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Table of Contents
Cover
Foreword
Preface: Living the American Dream
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Getting to Point X
Financial Literacy and the Move Away from Capitalism
Point X: Our Fundamental Financial Goal
Ten Key Issues to Comprehensive Wealth Management
Our Biggest Expense
Take a Financial Planning Checkup
The Power of This Book
What's New in the Second Edition
Chapter 1: Committing to Living Within Your Means
The American Dream Becomes the American Nightmare
Living Within Your Means: The Essential Step
Simple Saving
Note
Chapter 2: Understanding Taxes
A Brief History of the US Tax System
Organizing and Retaining Your Records
Tax‐Preparation Services
Accumulating Wealth Through Tax Planning
Notes
Chapter 3: Determining Your Financial Position
Figuring Your Financial Net Worth
Case Study: How One Couple Learned They Were Spending
More Than They Earned
 Making Sense of Cash Flow
Establishing Your Financial Goals
Finding Trusted Advisors
Notes
Chapter 4: Managing Debt
Case Study: How Two Doctors Went Bankrupt in Only a Few
Years – What Not to Do
Basic Principles for Managing Debt
Good Debt Versus Bad Debt
Credit Card Debt
Auto Loans
Student Loans
Home Mortgage Loans
Business and Investment Loans
Understanding Credit
Your Credit Report and Your Credit Score
Preventing Identity Theft
The Equifax Breach
Analyzing Your Debt
Chapter 5: Insuring Your Health and Life
Choosing a Health Insurance Plan
Long‐Term Care Insurance
Disability Insurance
Life Insurance
Buying Insurance Policies
Note
Chapter 6: Protecting Your Property with Insurance
Case Study: How a Lack of Insurance Wiped Out One
Woman's Life Savings
Homeowners Insurance
Automobile Insurance
 Umbrella Liability Insurance
Buying Insurance Policies
Chapter 7: Paying for College
Is College the Best Choice for You and Your Child?
The Cost of College and What You Can Expect to Pay
Case Study: How Not Saving for Your Child's Education Can
Ruin Your Finances – and Your Child's
Conducting a “Needs Analysis” for Your Children's College
Educations
Strategies for Saving Money for College Education
Education Tax Breaks and Credits
Notes
Chapter 8: Planning for Retirement
Case Study: Saving Versus Not Saving for Retirement: The
$1.7 Million Difference
Retirement Equation: Calculating Your Personal Point X
The High Cost of Waiting to Save for Retirement
What You Can Expect to Receive from Social Security
Qualified Retirement Plans
The Difference Between Traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs
Fixed and Variable Annuities
Retirement Funding: “Needs Analysis”
Notes
Chapter 9: Managing Your Investments
Analyzing Your Ability and Willingness to Take Risk
Stocks, Bonds, Hybrid Securities, Mutual Funds, and
Exchange‐Traded Funds
Diversification, Asset Allocation, and Rebalancing
Dollar‐Cost Averaging
Inflation and Taxes: The Biggest Drains on Investment Return
Medicare Surtax on Net Investment Income
 Cryptocurrency and Its Tax Treatment
Notes
Chapter 10: Preserving Your Estate
The Federal Gift and Estate Tax System
Legal Documents to Consider for Estate Planning
The Probate and Administration Process and Why You May
Want to Avoid It
Using a Planned Gifting Strategy
Ownership of Property and How It Is Transferred
Reasons for Creating a Trust
Benefit from a Family Limited Partnership
Estate Tax Planning and Life Insurance
Asset Protection and Long‐Term Care
Chapter 11: Starting Your Own Business
How Starting Your Own Business Can Lead to Financial
Independence
The Three Pillars of Establishing a Successful Business
Sobering Statistics on Business Success Rates
Business Plan
Establishing and Operating a Successful Business
Entity Choices
Tax Identification Number
Accounting Methods
Reporting Business Income and Expenses
What Is the Number‐One Expense in Operating a Business?
Employee Versus Independent Contractor
Business Tax Deduction Versus Business Tax Credit
“Ordinary and Necessary” Test
Deductible Business Expenses
Nondeductible Business Expenses
Home Office Deduction
 Travel Expense As a Business Deduction
Deducting Automobile Expenses
Depreciation Deductions
Choosing the Right Retirement Plan for Your Business
Recordkeeping
Financial Statements
Financial Management Team
What the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 Means for Your Small
Business
Chapter 12: The Time Value of Money
Notes
Appendix A: Selecting a Trusted Advisor
The Difference Between Suitability and Fiduciary Standards
Financial Planners
Tax Advisors
Investment Advisors
Insurance Advisors
Attorneys
Appendix B: 101 Ways to Save $20 or More per Week
Housing
Transportation
Family Risk Management
Food
Personal Care
Entertainment
Loan Payments
Taxes
Gifts and Donations
Professional Fees and Legal Obligations
Child Care and Other Expenses
Pet Care and Other Expenses
 Personal Expenses
Note
Appendix C: Basic Concepts and Definitions of Various Types of
Taxes
Income Taxes: Concepts You Should Know
Calculating Your Taxable Income and Liability
Calculating and Filing Your Taxes
Other Tax Considerations
About the Author
Note
Index
End User License Agreement

List of Exhibits
Chapter 2
Exhibit 2.1 Highest Marginal US Income Tax Rate: 1913 to
2018
Chapter 7
Exhibit 7.1 Projected Annual Four‐Year College Costs 2011–
2035 (in 2017 constant dollars)
Exhibit 7.3 Growth of Savings Invested in a Tax‐Free 529 Plan
Versus a Taxable Savings Account
Chapter 8
Exhibit 8.2 The High Cost of Waiting to Save for Retirement
Exhibit 8.3 Ratio of Social Security–Covered Workers to
Beneficiaries over Time
Chapter 9
Exhibit 9.3 Annual Returns for Eight Major Asset Classes over
the Past 12 Years, from Best to Worst
Exhibit 9.4 Six Sample Asset Allocation Models (1 = Most risk‐
adverse investor; 6 = Most aggressive investor)
Financial Independence
(Getting to Point X)

A COMPREHENSIVE TAX-SMART
WEALTH MANAGEMENT GUIDE
Second Edition

John J. Vento
Copyright © 2018 by John J. Vento. All rights reserved.
Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
Published simultaneously in Canada.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of
the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission
of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per‐copy fee
to the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923,
(978) 750‐8400, fax (978) 646‐8600, or on the Web at www.copyright.com.
Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to the Permissions
Department, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, (201)
748‐6011, fax (201) 748–6008, or online at www.wiley.com/go/permissions.
Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and author have
used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or
warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this
book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness
for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales
representatives or written sales materials. The advice and strategies contained
herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a
professional where appropriate. Neither the publisher nor author shall be liable for
any loss of profit or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to
special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.
For general information on our other products and services or for technical
support, please contact our Customer Care Department within the United States at
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Wiley publishes in a variety of print and electronic formats and by print‐on‐
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Library of Congress Cataloging‐in‐Publication Data
Names: Vento, John, author.
Title: Financial independence (getting to point X) : a comprehensive tax‐smart
wealth management guide / John J. Vento.
Description: Second Edition. | Hoboken : Wiley, 2018. | Revised edition of the
author's Financial independence (getting to point X), c2013. | Includes index. |
Identifiers: LCCN 2018021243 (print) | LCCN 2018021981 (ebook) | ISBN
9781119510383 (Adobe PDF) | ISBN 9781119510352 (ePub) | ISBN 9781119510345
(hardback)
Subjects: LCSH: Finance, Personal—United States. | BISAC: BUSINESS &
ECONOMICS / Finance.
Classification: LCC HG179 (ebook) | LCC HG179 .V457 2018 (print) | DDC
332.02400973—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018021243
Cover Design: Wiley
Cover Images: © Axel Bueckert/EyeEm/Getty Images;
© SchulteProductions/Getty Images
 This book is dedicated to the memory of my
parents, Rosario Vento and Concetta Giuffre
Vento, for the sacrifices and commitments they
made throughout their lives to provide their
children with the opportunity to live the
“TRUE” American Dream.
Momma and Poppa, I love you, miss you,
and think about you every single day!
Foreword
Driving to work the other day, I saw a billboard with a simple
statement: “We spend more time clicking ‘like’ than planning for
retirement.” Take a moment or two to let that thought sink in.
If you're like me, you probably find that proposition pretty
disturbing, primarily because it rings so true.
By now thousands, maybe even millions, of Americans have seen that
billboard noting that we spend more time choosing emojis, or even
looking at billboards, than planning for retirement. I wonder how
many of those people have actually started thinking about
retirement. This is a pressing issue for those in their forties or older,
but it's important for young adults, too. Cat videos and pictures of
our friends' grandchildren are certainly more fun than dealing with
financial matters. It's a lot easier to assume things will work out than
it is to come up with a financial plan. But whether you have four
years or 40 left in your working life, retirement gets closer every day.
If you ask most Americans what material thing they desire most,
high on everybody's list is having enough money to do whatever they
want without worry. Achieving financial independence, what John
Vento calls “getting to point X,” is such a common aspiration, but
short of hitting a lottery mega‐jackpot, most people have no idea how
to get there. As contradictory as it may sound, the United States is
the richest and most successful country in history, yet we are a
nation of financial illiterates.
The vast majority of people graduate from high school or college with
no understanding of fundamental financial concepts like how to
make a budget, why it's important to start saving and investing at an
early age to take advantage of the way the power of compounding
makes your money grow faster, or how the wrong kind of debt can
cripple their chances of achieving their financial goals.
Consider that currently only 17 states have some mandated financial
literacy curriculum for students in high school. I saw an article
recently that pointed out that 94% of American adults were unable to
pass an 11‐question test that asked basic financial questions like, “If
you purchase a bond and interest rates rise, what will happen to the
price of the bond?” In today's environment, knowing the answer to
that question could be pretty helpful.
Economically, we live in a different world than our parents did. For
most people who don't work in government, pensions are a thing of
the past; public pensions are threatened as well. We often hear about
how New Deal and Great Society programs like Social Security and
Medicare may soon be unable to fund their long‐term obligations.
We've made individuals responsible for funding their own
retirements and financial futures, but haven't given them the
resources and tools to do so.
Unfortunately, money doesn't come with a set of instructions, an
issue of which John Vento, as both a Certified Financial Planner™
and Certified Public Accountant, is well aware. Like most Americans,
John didn't learn about investing from his Italian immigrant parents.
But they did share some priceless practical advice about money –
“don't buy it if you don't need it” and “live within your means.”
John has taken those moneywise principles and built upon them to
create a holistic approach that provides not only a guidebook to
financial literacy, but also a roadmap to financial independence.
Over the years he has shared his experience and financial acumen to
help hundreds of clients.
What makes John's approach, and this book, so helpful is the
emphasis placed on strategically managing one's tax obligations. In
fact, it's one of the first issues he addresses. Understanding tax
strategies and managing your tax bill should be part of any sound
financial approach, and with decades of experience, John is in an
excellent position to help readers accumulate (and keep) personal
wealth by combining holistic financial planning with a strategic
approach to taxes.
One of the concepts that John introduces in this book is Tax Alpha
to the 2nd Power℠. The term tax alpha has been used in the
investment world to measure the additional return earned from an
investment by implementing sound tax strategies as part of the
decision‐making process. Taking it to the 2nd power is how John
describes the additional return a financial planning client will realize
by implementing sound tax strategies throughout all of their wealth
management issues, and not just with their investment strategies.
This edition also addresses the monumental changes to the US tax
code that went into effect in 2018, which alone makes this volume
worth reading.
John addresses important topics such as planning for retirement,
managing your investments, and preserving your estate in accessible,
down‐to‐earth language without burdensome industry jargon.
There's no denying that financial planning, choosing and managing
investments, and minimizing your tax obligation are intimidating
subjects, but they're not rocket science. Professional advice can make
a big difference in achieving long‐term goals.
The Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu famously noted that “A journey of
a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Financial literacy is the
first step on your journey to achieving your financial goals and
dreams. This book will provide you with the necessary tools, as well
as a roadmap to getting to your very own point X, financial
independence.

Bob Oros, CEO of HD Vest Financial Services

Preface
Living the American Dream
My first clients were quintessential examples of successful American
Dreamers. They came to the United States from Italy after World
War II with nothing, and they created a wonderful life for themselves
and their children by working hard, living modestly, and saving. I
confess I learned more from their example than from any college
course or studies that I finished in order to earn my licenses. As you
might guess, these clients were my parents.
Rosario Vento, my father, was born in the small town of Messina,
Sicily, in 1923. My mother, Concetta Giuffre Vento, born in 1921,
came from an even smaller village nearby called Sant'Agata. They
lived through the Great Depression (which was as bad in Europe as it
was in the United States), survived World War II by seeking shelter
in the hills of Sicily, and were married shortly after the war's end. It
was clear that opportunities in Sicily and throughout Italy were
limited as a result of the devastation of war, so they made the
difficult decision to place their hopes and dreams on a new life in
America.
Because he could not afford to pay for two tickets, my dad initially
came to America alone. After a year, he was able to afford to rent a
small but comfortable apartment in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, and had
saved enough money to pay for a one‐way ticket to the United States
for my mother. She joined him, and they began the great journey of
their life together, eager to work hard and reap the rewards of living
the American Dream.
Neither one had more than an eighth‐grade education, nor did either
one speak English very well. After arriving in the United States, my
father worked as a barber, and my mother got a job as a seamstress
in a sweatshop. They had three children in quick succession and
then, after a gap of eight years, one more (me). Together, they earned
a modest income, but they always managed to live within their
means and save what they could. They never owned a car; instead,
the employee). Employers also have to pay additional payroll taxes
under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) and State
Unemployment Tax Act (SUTA). Depending on where you live, you
may also be paying well over 10% of your paycheck on state and local
taxes; for example, New York City residents pay a combined state
and city income tax, which is as high as 12.7%.
If payroll taxes were not enough, we also pay income and capital
gains taxes on our other earnings, such as income from investments.
We pay sales tax on many items we purchase, and we pay numerous
excise taxes and other special taxes on many items we frequently do
not even think about, such as alcohol, tobacco, and fuel. We pay for
certain licensing fees, registration fees, parking meters, tolls, tickets,
and summonses, all of which are forms of taxation. We also pay real
estate taxes, school taxes, water and sewer taxes, mortgage recording
taxes, and transfer taxes on property. If you choose to give large gifts
to a friend or family member, you may be subject to a gift tax. Clearly
the government will tax you to death; in fact, ironically it already
taxes you for dying – a little something called estate tax.
If you take a close look at how much you pay for various taxes,
chances are this number would be more than 50% of your overall
expenditures. Keep in mind that some of these taxes are hidden but
nevertheless included in your cost of living.
So what would be the single most important expenditure for you to
focus on in order to keep more of what you make and dramatically
increase your savings? The answer, of course, is taxes – taxes, taxes,
and more taxes.
But the fact is that most people completely overlook the importance
of minimizing their taxes in order to help maximize their wealth
accumulation. You must implement a “tax alpha” strategy for each of
the wealth management issues discussed throughout this book. Tax
alpha's focus in the past has revolved around the investment
decision‐making process and has fallen short in addressing all of the
wealth management issues throughout an individual's lifetime.
Throughout this book, I have now exponentially created Tax Alpha
to the 2nd Power℠ by optimizing sound tax strategies and
applying them throughout the entire financial planning process. I
provide hundreds of Tax Alpha to the 2nd Power facts and
strategies that will help you accelerate your wealth accumulation and
dramatically increase your chances of reaching point X, financial
independence.

Take a Financial Planning Checkup

Before we begin to discuss hard figures, you should evaluate your
financial situation by completing the Comprehensive Wealth
Management Questionnaire. This questionnaire will help you start
thinking about the financial issues you have under control and others
that may need attention.
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
 Ed infatti vi passa un gran divanò fra l’indispensabile
riconoscimento che far dee la S. Sede della Real Casa
Stuarda, ad esclusione di quella di Hanover da quel
chepassa nel riconoscimento almeno implicito, che fa la
medesima S. Sede di altri Principi Eretici. Per modo di
esempio; il Papa certamente nè tratta nè ha
corrispondenza alcuna coi Rè di Svezia e di Danimarca,
ma ciò unicamente per essere Eglino Eretici, non già
perche loro impugno neghi la legittima successione
dell’essere di Rè; Quindi nei Diarj stessi stampati coll’
approvazione della Corte di Roma, non si fa difficultà di
enunciarli per Rè di Svezia, per Rè di Danimarca; ma nel
caso nostro non solo può il sommo Pontefice trattare
direttamente colla casa di Hanover per essere Eretica, ma
neppur può in alcun modo nè anche tacitamente
riconoscere il Capo di quella per legittimo successore del
Regno d’lnghilterra; Poiche verrebbe in tal guisa a
canonizzare, ed ammettere direttamente per valido e
sussistente il sudetto inique Decreto.
Di tutti questi fatti e principj si è Veduto dal mondo
intero a qual segno era persuasa ed imbevuta la S. Mem.
di Clemente undecimo il quale nell’atto di ricevere, e di
abbracciare con paterno amore la Maestà di Giacomo
terzo, allorchi per suo unico rifugio in virtù dei Frattati di
Pace, ai quali tutti gli altri Principi Cattolici, esclusone il
sommo Pontefice, astretti furono di acconsentire, si portò
nello stato Ecclesiastico, e successivamente a Roma:
Persuaso, dico, il S. Padre ed imbevuto delle sudette
massime e sentimenti non si contentò di riconoscere, e di
trattare la Real Persona di Giacomo terzo per unico e
legittimo Rè d’lnghilterra, ma intendendo di volere nella di
lui Persona riconoscere tutta la Regia sua Prosapia, non
lasciò nè mezzi nè industrie per carcarne la propagazione
ed in consequenza procurargli un legittimo successore:
Epperò effettuato, che fù il matrimonio di Giacomo terzo
colla Principessa Sobieskj; facilitato non poco da qualche
Lettera del Papa scritta all’ Imperadore: Frà pochi mesi
divenne gravida la Regina e circa gli ultimi giorni dell’
anno 1720 trovossi prossima al parto; ed allora il S. Padre
conoscendo da una parte la necessità di dover rendere
incontastabile la legitimazione del Parto, e dall’ altra
intendendo l’obligo preciso, in cui ritrovasi la S. Sede, per
non contradire a se stessa, e per vie più sempre fare atti
protestativi contro l’accennato ingiusto Decreto, di
riconoscere la futura prole qual Erede Presuntivo, e
legittimo successore del Regno d’Inghilterra si accensa a
fare questo atto colla maggiore solennità possibile;
Perlocchi volle il S. Padre, che fossero chiamate per
essere presenti al parto, il Sagro Collegio, il Senato
Romano, i primi Prelati e Principi Romani, e la primaria
Nobilità di Roma; E Siccome la Maestà della Regina
stento a partorire per lo spazio di tre giorni in circa in tutto
questo tempo farono ripiene le Anticamere di Sua Maestà
dei riferti rispettabilissimi Personaggi, i quali
vicendevolmente surrogavansi gli uni agli altri, con avervi
ancora pernottato alcuni dei Signori Cardinali. In mezzo
adunque di consesso così rispettabile nacque ai 31 di
Dicembre dell’anno Sudetto Carlo Odoardo Principe di
Galles riconosciuto per tale e consequentamente per
Erede presuntivo della Corona dal Medesimo sommo
Pontefice, il quale non tardo punto a farlo annunziare a
tutto il Popolo per mezzo dello Sparo del Cannone di
Castello. E qui sia lecito riflettere che se il Rè Giacomo
terzo stato fosse in pacifico possesso del suo Trono, non
poteva il sudetto nato Principe ricevere maggiori onori, ed
atti più declaratorj del suo dritto successivo alla corona. La
sola formalità, che per parte della S. Sede rimanere
poteva al compimento di questi atti si era la tradizione
delle Fascie Benedette solite mandarsi ai soli Eredi
necessarj delle Teste Coronate, non già Elettive, ma
unicamenta successive: Ma perchi cessò di vivere la S.
Memoria di Clemente undecimo, prima che fossero del
tutto terminate le dette Fascie, toccò al di lui successore
Innocenzo tredecimo compire questo ultimo atto, com’ Egli
fece colla maggior Solennità possibile mandando a questo
effetto preciso un obligato con tutte le formalità e
ceremonie solite pratticarsi colle oltre Corti.
Da tutto questo racconto non si può negare che
appariscono nel suo pieno le obligazioni che ha la Real
Casa Stuarda alla S. Mem. di Clemente undecimo, ma
appariscono altrettanto quanto stava a cuore di quel
sommo Pontefice il decoro della S. Sede e come ben
intendeva l’indispensabile necessità da cui era astretta a
Sostenere inviolabili i Dritti della Casa Reale Sudetta:
Videva benissimo il S. Padre, che tutti questi replicati atti
di riconoscimento dovevano necessariamente inasperire il
Governo d’Inghilterra massimamente contro i Cattolici ed
in conseguenza essere in qualche maniera di Ostacolo al
buon successo delle missioni; Capiva altrasi che egli solo
era l’unico Principe Cattolico, che faceva questi atti di
riconoscimento: con tutto ciò tenendo avanti gli Occhi la
giustizia della causa che diveniva punto di Religione,
l’abborrimento che non mai abbastanza poteva rimostrare
la S. Sede al Sopracitato Decreto, e per fine l’obbligo
preciso de’ suoi Successori in non dipartirsi giammai da
quanto Egli faceva a prò di una Famiglia si bene merita
della S. Sede, non esitò punto di eseguirli con tante
Solennità, per mezzo delle quali toglieva a Suoi Medesimi
Successori qualunque ragione di dubbio circa il
trattamento dovuto al Principe di Galles, seguita la morte
del di lui Padre; Giacche sapeva benissimo il sommo
Pontefice che riconosciutosi una volta dalla S. Sede per
Erede presuntivo di un Regno un Figlio, non può mettere
in dubbio alla morte del di lui Padre, che gli Succeda in
tutto, ed in conseguenza nella sua dignita e ne’suoi onori;
In quella guisa appunto, che nell’ Impero (non ostante che
sia stato elettivo) riconosciutosi una volta dalla S. Sede
alcuno Rè de’ Romani non può Ella dispensarsi, Seguita
la morte dell’ Imperadore, dal riconoscerlo per di lui
Successore.
 Pieno pertanto il glorioso Clemente undecimo di questi
giustissimi sentimenti nell’ atto stesso di morire, volle
manifestare a tutto il sagro collegio qual si fosse la sua
premura perchè costantemente si mantenesse quanto Egli
aveva fatto verso la Real Casa, facendogli sù di ciò una
speciale raccomandazione. Fedelissimi e zelosissimi
Esecutori delle Operazioni e del Testamento di un tanto
Papa sono Stati tutti i Pontefici successori principiando da
Innocenzo Tredecimo fino a Clemente Tredecimo
felicemente regnante, tutti hanno trattato e risguardato il
Figlio Primogenito di Giacomo terzo come Principe di
Galles; cioè Successore del Regno d’Inghilterra. Quindi
dacchi il Principe cominciò ad essere ammesso all’
udienza dei Sommi Pontefici non vi è stata mai la minima
difficoltà circa il trattamento, anzi non mettendosi in
dubbio, che trà le altre distinzioni competer gli dovesse
una sedia a braccio simile a quella del Rè suo Padre; (il
che è lo stile della S. Sede verso gli Eredi presuntivi di un
Regno). A questa sola particolarità pregò la Maestà del
Re, che si dovesse derogare in sua presenza a solo ed
unico fine mantenere lo stile del Regno d’Inghilterra, che
porta non possa ne anche il Figlio Primogenito sedere in
ugual sedia col Padre presente, e per aderire a queste
brame della Maestà sua gli è stata sempre data una sedia
Camerale di appoggio, ma bensì senza bracci.
Rimane ora ad esaminare le contradizzioni, ed assurdi,
che ne seguirebbero ogni qual volta la S. Sede negasse di
riconoscere il Principe di Galles per legittimo successore
del Rè suo Padre alla morte di medesimo; Sarebbero
questi fuor di dubbio senza numero, nè si facile sarebbe
l’accennarli tutti; pure ne scorreremo alcuni. E
Primieramente siccome il Principe di Galles per lo spazio
ornai di 45 anni e stato in possesso del titolo e delle
prerogative di Principe di Galles, non si gli passono ora
negare, o sia egli presente o sia assente, senza derogare
e contradire espressamente agli atti più solenni di sei Papi
consecutivi. In Secondo luogo ne seguirebbe, che quella
medesima, Persona, alla quale la S. Sede oggi dà
trattamento e risguarda come Principe di Galles (che vale
a dire successore naturale del Regno d’Inghilterra, come
lo e il Delfino in Francia, ed il Principe di Asturias in
Spagna) domani verrendo a morte del Padre, se si ricusa,
quando Ella ne da parte, di riconoscerla come succeduta
al Padre medesimo nella dignità ed onori col fatto si nega,
che sia stato Principe di Galles. In terzo luogo qual
trattamento potrà darsi, morto il Padre, al Sudetto
Principe? Forse di Principe di Galles? Ma si avverta ch’
Egli non lo è più. Dunque o gli compete lo stesso
trattamento ch’ aveva il Padre a cui è succeduto, o
converrà dire che non gli competeva per tanti anni il titolo,
e le prerogative di Successore. Quarto, Affinche il Papa
faccia una innovazione di questa natura contradittoria ed
opposto allo Stabilimento di suoi Antecessori vi vuol
qualche causa quale certamente non vi è ni vi può essere;
poichè se alcuno di Principi Cattolici sono stati costretti a
retrocedere dal riconoscere la Real Casa Stuarda per
legittimo Erede e Successore del Regno d’Inghilterra; è
avvenuto in consequenza dei diversi trattati di Pace col
presente Governo d’Inghilterra che li metteva in necessità
di riconoscere la Successione Eretica com’ era stata
stabilita dal famoso Decreto del Parlamento: Ma tal causa
ogn’ un ben vede che non può addursi dal S. Padre in
alcun modo: Egli non ha mai fatto, nè puo fore trattati di
alcuna sorta co’ Principi Eretici; Egli neppure ha aderito in
questa parte ai sudetti trattati di Pace di altri Principi:
Sopra tutto Egli non hà potuto mai nè può riconoscere per
valido, o sussistente il famoso riferito Decreto contro del
quale, come si è accennato di Sopra, serve
d’incontrastabile protesta il continuato riconoscimento
della Casa Reale Stuarda. Anzi da qui verrebbe il quinto
assurdo di gravissimo pregiudizio alla S. Sede, e con
ammirazione di tutti i buoni, mentre cessando di
riconoscere il Principe di Galles come successore del Rè
suo Padre, verrebbe il Papa in certa maniera a rivocare
tutte le proteste fatte da’ suoi Antecessori, e se ne
inferirebbe una pregiudizievolissima consequenza; Cioè
che quando in un stato Eretico il Principe si faccia
Cattolico sia in facoltà di Sudditi per questo solo motivo di
escluderlo dal Principato. Sesto, che non vede l’assurdo
gravissimo, che ne succederebbe ne’ pubblichi Diarj
stampati fin’ ora coll’ autorità della S. Seda sempre per lo
spazio di tanti anni in una stessa Maniera? Sotto il Titolo
d’Inghilterra dovrà forse Scriversi Giorgio Terzo? Ma
questo non si può, mentre non vi ha mai avuto luogo, ne
può l’essere riconosciuto per Rè dal Papa. Dovrà dunque
lasciarsi sotto il sudetto titolo Carlo Odoardo Principe di
Galles—Enrico Benedetto Duce di York. Ma il Padre dov
è? Se egli è morto, non vi è più Principe di Galles. Dunque
questo Titolo non gli compete. Sicchè o bisogna indicarlo
per Rè o bisogna cassarlo, è cassare anzi per sempre il
titolo d’Inghilterra, come se più non vi fosse.
Rimane finalmente ad esaminare, se nelle circostanze
presente della S. Sede riconoscendo il Papa in caso di
morte del Rè Giacomo Terzo il di lui figlio già per tanti anni
in possesso del titolo e delle prerogative di Principe di
Galles per di lui successore nelle dignità ed onori, possa a
giusta ragione ciò chiamarsi novità. Chi scrive si appella al
mondo tutto, ai nemici medesimi della casa Reale, ma già
da questi stessi sente replicarsi ad una voce, che sarebbe
anzi novità per la S. Sede fare il contrario, sarebbe
contradizione a se stessa, sarebbe approvare ciò che non
può approvare, e per fine si usarebbe una grandissima
ostilità alla casa Reale in benemerenza di avere sagrificati
trè Regni per la S. Fede, privandola col fatto del solo asilo,
in cui possa risedere con decoro, e di cui è stata in
possesso per il decorso di tanti anni. Ne vi è certamente
Principe Cattolico che non conosca per tutti i motivi
sopradetti l’indispensabile necessità in cui trovasi la S.
Sede di non fare altrimenti, e capiscono tutti benissimo
che niun Principe è tenuto a render conto all’altro delle
Operazioni, che Egli fa, particolarmente quando sono
conseguenze, e principj del proprio Stato: Ed in effete non
ostante che tutti i Principi Cattolici in corpo abbiano
ultimamente ricusato di riconoscere il Rè di Polonia, ed il
solo Papa con due Principi Eretici lo abbiano riconosciuto:
Quale però de’ Principi Cattolici ha fatto mai querela sù di
ciò al S. Padre, o facendola non fosse per contentarsi di
una si giusta risposta, qual sarebbe, che il Papa non è
obligato a render ragione delle sue operazione in alcune
circostanze; che in questo non ha fatto altro, che seguire
le massime, ed i principj della S. Sede: e finalmente, che a
lui basta, che gli costi della validità dell’ Elezione, e delle
dovute convenienze usate al suo nunzio, e per
conseguenza alla sua Persona?
Ma nel caso nostro sempre cresce l’argomento, poichè
il riconoscimento di un Rè di Polonia potrebbe ammettere
qualch’ esame, o discussione, ma qual discussione o
esame può mai richiedersi nel riconoscere la legittima
successione di un Figlio al Padre dopo la sua morte nelle
di lui prerogative ed onori? Non è già questo
riconoscimento come quello in realtà, atto nuovo ma bensì
una sola necessaria conseguenza di quello, che già fù
stabilito da tanti anni dai sommi Pontefici, allorchì
riconobbero il Figlio di Giacomo Terzo. E tutti gli
argomenti, che addurre si potrebbero, acciochè la S. Sede
facesse una simil novità di dispensarsi dal riconoscere il
Principe di Galles alla morte del di lui Genitore per suo
legittimo successore, potevano addursi, ed avevano anzi
maggior forza per impedire il riconoscimento del
medesimo, in qualità di Principe di Galles dalla S. Mem. di
Clemente undecimo con tutte quelle circostanze e
solennità già riferite, mentre in quei tempi il Papa fù il Solo
Principe Cattolico, che riconobbe il Figlio di Giacomo
Terzo per Principe di Galles. E quantunque la casa di
Hanover si avvedesse che questo atto fosse un impegno
preso dalla S. Sede (come certamente lo era) di doverlo in
appresso riconoscere per legittimo successore del Padre
dopo la di lui morte, ciò non ostante non apportò alcuno di
quei cattivi effetti, forse ideati, o tenuti da alcuna Persone
poco informate e prattiche dello stato delle cose in quel
Regno.
Chi ha scritto questa memoria in ultimo si dichiara, che
non ha avuto altro scopo, che togliere i scrupoli di alcuni
poco intesi delle cose del mondo, e ribattere le difficoltà
che forse suscitar si potrebbe dai nemici non meno della
Casa Reale, che della S. Sede. Del resto i protesti
veramente tenuti alle continue dimostrazioni di Paterno
amore, e clemenze usate dalla Santità di nostro Signore
felicemente regnante verso tutta la sudetta casa Reale,
che non può neppur sospettare, che mancando a suoi
tempi il Rè Giacomo Terzo voglia punto deviare dalle
savissime traccie indicatigli da suoi gloriosi Antecessori.
Nota:—Siccome dopo stesa la presente memoria, pur
troppo non ha mancato più di uno di mettere in dubbio i
sentimenti della santità di nostro signore felicemente
Regnante verso la Real Casa, quasi che fossero
totalmente diversi da quella de’suoi antecessori, ed in
conseguenza potersi supporre essere un semplice
complimento verso la Santità sua quel tanto che con
fiducia si viva presuppone l’Estensore nell’ ultimo della
memoria perciò lo stesso ha creduto uno preciso dovere
di giustizia, ed insiemi di gratitudine rispettosa verso li S.
Padre d’inserire in fine questa stessa memoria tutte le
lettere, che possono aver rapporto alla presente
risoluzione presa dal Real Principe di Galles di ritornare in
questa Capitale; e siccome apparisce più chiaro della luce
del sole, quali siano i sentimenti precisi del S. Padre verso
la Real Casa, e la Persona del Real Principe di Galles
sudetto tanto autenticamente manifestati, così lo stesso
Estensore crede non esservi bisogno di glossa per far
conoscere quanto siano insussistenti, e false le precorse
assertive, e con quanta ragione e fondamento abbia
rimostrato l’Estensore tutta la fiducia e sicurezza nei
sentimenti della Santità sua e quanto li abbia ben
compresi il Real Principe di Galles, giacchè unicamente in
virtù de’ medesimi si è accinto alla risoluziona di restituirsi
a Roma.

Translation[645]
Concerning the indispensable necessity of recognition,
by the Holy See, of the Royal House of Stuart, as the sole
and legitimate successors to the Kingdom of England, and
concerning the inconsistencies and incongruities which
would ensue, should she follow the contrary course, being
one which would little become the dignity of the Holy See.
He who presents this Memorial wishes to state the
case briefly, basing his reasonings on public and well-
known facts. No one in the world is ignorant of the fact
that King James II. was hunted from his throne in odium
Religionis. The very people who were scheming for his
expulsion would have been the last to deny two infallible
principles. The first—that the Kingdom of England was, of
its nature, an hereditary one; the second, that the Royal
Person of James II. was the lawful successor. Wishing
therefore to find an adequate pretext for deposing him,
without destroying the right of succession, which is, by
law, unalterable, they, to serve their own ends, brought
forward the question of the establishment in the kingdom,
already made by law, of the Anglican Religion; and making
as their chief complaint, that the fact of the king being a
Catholic placed that law in constant and imminent peril of
destruction and subversion, they made an Act of
Parliament in which, while claiming to explain the spirit of
the laws of succession, they declared at the same time
that it was not fitting that any one whosoever should
succeed who was of the Catholic Religion, or who did not
conform to the dominant religion.
By virtue of this Act, then, were James II. and his
Catholic offspring deprived of the throne, and his nearest
Protestant relative was called to succeed to it, whose line
has continued to do so even to our own days, not only in
the persons of James ii.’s two daughters, who were
Protestants, but also in those of the Princes of the House
of Hanover, these being the nearest Protestant heirs; in
proof of this, any one who has knowledge of the history of
the princes of this century knows that the Princess Anne,
called by them Queen, wishing to show favour to her
brother James III., to the exclusion of the House of
Hanover, sent accredited persons to try to persuade him
to declare himself a Protestant, and to remove, in this
manner, the only obstacle that stood in the way of his
possession of his kingdom: but that special grace of God,
which gave strength to his father, James II., to sacrifice
three kingdoms for the Holy Faith, likewise gave strength
to his son to refuse courageously any such means of
regaining them.
This, one may take for granted, is an undoubted fact,
that then, as now, the Holy See is bound by no Treaty of
Peace, in the arranging of which, by means of her
Ministers, she has had no voice, and how much less does
she approve of any act that can, either directly or
indirectly, infringe on her rights and those of Holy Church,
the head of whom is the Supreme Pontiff, the Vicar of
Christ: rather should such arise she would make fitting
protests.
Now can it be questioned that any public decree could
be more directly contrary to our Holy Faith, and
consequently could infringe more seriously on the rights of
Holy Mother Church, than that of which we are treating, by
means of which the rights of Succession are denied to any
one happy enough to be one of her sons? Hence it is that
the Supreme Pontiffs, beginning with Innocent xi. of pious
memory, did not deem it necessary to make any explicit
protest against such an iniquitous decree, contenting
themselves instead with the continued recognition which
the Holy See has always accorded to the Royal House of
Stuart, as the sole and legitimate successors to the
throne, so that the Holy See came to regard this Decree
(to which, had she refused to recognise the legitimate
Catholic successors, she would have been indirectly and
tacitly agreeing,) as null.
And indeed, there is a great comparison to be drawn
between the recognition given by the Holy See to the
Royal House of Stuart, to the exclusion of the House of
Hanover, and that which this same Holy See accords to
other heretical princes; as, for example, the Pope certainly
is in no treaty, and has no correspondence with the Kings
of Sweden and Denmark, but this is solely because they
are heretics, not because he denies in any way their
legitimate right to their succession. Thus, in the papers
printed with the approbation of the Court of Rome, no
difficulty is raised as to speaking of them as King of
Sweden and King of Denmark; but in the case in point, the
Most High Pontiff treats directly with this heretical House
of Hanover, though he cannot by any means recognise its
head as the legitimate successor to the Kingdom of
England, so that in this manner he is ratifying the
aforesaid iniquitous decree, and directly admitting it as
valid and real.
It is plainly seen by the whole world how deeply
imbued with these facts and principles was Clement xi. of
blessed memory, who, when His Majesty King James III.
turned to him as his only refuge (on account of the Treaty
of Peace, to which all the Catholic princes, with the
exception of His Holiness, were constrained to consent),
carried him away to the Papal States, and afterwards to
Rome: the Holy Father, I say, fully imbued with and
convinced of the aforesaid sentiments and truth, did not
content himself with simply recognising and treating the
royal person of James III. as the sole and legitimate King
of England, but, wishing to recognise also all his royal
progeny, he spared no trouble to ensure that the
propagation of the line should be carried on, in order to
procure him a legitimate successor. This was effected by
the marriage of James III. with the Princess Sobieski;
which was not a little facilitated by letters written by the
Pope to the Emperor. In a few months it became known
that the hopes for an heir were to be realised, and towards
the last days of the year 1720, as the time of his birth
approached, the Holy Father knowing on the one side the
necessity of rendering the legitimacy of the birth
indisputable, and on the other, realising that the Holy See
must in nowise contradict herself, but must act in such a
manner as to show most decidedly her protest against the
unjust Decree, by recognising the future offspring as heir-
apparent and legitimate successor to the throne of
England, he took upon himself to see that this event
should take place with the greatest possible solemnity;
and therefore, by the wish of the Holy Father, there were
called to be present at the birth, the Sacred College, the
Roman Senate, the highest Roman Princes and Prelates,
and the foremost nobility of Rome; and although there was
a delay of three days before the birth took place, during
the whole of this time the ante-rooms of Her Majesty were
filled with these most venerable personages, who relieved
one another by turns, while some of the Cardinals sat up
each night. Thus, in the midst of so honourable an
assembly was born on December 31st of the aforesaid
year, Charles Edward, Prince of Wales, acknowledged as
such, and consequently as heir-apparent to the Crown, by
the Supreme Pontiff himself, who without delay had the
birth announced to all the people by means of a salute
from the cannon of the castle. And here it is allowable to
reflect that even had King James III. been in peaceful
possession of his throne the aforesaid newly-born Prince
could not have received greater honours, nor could his
right to succeed to the Crown have been proclaimed more
unquestionably. The only formality which could have put a
finishing touch to the rest was the traditional Delivery of
the Swaddling Clothes, which it was the custom to send
only to the heirs of crowned heads (and then only to those
reigning by succession, not by election): but, as Clement
xi. of pious memory died before this matter was
concluded, it fell to his successor, Innocent xiii., to
complete it, which he did with all possible solemnity,
sending an ambassador, with all the formality and
ceremonies observed with other Courts.
From all this, it cannot be denied that the obligations
under which the Royal House of Stuart lay to Clement xi.
of blessed memory are very plainly shown, but it is also
shown just as plainly how much His Holiness had at heart
the dignity of the Holy See, and how well he realised the
absolute necessity by which he was bound to sustain the
rights of the aforesaid Royal House inviolable. The Holy
Father saw plainly that all these repeated acts of
recognition must necessarily greatly embitter the English
Government against the Catholics, and, in consequence,
must, in a manner, be an obstacle to the success of the
missions. He also understood that he alone was the one
Catholic prince who had made this act of recognition. With
all this, keeping before his eyes the justice of the cause
(which was quite apart from the question of religion), the
abhorrence that the Holy See could never sufficiently
show to the aforementioned decree, and, finally, the strict
obligation of his successors never to depart from the line
he had taken towards a family which deserved so much
from the Holy See, he did not hesitate for a moment to
pursue this course with great solemnity, thereby robbing
his successors of any reason of doubt concerning the
treatment owed to the Prince of Wales on the death of his
father; since His Holiness knew well, that once a son was
recognised as heir-apparent by the Holy See, no doubt
could be raised that at the death of his father he should
succeed to everything, and therefore to his dignity and
honours: in the same way that, in the Empire
(notwithstanding its being an Elective State), once the
Holy See recognised any one as King of the Romans, she
could not afterwards, on the death of the Emperor, free
herself from recognising his successor. The mind of the
glorious Clement xi. was so full of these just sentiments,
at the moment of his death, that he wished to show plainly
to all the Sacred College how great was his anxiety that
what he had done towards the Royal House should be
permanently maintained, laying on them a special charge
to that effect. All the succeeding Popes, beginning with
Innocent xiii. down to Clement xiii., now by the grace of
God reigning, have been most faithful and zealous
executors of this trust, and all have treated and regarded
the first-born son of James III. as Prince of Wales;
therefore as successor to the King of England. Hence,
ever since the Prince has been admitted to audiences with
His Supreme Holiness, there has never been the slightest
difficulty as to his treatment, or rather, there has been no
doubt, that among other fitting distinctions, he should
have, as did the king, his father, an armchair (which it is
customary for the Holy See to offer to the heirs-apparent
to a throne). But, in this one particular, His Majesty asked
that a slight modification might be made in his presence,
for the one and only reason of maintaining the custom of
the Kingdom of England, where even the eldest son in the
presence of his father is not allowed to sit in a seat equal
to his: and to comply with His Majesty’s wish, the prince
has always been given an easy chair, but without arms.
There now remains to examine the contradictions and
inconsistencies which would arise each time that the Holy
See refused to recognise the Prince of Wales as legitimate
successor to the king, his father, at the death of the latter.
These would be without doubt innumerable; it would not
be easy to foresee them all, nevertheless we can mention
some. Firstly, that as the Prince of Wales has for the
space of forty-five years been in possession of the title
and prerogatives of Prince of Wales, they cannot now be
denied him, whether present or absent, without derogating
and expressly contradicting the solemn line of action
followed by six successive Popes. In the second place, it
must follow that if the Holy See to-day treats and looks on
this same person as Prince of Wales (that is to say, as
natural successor to the throne of England, as is the
Dauphin to that of France, and the Prince of the Asturias
to that of Spain), and to-morrow hearing of the death of his
father draw back from recognising him as succeeding to
that father in dignity and honours, she thus denies that he
ever was Prince of Wales. In the third place, how could
she then recognise the aforesaid Prince after his father’s
death? Perhaps still as Prince of Wales? But it is averred
that he is that no longer. Plainly then, either he is entitled
to the same treatment as that given to his father, whom he
has succeeded, or, it is only right to say that he has not
been entitled all these years to the prerogatives and rights
of heir. Fourthly, before the Pope could make an
innovation of this nature, so entirely at variance with the
course adopted by his predecessors, it would be
necessary to have some very strong reason, which neither
exists now, nor ever can exist. For, if any of the Catholic
princes have been constrained to draw back from the
recognition of the Royal House of Stuart, as legitimate
successors and heirs to the throne of England, it has only
been in consequence of their entering on different treaties
of peace with the present Government of England, which
has put them under the necessity of recognising the
heretical succession, as established by the famous Act of
Parliament. But no such cause can possibly affect the
Holy Father in any way. He has never made nor can he
make treaties of any sort with heretical Princes: neither
has he ever taken part in the aforesaid treaties of peace of
other princes. Above all, he never has recognised, nor can
he ever recognise, as valid or real, this same famous
Decree, against which, as has been shown above, the
continued recognition of the Royal House of Stuart serves
as an indisputable protest. And from this we come to the
fifth serious inconsistency, which might be most prejudicial
to the Holy See; for if the Pope should cease to recognise
the Prince of Wales as successor to the king, his father, it
is evident, even to his most humble admirers, that he
would be, in a way, revoking all the protests made by his
predecessors, and a very dangerous consequence might
ensue: namely, that should the prince of any heretical
state become a Catholic, it would be within the power of
his subjects, for this one reason only, to deprive him of his
rights and inheritances.
Sixthly, is it not easy to see the serious inconsistency
that would arise in the Public Records, which, up till now,
have, with the authority of the Holy See, been printed for
so many years in the same manner? Under the heading of
England should there then be inscribed the name of
George III? But this is not possible, since he has never
been, nor can be recognised by the Pope as king. Should
there not rather be entered under the above heading—
Charles Edward, Prince of Wales—Henry Benedict, Duke
of York? But where is the father? If he is dead there is no
longer a Prince of Wales, then this title does not belong to
him. Either the title should be that of king, or it should be
abolished, with that of England, as if it no longer existed.
It only remains then to examine whether in the
circumstances in which the Holy See is now placed, the
Papal recognition (as in the occasion of the death of King
James III.) of the son who has been for so many years in
possession of the titles and prerogatives of the Prince of
Wales, as successor in dignity and honours, can, in any
justice be called an innovation. He who writes appeals to
the whole world, even to the enemies of the Royal House,
though even these he can hear declaring as with one
voice that the innovation would rather be, that the Holy
See should act to the contrary; it would be a self-
contradiction, in that it would be showing approbation of
that of which she does not approve, and further, it would
be showing great hostility to the Royal House in return for
its having sacrificed three kingdoms for the Holy Faith, in
depriving it of the only refuge to which it can rightly turn,
and in which it has trusted for so many years. And there is
no Catholic prince who does not well understand how
impossible it would be for the Pope to follow such a
course. They know well that no prince is called upon to
account for his doings to any one else, more particularly
when they concern matters or principles relating to his
own state. And indeed, notwithstanding that all the
Catholic princes in a body have lately refused to recognise
the King of Poland, and only the Pope, with two heretical
princes have done so, the Catholic princes, have, in this
action of the Holy Father found no cause of quarrel, or, if
they have found any, they have been satisfied with the just
remark, that the Pope is not obliged to give any reasons
for his actions under any circumstances, and that, in this
case, he has only followed the rules and principles of the
Holy See, and lastly that it is sufficient for him that he is
satisfied with the validity of the election, and of the
treatment accorded to his ambassador, as representing
his own person.
But in our case, this only strengthens the argument, in
that the recognition of the King of Poland admitted of
some inquiries and discussion, but what discussion or
inquiry can be necessary in recognising the legitimate
succession of a son to a father, after the death of the
latter? In reality there is no comparison between the two
cases, this last recognition being nothing new, but rather
the necessary consequence of the understanding that was
established years ago by the supreme Pontiffs, that they
should recognise the son of James III.
And all the arguments that could be cited, in order that
the Holy See should give herself a dispensation from now
recognising the Prince of Wales as legitimate successor
on the death of his father, might have been brought
forward just as reasonably, and with greater force, to
hinder Clement xi. of pious memory from recognising him
as Prince of Wales, as he did with all ceremony, as has
already been stated, being at that time the only Catholic
prince who did so recognise him. And although the House
of Hanover saw that this act constituted a promise from
the Holy See, which it certainly did, to recognise the prince
as legitimate successor of his father, after the death of the
latter, this, notwithstanding, brought none of those evil
effects (perhaps chimerical) which were feared by some
people who were but ill-informed or little conversant with
the state of affairs in the kingdom.
He who has written this Memorial would have it
understood in conclusion, that he has no other aim in view
than to remove scruples felt by some who know little of the
affairs of the world, and to combat the difficulties that
perhaps might be raised by enemies, not only of the Royal
House, but of the Holy See. For the rest, there has ever
been such continual clemency and fatherly love shown by
His Holiness, now by the grace of God reigning, towards
the whole of the aforesaid Royal House that it is
impossible to believe, on the death of King James iii., that
His Holiness will in any way depart from the most wise
example set by his predecessors of glorious memory.
Note:—As, after the completion of this Memorial there
were not lacking those who cast doubts on the sentiments
of His Holiness, now by the grace of God reigning,
towards the Royal House, suspecting that they differed
from those of his predecessors, and who, therefore, might
consider the lively confidence evinced by the writer in the
latter part of this Memorial simply as an empty compliment
towards His Holiness, this same writer has therefore
considered it a strict act of justice, as well as a tribute of
gratitude and respect, towards the Holy Father, to insert at
the end of this Memorial any letters that bear upon the
present resolution of the Royal Prince of Wales to return to
this capital. And as the exact sentiments of the Holy
Father towards the Royal House and the person of the
said Prince of Wales have been shown more
unquestionably clearly than the light of the sun, so the
writer considers any further comments and explanations
unnecessary, to show how unfounded and false these
suspicions are, and with how much reason and foundation
the writer has relied so surely on the sentiments of the
Holy Father, and how well the Royal Prince of Wales has
understood them, in that it is solely on the strength of the
same, that he continues in his resolve to return to Rome.
 APPENDIX VI
THE MACDONALDS

John, Lord of the Isles (died 1387), fourth in succession from

Donald progenitor of the clan, had two wives: (1) Amy MacRuari; (2)
the Princess Margaret, daughter of Robert ii., to marry whom he
repudiated or divorced Amy. The lordship of the Isles went to the
descendants of the Princess. The hereditary clan chiefship, which
ordinarily descends to the senior heir-male, did not necessarily follow
the title. The lordship of the Isles was taken from the Macdonalds
and annexed to the Crown in 1494, and the question who is supreme
hereditary chief of Clan Donald has ever since been a matter of
strife. Glengarry and Clanranald descend from Amy MacRuari, the
first wife, and are therefore senior in blood, but it is doubtful which of
these two families is the elder; last century the general preference
was for Glengarry, but the new Scots Peerage and the Clan Donald
historian favour Clanranald. Sleat and Keppoch descend from the
Princess Margaret, Sleat coming from Hugh, third son of Alexander,
Lord of the Isles (died 1449), grandson of John, and son of Donald of
Harlaw, while Keppoch comes from the fourth son of John and
Princess Margaret, and could only have a claim if there were a flaw
in the pedigree of Sleat. Doubts have been expressed of the
legitimacy of Hugh of Sleat, but these have been set aside.
Glencoe’s progenitor was Ian, son of Angus Og (died 1330), Bruce’s
friend who fought at Bannockburn, the father of John, Lord of the
Isles, mentioned above, but the Seannachies have pronounced him
illegitimate. From this Ian the Glencoe clan has been known as
MacIan for centuries.
It is interesting to know that in the summer of 1911, the three
hereditary heads of the families having serious claims on the
supreme chiefship of the clan, Glengarry, Clanranald, and Sleat (Sir
Alexander of the Isles), signed an indenture mutually agreeing to