Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/615

Rh John’s-gate. Like the priory, it was used in connection with the office of the queen’s revels so long as that was maintained in Clerkenwell. It then fell into private hands, Sir Morrice Dennys and Sir Roger Wilbraham having both been its possessors. In 1731 it became the property of Edward Cave, who lived there and set up a printing establishment in a portion of the space. It was here that the “Gentleman’s Magazine” was for many years published. The gate was, whilst in Cave’s hands, the scene of the memorable incident when Dr. Johnson dined behind a screen at an entertainment given by Cave, because he was so shabbily dressed that he did not wish to join the company. It continued to be a printing establishment till the end of the last century. Its subsequent career was more ignoble, as it became a public-house. Fortunately the landlord, Benjamin Foster, was a man who appreciated the historical associations of the place, and during his tenure established literary and archæological meetings, and otherwise raised its status beyond that of a mere tavern. It has of late years recovered its original position, having been purchased by the members of the revived English langue, and by them fitted up once more as a chancery and domicile for the Order.

This fact leads naturally to a detail of the circumstances which have led to the revival of that langue, although it is anticipating the general course of the narrative to touch on it now. As it satisfactorily closes the sketch of the langue, it is thought better to deal with it in this place rather than to insert it in its proper chronological order.

The fall of Napoleon and the restoration of the Bourbons in 1814 removed the ban under which the French knights had lain since their suppression by the Republican government in 1792. They at once reassembled in chapter-general at Paris, and forming, as they did at that time, the most powerful branch of the Order still surviving, elected a permanent capitular commission in which was vested plenary power to act as might seem best for the general interests of the fraternity. The creation of this capitular commission was confirmed by a pontifical bull issued by Pope Pius VII. on the 10th August, 1814, and recognized by the lieutenant of the Mastery and sacred council, in an instrument dated the 9th October following.