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room of some inconspicuous lodging…house； by a sunset rendezvous
in the Borghese Gardens between a Cardinal and a Diplomatist by a
whispered conference in an alcove at a Princess's evening party；
with the gay world chattering all about。 And； of course； on such
momentous occasions as these； Manning was in his element。 None
knew those difficult ropes better than he； none used them with a
more serviceable and yet discreet alacrity。 In every juncture he
had the right word； or the right silence； his influence ramified
in all directions； from the Pope's audience chamber to the
English Cabinet。 'Il Diavolo del Concilio' his enemies called
him； and he gloried in the name。
The real crux of the position was less ecclesiastical than
diplomatic。 The Papal Court； with its huge majority of Italian
Bishops； could make sure enough； when it came to the point； of
carrying its wishes through the Council； what was far more
dubious was the attitude of the foreign Governments
especially those of France and England。 The French Government
dreaded a schism among its Catholic subjects； it disliked the
prospect of an extension of the influence of the Pope over the
mass of the population of France； and； since the very existence
of the last remnant of the Pope's Temporal Power depended upon
the French army； it was able to apply considerable pressure upon
the Vatican。 The interests of England were less directly
involved； but it happened that at this moment Mr。 Gladstone was
Prime Minister； and Mr。 Gladstone entertained strong views upon
the Infallibility of the Pope。 His opinions upon the subject were
in part the outcome of his friendship with Lord Acton； a
historian to whom learning and judgment had not been granted in
equal proportions； and who； after years of incredible and indeed
well…nigh mythical research； had come to the conclusion that the
Pope could err。 In this Mr。 Gladstone entirely concurred； though
he did not share the rest of his friend's theological opinions；
for Lord Acton； while straining at the gnat of Infallibility； had
swallowed the camel of the Roman Catholic Faith。 'Que diable
allait…il faire dans cette galere？' one cannot help asking； as
one watched that laborious and scrupulous scholar； that lifelong
enthusiast for liberty； that almost hysterical reviler of
priesthood and persecution； trailing his learning so discrepantly
along the dusty Roman way。 But； there are some who know how to
wear their Rome with a difference； and Lord Acton was one of
these。
He was now engaged in fluttering like a moth round the Council
and in writing long letters to Mr。 Gladstone； impressing upon him
the gravity of the situation； and urging him to bring his
influence to bear。 If the； Dogma were carried he declared； no
man who accepted it could remain a loyal subject and Catholics
would everywhere become 'irredeemable enemies of civil and
religious liberty'。 In these circumstances； was it not plainly
incumbent upon the English Government； involved as it was with
the powerful Roman Catholic forces in Ireland； to intervene？ Mr。
Gladstone allowed himself to become convinced； and Lord Acton
began to hope that his efforts would be successful。 But； he had
forgotten one element in the situation； he had reckoned without
the Archbishop of Westminster。 The sharp nose of Manning sniffed
out the whole intrigue。 Though he despised Lord Acton almost as
much as he disliked him'such men；' he said； 'are all vanity：
they have the inflation of German professors； and the ruthless
talk of undergraduates'yet he realised clearly enough the
danger of his correspondence with the Prime Minister； and
immediately took steps to counteract it。 There was a semi…
official agent of the English Government in Rome； Mr。 Odo
Russell；
and around him Manning set to work to spin his spider's web of
delicate and clinging diplomacy。 Preliminary politenesses were
followed by long walks upon the Pincio； and the gradual
interchange of more and more important and confidential
communications。 Soon poor Mr。 Russell was little better than a
fly
buzzing in gossamer。 And Manning was careful to see that he
buzzed on the right note。 In his dispatches to the Foreign
Secretary； Lord Clarendon； Mr。 Russell explained in detail the
true nature of the Council； that it was merely a meeting of a
few Roman Catholic prelates to discuss some internal matters of
Church discipline； that it had no political significance
whatever； that the question of Infallibility； about which there
had been so much random talk； was a purely theological question；
and that； whatever decision might be come to on the subject； the
position of Roman Catholics throughout the world would remain
unchanged。
Whether the effect of these affirmations upon Lord Clarendon was
as great as Manning supposed is somewhat doubtful； but it is at
any rate certain that Mr。 Gladstone failed to carry the Cabinet
with
him； and； when at last a proposal was definitely made that the
English
Government should invite the Powers of Europe to intervene at the
Vatican；
it was rejected。 Manning always believed that this was the direct
result
of Mr。 Russell's dispatches； which had acted as an antidote to
the poison
of Lord Acton's letters； and thus carried the day。 If that was
so； the
discretion of biographers has not yet entirely lifted the veil
from these proceedings Manning had assuredly performed no small
service for his cause。 Yet his modesty would not allow him to
assume for himself a credit which； after all； was due elsewhere；
and when he told the story of those days； he would add； with more
than wonted seriousness； 'It was by the Divine Will that the
designs of His enemies were frustrated'。
Meanwhile； in the North Transept of St。 Peter's a certain amount
of preliminary business had been carried through。 Various
miscellaneous points in Christian doctrine had been
satisfactorily determined。 Among others； the following Canons
were laid down by the Fathers： 'If anyone does not accept for
sacred and canonical the whole and every part of the Books of
Holy Scripture； or deny that they are divinely inspired； let him
be anathema。' 'If anyone says that miracles cannot be； and
therefore； the accounts of them； even those in Holy Scriptures
must be assigned a place among fables and myths； or that the
divine origin of the Christian religion cannot rightly be proved
from them； let him be anathema。' 'If anyone says that the
doctrines of the Church can ever receive a sense in accordance
with the progress of science； other than that sense which the
Church has understood and still understands； let him be
anathema。'
'If anyone says that it is not possible； by the natural light of
human reason； to acquire a certain knowledge of the One and True
God； let him be anathema。' In other words； it became an article
of Faith that Faith was not necessary for a true knowledge of
God。 Having disposed of these minor matters； the Fathers found
themselves at last approaching the great question of
Infallibility。
Two main issues； it soon appeared； were before them： the。 Pope's
infallibility was admitted； ostensibly at least； by all； what
remained
to be determined was： （1） whether the definition of the Pope's
Infallibility
was opportune； and （2） what the definition of the Pope's
Infallibility was。
（1） It soon became clear that the sense of the Council was
overwhelmingly
in favour of a definition。 The Inopportunists were a small
minority；
they were outvoted； and they were obliged to give way。 It only
remained； therefore； to come to a decision upon the second
question what the definition should actually be。
（2） It now became the object of the Inopportunists to limit the
scope
of the definition as much as possible； while the Infallibilists
were
no less eager to extend it。 Now everyone； or nearly everyone； was
ready
to limit the Papal Infallibility to pronouncements ex
cathedrathat is
to say； to those made by the Pope in his capacity of Universal
Doctor；
but this only served to raise the ulterior； the portentous； and
indeed
the really crucial questionto WHICH of the Papal pronouncements
ex cathedra
did Infallibility adhere？
The discussions which followed were； naturally enough； numerous；
complicated；
and embittered； and in all of them Manning played a conspicuous
part。 For
two months the Fathers deliberated； through fifty sessions they
sought the
guidance of the Holy Ghost。 The wooden seats； covered though they
were with Brussels carpet； grew harder and harder； and still the
mitred Councillors sat on。 The Pope himself began to grow
impatient； for one thing； he declared； he was being ruined by the
mere expense of lodging and keeping the multitude of his
adherents。 'Questi infallibilisti mi faranno fallire'； said his
Holiness。 At length it appeared that the Inopportunists were
dragging out the proceedin