It has happened to me to have described in a novel[8] a prelate who richly deserved a thrashing; the good folks of Rome have named to me three or four whom they fancied they recognized in the portrait.

But it has never yet been known that any prelate, however vicious, has given utterance to liberal ideas.

A single word from a Roman prelate's lips in behalf of the nation would ruin him.
The Count de Rayneval has laboured hard to prove that prelates, who have not received the sacrament of Ordination, form part of the lay element.

At this rate, a province should deem itself fortunate, and think it has escaped priestly government, if its prefect is simply tonsured.

I cannot for the life of me see in what tonsured prelates are more laymen than they are priests.