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combined impulse of the two dominating forces in his nature。 His
preoccupation with the supernatural might； alone； have been
satisfied within the fold of the Anglican communion； and so might
his preoccupation with himself the one might have found vent in
the elaborations of High Church ritual； and the other in the
activities of a bishopric。 But the two together could not be
quieted so easily。 The Church of England is a commodious
institution； she is very anxious to please； but somehow or other；
she has never managed to supply a happy home to superstitious
egotists。 'What an escape for my poor soul！' Manning is said to
have exclaimed when； shortly after his conversion； a mitre was
going a…begging。 But； in truth； Manning's 'poor soul' had scented
nobler quarry。 To one of his temperament； how was it possible；
when once the choice was plainly put； to hesitate for a moment
between the respectable dignity of an English bishop； harnessed
by the secular power； with the Gorham judgment as a bit between
his teeth； and the illimitable pretensions of the humblest priest
of Rome？
For the moment； however； it seemed as if the Fates had at last
been successful in their little game of shunting Manning。 The
splendid career which he had so laboriously built up from the
small beginnings of his Sussex curacy was shatteredand
shattered by the inevitable operation of his own essential needs。
He was over forty； and he had been put back once more to the very
bottom rung of the laddera middle…aged neophyte with； so far as
could be seen； no special claim to the attention of his new
superiors。 The example of Newman； a far more illustrious convert；
was hardly reassuring： he had been relegated to a complete
obscurity； in which he was to remain until extreme old age。 Why
should there be anything better in store for Manning？ Yet it so
happened that within fourteen years of his conversion Manning was
Archbishop of Westminster and the supreme ruler of the Roman
Catholic community in England。 This time the Fates gave up the
unequal struggle； they paid over their stakes in despair； and
retired from the game。
Nevertheless it is difficult to feel quite sure that Manning's
plunge was as hazardous as it appeared。 Certainly he was not a
man who was likely to forget to look before he leaped； nor one
who； if he happened to know that there was a mattress spread to
receive him； would leap with less conviction。 In the light of
after…events； one would be glad to know what precisely passed at
that mysterious interview of his with the Pope； three years
before his conversion。 It is at least possible that the
authorities in Rome had their eye on Manning； the may well have
felt that the Archdeacon of Chichester would be a great catch。
What did Pio Nono say？ It is easy to imagine the persuasive
innocence of his Italian voice。 'Ah； dear Signor Manning； why
don't you come over to us？ Do you suppose that we should not look
after you？'
At any rate； when he did go over； Manning was looked after very
thoroughly。 There was； it is true； a momentary embarrassment at
the outset： it was only with the greatest difficulty that he
could bring himself to abandon his faith in the validity of
Anglican Orders； in which he believed 'with consciousness
stronger than all reasoning'。 He was convinced that he was still
a priest。 When the Rev。 Mr。 Tierney； who had received him into
the Roman Catholic communion； assured him that this was not the
case； he was filled with dismay and mortification。 After a five
hour discussion； he started to his feet in a rage。 'Then； Mr。
Tierney；' he exclaimed； 'you think me insincere。'
The bitter draught was swallowed at last； and； after that； all
went smoothly。 Manning hastened to Rome； and was immediately
placed by the Pope in the highly select Accademia Ecclesiastica；
commonly known as the 'Nursery of Cardinals'； for the purpose of
completing his theological studies。 When the course was finished；
he continued； by the Pope's special request； to spend six months
of every year in Rome； where he preached to the English visitors；
became acquainted with the great personages of the Papal court；
and enjoyed the privilege of constant interviews with the Holy
Father。 At the same time； he was able to make himself useful in
London； where Cardinal Wiseman； the newly created Archbishop of
Westminster； was seeking to reanimate the Roman Catholic
community。 Manning was not only extremely popular in the pulpit
and in the confessional； he was not only highly efficient as a
gleaner of soulsand of souls who moved in the best society； he
also possessed a familiarity with official persons and official
ways； which was invaluable。 When the question arose of the
appointment of Catholic chaplains in the Crimea during the war；
it was Manning who approached the Minister； interviewed the
Permanent Secretary； and finally succeeded in obtaining all that
was required。 When a special Reformatory for Catholic children
was proposed； Manning carried through the negotiation with the
Government。 When an attempt was made to remove Catholic children
from the Workhouses； Manning was again indispensable。 No wonder
Cardinal Wiseman soon determined to find some occupation of
special importance for the energetic convert。 He had long wished
to establish a congregation of secular priests in London
particularly devoted to his service； and the opportunity for the
experiment had clearly now arisen。 The order of the Oblates of
St。 Charles was founded in Bayswater； and Manning was put at its
head。 Unfortunately； no portion of the body of St。 Charles could
be obtained for the new community； but two relics of his blood
were brought over to Bayswater from Milan。 Almost at the same
time the Pope signified his appreciation of Manning's efforts by
appointing him Provost of the Chapter of Westminstera position
which placed him at the head of the Canons of the diocese。
This double promotion was the signal for the outbreak of an
extraordinary internal struggle； which raged without intermission
for the next seven years； and was to end only with the accession
of Manning to the Archbishopric。 The condition of the Roman
Catholic community in England was at that time a singular one。 On
the one hand the old repressive laws of the seventeenth century
had been repealed by liberal legislation； and on the other a
large new body of distinguished converts had entered the Roman
Church as a result of the Oxford Movement。 It was evident that
there was a 'boom' in English Catholicism； and； in 1850； Pius IX
recognised the fact by dividing up the whole of England into
dioceses； and placing Wiseman at the head of them as Archbishop
of Westminster。 Wiseman's encyclical； dated 'from without the
Flaminian Gate'； in which he announced the new departure； was
greeted in England by a storm of indignation； culminating in the
famous and furibund letter of Lord John Russell； then Prime
Minister； against the insolence of the 'Papal Aggression'。 Though
the particular point against which the outcry was raisedthe
English territorial titles of the new Roman bishopswas an
insignificant one； the instinct of Lord John and of the English
people was in reality sound enough。 Wiseman's installation did
mean； in fact； a new move in the Papal game； it meant an advance；
if not an aggression a quickening in England of the long…
dormant energies of the Roman Church。 That Church has never had
the reputation of being an institution to be trifled with； and；
in those days； the Pope was still ruling as a temporal Prince
over the fairest provinces of Italy。 Surely； if the images of Guy
Fawkes had not been garnished； on that fifth of November； with
triple crowns； it would have been a very poor compliment to His
Holiness。
But it was not only the honest Protestants of England who had
cause to dread the arrival of the new Cardinal Archbishop； there
was a party among the Catholics themselves who viewed his
installation with alarm and disgust。 The families in which the
Catholic tradition had been handed down uninterruptedly since the
days of Elizabeth； which had known the pains of exile and of
martyrdom； and which clung together an alien and isolated group
in the midst of English society； now began to feel that they
were； after all； of small moment in the counsels of Rome。 They
had laboured through the heat of the day； but now it seemed as if
the harvest was to be gathered in by a crowd of converts who were
proclaiming on every side as something new and wonderful the
truths which the Old Catholics； as they came to be called； had
not only known； but for which they had suffered for generations。
Cardinal Wiseman； it is true； was no convert； he belonged to one
of the oldest of the Catholic families； but he had spent most of
his life in Rome； he was out of touch with English traditions；
and his sympathy with Newman and his followers was only too
appar