The New Hampshire Gazette

LONDON, February 13.

Though they seem as intent on warlike preparations at Turin as if war was actually declared, the domestic police of the kingdom is not neglected, of which they give this striking proof. A Country Curate thought it his duty to administer the sacraments to a dying man without requiring, agreeable to the orders of the Archbishop of Turin, his consent to the bull Unigenitus. The Prelate, on hearing of it, immediately suspended him. The curate complained to the King. His Majesty ordered the poor Priest to be supplied with necessaries, of which he had been deprived by the Archbishop's interdict, and sent for his Grace to know the reasons of his treatment of the curate. The Prelate answered, 'That the curate was an insolent fellow, who had been guilty of disobedience in a very weighty matter: And that as he had absolute jurisdiction over all the ecclesiastics of his diocese, he had suspended him for disobedience.'

'I know (said the King) that you have a Right to make curates and Priests; and I the Right to make Bishops. It was I who made you what you are. I order you to give this curate a Pension of 2000 florins (3 s. 6 d. each): for it would be shameful to see a Priest reduced to beggary.'

The Archbishop immediately took off the suspension, imagining that would excuse him from paying the Pension; but the King will have it paid by him while the curate lives.