CHAPTER XIII.
On the death of Dr. Winstanley the Rev. Joseph Ilsley, who from the year 1834 had held the office of Vice-President, became Pro-Rector pending the appointment of a President. The various changes which in recent years had taken place, suggested to the Superiors grave doubts regarding the nomination of the Protector of the College, and also as to the authority to whom belonged the appointment of the President. At the time of its foundation the office of Protector had been vested by the Sacred Propaganda in the Bishop Inquisitor General of Portugal and his successors, but when the Constitutional Government, as it was called, was established, the office of Inquisitor had been suppressed throughout the Kingdom. It is true the last Inquisitor General who held office had, by the request of Dr. Winstanley, made a solemn declaration, that at his death all his rights regarding the College should devolve on the Vicar Apostolic of the London District. To this declaration Dr. Winstanley and Father Hurst had, in the presence of a Public Notary, added their signatures, but by what authority this transfer of Jurisdiction had been made did not appear. As to the appointment to the Presidency this had always belonged to and had been exercised by the Vicar Apostolic of the London District, but on the establishment of the Hierarchy in England by Pius IX in 1852, the ancient London Vicariate had been sup pressed, and consequently this right of nomination had lapsed. It was decided, therefore, by the Superiors, to submit both these questions to the judgment of the Holy See, and for this purpose they sought the aid and good offices of Cardinal Wiseman.
They addressed a letter to His Eminence setting forth
