Every preparation had been made that the points determined on should be carried.

The bishops were informed that they were coming to Rome not to deliberate, but to sanction decrees previously made by an infallible pope.

No idea was entertained of any such thing as free discussion.

The minutes of the meetings were not permitted to be inspected; the prelates of the opposition were hardly allowed to speak.
On January 22, 1870, a petition, requesting that the infallibility of the pope should be defined, was presented; an opposition petition of the minority was offered.

Hereupon, the deliberations of the minority were forbidden, and their publications prohibited.