111. The subject of ecclesiastical jurisdiction has been
involved in a mist of passion, of prejudice and of interest.
Two of the fairest books which have fallen into my hands are
the Institutes of Canon Law, by the Abbe de Fleury, and the
Civil History of Naples, by Giannone. Their moderation was
the effect of situation as well as of temper. Fleury was a
French ecclesiastic, who respected the authority of the
parliaments; Giannone was an Italian lawyer, who dreaded the
power of the church. And here let me observe that, as the
general propositions which I advance are the result of
'many' particular and imperfect facts, I must either refer
the reader to those modern authors who have expressly
treated the subject, or swell these notes to a disagreeable
and disproportionate size.