The Times of Tuesday stated that Leo XIII. had "intimated
his desire to raise Dr. Newman to the rank of Cardinal, and that with expressions of deep respect for the Holy See, Dr. Newman has excused himself from accepting the purple." We have written elsewhere on the supposition that Dr. Newman had positively declined the dignity offered him, but we have since had reason to doubt whether this be really the case, and whether Dr. Newman's reply may not have been of a kind which would leave it open to the Pope either to insist on or withdraw his offer, as might appear best, after considering Dr. Newman's answer. If this proves to be so, it is certainly a pity that any premature report of the nature of his reply,—especially one so conceived as to force in any degree the Pope's hand,—should have been made public. The true interpretation of replies to such offers as this is frequently a very delicate matter, and to put one out of many possible senses publicly upon it, may render it very difficult to attach the proper significance to the other senses of which it admits.
