PM [prepared for the CG of 20 November 1826] on the coadjutorship of the abp. of Québec [Panet], subdivided into a report in 11 paragraphs and a ponenza in 12 paragraphs. Paragraph 12 of the ponenza contains two queries to be answered by PF. They are followed by a Sommario. The ponenza dealing with the request of the abp. of Québec [contained in his letters of 20 and 21 December 1825 respectively to Leo XII and Della Somaglia; see SOCG 432-433], on the appointment of [Signay as] his coadjutor, is preceded by a report based on the documents preserved in the archives of PF. The report is a very detailed history of the appointments of the coadjutors of the bp.s of Québec from 1763 (before that date they were chosen by the king of France) to 1806, mentioning bp.s Dubreil de Pontbriand, Briand, Mariauchau d'Esgly, Hubert, Bailly de Messein, Denaut, Plessis.
Reference is made to the CGs of 30 May 1785, 10 September 1788, 7 [recte 1] September [1794] [see Calendar 1622-1799, II 210 214 233 respectively], 21 July 1806 [see Acta 004]. It is remarked that, in the case of Briand, the principle of election was excluded (see Castelli to Nuncio [in France, Pamphili Colonna, 22 January 1786; see Calendar 1622-1799, V 183]), that Briand was not meant to select only one candidate, that Hubert's appointment was not accepted by Antonelli until Montgolfier's renunciation was received by Sydney [Townshend; see Calendar 1622-1799, V 318]; that Gerdil's important letter to Hubert of 16 January 1796 (missing [but see Calendar 1622-1799, V 427-428]) stated that no coadjutor should be appointed before the Holy See's approval was received; that Gerdil's letter was disregarded by Hubert and by Plessis (see Plessis to Di Pietro, 17 February 1806; see C 023].
Other persons mentioned in the report are Clement XIII, La Corne, the nuncio [in France, Doria Pamphili], the abbé de L'Isle-Dieu [La Rue], Clement XIV, Pius VI, Hussey, Borgia. The ponenza summarizes the CG of 6 March 1826, the audience granted by the Pope [Leo XII] on 19 March [1826], PF [i.e., Della Somaglia]'s letters to Panet of 8 April 1826 [see Lettere 230] and to the vicars general [A. McDonell, MacEachern, Lartigue, Provencher] of 14 April 1826 (Sommario, nos. 1-2 [see Lettere 231-233, but letter to McDonell missing]). In his letter [to PF] of 23 February [1826; see SOCG 470], Poynter suggested Demers and Turgeon as completing the slate for Panet's coadjutorship (but they have both refused), then he urged Gradwell that the matter be completed and feared Bathurst's departure from office (as reported [by Gradwell to Della Somaglia on 22 August 1826; see SOCG 467] in Sommario, no. 3).
In his letter [to Della Somaglia] of 17 July 1826, Panet is startled at PF's delay in appointing Signay, maintains that the procedure outlined in Castelli's letter to Briand of [14 March] 1770 [seem Calendar 1622-1799, V 209] has never been enforced, makes reference to the "dark ages of the [Roman] Republic," believes it impossible to withdraw the candidate (Signay) already approved by the British government, announces that he has appointed Signay administrator of the diocese in case of his own death, and suggests that a general deal re the appointment of coadjutors be negotiated between the British court and Rome (Sommario, no. 4 [see SOCG 471]).
In his letter [of 4 August 1826], Lartigue maintains that both Demers and Turgeon and worthier candidates than Signay (and they might be forced to accept the coadjutorship), that a decision must be made whether the choice of the coadjutor is the privilege of the abp. or of the British goverment (since the latter replaced the French government), and mentions Chaboillez (Sommario, no. 5 [see C 146]). Poynter's letter [to Gradwell, of 15 August 1826] emphasizes the urgency of the matter (Sommario, no. 6 [see SOCG 468]). The writer [Cappellari] points out that Panet's faculties do not include the appointment of an administrator, which in case of his death would be Lartigue [see Acta 143-144], and that the answers of MacEachern, Provencher [and McDonell] were not yet received.
The two queries are, [1] whether to ask the Pope to appoint Signay bp. in partibus and coadjutor of Panet, [2] how to deal with future appointments of coadjutors. The Sommario contains the above-mentioned documents. Bs: fol. 492v-493rv, 503v.
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