CLEMENT XIV. (Man Vincenzo Ganganelli) was born at Sant' Angelo In Vedo, near Rimini, in 1705. At an early age ho entered the order of Franciscans, distinguished himself by his learning, was favourably noticed and employed by Benedict XIV., and was made a cardinal by Clement XIIL, whom he succeeded in May 1769, after a stormy conclave, which lasted two months. lie adopted a conciliating tone tewards the foreign powers, which at the death of his prede censor were on the cove of an open rupture with Roma lie discon tinued the public reading of the bull in Coma Domini, which was considered offensive to the sovereigns. The great question which at that time agitated the Roman Catholic world was the definitive abolition of the order of the Jesuits. Ganganelli took several years to decide on this important subject, and at last, on the 21st of July 1773, be Issued the bull of suppression. About Easter 1774, Clement was taken dengerously ill, under suspicious symptoms, lingered a few mouth., and died 22nd of September 1774; but the post mortar'
examination of his body and the report of the physicians did not countenance the suspicion that he had died of poison. Ganganelli was a man of enlightened mind. lie had a taste for the arts; he con tinued the collection of antique sculpture. begun b7 Lambertini, and ranged them in a suite of rooms in the Vatican, which was called the Clementine Museum, and was afterwards greatly enlarged by his suc cessor, Pins VI., when it received the 'tame of Musa) lie added also to the Vatican library. A fine monument, the work of Canova, was raised to him in the church of S. Apoatoll, which belonged to a convent of his order. The letters published by Corso doll under the name of Gingered!' are now generally understood to be Clement XIV. was simple in his habits, free from ambition, sad not given to nepotism.