Page:On papal conclaves (IA a549801700cartuoft).djvu/177

 Rh dated 24th Decemher 1830, instructing him, 'at the express order of his Catholic Majesty, to exclude his Eminence Cardinal Giustiniani from the pontifical throne.' This despatch the Cardinal Dean then read out to his assembled colleagues before proceeding to the morning ballot on the 9th January, after which Cardinal Giustiniani addressed them, expressing ignorance of what he could have done to make the King of Spain take this step, but professing to thank him for the greatest favour he could have bestowed by keeping him from the Papal throne. In spite of his professions of thankfulness at being freed from an infliction by this royal veto, it is mentioned by the Neapolitan Envoy in Rome, in a despatch written three days after his exclusion, that the effect had been to make the Cardinal take to his bed with an attack of fever.

There has since been, however, yet another veto levelled, though not actually launched, which, but for the accidental circumstance of a short delay in its transmission, would have materially changed the