He is very much affected by the Pope's
kindness and would, I know, like to receive the great honour
offered
him, but feels the whole difficulty at his age of changing his
life or having to leave the Oratory-- which I am sure he could
not do. If the Holy Father thinks well to confer on him the
dignity, leaving him where he is, I know how immensely he would
be gratified, and you will know how generally the conferring on
him the Cardinalate will be applauded.'
These two letters, together with Newman's refusal, reached
Manning as he was on the point of starting for Rome. After he had
left England, the following statement appeared in "The Times":
'Pope Leo XIII has intimated his desire to raise Dr. Newman to
the
rank of Cardinal, but with expressions of deep respect for the
Holy See, Dr. Newman has excused himself from accepting the
Purple.'
When Newman's eyes fell upon the announcement, he realised at
once that a secret and powerful force was working against him. He
trembled, as he had so often trembled before; and certainly the
danger was not imaginary. In the ordinary course of things, how
could such a paragraph have been inserted without his authority?
And consequently, did it not convey to the world, not only an
absolute refusal which he had never intended, but a wish on his
part to emphasise publicly his rejection of the proffered honour?
Did it not imply that he had lightly declined a proposal for
which in reality he was deeply thankful? And when the fatal
paragraph was read in Rome, might it not actually lead to the
offer of the Cardinalate being finally withheld?
In great agitation, Newman appealed to the Duke of Norfolk.
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