English 
 Aristocracy.' This representation is very unhappy. 
 The meeting was not called in connexion with the 
 meetings held in Europe on the subject, nor in con- 
 sequence of them. It was called by reason of the 
 claims which suffering humanity urged, and also 
 which members of the Christian Church, imprisoned 
 by a tyrant, simply fbr reading the Bible, have on 
 the sympathy and kind offices of all Christians. The 
 meeting was purely American in its origin, and in 
 everything that distinguished it. 
 
 " But suppose it was called in 'imitation ' of what 
 had been done in England. Is ' a philanthropic and 
 
256 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 benevolent object less valuable because Englishmen 
 may have moved ^rs? in regard to it? Certainly not. 
 Your philosophy is defective ; and your sneer and 
 mis-statements are not convincing. If an object is 
 worthy, no matter what nation or people move first 
 in promoting it, all should seek to advance it by all 
 the means in their power. 
 
 " But it is particularly painful to see you forget 
 the proprieties of your position, and of Christian 
 character upon so small a matter as the non-estab- 
 lishment, in this country, of what are termed in Eng- 
 land " Bagged Schools,' and appeal, in the flippant 
 manner you do, to God, whose name we are forbid- 
 den ' to take in vain.' Why should you become ex- 
 cited 1 Do you desire their establishment, and the 
 introduction of grades ' and ' classes ' among our peo- 
 ple 1 I know it is thought by some, that your sympa- 
 thies for the peculiarities of European Governments 
 are of late grown very strong ; but these should not 
 lead you to such use as you make of the name of 
 God. It savors more of the feelings and manners of 
 the irreligious and profane, than of those of the pious, 
 and especially of a Teacher of religion. You say 
 that you wrote ' for the welfare of your countrymen 
 and the advantage of your country ;' but these can- 
 not be promoted by such examples of profaneness in 
 the ministers of religion. If, therefore, you have oc- 
 casion to write again, I beg you to be more careful 
 m tliis respect. Rude and uncalled for appeals to 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 257 
 
 ••Heaven,' add nothing to the weight and influence of 
 an argument, while their omission is much more be- 
 coming the pen and heart of one who is invested 
 with the ofiice of an Archbishop. 
 
 " But 1 must call your attention to your affirma- 
 tions respecting what you call the purpose of the 
 meeting,' and its 'proceedings.' You affirm that 
 ' the purpose of the meeting ' was ' to shut off all 
 free discussion, and to excite an unkind, uncharita- 
 ble and bitter Protestant feeling against the Catho- 
 lics of the United States and of the world.' You 
 say, also, ' the proceedings were in strict accordance 
 with the purpose.' 
 
 " In making these affirmations you doubtless un- 
 derstood your position, and you will, if called upon, 
 demonstrate their truth ; or, failing to do it, consent 
 to be regarded as a slanderer. We are constrained 
 to call on you for proof; for we must and do deny 
 your statements to be true. The ' purpose ' of the 
 meeting was as expressed in the 'Call.' It was 'to 
 express sympathy for the suffering Madiai, and to 
 devise measures for their relief;' and this was the 
 controling idea of the occasion, as thousands of the 
 most reliable persons who were present will testify. 
 'The proceedings' were not as you represent them 
 to have been ; but, on the contrary, the rights and 
 privileges of Romanists were ple^aded for, and the 
 defence of them, against all usurpation and tyranny, 
 pledged by the meeting with as much earnestness 
 
258 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 and good feeling as were those of the Protestants ; 
 and you, and all Romanists in the community were 
 kindly and earnestly called upon, to unite with us 
 in this effort to advance the cause of religious free- 
 dom. You made no favorable response. You re- 
 fused to codperate in so humane and noble a work ; 
 but a representative of your denomination who, 
 during the progress of the meeting occupied him- 
 self, at times, in ' hissing ' and in other unworthy 
 exercises, was put forward to disturb, and, if possi- 
 ble, to break it up and to destroy its good effects. 
 How many were associated with him, and placed in 
 various parts of the Hall ready to act at a given 
 signal, I do not know. It is sufficient for me to 
 know that the effort was ineffectual. The plan did 
 not succeed. 
 
 " And why do you now complain, and berate the 
 conductors of that- meeting, as though some wrong 
 had been inflicted by them on you, or on Roman 
 Catholics "? If you are a friend of religious freedom, 
 you were invited to attend the meeting, in common 
 with all others. Did you attend'? If not — ^why nof? 
 If you were present in the Hall, as some say you 
 were, why did you not come forward, when a kind 
 public invitation was given to you, and thus prove 
 your friendship to the cause, and also, to the unre- 
 stricted circulation and use of the Holy Scriptures ? 
 But I will not urge you to answer, why. An an< 
 swer might force you to tell a terrible truth, which 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 259 
 
 millions, m this land, are now beginning to believe, 
 by reason of the course which you, and other leaders 
 of the Roman Catholic Church, are pursuing. It 
 might force you to say that you are a Jesuit, and 
 the subject of a foreign Prince, who has nothing 
 more at heart than the embarrassment of our Re- 
 public, in which men are encouraged to act and to 
 think for themselves, — and further, that you are 
 bound, by vows you have taken, to carry out the 
 ' Instructions,' received from that Prince to promote 
 Romanism, whatever may become of all other inte- 
 rests. This would be a terrible confession ; but still, 
 if you were governed by the truth, you might pos- 
 sibly have to make it. Would it not be so 1 Manj 
 do more than suspect it. 
 
 " But when you wrote your letter, you probably 
 would have answered as to your nonattendance, by 
 saying, that you did not believe that the Madiai 
 were imprisoned for ' reading the Scriptures.' You 
 said so then. But you will hardly say it now, be- 
 cause it cannot be supposed that you failed to read, 
 in the New-York Herald of the 19th inst. a full re- 
 port of the trial, derived from Italian sources, which 
 was printed by the side of your letter, and which 
 confirmed the popular opinion on the subject, and 
 exposed, in a number of instances, the misrepresen- 
 tations which your letter contamed. But this report 
 contained no facts that we had not from reliable 
 
260 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 sources before. Your refusal to cooperate, seems to 
 involve more than unbelief. 
 
 " You are doubtless right, in saying that ' the 
 Roman Catholics, in this country, had nothing to do 
 with the trial and imprisonment of the Madiai ;' and 
 had they been ' denounced on account of it,' you 
 would have been right in proposing, as you do, the 
 inquiry : W hether any good could result from de- 
 nouncing them in public meetings, for an act which 
 they had not power, either to accomplish or pre- 
 vent V But they were not denounced, and your in- 
 sinuation is highly improper, indeed morally Avrong, 
 and unless you can make the truth of it to appear, 
 it must react upon yourself very disadvantageously. 
 The community must entertain such notions of your 
 honor and truthfulness, as are forced upon them by 
 the course you pursue. 
 
 " I do not deny that the system of the Roman 
 Catholic religion, and its Hierarchy, are denounced 
 in America, and of late with much more severity 
 than formerly; because its unscriptural character, 
 and oppressive tendencies, are now more openly 
 avowed, and better understood ; but the Laity ^ who 
 have been deluded by the System and its Priest- 
 hood, have not been denounced. On the contrary, 
 they have shared largely in the sympathies of Ame- 
 rican Protestants, who in a great variety of ways 
 have proved their kindness of feeling towards them, 
 and their readiness to afford them relief; and I am 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 261 
 
 happy to be able to inform you, that very many 
 Roman Catholics have availed themselves of this 
 friendly disposition, and are now happy in the en- 
 joyment of Protestant freedom. Multitudes more, 
 we trust, will soon imitate their example, and enjoy 
 like happiness. 
 
 "But to another point ; — your apparent painful 
 anxiety, that ' religion ' should be separated from 
 ' civil and social rights ;" and that everything adapted 
 to alienate the various denominations in the country 
 should be avoided ; because the entire strength of 
 the nation, as you intimate, may, at some future 
 day, be needed for its protection. That ' the future 
 of this country may reveal dangers from foreign 
 enemies ;' and the influences of some who consent 
 to be their tools, though they dwell with us and 
 have the favor of citizenship, no intelligent person, 
 who has carefully observed the course of things for 
 some years past, perhaps, entertains a doubt. But 
 it seems strange to those who have observed your 
 course, and that of other leaders in the Roman Ca- 
 tholic ranks, that you should venture to read a 
 homily to the American Protestant community on 
 this topic. What a pity you had not thought of 
 this grave matter before, and taken ' the beam from 
 your own eye before you attempted to take the 
 mote ' from the eyes of Protestants ! It would have 
 saved a vast amo«nt of outlay, on the part of Roman 
 Catholics, m the form of Lyceums, Institutes, Public 
 
262 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 Lectures, impassioned orations, newspaper articles, 
 'circulars' from Councils, and such like things, by 
 which it has been sought to bring Roman Catholics 
 into direct and bitter antagonism with other classes 
 of citizens. It would have prevented also that vio- 
 lent onset that is now made by Roman Catholics in 
 all sections of the United States against our common 
 school system, and also that bitterness of feeling 
 which manifests itself against various American in- 
 stitutions, and Americans themselves, in the coarse 
 and vulgar threats with which, at least, some Roman 
 Catholic periodicals are partially filled. When read- 
 ing us this homily on cultivating Ivind and respectful 
 feelings, and doing ' the things which make for peace ' 
 and unity in the land, had you forgotten your own 
 course ? Or did you suppose that Protestants had 
 forgotten it 1 They cannot forget it so easily. And 
 I will venture to predict, that if the course which 
 you and your associates have pursued on these mat- 
 ters, for some time past, is 7iot abandoned, and sub- 
 stituted by one more kind and respectful to public 
 sentiment and feeling^ and the laws of the land^ you 
 will, for yourselves and your denomination, destroy 
 that respect and good feeling which others desire to 
 cherish towards you. You may in time occasion the 
 rise throughout this country, which is sacred to li- 
 berty — civil and religious — of a Protestant party, 
 with a view to vindicate and sustahi American prin- 
 ciples, and our legalized and valued institutions. 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 263 
 
 against Roman Catholic violence and abuse. It is 
 earnestly hoped that you will not press matters to 
 this result. Protestants, I am sure, do not desire 
 such a result. But if it should take place, and bear 
 with considerable oppressiveness upon Roman Cath- 
 olics, American Protestants will be free from the 
 responsibility of causing it. On Romanists the re- 
 sponsibility will rest. 
 
 " But what you have said about the Bible, and 
 the views and usages of the Roman Catholic Church 
 in regard to its circulation and use by the people, 
 should be received with considerable allowance. 
 
 " Your claim to antiquity as a church, and to 
 have received the original manuscripts of the New 
 Testament from the hands of their inspired authors, 
 is ridiculous enough, as authentic history assures us 
 that your church had no existence till after the lapse 
 of centuries from the times of the Apostles. 
 
 " It did not rise till the spirit of Anti-Christ, 
 which began to discover itself while the Apostles 
 were present, had had time, through apostacies and 
 various corruptions of the doctrines and institutions 
 of Christianity, to furnish the materials, and an op- 
 portunity for its formation. Then it rose in an 
 organized form, but it was too late, by several huu- 
 dreds of years, to receive anything from the hands 
 of divinely inspired writers. 
 
 '• What you say about the printing of various 
 editions of the Bible in Europe, is very well so far 
 
Ji64 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 as it goes. But it misleads because more is not said 
 by you. To give the true impression, you should 
 have added that these books were restricted to a 
 narrow circulation by the enormous prices at which 
 they were held ; and also that those only might have 
 them who could obtain, from the Roman Catholic 
 Priest, a written permission to that effect. '^ The 
 possession of a Bible by a person therefore does not 
 depend, in a Roman Catholic country, on a desire to 
 have it, nor simply an ability to pay for it ; but on 
 the judgment or caprice of a Priest, who has the 
 control of the matter. -"• ' 
 
 " What, then, is this but a practical withholding 
 of the Bible from the people, by church authority, 
 notwithstanding the parade you have made of the 
 fact, that the Roman Catholic Church has printed 
 various editions and versions of the Scriptures in 
 Europe? It is, notwithstanding, withholding the 
 Bible from the people ; and in all Roman Catholic 
 countries it is proverbially true that the masses of 
 the people do not have the Scriptures. The large 
 and costly editions they cannot buy if they would, 
 in case the Priest would permit them to do it ; and 
 the cheaper editions, furnished by Bible Societies, 
 they are forbidden to receive, ' on pain of excommu- 
 nication,' and of ruin both for this life and the life 
 that is to come. These things you will not venture 
 to deny in sight of the enactments of the Council of 
 Trent, which are authoritative in your Communion, 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 265 
 
 and of the ' Official Bulls ' issued within forty years 
 past by Pius VII. Leo XII. Pius VIII. and Gre- 
 gory XVI. 
 
 " That the Bible should be printed by you in 
 America is not strange, however hostile your church 
 may be to its free circulation, for America is the 
 land where the people honor the Bible as the great 
 instrument in securing their distinguished prosperity 
 and happiness. Opposition, therefore, to the Bible, 
 professedly and openly made by you, would fatally 
 affect your prospects and hopes of success in this 
 land ; and you are too wise not to suppress the ex- 
 pression of disapprobation of its free distribution, as 
 you have suppressed, in the edition which you have 
 approved for American use, such notes as would be 
 sure to hinder your prosperity here, if made known 
 to the public, though they are of canonical authority, 
 and are published in the editions intended for circu- 
 lation in Roman Catholic lands. 
 
 " In concluding your letter, you speak of a ' new 
 national policy that has been broached in the Senate 
 of the United States, in connection with the case of 
 the Madiai,' and which you truly say, ' purports to 
 be a vindication of the rights of conscien9e, to be 
 secured to all American citizens, in whatever coun- 
 tries they may choose to travel or sojourn,' and it 
 appears to meet your special disapprobation, although 
 similar privileges are secured in this country to 
 strangers from every nation of the world. You seem 
 
266 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 to endeavor, in various ways, to cloud the subject, and 
 so to embarrass it as to hinder its favorable consid- 
 eration by the people. But something more clear, 
 as well as forcible, will probably be requisite in 
 order to secure that result. 
 
 " You say that ' there is a confusion of ideas in 
 the minds of those who, with General Cass, plead for 
 freedom of conscience,' and you very kindly tell the 
 world what they would say, if they only knew how. 
 This is, indeed, very generous of you. But I have 
 looked carefully at what you say about conscience 
 and its freedom, and I am forced to believe that ' the 
 confusion of ideas ' is with yourself rather than with 
 the friends of the measure contemplated.* With you, 
 if I understand your reasoning on the subject, 'free- 
 dom of conscience ' is the synonym of ' licentious- 
 ness.' But this is by no means the view of those 
 who plead for its being secured to our citizens in 
 every nation with which we may hereafter enter into 
 any treaty ; and the phrase will be understood in its 
 
 * You speak of" conscience" as an entity— as something 
 having an existence distinct and separate from the human 
 soul ; for you say, " God has provided in the human soul a 
 fortress, \o which it can retreat, and from which it can hurl 
 defiance against all invaders." What then is it ? If it is 
 something outside of the soul, which can, in time of need 
 take refuge in " a fortress provided " for it in the soul— 
 what is it ? Is it part of our physical nature ? Where does 
 it belong ? From the following sentence, which occurs in a 
 subsequent paragraph of the discussion, where you speak of 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 267 
 
 true and proper sense ; and the thing signified will 
 be appreciated by the Protestants of this land, not- 
 withstanding all your attempts to embarrass and 
 prejudice it. And, I trust that the ' policy,' as you 
 call it, in our national legislation, will prevail, and 
 ever hereafter be maintained. 
 
 "Your statements in regard to some things in 
 the early history of the United States, it is thought, 
 need considerable modifications to conform them to 
 the truth. With what seems to many an unbecom- 
 ing assurance, you declare that in regard to them, 
 ' the assumptions of General Cass are a fallacy.' You 
 then set up a claim for Roman Catholics, as the 
 founders of this Government, and the authors of its 
 freedom in the same sense, and to the extent, which 
 such claim should be accorded to Protestants. You 
 put forth a similar claim once before. Then, perhaps, 
 you might have been excusable, on the ground that 
 you had not the means to know certainly that the 
 claim was wholly groundless. But now this plea can 
 
 the laws of a country, viz: "They may be regarded as the 
 public and permanent expression of the aggregate conscience 
 of a State," — I take it, that in your estimation, " conscience" 
 and "will" are identical. For it is usual to consider and 
 speak of the laws of a people, as the embodiment or expo- 
 nent of their " will," on the topics to which the laws refer. 
 But I may have failed to understand you. If, however, 
 *' conscience " and " will " with you mean the same thing, 
 and if you represent, in this, the views of your Church, no 
 wonder that Rome is intolerant without compunction. 
 
268 S*TORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 hardly be made. Tliat you may not fall into the 
 error of affirmmg these thmgs again, would it not be 
 well to turn your attention to our history, as a nation, 
 a little more carefully *? If you have not time to read 
 extensively, I would suggest tliat you at least read 
 Mr. Polk's review of your Roman Catholic Chapter in 
 the history of the United States, in which its numerous 
 fallacies are clearly and satisfactorily demonstrated, 
 and the true state of the case shown. Roman Cath- 
 olics, as such, had little or nothing to do in devising 
 and securing the liberties of this country. 
 
 "And here let me say, that I am surprised at 
 what appears to be your notion of national honor 
 and glory. You say, ' I am persuaded that the coun- 
 try has lowered itself in dignity, if it be true that 
 the President, through the Secretary Everett, has 
 become a petitioner side by side with Lord Roden,' 
 to ' the Grand Duke of Tuscany.' In your judgment, 
 then, the Government may not interpose its moral 
 influence, in the way of a request that suffering inno- 
 cence should be released, without lowermg its dig- 
 nity ! I had heretofore thought that to do good, and 
 to seek to promote the prevalence of righteousness 
 everywhere, whether in nations or narrower circles, 
 was praiseworthy and honorable to those who en- 
 gaged in it. Sure I am, that the Bible teaches such 
 a sentiment, whatever you, an Archbishop of Roman- 
 ism, may hold to the contrary. If it would be un- 
 worthy and inglorious to seek, by moral means, 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 269 
 
 which inflicts no wrong, to induce a Government 
 which is grossly sinning against its helpless subjects 
 to desist from its course ; then I take it that the op- 
 posite of this meets your idea of dignity and national 
 honor. So then you would have persecution to reign 
 without an effort to check it ! It would be the glory 
 of nations to stand by, and hear the shrieks of the 
 despairing, the groans of the dying, and the sobs of 
 the bereaved, or otherwise wretched by reason of 
 the oppressions of those in power in a country, and 
 yet attempt nothing for their releif ! This may suit 
 you, sir, and possibly it may be in keeping with tlie 
 Canons of your Church ; but it is as unnatural and 
 heartless as it is at variance with the Scriptures, and 
 with every just sentiment of true national dignity 
 and honor; but this is not your doctrine when a 
 Roman Catholic is to be relieved. It is in the re- 
 membrance of some, that you asked our Government 
 to interfere with England, to relieve a Romanist — 
 did our dignity wane then ? 
 
 " Before leaving this portion of your letter, it is 
 due to say that, in point of ingenuity and adaption 
 to the end for which it was designed, it falls not a 
 whit below any other portion. The Catechism, 
 which is offered to Mr. Everett with seeming fair- 
 ness, but so as to misslead the incautious, and give 
 you an air of triumph, and an opportunity to inti- 
 mate that public opmion in this country is identical 
 with the ' legalized intolerance ' of Roman Catholic 
 
270 STORY OF THE MADIA I. 
 
 countries, is an entire evasion of the subject under 
 discussion. ' Freedom of conscience ' was the thing 
 to be spoken about and illustrated ; but you have 
 substituted licentiousness, and spoken as though the 
 rebukes it received a few years since by an insulted 
 and outraged community in Charlestown and Phila- 
 delphia were acts of violence suffered by Eomanists 
 * for conscience sake.' Those sufferings at the hands 
 of the populace, on the occasions alluded to, were 
 induced by Roman Catholics themselves, and the 
 consequence of many and most aggravated acts of 
 wickedness on their part. I have no apology to 
 make for mobs, but when the causes of them are 
 misrepresented in order to inflict a wrong on our 
 national character, it is proper to offer a correction. 
 If you are familiar with the history of those cases, 
 you must be aware that I have now placed them in 
 the true light, as to their causes. 
 
 "I do not deny the existence, to some extent, 
 and in some individual cases, of religious bigotry in 
 this country, among Protestants. It is a defect, and 
 is to be deplored, wherever it obtains. But, I do 
 deny that ' intolerance ' obtains with them to the 
 extent, and in the form, wliich your statements and 
 illustration seem designed to affirm. The princi- 
 ples of ' religious freedom ' are sacredly guarded 
 and cherished by our people ; and as no slight evi- 
 dence of it, I might cite your own undisturbed state, 
 while you preach, and write, harrangue, and publish, 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 271 
 
 and say and do so many tilings which are so entire- 
 ly at variance with public sentiment and feelings. 
 Few in the land would say what you, without blush- 
 ing or apology for its insulting character and want 
 of truthfulness, have said in the letter under con- 
 sideration, about American citizens, in general, and 
 about some of our most distinguished functionaries 
 in State, in particular. You furnish, therefore, in 
 my judgment, in your own case, a fair and full re- 
 futation of your assertions about the social intoler- 
 ance of this land. But I must close. I have written 
 to ' promote the welfare of my countrymen, and the 
 advantage of my country,' by setting right what you 
 had put wrong, and restoring order w^here you had 
 produced confusion." AN OFFICER 
 
 Of the American and Foreign Christian Union. 
 New-Yobk, February 26, 1853. 
 
 Reply by Simon Peter. 
 
 On the 11th of March, a little more than a week 
 after the publication of the Reply by " an Officer of 
 the American and Foreign Christian Union," the fol- 
 lowing, signed, " Simon Peter," was published in the 
 New-York Herald. The writer is evidently well 
 acquainted with the subject on which he writes, and 
 liis letter will be read with deep interest. It is 
 humorous and instructive, and is worthy of particu- 
 
272 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 lar attention. If it places the Archbishop and his 
 cause in an unenviable position, the responsibility 
 is on the Archbishop. He has placed it and liimself 
 there. But to the letter. 
 
 To the Rev. John Hughes, D. D. 
 
 Roman Catholic Archbishop of New-York. 
 
 Dear Sir, — Your Grace must not be surprised 
 at receiving so much attention. It is one of the 
 penalties of greatness to be exposed to such things. 
 If you had not made yourself so conspicuous for aims 
 already gratified, and higher ones yet to be accom- 
 plished — for the Archiepiscopate in possession, and 
 the Cardinal's hat in expectation — I am not sure that 
 what you say and do would arrest quite so much of 
 the public notice as at present. In common with 
 many others, I have read with some care your letter 
 to the Freeman's Journal of the 19th instant, in rela- 
 tion to the " Madiai," the " Meeting in the Metropo- 
 litan Hall," " Religious liberty," etc. etc. and I must 
 say that I was not a little disappointed. My dear 
 Archbishop, many more " such deliverances " as the 
 one in question, and that notable lecture on the 
 " Decline of Protestantism," made just as you were 
 about to set out on your late pilgrimage to Rome, 
 will not augment your reputation either for logic or 
 prudence. 
 
 The exordium of your Grace's letter was not 
 happy. To attempt to ridicule the meetmg in Metro- 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 273 
 
 politan Hall, held for the purpose of expressing sym- 
 pathy for poor and humble, but, nevertheless, very 
 worthy people, who are suflermg for doing what 
 every man in these United States has the right to 
 do — namely, to impart, by reading the Bible to his 
 fiimUy and friends, and endeavoring to lead them to 
 adopt his views of the Gospel, and act according to 
 their convictions — very ill became the high and 
 sacred office to whicli you claim to have been called 
 by the Saviour of men ; and because similar meet- 
 ings had been held in England, it was poor logic to 
 take it for granted that that meeting was held in 
 imitation of them, and through admiration of the 
 English aristocracy. It was not prudent for you to 
 talk in this way, because your enemies may justly 
 say that in this you betray your cherished antipathy 
 to everythmg that is English. Your Irish origin 
 will account for this. Had you been cognizant of 
 the facts, you would have known that to imitate the 
 English in this matter, or to have anything to do 
 with any movement because it was English, was the 
 last thmg that would have occurred to any of the 
 gentlemen with whom originated the meeting. On 
 this point you are all wrong, I beg to assure your 
 Eminence. 
 
 As to "ragged schools" for the poor children, 
 which Ireland, not England, sends to our shores — 
 which Romanism, not Protestantism, has made — our 
 Protestant fellow-citizens, and among them the get- 
 
274 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 ters-up of the meeting at Metropolitan Hall, are not 
 indifferent. They are doing much in many ways to 
 care for them, but in a more Christian manner than 
 the creating of ragged schools. But all this is of 
 small moment; let us advance to more important 
 topics. 
 
 The meeting was called to promote and express 
 sympathy for the Madiai, and other sufferers (for 
 the rights of conscience in the matter of religion) in 
 the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, and for giving utter- 
 ance to those principles, on the subject of religious 
 liberty, which every true-hearted American both 
 holds and feels, and which alone can either create or 
 justify such sympathy. Nor can your Grace find 
 any discrepancy between the objects set forth in the 
 call for the meeting, signed by thirty distmguished 
 Protestant gentlemen, and the statement of facts, 
 resolutions, and series of propositions, presented to 
 the public on the occasion. The meeting was called 
 for the purposes just stated, and no other. As to 
 what your Eminence says about the object being 
 to abuse the Roman Catholic's of this country, 
 and excite prejudice and animosity against them, etc. 
 nothing more untrue was ever uttered by any 
 man, and I can scarcely thinlc that you believe the 
 assertion. You have a marvellous tact for going off 
 into whatever may divert men's minds from the true 
 state of the case, whenever by so doing you can 
 strengthen your cause. For was there anything 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 275 
 
 said or read at the meeting which could be justly 
 considered as calculated to excite prejudice against 
 the Roman Catholics of this country. No one 
 dreamed of holding them accountable for the acts of 
 the Grand Duke of Tuscany in relation to the Ma- 
 diai. It is true that the spirit and history of Rome, 
 or rather of the Roman Catholic hierarchy — for it is 
 the Roman Catholic Church, the people being noth- 
 ing at all, and having nothing to do either in the de- 
 termining of doctrines or the administration of disci- 
 pline, as you well know — were spoken of freely by 
 some of the speakers w^ho endeavored to defend the 
 Grand Duke of Tuscany, by saying truly that he is 
 not so much to be blamed, or held accountable, for 
 the infamous acts in question, as the priests around 
 him, and especially Pio Nono, who could by a word 
 terminate all this persecution. Some hard things 
 were said about the hierarchy of Rome, it must be 
 admitted ; but they were just. It is also true that 
 your eminence was most earnestly called on to join 
 this movement in behalf of the poor sufferers, and ex- 
 ert your great influence to incline — by addressing 
 him yourself, or praying his Holiness to do so — the 
 heart of his Ducal majesty to leniency and grace. 
 Surely there was nothing in all this like a premedi- 
 tated plan, or any effort, to excite prejudice against 
 our Roman Catholic fellow-citizens. The expressions 
 of Dr. Bethune in favor of them were of the strong- 
 
276 STORY OF THE MADIAI, 
 
 est character, and they were as real, as heartfelt, as 
 they were strong. 
 
 No, sir ; there was not a speaker on that occa- 
 sion who dreamed of holding up the Roman Catho- 
 lics of this country to reproach for the tyranni- 
 cal acts of the Grand Duke of Tuscany. These 
 gentlemen knew well that there are thousands 
 among the Roman Catholics of this country, espe- 
 cially among those who were born in this land, as 
 well as thousands in France, Germany, Italy, and 
 other papal countries abroad, who condemn this out- 
 rageous injustice as earnestly as they themselves did 
 or could. You, therefore, drew very largely on 
 your imagination, dear Archbishop, when you spoke 
 of the meeting as 'comprising a scurrilous denuncia- 
 tion of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, of the Jesuits, 
 of the Pope, of the Catholic governments of Europe, 
 of the Catholic citizens of the United States, and of 
 the Catholic religion, and its members, of all times 
 and places.' 
 
 The quoted words will indicate to your Grace 
 the topics on which you have grossly (I will not say 
 wilfully, for you and I are of Irish origin, and ought 
 therefore to treat each other civilly) misrepresented 
 the meeting, and those who spoke at it. 
 
 As to your complaint, that ' free discussion was 
 shut off' at the meeting, you can hardly believe that 
 it is well founded. Even your neophyte and proteg^^ 
 the editor of the Freeman^ Journal^ could not have 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 277 
 
 expected that his request to be allowed to speak, just 
 as the meeting was coming to a close, and at the 
 late hour of half-past ten o'clock, would or could be 
 granted. The meeting was a meeting of the ' friends 
 of religious liberty,' to which Roman Catholics and all 
 others were invited, and so they and all the world 
 understood the matter. Your Grace knows enough 
 of such things to be convinced that such a meeting 
 was not likely to be gotten up and carried on with- 
 out some plan. And you know well, that if you and 
 your Roman Catholic friends were to get up a pub- 
 lic meeting of any nature, you would view as an in- 
 truder any man who would come in and claim the 
 right of speaking without an invitation ; and most 
 certamly it is hard to conceive how your friend, the 
 editor referred to, could expect to speak at the meet- 
 ing in question, after all the abuse which he had 
 heaped on the poor Madiai in the columns of his 
 paper. But he and you, my good Archbishop, have 
 it in your power to hold another public meeting, and 
 set forth your views of religious liberty, and de- 
 nounce persecution in Tuscany and everywhere else 
 as much as you please, and Protestants will be 
 there to hear you. 
 
 You are kind enough to say that you, too, would 
 denounce the conduct of the Grand Duke of Tuscany 
 if you could only believe that the Madiai have been 
 imprisoned and made to suffer for ' reading their 
 Bibles.' You cannot believe that this is the only 
 
278 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 cause of their being thus treated. Well, the case is 
 a very simple one. These people read their Bibles, 
 Diodati's version, a Protestant one, a translation 
 from the original Hebrew and Greek, made by a 
 scholar, a better one than Martini's, or any other 
 Romish version in the Italian language — and in 
 doing so they discovered the true Gospel, and aban- 
 doned the errors of Rome ; they read the Bible to 
 others, and imparted their convictions to their minds, 
 and they, too, turned away from the Romish Church. 
 This was the head and front of their offence. This 
 was considered treason. Because they could not 
 believe that the Virgin Mary is the mother of God, 
 they were charged with blasphemy. They were 
 tried and condemned on these grounds alone, and 
 wliich two of their judges, (out of five,) and some of 
 the ablest advocates in Florence, did not believe to 
 be valid, even by the laws under which their con- 
 demnation was sought. Archbishop Hughes, do you 
 believe — can you make this nation believe — that 
 these people were justly condemned 1 You affect 
 not to know anything about the circumstances of 
 this case. Well, if you will look into the Journal 
 of Commerce of February 14, 1852, you will find 
 the accusation brought against these people at the 
 time of their first imprisonment, and it will enlighten 
 you somewhat. And, further, I have to say that we 
 have sent for a copy of the proceedings at the trial, 
 published in Italian, and when it arrives, we will ap- 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 279 
 
 point one competent man, and you shall be invited 
 to appoint another, and these two shall appoint a 
 third, and this committee shall determine whether 
 these Madiai were condemned for a political offence, 
 or for that which I have stated ; the reading of their 
 Bible, and endeavoring to impart their convictions 
 on the subject of religion to others, not guilty of 
 any political, or civil, or moral offence, against the 
 laws of the land. You speak of their being con- 
 demned as if it were as a police affair. Yes, it was 
 just such an affair of the police as that which put the 
 Apostles in prison in Jerusalem, and which they ex- 
 pressly declared they would not, could not, obey. 
 It was just such a police regulation as Prtetors en- 
 forced at the bidding of their imperial masters at 
 Rome, and which ten times deluged the empire with 
 innocent Christian blood during the first three cen- 
 turies. 
 
 You have given it as one reason why you cannot 
 believe that the Madiai have been condemned for 
 reading the Bible, that they have been allowed to 
 read their Bible since their imprisonment ; and you 
 ask whether criminals — forgers, for instance — are 
 allowed to continue their work of crime in prison 
 after their condemnation ? Mr. Moran, a Roman 
 Catholic priest in Newark, New-Jersey, has asserted 
 the same thing, and also, that they are allowed the 
 visits of an ecclesiastic. But what are the facts? 
 They are not allowed to have their own Protestant 
 
280 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 Bible, (Diodati's,) nor their Protestant religious 
 books and tracts, (although their confinement has 
 been solitary most of the time,) but the Eomish 
 version of the Bible and Eomish tracts are alone 
 placed before them ; and as to the ecclesiastic who 
 is allowed to visit them regularly, he is a Capuchin 
 monk ! 
 
 Your Grace goes on to argue that your church 
 cannot be — has never been — opposed to the reading 
 of the Bible, because she has been from the first en- 
 trusted with the precious boon, or at least the New 
 Testament, which is, in fact, her exclusive inheri- 
 tance ! This is very wonderful. Just as if the 
 canon of sacred scripture was not settled, and every 
 book of the sacred volume translated into almost all 
 the important languages of Europe, Western Asia, 
 and Northern Africa, long before the supremacy of 
 the bishops of Eome was established, or the Eoman 
 Catholic Church heard of! Just as if the Greek 
 Church, from the middle of the ninth century, and 
 the five other Oriental Churches, had not the scrip- 
 tures in their respective languages, and did not 
 watch over them, and see to it that Eome did not 
 corrupt them ! There were other eyes than those 
 of Eome, and other hands than hers, that cared for 
 the precious treasure. I well know that after the art 
 of printing was invented the Bible was published, 
 not only in the original Hebrew and Greek, but also 
 in the vernacular languages of Italy, Germany, Hoi- 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 281 
 
 land, France and England ; but I have yet to learn 
 that this was not rather the work of ' learned men,' 
 than the result of the zeal of Rome, and her Popes, 
 her Cardinals, her Archbishops and her Bishops. 
 Indeed, some of the men who were engaged in this 
 good work had a hard time of it. Even in the fif- 
 teenth century, the era of which I am speaking, 
 Eome had departed too far from the truth contained 
 in the A\Titten Word to have any relish for the sa- 
 cred volume. The Reformation came, and it gave 
 the Bible, in something like abundance, to the people, 
 inasmuch as the Protestants regarded it as ' God's 
 Book for the People.' But as to Rome — I mean the 
 Roman Catholic Church, or hierarchy rather — she has 
 not done much. Into what languages of the heathen, 
 among whom her missionaries have labored these 
 last two centuries, has the Bible been translated 1 
 In what has it been printed by those missionaries 1 
 Not many — I fear not one — I mean the whole Bible 1 
 And where is there in all the world a Roman 
 Catholic Bible society *? If you know of one, pray 
 tell me, my good Archbishop — tell me of one. You 
 say that an Archbishop of Florence, IVIonsigneur 
 Martini, translated the Bible into Italian in the year 
 1775. I know it. I have circulated many a copy 
 of his New Testament, though I think it not equal 
 to Diodati's, by a great deal. I have done so on the 
 principle that an inferior translation is better than 
 none. The British and Foreign Bible Society have 
 
282 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 printed both Diodati's and Martini's translations of 
 the entire Bible, as well as the New Testament by 
 itself. 
 
 Mr. Moran, a Roman Catholic priest, in New- 
 ark, New Jersey, already referred to, has recently 
 affirmed that the Bible has not only been published 
 in Italy, but that more than forty editions of Mar- 
 tini's translations have been issued since it was first 
 published, and that it is to be seen in the book- 
 stores in every village in Italy, from one end of the 
 peninsula to the other. If this were so, one would 
 think that far more than forty or fifty editions would 
 have been needed. But it is not true. I know 
 something of Italy ; I have been there several times 
 during the last sixteen years. Until the revolution 
 of 1848 opened the way for the Bible Societies to 
 print the Bible at Rome, Florence, Turin and Ve- 
 nice, the book was only to be seen in a few book- 
 stores in the chief cities, and then in an edition of 
 several octavo volumes, with copious notes, and 
 costing several dollars. It is in vain to talk about 
 the Bible being accessible to the people of Italy 
 whilst published in that form. And though in 1848 
 — '49 the Bible Societies did a good deal in Rome 
 and Florence, yet as soon as the Pope and the 
 Grand Duke had been restored from their flight by 
 French and Austrian bayonets, everything of the 
 sort was stopped. In Rome every house has been 
 searched for the accursed bookj and many copies 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 283 
 
 have been confiscated and destroyed, both at Rome 
 and at Florence. This is Rome's way of taking an 
 interest in having the people to possess and read 
 the Word of God. But you will say that it was a 
 Protestant version of the New Testament that was 
 confiscated in these cities. And what of that 1 It 
 was a good version, and set forth the truth with 
 great fidelity; but then it had not the authorized 
 notes of the Church. Oh, yes; there is the rub. 
 Rome is afraid to give the Bible, just as God gave 
 it, to the people. She must put notes to it to inter- 
 pret certain passages as she thinks proper. Well, 
 this Italian New Testament, with abundant notes, 
 has been published, in two large editions, in a con- 
 venient form, and at a comparatively reasonable 
 price, at Turin, within the last two years, but by a 
 bookseller — his Grace, the Archbishop of that city, 
 having nothing to do in the matter. Indeed, his 
 Grace has not been at home these two or three 
 years, the government of Sardinia having given him 
 permission to travel into foreign parts, because of 
 his having improperly meddled with political affairs 
 and endeavored to subvert the constitution ! 
 
 Your Grace cites, in proof of the interest which 
 your Church takes in the people's possessing and 
 reading the Bible, the fact that some twenty or 
 twenty-five editions have been published (of the Ro- 
 man Catholic version) in various sizes, and under 
 proper episcopal supervision, in these United States. 
 
284 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 This is a most extraordinary and fatal statement. 
 Why, if we suppose that each edition was of 10,000 
 copies, (which is probably very far beyond the 
 mark,) then no more than 250,000 copies in all of 
 the Roman Catholic version, (not half as many as 
 our American Bible Society issues in one year,) 
 have been published in this country, for the now 
 two or three millions of Romanists. Archbishop, 
 Archbishop ! this is too bad ! And yet, what better 
 could be expected ? Notwithstanding all you have 
 said in your recent " Letter," you know that your 
 Church is not in favor of giving the Bible to the 
 people, excepting under conditions which render the 
 permission of very little value. Let me ask you 
 whether you have not, within a few months, in a 
 sermon at Yonkers, New- York, said to the people 
 that they ought not to read the Bible — that they 
 could not understand it — that the Church alone has 
 the ability and the right to explain the Bible — that 
 it is enough for the people to learn the catechism, 
 and believe what the Church says to them by the 
 mouth of the priest 1 Did you not say this, or what 
 was equivalent to it ? If you did not, some gentle- 
 men of my acquaintance greatly misunderstood you. 
 As to your remarks about ' liberty of con- 
 science,' I have not much to say. You might well 
 have spared the little homily, for everybody knows 
 that liberty of conscience does not mean liberty to 
 hold and enjoy one's conscientious opinions on the 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA. 285 
 
 subject of religion to one's self, but the right to make 
 tlieni kno\vii to others. The nature of truth is to 
 seek to be known — in other words, to make prose- 
 lytes. ' A Catholic Layman,' in the New-York 
 Times of the 24th ult. has well stated that fact. He 
 has also well distinguished between the liberty 
 which is created by the constitution and laws, and 
 that which prevails in the feelmgs and habits of com- 
 munities. The religious liberty granted to all by 
 our constitution and laws is complete ; and yet oc- 
 casionally popular excitement may be gotten up, 
 which, for a time, set aside the laws, and overthrow 
 the liberty guaranteed by the constitution and the 
 laws. You endeavor to throw dust in the eyes of 
 your readers by disregarding these important dis- 
 tinctions ; and would make them almost believe that 
 we have not religious liberty in this land, because 
 damage has been done' in popular tumults, to a Ro- 
 man Catholic convent near Boston, and a church or 
 two in Philadelphia. Because men cannot say and 
 publish in South Carolina and Louisiana what they 
 please on the subject of slavery, you insinuate that 
 there is not entire religious liberty in this country. 
 If you will allow me to say it, I think that it is alto- 
 gether unworthy of you. You know that there is 
 religious liberty in this land ; that in no State 
 in this Union is a man forbidden to buy a Bible, if 
 he has the means ; he may read it if he can ; and if 
 he is so unfortunate as to be unable to read, whether 
 
286 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 owing to any unwise laws in any State, or any other 
 cause, he may hear it read, he may hear the Gospel 
 preached, believe, and decide for himself what church 
 he will join. Would that there was as much reli- 
 gious liberty as this in all Roman Catholic countries 1 
 As to the religious liberty which Roman Catholics 
 enjoy in this country, you seem to think that they are 
 in no way indebted to Protestants for it — that they 
 fought for it during the Revolution, and gained it 
 by their good, trusty swords. This is also very 
 wonderful. Just as if the Revolution in which the 
 Roman Catholics — though they were too few to have 
 much influence in that great movement — certainly 
 bore their parts, (and some of them, such as Charles 
 Carroll and a few others, a very honorable one,) gave 
 religious liberty to this country. You must certainly 
 kftow, dear Archbishop, that all the colonies brought 
 hither the germ of religious liberty, whether they 
 came from England, Scotland, France or Germany, 
 though in some it was more developed than in oth- 
 ers. But all went on advancing in regard to this 
 great subject until the Revolution, when all the thir- 
 teen colonies, Protestant, (even Maryland was so,) by 
 an overwhelming majority, enjoyed a great amount 
 of religious liberty, and some of them a full measure. 
 It was this fact which insured the incorporation of 
 the principle of religious liberty into the constitu- 
 tion. Nothing is more certain than that all the re- 
 ligious liberty there is in the world is owing to Pro- 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA, 287 
 
 testantism. As to the statement which your Grace 
 has sometimes made, that we owe our religious lib- 
 erty to the little colony which Lord Baltimore plant 
 ed in Maryland, it is hardly worthy of consideration. 
 From the nature of the case, that colony could not 
 fail to have religious liberty from the first ; for a 
 Protestant government in England never would 
 have allowed a Roman Catholic colony to be planted 
 here upon the principle of intolerance. But if, as 
 you say, Rome is favorable to religious liberty, why 
 does she not grant it in her own domain ? Why does 
 she not ? 
 
 I cannot doubt the attachment of our Roman 
 Catholic fellow-citizens to our noble political institu- 
 tions. And yet I could not read what you say about 
 their "well-poised self-possession," that kept them 
 from being carried away by the influence of a " foreign 
 demagogue" (Kossuth) who recently visited us, with- 
 out something more than a smile. Oh, Archbishop ! 
 if Kossuth had been a Roman Catholic, or contend- 
 ing against a Protestant country, you would, perhaps, 
 have thought differently of him. But he was a Pro- 
 testant, who had tried to overthrow the despotism of 
 the House of Hapsburg, (which has been a good ser- 
 vant and friend of the Papacy,) and in doing so he 
 had the generous aid of millions of Roman Catholics 
 of his country, far more than half of the soldiers and 
 officers who fought in that war being such. But he 
 fought against Austria ! That was enough. But let 
 
288 STORr OF the madiai. 
 
 us look at the other side. Where was the " well- 
 poised self-possession" of the Irish Roman Catholics 
 in this country — where was your own, dearest Arch- 
 bishop — in the summer of 1848, when the last rebel- 
 lion broke out in Ireland '? Surely your memory 
 cannot be very good. Have you not forgotten those 
 1500 which you gave to kindle the flame of civil war 
 in your native land 1 But then it was to overthrow 
 the dominion of hated Protestant Albion in the Em- 
 erald Isle. That changed the whole affair. But let 
 us talk no more about the matter, for I greatly fear 
 that it is not agreeable to you. 
 
 Nor am I sure that the next topic will be any 
 more so. You have berated General Cass, and others, 
 for endeavoring to secure the protection of our Ame- 
 rican citizens, in their religious rights, in foreign 
 lands. Now, this measure is so just and equal, that 
 I wonder that a man of your penetration does not see 
 that people will say to you : " Yes, you know that 
 American Roman Catholics, as well as American 
 Protestants, are protected in their rights in Protes- 
 tant countries almost as much as they can desire, 
 and that in most Roman Catholic countries Ameri- 
 can Protestants have not the right to have their own 
 religious worship, and to bury their dead with such 
 ceremonies as they prefer, and therefore you are 
 quite contented with the present state of things — 
 from the feeling that Protestantism has something 
 to lose, and Romanism nothing, through its influ- 
 
PROCEEDINGS IN AMERICA 289 
 
 cnce." This is precisely what every intelligent Pro- 
 testant will think and say about your conduct in this 
 matter. And what do you think of it yourself, my 
 dear Archbishop 1 Does it not appear rather too 
 mean and contemptible? I feel concerned for you. 
 
 Still further: what shall we think of your oppos- 
 ing the interference of Mr. Fillmore in behalf of the 
 Madiai, especially when you, and hundreds of others, 
 asked this same President Fillmore to do precisely 
 what he has now done in favor of Smith O'Brien 
 and other Irish rebels — or " patriots," if you prefer 
 the word — that is, write a letter of intercession in 
 their behalf to the Queen of England? What a 
 " degradation" this, for our noble President and our 
 immortal Webster, to be seen standing in humble 
 attendance in the ante-chamber of Albion's proud 
 monarch ; and all this for a few Irishmen, for whom 
 you would have said, if they had been Hungarians, 
 that " hanging was too good for them." " Oh. con- 
 sistency, thou art a jewel !" — but not, in this case, an 
 Irish one. 
 
 But you seem to make it a matter of reproach to 
 our great meeting at Metropolitan Hall, that none 
 of the great Protestant pastors of the city of New- 
 York took part in the speaking on the occasion. 
 The orators were all from such "suburban villages" 
 as Brooklyn, Newark, and Elizabethtown. If the 
 Hall could have been obtained for Monday night, 
 instead of Friday, it is quite probable that you 
 
290 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 would have heard, had you been there, (it U re- 
 ported that you were,) some gentlemen from the 
 city who were that night occupied with the irregu- 
 lar weekly lectures. As it was, the meeting went 
 off pretty well. The " suburbans " acquitted them- 
 selves decently, all of them. They are no mean 
 men ; nor are they all unknown to your Grace. Dr. 
 Bethune made the audience feel that he was well 
 able to grapple with the subject. Drs. Kennedy, 
 Hague, and Cox, certainly did not disgrace them- 
 selves. And as to " Kirwan," I think your Grace 
 has some remembrance of him, unless your " hegira 
 to Halifax " made you as oblivious of the past as is 
 the " Bourbon among us " of the occurrences of his 
 early days. 
 
 But, with your permission I will stop here, at 
 least until your Eminence favors the public with 
 another " letter " on some subject or other. 
 
 I am, your Grace's most humble and obedient 
 servant, Simon Peter. 
 
 Why have the Madiai been treated so cruelly ? 
 
 We cannot allow this volume to be completed 
 without giving the testimony of our countryman, the 
 Rev. G. H. Hastings, in behalf of these excellent 
 people. Mr. Hastings was the American Chaplain 
 ftt Rome for three years. In a series of letters pub- 
 
ONE CAUSE OF THE PERSECUTION. 291 
 
 lished in the New York Commercial Advertiser in 
 the month of April, 1853, he has given many in- 
 teresting particulars respecting both Francesco and 
 Kosa Madiai. The former he saw often at his house, 
 as well as in the American Chapel, at Rome, during 
 the winter of 1850-51. On one occasion Sig. Ma- 
 diai officiated as a deacon for Mr. Hastings, in the 
 administration of the Lord's Supper. Mr. H. de- 
 scribes him as being a very pleasant, dignified, 
 gentlemanly person, of much good sense, and re- 
 markably acquainted with the Scriptures. He was 
 a zealous and faithful Christian, very decidedly 
 evangelical in his views, and possessing great tact 
 and skill in controversial discussions. He took 
 little or no interest in politics, his mind being en- 
 grossed with the spiritual, rather than the political, 
 regeneration of Italy. He was in Rome in the ca- 
 pacity of a courier to some English ladies of great 
 respectability — a post which is of much responsibility 
 and requiring great attention, kindness of manner, 
 and fidelity. Mr. Hastings saw Madame Madiai at 
 Florence in June following, and describes her as a 
 woman much superior to most women of her posi- 
 tion in society. Tall, slender, dignified, energetic — 
 though in delicate health — she was altogether a 
 remarkable person. She was prudent as well as 
 zealous. Her long residence in England had given 
 her correct ideas of the nature and importance of 
 constitutional government ; but politics occupied not 
 
292 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 her attention. She was more concerned for the 
 enlightenment of her people in the knowledge of 
 God's Word. Mr. H. thinks, however, that if only 
 half of the men in Tuscany had been born of such 
 women as Rosa Madiai, there would soon be no 
 Austrians in that duchy — and we think so too. 
 
 We subjoin the reasons which Mr. Hastings has 
 given for the harsh and severe manner in which the 
 Madiai have been treated by the Tuscan govern- 
 ment. We have no doubt that he has stated the 
 case justly. 
 
 "In respect to distributing Bibles, the Madiai 
 were certainly active, but not as agents of any so- 
 ciety whatever ; nor had they ever any large number 
 of Bibles and Testaments deposited with them. It 
 was not their practice to thrust copies upon those 
 who might not desire them ; but to procure them 
 from time to time for such as they found disposed 
 to search them honestly. 
 
 " The tracts, which they circulated with the same 
 prudence, were all published at Florence with the 
 approval of the censorship in 1849, and contained 
 nothing with which a truly pious Romanist could 
 feel offended ; they having been prepared with great 
 care to present the pure Gospel only, without con- 
 troversy. 
 
 " In respect to proselytism, it must be admitted 
 that both conversed freely with such as came na- 
 turally under their influence, and were willing to 
 
ONE CAUSE OF THE PERSECUTION. 293 
 
 listen to them. In this matter they kept quietly 
 within the circle of common social intercourse, never 
 putting themselves forward as zealots. They em- 
 ployed none of those arts which characterize the 
 prosclyter in the offensive sense of the word, as one 
 must naturally observe from reading the specifica- 
 tions under this head in their sentence. Four cases 
 are cited in proof of their 'scandalous conduct,' as 
 the judge termed it; three of them of domestics in 
 their family, and the other a young man of sixteen, 
 to whom Mr. M. gave French lessons ; all of which 
 persons at the time expressed themselves grateful 
 for the instruction and advice offered them, though 
 not all were directly influenced by it. 
 
 " In their defence, the Madlai said that they never 
 attempted anything of this kind except where they 
 found spiritual stupidity and ignorance ; and that in 
 striving to win souls to the knowledge of Christ, 
 they must necessarily do it after the manner in 
 which they had learned him. 
 
 " Fin-^lly, as the very worst which the govern- 
 ment could make out against them, they were found 
 guilty of having 'insinuated the preference which the 
 religion called Evangelical deserved over the Catho- 
 lic, and counselling that one should not give heed to 
 the teachings of the priests; reprobating the worship 
 of the Virgin, and of the saints, as idolatry, and ridi 
 culing particularly the pious custom of keeping a 
 light burning before the sacred image of the former.* 
 
294 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 " That they used this and similar language hun- 
 dreds of times in the course of the three years, from 
 1848 to 1851, when there was a growing Protestant 
 feeling around them, is true enough. But that they 
 ever occasioned any disturbance by it, either in the 
 street, or at any public resort, or in private dwell- 
 ings, is not pretended by their accusers; and certain 
 it is that they never indulged in that virulent lan- 
 guage toward the priesthood common to the people 
 of Italy. 
 
 " If then the Madiai were such persons as I have 
 described them to be, humble, unobtrusive, and 
 scrupulous to avoid, if possible, violating the known 
 laws of the land, why were they treated with such 
 extraordinary severity? I answer, they were the 
 victims of State policy. Both the Court of Tuscany 
 and the Court of Rome considered it necessary, for 
 the extirpation of the spreading heresy, to make 
 such an example of some respectable individuals as 
 should strike terror among the people. Count Guic- 
 ciardini was too powerful for them, and had, more 
 over, been too prudent to give them a sufficiently 
 plausible excuse for anything more than a sentence 
 of exile for six months. 
 
 " The other individuals arrested had been too in- 
 significant for their purpose. Examinations and the 
 testimony of spies, pointed to the house of the Madiai 
 as the favorite resort of the Evangelical dissenters. 
 The family, moreover, had a certain reputation with 
 
ONE CAUSE OF THE PERSECUTION. 295 
 
 the English, who would feel the blow which should 
 descend upon it. From the moment the government 
 saw this, no degree of prudence on their part could 
 have saved them. The occasion of the arrest of Mr. 
 Madiai was, as we have seen, the merest pretence on 
 the part of the police ; but that was no matter ; his 
 fate was already determined upon. The Duke, the 
 Duchess, and various members of the Court were 
 known to have said repeatedly, that they would 
 make such an example of this flimily as should 
 effectually terrify others from embracing the Evan- 
 gelical faith. The decree of 1787, under which they 
 were condemned for ' impiety,' did not apply to 
 their case ; but that also was no matter ; the Inqui- 
 sition claimed them, and the laws of their country 
 could not protect them. Agreeably to the concor- 
 dat signed at Rome on the 25th of April, 1851, the 
 sentence of the Madiai was 'deferred to the ecclesi- 
 astical authorities,' and was actually approved at 
 Rome before being pronounced at Florence. This, 
 G)unt Baldasseroni, then Muiister of State, will not 
 deny. 
 
 "Well have the Grand Duke and the Grand 
 Duchess fulfilled their vow. They have made an 
 example of the Madiai. But an example of what? 
 Why, of what poor Italy had well nigh forgotten ; 
 the simplicity of the primitive Christian faith, and 
 the true martyr spirit. 
 
 " But what have these princes, at the same time, 
 
296 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 made of themselves? Let the indignant remon- 
 strances made to them by Cabinets, Legislative 
 Assemblies, and the people of half of Christendom, 
 answer. They have vowed to extirpate from their 
 dominions this ' confession called Evangelical, or the 
 pure Gospel,' though their names go down to poste- 
 rity clothed with the odium of a Nero. The odium 
 they are gathering fast ; but the confession, being 
 indeed that of the Pure Gospel, has only become 
 the better appreciated by their subjects for their 
 persecution of it." 
 
 We cannot forbear to give the following remarks 
 which Mr. Hastings makes in the concluding number 
 of the letters referred to. They are just, and their 
 importance will be acknowledged by all reasonable 
 men. 
 
 "A word in conclusion respecting the certain 
 consequences of the imprisonment of the Madiai, 
 which are beginning to show themselves in this 
 country. There was reason to fear that so long as 
 their humble and sincere confessors of the evan- 
 gelical faith remained in bonds for conscience sake, 
 there would be continual outbreaks of popular will 
 toward Romanism, to the just grievance of our 
 Roman Catholic fellow-citizens. Such a result every 
 enlightened patriot, Protestant or Catholic, would 
 have endeavored to avert. As Protestants we are 
 bound to defend the religious freedom here enjoyed 
 by the Romanists ; as their fellow-citizens we are 
 
ONE CAUSE OF THE PERSECUTION. 297 
 
 bound to respect their equal title to every civil 
 privilege kno^v^l to us. Moreover, we are so exten- 
 sively linked together in social ties of relationship 
 and love, that either party must necessarily feel out- 
 raged at any indignity cast upon the other. But at 
 this juncture, when popular passion is becoming ex- 
 cited at the barbarity of Roman Catholic Govern- 
 ments abroad, with whom rests the greatest power 
 to tranquillize the public mind? Let the Roman 
 Catholic clergy and editors candidly admit the vio- 
 lence done to all just liberty of conscience in the 
 treatment of the Madiai ; let them show that they 
 have no sympathy with the Tuscan Government in 
 this persecution of dissenters ; and join us in our 
 endeavors or make some honest effort of their o^vn, 
 to cause religious persecution everywhere to cease ; 
 and they will accomplish quickly, and with ease, a 
 change in the popular feeling which millions of Pro- 
 testants in their best endeavors, and the civil au- 
 thorities with all their forces, can never effect. But 
 let them persist in their attempts to make false issue 
 in this case by their \^Tetched sophisms in com- 
 mendation of the Grand Duke, and in derogation of 
 the Madiai ; let them continue to denounce the 
 active sympathy of the Protestant world in behalf 
 of these sufferers for Christ's sake as ' all a flirce,' 
 and let them still contemn ' as mere drivelling ' the 
 efforts of our national Cabinet, of our Senators and 
 State Legislatui es, to procure by treaty the right of 
 
298 STORY OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 public worship for American citizens in Roman 
 Catholic countries — then will they make themselves 
 the most guilty agents of all, in kindling the flame 
 of popular wrath toward Romanism. Nor, in such 
 case, can the people avoid the conviction that the 
 claims of Romanism here, as well as on the conti- 
 nent, and the secret agency of the priesthood too, 
 are utterly at war with the free institutions of the 
 country 1 
 
 " The priaciples upon which the Roman Catholic 
 sovereigns of Europe, instigated by the Court of 
 Rome, are now acting toward the poor peo^^le, and 
 toward Protestants in particular, are in the highest 
 degree oppressive, unjust and cruel ; as opposite to 
 the precepts of the Saviour as depraved human na- 
 ture can make them. The great mass of our Roman 
 Catholic fellow-citizens secretly believe this ; but 
 they are restrained from the public expression of 
 their convictions. May they yet have bishops and 
 editors who will know how to disengage the religion 
 of Jesus from all fellowship with such principles, 
 and who may be able to guide the Roman Catholic 
 mind of the country into just views and the perfect 
 practice of religious toleration. Then shall we walk 
 peaceably together; and the excesses of sectarian 
 strife, which we have too much reason to dread, will 
 be averted." 
 
CONCLUSION. 299 
 
 THEIR LIBERATION. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 The Deputation from England, France, Holland^ 
 Germany, and Switzerland, visited Tuscany in Oc- 
 tober 1852, about the same time the King of Prussia, 
 it is understood, wrote a letter to the Grand Duke, 
 and sent one of his favorite Councellors of State to 
 intercede in behalf of these suffering ones. It is 
 believed that the Queen of England caused her ear- 
 nest desires for their liberation, to be made known 
 to his "Imperial and Ducal Highness." But all 
 seems to be in vain, so far as their release was con- 
 cerned. It is true that these efforts in their behalf, 
 together with the great publicity which was given 
 through the Journals, to the reports made by the 
 Deputation, as well as by other persons who gained 
 access to their prisons, probably had no little influ- 
 ence in securing for the prisoners the humane treat- 
 ment which, according to Mr. Colombe, the Swiss 
 Chaplain at Florence, they undoubtedly received 
 during the latter and greater portion of their con- 
 finement after their condemnation. So much was 
 gained; but still there was no manifestation of a 
 disposition on the part of the Government to release 
 them. 
 
 This was the state of things when the great 
 meeting in Metropolitan Hall, New- York, on the 7th 
 
300 STORY OP THE MADIAI. 
 
 January, 1853; followed by those in Newark, Ne;v 
 Jersey ! and Baltimore, not long afterwards. By the 
 Steam Ship of January 6th, the letter of the Hon. 
 Edward Everett, was forwarded to the Grand Duke 
 of Tuscany. This letter was unofficial^ and sent to 
 the American Consul at Florence, with directions to 
 cause it to reach the Grand Duke. About two 
 weeks later Lord John Russel, the British Minister 
 for Foreign Affairs, addressed an earnest and very 
 stringent letter to Mr. Bulwer, the English Am- 
 bassador at Florence, and directing him to use all 
 the influence he could in behalf of the prisoners. 
 
 Through God's blessing, these efforts were not 
 in vain. The Grand Duke at length resolved to 
 liberate them, and send them out of the country. 
 Without a word said to the British Ambassador, or 
 the least notice given to the public, the prisoners 
 were sent down to Leghorn by different trains on 
 the rail-road. Madame Madiai, from Lucca on 
 Tuesday, March 22nd, and her husband from Flo- 
 rence the day following. Upon her arrival at Leg- 
 horn, Madame Madiai was taken to the French Con- 
 sulate, whence she was ordered to go at once on 
 board a French Mail Steamer, which was to leave 
 the next day for Marsailles. This she refused posi- 
 tively to do ; saying that she was a Tuscan, and not 
 a French subject, and that the French Consul had 
 no right to send her out of the country. This ground 
 was also taken, it is probable, from an apprehension 
 
CONCLUSION. SOI 
 
 that she was to be liberated, and her husband left in 
 prison. Upon the Consul's solemn assurance that 
 her husband would join her the day following on 
 board the Steamer, she consented to embark. From 
 the steamer she contrived to send a parcel and a 
 note to the British Consul, informing him of what 
 was going on, and requesting him to come and see 
 her, — which he immediately did, accompanied by 
 the English Chaplain. The latter wrote at once to 
 the London "Times," and the former telegraphed 
 Mr. Er^kine, the British Charge' d' Affaires at Flo- 
 rence, who lost no time in communicating the fact 
 to Lord Jolm Russell, which flict he stated in the 
 House of Commons on the Friday following. 
 
 On Wednesday, ^March 23d, Francesco Madiai 
 was sent down to Leghorn, accompanied by M. de 
 Gabriac, the French Ambassador at Florence, and 
 was immediately placed on board the Steamer re- 
 ferred to. There he met his wife, just nineteen 
 months^ that day^ after their arrest and first impri- 
 sonment ! The British Consul took pains to supply 
 them both with suitable clothing, of which they had 
 great need, for the weather was very inclement, 
 and they had only the light dresses in which they were 
 sent to their last prisons in July. The French Am- 
 bassador and Consul went with them to Marseilles, 
 and committed them to the care of the Police of 
 that city — a fact which has led some to believe that 
 they owe their liberation to the mterposition of the 
 
302 STORT OF THE MADIAI. 
 
 French Government. — Indeed, they were so In- 
 formed by these gentlemen on the Steamer, although 
 it would be difficult to reconcile all this with the pre- 
 vious conduct and language of M. de Gabriac. It is 
 more likely that they were requested to accompany 
 the liberated ones for the purpose of securing their 
 admission into France, and a proper disposition of 
 them there. 
 
 Both Francesco and Rosa Madiai were exceed- 
 ingly debilitated by their long imprisonment ; and 
 their first desire was to find repose at Marseilles. 
 They were received with kindness by the Prefect of 
 the Department, (Bouches du Rhone,) who kindly 
 permitted them to attend Protestant worship, (which 
 the Police were disposed to prevent, because their 
 presence attracted a crowd,) and to enjoy themselves 
 as best they could. At the time of this writing it 
 is not known to us where they will take up their 
 abode. It is probable that after ppending some time 
 in the south of France, they v»^ill go to Switzerland. 
 They have been invited to England and to Prussia. 
 They will find a welcome in any Protestant country 
 — in none a more heart-felt one than in our own, if 
 they should wish to come to us. 
 
 Here we bring our story of the madiai to an 
 end. What an illustration of the infernal spirit of 
 Rome? What a proof that even in this Nineteenth 
 Century she is just what she was when in successive 
 ages she persecuted the Albigences, the Waldenses, 
 
CONCLUSION. 303 
 
 the Hussites, and the Protestants of France, Flan- 
 dors, Italy, Poland, and Hungary ! Well may the 
 dear liberated ones exclaim : The snare is broken, 
 and we are escaped! There is reason to believe that 
 whatever may be done hereafter in Tuscany to ex- 
 tirpate heresy will be done in a secret maimer, and 
 in accordance with the recent edicts of the Govern- 
 ment, which give the Police unbounded power to 
 arrest and imprison without a trial ! Already they 
 are making that power to be felt. Well may we ex- 
 claim : How long^ Lord^ how long ? 
 
 THE END