PM. Ponenza [prepared for the CG of 6 March 1826] on the bishopric of Dromore and on the coadjutorship to the bishopric of Québec, in eight paragraphs. Paragraph 8 contains four queries to be answered by PF. They are followed by a Sommario. Paragraphs 5-8 deal with Québec. Panet, who succeeded to Plessis as abp. of Québec when the latter died of apoplexy on 4 December 1825, wrote to the Pope [Leo XII] on 20 (Sommario, no. 5 [see SOCG 432]) and to PF on 21 December [1825] (Sommario, no. 6 [see SOCG 433]) asking that Signay, Canadian, parish priest since 1814, whose worthiness is certified (Sommario, no. 7 [see SOCG 431]), be appointed his coadjutor.
Although Panet was aware of Gerdil's letter to Hubert of 16 January 1796 (the letter is missing, but see Gerdil to Pacca, 16 January 1796, forwarded via Morrogh in Lisbon [see Calendar 1622-1799, V 427-428]), which made it clear that no coadjutor can be declared prior to the Holy See's approval, circumstances made it necessary to obtain the approval of Dalhousie, Governor[-in-Chief] of the province [Lower Canada] and to publish it in Panet's first mandement [of 15 December 1825; see C 159]. As explained in his letter of 12 December 1825 to his procurator, Gradwell [see SOCG 428], who was asked to inform Caprano, his age (73), the necessity to stop possible troubles, and the fact that in the past the bp.s of Québec always managed to have their candidate approved, made Panet's move necessary.
In his two letters of 20 and 24 January 1826 [see SOCG 429], Poynter, vicar apostolic in the London district, justifies Panet's decision with the necessity to counter the enemies of Lartigue's appointment and with the fact that he could not suggest a slate of three candidates, due to the [British] government's thoroughness in knowing "all that is done there [in Canada]". As for precedents, reference is made to Denaut's death on 17 January 1806, Plessis's letter to Pius VII of 12 February 1806 [see Acta 005], the CG of 21 July 1806 [see Acta 004], Coppola's audience with Pius VII of 24 [recte 20 or 27] July 1806 [see Acta 005, Varia 275], and the briefs sent to Panet [on 12 August 1806; see Varia 008-009]. The query is, whether to appoint Signay as coadjutor of Panet. Items 5-7 of the Sommario contain documents on Québec mentioned above [see SOCG 431-433]. [The balance of this item deals with Ireland]. Bs: fol. 863v-864rv, 869v-870rv, 877v-878rv.
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