Life William Poynter

poynter educated @ english college @ douai, ordained in 1786. remained professor, , afterwards prefect of studies till college suppressed during french revolution.

after undergoing eighteen months imprisonment, collegians set free, , returned england in march, 1795. poynter students south of england went old hall @ ware in hertfordshire, took leading part in foundation of st. edmund s college, being first vice-president, (1801–13) president.

in 1803, in light of declining health of bishop john douglass, vicar apostolic of london district, poynter appointed titular bishop of halia , coadjutor vicar apostolic, remaining @ same time president of college. consecrated bishop bishop douglass on 29 may 1803. on death of bishop douglass in 1812, bishop poynter succeeded vicar apostolic.

his position rendered difficult persistent attacks of bishop john milner, vicar apostolic of midlands district, in pamphlets , in pastorals, covering range of disputes centred on question of catholic emancipation , demands of british government control appointment of catholic bishops in great britain. unrelated dispute arose when poynter put restrictions on writings of peter gandolphy milner allowed in vicariate. poynter endured milner s accusations in silence, having support of other english , scotch bishops; when in may 1814, on issue of quarantotti rescript, milner went rome obtain reversal, poynter followed him there , wrote apologetical epistle defending himself sacred congregation of propaganda fide.

quarantotti s rescript withdrawn, , in place substituted letter dr. poynter, dated genoa, pope had taken refuge during hundred days ensued upon napoleon buonaparte s escape exile on elba. limited veto british crown upon appointment of bishops sanctioned, exequatur refused. milner directed abstain publishing pastorals or pamphlets against poynter. obeyed injunction, continued attacks in letters orthodox journal until peremptorily prohibited order of pope, under pain of being deposed.

during episcopate poynter paid 4 visits paris of several months each (1814, 15, 17, , 22), object of reclaiming property of colleges @ douai , elsewhere, had been confiscated during revolution. received support of duke of wellington , lord castlereagh, , of british commissioners appointed deal claims.

he succeeded in recovering colleges , £30,000 had been kept in names of bishops, main claim amounting £120,000 lost. french paid british commissioners, these refused hand over, on plea applied purposes considered english law superstitious . final decision given in november, 1825.