YORK, HENRY BENEDICT MARY, Duke of, cardinal and bishop of Frascati, the last male descendant of the royal house of Stuart, was the second son of James (III. of England), commonly known as the pretender. He was born at Rome, Mar. 26, 1725; and after the failure of the attempt of his elder brother, Charles Edward, in 1745, resolved to enter the church. He was admitted to tonsure and minor orders by Bene dict XIV., and Created cardinal in 1747. Clement XIII. consecrated him bishop of Corinth in partibus znjidelium, and afterward of the suburban see of Frascati, where he took up his residence. He also enjoyed, through the favor of the crown of France, the revenues of two abbeys, whiCh he held in commendam, as well as a pension from the Spanish court; and the liberal charity with which he dispensed his income among the poor, and for the other charitable and religious necessities of his diocese, endeared him to his flock. These resources were lost at the revolution; but, nevertheless, in the dis tresses of the holy see which ensued, cardinal York sold his family jewels for the pur pose of relieving Pius VI. in his necessities. On the occupation of Rome be withdrew
to Venice; but he returned in 1801, on the restoration of the papal authority under Pius VII. George III., having become aware of the failure of his former means of income, granted him a pension of £4,000 a year, which he accepted, and enjoyed till his death. Those to whom a printed record of the "Last of the Stuarts" may he interesting, will find a small collection of his "pastoral letters," in a 4to volume published in Rome, and entitled Appendix ad Tusculanam Synodum a Celsitudine Regiit Emmentissimi Henrici Eplieopi Tuseulani (Rome, 1764). He was appointed by Pius VII. dean of the sacred college, and held several other dignities, and was much respected, as well by the Ital ians as by foreigners visiting Rome. He died at Frascati, July 17, 1817, at the advanced age of 92. His last will, which is a very interesting document, is printed by Artaud in his Vie de Pie VII. His monument, by Canova, in St. Peter's, was erected by order of the prince regent, afterward George I\.