,life of ,father ,ignatius of ,st4 ,paul1 ,passionist4 i ii ,picture and autograph of ,fr4 ,ignatius iii ,,life ,,of ,father ,ignatius of ,st4 ,paul1 ,,passionist 7,the ,hon4 ,rev4 ,george ,spencer74 ,compiled chiefly from his ,autobiography1 ,journal1 ,letters4 ,,by ,the ,rev4 ,father ,pius ,a ,sp4 ,sancto1 ,passionist4 ,,dublin3 ,james ,duffy1 #ae1 ,wellington ,quay2 ,and #bb1 ,paternoster ,row1 ,london4 #ahff4 ,the right of translation is reserved4 iv ,cox ,and ,wyman1 ,classical and ,general ,printers1 ,great ,queen ,street1 ,lincoln's ,inn ,fields1 ,w4,c4 v ,to the ,very ,reverend ,father ,ignatius ,of ,the ,infant ,jesus1 ,passionist1 ,long ,the ,director ,of ,father ,ignatius ,of ,st4 ,paul1 ,for ,nine ,years ,the ,faithful ,steward ,of ,the ,anglo-,hibernian ,province1 ,which ,he ,found ,a ,handful ,and ,made ,a ,host1 ,this ,volume1 ,written ,by ,his ,order ,and ,published ,with ,his ,blessing1 ,is ,dedicated1 ,to ,testify ,the ,gratitude ,all ,his ,subjects ,feel1 ,and ,the ,most ,unworthy ,of ,them ,tries ,to ,express1 ,by ,his ,paternity's ,devoted ,and ,affectionate ,child1 ,the ,author4 vi vii ,preface4 ,great servants of ,god have seldom been understood in their lifetime4 ,persecution has assailed them often1 from quarters where help would be expected in their defence4 ,even holy souls are sometimes mistaken about the particular line of virtue which distinguishes their contemporaries from themselves4 ,st4 ,john of the ,cross1 ,st4 ,joseph ,calasanctius1 and ,st4 ,alphonsus ,liguori1 have had the close of their lives embittered1 as we might call it1 by domestic persecution2 and it was some time before their splendour1 as they vanished from the horizon of life1 rose again to its zenith1 and outshone its former glory4 ,if the impartial eye1 with which we read their actions1 fails to find a plea for the manner they have been dealt with1 let us remember that we have no interests at stake--no false colouring of passion to blind us4 ,death1 indeed1 does not always mow down mistaken notions with the life of him about whom they are taken up4 ,we must1 however1 be thankful that it slays so many viii wrong impressions1 and attribute the residue to other causes4 ,justice to the dead is an impulse of nature2 and those who would qualify praise of the living by the mention of unworthy actions or inferior motives1 will qualify blame of the dead by a contrary proceeding4 ,this instinct has its golden mean as well as every other4 ,if an ancient ,greek ostracised a man because he was praised by every one1 many moderns will defend a man because he is similarly blamed4 ,whenever there exists a difference of opinion about a man during life1 it requires some length of time after he has departed1 for prejudice to settle to the bottom1 and allow his genuine character to be seen through clearly4 ,these facts1 and the experience of history1 lead us to conclude that a man's life cannot be impartially written when his memory is yet fresh in people's minds4 ,thousands have had opportunities of judging1 and bring their impressions to compare them with the page that records the actions from which they were taken2 and if they be different from the idea the biographer intends to convey1 it is not probable that1 in every case1 their possessors will be content to lay them aside4 ,it is supposed1 moreover1 that a biographer owes a kind of vassalage to his subject--that he is obliged to defend him through thick and ix thin--in good and evil report4 ,he is obliged1 according to traditionary1 though arbitrary laws1 to suppress whatever will not tell in his favour1 to put the very best face upon what he is compelled to relate1 and to make the most of excellencies4 ,his opinion1 therefore1 must be received with caution1 for it is his duty to be partial1 in the most odious sense of that word1 and it would be a capital sin to deviate from this long-established rule4 ,these difficulties do not beset the life that is here presented to the public4 ,father ,ignatius had his alternations of praise and blame during life2 but those who thought least of him were forced to admit his great sanctity4 ,if this latter quality be conceded1 apology has no room4 ,an admitted saint does not require to be defended2 for the aureola of his own brow will shed the light through which his actions are to be viewed4 ,we see1 therefore1 no wrong impressions that require to be removed--no calumnies that have to be cleared away--nothing1 in fact1 to be done1 except to give a faithful history of his life4 ,for this reason1 we venture to publish this work before the second anniversary of his death2 and it would have been published sooner1 if the materials from which it is composed could have been arranged and digested4 ,again1 he was heedless of the praise or blame of x men himself1 and it would be an injustice to his memory to wait for a favourable moment for giving his thoughts publicity4 ,those who expect to find nothing in the lives of holy people but goodness and traits of high spirituality1 will be disappointed when they read this4 ,those who are accustomed to read that some saints indeed have lived rather irregularly in their youth1 but find themselves left in blessed ignorance of what those irregularities were1 will also be disappointed4 ,they shall find here recorded that young ,spencer was not a saint1 and they shall be given data whereon to form their own opinion too4 ,they shall see him pass through various phases of religious views1 and shall find themselves left to draw their own conclusions about his conduct throughout4 ,and now1 perhaps1 it is better to give some reasons why this course was adopted in writing his life1 rather than the usual one4 ,besides that already given1 there are two others4 ,in the first place1 ordinary1 well-meaning ,christians feel disheartened when they find saints ready to be canonized from their infancy1 and cannot think of the ,magdalenes when they find the calendar full of ,marys1 and ,agneses1 and ,teresas4 ,neither will they reflect much on an ,augustin1 when the majority are ,sebastians and ,aloysiuses4 ,here is an example to help these people on2 and they are the greater number4 xi ,we have therefore shown ,father ,ignatius's weak points as well as his strong ones2 we have brought him out in his written life precisely as he was in reality4 ,he comes before us with a mind full of worldly notions1 he traces his own steps away from rectitude1 he makes his confession to the whole world4 ,how many will see in the youth he passed1 far away from ,god and grazing the edge of the bottomless precipice1 a perfect illustration of their own youth4 ,let them then follow him through life4 ,they shall find him a prey to the worst passions1 anger1 pride1 and their kindred tendencies4 ,they shall see him put his hand to the plough1 and1 according to the measure of his grace and light1 subduing first one1 and then another of his inclinations4 ,they can trace his passage through life1 and see that he has so far overcome his passions that an equivocal warmth of temper is a thing to be wondered at in him4 ,there is a servant of ,god that gives us courage1 we need not despond when he leads the way for us4 ,occasional imperfections are mentioned towards the latter part of his life4 ,these only show that he was a man and not an angel1 and that a defect now and again is not at all incompatible with great holiness4 ,there was a reality about the man that can never leave the minds of those who knew him4 ,he hated shams4 ,he would have the brightest consequences of xii faith realized4 ,he would not have the ,gospel laws be mere matter of sentimental platitudes1 but great realities pervading life and producing their legitimate effects4 ,he went into them1 heart and soul2 and the few points in which he seemed to go this side or that of the mean of virtue in their observance1 we have recorded1 that others may see how he observed them4 ,exceptions show the beauty of a rule2 and this is the second reason why we have written as a historian and not as a panegyrist4 ,and now for an account of the materials from which the memoir has been compiled4 ,he wrote an account of his life about the year #ahcf4 ,he was then on a bed of sickness from which he scarcely expected to rise2 but we shall give his own reasons for writing what he has written4 ,the autobiography begins thus3-- ,when a man comes before the world as an author1 there is much danger of his being actuated by motives of which he does not like to acknowledge the influence1 and people are so naturally disposed to suspect the motive to be something different from that which ought to be the leading one of all our important actions1 and especially of those which are possessed by our religious actions2 namely1 the honour of ,god1 and our own neighbour's good2 that the common preface to such works is1 to guard the author against the imputation of vanity or of self-love1 in some one xiii or other of the contemptible forms in which it rules so widely in this poor world of ours4 ,such introductory apologies1 on the part of an author1 will not1 ,i believe1 meet with full credit with those who know the world4 ,those who are most obviously the slaves of self-will1 will1 generally1 be loudest in their protestations of the purity and excellence of their motives2 so that my advice to those who wish to establish in the minds of others a good opinion of their sincerity1 would generally be1 to say nothing about it1 and let their conduct speak for itself4 ,yet this is not what ,i intend to do in the commencement of my present work4 ,what ,i have undertaken is1 to give to the public a history of my own mind4 ,i shall make it my study to recollect with accuracy and to state with truth the motives1 the impressions1 and the feelings by which ,i have been guided in the important passages of my past life2 and therefore there seems to be some peculiar reason1 from the nature of the work itself1 why ,i should commence by stating why ,i have undertaken it4 ,yet ,i will not venture to say positively what are my motives4 ,i rather shall state1 in the sight of ,god and of my brethren1 what are the motives which ,i allow myself to entertain in deliberately presenting a history of my thoughts to the public4 ,my readers are at liberty to judge me in their own way1 and suppose that ,i deceive myself in the view ,i take of my own intentions as much or as little as to them shall seem probable4 ,of this xvi which1 have obliged me to leave my flock to the care of others1 while my proper business is to be1 for a time1 to recover my health by rest and relaxation4 ,here then is an opportunity for undertaking something in the way of writing2 and ,i am about to make what ,i conceive is the most valuable contribution in my power to the works already existing for the defence of our ,holy ,faith4 ,i have not the knowledge requisite for producing a learned work1 nor am ,i ever likely to acquire it4 ,a work of fancy or invention is1 perhaps1 yet further out of my line4 ,i never had any talent for compositions in which imagination is required4 ,i hardly ever wrote a line of poetry except when obliged to it at school or college4 ,but it requires neither learning nor imagination to give a simple statement of facts1 and there is a charm in truth which will give to a composition1 which bears its stamp1 an interest more lively1 perhaps1 than what the beauties of poetry and fiction are employed to adorn4 ,i believe the history of the human mind must always be interesting4 ,if the most insignificant of men could but be taught to write a correct account of what has passed within his soul1 in any period of his existence1 the history would be full of wonders and instruction2 and if1 with ,god's help1 ,i am able to fulfil my present undertaking1 and to give a picture of my own mind and heart1 and recount1 with truth and xvii perspicuity1 the revolutions which have taken place within me1 ,i have no doubt the narrative will be interesting4 ,the minds and hearts of men are wonderfully alike one to another4 ,they are also wonderfully various4 ,read the history of my mind and you will find it interesting1 as you know a book of travels is1 through countries which you have visited4 ,you will see your own heart represented to you1 and be1 perhaps1 pleasingly reminded of the feelings1 the projects1 the disappointments1 the weaknesses of days gone by4 ,but ,i have a greater object before me than your amusement4 ,i desire your instruction4 ,i may1 perchance1 throw on some passage of your history1 on some points of the great picture which a retrospect of your past life presents to you1 a more correct light4 ,i may show you where your views of things might have often been more true than they were at the time1 when your steps might have been more prudently1 more happily taken1 and by the consideration of mistakes and errors which ,i have afterwards acknowledged1 though once blind to them1 and from which ,i have recovered through the goodness of ,god1 you may be assisted to take some steps forwards in the path of truth and happiness4 ,i do not1 however1 propose to myself the benefit of others only in this composition4 ,the noblest and the most useful study of mankind is man2 but1 certainly1 this study is in no way so important as when it xviii is in the contemplation of ourselves that we follow it up4 ,it is a high point of wisdom to know and understand other men2 but we know nothing that will indeed avail us if we know not ourselves4 ,hence1 while ,i am undertaking a history of myself for the instruction of others1 ,i purpose1 at the same time1 and in the first place1 to gain from my researches instruction for myself4 ,in now recollecting and declaring the doings of ,god towards me1 and my doings towards ,him1 ,i most earnestly desire an advancement in myself of love and humility2 would that it might be an advancement in perfection6 ,i began this work with fervent prayer that ,i may be preserved from the snares with which it may be accompanied2 above all1 that ,i may not make it an occasion of vain-glory1 and so turn what ought to be done for ,god's service and for others' good into an offence of ,god and my own exceeding loss2 but that1 being delivered from the danger1 ,i may find it the occasion of exceeding spiritual benefit to myself1 if it be not to any others4 ,the reader must take what ,father ,ignatius writes of himself with some qualifications4 ,he seems to have had an invincible propensity to put his worst side out in whatever he wrote about himself4 ,he did not see his own perfections1 he underrated his knowledge1 his mind1 his virtues4 ,he saw good in every one except himself4 ,but it is needless to speak much on xix this point1 as his candour and simplicity are sure to make every reader favourable4 ,it is to be regretted that the autobiography does not reach farther into his life than his ordination as a minister4 ,how gratifying it would have been if we could read his interior conflicts1 his exterior difficulties1 his alternations of joy and sadness1 in the sweet1 affectionate style which tells us his early life4 ,but the reason must have been3--,he had little to charge himself with2 he had no faults serious enough to lower him in the esteem of men from that time forward1 and therefore he did not write4 ,the next source of information is his journal4 ,he began to keep a journal in #ahah1 when he first went to ,cambridge1 and continued it uninterruptedly down to #ahbi1 a short time before his conversion4 ,we have found nothing in the shape of a diary among his papers1 from that time until the year #ahdf1 a few months before he became a ,passionist1 except a journal of a tour he made on the ,continent in #ahdd1 and that is given entire in the third book4 ,the journal from #ahdf1 until a few days before his death1 is a mere record of dates and places in which he has been and persons he spoke to4 ,it is so closely written that it is scarcely readable by the naked eye1 and he gives in one page the incidents of six months4 ,this journal was of great use to him4 ,it helped his memory and prevented his making mistakes in the multitude of scenes through xx which1 he passed4 ,it is also a valuable contribution to the annals of our ,order4 ,besides these two sources of information regarding his life1 we have had access to a multitude of letters1 running over the space of upwards of forty years4 ,he preserved a great many of the important letters he received2 and several of his friends1 who preserved letters received from him as treasures1 kindly lent us their stock for the preparation of this volume4 ,his ,eminence the late ,cardinal ,wiseman gave us what letters he possessed1 and promised to contribute some recollections of his friend1 but was prevented by death from fulfilling his promise4 ,our thanks are due to their ,lordships1 the ,right ,rev4 ,dr4 ,ullathorne1 the ,right ,rev4 ,dr4 ,wareing1 the ,right ,rev4 ,dr4 ,turner1 the ,right ,rev4 ,dr4 ,grant1 the ,right ,rev4 ,dr4 ,amherst1 and to several clergymen and lay persons1 for their kindness in sending us letters and furnishing us with anecdotes and pleasing recollections of ,father ,ignatius4 ,among the latter we are under special obligations to ,mr4 ,de ,lisle and ,mr4 ,monteith4 ,in truth we have found all the friends of ,father ,ignatius most willing to assist us in our undertaking4 ,nor must we forget several religious who have helped us in every possible way4 ,the information gathered from the correspondence has been the most valuable4 ,his letters were written to dear friends to whom he laid the very inmost of his soul open1--fervent souls1 who sympathized xxi with his zealous exertions and profited by his advice in advancing themselves and others in the way of virtue4 ,the ,dowager ,lady ,lyttelton has kindly furnished us with dates and accurate information about the members of the ,spencer family1 and as she is the only survivor of the children of ,john ,george1 ,earl ,spencer1 we hope the memory of her dear brother will serve to alleviate the weight of her advancing years1 and prolong them considerably to her children and grandchildren4 ,we beg to express our sincere thanks for her ladyship's kindness4 ,a fourth and not a less interesting source of information has been our own memory4 ,father ,ignatius was most communicative to his brethren2 indeed he might be said to be transparent4 ,we all knew him so well4 ,he related the anecdotes that are given in his memoir to us all2 and when each ,father and ,brother gave in his contribution1 the quantity furnished would have made a very entertaining life of itself4 ,their thanks must be the consciousness of having helped to keep him yet amongst us as far as was possible4 ,these1 then1 are the sources from which the following pages have been compiled4 ,the facts related may therefore be relied upon as perfectly authentic4 ,we possess the originals of the matter quoted--vouchers for every opinion advanced1 and the anecdotes can be corroborated by half a dozen of witnesses4 xxii ,seeing that his life had been so diverse1 and that the changes of thought which influenced the early portion of it were so various1 it was thought best to divide it into four distinct books4 ,the first book takes him to the threshold of the ,anglican ministry2 the second into the fold of the ,church2 the third into the ,passionist novitiate2 and the fourth follows him to the grave4 ,we shall let the details speak for themselves1 and only remark that there is an identity in the character as well as in the countenance of a man which underlies all the phases of opinion through which he may have passed4 ,it will be seen that1 from childhood to old age1 ,father ,ignatius was remarkable for earnestness and reverence4 ,whatever he thought to be his duty he pursued with indomitable perseverance4 ,he was not one to cloak over a weak point1 or soothe a doubt with a trumped-up answer4 ,he candidly admitted every difficulty1 and went with unflagging zeal into clearing it up4 ,this was the key to his conversion4 ,he had1 besides1 even in his greatest vagaries1 a reverential spirit with regard to his ,creator1 which formed an atmosphere of duty around him1 outside which he could not step without being stung by conscience4 ,a sting he never deadened4 ,these were the centripetal and centrifugal forces that kept his life balanced on an axis that remained steady in the centre during his every evolution4 xxiii ,we have endeavoured to be faithful to his memory4 ,we have tried1 as far as we could1 to let himself tell his life2 we have only arranged the materials and supplied the cement that would keep them together4 ,whether the work has suffered in our hands or not is immaterial to us4 ,we have tried to do our best1 and no one can do more4 ,if any expressions have escaped us that may appear offensive1 we are ready to make the most ample apology1 but not at the sacrifice of a particle of truth4 ,if1 through ignorance or inadvertence1 errors have been committed1 we hold ourselves ready to retract them2 and retract1 beforehand1 anything that may1 in the slightest degree1 be injurious1 not to say contrary1 to ,catholic doctrine1 and submit ourselves unreservedly in this point to the judgment of ecclesiastical authority4 ,st4 ,joseph's ,retreat1 ,highgate1 ,london1 ,n41 ,feast of the ,epiphany1 #ahff4 xxiv xxv ,,contents4 ,,book ,i4 ,father ,ignatius1 a ,young ,noble4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,his ,childhood--,page #a ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,four ,first ,years ,at ,eton--#f ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,his ,two ,last ,years ,at ,eton--#ab ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,private ,tuition ,under ,mr4 ,blomfield--#ah ,,chapter ,v4 ,he ,goes ,to ,cambridge--#bb ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,his ,first ,year ,in ,cambridge--#bh ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,conclusion ,of ,his ,first ,year ,in ,cambridge--#db ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,second ,year ,in ,cambridge ,takes ,his ,degree--#dh xxvi ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,travels ,on ,the ,continent--#eg ,,chapter ,x4 ,english ,life ,in ,naples--#fe ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,continuation ,of ,his ,travels--#gd ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,an ,interval ,of ,rest ,and ,preparation ,for ,orders--#ia ,,book ,,ii4 ,father ,ignatius1 an ,anglican ,minister4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,he ,is ,ordained1 ,and ,enters ,on ,his ,clerical ,duties--#ajc ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,he ,mends ,some ,of ,his ,ways--#aaj ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,he ,receives ,further ,orders--#aag ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,mr4 ,spencer ,becomes ,rector ,of ,brington--#abb ,,chapter ,v4 ,changes ,in ,his ,religious ,opinions--#abg ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,opposition ,to ,his ,religious ,views--#acd xxvii ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,progress ,of ,his ,religious ,views--#adb ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,some ,of ,the ,practical ,effects ,of ,his ,views--#adh ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,scruples ,about ,the ,athanasian ,creed--#aee ,,chapter ,x4 ,incidents ,and ,state ,of ,mind ,in #ahbg-bh--aff ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,the ,maid ,of ,lille--#agd ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,ambrose ,lisle ,phillipps--#ahf ,,book ,,iii4 ,father ,ignatius1 a ,secular ,priest4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,his ,first ,days ,in ,the ,church--#aii ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,mr4 ,spencer ,in ,the ,english ,college1 ,rome--#bjf ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,father ,spencer ,is ,ordained ,priest--#bab ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,father ,spencer ,begins ,his ,missionary ,life--#bbj xxviii ,,chapter ,v4 ,prospects ,of ,widening ,his ,sphere ,of ,action--#bbf ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,newspaper ,discussions1 ,etc4--#bcb ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,private ,life ,and ,crosses ,of ,father ,spencer--#bdj ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,association ,of ,prayers ,for ,the ,conversion ,of ,england--#bdh ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,his ,last ,days ,in ,west ,bromwich--#beh ,,chapter ,x4 ,father ,spencer ,comes ,to ,oscott--#bfd ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,some ,of ,his ,doings ,in ,oscott ,college--#bgj ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,some ,events ,of ,interest--#bge ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,his ,tour ,on ,the ,continent ,in #ahdd--bhj ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,close ,of ,his ,career ,in ,oscott2 ,and ,his ,religious ,vocation--#cdc xxix ,,book ,,iv4 ,father ,ignatius1 a ,passionist ,,chapter ,i4 ,the ,noviciate--#cea ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,his ,first ,year ,as ,a ,passionist--#cfa ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,a ,peculiar ,mission--#cfh ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,death ,of ,father ,dominic--#cgd ,,chapter ,v4 ,spirit ,of ,father ,ignatius ,at ,this ,time--#chj ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,his ,dealings ,with ,protestants ,and ,prayers ,for ,union--#chg ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,father ,ignatius ,in #ahej--cic ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,a ,new ,form ,of ,the ,crusade--#djj ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,visit ,to ,rome ,and ,the ,association ,of ,prayers--#dac ,,chapter ,x4 ,a ,tour ,in ,germany--#dbh xxx ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,father ,ignatius ,returns ,to ,england--#dcf ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,a ,little ,of ,his ,home ,and ,foreign ,work--#ddc ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,sanctification ,of ,ireland--#ddi ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,another ,tour ,on ,the ,continent--#dec ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,father ,ignatius ,in #aheg--deh ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,his ,little ,missions--#dfd ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,father ,ignatius ,at ,home--#dfi ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,a ,few ,events--#dgg ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,trials ,and ,crosses--#dhc ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,foreshadowings ,and ,death--#die ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,the ,obsequies ,of ,father ,ignatius--#ejd xxxi ,,book ,i4 ,f4 ,ignatius1 a ,young ,noble4 xxxii #a ,image of ,cross ,i ,x ,p ,,life ,,of ,,father ,,ignatius ,,of ,,st4 ,,paul1 ,,passionist4 ,,book ,i4 ,f4 ,ignatius1 a ,young ,noble4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,his ,childhood4 ,saint ,paul gives the general history of childhood in one sentence3 ,when ,i was a child1 ,i spoke as a child1 ,i understood as a child1 ,i thought as a child4 ,the thoughts and ways of children are wonderfully similar2 the mind is not sufficiently developed to give direction to character1 and the peculiar incidents that are sometimes recorded to prove the child the father of the man1 seem more the result of chance than deliberation4 ,with all this1 we like to bask our memory in those sunny days3 we love to look at our cradles1 at where we made and spoiled our little castles1 and we recall the smallest incidents to mind1 as if to try and fancy we could be children again4 ,this natural sentiment makes us anxious to know all about the infancy and childhood of those whose life has an interest for us2 #b although knowing that there can be nothing very strange about it2 and even1 if there be1 that it cannot have much weight in moulding the character of our hero1 and less still in influencing our own4 ,the childhood of ,father ,ignatius forms an exception to this4 ,it is wonderful2 it shaped his character for a great part of his life4 ,its history is written by himself1 and it is instructive to all who have charge of children4 ,before quoting from his own autobiography1 it may be well to say something about his family2 more1 because it is customary to do so on occasions like the present1 than to give information about what is already well known4 ,his father was ,george ,john1 ,earl ,spencer1 ,k4,g41 c41 c4 ,he was connected by ties of consanguinity and affinity with the ,earl of ,sunderland and the renowned ,duke of ,marlborough2 was successively member of ,parliament1 one of the ,lords of the ,treasury1 and succeeded ,lord ,chatham as ,first ,lord of the ,admiralty on the #bjth of ,december1 #agid4 ,this office he retained until #ahjj1 and1 during his administration1 the naval history of ,england shone with the victories of ,st4 ,vincent1 ,camperdown1 and the ,nile4 ,perhaps his term of office was more glorious to himself from the moderation and justice with which he quelled the mutiny at the ,nore1 than from the fact of his having published the victories that gave such glory to his country4 ,he married1 in #agha1 ,lavinia1 the daughter of ,sir ,charles ,bingham1 afterwards ,earl of ,lucan4 ,five sons and three daughters were the issue of this marriage4 ,two of them died in infancy4 ,the oldest1 ,john ,charles1 ,lord ,althorp1 succeeded his father in #ahcd1 and died childless in #ahde2 the second1 ,sarah1 is the present ,dowager ,lady ,lyttelton2 the fifth1 ,robert ,cavendish1 died unmarried in #ahcj2 the sixth1 ,georgiana1 was married to ,lord ,george ,quin1 son to the ,marquis of ,headfort1 and died in #ahbc2 the seventh1 ,frederick1 father of the present earl1 succeeded his eldest brother in #ahde4 ,the youngest1 the ,honourable ,george ,spencer1 is the subject of the present biography4 ,he was born on the #bast of ,december1 #agii1 at the ,admiralty in ,london1 and baptized according to the rite of #c the ,church of ,england1 by the ,rev4 ,charles ,norris1 prebendary of ,canterbury4 ,whether he was taken to ,althorp1 the family seat in ,northamptonshire1 to be nursed1 before his father retired from office in #ahjj1 we have no means of knowing2 but1 certain it is1 that it was there he spent his childhood until he went to ,eton in #ahjh4 ,we will let himself give us the history of his mind during this portion of his existence3 the history of his body is that of a nobleman's child1 tended in all things as became his station3-- ,my recollections of the five or six first years of my life are very vague1--more so by far than in the case of other persons2 and whether ,i had any notions of religion before my six-year-old birthday1 ,i cannot tell4 ,but it was on that day1 if ,i am not mistaken1 that ,i was taken aside1 as for a serious conversation1 by my sister's governess1 who was a ,swiss lady1 under whose care ,i passed the years between leaving the nursery and being sent to school1 and instructed by her1 for the first time1 concerning the existence of ,god and some other great truths of religion4 ,it seems strange now that ,i should have lived so long without acquiring any ideas on the subject3 my memory may deceive me1 but ,i have a most clear recollection of the very room at ,althorp where ,i sat with her while she declared to me1 as a new piece of instruction1 for which till then ,i had not been judged old enough1 that there was an ,almighty ,being1 dwelling in heaven1 who had created me and all things1 and whom ,i was bound to fear4 ,till then1 ,i believe1 ,i had not the least apprehension of the existence of anything beyond the sensible world around me4 ,this declaration1 made to me as it was with tender seriousness1 was1 ,i believe1 accompanied with gracious expressions1 which have never been1 in all my errors and wanderings1 obliterated4 ,to what but the grace of ,god can ,i ascribe it1 that ,i firmly believed from the first moment this truth1 of which ,i was not capable of understanding a proof1 and that ,i never since have entertained a doubt of it1 nor been led1 like so many more1 to universal scepticism2 that my faith in the truth of ,god should have been preserved while for so long a time ,i lived1 as ,i afterwards did1 wholly without its influence8 #d ,i continued1 with my brother ,frederick1 who was twenty months older than myself1 under the instruction of this same governess1 till we went to ,eton ,school4 ,i do not remember the least difficulty in receiving as true whatever ,i was taught of religion at that time4 ,it never occurred to me to think that objections might be made to it1 though ,i knew that different religious persuasions existed4 ,i remember being told by our governess1 and being pleased in the idea1 that the ,church of ,england was peculiarly excellent2 but ,i remember no distinct feelings of opposition or aversion to the ,catholic religion4 ,of serious impressions ,i was at that time1 ,i believe1 very susceptible2 but they must have been most transient4 ,i remember1 more than once1 distinctly saying my prayers with fervour2 though1 generally1 ,i suppose1 ,i paid but little attention to them4 ,i was sometimes impressed with great fear of the ,day of ,judgment1 as ,i remember once in particular1 at hearing a ,french sermon read about it2 and1 perhaps1 ,i did not knowingly offend ,god1 but ,i could not be said to love ,god1 nor heartily to embrace religion1 if1 as ,i suppose1 my ordinary feeling must have corresponded with what ,i remember well crossing my mind when ,i was about seven years old1--great regret at reflecting on the sin of ,adam2 by which ,i understood that ,i could not expect to live for ever on the earth4 ,whatever ,i thought desirable in the world1--abundance of money1 high titles1 amusements of all sorts1 fine dress1 and the like1--as soon and as far as ,i understood anything about them1 ,i loved and longed for2 nor do ,i see how it could have been otherwise1 as the holy1 severe maxims of the ,gospel truth on these matters were not impressed upon me4 ,why is it that the truth on these things is so constantly withheld from children2 and1 instead of being taught by constant1 repeated1 unremitting lessons that the world and all that it has is worth nothing2 that1 if they gain all1 but lose their souls1 they gain nothing2 if they lose all and gain their souls1 they gain all8 ,why is it that they are to be encouraged to do right by promises of pleasure1 deterred from evil by worldly fear1 and so trained up1 as it seems1 to put a false value on all things8 ,how #e easily1 as it now appears to me1 might my affections in those days have been weaned from the world1 and made to value ,god alone8 ,but let me not complain1 but bless ,god for the care1--the very unusual care1 ,i believe1--which was taken of me1 by which ,i remained1 ,i may say1 ignorant of what evil was at an age when many1 ,i fear1 become proficients4 ,this blessing1 however1 of being wonderfully preserved from the knowledge1 and consequently from the practice1 of vice1 was more remarkably manifested in the four years of my life succeeding those of which ,i have been now writing4 ,the instilling into young minds religious motives for their actions was a frequent topic of conversation with ,father ,ignatius in his after-life4 ,he was once speaking with some of our young religious on this subject in general2 one of them remarked how easy it was to act upon holy motives practically1 and instanced his own childhood1 when the thought that ,god would love or hate him kept him straight in his actions3 this was the simple and perpetually repeated lesson of his mother1 which he afterwards forgot1 but which finally stopped him in a career of ambition1 and made him a religious4 ,the old man's eye glistened as he heard this1 and he sighed deeply4 ,he then observed that it confirmed his opinion1 that parents ought to instruct their own children1 and never commit them to the mercies of a public school until they were perfectly grounded in the practice of virtue and piety4 ,the next chapter will show why he thought thus4 #f ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,four ,first ,years ,at ,eton4 ,the #ahth of ,may1 #ahjh1 was the important day when first ,i left my father's house4 ,with a noble equipage1 my father and mother took my brother ,frederick and me to the house of the ,rev4 ,richard ,godley1 whom they had chosen to be our private tutor at ,eton4 ,he lived1 with his family1 at a place called the ,wharf1 about half a mile from the college buildings1 which we had to go to for school and chapel across the playing-fields4 ,oh6 how interesting are my recollections whilst ,i recall the joys and sorrows of ,eton days2 but ,i must not expatiate on them1 as my own feelings would lead me to do with pleasure4 ,what ,i have to do now is to record how the circumstances in which ,i was then placed have contributed to influence my religions principles1 and formed some links in the chain of events by which ,i have arrived at my present state1 so different from all that might then have been anticipated4 ,mr4 ,godley ,i consider to have been1 what ,i believe my parents likewise regarded him1 a strictly conscientious and deeply religious man2 and ,i must always account it one of the greatest blessings for which1 under ,god1 ,i am indebted to their wisdom and affection1 that ,i was placed in such hands at so critical a time4 ,i do not intend1 in all points1 to declare my approbation of the system which he pursued with us3 but how can ,i be too grateful for having been under the strict vigilance of one who did1 ,i am convinced1 reckon the preservation of my innocence1 and the salvation of my soul1 his chief concern with me8 ,i remained with ,mr4 ,godley till the ,midsummer holidays of #ahab4 ,my brother left ,eton and went to sea in the year #ahaa4 #g ,those who know what our public schools are1 will reckon it1 ,i believe1 almost incredible that ,i should be four years at ,eton1 and remain1 as ,i did1 still almost ignorant of what the language of wickedness meant4 ,mr4 ,godley's yoke ,i certainly thought at the time to be a heavy one4 ,several times each day we were obliged to go across the playing-fields to school1 to chapel1 or to absence 7which was the term by which ,etonians will yet understand the calling over the names of the boys at certain times72 so that during the daytime1 when in health1 we could never be more than three hours together without appearing with the boys of the school4 ,mr4 ,godley1 however1 was inexorable in his rule that we should invariably come home immediately after each of these occasions3 by this we were kept from much intercourse with other boys4 ,most grievous then appeared my unhappy lot1 in the summer months especially1 when we had to pass through the playing-fields1 crowded with cricketers1 to whom a lower boy1 to fag for them and stop their balls1 was sure to be an important prize1 whose wrath we incurred if we dared despise their call1 and run on our way2 whilst1 if we were but a few minutes late1 the yet more terrible sight awaited us of ,mr4 ,godley's angry countenance4 ,we had not exemption from one of these musters1 as most boys had who lived at a distance from the school1 yet none of them were bound like us to a speedy return home4 ,it seemed like an ,egyptian bondage1 from which there was no escape2 and doubtless the effect was not altogether good upon my character4 ,as might be expected1 the more we were required to observe rules and customs different from others1 the more did a certain class of big bullies in the school seem to count it their business to watch over us1 as though they might be our evil geniuses4 ,a certain set of faces1 consequently1 ,i looked upon with a kind of mysterious dread2 and ,i was under a constant sense of being as though in an enemy's country1 obliged to guard against dangers on all sides4 ,shrinking and skulking became my occupation beyond the ordinary lot of little schoolboys1 and my natural disposition to be cowardly and spiritless was perhaps increased4 ,i say perhaps1 for other #h circumstances might have made me worse2 for what ,i was in the eyes of the masters of public opinion in the school1 ,i really was--a chicken-hearted creature1 what1 in ,eton language1 is called a sawney4 ,it may be1 that had ,i been from the first in free intercourse among the boys1 instead of being a good innocent one1 ,i might have been1 what ,i suppose must be reckoned one of the worst varieties of public-school characters1 a mean1 dishonourable one4 ,whatever ,i may have lost from not being trained1 from the first of my ,eton life1 in the perfect spirit of the place1 could ,i possibly have escaped during that time in any other way the utter corruption of my morals1 at least the filling of my mind with familiar images of all the most foul iniquity8 ,for1 alas6 where is the child from the age of eight till twelve who1 without one compassionate friend1 already strong in virtue to countenance and to encourage him1 shall maintain the profession of modesty and holiness against a persecution as inveterate and merciless in its way as that which ,lot had to bear at ,sodom8 ,was not the angel of ,god with me when ,he preserved me for so long from all attacks of this kind in such a place as ,eton was in my time8 ,how can ,i remember ,godley but with veneration and gratitude1 who1 though1 it may be1 not so considerately and wisely as might be possible 7for who is as wise as he might be871 kept me1 ,i might say1 almost alone untainted in the midst of so much corruption4 ,yet1 till the last year of my stay with him1 ,i did not learn decidedly to love religion4 ,it was still my task and not my pleasure4 ,at length1 my brother ,frederick being gone to sea1 and two other boys1 ,mr4 ,godley's stepsons1 who were with us under his instructions1 being sent to school elsewhere1 ,i remained his only pupil1 and1 ,i may almost say1 his chief care and joy4 ,he felt with me and for me in the desolation of my little heart1 at being parted from my first and hitherto inseparable mate1 and ,i became his almost constant companion4 ,it is not difficult to gain the confidence of a simple child3 he spoke almost continually of religious subjects1 and ,i learnt to take his view of things4 ,i certainly did not begin to lose my pleasure in life4 ,death #i was an idea which still was strange to me2 and ,i did not come to an understanding of the great doctrines of ,revelation4 ,i remember not to have taken much notice of any peculiar articles of faith2 but still believed implicitly1 without argument or inquiry1 what ,i was taught4 ,i can now hardly give an account of what were the religious ideas and impressions which began so greatly to engage my mind1 except that ,i took my chief delight in hearing ,mr4 ,godley speak about religion1 that ,i had a great abhorrence and dread of wickedness1 thought with pleasure of my being intended to be a clergyman1 as ,i was always told ,i should be1 and admired and loved all whom ,i was taught to look upon as religious people4 ,all these simple feelings of piety1 which were often accompanied with pure delight1 were greatly increased in a visit of six weeks which ,i paid1 with ,mr4 ,godley1 to his mother and sisters at ,chester4 ,he was a ,prebendary of that cathedral1 and of course had to spend some time there every year in residence4 ,usually1 when he went from home1 from time to time1 he was used to get one of the other tutors at ,eton to hear my brother's and my lessons1 and to look over our exercises2 but in the last summer ,i staid with him1 with my father's consent1 he took me with him4 ,mr4 ,godley's sisters1 who showed me great kindness1 like him1 ,i suppose1 had no wish concerning me than to encourage me in becoming pious and good1 and ,i got to read a few pious books which they recommended4 ',the ,pilgrim's ,progress1' ,doddridge's ',life of ,colonel ,gardiner1' ,alleine's ',alarm1' were some which ,i remember taking great effect upon me2 so that when ,i returned from ,chester to ,eton1 though ,i cannot recall many particulars of my feelings1 ,i know that the chief prevailing one was1 an ardent desire to keep myself untainted at ,eton1 and to keep from all fellowship with the set of boys whom ,i knew to be particularly profane mockers of piety4 ,i bought a book of prayers1 and during the three weeks that ,i yet remained with this tutor1 after our return from ,chester1 and when first ,i went home to the summer holidays1 ,i took no delight like that of being by myself at prayer4 ,ah6 how grievous would be the thought if we could but understand how to #aj lament such a calamity as it deserves1 of a pious child's tender1 pure soul denied1 made forgetful of all its good1 and hardened4 ,o ,god1 grant me wisdom to understand the magnitude of such an evil1 grant me a heart now at length to mourn over the devastation and uprooting which it was1 at this time1 ,thy holy will to permit1 of all those fair flowers of grace which ,thy hand had planted in my heart2 and grant me to mourn my fall1 that ,i may now once at last recover that simplicity of childlike piety1 the feelings of which ,i now recollect1 indeed1 though faintly1 but never have since again enjoyed4 ,oh6 ,god1 if a child's love1 pure through ignorance of sin1 is never to be mine again1 oh6 give me at least that depth of penance for which my fall has given me such ample matter4 ,it occurred not to my mind to consider whether the new thoughts which occupied my mind1 and the books in which ,i took such pleasure1 would be approved of at home4 ,i took them with me to the holidays4 ,it was judged1 as was to be expected1 by my parents1 that ,mr4 ,godley's views of religion were not such as they would wish to be instilled into me2 and it was determined that ,i should leave his house and be placed with one of the public tutors at ,eton4 ,it is a difficult thing to classify religious ,protestants1 and so ,i do not here pronounce ,mr4 ,godley and his sisters to have been ,evangelical1 or ,calvinistic1 nor give them any distinctive title4 ,they did not1 as far as ,i remember1 inculcate upon me any peculiar notions of religion1 but they certainly were not in the way which is usually called orthodox ,church of ,england religion1 though indeed it is difficult to define exactly what this is4 ,it was likely1 or rather morally certain1 that while with ,mr4 ,godley1 ,i should follow his guidance1 and take his views2 so ,i was to be placed among the other boys1 as ,i imagine with the idea likewise1 that ,i should gain in this way more of the advantages supposed to belong to the rough discipline of a public school4 ,i do not understand how it was that ,i received the intimation of this change with so little sadness4 ,distant evils1 as we all know1 lose their sting strangely2 and1 having the holidays before me when this change was declared1 ,i #aa felt no trouble about it then4 ,it is easy to talk a docile child into agreement with any plan made for him by those whom he is used to confide in2 and so ,i remember no difficulty when my books were taken away1 and ,i had no more persons by to bring my former thoughts to remembrance1 in quietly discontinuing my fervent practices4 #ab ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,his ,two ,last ,years ,at ,eton4 ,in the course of ,september1 #ahab1 ,i began a new stage of my life by entering at the ,rev4 999999's1 where ,i was1 alas6 too effectually to be untaught what there might be unsound in my religion1 by being quickly stripped of it completely4 ,the house contained1 ,i think1 but about ten or twelve boys at the time ,i went to it1 a much smaller number than the generality of boarding houses about the school2 and1 dreadful as was its moral condition1 it was respectable in comparison to others4 ,there is no doubt that it was recommended to my parents because its character stood high among the rest4 ,the boys were divided into three or four messes1 as they were called4 ,each of us had a room to himself and a separate little establishment1 as the boys had allowances to provide breakfast and tea for themselves1 and we did not meet in common rooms for private study1 as in some schools4 ,in order to make their means go farther1 two or three would associate together and make a joint concern2 and very comfortable some would make themselves4 ,but comfort was not what ,i had now to enjoy4 ,i have adverted already to the system of fagging at our public schools4 ,the law is established immemorially at ,eton that the upper boys1 those of the fifth and sixth class1 have an authority to command those below them4 ,this law1 though understood and allowed by the masters1 is not enforced by them4 ,they will interfere to check and punish any great abuse of the power of the upper boys2 but the only power by which the commands of these masters are to be enforced is their own hands2 so that a boy1 though by rank in the school a fag1 may escape the burdens to be imposed if he have but age and strength and spirit to #ac maintain his independence4 ,each upper boy may impose his commands on any number of inferiors he may please at any time and in any place1 so that an unhappy lower boy is never safe4 ,nothing exempts him from the necessity of immediately quitting his own pursuits and waiting on the pleasure of an unexpected master1 but being under orders to attend his tutor1 or a certain number of privileged excuses in matters about which those potentates condescend to consider the feelings of the subalterns1 and where public opinion would condemn them if they did not--such as being actually fagging for some one else1 being engaged to play a match at cricket which his absence would spoil4 ,it was this sort of out-of-door casual service which alone ,i had to dread as long as ,i was in ,mr4 ,godley's house4 ,when ,i went to ,mr4 9999991 ,i had to serve my apprenticeship in domestic fagging1 which consisted in performing to one or more of the fifth or sixth form boys in the house almost all the duties of a footman or a waiter at an inn4 ,the burden of this kind of servitude of course depended1 in the first place1 on the temper of one's master1 and then on the comparative number of upper and lower boys in a house4 ,during the time ,i had to fag at ,mr4 999999's1 but especially in the latter part of it1 the number of fags was dismally small1 and sometimes heavy was my yoke4 ,but it is not this which gives to my recollection of that period of my life its peculiar sadness4 ,i might have made a merry life in the midst of it1 like that of many another school-boy1 and ,i was merry sometimes1 but ,i had known better things4 ,i had once learnt to hate wickedness1 and ,i never could find myself at ease in the midst of it1 though ,i had not strength to resist it openly4 ,the first evening that ,i arrived at this new tutor's house1 ,i was cordially received to mess with the set of three or four lower boys who were there4 ,these were quiet1 good-natured boys2 but1 to be one with them1 it was soon evident that the sweet practices of devotion must be given up1 and other rules followed from those ,i knew to be right4 ,i was taken by them on expeditions of boyish depredation and pilfering4 ,i had never been tempted or invited before to anything like this1 and #ad it was misery to me1 on account of my natural want of courage as well as my tender conscience1 to join such enterprises4 ,yet ,i dared not boldly declare my resolution to commit no sin1 and ,i made a trial now of that which has been so often tried1 and what has often led to fatal confusion--to satisfy the world without altogether breaking with ,god4 ,one day we went to pick up walnuts in a park near ,eton2 another day to steal beans or turnips1 or the like1 from fields or gardens2 then1 more bold1 to take ducks and chickens from farmyards4 ,it is a common idea that this kind of school-boys' theft is not indeed a sin4 ,at ,eton it certainly was not so considered4 ,a boy who stole money from another boy was disgraced1 and branded as a wretch almost beyond forgiveness1 whereas for stealing his school-books1 he would not be blamed2 and for robbing orchards or farmyards he would be honoured and extolled1 and so much the more if1 in doing it1 one or two or three together had violently beaten the farmer's boy1 or even himself4 ,but where is the reason for this distinction8 ,the ,word of ,god and a simple conscience certainly teach no such difference4 ,at any rate1 ,i know1 to my sorrow1 that the beginning of my fall from all that was good1 was by being led to countenance and bear a part1 though sorely against my better will1 in such work as this4 ,this was not the worst misery4 ,my ignorance in the mysteries of iniquity was soon apparent4 ,however much ,i strove to keep my countenance firm1 ,i could not hear immodesties without blushing4 ,i was1 on this account1 a choice object of the fun of some of the boys1 who took delight in forcing me to hear instructions in iniquity4 ,one evening after another1 ,i well remember1 the quarters would be invaded where ,i and my companions were established2 all our little employments would be interrupted1 our rooms filled with dirt1 our beds1 perhaps1 tossed about1 and a noisy row kept up for hours1 of which sometimes one1 and sometimes another of our set was the principal butt4 ,i was set up as a choice object1 of course1 on account of my simplicity and inexperience in their ways1 so that some of the partners of these plagues with me would blame me for being so silly #ae as to pretend ignorance of what their foul expressions meant2 for they could not believe it possible that ,i should really be so simple as not to understand them4 ,i maintained for some time a weak conflict in my soul against all this flood of evil4 ,for a little time ,i found one short space of comfort through the day1 when at length1 after an evening thus spent1 ,i got to bed1 and in secret wept and prayed myself to sleep2 but the trial was too strong and too often repeated4 ,i had no kind friend to speak to4 ,mr4 ,godley still lived at the ,wharf1 and though he seemed to think it right not to press himself upon me1 he asked me to come and dine when ,i pleased4 ,two or three times ,i went to dine with him1 and these were my last really happy days1 when for an hour or two ,i could give my mind liberty to feel at ease1 and recollect my former feelings in this kindly company4 ,but ,i could not1 ,i dared not1 tell him all ,i was now exposed to1 and so ,i was left to stand my ground alone4 ,had any one then told me that by myself ,i must not hope to resist temptation1 and rightly directed me how to call on ,god for help1 ,i have since thought ,i might have stood it2 but ,i had not yet known the force of temptation1 nor learnt by experience the power of ,god to support the weak4 ,my weakness ,i now felt by clear experience1 and after a short conflict1--for this battle was soon gained by the great enemy who was so strong in the field against me1--,i remember well the conclusion striking my mind1 that the work of resistance was useless1 and that ,i must give up4 ,where were you1 ,o my ,god1 might ,i now exclaim1 to leave me thus alone and unprotected on such a boisterous sea8 ,ah6 my ,lord1 ,i have never found fault with thy divine appointments in thus permitting me to fall4 ,only ,i say1 as before1 give me grace now fully to recover what ,i lost2 and ,i will ever bless thee for allowing me to have known so much evil1 if it be but that ,i may warn others1 ,it might be1 perhaps1 ten days after my arrival at ,mr4 999999's1 when ,i gave up all attempt to pray2 and ,i think ,i did not say one word of prayer for the two years and more that ,i afterwards continued there4 ,i remember #af once being by1 when one of the most rude and hard of my tormentors was dressing himself1 and1 to my surprise1 turned to me1 and1 with his usual civility1 said some such word as1 ',now hold your jaw2' and then1 down on his knees near the bed1 and his face between his hands1 said his prayers4 ,i then saw for a moment to what ,i had fallen1 when even this fellow had more religion than unhappy ,i had retained2 but ,i had no grain of strength now left to rise4 ,one would think that in the holidays my change would have been discovered2 for ,i imagine that ,i never knelt down even at home except in the church4 ,but1 alas6 little did my family suspect what a place was ,eton2 or1 at least1 if a suspicion comes across parents' minds of what their children are exposed to in public schools1 they generally persuade themselves that this must be endured for a necessary good1 which is1 to make them learn to know the world4 ,when ,i had ceased attempting to maintain my pious feelings1 the best consolation ,i had was in the company of a few boys of a spirit congenial to what mine was now become4 ,all the time that ,i remained at ,eton ,i never learnt to take pleasure in the manly1 active games for which it is so famous4 ,it is not that ,i was without some natural talent for such things4 ,i have since had my time of most ardent attachment to cricket1 to tennis1 shooting1 hunting1 and all active exercises3 but my spirit was bent down at ,eton2 and among the boys who led the way in all manly pursuits1 ,i was always shy and miserable1 which was partly a cause and partly an effect of my being looked down upon by them4 ,my pleasure there was in being with a few boys1 like myself1 without spirit for these things1 retired apart from the sight of others1 amusing ourselves with making arbours1 catching little fishes in the streams2 and many were the hours ,i wasted in such childish things when ,i was grown far too old for them4 ,oh6 the happiness of a ,catholic child1 whose inmost soul is known to one whom ,god has charged with his salvation4 ,supposing ,i had been a ,catholic child in such a situation--if such a supposition be possible--the pious feelings with which ,god inspired me1 would have been under #ag the guidance of a tender spiritual ,father1 who would have supplied exactly what ,i needed when about to fall under that sense of unassisted weakness which ,i have described4 ,he would have taught me how to be innocent and firm in the midst of all my trials1 which would then have tended to exalt1 instead of suppressing1 my character4 ,i would have kept my character not only clear in the sight of ,god1 but honourable among my fellows1 who soon would have given up their persecution when they found me steadfast2 and ,i might have brought with me in the path of peace and justice many whom ,i followed in the dark ways of sin4 ,but it is in vain to calculate on what ,i might have been had ,i been then a ,catholic4 ,god be praised1 my losses ,i may yet recover1 and perhaps even reap advantages from them4 #ah ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,private ,tuition ,under ,mr4 ,blomfield4 ,had the public masters of the school been attentive to the advancement of the scholars in learning while negligent of their morals1 and had ,i been making progress in my studies while losing my innocence1 ,i might have continued longer in that place2 for ,i did not fall into gross1 outward1 vicious habits1 and it is possible that no difference was perceived in my behaviour at home4 ,but ,i suppose my father saw a wide difference between the care which ,mr4 ,godley bestowed on me and that which boys in the public tutors' houses could receive4 ,i know not exactly the reasons that led to the change2 but1 in the ,christmas holidays at the end of the year #ahac1 ,mr4 ,blomfield was invited to ,althorp1 and he was pointed out to me as my intended future tutor4 ,many of my readers will know at once that he is now',footnote #a the ,protestant ,bishop of ,london4 ,my father had presented him somewhat before this period with the rectory of ,dunton1 in ,buckinghamshire1 having been led to do so by the distinguished character which he heard of him from ,cambridge for he did not personally know him when he offered him this piece of preferment4 ,from the time that ,i made his acquaintance1 and received some directions from him for private reading at ,eton during the remaining time of my stay there1 ,i began to take some more decided interest than ,i had yet done in advancing myself in literary knowledge4 ,this1 as well as my growing older and more independent of other boys1 and falling in #ai with more sensible companions1 gave to my mind a more satisfactory turn during my last year at ,eton4 ,there was no return1 though1 to religion whilst ,i remained there1 nor was there likely to be2 and so1 most blessed was the change for me when1 before ,christmas #ahad1 ,i left ,mr4 999999's1 and1 after remaining at home for about three months in company with my brother ,frederick1 returned for the first time from sea1 ,i went to ,mr4 ,blomfield's in ,march1 #ahae4 ,i staid there till near the time of my first going to ,cambridge1 which was in the summer of #ahag4 ,simplicity and purity of mind1 alas6 are not regained with the readiness with which they are lost3 the falling into bad company and consenting to it will utterly ruin all innocence4 ,the removal of occasions may prevent the growth of evil habits and the farther increase of corruption2 but this alone will not restore that blessed ignorance of evil which was no longer mine4 ,my residence with ,blomfield was1 however1 the means to me of great good4 ,here ,i was confirmed in that love for study and knowledge of which ,i have already noticed the commencement4 ,he had himself1 as is well known1 though still young1 gained a reputation for classical learning among the scholars of ,england and the ,continent2 and his example and conversations inspired me with desires for the like distinctions1 to which he gave all possible encouragement4 ,this ,i reckon to have been a considerable advantage to my religious welfare2 for1 although the motive ,i set before me was merely worldly1 and the subjects which ,i studied had little of a good and much of a bad tendency1 as must needs be the case with pagan literature1 yet1 by gaining a habit for study1 ,i was directed in a line widely distinct from the most vicious of the society through which ,i was afterwards to pass2 and1 by being a reading man at ,cambridge1 ,i was saved from much perversion4 ,footnote #a3 ,this was written in #ahcf4 ,see ,preface4 ,dr4 ,blomfield died in #aheg4 ,we shall be pardoned for interrupting the course of this interesting narrative1 by inserting an anecdote1 which shows how unchanged was his opinion on the merits of pagan literature4 ,in a conversation with his religious companions1 shortly before he died1 he happened to say something about the discoveries of ,cardinal ,mai among the ,bobbio #bj manuscripts4 ,some one remarked that it was nothing less than ,vandalism for the old monks to erase one of the classic authors1 and write some crude chronicle or other over it4 ,well1 replied ,father ,ignatius1 ,i suppose the monks had as much respect for ,virgil and ,ovid as the angels have4 ,to resume4 ,but what was of the chief importance to me at this time was1 being in a house and with company1 where1 if subjects of religion were not so much put before me as with ,mr4 ,godley1 and if ,i was not constantly exhorted and encouraged in simple piety1 ,i and my fellow pupils felt that no word of immorality would have been anywise tolerated4 ,prayers were daily read in the family1 the service of the ,church was performed with zeal and regularity1 the ,sunday was strictly observed1 and a prominent part of our instruction was on matters of religion4 ,it was also to me an invaluable benefit1 that the companion with whom ,i was principally associated1 during the chief part of my time at ,dunton1 was one who1 like me1 after a careful education at home1 where he had imbibed religious feelings1 had gone through the corruptions of another public school1 but was now1 like me1 happy to find himself in purer air4 ,with him ,i was confirmed at ,easter1 #ahaf1 by ,dr4 ,howley1 then ,protestant ,bishop of ,london1 now ,archbishop of ,canterbury4 ,it was an incalculable blessing to me1 slave as ,i was to false shame1 and cowardly as ,i was to resist against bold iniquity1 that ,i now had had a period granted me1 as it were1 to breathe and gain a little vigour again1 before the second cruel and more ruinous devastation which my poor heart was shortly to undergo4 ,i prepared seriously for my confirmation1 and for receiving the ,sacrament from time to time1 and recovered much of my former good practices of private devotion4 ,i remember especially to have procured once more a manual of prayers1 and during the last months of my stay at ,dunton ,i spent a long time in self-examination by the table of sins in that book1 somewhat similar to our ,catholic preparation for confession4 ,but1 alas6 ,i could go no further than the preparation4 ,oh6 the great enemy of our souls knew well what he was #ba doing in abolishing confession4 ,as before1 when ,i first lost my innocence and piety at ,eton1 confession would1 ,i am convinced1 have preserved me from that fall2 so now that ,i was almost recovering from the fall1 if ,i had had the ear of a spiritual father to whom ,i might with confidence have discovered the wounds of my poor soul1 he would have assisted me utterly to extirpate the remains of those evil habits of my heart4 ,he would have shown me what ,i knew so imperfectly1 the horrible danger of the state in which ,i had been so near eternal damnation2 he would have made me feel that holy shame for my sins1 which would have overcome that false earthly shame by which ,i still was ready to be mastered2 and he would1 in short1 have poured in that balm and oil which the ministers of ,god possess1 to heal1 and strengthen1 and comfort me for my future trials1 so that ,i might have stood firm against my enemies4 ,but it pleased ,thee1 ,o my ,god1 that once more1 by such sad experience1 ,i should have occasion to learn the value of that holy discipline of penance1 the power and admirable virtue of the divine sacraments1 with the dispensation of which ,thou hast now entrusted me1 that ,i may be a more wise and tender father to ,thy little ones whom ,thou committest to my care4 #bb ,,chapter ,v4 ,he ,goes ,to ,cambridge4 ,young ,spencer went with ,mr4 ,blomfield to ,cambridge in the spring of #ahag1 and was entered fellow commoner of ,trinity4 ,he returned1 immediately after being matriculated1 to his family1 and spent the summer in cricketing and sea-bathing1 in ,ryde1 ,isle of ,wight1 and hunting or shooting at ,althorp4 ,on ,saturday1 ,october #ahth1 he came to ,london with his parents4 ,he and his brother ,frederick went about shopping1 to procure their several outfits for the ,university and the sea4 ,on the morning of the #bast ,october1 he set out from his father's house to ,holborn1 to catch the seven o'clock fly for ,cambridge4 ,this vehicle1 which has been so long superseded by the ,eastern ,counties ,railway1 was filled with passengers before the ,spencer carriage arrived4 ,he then took a post chaise at ten o'clock1 and arrived in ,cambridge a little before six in the evening4 ,all that remained of that day1 and the greater part of the next1 was spent in getting his rooms furnished1 hiring his servant1 making a few acquaintances1 meeting those he knew before1 and the other employments of a freshman4 ,his tutor in classics was ,mr4 ,evans1 who long continued in the same capacity at ,cambridge1 and had the reputation of being a most upright man4 ,for mathematics he had a ,mr4 ,peacock1 who afterwards became ,dean of ,ely1 and restored the cathedral there4 ,he fell into good hands1 seemingly1 as far as his studies were concerned4 ,he does not seem to have been less fortunate in the choice of his companions4 ,he is very slow in making friends2 one he does not like for being too much of the fine gentleman2 another invites him1 and he remarks3 ,i suppose ,i must ask him to dinner or something #bc else2 but ,i should not wish to continue acquaintance with him1 for though he is good-natured1 he is likely to be in a bad set4 ,he also goes regularly to visit ,mr4 ,blomfield1 who resided in ,hildersham1 and advises with him about his proceedings4 ,he also avoids needless waste of time1 and says in his journal3 ,they all played whist1 in their turns1 but ,bridgman and myself2 which ,i am glad ,i did not1 for ,i like it so well that ,i should play at it too much if ,i once began4 ,besides these precautions1 and a feeling of indignation that bursts out now and again when he has to note a misdemeanour in his associates1 he reads seven hours a day on an average4 ,these conclusions are collected from the notes of a journal he wrote at the time2 they mark a very auspicious beginning2 and1 being clear facts1 will serve as a kind of glass through which one may read the following from his autobiography4 ,my intentions were now well directed 7on entering ,cambridge74 ,i began well1 and for a time did not give way to the detestable fashions of the place1 and was not much ashamed in the presence of the profligate4 ,i was very happy likewise4 ,i found myself now for the first time emerged from the condition of a boy4 ,i was treated with respect and kindness by the tutors and fellows of the college2 my company was always sought1 and ,i was made much of by what was supposed to be the best--that is1 the most well-bred and fashionable1 set in the ,university4 ,i had all the health and high spirits of my age1 and ,i now enjoyed manly amusements1 being set free from the cowardly feeling of inferiority which ,i had to oppress me at ,eton4 ,my first term at ,cambridge--that is1 the two months that passed before the first ,christmas vacation after my going there-- was1 as ,i thought1 the happiest time ,i had yet known4 ,i find it difficult1 however1 now to understand that happiness1 and still more to understand the religious principle which had more or less some influence over me1 when ,i remember one circumstance which by itself proves my religion to have been absolutely nugatory1 and which1 ,i remember well1 most grievously spoiled my happiness4 ,as to my religion1 ,i do not remember that at that time ,i said any private prayer4 #bd ,i suppose ,i must have discontinued it when ,i left ,mr4 ,blomfield's1 or soon after4 ,yet ,i had a sort of principle which guarded me from joining in the profane contempt of ,god's worship which prevails generally in the ,college chapels at ,cambridge1 and for a long time from consenting to the practice of open immoralities1 or even pretending to approve them1 though almost all the young men whom ,i knew at ,cambridge either notoriously followed or at least sanctioned them4 ,he alludes to one circumstance in the last extract as being a test of his depth in religious matters1 which it will be interesting to have in his own words4 ,it occurred before his entering ,cambridge2 but as it considerably influenced his feelings during his stay there1 it may as well find its place here4 ,the circumstance to which ,i allude was something of an affair of honour1 as the world blindly calls it1 into which ,i got engaged1 and which had so important an influence upon my religious feelings for about two years that ,i will here particularly relate the circumstances of it4 ,in the last summer vacation1 before my going to ,cambridge1 ,i attended1 with my father1 the ,northampton races1 in our way from the ,isle of ,wight to visit my brother at his place in ,nottinghamshire4 ,i had begun1 at that time1 to be extremely fond of dancing1 as well as cricket1 shooting1 and the like amusements4 ,at this race ball at ,northampton1 ,i enjoyed myself to the full2 but1 unwittingly1 laid the foundation for sorrow on the next day4 ,fancying myself a sort of leader of the gaiety1 in a set which seemed to be the most fashionable and smart of the evening1 ,i must needs be making up parties for select dances2 which proceeding was1 of course1 taken by others as intruding on the liberties of a public entertainment2 and it happened that1 without knowing it1 ,i barred out from one quadrille which ,i helped in forming1 the sister of a young gentleman of name and fortune in the county4 ,i was in the mean time making up a party for a match at cricket on the racecourse for the next day1 and this gentleman was one of my chief helpmates4 ,the next day1 while busy in collecting our cricketers to go #be to the ground1 ,i met him in the street1 and he gave me the hard cut4 ,i knew not what it meant1 and simply let it pass2 but on the morning after1 ,i was surprised at receiving a letter from him to tell me what was my offence3 it ended with the words 7which are deeply enough impressed on my memory not yet to be forgotten71 ',if ,i did not look upon you as a mere boy1 ,i should call you in a more serious manner to account for your rudeness4' ,he then told me where he might be found the following day4 ,without much reflecting on this unpleasant communication1 ,i showed it to my father1 who was near me1 with several other gentlemen of the county1 when ,i received it4 ,he asked me whether ,i had meant any rudeness1 and when ,i told him ,i had not1 he bid me write an apology1 and particularly charged me not to notice the concluding taunt4 ,he afterwards mentioned it to two others of these gentlemen1 who both agreed that ,i had done right in sending such an answer4 ,but soon after my mind fell into such a torment as ,i had never yet known4 ,the answer was certainly right according to ,christian rules1 and ,i suppose the laws of honour would not have required more2 but1 at the time1 ,i know not whether it would not be esteemed in his mind and that of the friends whom he might consult1 to be too gentle for a man of courage4 ,a most agonizing dilemma ,i was now in1 neither side of which ,i could endure4 ,on the one hand1 ,i could not bear to look on death1 and standing to be shot at was what nothing but a fit of desperation could bring me to4 ,on the other1 that awful tyrant1 the world1 now1 as it were1 put forth his hand and claimed me for his own4 ,to lose my character for courage1 and be branded as a coward1 was what ,i could not anyways endure4 ,i went with my father in the carriage to sleep at ,loughborough2 and when1 at the inn1 ,i retired from him to my bedroom1 the tumult of my mind was at its height4 ,i had all but determined to set off and go that very night to the place assigned me by this gentleman1 who by one disdainful expression had now mysteriously become1 as it appeared1 the master of my doom2 and1 renewing the quarrel1 take my chance of the consequence4 ,but again1 ,i saw this would #bf not save my honour1 if it were already compromised4 ,it was clear that a change of mind like that would hardly satisfy the world1 which does not forgive a breach of its awful laws on such easy terms4 ,i finally slept off my trouble for the present2 but my soul remained oppressed with a new load1 which almost made me weary of my life4 ,i remained convinced that ,i had not reached the standard of courage in this affair2 and ,i felt1 therefore1 that it depended on the good-nature of this gentleman whether my character should be exposed or not4 ,he did not reply to my letter of explanation4 ,was he satisfied or not8 ,during my first term at ,cambridge he was expected there1 and ,i was even invited to meet him at a wine party1 as one who was known to be one of his neighbours and friends4 ,i dared not show any reluctance to meet him1 lest the whole story should be known at ,cambridge2 and if ,i did meet him1 was he again to treat me with disdain8 ,if he did1 how should ,i avoid a duel8 ,i knew that having anything to do with a duel was expulsion by the laws of the ,university2 but if ,i1 coward as ,i was1 had not yet made up my mind1 as ,i had1 that ,i must run the chance of his shot1 if he chose still to resent the affront1 no wonder1 if the spoiling of my prospects in life1 by expulsion from ,cambridge1 was not much regarded4 ,the present distress was evaded by his not coming1 as was expected4 ,after this ,i desired one person who knew him as a friend1 and to whom alone ,i had explained my case1 to write and ask whether my apology had appeared to him sufficient4 ,the answer to this was an assurance that the thing had been no more thought of2 but it was two years before ,i met him in person1 and by his courteous manner was finally satisfied that all was right between us4 ,i might think it impossible that the great question could be overlooked by men1 what is to become of them in eternity1 if ,i had not had the experience of my own feelings in such an occasion as this4 ,in that memorable evening at ,loughborough1 ,i did not indeed altogether overlook the moral question--,is a duel wrong8 ,i had made the most of what ,i had heard said in palliation of it by some moralists2 ,i could not find any ground1 however1 to think it right before #bg ,god2 yet the thought of having1 perhaps before the next day was past1 to answer in the presence of ,god for having thrown away my life in it1 was not the consideration which deterred me from the rash resolution4 ,now1 how stands the world in ,england on this question8 ,it is clear that a ,catholic1 whether ecclesiastic or layman1 has no choice4 ,he must either utterly renounce his religion or duelling4 ,a maintenance of the abominable practice by which duelling is justified would deprive him of communion with the ,church4 ,but how stand ,protestants8 ,the clergy are exempted from this law by the world4 ,but how many ,protestant laymen are there of the rank of gentlemen who dare to proclaim that they detest duelling1 and that they would sooner bear the disgrace of refusing a challenge than offend ,god by accepting it1 or run the risk of offending ,god8 for ,i suppose the greater part would try an argument to prove that it may be excusable4 ,the clergy generally1 ,i believe1 reckon it decidedly a wicked worldly law1 yet they receive laymen to communion without insisting on this enormous evil being first abjured4 ,i do not1 however1 here propose a further discussion of the question generally4 ,to this law of the world1 miserably as it tormented me for a time1 ,i believe ,i am indebted spiritually more than can well be understood3 at least to the misery which it occasioned me4 ,i have heard it related of blessed 7now ,saint7 ,alphonsus ,maria di ,liguori that he owed his being led to bid adieu to the world and choosing ,god for the portion of his inheritance1 to making a blunder in pleading a cause as an advocate4 ,having till that time set his happiness on his worldly reputation for talent1 he then clearly saw how vain1 were the promises of the world1 and once for all he gave it up4 ,i knew not1 alas6 whither nor how to turn for more solid consolation1 and thus the spoiling of my happiness1 which had resulted from a mistake in a ball-room1 did not teach me to be wise2 but it contributed materially1 and most blessedly1 to poison my happiness at this time4 ,yet1 in a general way1 ,i went on gaily and pleasantly enough1 for serious reflections1 on whatever subject it might be1 had no long continuance4 #bh ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,his ,first ,year in ,cambridge4 ,what strikes a ,catholic as the most singular feature in ,protestant education is the want of special training for the clergyman4 ,a dozen young men go to the ,university for a dozen different purposes1 and there is the same rule1 the same studies1 the same moral discipline for all4 ,such1 at least1 was the rule in the days of ,mr4 ,spencer's college life4 ,it seems extraordinary to the ,catholic student1 who has to learn ,latin and ,greek only as subsidiary instruments to his higher studies2 who has to read two years philosophy and four years theology1 and pass severe examinations nine or ten different times in each1 besides a general one in all1 before he can be qualified to receive the priesthood4 ,the clerical training with us is as different from that through which young ,spencer had to pass as one thing can be from another4 ,his life for the first year may be very briefly told4 ,he hears from ,mr4 ,blomfield that he is to attend divinity lectures1 and he forthwith begins4 ,he is advised by a ,professor ,monk1 afterwards ,protestant ,bishop of ,gloucester1 to stand for a scholarship1 and he does so after getting ,blomfield's consent4 ,this makes him study very hard for some time1 and though he did not succeed1 the taste he had acquired by the preparation did not leave him till the end of the year1 when he came out in the first class1 having left his competitors1 with one exception1 far behind4 ,he also spends some hours every day in athletic exercises1 is very fond of riding1 goes now and again to ,london and ,althorp to amuse himself with attending the theatres1 dining out1 shooting partridge1 and playing at ,pope ,joan4 ,he relaxes #bi in his determination to avoid whist1 and indulges so far that he puts a note of exclamation in his journal at having returned to his chambers one night without having had a game4 ,this seems to be the regular course of his life at ,cambridge1 a course edifying indeed1 if compared with the lives of his companions4 ,he says3-- ,i have observed before that the example and conversation of ,mr4 ,blomfield1 while ,i remained with him1 gave an impulse to my mind towards the love of literary pursuits4 ,i did not think1 however1 of exerting myself particularly in that way till the end of the first term1 when ,i was persuaded by ,mr4 ,monk1 the ,greek professor1 now ,protestant ,bishop of ,gloucester1 to be a candidate for a university scholarship4 ,dr4 ,monk was four years senior to ,mr4 ,blomfield1 and ,i understood from him that he had been of great service to him in the same way1 when at college1 encouraging his exertions and studies4 ,i was told that ,i passed this examination creditably1 but ,i did not stand so high among the competitors as to make it desirable that ,i should repeat the attempt afterwards1 and the only honours that ,i tried for were confined to ,trinity ,college4 ,i was thus stimulated during this time to more than common exertions2 it gave me a disposition to study which continued through my time at ,cambridge1 and was the only good disposition which was encouraged in me4 ,i have reason then to remember with gratitude those who helped me in this way2 though it is a lamentable thing that1 being there professedly as a student for the church1 in what is the proper seminary for ecclesiastics of the ,church of ,england1 ,i cannot call to mind one word of advice given me by anyone among my superiors or companions to guard me against the terrible dangers with which ,i was surrounded of being entirely corrupted1 or to dispose me towards some little care of my spiritual concerns4 ,my studies ,i followed with great zeal all the time ,i was at ,cambridge2 but1 as is generally the case there with those that aim at places in the public examinations1 ,i managed them without proper distribution of time4 ,by running through the journal ,i kept at the time ,i find that1 when #cj first ,i began to read hard1 ,i have often sat without moving from my table and read the clock round1 that is1 from three or four in the afternoon to the same hour the next morning1 for the sake of doing what was counted an extraordinary feat4 ,there is no doubt that reading with regularity a smaller number of hours every day would be more available for the attainment of learning than these immoderate surfeits of study1 as one may call them2 ,i only interposed a few days of amusement1 when hardly any work was done4 ,in the long run1 such a course as mine could not answer1 for it was sure to hurt the health and prevent the attainment of the real end of all a young man's studies1 which is1 acquiring knowledge to be turned to account in after life4 ,few young men at ,oxford or ,cambridge1 ,i suppose1 have wisdom enough to calculate this in advance4 ,the object which they aim at is present distinction1 and outstripping their fellows in the race for college prizes2 and1 as far as my experience goes1 a glut of reading1 if the health does but stand it without breaking down1 is the way to make the most of one's chance at a public examination4 ,the time of my being at ,cambridge is one so interesting to me in the recollection1 that ,i cannot satisfy myself1 when giving an account of my progress through life1 without dwelling at some length upon it4 ,my college course was not very long4 ,at the time when ,i was at ,cambridge1 honorary degrees were conferred on the sons of noblemen at the end of two years' residence1 by which they came to the enjoyment of the rank and all the privileges of a ,master of ,arts1 which title was not to be attained1 in the ordinary course1 in less than six or seven years4 ,and what shortens the college life much more is the extravagant length of the vacations2 so that what is reckoned one year at ,cambridge is not more than five months' actual residence in the ,university4 ,yet this is a most important and critical period1 and the short two years during which ,i was an undergraduate at ,cambridge were of immense importance in my destiny4 ,how vast is the good1 of which ,i have learned the loss1 but which ,i might have gained1 had ,i then known how to direct my views6 ,on the other hand1 how #ca may ,i bless ,god for the quantity of evil from which ,i have been preserved1 and how wonderful has been my preservation6 ,when ,i remember how destitute ,i was of religion at this time1 ,i must say that ,i have to wonder rather at my being preserved from so much evil1 than at my having fallen into so much4 ,and how can ,i bless ,god for his exceeding goodness of which ,i am now reminded1 when ,i think how1 against my own perverse will1 against my foolish1 ,i must say mad wishes1 ,i was prevented by his ,providence from being at this time irrevocably ruined and lost8 ,what can ,i return to ,him for this blessing8 ,one principal intention in my present work is to record the sentiments of gratitude1 however weak and most unworthy1 with which ,i at least desire my soul to be inflamed1 and which ,i hope will engage all the powers of my soul throughout eternity4 ,most gladly1 if it were for ,his honour and for the edification of one soul which by the narrative might reap instruction1 ,i would enter before all the world into a more detailed explanation of this my wonderful deliverance2 but this ,i must not do1 for ,i must not be the means that others1 hitherto in the simplicity of holy ignorance1 should be made acquainted with the dark iniquity of which the knowledge has once infected my own unhappy understanding4 ,be this enough to say on this point1 which ,i was obliged to touch1 lest it should seem unreasonable that ,i should speak of my case as one of most marvellous and almost unparalleled mercy1 when the circumstances which ,i may now detail1 and what are generally known among my most intimate companions1 do not justify such feelings in the review of it4 ,by the great mercy of ,god1 ,i had provided for me a refuge and1 as it were1 a breathing time1 between ,eton and ,cambridge4 ,at ,mr4 ,blomfield's1 my progress in evil was checked1 and ,i had time to prepare myself for the ,university with good resolutions1 though ,i knew not what sort of trials ,i should meet with there1 nor had ,i learnt how unavailing were my best resolutions to support me1 while yet ,i had not wholly put my confidence in ,god's grace4 ,the vacation which came between my leaving ,dunton and going to ,cambridge ,i spent chiefly in the ,isle of ,wight1 and my #cb soul was almost wholly occupied that summer about cricket4 ,i never became a great cricketer myself2 ,i had lost the best time for gaining the art while at ,eton2 but1 this summer1 what perseverance and diligence could do to make up for lost time1 ,i think ,i did4 ,oh6 that ,i might have the same degree of zeal now in serving the ,church of ,god1 and collecting and instructing a faithful flock1 as ,i then had in seeking out1 and encouraging and giving and procuring instruction for my troop of cricketers4 ,the occupation of my mind on this subject was enough to drive away any ardent attention to religion as well as to study4 ,i may say1 in favour of this passion for cricket1 that it was one of the pursuits which ,i took to at the recommendation of my mother4 ,i remember generally that when anything in the way of amusement or serious occupation was suggested to me by her1 or anything else but my own fancy1 nothing more was required to make me have a distaste for it4 ,otherwise1 how many useful accomplishments might ,i have gained which would now have been available to the great objects ,i have before me4 ,my dear mother wished me to learn fencing when ,i was at ,eton1 and a good deal of time ,i spent1 and a good deal of money must have been paid by my father to ,mr4 ,angelo1 the fencing-master who came to ,eton4 ,it might have been better for me to have gained perfection in this exercise1 by which it is related that ,st4 ,francis of ,sales acquired in part that elegance of manner and nobleness of carriage through which he gained so many souls to ,christ4 ,while other boys made fencing their amusement1 ,i always would have it as a task1 and of course gained nothing by it4 ,at a later period1 when we were at ,naples1 and ,i had a weakness in my eyes which made such an employment suitable1 my mother would have had me learn music4 ,she gave me a guitar1 and would have paid for my lessons2 but ,i could not take to it1 and have thus lost the advantage which1 since ,i have become a ,catholic1 ,i should have so much valued of understanding the science of music1 seeing that the trifling knowledge ,i do possess is of so much use4 ,there is the apology1 then1 for my cricket mania2 that she proposed my taking to it in the #cc summer ,i speak of4 ,i was surprised to find myself willing to acquiesce in the suggestion4 ,what ,i did take to ,i generally followed excessively1 and she did not calculate on the violence with which ,i followed up this4 ,i got into very little bad company by means of this pursuit1 and perhaps1 on the whole1 ,i rather gained than lost by it4 ,it was manly and healthful1 and though1 when in the heat of it1 ,i thought it almost impossible ,i should ever give it up1 yet when ,i took ,orders ,i did give it up2 and if it was in itself of no use1 ,i hope that one sacrifice1 among the many ,i was obliged to make and1 thank ,god1 did willingly make to more important objects1 it was not without value4 ,thus much for my cricketing2 ,i mention it here as being the only distinct cause to which ,i can attribute my losing before ,i went to ,cambridge the habits of serious thought and of regular prayer1 which ,i have observed ,i regained in a good degree towards the latter part of my ,dunton time4 ,i nevertheless was full of good purposes4 ,i desired and was resolved to keep myself from giving countenance to immorality as well as practising it1 though after having once given way at ,eton1 ,i hardly ever dared to say a word or even to give a look in disapproval of whatever might be said or done before me by bold profligates4 ,i could not bear to appear out of the fashion2 so that when other boys at ,eton used to talk of the balls and gay parties which they had been to in their holidays1 ,i was quite ashamed1 when asked what ,i had done1 to say that ,i had been to no balls2 for to my mother ,i am greatly indebted for her wise conduct in this respect1 that she did not1 as was done by others1 make us men before our time4 ,so1 although ,i detested and from my heart condemned the fashionable immoralities of the young men with whom ,i came to be associated about the time of my going to ,cambridge1 ,i hardly dared declare my mind1 except sometimes1 almost in confidence1 to one who seemed to be like myself4 ,oh6 what good might ,i have done had ,i then known the value of ,god's grace1 and1 despising the world1 boldly stood up for the cause of virtue1 at the same time continuing to be gay and cheerful with my companions1 and taking a leading part #cd in all innocent and manly diversions1 and in the objects of honourable emulation which were set before me and my fellows4 ,i know how much ,i might have done by supporting others1 weak like myself1 by acting at this time as ,i ought to have done1 by what ,i felt myself on one or two occasions when such support was given me4 ,i thank ,god that the memory of my brother ,robert1 who died in #ahcj1 commanding the ,madagascar1 near ,alexandria1 now rises before me to claim my grateful acknowledgment as having twice given me such help at a critical time4 ,never was a man more calculated than he to get on1 as it is said1 in the world4 ,he was brave and enterprising1 and skilled in all that might make him distinguished in his profession2 at the same time he was most eager in the pursuit of field sports and manly amusements2 and in society was one of the most agreeable and popular men of his day4 ,once ,i remember complaining to him that ,i was ashamed of having nothing to say before some ladies about balls1 when ,i was about sixteen4 ',what a wretched false shame is that6' said he to me4 ,from that time ,i became more ashamed of my shame than ,i had been before of my want of fashion4 ,more important yet was the service he did me when he was about to go on one of his cruises as commander of the ,ganymede4 ,i was talking with him1 the last evening before he left ,london1 about the ,easter before ,i went to ,cambridge4 ,he knew well what ,i should be exposed to better than ,i did and charged me to take care never to laugh or look pleased when ,i was forced to hear immoral conversation4 ,what rare advice was this from the mouth of a gay1 gallant young officer2 and if there were more of his character who were not ashamed to give it to their young brothers and friends1 how many might be saved1 who are now lost1 because they do not see one example to show how a manly1 fashionable character can be maintained with strict morality and modesty4 ,these few words from him were of infinite service to me4 ,they made deep impression on me at the time ,i heard them1 and the resolution which ,i then made continued with me till after ,i had been some time at ,cambridge1 when the battle ,i had to bear against the universal fashion #ce of iniquity once more1 as formerly1 at ,eton1 proved too strong for me1 and ,i again gave way4 ,my fall now was gradual4 ,i began with the resolution to avoid all expenses which would embarrass me with debts1 and to keep from several fashionable amusements which would engage too much time4 ,for awhile1 on this account1 ,i would not play at cards2 but in less than half-a-year this determination failed1 and ,i wasted many an evening at whist of my short college life4 ,i soon grew careless1 too1 about my expenses1 and should have been involved in great embarrassments1 had it not been for my brother's 7,lord ,althorp's7 generosity1 who1 hearing from me at the end of my first year that ,i was in debt1 gave me more than enough to clear it all away2 and1 thus having enabled me to set my affairs again in order1 was the means of saving me from ever afterwards going beyond my means extravagantly4 ,i might1 however1 have given way in some such resolutions as not playing at cards2 ,i might have entered into some expenses which ,i shunned at first1 without losing my peace of mind1 and again defiling my conscience1 of which the good condition was partly restored2 but these were not the crying evils of the place4 ,in the set with which ,i was now associated in the ,university1 gambling was not at that time much practised1 and not at all insisted on4 ,there were occasional drunken parties1 and it was with difficulty that ,i kept out of them2 but the system of violently forcing people to drink1 as well at the ,universities as throughout genteel society in ,england1 had fallen off before my time4 ,there were some sets where drinking was practised at ,cambridge much more excessively than in what called itself the best set of all4 ,i could not help1 without offending the laws of society1 being present at a considerable number of dinners and suppers where men drank immoderately1 but ,i was permitted to keep myself sober without much difficulty2 one or two gave me countenance thus far1 though any intimation of disapproving of what others did1 on religious or moral grounds1 ,i felt would not have been anyways tolerated2 and so ,i ventured not4 ,swearing was among them rather unfashionable than #cf not4 ,some undergraduates were notorious for profane and impious language2 and this was excused1 and tolerated1 and made fun of1 but it was not common1 and many among us made no difficulty of condemning it4 ,i therefore never fell into this habit4 ,the crying1 universal1 and most frightful evil of the place was open immorality4 ,there was at ,cambridge1 in my time1 a religious set1 who were sometimes called ,simeonites1 from ,mr4 ,simeon1 one of the great leaders and promoters of the ,evangelical party in these latter days1 who was minister of one of the small churches in ,cambridge1 and for many years attracted into his influence a certain number of young men4 ,among these open vice was not countenanced2 but not so the set to which ,i principally belonged1 and these were as distinct as if they had not belonged to the same ,university4 ,i was introduced to some few of these1 and rather valued myself on having an acquaintance with them1 as well as with many of the purely reading men2 and my fashionable friends did not altogether object to it1 though ,i was generally a little ashamed at being seen with any of them1 and avoided any frequent intercourse with them4 ,i have wondered since that1 if it were only from mere curiosity1 ,i should never once have gone to hear ,simeon preach1 but so it was4 ,i understood nothing whatever of what is in ,england called ,evangelical religion4 ,indeed1 ,i thought nothing of religion2 had ,i paid any attention to it at this time1 ,i could hardly have escaped seeing how desperate was the course which ,i was following1 and ,i might perhaps have taken a strong resolution1 and have joined the serious party at once2 but1 very likely1 ,i should have found the power of fashion at that time too great1 and1 by knowing more of religion1 should only have made my conscience more guilty2 and so ,i believe it may be better that none ever spoke to me on the subject all the time4 ,i repeat it1 that in our set1 whatever other deviation from the most established fashion was tolerated1 any maintenance of chastity or modesty was altogether proscribed4 ,it was not long1 then1 before ,i found myself beat out of the position ,i endeavoured to maintain4 ,during the first term ,i stood my ground rather better4 ,one reason for this was1 #cg that among what were called the freshmen--that is1 those who entered with me on my college life1 there were several who were not initiated in vicious practices4 ,these1 remaining for a time more or less in their simplicity1 gave me some countenance in not going at once in the way of the veteran professors of evil4 ,but as ,i saw some of them grow by degrees shameless and bold1 and soon beginning to join their older brethren in upbraiding my weakness and folly for not being like the rest1 ,i found all my resolution failing1 and1 alas6 many a deliberation did ,i take whether ,i should not at length enter the same way with them4 ,i was still withheld1 though it was not the fear of ,god which restrained me4 ,i knew that my entering a course of open profligacy would not be tolerated by my parents4 ,i had a character for steadiness among the tutors and fellows of the college1 which ,i was ashamed to lose2 though even before them ,i found it sometimes to answer best not to appear different from other young men4 ,besides1 as ,i had resisted the first period of attacks1 and established among my companions a kind of character of my own1 ,i felt that even they would be astonished if ,i at last declared myself as one of their sort4 ,i could not bear the thought of their triumph1 and the horrid congratulations with which ,i should be greeted1 if once ,i was found going along with them in open feats of iniquity4 ,oh6 how grievous is the reflection that by such motives as these ,i was restrained4 ,i was longing often to be like them4 ,i could not bear the taunts which were sometimes made at me4 ,here again some of the old ,etonians perhaps would bring up the remembrance of my ancient propensity to blush1 and would take pleasure in putting me again to confusion4 ,occasionally1 by strange interpositions of ,divine ,providence1 ,i was hindered from accomplishing purposes of evil which ,i had1 in a sort of desperation1 resolved by myself to perpetrate1 by way of being decided one way or other1 like a man on the brink of a precipice determining to throw himself down in order to escape the uneasy apprehension of his danger4 ,one way or another ,i was restrained1 so that it has afterwards appeared to me as if ,i had but barely stopped short of #ch taking the last decisive steps by which ,i might be irrevocably ranked among the reprobate4 ,i never thought at the time of this danger1 otherwise ,i could hardly have borne my existence2 but1 as it was1 my mind at times was gloomy and miserable in the extreme4 ,to make me yet more so1 at the end of my first year ,i began to be afflicted with bilious attacks1 arising1 perhaps1 from my imprudent management in regard to study1 to diet1 and to hours2 and these occasioned exceeding depression of spirits1 under which ,i used to fancy myself the most unhappy of creatures4 ,i had no knowledge of the power of religion to set me free1 and make me superior to all external sensible causes of depression1 and ,i knew no better than to give myself up to my low feelings when they came upon me1 till some distraction removed them1 or till the fit passed away of itself4 ,many times at ,cambridge1 in order to hold up my head in a noisy company after dinner1 ,i drank wine to raise my spirits1 though not to great excess1 yet enough to teach me by experience how mistaken is the calculation of those who1 when in sorrow1 seek to cheer themselves in that way1 or in any way but by having recourse to ,god by prayer and acts of resignation4 ,i remember well once being told by a good aunt of mine1 that it was quite wrong to give way to my depression1 about which ,i one day complained to her1 and that religion would surely cure it2 but the time was not come for me to understand this truth1 and ,i took no notice of her words4 ,in the meantime ,i continued zealous about my studies4 ,i did not stop to ask cui bono was ,i working in them4 ,had ,i seen how utterly vain was a first-class place or a ,trinity prize-book1 which ,i had set before me as the object of my labours1 ,i should have found but little consolation and refreshment to my melancholy reflections in these pursuits4 ,on the contrary1 ,i should only have pined away with a more complete sense of the truth of the ,wise man's sentence which ,almighty ,god was teaching me in ,his own way1 and in ,his own good time3 ',vanity of vanities1 and all is vanity' but to serve ,thee only4 ,i do not mean that if rightly followed1 such academical honours are worth nothing4 ,i wish #ci ,i had followed them more prudently and effectually4 ,they were the objects set before me by my superiors at the time1 and ,i should say to another in my place that he should do his best to gain the highest place in a spirit of obedience1 and for the honour of ,god1 to whom we owe all the credit and influence in the world which1 by just and honourable exertions1 we can gain4 ,in recollecting1 therefore1 how ,i exerted myself1 and succeeded in these attempts1 ,i am dwelling on one of the most happy points of view which that part of my life suggests to me2 for though ,i did not do this as ,i ought1 yet ,i was doing what ,i ought1 and by doing so was preserved from much evil1 and ,god knows how far the creditable footing ,i gained at ,cambridge in the studies of the place may yet be available for a good end4 ,it is hard to believe young ,spencer was so utterly devoid of religion as he here describes himself to be2 we draw a more favourable inference from a journal he kept at the time4 ,noticing the death of the ,princess ,charlotte1 he says3 ,it appears to be the greatest calamity that could have befallen us in public1 and it is a deplorable event in a private point of view4 ,it must be ascribed to the interposition of ,providence1 which must have some end in view beyond our comprehension4 ,he speaks of the death of ,mrs4 ,blomfield thus--,it is for her a happy event1 after a life so well spent as hers has been4 ,a few pages further on he has these words about the death of another friend of his4 ,i was extremely shocked to-day at hearing that ,james ,hornby died last ,friday of apoplexy4 ,it was but a short time past that ,i was corresponding with him about the death of ,mrs4 ,blomfield2 and little he or ,i thought that he would be the next to go4 ,the last year and a half ,i stayed at ,eton ,i lived in the greatest intimacy with him1 which had afterwards fallen away a little2 but he was very clever and promising1 and ,i always was fond of him4 ,it must be a wise dispensation of ,providence1 and may be intended as a warning to us1 in addition to those we have lately had in the deaths of ,maitland and ,dundas4 ,god grant it may be an effectual one6 ,these are not the spontaneous expressions of one altogether #dj a stranger to piety1 though they may very well be put down as the transient vibration of chords that had long lain still in his heart1 and which these rude shocks must have touched and made audibly heard once more4 ,this conclusion is more in accordance with other remarks found scattered here and there in the same journal4 ,he criticises sermons and seems to like none2 he is regular at chapel and puts on his surplice on the days appointed2 but he refuses to take the sacrament for no conceivable reason but that he does not care about it1 and hears it is administered unbecomingly4 ,he is shrewd and considerate in his remarks upon persons and things2 yet there is scarcely a line of scandal or uncharitableness in the whole closely written volume4 ,when he records a drunken fit or a row1 he suppresses the names of the rioters2 and if he says a sharp word about a person in one page1 he makes ample amends for it in many pages afterwards2 by showing how mistaken he was at first1 and how agreeable it was to him to change his opinion upon a longer acquaintance4 ,this might not appear very high praise2 but let us take notice of his age and circumstances1 and then perhaps it may have its value4 ,he was a young man1 just turned eighteen2 he had been brought up in splendour at home1 and in a poisonous atmosphere at school4 ,that he was not the vilest of the vile is to be wondered at more than that he preserved as much goodness as he did4 ,where is the young man1 of even excellent training1 who will be able to contend1 unaided and taunted1 against a whole college of the finest youth of any country8 ,his motives may be beneath a ,christian's standard1 but the fact that with this weak armour1 the bare shadow of what it might be1 he made such noble resistance and passed almost unscathed through the furnace into which he was cast1 only shows what he would have done had he been imbued with the teachings of a higher order4 ,the very human respect and worldly considerations that succeeded in keeping him from vice1 acquire a respectability and a status in the catalogue of preservatives from the fact of their being successful in his case4 ,his was a fine mind1 and one is moved to tears at seeing this noble material for sanctity thus tossed #da about and buffeted by a herd of capricious companions who could not see its beauty4 ,let us take up any young man's journal of his age and read some pages of it1 what shall we find8 ,jokes played upon green freshmen1 tricks for outdoing proctors1 records of follies1 or perchance pompous unreality put on to conceal all these or worse4 ,his diary is the generous utterance of a noble mind2 it is candid1 true1 conscientious1 and puts a failing and a perfection of the writer side by side4 ,it is no wonder that he was loved and courted1 and that his companions had acquired an esteem for him in college1 which years and toils have not succeeded in lessening4 ,his keen grief at the deficiencies of his college life only shows to what height of sanctity he had reached1 when what another might boast of wrung from him these lamentations4 #db ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,conclusion ,of ,his ,first ,year ,in ,cambridge4 ,the events recorded in his journal at this time could very conveniently be swelled into chapters1 if one had a mind to be diffuse4 ,to trace the fortunes of the gentlemen he comes in contact with--,denison1 ,wodehouse1 ,carlisle1 ,hildyard1 ,brougham1 and a host of others1 who afterwards shone in different circles1 ,high ,church controversies1 pleadings at the bar1 parliamentary debates1 and ,irish ,lord-lieutenancies1--would form some very interesting episodes4 ,we should add many titles to the off-handed surnames of the collegian's journal1 and say a few words about how those dignities were procured1 earned1 and worn by the possessors4 ,it might be1 perhaps1 interesting to some readers to know how many gay young noblemen were enticed into becoming sons-in-law to some very reverend doctors4 ,all this and more ,mr4 ,spencer notes down in the journal1 but it is not our theme4 ,i have before observed that about my first ,christmas ,i was encouraged by ,mr4 ,monk and by ,mr4 ,blomfield1 who had removed from ,dunton and lived then about ten miles from ,cambridge1 to undertake a contest for a ,university prize2 but from this ,i afterwards drew back4 ,i followed up then principally the object of getting into the first class at the ,trinity ,college examinations1 which took place at the end of each year1 and which is an honour much esteemed1 on account of that ,college standing so high in the ,university1 though of course it is not on a level with the honours gained in examinations where competitors are admitted from the whole body of students in the ,university4 ,it was one object of silly ambition at ,cambridge to do well in the examinations without having appeared to #dc take much trouble about it4 ,during my second term ,i fell into the idea of aiming a little at this1 and ,i went to many more parties1 and took more time for various amusements1 particularly cards1 than ,i allowed myself in the first term4 ,had ,i not been checked for this1 ,i should probably have lost much ground in my race4 ,but a check did come to me at ,easter1 when ,i went to town1 and one evening expressed to my father and mother something of self-congratulation for having united so much amusement with my studies4 ,my mother saw the danger ,i was now falling into1 and1 as it seemed to me1 with too great severity1 for an hour together represented to me the absurdity of my notions1 and upbraided me with going the way to disappoint all their prospects4 ,i had no thought of bringing such a reproof upon myself1 and went to bed actually crying with mortification4 ,however1 it had its effect1 and ,i was thankful for it afterwards4 ,the next term1 which was the last and critical one before the examination1 ,i spent in very severe and regular study1 and cared not how some idle ones might derogate from my success1 and comfort themselves for their inferiority by the thought1 that ,i had read so hard as to take away from my merit4 ,at length1 on the #ahth ,may1 #ahah1 the very day1 as ,i observed1 on which1 ten years before1 ,i had gone to ,eton1 ,i went into the examinations in which was to be gained the little share of credit in this way which was to fall to my lot4 ,they lasted for a week2 and1 a day or two after1 ,i received a note from ,mr4 ,amos1 now a distinguished 444444 in ,london1 who was one of the examiners1 and a great friend of mine1 which filled me with exultation3 ',i have the greatest pleasure in informing you that you are in the first class4 ,ollivant is only eight marks above you1 and you and he have left all the rest of the class at a long1 very long1 distance4' ,i afterwards learnt that the highest number of the marks was between #a1fjj and #a1gjj1 and that while ,ollivant and ,i were near together at the head1 the next to me was at the distance of #bia4 ,lord ,graham1 now ,duke of ,montrose1 was one of the first class1 and if he had read as much as ,i did1 there is no doubt he would have been before #dd me4 ,i was told at the same time that ,i learnt the above-named particulars1 as ,i find it in my journal1 that ',i was best in mathematics1 and ,grahame next1 although ,grahame was first in algebra2' after which ,i thus expressed my ambition at the time3 ',i hope that ,grahame will not read for next year's examination1 and if my eyes last out 7for at that time ,i was under some apprehension on that point7 ,i may have a chance of being first then1 which would be delightful4' ,such is all earthly ambition1 and1 as in my case1 so always its effects--disappointment and mortification4 ,had ,i offered all my studies to ,god1 and worked for ,him1 depending on ,his help1 ,i should have done much more4 ,i should have enjoyed my successes more purely1 and should have been guarded from all disappointment4 ,the second year's examination is much more confined to mathematics than to classics1 and had ,i been wise and regular and well-disciplined in my mind1 ,i might have gained that first place which ,i was aiming at1 for ,grahame did not read for it4 ,as it was1 ,ollivant1 who was some way behind me in the first year1 got up his ground1 and beat me in the second year's examination1 in which1 though ,i was second again1 ,i had no remarkable superiority over the one who came next to me4 ,spencer formed the acquaintance of ,sir ,thomas ,fremantle while they were both at ,dunton under the charge of ,mr4 ,blomfield4 ,fremantle went to ,oxford and he to ,cambridge1 but they continued the intimacy1 begun here1 to which ,spencer pays cordial tributes of unfeigned gratitude4 ,sir ,thomas was a welcome guest at ,althorp2 he and ,george used to spur each other on to renewed exertions in the pursuit of literary honours4 ,spencer formed a plan for the long vacation1 and went1 on ,march #be1 to ,oxford1 to lay the subject before ,fremantle2 it was1 that they should go somewhere and read together4 ,spencer got into the coach in ,london1 and arrived in ,oxford at twelve at night4 ,he lionised the place next day1 was introduced to different celebrities1 and dined and wined in the most select companies his friends1 ,fremantle and ,lord ,wilton1 could muster for his reception4 ,he lived during the time in the rooms of a #de fellow commoner of ,oriel4 ,he did not leave a single department unvisited4 ,he played at tennis with a ,mr4 ,denison2 compared the agreements and disagreements of their ways there with those of ,cambridge2 the only thing noteworthy he chose to put down in his diary1 as the result of his comparison1 is1 that 7when he plays cards in ,w 999999's rooms1 where there are four tables7 they play high1 and ,i do not like the kind of party so well as those at ,cambridge4 ,spencer continued in ,cambridge1 and read1 or idled1 as the tone of his mind directed1 until the #cast of ,july1 #ahah4 ,this morning he set off1 at half-past five1 in the ,rising ,sun1 for ,birmingham2 he falls in with a brilliant ,etonian1 who recounts the progress of things at his old school2 and has to sleep in what he calls the most uncomfortable and uncivil inn ,i have ever seen4 ,he sets off on another coach next morning for ,shrewsbury1 and finds1 to his agreeable surprise1 that ,fremantle travelled by the inside of the same vehicle4 ,they both travel together into ,wales1 having first procured a supply of candles1 tea1 and other commodities for housekeeping1 which they did not hope to find at hand where they were going to4 ,after many long stages1 up-hill and down-hill1 among ,welsh mountains1 and strange fellow-travellers1 they arrive at ,towyn1 at ten o'clock at night on the #bnd of ,august1 having been nearly three days performing a journey which can now be accomplished in a few hours4 ,towyn is a little town in ,merionethshire1 situated on the sea coast1 on a neck of land formed by a graceful little creek1 into which the ,river ,doluny empties itself1 and a kind of sloping arm of the channel4 ,here ,spencer and ,fremantle took up their residence for the long vacation1 in a nice little house for which they paid ten guineas a month4 ,they had the whole premises to themselves1 with a waiting-man named ,davis1 and a maid ,kitty4 ,their mode of life was very regular4 ,they rose early1 bathed in the sea1 which rolled its waves against their premises1 breakfasted1 and studied till two o'clock4 ,it was customary with them then to go out exploring with dog and gun until dinner1 dine at five1 take another stroll1 and read again until they thought it time to take tea1 #df and chat until bed-time4 ,each in turn was steward for a week2 they purchased their own provisions in the little town1 thus making a regular home there for the term of their stay4 ,they read pretty well for the first week or two2 afterwards they got so fond of brisk air and the adventures they came across in their daily walks1 that the reading became less agreeable1 and soon irksome4 ,the first adventure recorded in the journal is the following4 ,they were both returning home after a two hours' vain pursuit of game1 and came across a gouty old gentleman1 who asked them a number of impertinent questions4 ,he then asked them to dine1 but finding out on inquiry that he was a notorious blackguard1 although great in lands and money1 they politely declined his invitation4 ,another time they rode a great way up the country and stopped at a pretty place1 which they found1 to their chagrin1 not to be a fairy castle exactly1 but a grand shop for gossip1 kept by two old ladies1 assisted by a third1 at whose qualifications in point of age the reader is left to make guesses4 ,another day they went out to shoot1 and met another serious adventure1 which is thus noted3 ,i got an immense ducking in a black mud ditch1 which came up to my middle or higher1 and ,fremantle got a wetting too1 but not so serious as mine4 ,things go on smoothly now for about a week2 they receive several visits from neighbouring gentry1 and the way in which the return to some of them is described gives us a fair specimen of the flow of spirits ,spencer enjoyed at the time4 ,saturday1 ,aug4 #ae4--,we made ourselves greater bucks than usual to-day1 and set off at two to call on ,mr4 ,scott1 near ,aberdovey4 ,he takes pupils there4 ,we came home to dinner at half-past five2 and after dinner 7still greater bucks7 we went to drink tea at ,bodalog1 with ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,jeffreys1 and came home at half-past ten 7#ad miles walking74 ,the next adventure was one in which they tried their hands at shooting on the river with ,mr4 ,jeffreys' long gun2 whether the weight of the instrument1 or an effort to reach the game that it killed1 drew them nearer the water than they intended1 he tells us that they got quite soused in the water1 and figured at the gentleman's dinner-table in two complete sets of the apparel of #dg the old man1 to the no small amusement of the company4 ,nothing remarkable occurred after this to the two friends1 except a trip to ,aberystwyth1 where they lodged a few days1 met a few old acquaintances1 and enjoyed a ball that was given to the ladies and gentlemen who were there for the season2 until the #adth of ,september4 ,this day they had a great battle of words with their landlord1 who did not like their leaving him so soon3 in this1 however1 they came off victorious4 ,they both travel through ,wales1 visit ,snowdon1 ,carnarvon1 and meet a body of ,cambridge men reading with a tutor at ,conway4 ,september #bith1 he took the mail to ,london1 and thus ended his long vacation4 ,he stays at ,wimbledon with his own family until the time for returning to ,cambridge again4 ,he relates in the journal that a man comes to teach ,lady ,spencer1 his mother1 how to bind books4 ,this may be thought a strange kind of recreation for a lady of high rank2 but it will not when we read that this was the same person who set off the fashion of shoemaking6 ,he concludes his first year in ,cambridge thus3--,this day's journal completes a year from the time ,i began to keep my history4 ,it has indeed been an important year in my life the first in which ,i have been my own master1 and have1 ,i fear1 settled my character with all its faults4 ,several things which ,i have both done and undone ,i shall never cease regretting4 ,i have only to thank ,god that there is no more reason for regret4 ,with my reading1 on the whole1 ,i am as well satisfied as ,i ever expected4 ,two words are underlined in this extract2 they were often on his lips till the day of his death1 and frequently formed the subject of his sermons4 ,if his character had its faults settled with it in his own estimation1 it is pleasing to see the habit of resignation existing as a virtue in him even at this age4 ,it was one that was confirmed in him afterwards1 to an eminent degree4 #dh ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,second ,year ,in ,cambridge--,takes ,his ,degree4 ,during the first term of his second year in ,cambridge1 his average hours of reading decreased2 yet he had still a taste for study1 and had not yet thrown aside what remained of his former ambition to distinguish himself4 ,he and the ,duke of ,montrose declaim on the respective merits of ,charles ,v4 and ,francis ,i42 they tossed up for sides1 and ,charles ,v4 fell to ,spencer4 ,this keeps him at hard study for some time2 meanwhile he hears ,ollivant declaim1 and thinks he will get both prizes4 ,after the declamation1 in which he comes off more creditably than he expected1 he has half a hope of a prize1 which he says he should be surprised though delighted to receive4 ,he did get one1 but not so high as he expected4 ,here and there in his journal at this time a few expressions of discontent escape from him about ,cambridge2 the cause being partially what has been related in the chapter before last4 ,this had also1 conjointly with another circumstance1 the effect of cutting short his ,university career4 ,he writes in the autobiography3-- ,i made some good progress during this year1 but ,i should have done much more had ,i been constantly regular4 ,i must have suffered great loss by my interruptions1 as ,i find by my journal that for about four weeks at the end of the long vacation1 when ,i had come home and was taken up with shooting1 ,i did not make one hour's study2 and two more long intervals of cessation from reading took place in the ,christmas and ,easter vacations1 when a little steady application1 if it were but for three hours a-day1 would have kept my mind attentive1 and given me a great advantage4 ,after my first examination1 ,i entertained some thoughts #di of waiving my privilege of taking an honorary degree1 and going through the ,senate ,house examinations with a view to ,university honours2 but ,i lost all wish to remain at ,cambridge towards the end of the second autumn4 ,i was at times quite disgusted with the place1 for such reasons as ,i have stated2 besides which1 my father and mother had made a plan1 which pleased me greatly1 of going for a year on the ,continent1 in which ,i was to accompany them4 ,my brother ,frederick1 who was come home about this time1 was to be of the party likewise1 and happy was ,i in the prospect of being again some time in his company2 but as an opportunity occurred for him to go to ,south ,america1 with ,sir ,thomas ,hardy1 with the hope of being made ,commander1 this professional advantage was justly preferred4 ,some of the heads at ,cambridge as well as ,lady ,spencer urged him at this time to stand for a fellowship1 but he gave up the idea1 and it ended in his joining a new club they had formed--the ,eton club4 ,these clubs at the ,universities are looked upon with no great favour by proctors and others who have charge of the morals of the students4 ,their dinners entail great expenses on the members1 and they end as the first meeting did in his case3 ,they all made an enormous row1 and ,i too1 by the bye4 ,he came to spend the ,christmas of #ahah at ,althorp1 and closes the year with a succession of parties1 ,pope ,joan1 and bookbinding4 ,there is one little incident recorded in his journal at this time which gives us a perfect insight into his character4 ,one might expect that at this age1 nineteen1 he would be very romantic and dreamy1 and that we should find many allusions to those topics which engross so much of the time of novel-reading youths and maidens nowadays4 ,nothing of the sort4 ,there is an affair of the heart1 but his conduct in it1 with his remarks on it1 are worthy of a sexagenarian4 ,at a party1 which took place at his father's1 he dances with various young ladies1 among the rest a certain ,miss ,a41 who1 he says1 was a great flame of mine two years ago2 she is not so pretty as ,i thought her then1 but she is a delightful partner4 ,i was again in love1 but not violently to-night4 ,two or three days after this1 he is at another party1 and #ej dances with a new set of partners to the extent of three quadrilles4 ,of one of these he thus speaks--,i was delighted with ,miss ,b41 who is a pleasant unaffected girl1 and ,i am doomed to think of her ,i suppose for two or three days instead of ,miss ,a4 ,i was provoked that she would not give me her fan at parting4 ,was it not cool and thoughtful of him to mark out the time such a change of sentiment was likely to last8 ,the next page of the journal brings the subject before us still more clearly4 ,his mother took him for a walk around ,althorp1 and told him that she was planning a house for the parsonage at ,brington3 ,which they say is to be mine when ,i am old enough2 it might be made a most comfortable and even a pretty place1 and if ,i live to come to it ,i can figure to myself some happy years there with a fond partner of my joys1 if ,i can meet with a good one4 ',here then1 and with thee1 my ,n4' ,footnote #b would have been my language some time ago2 but how my opinions even of such important things change with my increasing years4 ,this thought often occurs to me1 and will ,i hope prevent me from ever making any engagements which cannot be broken1 in case my fancy should be altered during the time which must elapse before the completion of them4 ,it will be seen1 further on in the biography1 how this affair ended4 ,there is a very good lesson in what he has left for young men of his age4 ,if reason were allowed to direct the affections1 many would be preserved from rash steps that embitter their whole lives4 ,it seems amusing to a ,catholic to find the prospects of a clergyman's happiness so very commonplace2 but it will be a relief to learn by-and-by how very different were his ideas when he became a clergyman1 and built and dwelt in that identical parsonage that now existed only in his own and his mother's mind4 ,he gets a commission in the ,northamptonshire ,yeomanry before returning to ,cambridge for ,hilary term this year4 ,footnote #b3 ,a quotation1 as the reader may remember1 from ,guy ,mannering4 ,studies seem to him a necessary evil now1 and he writes with a kind of a sigh of relief when he notes1 a few pages on1 that he has taken his last compulsory lesson in ,latin4 #ea ,balls and parties of all kinds are his rage4 ,george and a friend of his had notice of a ball coming off in ,northampton in a few days1 and he heard that his ladye love would be one of the company1 so they determined to be there4 ,he writes letters1 gets an invitation for his friend1 and makes all the preparation possible for a week previous4 ,the day comes1 it is rainy2 but1 no matter1 they pack their best suits into trunks1 bring the necessary apparatus for making a good appearance1 they search the town for a conveyance1 and at length procure a team for a tandem at ,jordan's4 ,off they go1 eighteen miles the first stage1 then eight more2 they bait their horses and dine2 off again for full sixteen miles4 ,he has also to run the risk of a cross-examination from whatever members of his family he may happen to meet at the ball1 and to answer the difficult question1 ,what brought you here8 ,it is raining in torrents1 it is a cold ,february day2 but all difficulties appear trifles to the two young adventurers as they urge their team over the hills and plains of ,northamptonshire4 ,even ,spencer boasts in his journal that he is now a first-rate whip4 ,they arrive in high glee1 forgetting their hardships in the glow of anticipation1 and are greeted with the bad news1 as they jump from their conveyance1 that the ball has been put off until next month4 ,to make matters worse1 the bearer of these unfavourable tidings assured them that he wrote to them to give this information1 and they had an additional motive to chagrin in the fact of their having forgotten to ask for their letters in the hurry and anxiety to come off4 ,he notes in the journal--,feb4 #aj4 ,we set off again in our tandem for ,cambridge1 truly dimissis auribus1 but with a resolution to try again on the #eth ,march4 ,on the #eth of ,march they faithfully carried out this resolution4 ,the ball took place1 but the ladies they were anxious to meet did not come1 so they only half enjoyed the thing4 ,spencer took a hack and rode off to ,althorp to make his appearance at his father's4 ,he was very nervous about the prospect of a meeting with his parents1 and having to give an account of himself4 ,fortunately the ,earl was deep in some measure for furthering ,george's happiness1 and looked upon his son's #eb arrival as an auspicious visit4 ,everything thus passed off smoothly1 and the youngsters arrived in ,cambridge with their tandem without accidents1 but with two or three narrow escapes4 ,his journal here has few incidents out of the ordinary line of his daily life2 he learns to wrestle with success2 so as to bring his antagonist to the ground with a dilapidation of the res vestiaria4 ,he practises a good deal at jumping1 and one day1 in clearing a hedge1 a bramble caught his foot1 which brought him with violence to the ground2 by this mishap his eye was ornamented with a scar which gave him some trouble afterwards4 ,he also gets a shying horse to ride3 this noble charger had a particular dislike to carts3 he shied at one in the market-place in ,cambridge1 and soon left his rider on the flags4 ,spencer mounted again1 but found on his return1 after a good ride1 that his toe was sprained1 and it kept him indoors for five or six days4 ,this chapter of accidents was amply counterbalanced by the agreeable fact that he had just attended his twenty-fifth divinity lecture1 and had obtained the certificate which was to insure him the imposition of his bishop's hands1 whenever he might think it convenient to put himself to the trouble of going through the ceremony4 ,his course is now coming to an end2 he becomes a freemason1 and rises four degrees in the craft before the end of ,june4 ,a bishop visits ,trinity ,college1 and standing in solemn grandeur1 with a staff of college officers dressed out in their insignia encircling him1 his lordship delivers a grave expression of his displeasure at the stupidity some twenty students gave evidence of during their examination4 ,spencer comes out in the first class once more2 his brother ,frederick is in ,cambridge at the time1 and as soon as the result is known they take coach for ,london4 ,here they spend their time agreeably between dining at home and abroad1 going to ,covent ,garden1 and taking sundry lessons from an ,italian dancing-master1 until ,july #eth1 when ,george returns to ,cambridge to take out his degree4 ,we will hear himself now giving an account of this great event4 ,my college labours terminated with the end of the second year's college examination for the classes1 which took #ec place on the #ast of ,june1 #ahai4 ,on the #eth of ,june the result was declared1 when1 as ,i have before said1 ,i was in the first class again1 and second to ,ollivant4 ,this was rather a disappointment1 and gave me some reasonable discontent4 ,for the cause of my not being1 as ,i might have expected1 as far above the others as ,i had been the year before1 ,i saw clearly was a degree of carelessness in my reading1 especially of one subject that is1 the three first sections of ,newton's ,principia1 which were appointed for the second year's reading1 and for which ,i had not had a taste as for other parts of mathematics4 ,however1 the time was now past to recover my place1 and soon the importance of this little matter vanished into nothing4 ,i then went to ,london till the beginning of ,july1 when ,i returned to ,cambridge to receive my degree as ,master of ,arts from the ,duke of ,gloucester1 who came in person at the commencement of this year to confer the degrees as ,chancellor of the ,university1 and to be entertained with the best that the colleges could raise to offer him in the way of feasts and gaieties4 ,my ,cambridge cares and troubles were now well-nigh past1 and ,i enjoyed greatly the position ,i held at this commencement as steward of the ball1 and a sort of leader of the gaieties in the presence of the ,royal personages1 because ,i was the first in rank of those who received their honorary degrees4 ,from this time there has been a complete cessation with me of all mathematical studies1 and almost of all my classical1 to which ,i have hardly ever again referred4 ,for when ,i again returned to regular study1 ,i had nothing in my mind but matters of theology4 ,it was at this time1 after leaving ,cambridge1 when ,i remained principally fixed as an inmate in my father's house1 till ,i was settled in the country as a clergyman1 that ,i was in the character of what is called a young man about town4 ,it was with my dear brother ,frederick1 who was at home at the time1 as ,i before observed1 that ,i began in earnest to take a share in the enjoyment of ,london life4 ,i have seen the dangers1 the pleasures1 and the miseries of that career1 though all in a mitigated degree1 from the happy circumstance of my not #ed being left alone to find my way through it1 as so many are at the age of which ,i speak4 ,with many1 no doubt1 the life in ,london is the time for going to the full depth of all the evil of which ,oxford or ,cambridge have given the first relish4 ,my father and mother were not like many aged veterans in dissipation--whom in the days when the fashionable world was most accounted of by me1 ,i have looked on with pity--who to the last of their strength keep up what they can of youth1 in pursuing still the round of the gay parties of one rising generation after another4 ,they 7my parents7 hardly ever went into society away from home4 ,they kept a grand establishment1 when in ,london1 at ,spencer ,house1 as well as at ,althorp in the winter1 when the first society1 whether of the political1 or the literary and scientific1 were constantly received4 ,it would1 therefore1 have been unreasonable in me to be fond of going out for the sake of society1 when1 perhaps1 none was to be met with so interesting as that at home2 besides this1 my father and mother were fond of being surrounded by their family circle2 and if ,i or my brothers1 when staying with them in ,london1 went out from home several times in succession1 or many times a week1 they would generally express some disappointment or displeasure2 and though ,i used at the time to be sometimes vexed at this kind of restraint1 as ,i was at other restraints on what ,i might have reckoned the liberty of a young man1 ,i used generally1 even then1 to see how preferable my condition was4 ,i now most clearly see that the feelings of my parents in this matter were most reasonable1 and that it was a great blessing to me that ,i was situated in such circumstances4 ,they were desirous that we should see the world1 and when any amusement was going on1 or party was to take place1 which she thought really worthy of attention1 as not being so frivolous as the general run of such things1 my mother zealously assisted in procuring us invitations1 and providing us with needful dresses2 as1 for instance1 at this time she gave to my brother ,frederick and me very handsome full-dress uniforms 7his being1 of course1 that of a naval officer1 mine of the ,northamptonshire ,yeomanry1 in which ,i then held a commission71 #ee that we might appear at balls and parties where full-dress was required1 such as foreign ambassadors sometimes gave4 ,these were1 she thought1 really worth going to on account of extraordinary or remarkable characters who came to them1 whether ,english or foreigners4 ,thanks to their regular domestic habits1 and to the strict authority which my mother still kept over us all1 while being at ,spencer ,house1 ,i should have found it almost as difficult as in a well-regulated college to go into any extravagant irregularities1 and so ,i was hardly tempted to do so4 ,my feeling habitually was to try and avoid invitations and engagements from home1 far from seeking them eagerly4 ,the incidents we are able to add from his journal during the interval between leaving ,cambridge and going abroad are very meagre1 yet1 since they are characteristic of the man's feelings1 a few will be inserted4 ,from the journal3 ,tuesday1 ,july #bj4 ,we got up and went to a dreadful formal breakfast at #aj4 ,at one we were dressed1 and the company began to arrive for a public breakfast1 to be given to-day to the people of the county in honour of the marriage of ,lord ,temple4 ,the collation was in the greenhouse1 and lasted off and on till about #f6 ,he goes through the particulars of the entertainment1 the quadrilles and country dances1 the partners' perfections1 c41 c42 but when ,lady ,buckingham asked himself and his brother to stay a little while longer1 much as they liked it1 they would not do so1 because their mother desired them to be home at a certain time4 ,one must admire his obedience even at the expense of his enjoyment1 when he might calculate upon the implicit consent of his mother to their acceding to such a request1 and from such a quarter4 ,another thing we gather from this is1 that ,f4 ,ignatius1 even when a youth1 could never bear what was formal or ultra-refined2 he always liked natural ease and unaffected simplicity4 ,we find him turn away from a blue-stocking1 and steal three days' thoughts from his flame to bestow them on one more unaffected and simple4 ,the next incident he chooses to record is1 that the clergyman of the church he used to attend had gone to spend his honeymoon1 and that a preacher whom he did not admire took his pulpit #ef in his absence4 ,there are some partings of friends1 and a great variety of amusements1 to fill up the pages for a month or so4 ,father ,ignatius used to tell a very remarkable anecdote about this period of his life2 he used it to illustrate the sacrifices that people can willingly make for the law of fashion1 and how reluctant they are to make even the smallest for the love of ,god4 ,there was a great ball to be given somewhere in ,london2 it was to be a most splendid affair1 full in all particulars of dress and etiquette1 and one of those that the ,countess ,spencer thought really worth going to4 ,a celebrated coiffeur was imported direct from ,paris1 and he had a peculiar style of hair-dressing that none of that craft in ,london could hope to imitate with success4 ,all the belles1 marchionesses of high degree1 who intended figuring at the ball1 hired the ,french coiffeur4 ,he accepted all the engagements1 but found they were so many that it would take twenty-four hours' hard work1 without a moment's repose1 to satisfy all4 ,he had to begin at three o'clock in the afternoon of the day preceding the ball1 and ,father ,ignatius knew one lady who was high upon his list4 ,she had her hair dressed about four1 and1 lest it might be disarranged1 slept in her arm-chair1 with her neck in stocks1 for the night4 ,this lady1 be it remembered1 was no foolish young belle1 but a matron who might have conveniently introduced her granddaughter to the circle she attended4 ,these people1 he used to say1 laugh at the folly of ,st4 ,peter of ,alcantara and other mortified saints2 and we1 who aspire to be saints1 will undergo with difficulty what worldlings cheerfully endure for vanity and folly4 ,he often laughed at this1 and often laughed others into seriousness at his comments on it4 #eg ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,travels ,on ,the ,continent4 ,spencer's thoughts now seemed perpetually fluttering around the expectation of going abroad and seeing wonders4 ,this idea comes out at most unexpected times in the journal1 it forms a parenthesis in everything he considers bearing seriously upon his welfare4 ,at one time he is disappointed in not having his brother for companion1 at another he hopes his parents will not consider this trip travelling enough for him2 he expects1 too1 that the parental reins will be slackened somewhat2 and even it crosses his mind1 as a kind of remote probability1 that he may perchance be allowed to take a tour by himself4 ,all that was hopeful in these day-dreams was gratified1 and some of them to an extent that he was very far from imagining at the time4 ,the great day did arrive at last2 the evening before1 the different branches of the family came to dine at ,wimbledon1 where the ,earl was then staying4 ,they were very serious1 as they were going on a formidable expedition next morning4 ,in the morning1 the different articles of luggage were sent before them on a van2 and1 after parting with ,lords ,althorp1 ,lyttelton1 and their families1 the party started for the ,continent4 ,it consisted of ,lord and ,lady ,spencer in one carriage1 ,george and the physician in another1 and the servants in a third4 ,they had a courier employed1 ,luigi ,cavani1 whose office it was to ride ahead of the cavalcade1 and provide horses and other necessaries at the next stage4 ,they set sail at ,dover at six o'clock on the evening of the #adth ,september1 and1 after what was called a favourable passage1 arrived in ,calais the next morning at half-past seven o'clock4 ,one can leave ,london ,bridge nowadays at the time they left ,dover ,harbour1 and be in ,paris before they landed4 #eh ,he says in the autobiography3 ,it was on the #aeth of ,september1 #ahai1 that we landed at ,calais a day most interesting to me1 as ,i then considered1 because the first of my setting foot in a foreign land1 but much more1 ,i now must reckon1 as being the first on which ,i trod ,catholic ground and entered a ,catholic church4 ,in the journal he says3 ,dr4 ,wilson and ,i walked about a little 7in ,calais7 to the market-place and the church1 both which were extraordinary to the greatest degree in my eyes4 ,sept4 #af4 ,we breakfasted at eight1 and then started on our journey4 #ast went my father and mother in their carriage with #d horses2 #bndly4 ,dr4 ,wilson and ,i in a hired calche with two horses4 #crd4 ,drewe and the maids1 in one with three horses2 and last1 the fourgon1 with #c4 ,this was the order of march4 ,i was amused extremely by the difference of this and our ,english posting4 ,the appearance of the postilions is so new to me1 as they crack their long whips over their heads1 and the little horses with their rope harness look so mean4 ,luigi rode post to order horses and manage everything for us1 and was always found waiting at every relay4 ,we quote this in full to give an idea of how noblemen travelled in the not very olden time4 ,if ,george was much surprised at the church in ,calais1 his wonder knew no bounds when he entered the ,cathedral in ,amiens1 and saw ,mass performed by separate ,priests at different ,altars1 and people at each4 ,this is a mystery to ,protestants who see ,catholic rites for the first time4 ,they are taught to look upon true worship as consisting in the meaning of some well-written sentences1 pronounced with emphatic unction1 and responded to with some degree of fervour4 ,the service1 the fine old psalms1 anthems1 and collects of the ,prayer-,book1 issuing forth in melodious accents from the lips of a ,god-fearing man1 is about the highest kind of public worship they can have any notion of4 ,the sermon is first with some1 second with others2 but whatever place the peculiar excellence of the preacher1 and the effects of it on a given occasion1 may gain in the heart of an individual1 it may be taken for granted that the service comes before the sermon in the abstract4 ,but service and sermon must be heard1 and #ei listened to1 and understood4 ,with this idea in their minds1 and accustomed to see the minister assume a manner and mien calculated to produce prayerful thoughts in his congregation1 they are surprised1 if not shocked1 at the ,catholic ,mass4 ,they find the ,priest hurrying off through ,latin prayers1 and producing breathless attention by his own silence2 they see him arrayed in unintelligible attire1 moving one way and another1 bowing1 genuflecting1 standing still1 or blessing4 ,they scarcely understand a word or gesture1 and feel perfectly sure that the old woman who beats her breast and counts her beads by the side of their staring effrontery is as much in the dark as themselves1 if not more4 ,they have seen one evidence more of the humbug of ,popery1 and bless ,god that ,cranmer procured them another ritual4 ,it is not our object to explain ,catholic mysteries1 but it may be as well to hint that if a stranger to ,jerusalem happened to wander to ,calvary on the great day of the ,crucifixion1 and believed in the divinity of the ,victim who hung upon the ,cross1 he would find more devotion in kneeling in silence at ,his feet1 than in listening to the most eloquent declamation he could hear about it4 ,such is the case with the ,catholic now as then2 he knows the same ,victim is offered up still1 and when the great moment arrives in the middle of the ,mass1 he would have everything to be hushed and silent1 except the little bell that gives him notice of the awful moment4 ,a reason why there should be people at the different altars lies in this3 that there is the same ,sacrifice on each1 and one may happen to come into the church at a time when it would be more convenient to hear ,mass at some one place than at another4 ,the course of their journey lay through ,paris1 which they entered from ,st4 ,denis by ,montmartre4 ,they remained some days there to see ,notre ,dame1 and ,paris from its summit1 admire the length of the ,louvre1 and visit ,fontainebleau4 ,in the course they took by ,auxerre1 ,maison ,neuve1 ,dijon1 ,poligny1 and ,morey1 in order to cross ,mount ,jura and to see ,mont ,blanc on their way to ,switzerland1 they have to endure many privations4 ,the inns are bad1 the cooking is inferior1 and they have to undergo discomforts while sleeping in #fj the chlets of mountaineers1 who were not accustomed to have their quiet invaded by such state visits every day4 ,all this they bore manfully until they arrived in ,geneva1 which they find crammed with ,english4 ,it strikes ,george as extraordinary that the ,genevese should have their shops in the top story of their houses4 ,he misses the morning service in the ,calvinist ,church on ,sunday2 thinks their afternoon function very like the ,scotch1 and sensible4 ,he gives vent to his indignation at finding a number of blackguard fellows playing cards and smoking1 publicly1 at a cafe1 whilst there were only twenty at church4 ,he is disappointed1 therefore1 at not finding ,geneva the devout1 religious place he imagined it to be4 ,he sees a few of the sights with ,dr4 ,wilson1 and they cross the ,lago ,maggiore in a boat1 whilst the rest of the company go round it by land4 ,they all meet together in ,milan2 there they find ,lord ,lucan4 ,he goes to see the ,duomo1 ,brera1 theatres2 and admires the fine streets1 shops1 c41 and says the ,cathedral is unique4 ,he had the pleasure of meeting the famous ,angelo1 afterwards ,cardinal1 ,mai at the ,ambrosian ,library4 ,he went to the ,cathedral on ,saturday to see ,mass performed1 and was disappointed at not hearing the organ4 ,he had1 however1 quite enough of the rite on ,sunday1 ,october #agth3-- ,at #aj ,i went to the ,duomo1 and got into a little gallery over the choir1 from whence ,i saw the ceremonies for the anniversary of the consecration of the church4 ,there was a procession all round the building1 with incense burning1 and with the ,priests singing anthems all the time1 and a quantity of other mummery1 the sight of which might well have driven ,calvin to the extremities which he went to in the contrary way4 ,the whole service is always in ,latin1 so that the people may not reap even the smallest benefit from it4 ,we shall give another extract from the journal1 as it shows the state of his mind at the time3-- ,this day completes the second year of my journal4 ,how quick are they flown6 those two years which are supposed to be the happiest in life4 ,i think any time in life is happy if one knows the secret of making #fa it so4 ,i have not learnt it yet1 and have had a great deal of unhappiness since going to ,college4 ,but for what8 ,nothing but my own imagination and weaknesses1 for everything which generally gives happiness ,i have enjoyed4 ,i have made several friends1 been successful enough in my ,college studies1 and have never wanted anything2 but ,i have a morbid constitution which makes me raise phantoms of unhappiness where there is none1 and clouds the fairest scenes with a veil of melancholy4 ,this must be conquered1 somehow or other1 or ,i shall be a creature useless to others and tormenting to myself4 ,he feels much distaste at what he terms the dirty style in which an ,italian gentleman chooses to live1 because that gentleman finds himself quite comfortable without such furniture and appliances as are deemed essential in ,england4 ,he happened to be a man fond of books1 and spent his spare time in libraries and academies4 ,the travellers leave ,milan after a fortnight's stay1 and proceed through ,placentia1 ,parma1 ,modena1 and ,bologna4 ,here the celebrated ,cardinal ,mezzofanti called upon them1 and ,spencer remarks that the only thing worth seeing1 as far as he has gone1 in ,italy1 are churches and their ornaments4 ,he singled out one of those latter for special remark1 as we find by the following passage3-- ,oct4 #cj4 ,at nine o'clock ,dr4 ,wilson's friend1 a lawyer1 took him and me up to a church on the mountain1 near the town1 famous for a picture--done1 as they say1 by ,st4 ,luke6 ,there is a fine arcade to it for #b miles1 and pilgrims go by this to adore this nonsense6 ,their next stay is at ,florence1 where he had the ill-luck of not providing against mosquitoes1 who took the liberty of biting him heartily the first night he slept there4 ,news reaches him next day that a great friend of his at ,cambridge1 a ,mr4 ,gambler1 has obtained a fellowship in ,trinity4 ,this makes him merry all the evening4 ,they halt again for some rest at ,perugia4 ,all he says about this classic town is1 ,before breakfast the ,doctor and ,i saw a gallery of frightful old pictures1 and other maraviglia of #fb ,perugia1 and then set off1 still through mountainous country1 to ,spoleto4 ,they start for ,rome next day1 they see it fifteen miles off1 but he does not seem to have had a single spark of enthusiasm as he looks upon the great mistress of the world for the first time4 ,of course ,rome1 as the capital of ,christendom1 was not likely to stir up his best feelings1 when we remember the then frame of his religious mind4 ,at all events1 cold and listless as it might be1 he entered ,rome on ,wednesday1 the #ajth ,november1 #ahai4 ,the first thing he and his father with the ,doctor did on arriving1 was to pay a visit to ,st4 ,peter's4 ,we saw it inside and out4 ,it was most glorious3 but its size from some reason or other disappoints me1 as it does all strangers2 it improves upon acquaintance1 ,i fancy4 ,how like ,byron's opinion4 ,childe ,harold3 ,canto iv4 #fe3-- ,enter3 its grandeur overwhelms thee not2 ,and why8 it is not lessened3 but thy mind1 ,expanded by the ,genius of the spot1 ,has grown colossal1 and can only find ,a fit abode wherein appear enshrined ,thy hopes of immortality2 and thou ,shalt one day1 if found worthy1 so defined1 ,see thy ,god face to face1 as thou dost now ,his ,holy of ,holies1 nor be blasted by ,his brow4 ,he visits next the ,capitoline1 the ancient ,forum1 and the ,coliseum2 he remarks3 this last is quite stupendous1 and quite answers my expectations4 ,i could not yet understand the plan of the staircases and seats4 ,the ,pope has stuck it all over with little chapels4 ,he meets ,tom ,moore1 and spends a day with him and other merry companions in ,tivoli4 ,he stayed in ,rome this time only a week3 for on the #agth ,november they all started for ,naples4 ,in passing through ,terracina he meets what ,catholics will recognize as a svegliarino4 ,it is customary1 when a mission is being given in some parts of ,italy1 for one of the missioners to go out1 accompanied by a bell1 and such companions1 lay and clerical1 as wish to take part in the ceremony1 go #fc around the village1 and preach from a table in three or four different places4 ,this has a remarkable effect--the listless loungers who prefer basking in the sun1 or swallowing maccaroni1 to going to the church for the sermons1 are thus roused so far as to put their heads out of the window or door and ask what's the matter4 ,by-and-bye the crowd thickens1 one looks inquisitively at the other1 and when their curiosity has been worked upon sufficiently1 the missioner gets up1 and in a fiery zealous discourse puts the fear of ,god into his hearers4 ,thousands are brought to repentance by these means every year4 ,the sermon1 of course1 is not a polished oration1 with points of rhetoric to suit the laws of criticism4 ,it is rather broken and inflamed1 short and telling sentences1 and delivered with all that unction and impetuosity for which ,italians are remarkable2 and which is anything but intelligible to an ,englishman1 who is accustomed to the measured discourses of a ,london ,churchman4 ,accordingly we find this proceeding thus dotted down in the journal3--,at ,terracina we were very much amused by a procession of penitents with the ,bishop of ,terracina1 and an extravagant sermon preached by a priest from a table before the inn4 ,at that time1 how little could he foresee that he should afterwards give such a mission in ,italy himself1 and further1 to the utmost of his power1 with equal zeal1 though with more sedateness1 even such an extravaganza1 as it now appeared to him4 ,his style of preaching1 however1 as we shall hereafter see1 was never such as to qualify him for an emphatic svegliarino4 ,on ,november #ba they arrive in ,naples1 not very pleasantly1 as ,lady ,spencer had suffered from the roughness of the road1 and was obliged to rest a night in ,capua1 and ,george was suffering from a soreness in his eye4 ,these inconveniences were forgotten for a moment on meeting ,lord ,george ,quin and his lady1 daughter to ,lord ,spencer4 ,young ,spencer was delighted with the children1 though they could only speak ,french or ,italian4 ,the soreness of his eye keeps him at home next day1 which he enjoys as he has full opportunity of chatting with his sister1 whom he #fd seems to have loved very much4 ,he has already alluded to the plan his mother formed for his learning to play on the guitar2 so we shall not quote any of the handsome greetings which the guitar-master receives as he comes to inflict the penance of making his pupil tune the strings of this romantic instrument4 #fe ,,chapter ,x4 ,english ,life ,in ,naples4 ,the ,english who wintered in ,naples at the same time with the ,spencer family seemed to have formed1 as they generally do1 a special caste4 ,they dined together1 drove out together1 they laughed at the churches1 and crowded the opera4 ,their conduct in the latter place did not seem to be very edifying to the ,neapolitans1 who1 perhaps1 may have thought it was an ,english custom to see a nobleman tumbling tipsy one night into ,earl ,spencer's box1 to the no small disedification of the whole family1 who were models of sobriety and decorum4 ,the ,english1 by forming their own circles in this exclusive manner1 and by their external deportment on various occasions1 keep away the higher and more pious grades of society in ,catholic cities4 ,the scoffers at monachism and priestly rule are freely admitted within the ,english pale1 and pay for their hospitality1 by catering to the worst prejudices of their entertainers1 and maligning their neighbours4 ,it is very often a repetition of the fable of the sour grapes4 ,for this we have ample testimony in the writings of our contemporaries1 which we will strengthen by quoting ,father ,ignatius's own words a little later4 ,the better ,italians sometimes laugh at all this1 so that ,john ,bull is become a by-word among them for exclusiveness and arrogant1 selfish pride4 ,the blame lies with the ,english4 ,they sometimes found disagreeable incidents from the clashing of tastes and customs4 ,on the #hth of ,december they made the round of the churches1 but were sorely piqued that the ,neapolitans had too much respect for our ,blessed ,lady to open the operas and theatres on the evening #ff of the ,feast of her ,immaculate ,conception1 so they had to content themselves with whist1 and discordant notes from ,george's guitar4 ,another of these crosses occurred a few days after4 ,george made a lame excursion to ,vesuvius1 and when groaning from toothache on his return1 heard that the father of his bosom friend1 ,sir ,thomas ,fremantle1 senior1 was dead4 ,to make matters worse1 the remains could not be interred in a cemetery1 and the ,inglesi had to pay the last sad rites to their friend in a private garden4 ,on ,christmas ,day they had service at the ,consul's1 and then they walked about1 and had their whist for the rest of the day4 ,the old year was danced out at a grand quadrille party1 of which more hereafter2 and ,george tells us very carefully that a set of us drank in the new year in diavolone4 ,how remarkable1 at every turn1 and even by such chance and off-hand expressions1 to note the contrast between the ,george ,spencer of that day and the subject of divine grace he afterwards became6 ,it is a relief to begin the new year #ahbj with recording an exception made to the general custom above4 ,george was presented by his father to ,king ,ferdinand1 and all the nobili ,inglesi were invited to join in the festivities with which it was customary to usher in the new year4 ,for the rest1 the evenings and early part of the mornings are spent in a continual whirl of amusement1 and it would require a page to number up the balls and dances he figured in4 ,he visits also the ,carthusian and ,camaldolese monasteries1 but makes no comments4 ,he goes two or three times to see ,vesuvius and the crater and the lava1 of which he gives a very nice description2 after this he is allowed1 by special favour1 to be at the ,royal chase3 this puts him in great humour1 for1 besides the sport it afforded in the way of getting shots at such choice game as wild boars1 it gave him an opportunity of seeing the ,king and all his court1 to which nothing can be similar4 ,towards the end of ,january1 ,lord and ,lady ,spencer determined on returning to ,england1 and offered to leave ,george to travel through the sights of ,southern ,italy4 ,he perceives1 in a few days1 the tokens of an inclination in his #fg parents to have his company1 and goes straightway to the ,honourable ,augustus ,barrington1 who was to be his fellow-traveller1 and breaks off the plan they had formed4 ,it was only after very pressing instances from his father and mother that he could be persuaded to take up the first plan anew4 ,a portion of his autobiography will throw some light upon many things we have only just touched upon1 and1 therefore1 it is better to quote it here1 though it might come in more opportunely at the conclusion of his first tour abroad4 ,it is extraordinary1 indeed1 that ,i should have remained a whole year on the ,continent and never once have seriously taken into consideration the subject of the ,catholic religion4 ,such was the case2 and ,i returned to ,england1 as far as ,i can remember1 without one doubt having crossed my mind whether this was the true religion or not4 444 ,and now for a little recollection of the state of my mind during this period of travelling1 and its moral effects upon me4 ,during all this time ,i continued1 thank ,god1 wholly convinced that a course of iniquity would not answer2 and had ,i met with any among the young men1 my associates1 who would have dared to speak out fully in favour of morality1 ,i should1 ,i believe1 have been ready to agree with him4 ,but where were such to be found8 ,i had now grown so far more independent of the world1 that ,i had not open assaults to bear continually against for not running with the rest4 ,many of the young men who maintained their character as free licentious livers1 yet professed some degree of moderation and restraint in their indulgences4 ,some ,i remember1 who professed to keep clear of immoral practices1 and no doubt their sincerity in this might be depended on2 for where no credit but dishonour would be the reward of steady conduct1 there was no temptation to pretend to it falsely4 ,but ,i remember now but one who dared to allude in my hearing--and that was but once1 ,i think1 in private--to the consequence of this sin in another world1 and to maintain that it was better to avoid it for fear of punishment hereafter4 ,while1 then1 ,i still knew that the way of evil was all wrong1 and would have been most happy if the fashion of wickedness could have been at #fh an end2 and though ,i never once1 as far as ,i know1 was the first to introduce immodest conversation1 and hardly ever heard it introduced by others without inward repugnance1 and seldom joined in it2 yet ,i never dared declare how much ,i hated it1 and was still in the most awful and desperate state of wishing ,i had been like the worst1 sooner than be thus subject to the torment of being put to shame before bold profligates4 ,while with my parents1 ,i have before said1 ,i was under good surveillance1 and could not think of being detected by them in any evil4 ,how shall ,i ever be thankful enough for all this8 ,my father's character was such that though many who were often in his company were men whom ,i have known1 when out of it1 to delight in most abominable things1 ,i knew of none who ever dared in his sight to do more than covertly allude to them4 ,i was therefore happy in this respect whenever he was near2 but when once more left to myself1 ,i again returned to those fearful deliberations of which ,i have before spoken of1 as it were1 selling myself1 for a time at least1 to work wickedness without restraint4 ,it may be well conceived how miserably fallen and corrupt must have been my heart when such purposes were entertained within it2 and if1 partly through some remains of the holy impressions of my childhood1 which still operated on my poor1 degraded heart as a kind of habit not yet quite worn off2 partly by a sense of the shame and misery ,i should have before my family and some more whom ,i knew in the world1 who would be themselves most afflicted if they heard of my fall from the good dispositions which they had known in me2 partly from a fear of ridicule1 even from the profligate1 if1 after all1 ,i was to fell2 partly by the wonderful providence of ,god1 which 7,i acknowledge7 most wisely and most tenderly1 yet strongly interposed at times to baffle the madness of my designs when about to be accomplished--if1 ,i say1 thus ,i have been in a degree preserved1 ,god knows ,i have no credit due to me3 ,god knows that from my heart ,i take only shame and confusion of face to myself in the remembrance1 of my very preservation4 ,towards the latter part of my stay abroad1 ,i began to be in some way weary of this uncertain state of mind4 ,i #fi was always expecting to take ,orders when ,i should reach the age2 and as ,i knew that then ,i should not be expected by the world to join in its fashionable vices1 and should even suffer in public estimation if ,i did1 my thoughts began to be rather better directed1 and ,i took pains from time to time to overcome some of the evil that was in me4 ,it is wonderful that any good disposition should have lived within me1 when every remembrance of religion seems to have been put out of my mind4 ,i now could hardly understand how this should have indeed been the case1 if ,i had not a clear remembrance of certain circumstances which plainly show what was the state of my mind4 ,on the #bgth ,january1 #ahbj1 ,i went up ,mount ,vesuvius with ,dr4 ,wilson1 when1 as we were looking into the crater of the volcano1 a discharge of red-hot stones took place4 ,i heard them whistle by me as they ascended1 and though it was of no use to attempt to get out of the way1 ,i hurried back a few steps by a natural impulse1 and immediately saw a lump of red-hot stuff twice the size of one's head fall on the spot where ,i had been standing just before4 ,we immediately ran down the side of the mountain1 and reached a place about a quarter of a mile distant from the mouth of the crater1 from whence we could see the upper cone of the mountain4 ,just then a grand explosion took place1 which shook the whole mountain1 and a vast quantity of these masses of fiery red stuff was spouted out from the crater1 which in its return appeared entirely to cover the whole space over which we had been running five minutes before4 ,here was an evident escape which1 in a mind possessed with any religion at all1 could not fail of awakening some serious reflections4 ,alas6 ,i never thought of the abyss into which ,i must have fallen had not the good angel1 who watched and guided me through so many perils which ,i thought not of1 then preserved me4 ,when ,i came down in the evening to ,naples1 the only effect was that ,i was pleased and vain at having a good adventure to relate1 and showing off a spirit of bravery and indifference1 when some blamed me for my rashness4 ,another circumstance ,i may record to show how free from all religious fear my mind was4 ,i have before noticed #gj the fits of melancholy which became habitual to me during the last part of my ,cambridge life4 ,these came1 ,i think1 to their greatest height in the last half of the time ,i spent at ,naples4 ,the interesting excitement of our journey1 the company of my sister when ,i first came to ,naples1 and the gaieties of which ,i had my fill there1 and which at first had all the charm of novelty1 kept me from much thought of any kind1 and ,i enjoyed the balls1 the concerts1 the grand operas1 the enchanting rides of ,naples1 for a month or six weeks1 almost without a cloud4 ,at least ,i used always to count that my brightest period in the way of enjoyments4 ,unhappy those who have health and spirits and talents to enable them to please and be pleased long together in such a round of vanity6 ,to my great vexation ,i found myself again attacked with my old enemy1 melancholy2 do what ,i would1 ,i could not drive away those fits of gloom4 ,they were caused partly by the effect on my health of too much good living1 and bad hours2 but the chief cause was the intrinsic worthlessness of all such pleasure1 which will discover itself sooner or later to every one even of its most devoted lovers1 and which happily showed itself to me sooner than others4 ,oh6 what frivolous causes did my happiness then seem to depend on6 ,not dancing to my satisfaction in one quadrille1 fancying that some of my favourite partners were tired of my conversation1 and that the nonsense of some other silly youth pleased her better1 was enough to turn what ,i flattered myself was about to be a bright and pleasant evening into gloom and sadness4 ,sometimes1 without an assignable cause1 my spirits failed1 as at others an equally frivolous reason would remove my clouds and make me bright again2 but gradually the gloomy moods gained ground1 and grew more dark and tedious4 ,i remember comparing notes with another young man1 who was like me a victim of the dumps1 and finding some satisfaction in the sympathy of a fellow-sufferer1 who1 with a smile at the absurdity of such feelings1 of which he was well sensible while he avowed them1 exactly described to me my state of mind when he said that under them he fancied himself the most unfortunate of mankind1 and would willingly have #ga changed places with the most despicable and wretched of men1 not to say with any animal almost4 ,poor blind fools that we were6 ,we could not between us suggest the way to be happy which is open to all4 ,i remember well coming home one night from a ball1 which1 by my journal1 ,i find to be on the #beth ,january1 when1 as ,i wrote at that time1 ,i was more miserable than ever ,i was in that way4 ,i went to bed1 and heard a noise like a creak in the ceiling of my room4 ,i felt a wish that it would break through and crush me4 ,how ,i used to wish at that time ,i had the sort of bold1 firm heart which appeared through some of the young manly faces which ,i used daily to meet--to whom low spirits was a thing unknown4 ,i knew not that ,i was quarrelling with the most choice of ,god's mercies to me1 without which ,i should probably have been irrevocably lost4 ,i still1 to this day1 am used to the visits of my feelings of dejection1 but1 thank ,god1 ,i know better how to receive them2 and1 far from wishing them away1 ,i rather fear their departure1 and desire they may never leave me4 ,for if ,i have within me one bright1 heavenly desire1 ,i owe it to these feelings1 which first poisoned my pleasure in the world1 and drew me at length to seek for it elsewhere1 and now ,i wish never to have peace within my breast while one desire lives there for anything but ,god4 ,yet that thought of wishing even to be crushed1 that ,i might escape from my miserable feelings1 shows how far ,i was at that time from knowing how great a cause for sorrow ,i really had in the state of my soul--which1 if ,i had known it1 must have driven away all imaginary griefs--nor from what quarter ,i should seek for happiness2 and it is a wonder that it took so long a time1 and so many repetitions of the same lesson1 before ,i began to correspond with the gracious purpose of my ,heavenly ,teacher2 of ,him who was thus correcting me1 that ,i might at length love ,him1 and love ,him willingly4 ,how was it that ,i could have lived so long without being awakened to one sentiment of religious fear8 444 ,but now we must return to the ,catholic ,faith4 ,the main object of this memoir being to trace the steps of my #gb progress towards ,catholicity1 it would be expected that the period of my residence for a whole year in ,catholic countries must be most interesting4 ,indeed it is wonderful that this year of my life should have been1 as it appears to me to have been1 quite neutral in its effects4 ,i certainly made no progress towards my present faith4 ,this would not be extraordinary2 for how many ,protestants by their travels abroad not only make no progress towards ,catholicity1 but are made its violent enemies4 ,but1 undoubtedly1 this was the effect produced on me4 ,it seems that at this time ,i was under the influence of altogether other objects and notions from any connected with religion4 ,what ,i sought was1 first1 my own pleasure--next1 only general information2 what ,i was chiefly controlled by was human respect4 ,having no care at all about religion in any form1 the question of which was the right form never troubled me1 and so the observations which ,i could not help making on the ,catholic religious practices which ,i saw1 were very superficial4 ,it might be interesting to transcribe a few passages from my journal which show what was my mind4 ,it is remarkable how easily one's mind takes in and rests contented in the belief of false and prejudicial representations of things4 ,i never had had much pains taken with me to set me against the ,catholic religion2 but though ,i knew nothing of what it was1 ,i rested in the conviction that it was full of superstition1 and1 in fact1 as good as no religion at all4 ,i never opened my mind all the time ,i was abroad to the admission of any idea but this2 and so ,i looked on all the ,catholic ceremonies which ,i saw1 in this perverted light4 ,i did not fall in the way of anyone to set me right2 for ,i was contented to go on in the stream of the ,english society with which almost all the towns in ,italy were filled1 and if any really zealous exemplary ,catholics are sometimes mingled with them1 they do not find it available or prudent to introduce the mention of religion2 while there will be always some who have no objection to seek to please them by encouraging their prejudices1 which they do effectually by telling stories--some true1 perhaps1 some obviously false--of the ,priests and ,religious4 ,such a person1 #gc who bore the title of ,abbate1 and therefore must have been professedly a true ,catholic1 we fell in with at ,milan2 he assisted my father in his search after curious books4 ,i remember some of his conversations1 and ,i find notice in my journal of his dining with us1 and being 'very amusing in some stories about the ,catholic processions4' ,the impression on my mind was that the whole system of religion which we saw was mere formality1 people being taught to content themselves with fulfilling some external rules1 and the clergy making it their business to keep them in the dark4 ,i took little notice of religious matters till we entered ,italy4 ,there ,milan was the first town we stopped at4 ,on the ,sunday after our arrival was the anniversary of the consecration of the church4 ,i saw the ceremonies in the ,cathedral1 the very place where ,st4 ,augustine's heart was moved and his conversion begun1 by hearing the strains of holy music1 perhaps the same which ,i then heard4 ,but very different was the effect on me2 here are the wise remarks inserted in my journal4 ,footnote #c ,footnote #c3 ,the passage is given in page #fj4 ,the autobiography breaks off abruptly here2 but in order to fit the remarks to the events which they concern1 we have kept one or two paragraphs in reserve for another place4 #gd ,,chapter ,,xi ,continuation ,of ,his ,travels4 ,after staying about three months in ,naples1 ,spencer sets out with ,barrington1 to travel through ,sicily1 on the #bgth ,february4 ,the voyage was very smooth until they came to ,stromboli1 and passed near the cave of ,a,eolus1 who puffed at them accordingly1 and delayed their landing at ,messina until ,march #b4 ,he goes to a ceremony in the cathedral there1 and says1 the priests seem nourishing and very numerous here4 ,on his way to ,mount ,etna he remarks1 with a kind of incredulous air1 that he went to see the lions of the five chestnuts and the bridge1 which has the same legend attached to its origin as the ,devil's ,bridge in ,wales1 dogs being1 in both cases1 sent over first to pay the forfeit for having built it4 ,footnote #d ,footnote #d3 ,the most circumstantial legend bearing upon the remark in the text is that about the ,bridge of ,rimini4 ,here there was a fearful rapid1 without a stone within the distance of #gj miles that was available for building purposes4 ,the bridge-builder of the town may or may not have had the contract2 but1 at all events1 he set down in a confused state of mind as to how it might be done4 ,the devil appeared to him and contracted for the building of the bridge on these easy terms--getting the first that crossed it for his own4 ,the bargain was struck1 and in the twinkling of an eye some thousands of infernal imps were scampering down the mountains with a gigantic stone on the shoulder of each4 ,one-third of them were quite sufficient1 and the arch-fiend who presided over the building cried out1 that no more were wanted3 when each devil threw down his load where he happened to be when the master's yell reached his ears4 ,this is said to account for the rocks one sees strewn about near this bridge4 ,the bridge itself is a circle1 and was built in one night1 and indeed some kind of infernal machine would seem necessary to remove the blocks of stone of which it is composed4 ,now came the trial4 ,the ,christian builder of bridges had no fancy for going to hell1 and he was too charitable to send anyone else there4 ,he bethought him of an expedient1 and calling out his dog he took a small loaf1 and threw it across the bridge with all his might4 ,the dog1 of course1 ran after it4 ,whereupon the devil seized him1 and in a rage flung him up to somewhere near the moon1 and the dog falling from this height upon the bridge1 made a hole in its only arch which cannot be filled up to this day4 ,the legend embodies at least a specimen of the ,catholic instinct3 viz41 the anxiety of the devil for our destruction1 and how all hell thinks it cheap to turn out for a day's hard labour in the hopes of gaining one single soul4 #ge ,he chiefly lodges in convents during his rambles through ,sicily1 the inns being so very bad that they drive travellers away4 ,he and his companion sleep in different convents1 and are very well treated2 but that scarcely evokes a word of thanks4 ,poor monks6 they have a bad name in ,protestant nations1 and what would be praiseworthy in others is only an equivocal quality in them4 ,this is very sad2 that men who have bid farewell to the world should1 on that very account1 be considered hardly entitled to the bare rights of human beings4 ,yet go on1 poor souls1 in your vocation2 your ,master before you received the same treatment from the world1 and you are not greater than ,he4 ,spencer meets one or two monks whom he likes pretty well--one was the superior of the ,carmelites at ,grirgenti4 ,the rest he calls stupid friars1 lazy monks1 and so forth1 according to the tone of mind he happens to be in4 ,in one monastery they shut the door of the room allowed them in the face of one of the brethren1 because1 forsooth1 they were bored by visits from the monks4 ,his journey does not always lie through convents1 and he meets others who are not monks2 one of these was a wine-merchant at ,marsala1 a native of ,england4 ,it seems the pair of tourists were received as handsomely by their countryman as they had been by the stupid friars1 for he is thus described in the journal3 ,he seems to think himself commissioned to keep up the ,english character in a strange land1 for he is a ,john ,bull in caricature in his manner4 ,we are also told1 a little lower down1 that he is very hospitable to all ,english who pass by that way4 ,they had the novelty of seeing an #gf ,italian ,good ,friday in ,marsala2 the impression is thus noted3 ,friday1 ,mar4 #ca4--,this was ,good ,friday4 ,the first1 and ,i hope the last1 ,i shall spend without going to church2 not that ,i should not like to be abroad another year4 ,we were reminded of the day by quantities of groups representing the ,passion and ,crucifixion1 almost as large as life1 carried about on men's shoulders1 which1 absurd as they are1 seemed to make an impression on the populace4 ,men dressed in black accompanied them1 with crowns of thorns and crosses4 ,it strikes me as direct idolatry1 nearly4 ,the gentry were all in mourning1 and the sentinels had their muskets with the muzzles inverted4 ,we all three 7,sir ,h4 ,willoughby accompanied ,barrington and ,spencer7 took a walk up to the top of ,monte di ,trapani1 the ancient ,eryx1 where is a town of the same name4 ,we examined what was to be seen there1 and came down again to dinner4 ,we dined at #f1 and had some meat1 which we have not been able to get for some days1 it being ,passion ,week4 ,he spent ,easter ,sunday in ,palermo1 and here are his comments on its observance3 ,sunday1 ,april #b1 ,easter-day4--,we set off from ,ahamo about #g4 ,i walked on for an hour1 and then rode forward all the way to ,monreale1 where ,i stopped an hour till the others came up4 ,we then proceeded together to ,palermo4 ,in the villages we passed1 the people were all out in their best clothes1 which was a very pretty sight4 ,bells were clattering everywhere1 and feux de joie were fired in several villages as we passed1 with a row of little tubes loaded with gunpowder1 in the market-places1 and processions went about of people in fancy dresses with flags and drums4 ,this religion is most extraordinary4 ,it strikes me as impious2 but ,i suppose it takes possession of the common people sooner than a sensible one4 ,he completed the tour of the island by arriving in ,messina1 after a most successful attempt to see ,mount ,etna1 on the #adth of ,april4 ,they left ,sicily for ,reggio in a boat1 and arrived there with a good ducking4 ,they both went to visit ,scylla1 which was guarded as a citadel by armed peasants4 ,the sturdy yeomen refused to admit them1 whereupon ,george1 with true ,english curiosity1 climbed up the wall to #gg get a peep at the sea1 and perhaps inside4 ,scarcely had he got half-way up when he was taken prisoner by the sentinel4 ,he was accordingly invited to visit the interior of the castle1 and had to gaze at the bleak walls of its keep for an hour1 until ,willoughby procured his release from the commandant4 ,they travelled on1 and ,george does not seem to be satisfied with the people of ,salerno1 whom he designates as surly and gothic4 ,he heard his companions had to get an escort of gendarmes1 to save them from robbers1 all along here4 ,returns to ,naples1 ,april #bf1 delighted at being safe in life and limb2 he goes to the old lodgings to a party1 and reflects thus on his return3 ,i came home about one1 rather sad with seeing the representation of what ,i had enjoyed in the winter--but all the people changed4 ,gaiety after all does not pay4 ,this last sentence is not underlined by ,spencer himself4 ,it is done to point a moral that may be necessary for a certain class of persons4 ,it is often supposed that monks1 and the like people1 paint the world blacker than it is in reality1 and that it is a kind of morose sourness of disposition that makes recluses cry down the enjoyments of those outside convent-walls4 ,this line will perhaps defend ,f4 ,ignatius from such an imputation4 ,he wrote that after the pure natural enjoyment of scenery had been compared with the excitement of a ball-room2 if he thought1 in his wildness1 that gaiety did not pay1 no wonder that his opinion was confirmed in the quiet tameness of his after-life4 ,a passage from the autobiography1 omitted above1 comes in here opportunely4 ,he was speaking of the absence of the fear of ,god from his miserable mind3-- ,this was almost true concerning the entire period4 ,one occasion ,i will mention when ,i was impressed with some shame at my wretched state4 ,while ,i was making the tour of ,sicily1 my father and mother left ,naples in the ,revolutionnaire1 a fine frigate which had been placed at their disposal1 and by which they went to ,marseilles1 to shorten their land journey homewards4 ,when ,i returned to ,naples ,i found a long letter from my father1 full of kindness and affection for me1 in which he explained to me his wishes as to the course of my journey home4 ,this letter ,i believe ,i #gh have not kept1 but ,i remember in it a passage nearly as follows3 ',as to your conduct1 my dear ,george1 ,i need not tell you how important it is for your future happiness and character that you should keep yourself from all evil2 especially considering the sacred profession for which you are intended4 ,but1 on this subject1 ,i have no wish concerning you but to hear that you continue to be what you have hitherto been4' ',ah6' thought ,i to myself1 'how horrible is the difference between what ,i am and what this sentence represents me4' ,but worldly shame was yet more powerful in me than godly shame1 and this salutary impression did not produce one good resolution4 ,on ,may #crd1 #ahbj1 he came to ,rome a second time4 ,his first visit this time also was to ,st4 ,peter's1 which1 he says1 looked more superb to me than ever4 ,he attended ,cardinal ,litta's funeral from curiosity1 and has no remark about it worth extracting4 ,there are two passages in the journal relating to the ceremonies of ,ascension ,thursday and ,corpus ,christi1 which may be interesting as being indicative of his notions of ,catholic ritual3-- ,thursday1 ,may #aa4--;,got up early1 and wrote till breakfast4 ,at #i went off with ,barrington and ,ford to ,st4 ,john of ,lateran1 where there were great ceremonies to take place for the ,ascension ,day4 ,the old ,pope was there1 and was carried round the church blessing1 with other mummeries4 ,it was a fine sight when he knelt down and prayed 7or was supposed to do so7 in the middle of the church1 with all the ,cardinals behind him4 ,now this goes for nothing in comparison to what it must have been when the ,pope was really considered infallible 7sic74 ,we then all went out of the church to receive the blessing1 from the principal window in the faade4 ,the ,pope came to this in his chair1 and performed the spreading of his hands very becomingly4 ,the whole thing was too protracted1 perhaps1 to be as striking as it should2 but ,i was not as disappointed as ,i expected to be4 ,the cannonry of ,st4 ,angelo and the band certainly gave effect2 and the crowd of people on the space before the church was a scene to look at4 #gi ,thursday1 ,june #a4--,to-day is the feast of ,corpus ,domini1 one of the greatest in the ,catholic ,church2 so at eight we went1 having breakfasted a fact1 by the bye1 he seldom omits to mention1 to ,st4 ,peter's1 to see the funzioni1 which are very grand on this occasion4 ,there was a great procession round the cortile--first of the religious orders1 about #dej monks only2 and the boys of ,st4 ,michael's ,hospital1 of the ,collegio ,romano1 c4 ,then came curates1 and priests temporal and secular1 prelates1 and monsignores1 the ensigns or canopies of the seven basilicas with their chapters1 and the priests belonging to them following2 next came bishops1 then cardinals1 and then the ,pope1 carried on four men's shoulders4 ,he was packed up on the top of the stand with his head out alone4 ,he seemed more dead than alive1 and worse than on ,may #aa at ,s4 ,giovanni's4 ,the group of people about him1 with their robes and splendid mitres1 made a very brilliant sight4 ,the former part of the procession rather showed the decadence of the ,church from a great height1 than its present glory4 ,after the ,pope came the guardia nobile1 and other soldiers1 in splendid uniforms4 ,after the procession there were functions in the ,church1 and a benediction from the ,altar1 and which ,i did not see so well4 ,st4 ,peter's never showed so well as with a crowd of people in it1 when one may estimate its dimensions from the comparison of their littleness4 ,this is a fair specimen of how a candid1 prejudiced ,protestant stares at ,catholic services4 ,he puts down as undisputed that all is absurd before he goes1 and if the ,man of ,sin himself1 the poor ,pope1 is in the middle of it1 it rises to the very highest pitch of abomination4 ,a man who could consider holiday attire and exultation impious on ,easter ,sunday1 and the mourning and fasting and processions of ,good ,friday something worse1 cannot be very well qualified to comprehend the ,ascension and ,corpus ,christi in ,rome4 ,catholics do believe in the authority of the ,pope and the power of the ,keys1 and also in the ,real ,presence2 will it not follow1 as a natural conclusion1 that the four quarters of the globe should get its spiritual ,father's blessing one day in the year1 and that we should try to find out the best way of honouring our ,incarnate ,god in the ,blessed ,sacrament8 #hj ,but consistency is not a gift one finds among ,protestants1 especially when they give their opinion on what they think too absurd to try to understand4 ,they must admit the ,catholic ceremonial is imposing2 but then it is only to quarrel with it for being so4 ,they can understand pageantry and pomp in honouring an earthly monarch2 but does it occur to them that every best gift is from above1 and that the ,king of kings should be honoured with every circumstance of splendour and oblation a creature can offer8 ,one or two of the salient points of his character come out in a few extracts we shall produce from the journal now4 ,he says1 on leaving ,rome--,how delightful1 and yet how melancholy1 was my walk about those dear rooms at the ,vatican2 after next ,thursday ,i believe ,i am never to see them again1 so farewell to them now4 ,this illustrates his better nature2 he was very affectionate1 and could love whatever was really worth loving2 he was not very demonstrative of this feeling1 but when it came to leave-taking1 he had to give vent to it4 ,a peculiar caste of his mind was to listen to every proposition1 and weigh the reasons adduced to support it4 ,if they were unanswerable1 he at once admitted it1 and1 if possible1 tested it by experience4 ,this was the great key to his conversion and subsequent life4 ,in conversation1 perhaps1 with a medical friend1 he was told that it was far the best way1 whilst on the move in travelling1 neither to eat nor drink4 ,this was supported by reasons drawn from the digestive principles1 and so forth4 ,he thought it was well proved1 and could find no valid objection against it1 so he determined to try it1 and travelled from ,rome to ,sienna without tasting a morsel for forty-two hours1 and says in his journal--,it is much the best way in travelling4 ,in ,florence we have other tokens of the regret with which he parts from his friends2 and in the same page a very different feeling on parting with some ,franciscans4 ,these entertained him uncommonly well for mendicants1 and showed him all their treasures of art and piety with the greatest kindness2 yet it did not prevent him calling them lazy old monks when they let him away at three o'clock in the morning4 #ha ,he walks about the country a good deal1 and finds it pleasant1 as the common people here are much more conversable than ours4 ,this striking difference between a ,catholic and a ,protestant peasantry is patent to the most superficial observer4 ,the poor ,irish1 ,french1 or ,italian labourer1 who can neither read nor write1 is quite at his ease with the merchant or the noble4 ,he will have his joke and his laugh1 very often at the expense of his superior1 and never outstep the bounds of due respect4 ,he is light-hearted and gay everywhere1 and the exact opposite of the ,english navvy4 ,the real cause of the difference is the want of religion in the poor ,briton4 ,the ,catholic religion inculcates humility on the great4 ,it brings the ,lord of the ,manor and his servant to the same confessional and the same altar3 they may be as far asunder as pole from pole outside the church1 but inside it they are both on a level4 ,the works of mercy are insisted on1 and high-born ladies are most frequently the ministering angels of the poor man's sick-bed1 and the instructors of his children1 and nurses of his orphans4 ,blessed are the poor is not a dead letter in ,catholic theology1 and until it be1 and that poverty becomes felony1 the same ease and happiness will pervade the peasantry of ,catholic countries1 which now gives them such grace and beauty4 ,the doctrine of self-worship and money-adoration can never fuse races2 there is a wide wide chasm between the upper and the lower orders in ,protestant countries1 which no amount of mechanics' lectures1 and patronizing condescension1 can bridge over1 as long as the germs of the worldly system remain rooted in the education and manners of the people4 ,of course1 these remarks do not apply to the general state of things1 for there is oppression in ,catholic countries as well as elsewhere2 they simply concern the working of a ,christian principle1 if it get fair play4 ,he visits ,pisa1 ,lucca1 ,carrara1 ,sestri1 and stops at ,genoa4 ,a bit of the ,protestant breaks out here4 ,we went to see that foolish sacro catino at the ,cathedral1 which ,i have no doubt is glass instead of emerald4 ,he says #hb again3 ,it makes me rather onked to be alone now1 though sometimes ,i wish to be so4 ,but the only solitude that is disagreeable is among numbers in a large town4 ,the solitude of the ,apennines1 and such places as last night's habitation1 is a pleasure to me4 ,now one vetturino hands him over to another more blackguard than himself on his way to ,bologna1 where he has a very satisfactory meeting with ,mezzofanti once more4 ,off he starts through ,ferrara1 ,rovigo1 and ,padua1 for ,venice2 he visits the ,piazza ,s4 ,marco1 and is told complacently by a ,french doctor1 who proved to be a terrible bore by-and-by1 that it is nothing to the ,palais ,royal4 ,he visits ,mantua on a pilgrimage to ,virgil's birthplace1 and says of a sight he saw by accident3 ,i was amused by a figure of ,s4 ,zeno1 just like a smiling ,otaheitan idol of the largest dimensions1 which is the great protector of the town4 ,it is not hard to tell which way his devotion lay4 ,spencer and a ,mr4 ,lefevre1 who was now his travelling companion1 go to a villegiatura here1 and are splendidly entertained for a couple of days4 ,they travel on for ,germany through the ,tyrol2 from ,verona to ,riva they chiefly travel by the ,lago di ,garda1 and the only incidents he chooses to record1 until they come to dem goldenen ,adler 7the golden ,eagle7 at ,brixen1 are the cicerone's opinions of ,catullus1 whom that well-informed individual thought to have been a brigand chief4 ,they had to bring the bill of fare before the police in ,riva1 but were not successful in getting a single charge diminished2 he enjoyed a good deal of idyllic life along here1 and did not seem to think much pro or con of the little town of ,trent1 though one should fancy he would say something1 if it were only a few angry words about the ,great ,council4 ,he considers the ,germans more honest than the ,italians1 and was inclined to admire their solidity and steadiness2 but his driver fell asleep on their way to ,innspruck1 and let the reins fall on the horse's neck when descending a steep1 and he veers round to the opinion that if they were a little livelier1 it would be much better4 ,on his way through ,bavaria to ,munich he thinks the country very like ,england--well cultivated and flourishing4 ,the costumes extraordinary1 #hc but not so pretty as the ,tyrolese4 ,the people themselves1 both men and women1 are the ugliest race ,i ever saw4 ,they had letters of introduction to ,prince ,loewenstein and ,count ,peppenheim1 two aides-de-camp of the ,king of ,bavaria2 they were invited to a royal chasse4 ,perhaps it is as well to give the whole account from the ,journal1 as it conveys an idea of ,german sports too fine to be overlooked4 ,monday1 ,aug4 #ba4--;,at #d this morning we started for the chasse in the mountains about three leagues off4 ,at the end of two leagues we were stopped and obliged to walk1 as the road became too narrow for the ,king to pass us1 in case we had been in the way when he came up4 ,so we walked the rest till we came to the toils where ,loewenstein received us4 ,the chasse was in a deep valley1 shut in on the sides by precipitous rocks3 into this they had tracked about #hj or #ij head of deer1 and shut them in by toils at both ends2 then little green enclosures were made for the guns to be posted in4 ,we had one of these guns given us in conjunction with other spectators1 the shooter who was to have been there not having arrived4 ,before the line was a broad course of a torrent1 and beyond that was a wood into which they had forced the game1 and from which they drove it again with dogs1 and even into the way of the guns4 ,this went on for #d or #e hours1 during which they cannonaded very quick1 but with little effect1 for ,i never saw a much greater proportion of misses4 ,the result was about #gj head of deer4 ,we were much surprised in the middle of the time at seeing ,devon walk up4 ,he came from ,salzburg for the purpose of this chasse1 and stayed with us through it4 ,after it we were standing near the place where the ,king was counting out the game1 when ,peppenheim presented us to him1 and he asked us to dine at ,berchtesgaden4 ,as our carriage was so far off1 we were obliged to be carried as we could1 and ,i was taken in by ,loewenstein1 who is1 by the bye1 about the fattest man in ,bavaria4 ,we dressed directly1 both ourselves and ,devon1 who had nothing here2 and even so we were late for dinner4 ,however1 the ,king was so gracious and good-humoured that it all went off capitally4 ,it was an interesting dinner for the faces that #hd we saw4 ,eugene ,beauharnais1 ,prince ,schwartzenberg1 ,reichenbach1 engineer1 ,marehal ,wrede1 and about #af more1 were there4 ,we stayed till about #f1 and then came home4 ,tuesday1 ,aug4 #bb4--,to-day we again followed the motions of the ,court4 ,devon came over with horses from ,hallein1 where he had returned last night2 and so we went about comfortably4 ,schwartzenberg took us to a famous machine of ,mr4 ,reichenbach's1 without the ,king4 ,this machine is employed to raise the salt water1 which is brought from the mines here1 and convey it over the mountains to ,reichenhall1 about #c leagues distant1 where is a manufactory for extracting the salt4 ,the reason of this is1 that there is not enough wood for consumption here4 ,it is a vast forcing-pump1 which is worked by fresh water from a height of #djj feet1 and raises the salt water #a1bjj4 ,this water is in the proportion of #ec to #dd heavier than fresh water4 ,i did not understand the whole explanation1 being in ,german1 but ,i admired the machine1 which works in a room so quietly as actually not to be perceptible from the noise1 except a little splashing4 ,after this we came to a miserable dinner at the inn1 which was too full to attend to us4 ,at #a1 about1 we started again to a romantic lake1 ,knig ,see1 where another scene of this royal drama was to be enacted4 ,the ,king came1 with his whole party1 an hour after us1 and we were invited by ,loewenstein into his royal boat1 which was rowed by #aa men and one pretty damsel4 ,we went all down the lake1 with several other boats full following1 one of which had #d small cannons1 which they constantly discharged for the echo4 ,the thing we came though for was1 two artificial cascades from the top of the mountains1 one in the course of a small torrent1 which had been stopped above and made into a lake1 full of large pieces of timber1 which were precipitated all at once with surprising effect4 ,the other was a dry cascade1 down which two heaps of timber were discharged1 like the launching of a ship from an inclined plane1 the smallest of which1 as ,i could judge from below1 was twice the height of a man1 and four times the length at least4 ,the finest part of this was the prodigious #he splashing at the bottom1 which resembled1 in appearance and sound1 a line of cannonading4 ,by way of sport1 this is the most superb child-amusement one could conceive4 ,we rowed back in the same boat1 and disembarked about sunset4 ,we proceeded directly to a salt-mine1 without the ,king1 where was to be an illumination4 ,we all were decked out in miners' habits1 and embarked1 in little carts drawn by two men1 down a shaft #a1hjj feet long1 lighted by candles all the way1 ourselves having one each1 like white penitents4 ,at the end of this we were surprised by entering a large chamber1 perhaps #bjj yards round1 with a gallery at the top2 the whole was surrounded by festoons of lamps1 and below it was a rich star of fire1 which showed the depth of the mine off to great advantage4 ,a band of music was playing1 and mines were exploded at the bottom with really tremendous noise4 ,altogether1 this scene pleased me more than any ,i have seen here1 or perhaps anywhere4 ,wednesday1 ,august #bc4--;,at #e we started in the carriage1 with ,devon's servant1 for the second chasse 7of chamois72 we found ourselves among a long train of other carriages also going there4 ,we passed through the chasse of ,monday1 and went about #c miles further on foot4 ,we found that of #fj chamois which had been collected in the toils1 #dj had escaped2 so the chasse was but of about an hour's duration before they were all killed4 ,the stands of shooters were confined1 so we were made to climb up a little mountain1 or rather a large rock1 from which we had an excellent view of everything4 ,the scenery was superb and wild4 ,before1 behind1 and everywhere1 were immense mountains of solid and shagged rock1 #i1jjj feet high above the sea1 with nothing like vegetation but patches of stunted firs1 which did not1 even so1 reach halfway up their height1 and looked like moss4 ,it made a contrast with the tameness of the chasse1 where about #af chamois were driven about and killed out of little boxes1 in an enclosure of a few acres4 ,it was not so fine in that respect as the deer chasse4 ,the ,king asked us again to dinner1 near a small house in the valley of the deer chasse 7,wimbach74 ,the table was put on a platform under a sycamore-tree in a glorious situation4 #hf ,i was unexpectedly called upon to sit next to ,prince ,schwartzenberg1 and always called milord1 which probably was the original mistake4 ,the whole business went off very satisfactorily4 ,the ,king's manners are most affable1 and made everything comfortable about him4 ,after this grand performance1 our tourists took a ride through a salt-mine1 astride of a plank1 with a man before and behind running as fast as could be2 they come finally to daylight1 and shortly afterwards to ,salzburg4 ,they travelled the country to ,lintz1 and sailed down the ,danube to ,vienna1 where they found the police ridiculously strict about passports4 ,a few days after their arrival in ,vienna they took a drive through the ,prater1 and during the drive we conversed on the subject of family calamities1 and on one's means of bearing them4 ,soon after we came home1 ,lord ,stewart's attach1 ,mr4 ,aston1 called with a letter for me from ,mr4 ,allen1 which told me of the horrible news of my brother ,bob's death in ,america1 killed in an affray with his first lieutenant6 ,how strangely fulfilled were our yesterday's prognostics4 ,this is a sort of thing that is too great and deep an accident to feel in the common way4 ,i hardly understand it at this distance3 ,i shall though before long4 ,i went with ,lefevre after dinner to ,lord ,stewart's1 where ,i found a ,german courier was to start soon for ,england4 ,i shall accompany him4 ,this is from the ,journal2 we shall now give an extract from the ,autobiography3-- ,my first tour abroad was suddenly terminated at ,vienna by a letter which ,i received to recall me home1 from the ,rev4 ,j4 ,allen1 now ,bishop of ,ely4 ,this letter gave me notice of the supposed death of my brother ,robert1 in ,south ,america1 who1 it was reported1 had been killed in an affray with his first lieutenant4 ,this most strange story1 for which there was not the slightest foundation in truth1 was conveyed to our family in ,england in such a way as gained it entire belief1 and all had been for two or three weeks in deep mourning and under the greatest affliction1 when the falsehood of the report was discovered4 ,this affliction was considered a sufficient cause for gathering together all the #hg members of the family who were at liberty to come home2 and so ,i was desired to return immediately4 ,i bought a carriage at ,vienna1 and1 travelled for some nights and days without ceasing1 during which ,i thought to try an experiment on how little nourishment ,i could subsist2 and from a sort of curiosity to amuse myself1 for ,i can hardly attribute it to a better motive1 ,i accomplished a fast which it would appear a dreadful hardship to be reduced to by necessity1 and a very small approach to which1 in these times1 would be by most persons looked on as a most unreasonable austerity4 ,i passed those successive intervals of #ch1 #ej1 and #ec hours1 as ,i find in my journal1 without touching the least particle of food to eat or drink2 and what ,i took between the intervals was only a little tea and bread and butter4 ,this matter is not worth noticing1 except to show that1 as ,i went through this1 while travelling1 which is rather an exhausting employment1 without the least detriment to my health1 and without a feeling of hunger almost all the time1 it is a sad delusion for people in good health to fancy they need so many indulgences and relaxations to go through the fasts appointed by the ,church4 ,it was when ,i got to ,calais that ,i went to the ,english news-room to see further accounts in the newspapers of my brother's death1 the report of which1 though at first ,i had some suspicions it might be false1 ,i afterwards had made up my mind entirely to believe4 ,my joy was exceeding great at finding an explicit contradiction to it in one of the latest papers4 ,i remember going on my knees to thank ,god1 in the news-room1 when ,i found myself alone1 which ,i believe was the first occasion for a long1 long time ,i had made a prayer of any sort1 or gone on my knees1 except in church-service time4 ,this ,i never gave up entirely1 and during this time ,i never gave up receiving the ,sacrament explicitly1 though ,i do not find that ,i received it all the time ,i was abroad4 ,i did not intend to commit acts of hypocrisy1 but must have gone on from custom and a certain sense of propriety1 without considering that ,i was mocking ,god4 #hh ,on his arrival at ,althorp he found the family all in the most joyous mood possible4 ,a little passage of his ,journal gives an idea of the character of the noble family in their relations with the tenantry3-- ,friday1 ,sept4 #bb4 ,bread and meat given to the poor of ,brington1 ,brampton1 and ,harleston1 as a rejoicing for ,bob's recovery4 ,three oxen were killed1 and the effect seemed very good4 ,they gave some lively cheers as they departed4 ,he goes to ,london1 and hears ,henry ,brougham's speech on ,queen ,caroline's trial2 and immediately after1 he starts for ,switzerland to see his sister1 ,lady ,georgiana ,quin4 ,we shall relate this in his own words in the ,autobiography3-- ,i became so fond of the business of travelling that1 as ,i was returning homewards1 my mind was occupied constantly with plans for further excursions4 ,i intended to have gone with ,lefevre from ,vienna to ,dresden and ,berlin on our way home1 but ,i could not think of regarding this as my last journey4 ,i was longing to see ,greece4 ,i had had thoughts of ,spain1 ,russia1 ,egypt1 and various indeed have been the fancies and inclinations which have passed through my mind4 ,the regular travelling mania had its turn about this time1 and ,i wonder not1 by my feelings then1 at so many of our countrymen1 whom ,i have known myself1 who have left ,england for a short excursion1 and not having professional engagements1 nor wise parents and relations1 as ,i had1 to control them1 have become regular wanderers1 and have spent1 in travelling about1 the years on the good employment of which1 at home1 depended mainly their success in after-life4 ,it may be judged how truly ,i was possessed with this spirit of wandering1 at the time of which ,i speak1 by my remaining but one fortnight at ,althorp with my family before ,i was again on wing4 ,my sister1 ,lady ,georgiana ,quin--whose society had made to me one of the chief charms of the winter at ,naples1 and whose being at ,naples with ,lord ,george1 her husband1 and her children1 had been the main inducement for my father and mother to make an undertaking1 at their age1 and with their habits1 so extraordinary as this long journey--had left ,naples during my tour in ,sicily1 and was settled at a country-house called the ,chteau de ,bethusy1 near ,lausanne4 ,i proposed going to #hi see her1 and to give her the full account of all that concerned the strange report about my brother ,robert4 ,i wonder at my having had my parents' consent to make another departure so soon1 and with apparently so insufficient an object4 ,i suppose they thought it reasonable to give me this liberty1 by way of compensation for the sudden cutting-off of my first grand tour4 ,this time ,i passed by ,dieppe to ,paris1 thence by ,lyons to ,bethusy1 where1 having stayed a fortnight--the pleasantest1 and1 alas6 almost the last days ,i had in my sister's company--,i returned by ,nancy to ,paris1 and thence through ,calais to ,england4 ,i reached ,althorp on the #aith of ,november1 #ahbj4 ,and so the fancy for travelling soon died away1 as my prospects for fresh journeys met with no encouragement at home2 and here is an end of all my travellings for mere travelling's sake4 ,when next ,i left ,england1 it was1 thank ,god1 with thoughts and views far other than before4 ,an extract from the ,journal of this time may not be without interest3-- ,october #ag1 #ahbj4--,with this day's journal ends the third year that ,i have kept it4 ,this year has been the most interesting and varied ,i have ever passed1 and probably ever shall1 for my travelling will not last long4 ,i certainly have reaped advantages in some respects1 and great ones4 ,i have had experience in the world1 and have learnt to shift for myself better than ,i could have done by any other means4 ,i have1 ,i hope1 increased the confidence of my family in me2 and1 above all1 ,i have nearly expelled that melancholy disposition ,i gained at college2 but most active ,i feel ,i must be to prevent its return when ,i again remain quiet in ,england4 ,i have still a damper to my prospects that occasionally overwhelms me1 but ,i must1 ,i trust1 get over that too2 as ,i have now persuaded myself on sober reflection1 though ,i am sadly slow in beginning to act on the principle1 that one quality alone is within all our reach1 and that one object alone is worth trying for4 ,god grant this thought may often occur to me4 ,i have this year enjoyed the pleasures and diversions most enlivening1 and which ,i always most desired2 but even they are insufficient to make #ij one happy alone1 though nearer to it than any others4 ,let us then look to what certainly can4 ,this train of thought seemed to have occupied his mind between his leaving ,paris1 and returning to it again during the last visit to his sister4 ,there is one paragraph in the ,autobiography which refers to both2 here it is1 and it is the last morsel of that interesting document that remains unwritten in his life3-- ,the most remarkable impression of religion which ,i remember in all this period1 was in a place where it might have been least expected4 ,no other than the ,italian ,opera at ,paris4 ,i passed through that city1 as ,i have said before1 in my last journey to ,lausanne1 and on my return a month later4 ,both times ,i went to see the opera of ,don ,giovanni1 which was the piece then in course of representation4 ,i conceived that after this journey ,i should give up all thoughts of worldly vices4 ,i was likely to be fixed at home till the time of my ordination1 and should assume something of the character of a candidate for holy orders4 ,in short1 ,i felt as if it was almost my last occasion1 and ,i was entertaining1 alas6 some wicked devices in my mind when ,i went to this most dangerous and fascinating opera1 which is in itself1 by the subjects it represents1 one of the most calculated to beguile a weak soul to its destruction4 ,but the last scene of it represents ,don ,giovanni1 the hero of the piece1 seized in the midst of his licentious career by a troop of devils1 and hurried down to hell4 ,as ,i saw this scene1 ,i was terrified at my own state4 ,i knew that ,god1 who knew what was within me1 must look on me as one in the same class with such as ,don ,giovanni1 and for once this holy fear of ,god's judgment saved me3 and this holy warning ,i was to find in an opera-house at ,paris4 #ia ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,an ,interval ,of ,rest ,and ,preparation ,for ,orders4 ,this chapter begins with his twenty-first birthday4 ,he comes before us1 a fine young man nearly six feet high1 graceful and handsome1 of independent mien1 winning manners1 and all the other attributes of gentlemanly perfection that are calculated to make him an object of attraction4 ,his journal1 even then1 tends to show his worst side2 we find self-accusations in every page1 and the round of enjoyments broken in upon by serious correctives4 ,for the great problem which moralists solve so easily1 and those whom the solution concerns keep away from consideration1 we will find in his life a golden key4 ,it is too soon yet to speak about the special workings of ,divine ,grace in his soul2 but1 even so far off1 we can find glimmerings of the glorious sun of his after-life4 ,let us look into the world1 we find thousands that really enjoy and luxuriate in gay parties1 balls1 pastimes1 and pleasures1 without a pang of remorse1 and others with sensibilities as keen1 if not keener1 for the relish of these luxuries1 plunging into them with a kind of intoxicating gusto1 and coming out fagged and disgusted1 when they were perhaps thought the very soul and life of the company4 ,we are told of a patient dying of melancholy who called in a doctor to prescribe for him2 the prescription of the medical man was1 that he should go and hear ,mr4 ,n41 a celebrated comic actor1 for a number of nights successively1 and the remedy was guaranteed to prove infallible1 for no one could listen to him and not laugh himself to hysterics4 ,ah1 my dear friend1 answered the patient1 ,i am the veritable ,mr4 ,n4 myself4 ,it is sometimes argued that small minds of a feminine caste1 composed of the ingredients #ib which the ,spectator wittily discovers in the dissection of a beau's head1 can be content with frivolities1 whilst a grand intellect is only made indignant by them4 ,we could quote examples to bear us out in a conclusion the direct contrary of this4 ,how1 then1 can we solve the problem8 ,why can some live and die in a whirl of dissipation with apparent relish1 whilst others get clogged by a few balls1 and fling worldly enjoyment to the winds on account of the very nausea it creates8 ,it may be considered as going into the sacristy to say that those whom ,god chooses for great things1 ,he weans from pleasure by a salutary dissatisfaction8 so the point will not be insisted on4 ,the only ordinary way in which it can be accounted for is1 that the lovers of pleasure deafen the voice of conscience1 whereas the others give this good monitor room to speak1 and occasionally lend an ear4 ,whichever way we please to look upon ,f4 ,ignatius at this period of his life1 we shall find ample material for theorizing on the unreality of worldly joys4 ,he concludes the first volume of his ,journal with the following considerations3-- ,dec4 #ca4--;,i have ended this year1 as the last1 with a very pleasant evening1 as far as noise and fun can make it4 ,but a more reasonable way would be 7as ,i am now in my room1 with my watch in my hand1 nearly on the stroke of twelve7 to end it in making good resolutions for the year to come1--which may1 ,i hope1 pass as prosperously1 and more usefully1 than the last4 ,the new year is now commenced1 and ,i recommend myself to the protection and guidance of ,almighty ,providence to bring me safely and well to the end of it4 ,i now bid farewell to this journal-book1 which is but a record of my follies1 and absurdities1 and weaknesses1 to myself1 who know the motive of the actions which are here commemorated1 and of many more which ,i have done well to omit4 ,there is no fear of my forgetting them1 nor do ,i wish it4 ,the less other men know about my inward thoughts1 the better for me in their estimation4 ,many of the readers of this book will feel disposed to disagree with the last sentence4 ,we have had his interior #ic before us1 as clearly perhaps as any other man's we can possibly call to mind1 and yet there is scarcely one that must not admire and love him as well1 for the sacrifice he made for their benefit in exposing his interior1 as for the beautiful sight that very disclosure gives them of his noble heart4 ,it is not very easy to write an interesting chapter about this portion of his life2 the ,autobiography is run out1 and the ,journal gives no incident of any great importance till we come to the subject-matter of the next volume4 ,let us string together a few of the leading events1 especially such as may be calculated to give us some idea of his mind and occupations4 ,he begins the volume by writing down that he got up rather earlier than usual1 played at battledore and shuttle-cock with ,lady ,georgiana ,bingham1 and kept up to #b1abj hits4 ,he is disappointed then in a day's sport1 and gives this account of his evening3 ,i was rather bilious and nervous to-night1 and consequently would have preferred being out of the way1 but from a wrong principle1 ,i fear1 viz41 because ,i thought ,i should seem rather dull and ill-humoured4 ,but what if ,i did1 to the gay people that do not1 nor wish to1 know8 ,and what if ,i did1 to those who do know how far it is real1 my ill-humour8 ,it was customary1 as he told us some chapters back1 for the ,spencer family to spend ,christmas at ,althorp1 and collect many of their immediate relatives about them during the time4 ,the place is beautifully disposed for every kind of enjoyment2 there are landscapes and pictures for the ladies to draw from1 fine grounds for the gentlemen to shoot over1 everything that generosity and princely goodness could procure to make the evenings as lively and entertaining as possible4 ,balls and dances were1 of course1 a sine qua non4 ,let us not1 however1 imagine it was all dissipation at ,althorp4 ,lords ,althorp and ,lyttelton used1 every ,sunday and often on week days1 to read a sermon to the assembled guests from some of the ,anglican divines1 and sometimes1 too1 from the ,french1 as we may see in a remark in the first chapter4 ,the party at ,althorp this ,christmas did not go beyond three-and-twenty4 ,george1 notwithstanding #id the sour extract quoted above1 went into the sports with heartfelt glee occasionally1 and1 as a proof of this1 it is enough to say that he danced1 in one night1 in seven country dances and eight sets of quadrilles4 ,he says in one place3 ,lyttelton1 ,sarah 7,lady ,lyttelton71 and ,i1 breakfasted together1 talking of a wise resolve of ,nannette's1 to pull down a house she had just finished at ,richmond1 because it was not pretty enough for the inhabitants to look at4 ,he goes to ,london as soon as the ,christmas party is broken up1 where he dines chiefly at home1 but is about occasionally1 seeing his old friends1 and different things that pleased his whim or his taste4 ,one of these was seeing the ,king going in state1 and the nobility as contented as if they never said a word against him on the ,queen's trial2 another was hearing ,bishop ,van ,mildert preach4 ,he has the good fortune of meeting ,sir ,walter ,scott at his father's1 and says ,we all stayed the evening listening to him telling ,scotch stories4 ,his next evening would be1 perhaps1 in the ,house of ,lords or ,commons1 and all the family seemed in a great stir to be present at the debates on the ,catholic ,question4 ,what opinions they held about it do not appear from the ,journal2 but there is nothing said there against ,catholics since he left ,italy4 ,he begins to clear away the mist that lay between him and the parsonage4 ,he puts himself a little in the way of learning something of what a clergyman could not be respectable without4 ,his first essays in this direction were1 to hire a dirty ,jew master to teach him ,hebrew1 and to go occasionally to ,mr4 ,blomfield's1 who was rector of ,whitechapel1 to dine and talk with clerical company4 ,the first time he tried this is told as follows3-- ,i took up ,fremantle1 and we went together to ,blomfield's to dine4 ,we met ,dr4 ,lloyd1 ,mr4 ,rennel1 ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,lyall1 ,mr4 ,watkinson1 ,mr4 ,mawman1 ,mr4 ,tavel1 and one more clergyman--a proper ,high ,church set1 with language of intolerance4 ,i was much amused though by observing them4 ,so much for his first lesson in church polity4 ,that he was not extravagant at this time is evidenced #ie by a little incident4 ,he found himself the possessor of a good sum1 and had been1 for some time1 putting part of his allowance aside until he finds himself able to pay his brother1 ,lord ,althorp1 what he lent him to pay off his debts in ,cambridge1 as early as the #gth of ,april4 ,this was a very busy day4 ,i first went to ,althorp to offer him payment of a large debt ,i owe him1 but he refused it very generously1 and made me rich in a moment by so doing4 ,he pays off the ,jew on the #beth of ,april1 having had his lectures from the #hth of ,march previous4 ,this apparent falling away from the spirit of his vocation1 was redeemed in a few days1 by his falling half in love with some very high lady4 ,he crosses himself immediately for the absurdity1 and wishes she were a clergyman's daughter4 ,this fit wears out completely in ten days' time4 ,lord ,john ,russell and ,sydney ,smith dine at his father's1 and he says of the latter3 ,sydney ,smith is a new person on my list1 and very entertaining he is4 ,the author of ,peter ,plimley's ,letters must certainly have been an agreeable guest4 ,on the #aeth of ,june he gives the following note3--,my father and ,i went to see the marriage of ,mr4 ,neville and ,lady ,georgiana ,bingham1 in the ,portuguese ,catholic ,chapel1 in ,south ,street1 close to ,vernon's house4 ,dr4 ,poynter1 the ,catholic bishop of ,london1 performed it1 and gave us a long-prosy dissertation on the sacrament of marriage4 ,the scene changes now to ,ryde1 ,isle of ,wight1 where the family go to spend the summer4 ,george occupies his time there in riding1 fishing 7with no success71 boating1 cricketing1 and doing the tutor to a young ward of his father4 ,he also learnt perspective from a ,mr4 ,vorley1 and his opinion of him is1 that he talks more nonsense than any one ,i know in a given time4 ,he remained his pupil until he picked his brains1 which did not require much time or application seemingly4 ,he hears of ,napoleon's death1 and comments thereon thus3--,we heard this morning of ,bonaparte being dead in ,st4 ,helena4 ,it does not make so much noise as one would have thought his death must eight years ago4 ,for one thing1 it will save us #aej1jjj a year4 #if ,st4 ,swithin's ,day1 ,july #ae4 ,it rained all morning1 which is ominous4 ,this kept them indoors1 and it was well1 for they were all in a bustle preparing for the coronation of ,william ,,iv4 ,the countess and her maids were busy at the laces and the freshening of faded colours1 until the earl's state robes were got ready2 when he was called upon to fit them on1 that the keen glance of ladies' eyes might see if there was a flaw or a speck to be removed4 ,george was present at the time1 and says3 ,my father put on his robes1 and was looked at by a room full of ladies and gentlemen4 ,george himself1 by the way1 makes some bold efforts at grandeur1 and succeeds in getting into the ,peers' quarter of ,westminster ,abbey1 at the coronation1 dressed in red coat1 with ruffs4 ,after the coronation1 they return to the ,isle of ,wight1 and ,george resumes his sports1 with a little variation namely1 that he hears a twaddle preacher1 and receives the ,sacrament without much preparation1 a proceeding he thus defends3--,i never can be satisfied by any motives that occur for refusing on account of short notice1 and ,i think that when the ,office is performed with devotion and sincerity1 to the best of one's ability1 it is always profitable4 ,it may be objected that we do not give more numerous extracts from the ,journal2 but we think it would tire the patience of readers to be told1 gravely and solemnly1 such grand events as1 ,george ,lyttelton1 ,lord ,lyttelton's eldest child1 got into breeches to-day4 ,matters kindred to this1 with the hours of dining1 and names of the guests1 form the bulk of the diary4 ,towards the end of this year1 #ahba1 he finds himself alone in ,althorp1 waiting for the collecting of the ,christmas party there1 and muses thus3--,i wish ,i might go on living as ,i now do1 without any company and nonsense4 ,i have daily amusement1 and1 withal1 get through a good deal of reading4 ,this last clause will make many expect that ,tillotson or ,jeremy ,taylor is in his hands for a great part of the day4 ,it may be so1 but we are told in the same page3--,in the evening ,i read ',guy ,mannering2' for a novel1 when once begun1 enslaves me4 ,he was very fond of the ,waverly ,novels1 and seems to have read them as #ig they came out4 ,he misses a hunt1 through mistake1 and says2 ,i was annoyed to-day at the hoy ,i made in my manoeuvres2 but ,i am ashamed of being so1 for it all came from my odious vanity1 and sensibility to the opinion of all the fools ,i met with4 ,on his twenty-second birthday he makes these reflections3--,this anniversary becomes uninteresting after passing #ba4 ,but it should be a useful annual admonition to make the best of our short1 fleeting life4 ,what are called the best and happiest years of life are already past with me4 ,god grant that ,i make those that remain more profitable to others1 and consequently to myself4 ,as to happiness1 ,i think my temper and dispositions have prevented my having my share to the full of youthful pleasures2 so ,i may look forward to the future for better circumstances3 if ,i can but tutor my mind into contentment at my situation1 and an engrossing wish to make my duty the leading guide of my actions4 ,indolence and irresolution are my stumbling blocks4 ,the new year of #ahbb was danced into ,althorp by a grand ball4 ,three days after he had a narrow escape with his life2 he went out partridge-shooting with ,lord ,bingham1 and this gentleman's powder-flask took fire1 and burst in his hand4 ,george and the attendants were nearly blown up1 and ,lord ,bingham was severely scorched4 ,this he considered the greatest danger he was ever in1 and thanks ,god for his escape4 ,the impression1 however1 did not last long2 for he tells us1 as the result of a game of cards1 on the same night3--,i did not get to sleep for a long time for thinking over a trick at cards which ,e---- did4 ,i succeeded in discovering it4 ,when the ,christmas party is dissolved1 ,george's comments are3 ,i am sorry they are all going1 though the young damsels have caught nothing of my heart4 ,there is an event now to be recorded4 ,he becomes a magistrate1 and his first essay in court makes him think the business very amusing4 ,he shouts huzza6 on hearing that his brother ,robert is about to come home4 ,true1 however1 to his character1 of never undertaking anything unless he knew its obligations sufficiently to be able to acquit himself #ih in them to the satisfaction of his conscience1 he goes to ,london1 and studies ,blackstone's ,commentaries1 to qualify him for a proper discharge of his duties as a magistrate4 ,he dines1 dances1 goes to balls and theatres1 pays visits and bills during his stay in ,london1 notwithstanding4 ,now he begins to prepare seriously for his future profession4 ,full nine months before he is to receive ,orders1 on ,march the #abth he begins to write a sermon4 ,that is the point2 let a man give a sermon1 and he may become a minister any day1 provided he has an earl or a viscount at his back1 and a bishop who sits tte tte with either in the ,house of ,lords1 and has two or three sons whom he wishes to put into posts of honour4 ,the sermon is everything4 ,any one can read the ,service1 provided he has a good voice and distinct utterance2 but the sermon--that requires brains1 views1 style1 and paper4 ,how these things can be done without we shall see further on4 ,for the present1 poor ,george did not discover the secret4 ,he could bowl to a wicket1 play cribbage1 read ,walter ,scott1 and shoot partridges1 but where was his theology8 ,the twenty-five lectures were buried long ago under some stone between ,cambridge and ,althorp4 ,well1 the fact of it was1 he must do something4 ,he goes to hear the crack preachers of ,london1 and even the twaddle ditto4 ,he catches up some idea from them1 borrows the book ,lord ,althorp reads from on ,sunday afternoons1 and gets an idea of what a sermon is like4 ,he sets to1 therefore1 to write one himself1 and in six months that sermon is finished4 ,one could not expect him to be a bookworm just now4 ,lord ,palmerston is at a stag-hunt1 and patronized the young candidate4 ,washington ,irving dines at his father's1 and ,george has to take notes of his ,yankee twang1 sallow complexion1 and nasal sounds4 ,he used to say to us that one who saw ,irving1 and heard him speak1 could never believe he was the author of ,the ,traveller or ,bracebridge ,hall1 and much less of ,knickerbocker's ,history of ,new ,york4 ,irving himself alludes to this1 when he says1 somewhere1 that the ,london people #ii wondered that he held a quill in his hand1 instead of wearing it in his scalp-lock4 ,he gets over all this after the ,ryde recreation1 and the hunting at ,wiseton1 when1 towards the end of ,september this year1 he bids farewell to his military life as a cornet in the ,yeomanry of ,northampton4 ,this is as a preparation for his ,orders2 but they come upon him still unexpectedly when he receives a letter from the ,bishop of ,peterborough1 on the #eth of ,october1 to signify that he would have ,ordination on the #bbnd of ,december following4 ,he writes to the ,diocesan ,examiner to ask what books he is to read1 and how he is to prepare1 and that gentleman graciously tells him that he need not trouble himself2 that he knows1 from the respectability of his family1 he must be already quite prepared4 ,footnote #e ,george is contented for the present1 but he has an eye to the future2 he borrows1 therefore1 some twelve of the ,wimbledon clergyman's best sermons1 and says that will set me up for a start4 ,he then goes on retreat about the #afth of ,december1 and his day is divided into four principal parts1 making allowances for dinner and #ajj sleep1 consisting of shooting1 cribbage1 whist1 and sermon writing or copying1 as the case might be4 ,on the #ahth1 two days before1 he adds one more spiritual exercise to his usual ones2 he reads a novel4 ,the next day he goes off to ,peterborough1 and dines with the ,dean and his wife1 who are to feed him whilst he is there4 ,his examination is gone through--one of the ,thirty-nine ,articles to be translated into ,latin1 and he has an expos1 with illustrations1 on the nature of mesmerism1 for the rest of the terrible ordeal4 ,this passed successfully1 he comes home to the ,dean's house1 bids good night to the materfamilias1 and collects his spirits for the great occasion4 ,he is wrapt in sublime ecstacy1 and bursts forth into the following exclamation in his ,journal3 ,i am #bb years old1 and not yet engaged to be married6 ,footnote #e3 ,here is a copy of the letter with which he was favoured from that dignitary3 ,yarmouth1 ,norfolk1 ,october #ab4 ,my ,dear ,sir1 ,i am sorry my absence from ,cambridge may have made me appear neglectful in answering your letter1 but ,i have some consolation in thinking that you will not have suffered by the delay4 ,as far as ,i am concerned1 in my character of examiner1 it is impossible that ,i could ever entertain any idea of subjecting a gentleman with whose talents and good qualities ,i am so well acquainted as ,i am with yours1 to any examination except one as a matter of form1 for which a verse in the ,greek ,testament1 and an ,article of the ,church of ,england returned into ,latin will be amply sufficient4 ,with regard to the doctrinal part of the examination1 that is taken by the ,bishop himself1 but it is confined entirely to the prepared questions1 which are a test of opinions1 not of scholarship4 ,this information1 then1 will1 ,i trust1 be satisfactorily1 and will leave you at liberty to pursue your theological studies in that course which you yourself prefer1 and which ,i am confident will be a good one4 ,i really am unable to say whether the ,bishop of ,peterbro' requires a certificate of the ,divinity ,lectures or not1 but ,i know that he does not in all cases make it a sine qua non2 at any rate1 ,i think you had better send for it1 as it will give the professor but very little trouble to forward it under cover to your father4 ,if ,i can be of the least service in answering any other queries1 or in any other way whatever1 ,i beg you will1 at any time1 give me a line2 and believe me1 my dear ,sir1 ,yours very sincerely1 ,t4 ,s4 ,hughes4 ,i shall not be in ,camb4 till the beginning of next month4 #aja ,,book ,,ii4 ,f4 ,ignatius1 an ,anglican ,minister4 #ajb #ajc ,,book ,,ii4 ,f4 ,ignatius1 an ,anglican ,minister4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,he ,is ,ordained1 ,and ,enters ,on ,his ,clerical ,duties4 ,the ,establishment retains in her written formularies a great deal of what looks very like ,catholic4 ,she has an attempt at a profession of faith2 a kind of a sacramental rite1 as a substitute for the ,mass2 a mode of visiting the sick1 a marriage service1 baptismal service1 burial service1 and an ordinal2 even something like the ,sacrament of ,penance can be gleaned from two or three clauses in the ,book of ,common ,prayer4 ,how much of sacramental power there may be in those several ordinances is very easily determined2 we admit none whatever in any except baptism--the judicial voice of the ,establishment leaves its efficacy an open question--and matrimony4 ,of late1 some amongst them have felt their want of sacramental wealth so keenly1 that they would fain persuade themselves the shells of ,catholic rites1 which the ,reformers retained1 were filled with sacramental substance4 ,to give this theory some show of plausibility1 they claimed valid orders4 ,pamphlets and books have been written on two sides of this question until there seems scarcely any more to be said upon it1 so we just mention what is the ,catholic opinion on the validity of ,anglican orders4 #ajd ,with what ,protestants think of them we have no immediate concern2 nor would it be an easy matter to extract anything definite from the multitude and contrariety of opinions on this one point4 ,we hold them to be simply null2 they do not even come up to doubt2 for if the ,archbishop of ,canterbury became a ,catholic to-morrow1 and wished to exercise any ministry1 he would be obliged to receive all the orders from the first tonsure upwards1 absolutely1 and without even an implied condition4 ,this has always been the practice3 and1 the ,church's acting thus1 at the period which is now involved in obscurity1 is the best de facto argument that the orders of the ,establishment were then1 as they are now1 a human designation1 and nothing more4 ,there is nothing sacramental in ,anglican orders1 and there never was1 since ,england broke away from the ,church1 and1 consistently enough1 orders were expunged from the ,protestant catalogue of sacraments in the very infancy of the ,reformation4 ,they still keep up a semblance of orders3 they have what they call the diaconate1 the priesthood1 and the consecration of bishops4 ,a deacon is ordained much in the same way as our own deacons1 and he can perform all the duties of the parish1 with the exception of the ,communion ,service4 ,we see a man marked out by an ,anglican bishop for ecclesiastical duties1 without any sacramental grace1 spiritual character1 or jurisdiction1 for no less a work than the care of immortal souls4 ,let us see now what instruments he has wherewith to accomplish this4 ,he had once two ,sacraments--the ,lord's ,supper and ,baptism2 the former1 ,catholics know to be an empty ceremony1 and perhaps it would nearly be a ,protestant heresy to say it was much more4 ,baptism they had as ,turks have1 and as every lay man and woman in the world1 who performs the rite properly1 has4 ,now their judicial decisions do not consider it worth the having2 so1 as far as in themselves lies1 they have tried to deprive themselves of it4 ,the practical means of sanctification a minister has to use are chiefly four3 prayer1 preaching1 visiting1 and reading4 ,the reading part may evidently be performed as well1 if not #aje better sometimes1 by a layman4 ,the visiting is often better done by the clergyman's wife or daughter than by himself1 for1 in attention to sickness and sweet words of consolation1 the female gifts seem the more effectual4 ,all that remains to him1 peculiarly for his own1 is the preaching1 and the respectability of character his own conduct and regard for his position may give him4 ,his power is altogether personal1 and if he be an indifferent preacher or a careless liver1 he loses all4 ,whether candidates for orders1 or even the ordained of the ,anglican ,establishment1 take this view of their position1 one cannot be sure2 but1 from the acts and words of ,mr4 ,spencer1 we can form a tolerable conjecture of what he thought and intended when he took deacon's orders from ,dr4 ,marsh1 ,protestant ,bishop of ,peterborough1 on the #bbnd ,december1 #ahbb4 ,he makes no preparation whatever1 nor does he seem to fancy that it is an action that requires any4 ,he gives an account of the ordination1 which he was pleased to call1 talking of business1 when making his arrangements for it1 a few pages back in the ,journal1 and1 as a piece of business1 it is gone through by him4 ,we transcribe his own words3-- ,sunday1 ,dec4 #bb4 ,i breakfasted with ,mr4 ,gibbs and ,mr4 ,gregory at the inn 7,peterborough7 at #h4 ,at #i1 two others of the candidates1 ,mr4 ,pearson and ,mr4 ,witherall1 joined us1 and we went to the palace1 from whence the bishop led us into the church1 when we were ordained4 ,the service took an hour1 including the ,sacrament which he gave us4 ,i commenced my church-reading then by reading the gospel in the service4 ,i went 7a clergyman7 to the deanery4 ,at #aa we went all together from the palace to church1 when ,mr4 ,parsons preached a good long sermon--at us very palpably4 ,we then went to a cold collation at the palace till evening church1 which we attended4 ,after that we received our letters of orders and licences1 and paid our fees4 ,it may be said that this is a very nice little account squeezed into a journal1 and one could not expect enthusiastic bursts about the gift of the spirit and the power of #ajf the ,church1 in a book allotted to the bare recording of events4 ,so be it4 ,but there are enthusiastic exclamations about less important things in that same little book1 and if ordination looked anything to ,mr4 ,spencer than a condition sine qua of his getting fixed in his future position1 he would have noted it4 ,the absence of deep religious feeling at this period of his life may account in a great measure for this coolness2 but perhaps the not believing there was anything sacramental in the rite itself may give a more satisfactory explanation4 ,to wind up the matter in a few words--he said grace for the family at dinner that evening1 and then read his novel quietly in his room1 because the day was not favourable for any field sport4 ,these few explanations were deemed necessary for appreciating the tenor of his life from this moment forward4 ,it will run counter to all anticipated results in the direction of excellence1 and will even go far beyond what its first evidences would warrant one to expect4 ,he looked his position in the face at the very outset3 he saw that he had souls to look after1 and he knew that he could not do that without a course of consistent conduct beseeming his character4 ,for the first few days things went on much as of old4 ,the family were still spending the winter in ,althorp1 and he joined in all the pastimes by which they whiled away the short days and cheered the long nights4 ,it was requisite1 however1 that the cousins and nearer relations1 should see and hear ,george in his new position1 if it were only to have something to talk about when they came to ,london4 ,accordingly1 he assisted in the ,communion ,service on ,christmas ,day by administering the cup1 first to his father1 and then to others4 ,he did not think the thing so formidable1 and it wore off the apprehension he had of appearing in public sufficient for him to give his first sermon on ,sunday1 ,dec4 #bi4 ,it was on the ,birth of ,christ1 and he says1 ,althorp and ,duncannon were my audience2 whether they were a whole or a part of the audience1 it is not easy at this distance to discover4 ,he might be now considered fairly launched into his new element4 ,the rector of ,great ,brington1 a ,mr4 ,vigoreux1 #ajg was away on the continent1 and the parish was left to the care of the young curate4 ,he had three or four villages1 numbering about #hjj1 in his parish1 some distance apart1 and he lived in ,althorp himself4 ,on the #ast of ,january1 #ahbc1 he sets vigorously to work1 and1 regardless of wind or weather1 walks out from breakfast until about six o'clock every day1 visiting the people4 ,after the first few days he gets quite interested in the work1 and is cheered on by his success in making up differences1 consoling the dying1 and assisting the poor4 ,two notes from the ,journal will illustrate how he felt with regard to this visiting3--,feb4 #aj4 ,went to ,little ,brington1 where ,i paid #bj visits among the poor4 ,feb4 #aa4 ,visited #ae or #bj houses2 this work is very amusing to me now4 ,i hope ,i shall never get tired of it1 or be disgusted by bad success to my lectures4 ,the principal work he tries to accomplish by his visits is1 the supplying those deficiencies he finds in the people with regard to what he conceived to be sacraments4 ,his very first round through the parish showed him how few were up to the mark of good ,christians4 ,many ,dissenters chose to dispute his right to lecture them1 and were not slow to produce clauses of protection for themselves2 and his having a discussion with one roaring ,methodist1 did not lessen the difficulty of making them tractable sheep4 ,discussions proved to be a means of widening the breach1 and simple kindness left things where they stood4 ,something positive he must mark out as a duty to his flock1 and then exhort them to it4 ,instinct led him to the sacraments4 ,he found great numbers unbaptized1 believing in a spiritual regeneration1 and scoffing at the idea of heavenly virtue being in a drop of water2 he found more still1 and these among the baptized1 who had as little love for the ,lord's ,supper as he had himself once4 ,now these could very easily be managed by exhorting them to read the ,bible1 lending them a copy if they had not one1 recommending family prayers1 and kindness and justice towards all men4 ,mr4 ,spencer thought otherwise4 ,he began with baptism1 and within the first fortnight of his clerical life he baptized the nine children of a blacksmith4 ,this was a good beginning1 and encouraged #ajh him to persevere1 but he did not find many so malleable as the offspring of this son of ,tubal ,cain4 ,in the next sacramental duty he did not see his way so clearly as in the first4 ,in the ,church of ,england1 the ,sacrament1 as it is emphatically called1 must be administered three times a year1 may be once a month1 and cannot be unless there be a number of communicants4 ,giving the ,sacrament once a week is considered very ,high ,church1 and to give it every morning is going a little too far4 ,superstitious reverence and indifference keep the majority away from this rite1 and few come1 except they get a monomonia for manifesting their godliness in that special direction4 ,this fact will account for ,mr4 ,spencer's hesitation1 when he took to ,christianizing his flock by making them approach the ,sacrament4 ,he makes many promise to come1 and gets a neighbouring clergyman to administer it in their own houses to some decrepid old people1 who could not come to church4 ,he preaches on this1 and hopes he has not been wrong2 he discusses the propriety of his proceedings with his older brethren in the ministry4 ,the result seems to confirm him in his ideas1 and he preaches a second time1 and gives appendices to his sermon in every visit1 about going to the ,lord's ,supper4 ,he still hopes he is not wrong4 ,he works very hard at this point1 however1 and on the first ,easter ,sunday of his ministry1 he gives ,god thanks and prays against pride1 at having #acj communicants4 ,there was another little incident on the same day as a set off to his success in beating up the parish2 when he opens the sermon-cover from which he used to read his ,,ms41 he finds he had put the wrong sermon there1 and had to preach extempore the sermon he intended to have read3 of course1 it was not to his satisfaction1 though the people scarcely knew the difference4 ,one sad event cast a cloud over the beginning of his clerical life3 the sister he loved so much1 and whose company and conversation he thought more than an equivalent for the gayest party1 ,lady ,georgiana ,quin1 died in ,london4 ,he was very much afflicted by it1 and even in after-life he would be deeply moved when speaking of this sister4 ,he #aji did not delay long in ,london1 but came home in a day or two after the funeral4 ,excepting this short interval1 his time was spent at home in the most ardent fulfilment of the duties his fervour imposed upon him4 ,not only did he go about from house to house1 but he would spare a day or two1 in each week1 when he went into ,northampton for the sessions1 and visit the neighbouring clergy4 ,it was his custom to discuss points of duty with them2 to invite them to ,althorp1 and spend evenings in clerical conversation4 ,he accompanied them on their visits to the sick and other parochial employments1 to learn1 by a comparison of the different ways of each1 which would probably be best for himself4 ,he reads such books as the ,clergyman's ,instructor1 and other books of divinity and sermons2 he never fails to write a sermon every week1 to catechise the children on a ,sunday1 visit the schools1 and try to make every one as faithful in the discharge of their duties as he was in his own4 ,about ,easter some members of his family came to ,althorp1 and he relaxes a little for their sakes1 and freely joins them in all his former amusements2 not1 however1 omitting any of his visits1 especially to the sick and dying4 #aaj ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,he ,mends ,some ,of ,his ,ways4 ,about the middle of ,april he came to ,london for three weeks' holidays4 ,he calls it a smoky odious place1 and says that entering it makes him miserable4 ,he is soon immersed in the customs of his society in the metropolis1 and his feeling of uneasiness wears off4 ,his little experience in parish work brings a great many things to his knowledge1 of which he had not the slightest idea before4 ,he is at a great loss1 also1 how to meet the difficulties he encounters1 and doubts whether his proceedings in what he considered his duty have been quite right4 ,dr4 ,blomfield had always been a kind of spiritual director to ,mr4 ,spencer3 to him he goes now for a thorough investigation of his principles and even doctrines4 ,extempore praying was a thing ,dr4 ,blomfield never liked1 and its adoption by ,mr4 ,spencer shows a leaning to ,evangelical if not ,methodistic spirituality4 ,whether it was this point1 or another of the many things upon which clergymen of the ,establishment agree to differ1 that they discussed1 we cannot say2 but the result was far from consoling to either4 ,he says3 ,i want some setting to rights in point of orthodoxy ,i find4 ,i only hope that my decision in regard to my conduct may not be influenced by ambition or worldliness on the one hand1 nor by spiritual pride on the other4 ,here may be seen that real sincerity and disinterestedness which guided his every step through life4 ,if we analyze the sentence1 it looks as if the arguments of his adviser are taken in part from the sources which ,mr4 ,spencer hopes will not influence his decision2 and this conclusion is borne out by a letter which will be given further on1 when his confidence #aaa in the ,church of ,england became thoroughly shaken4 ,it must not be supposed from this that ,dr4 ,blomfield was guided himself by these motives1 though hints to that effect were often rife in his lifetime2 but it is natural enough that the doctor should propose family considerations among his other arguments1 especially if he thought those not quite persuasive4 ,mr4 ,spencer goes to the theatre1 and it was the last time in his life4 ,his account of how that change was wrought in him1 gives us one of those peculiar instances in which ridicule proved to be more powerful than logic or decorum4 ,he attended ,drury ,lane ,theatre with one or two friends1 and in some part of the performance a parson was fearfully caricatured1 and drew bursts of laughter and applause from the audience4 ,this touched him sorely2 eyes were pointed towards him2 his friends laughed the more1 in proportion to the efforts considerations for him made them use1 in suppressing their feelings4 ,he went forth from the theatre thoroughly vexed1 and vowed he would never go to a theatre again4 ,the ,journal does not give a solitary instance in which this resolve was deviated from afterwards4 ,this incident had also the effect of making him consider the propriety of several other unclerical pursuits1 which he followed1 as much since his ordination as he did before4 ,it was not1 however1 till towards the end of this year that he began to retrench them1 and a little of the same power of ridicule came to his assistance then also4 ,his great concern was the union of all the sects in his parish4 ,he knew very well that our ,lord gave but one system of ,christianity1 and that yea and no upon any important point could not proceed from ,his lips or be parts of ,his doctrine4 ,he thought conciliatory measures the best to effect his purpose1 and he even adopted some of the ways of ,dissenters in order to be all to all towards them4 ,on this he seems to have been lectured by ,dr4 ,blomfield with some profit1 for1 on his return home1 he says3 ,whit-,sunday4 ,i gave a strong sermon against the ,dissenters1 founded on ,whit-,sunday1 ,in a few days he pays an unsatisfactory visit to one family1 and says3 ,they are #aab the hardest schismatics ,i've got2 children unbaptized1 c4 ,this seems ,high ,church language1 and his feeling of opposition to ,evangelicals1 which finds expression in a few places1 now makes one suppose he was a proper ,high ,church man4 ,he labours hard for several weeks to prepare children for confirmation4 ,he has #hj of them ready1 and was so pleased with the whole affair1 that he moved the printing of the bishop's charge1 as he proposed his lordship's health in a speech after the dinner4 ,the ,sunday after he goes round to every house1 and gives final admonitions to those on whom the bishop imposed hands a few days before4 ,to help him in his incipient dislike of ,methodism he has a very curious conversation with a great professor of that persuasion4 ,this was an old woman whom he was in the habit of visiting whenever he made his rounds where she lived4 ,on his entrance1 they both knelt down and prayed alternately for some time1 each1 out loud and extempore1 for the edification of the other4 ,when this rubric was carried out1 they talked at full length and breadth on the unconverted and the elect1 with sundries other kindred subjects1 and this he used to style comfortable conversation4 ,sometimes the tone of conversation would vary1 and once it ran upon the line of self-accusation4 ,the old lady very humbly accused herself of a great many faults in general1 and signified to ,mr4 ,spencer that she would be very much obliged to any one who would point out her particular faults1 and help her in correcting them4 ,emboldened by this1 he ventured1 after a long preamble1 to suggest that there was one thing he would like to see corrected in her1 as it seemed to be the only speck on the lustre of her godliness4 ,what is that8 asked she1 rather curiously and impatiently4 ,well1 it is that you are rather fond of contradicting people4 ,no1 ,i am not1 was the reply4 ,you have just contradicted me now4 ,no1 ,i haven't4 ,well1 you have repeated the same fault4 ,i've done no such thing1 was the petulant rejoinder4 ,of course1 he saw it was useless to proceed further1 and his visits became fewer for some time4 ,this #aac anecdote he used to relate with peculiar tact and a most graphic imitation of the old lady's manner4 ,before giving his own account of the rise and fall of his ,high ,church notions1 it may be well to mention another incident that occurred about this time1 towards the end of #ahbc4 ,he determines to give up shooting and dancing4 ,he told an anecdote about how the first of these sports fell into disfavour with him4 ,there was a shooting party in ,althorp on a certain day1 and ,george was in the very thick of it4 ,so anxious was he to distinguish himself in bringing down game1 that he would run to take position for a shot with his double-barrel gun loaded1 and a cartridge stuck in either corner of his mouth1 ready for action1 so as not to lose a minute in charging4 ,he did great execution that day1 and bagged probably more braces than any other4 ,in the evening one of the company showed great anxiety to get possession of something1 and eventually succeeded2 whereupon1 one present said1 with a waggish look at ,george1 ,you've made a parson's shot at it4 ,this struck him very forcibly1 and suggested the resolution1 which he finally came to and kept1 of giving up shooting4 ,there is no particular anecdote about his abstinence from dancing1 we only know that at this time he refuses to go to a ball1 makes his pastoral visits instead1 and declares that he feels far more comfortable after this than when he has been pleasuring4 ,the following is taken from a letter published by ,father ,ignatius in the ,catholic ,standard in ,december1 #ahec3-- 444 ,when ,i was ordained deacon in the ,church of ,england at ,christmas1 #ahbb1 ,i had1 ,i may say1 all my religious ideas and principles to form4 ,i do not so well know how far this is a common case now4 ,i have reason to think it was a very common one then4 ,my mind was possessed with a decided intention of doing good1 and ,i was delighted with the calling and life of a clergyman2 but my ideas were very vague indeed as to what a clergyman was meant for or had to do4 ,very naturally1 however1 on becoming acquainted with my parishioners1 among whom the ,wesleyan ,methodists1 the ,baptists1 and the ,independents had been gaining ground for some time previously1 ,i #aad concluded that ,i had to oppose their progress1 and to draw back those who had joined them4 ,this disposition in me was highly gratifying to some of the elder clergy in my neighbourhood1 who came to make acquaintance with me as a new neighbour1 especially to one old man1 an ardent lover of ,high ,church principles1 who1 to confirm me in them1 gave me a book to read entitled ',daubeny's ,guide to the ,church1' in which the divine authority of the ,church1 the importance of ,apostolical succession1 of episcopal government1 the evil and sin of schism1 and other ecclesiastical principles1 were most lucidly and learnedly demonstrated4 ,so ,i thought then2 and1 as far as my recollection goes1 ,i should say now that ,i thought rightly4 ,i was exceedingly captivated by these principles1 which were to me quite new1 and ,i found myself now ready to carry on my arguments with dissenters as a warrior armed2 whereas in the beginning ,i had nothing but zeal in my cause to help me4 ,i did not gain upon them2 but this new light was so bright in my own mind1 that ,i had no doubt of prevailing in time4 ,but there was one weak point in the system ,i was defending which ,i had overlooked4 ,it was after a time pointed out to me1 and my fabric of ,high ,churchism fell flat at once1 like a child's castle of cards4 ,i was at this time living at ,althorp1 my father's principal residence in the country1 serving as a curate to the parish to which it was attached1 though the park itself is extra-parochial4 ,among the visitors who resorted there1 was one of the most distinguished scholars of the day1 to whom1 as to many more of the ,anglican ,church1 ,i owe a debt of gratitude for the interest which he took in me1 and to the help ,i actually received from him in the course of inquiry1 which has happily terminated in the haven of the true ,church4 ,i should like to make a grateful and honourable mention of his name1 but as this has been found fault with1 ,i forbear4 ,i was one day explaining to him with earnestness the line of argument which ,i was pursuing with dissenters1 and my hopes from it2 ,i suppose ,i expected encouragement1 such as ,i had received from many others4 ,but he simply and candidly said1 ',these would be #aae very convenient doctrines1 if we could make use of them1 but they are available only for ,roman ,catholics2 they will not serve us4' ,i saw in a moment the truth of his remark1 and his character and position gave it additional weight4 ,i did not answer him2 but as a soldier who has received what he feels to be a mortal wound1 will suddenly stand still1 and then quietly retire out of the mle1 and seek a quiet spot to die in1 so ,i went away with my ,high ,churchism mortally wounded in the very prime of its vigour and youth1 to die for ever to the character of an ,anglican ,high ,churchman4 ,why did not this open my eyes1 you will say1 to the truth of ,catholicity8 ,i answer1 simply because my early prejudices were too strong4 ,the unanswerable remark of my friend was like a reductio ad absurdum of all ,high ,church ideas4 ,if they were true1 the ,catholic would be so3 which is absurd1 as ,i remember ,euclid would say4 ',therefore1' c4 ,the grand support of the ,high ,church system1 church authority1 having been thus overthrown1 it was an easy though gradual work to get out of my mind all its minor details and accompaniments1 one after another2 such as regard for holy places1 for holy days1 for consecrated persons1 for ecclesiastical writers2 finally1 almost all definite dogmatic notions4 ,it would seem that all was slipping away1 when1 coming to the conviction of the truth of ,catholicity some years after1 it was with extraordinary delight ,i found myself picking up again the shattered dispersed pieces of the beautiful fabric1 and placing them now in better order on the right foundation1 solid and firm1 no longer exposed to such a catastrophe as had upset my card-castle of ,anglican churchmanship4 ,this little passage in my ancient religious history is so sweetly interesting to me in the remembrance1 that ,i have looked into an old diary which ,i used to keep at the time1 to make out the dates1 and ,i find by this that the duration of my ,high ,church ideas was shorter than ,i should have imagined2 but it was a period crowded with new1 bright ideas1 and naturally seems longer than it is4 ,i will1 to please myself1 perhaps1 more than my readers1 give the dates4 ,i note that1 ,dec4 #bd1 #ahbc1 the great scholar of whom ,i have #aaf spoken came to ,althorp2 ,jan4 #bc1 #ahbd1 he goes away4 ,this was his last visit1 for he died the summer following1 as ,i find it was on the #bhth of ,june1 #ahbd1 that1 in passing by ,oxford with my eldest brother1 we called at the ,hall of which he was superior1 to inquire how he was4 ,he was sick--then on his death-bed4 ,footnote #f ,footnote #f3 ,the name of the gentleman referred to above was ,dr4 ,elmesly4 #aag ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,he ,receives ,further ,orders4 ,the complete levelling of his church principles left him at a loss which way to turn4 ,the divided state of his parish1 and the number of sects1 seemed to be perpetually harassing his mind4 ,he set about converting them by other ways than exhibiting his card-castle2 he tried to open the doors of the ,establishment as wide as he could1 so as to admit if possible all classes of religionists to her communion4 ,of a conversation upon this point with ,lord ,lyttelton1 he says1 ,in the evening ,i had a walk with ,lyttelton1 and was filled with scruples about the ,athanasian ,creed by him unintentionally4 ,i had a great war with my conscience in the evening1 at bed-time4 ,these scruples slept for some time on account of a soporific which ,dr4 ,blomfield administered to him2 but they arose again1 and were not settled till he became a ,catholic4 ,various discussions procure him lights about the ,methodist practice1 and distressing thoughts2 so he gives up that field of working now for another4 ,this other field was showing good example of the different works of mercy1 and he even tries ,catholic ascetism4 ,he takes such an interest in the poor of his parish that he goes to the hospitals1 attends dissecting-rooms1 and assists at a dispensary until he learns enough about medicine to enable him to make prescriptions for the sick poor4 ,he spends evenings in making pills1 and one day when a poor man broke his thigh1 ,mr4 ,spencer went and set it for him1 and it was so well done that they did not change it when he was brought to the infirmary4 ,the exertion this cost him nearly made him faint4 #aah ,the next thing he notes is1 ,i read a most persuasive sermon of ,beveridge's about fasting2 ,i examined the question in other books1 and by ,god's grace ,i am resolved no longer to disregard that duty4 ,he applied for advice about fasting1 as was his invariable practice when he took up any idea out of the ordinary line4 ,he went to a neighbouring clergyman1 whom he considered well versed in the matter1 and1 though this gentleman discourages the practice1 ,mr4 ,spencer adopts it notwithstanding1 since his arguments are too weak4 ,these are the principal events out of his ordinary work1 except his giving up card-playing1 from the beginning of the year #ahbd until the #abth of ,june1 when we find him again in ,peterborough1 on the eve of receiving priest's orders4 ,the demolition of his ,high ,church notions1 as well as the tone of mind in which he received the former orders1 might lead one to anticipate that he received these second orders somewhat after the fashion of a new step in the army4 ,but it was quite the contrary4 ,his notions of orders were higher2 he looked upon this step as an important one1 and he tells us1 some days before1 ,i walked to-day in ,the ,wilderness at ,althorp1 ruminating on my approaching ordination4 ,he also read the ,ordination ,service over and over1 a good many times4 ,on the evening before the ordination1 whilst the ,bishop and various clergymen1 and their ladies1 with whom he dines1 candidates included1 amuse themselves with a game of whist1 ,mr4 ,spencer refuses to play4 ,we can contrast his reflections now with those used on a similar occasion a year and a half ago3-- ,trinity ,sunday1 ,june #ac4--;,a beautiful day4 ,i was awake from six1 and thought a great deal of my intended step to-day4 ,at #aa we all attended the ,bishop to church1 and the prayers1 ordination1 and sacrament were performed all moat satisfactorily to me4 ,i am now bound by the awful tie of priesthood2 and most solemnly1 at the time1 did ,i devote myself to the service of my ,master4 ,may the impression never fade away6 ,shortly before this he heard of ,dr4 ,blomfield's promotion to the see of ,chester1 who1 in answer to his letter of congratulation1 offered him the office of chaplain4 ,he accepted it1 in a long letter to his old tutor1 immediately he returned #aai from ,peterborough4 ,up to this time ,mr4 ,spencer had been reading the ,anglican divines1--,tomline1 ,jeremy ,taylor1 ,wheatley1 ,bull1 ,hooker1 c42 now he begins to read the ,fathers of the ,church4 ,the first he takes up is ,st4 ,john ,chrysostom ,on the ,priesthood4 ,his opinion upon some of the doctrines he met with there is nicely told in the letter to the ,catholic ,standard1 from which the passage in the last chapter has been quoted4 ,i had to make a long journey with my brother1 in his carriage1 on that long day1 ,june #bh1 from ,althorp1 near ,northampton1 to ,southampton4 ,it was before the epoch of railroads2 and ,i see we started at half-past three4 ,i was seeking a book to occupy me during this long journey 7,n4,b4 no ,breviary to recite in those days71 and1 in the library at ,althorp1 ,i hit upon a copy1 in ,greek1 of ,st4 ,john ,chrysostom on the ,priesthood4 ,nothing better4 ,i had heard this work highly praised1 and ,i hoped to find some animating matter for the exercise of my calling as a clergyman4 ,i was not disappointed in this hope2 but when ,i came to what the saint says about the holy ,eucharist1 as1 of course1 the grand circumstance which exalts the ,christian priest1 ,i was overcome with surprise4 ,i read1 and read it again4 ,is it possible6 ,i thought to myself4 ,why1 this is manifest popery4 ,he certainly must have believed in the ,real ,presence4 ,i had no idea that popish errors had commenced so soon2 yes1 and gained deep root1 too2 for ,i saw that he wrote as of a doctrine about which he expected no contradiction4 ,what was my conclusion here8 you will ask4 ,why1 simply this--the ,saint has erred2 otherwise this capital tenet of popery is true--which is absurd4 ,i brought in my ,euclid here1 as on the previous #cast of ,december4 ,i see that on the following day ,i was in the cabin of the vessel in which we crossed to the ,isle of ,wight1 reading ,jeremy ,taylor's ,worthy ,communicant4 ,st4 ,john ,chrysostom1 ,i have no doubt1 had been thrown overboard1 not into the sea--which was making me then rather sick--as the volume was not my own to dispose of thus2 but he had been thrown overboard with a whole multitude of ,saints and ,fathers besides1 convicted with him1 and condemned for #abj popish errors1 into the black gulph of the dark ages2 or rather1 ,i had1 by an act of my judgment1 extended the borders of that gulph several centuries back1 as the ,regent's ,canal ,company are doing with their reservoir near our house1 by ,act of ,parliament1 over some of our land1 so as to flood him and his contemporaries1 and1 of course1 all after them till ,luther rose to set up a dyke and save on dry land those who had courage to step out on the land of ,gospel light which he first had re-discovered4 ,i soon came to look on our ,english ,reformers of the ,church of ,england as the greatest and most enlightened men since the time of the ,apostles4 ,he does not give up his asceticism1 though he feels the pain of it2 and well he might1 for he would sometimes eat nothing until six o'clock in the evening1 and be all the day going through his parish1 or writing sermons if the day were wet4 ,he says in the journal of one of those days3 ,a fasting day till dinner made me very miserable1 and makes me doubt the excellency of this means 4444 dinner did me good4 ,he improves upon the fasting1 however1 by adding another day every week1 when he finds that it really helps him to eradicate his passions and raise up his mind to heaven4 ,the bodily pain consequent on want of food was not the only thing ,mr4 ,spencer had to endure from his fasting4 ,it was a practice that had a popish air about it2 his friends and members of his family grew indignant that he should be making himself peculiar4 ,he had to bear the brunt of all their remarks2 he did so willingly1 and would sit down to the family breakfast to feed on their rebukes and send his portion down untasted1 whilst the rest took their meal4 ,he also reads ,thomas-a-,kempis's ,imitation of ,christ1 and we see evidences of that remarkable spirit for which he was afterwards distinguished--thanking ,god for everything4 ,he becomes a secretary to the ,society for ,promoting ,christian ,knowledge3 that institution was a favourite of ,dr4 ,blomfield's1 and he may have induced ,mr4 ,spencer to patronize it4 ,when ,mr4 ,spencer saw how well it worked in its department1 he thought of a scheme for improvising something of his own4 ,he does not give particulars #aba of what it was2 but he submitted it to his ,bishop1 who threw cold water on it1 and ,mr4 ,spencer simply thanks ,god for being thwarted4 ,he is completely wrapped up in his clerical duties1 so much so that he does not give the full time to his summer vacation in ,ryde2 he is always impatient to get back to his parish when some pressing business requires him to leave it2 and even1 while away1 he is perpetually visiting clergymen1 and talking upon matters belonging to his office4 ,he seems though1 ever since the destruction of his ,high ,church principles1 to be getting every day more ,evangelical in his words and actions4 #abb ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,mr4 ,spencer ,becomes ,rector ,of ,brington4 ,mr4 ,vigoreux1 ,rector of ,brington1 sent in his resignation of the living to the ,bishop towards the close of the year #ahbd4 ,the letters which are found among ,father ,ignatius's papers show this transaction to have been very creditable to the ,spencer family4 ,the old rector was on the continent1--he seems to have been very much in debt to ,lord ,spencer1 and upon his resigning his living1 ,lord ,spencer not only cancelled the debt1 but made him so far independent for life1 that the old clergyman1 in sheer gratitude1 ordered #g4 #ajs4 to be distributed every year among the poor of the parish1 whilst he lived4 ,george was transported with delight at the news1 which was given him by a lawyer in ,northampton1 on the #hth ,november in this year1 that ,mr4 ,vigoreux had resigned4 ,mr4 ,spencer is full of his secret1 and he and a brother clergyman have a very pleasant evening in telling secrets to each other--,george about the rectorship1 his friend about his intended marriage4 ,things go on quietly now until the usual ,christmas assemblage of the family at ,althorp1 and ,george's reflection on his birthday is this3 ,that my life past1 in the main1 has been mis-spent1 wasted1 and worse than wasted4 ,last year ,i have become confirmed in the first of all professions1 and ,i truly desire that ,i may grow riper and stronger in my office4 ,for a while he resists the temptation to join in the sports of the young gentlemen at ,althorp2 at length he gives in2 he plays a few rubbers at whist in compliment to his father1 and thanks ,god that he plays worse and worse every day4 ,he also takes a few shots2 but finding his old #abc eagerness returning1 he throws up the gun at once1 and goes to visit the sick and the poor4 ,on the #abth ,january he is presented by his father with the living of ,brington1 is instituted by the ,bishop two days after1 and inducted by a neighbouring clergyman on the #bjth of the same month4 ,he is now in possession of a good income1 can afford to pay a curate to do his drudgery1 and might follow the example of non-residence which was then so common2 but he does nothing of the kind4 ,a fat parsonage does not come to him with an arm-chair or a sofa1 and invite him to sit down and take his rest4 ,he considers now that the weight of the charge obliges him to redouble his labours2 he continues to write his sermons twice over1 and never misses to have one for every ,sunday4 ,it was his custom to give1 what he called a lecture1 on ,sunday evenings1--he now gives a full sermon2 he also increases the days of attendance in church as far as he can1 for we find him beating up for an attendance on ,ash-,wednesday2 and this he calls an innovation4 ,he gets a little keener in the spirit of asceticism just now1 for he tries to conceal his austerities2 and on a day he fasted till six he says3 ,i wish ,i could root out that devil of ambition and vain-glory4 ,probably it was about this time that the incident happened he used often to relate to his religious brethren in after-life4 ,one day he thought to conceal his fast2 but the housekeeper brought up the toast for breakfast1 and if he sent it down untouched she would have discovered his abstinence2 he put it in the cupboard and locked it up2 by-and-by the odour it emitted perfumed the whole place1 to the no small astonishment of the housemaid4 ,the end of it was1 that every one discovered what he tried to conceal even from one4 ,we find a thorough absorption of his energies in the work of his ministry apparent in every page of his journal1 as also from the testimony of those who knew him at that period4 ,one little remark will throw light upon his interior3--,my dear ,lyttelton1--,sal and the children went away at #f4 ,i heard the sad departing wheels out of bed4 ,thank ,god ,i have heretofore found happiness in my solitude1 and shall do #abd so again1 ,i trust4 ,his word1 and the way of ,his ,commandments1 they are my joy4 ,may ,i grow in the knowledge and practice of them1 and ,i desire no more for this world4 ,another instance of his devotion to his ministry may be seen in the following3--,tuesday1 ,march #bb4--,rose 7a neighbouring clergyman7 and ,i began talking about #h1 and hardly ceased till #ab at night4 ,our subject was religion and the ,church1 chiefly4 ,what beautiful material was there in this excellent clergyman6 and had he been where his spirit would be understood1 or where one knew how to direct him1 what might he not become8 ,he found himself in a ,church where spirituality and asceticism are exotics1 and cannot thrive1 notwithstanding that the ,scriptures are so emphatic in exhorting us to practise them4 ,then1 if he took them up1 he knew not how far to go1 or at what point to restrain himself4 ,he had no manuals1 no guides2 but vague attempts at fulsome piety written for fellow-workmen1 who differed with him on the very first principles of faith4 ,he was1 therefore1 utterly left to his own views and fancies1 and what he considered grace and inspiration4 ,he was getting too unworldly for his position1 too single-minded1 and too earnest for the easy-going clerical gentlemen who formed the bulk of his acquaintances4 ,not that the majority did not do their duty4 ,to be sure they did2 but what was it8 ,to read a sermon from a desk on a ,sunday2 to pay visits1 and read a chapter of the ,bible to a dying sinner4 ,the ,evangelical counsels1 without which1 in some degree or other1 ,christian perfection is unattainable1 are exploded anachronisms in the ,established of souls1 as the outcry against those within its pale1 who try to revive them1 but too clearly proves4 ,ecclesiastical virtue1 with them1 does not differ from secular virtue1 any more than the virtue of a ,member of ,parliament differs from that of a ,town ,councillor4 ,they are both expected to be gentlemen1 and to keep the rules of propriety the public thinks proper to expect from their position4 ,that is all4 ,oh6 as poor ,father ,ignatius used to say1 shall these dry bones live8 ,thou knowest1 ,lord1 whether they shall or not2 they don't2 and in his #abe time they were farther from it than they are now4 ,we must therefore expect1 from the nature of the case1 what is to follow in the next chapter4 ,he goes perfectly astray1 in his pursuit after what the ,church of his baptism could not give him4 ,it was fortunate that he strayed in the end from a wrong path into the right one1 by the way of too far ,east being ,west4 ,easter ,sunday in this year he counts the happiest day he spent up to this1 though he had only fifty-eight communicants1 a decrease since his first ,easter4 ,his point of bringing all to the sacrament was not carried4 ,he had even bishops opposing him in this1 as in everything else that was not half world1 half ,god4 ,the next thing he notices is1 that an archdeacon gave a good charge1 though against the ,catholics1--a questionable topic4 ,mr4 ,spencer had no special love for ,catholics2 on the contrary1 he thought themselves absurd1 their doctrines abominable1 and their ceremonies mummery4 ,he was of the ,spencer family though1 and in them there was an inbred love of justice and fair-play4 ,lord ,spencer and his son1 ,lord ,althorp1 both favoured and spoke for emancipation4 ,they thought the ,catholics aggrieved1 and if they were ,turks1 they did not see why they should cease to be men and subjects of the ,english crown4 ,that was plain common sense2 besides1 ,mr4 ,spencer had not got so high in ,church views as some of his friends1 who favoured ,catholics before their elevation and opposed them after it1 to please a king4 ,the ,spencers were generously liberal in all their dealings1 and even when the subject of this biography1 the delight of the family1 thought fit to become a ,catholic1 their conduct towards him was worthy of their name4 ,we shall have to refer to this afterwards2 the allusion is made now only to show that the tenour of their opinions was not the creature of a whim or an ephemeral fancy1 but a grave1 steady1 and well-disciplined feeling4 ,praise be to them for it4 ,would that their imitators were more numerous4 ,he has also another project on hand at this time1 besides the evangelizing of his flock4 ,he begins to build a new rectory4 ,he gets an architect from ,london2 has #abf suggestions from the family about the length and breadth of the apartments2 others1 more poetical1 survey the site to give their sentiments about the view from the parlour window2 the older portion have their say about the comfort of the different rooms1 with regard to size1 position1 and plastering4 ,some few even make presents of articles of furniture1 and a near relation gives him a beautiful bed1 which commodity has many paragraphs of the journal dedicated to its praises and suitableness4 ,the building is at last begun1 and we must say something of the progress of his interior castle whilst we let the bricklayers obey the orders of the builder and architect4 #abg ,,chapter ,v4 ,changes ,in ,his ,religious ,opinions4 ,for some time we are getting glimpses of his ways of thought1 or rather of his ways of expressing his thoughts4 ,we read1 godly dispositions1 mature unto repentance1 ripe for glory1 comfortable conversations1 springs in barren soil1 and the seeing of spiritual blindness4 ,all these indicate the leaning of his mind1 and recall the language of ,cromwellian ,saints1 and ,bunyan's dreams4 ,the strangest part of his proceedings now was the way in which he became justified4 ,it is hardly necessary to mention that in ,calvinistic theology1 which forms the basis1 if not the superstructure1 of the principal part of ,evangelical postulates1 the body of believers are divided into elect and reprobate1 or justified and unconverted4 ,the election or justification is a sentiment coming from what is supposed to be the assurance of an interior spirit that one is to be saved4 ,with them1 happy the man or woman who possesses this testimony1 and miserable the wretch to whom it is not given4 ,there is for these latter only an everlasting groping in the dark1 and a seeking for light1 while the insured can go through this vale of tears in exultation and gladness of spirit4 ,mr4 ,spencer was not well versed in this particular doctrine1 and a poor woman1 whom he met one day in ,northampton1 undertook to bring him to the true ,gospel light by the pure milk of the ,word4 ,she put together a few of those passages from the ,new ,testament1 which are generally misquoted in support of this outlandish theory1 and her interpretation convinced ,mr4 ,spencer1 so that he felt justified1 all at once4 ,this good woman proved to be a great trouble to him afterwards2 she would harangue him1 #abh once a week1 on his unconverted state1 even after the assurance4 ,her letters came regularly1 four large pages1 badly and closely written2 and when she had done canting on spirituality1 she would fill up what remained with the scandals of the unconverted among whom she lived1 and complaints at the cold treatment she received from many4 ,she became a kind of apostle among the ,dissenters1 and it was only when she had been living on ,mr4 ,spencer's charity for a few years that he discovered where the strength of her spirit lay4 ,he had reasons for not trusting to the genuineness of her piety1 though she kept continually writing from ,north ,shields1 where she lived1 sometimes in good and sometimes in bad circumstances1 since the regeneration of ,mr4 ,spencer4 ,when she received one letter in which her sanctity was made little of1 she laid the blame on slanderous tongues1 and talked about suicide4 ,mr4 ,spencer then dropped the correspondence1 and gave her a sum of money to purchase a like favour on her side4 ,he used to amuse us much by relating the system of self-laudation and encouragement that kept the ,evangelicals interested in each other4 ,one day he was describing how a clerical friend of his became justified4 ,he had travelled a good distance1 and was pretty tired2 the family he thought proper to honour with his holy presence in a certain town1 prepared him a most excellent breakfast4 ,he ate with the appetite of a very hungry man1 and when a more secular guest would have said1 ,o jam satis1 he jumped up from the table and shouted with ecstatic delight1 ,i am justified4 ,he never doubted of his election to glory after that1 as far as ,father ,ignatius knew4 ,the most extraordinary feature in their modes was1 that a kind of telegraphic communication was kept up with each other1 all over the country1 for the purpose of making the elect aware of the latest addition to their numbers4 ,on finding his brethren were disposed to laugh at the extravagant madness of this kind of religion1 he grew quite serious1 and said3 ,they are really in earnest1 poor things1 and we ought not to laugh at them1 only to pray that their earnestness might be properly directed4 ,one will say3 ,could any man or woman with a #abi grain of common sense1 go on thinking and talking this kind of unreality1 which we commonly call cant8 ,as a fact1 they do1 and we have proof positive of it in ,mr4 ,spencer himself4 ,it is astonishing to see a man of his position1 good sense1 and education1 talk and write in the strange way he does1 whilst this mood of mind lasted4 ,not only does he write so2 he holds conversations with every one whom he meets about the state of their soul1 and those which he calls interesting1 others considered very probably the reverse4 ,he also takes soundings of people's spiritual depth1 and is seldom consoled at the result4 ,he is satisfied with no one1 except two or three of his immediate neighbours who were fed mostly on his bounty or served in his house or garden4 ,he goes at this time 7,september1 #ahbe7 to attend ,dr4 ,blomfield as chaplain through the visitation of the diocese of ,chester4 ,he is very zealous throughout1 and converses on spiritual subjects with ,dissenters of all kinds as well as ,churchmen2 he does not even leave behind the followers of ,joanna ,southcote4 ,some were supposing once1 in his presence1 that it was impossible for followers of ,joanna ,southcote1 and the like1 not to be fully aware that they were being deluded4 ,father ,ignatius said it was not so1 and related a peculiar case that he witnessed himself4 ,he happened to be passing through ,birmingham 7perhaps it was after he became a ,catholic71 and had occasion to enter a shop there to order something4 ,the shopkeeper asked him if he had heard of the great light that had arisen in these modern times4 ,he said no4 ,well then1 repeated the shopman1 here1 sir1 is something to enlighten you1 handing him a neatly got up pamphlet4 ,he had not time to glance at the title when his friend behind the counter ran on at a great rate in a speech something to the following effect4 ,that the four ,gospels were all figures and myths1 that the ,epistles were only faint foreshadowings of the real sun of justice that was now at length arisen4 ,the ,messias was come in the person of a ,mr4 ,ward1 and he would see the truth demonstrated beyond the possibility of a doubt by looking at the ,gospel he held in his hand4 ,whilst the shopman was expressing hopes of converting him1 he took #acj the opportunity of looking at the pamphlet1 and found that all this new theory of religion was built upon a particular way of printing the text1 ,glory be to ,god on high1 and on earth peace to-,,ward',s men4 ,on turning away in disgust from his fruitless remonstrances with this specimen of ,,ward',s men1 he found some of ,,ward',s women also in the same place2 and overheard them exclaiming1 ,oh6 little ,england knows what a treasure they have in ---- jail4 ,the pretended ,messias happened to be in prison for felony at the time4 ,he assured us that these poor creatures were perfectly sincere and earnest in the faith they had in this malefactor4 ,the characteristic features of the ,low ,church school1 or whatever name the religious bias of ,mr4 ,spencer's mind at this time may be called1 are1 a certain self-sufficiency and rank spiritual pride4 ,it begins with self and ends with self4 ,from self springs the assurance of salvation1 for self's sake1 too1 and every one must feel himself in this mood before he can rely on himself4 ,when this fancy gets possession of a person's mind1 they forthwith turn apostles1 borrow the language of inspiration even for table-talk1 and no person is in the way of salvation at all who does not completely fall in with the stream of the new flood of ideas this notion brings into the regenerated mind4 ,no matter how worthy or great any person may seem to the reprobate world1 and did seem to the newly-made saint before the assurance1 they are now dark1 lost1 but hopeful if they listen patiently to one half-hour's discourse upon the movements of the ,spirit4 ,the vagaries of each mind are in proportion to the imagination1 and the facilities for expanding them by giving them expression4 ,but far or near as they may go1 self1 proud self1 is the beginning and end of them all4 ,the woman who was instrumental in regenerating ,mr4 ,spencer writes in one letter to say that she has no pride1 and that no one ever could accuse her of being infected with this passion4 ,at the same time1 ay1 in the very next sentence1 we have wrath and indignation at some of the unregenerate who do not think proper to pay court to her4 ,the sweeping condemnations hurled against two or #aca three worthy clergymen1 which opened ,mr4 ,spencer's eyes to the imposition practised upon him1 are further evidences of the same spirit4 ,mr4 ,spencer's own ways of acting will be a fair sample of this kind of thing4 ,during his visit to ,chester in #ahbe1 he lectures the ,bishop on several different occasions1 and considers himself quite qualified to do so by virtue of the new spirit he has imbibed4 ,one of the conversations he describes thus3--,after dinner we had an animated discussion1 in which ,i took a lead against the field almost4 ,before going to bed1 ,i had half an hour's private conversation with the ,bishop1 most interesting on his account4 ,i humbly thank ,god who has heard my prayers1 and made me a lowly instrument in ,his hands for the good of this already admirable man4 ,in the next sentence he tells us that1 in travelling home to ,althorp1 ,i did not read much1 but thank ,god was enabled to keep my mind in godly meditation almost all the way4 ,god knows how blind and perplexed ,i am still4 ,we have taken the liberty to mark some words in italics in the first quotation1 as they show what is confirmed by other passages1 too numerous to be quoted1 how high he had risen in his own estimation when he considered a bishop benefited by half an hour's conversation with him4 ,he is very hopeful1 though1 of bringing all the world to his ideas1 and says of his family3 ,god grant me the continuance of that kindness which lies between me and all my family till such time as their hearts may be truly opened to my word4 ,another reason why we are rather sparing in extracts is a respect for a passage which occurs here in the journal4 ,i have put down many circumstances in this journal relating to private discussions with persons in religion4 ,should they fall into strange hands1 be they bound in conscience to use them discreetly4 ,we simply quote what is necessary to give a correct notion of the state of his mind4 ,he carried his zeal a little too far betimes1 he went so far as to consider it the duty of a clergyman to call on and rebuke any brother clergyman1 whom he might consider negligent in his ministerial office4 #acb ,thus a fellow-clergyman writes3-- ,he got into some difficulties at this time in consequence of reporting to his bishop a clergyman who would not listen to his remonstrances2 but mutual explanations succeeded in making everything right4 ,the clergyman in question lived away from his cure1 and thought proper to enjoy unclerical1 but otherwise harmless1 sports4 ,mr4 ,spencer1 of course1 was against this1 but did not succeed in imbuing the other with his sentiments4 ,notwithstanding these notions of self-righteousness1 he was far from incurring much censure for officiousness4 ,his character and mode of life gained him so much respect that he could administer even reproof without provoking anger1 except where it was too richly deserved4 ,a letter of ,dr4 ,blomfield's to him after this visit1 bears out this remark4 ,the ,bishop says3 444 ,i hope you will look back on your visit to ,chester with pleasure4 ,you may have the satisfaction of believing that you have done good to many young clergymen1 who had an opportunity of conversing with you1 if not to many old ones4 ,i was very glad to set before them the example of a young man of rank and good prospects devoted in singleness of heart to the duties of his holy calling4 ,that his single-mindedness and piety should have thus led him astray is not to be wondered at2 for1 besides the want of a state where such virtues could be properly cultivated1 he had to breathe a religion whose first principles tend directly that way4 ,the exercise of private judgment in what primarily concerns salvation must always lead one astray1 because articles of faith are not creatures of human intelligence1 neither are they within its compass to understand4 ,he had1 of course1 a private judgment shackled by contradictions1 as every subscriber of the ,thirty-nine ,articles has4 ,he had an authority to obey which gave a dubious sound1 and he was told plainly by the same voice that itself was defectible2 the only tie to obedience was the condition on which he discharged his clerical functions2 it was natural that he should see through this1 from his very single-mindedness1 and overlook the conditions while trying to unravel the knots with which they bound him4 ,his birthday reflections this year1 #ahbe1 show that he did not begin to retrace his steps4 ,they are as follows3-- #acc ,dec4 #ba4 444 ,this day sees me #bf years old1 and blessed be my ,almighty ,protector1 the last year has greatly advanced me in hope and knowledge of salvation4 ,a reference to my observations last birthday shows me a great alteration in my views4 ,what admirable methods does ,he employ in bringing sinners to himself8 ,during the last half-year ,i reckon ,i must fix the time when by the most unlikely means ,god has brought me to faith and knowledge of ,his grace4 ,i solemnly devote the next year and every day and hour and minute of my future life to coming nearer to ,him1 to learning ,his ways and word1 and to leading others to the same knowledge1 in which ,he has caused me to exult with a joy formerly unknown4 #acd ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,opposition ,to ,his ,religious ,views4 ,mr4 ,spencer was so taken with his new birth that he tried to have all his friends and acquaintances born again after his own fashion4 ,he made no secret1 therefore1 of his religious leaning2 by letter and word of mouth he tried to bring all to his side4 ,we find1 from his correspondence at this time1 a shower of letters from every point of the clerical compass where there was authority or influence enough to muster a cloud for their discharge4 ,in looking over such of the letters as he has thought well to preserve1 one is struck at once with the diversity of opinion4 ,it is better not to give names1 perhaps2 but a few sentences from each may not be out of place4 ,rev4 ,mr4 ,a4--,i have read your letter through with great care1 and ,i can say with truth1 that it has produced much the same effect upon the eye of my mind which the full blaze of the meridian sun sometimes produces upon the natural eye4 ,it has been almost too much for me4 ,the letter goes on encouraging him in his spirit1 fortifying him against all carnal opposition4 ,this gentleman is of the same mind as ,mr4 ,spencer1 but more glowing in his zeal for the great cause of ,gospel freedom4 ,rev4 ,mr4 ,b4--,i address myself to one who1 from that love of ,christ which passeth knowledge1 has evinced an anxiety for me1 who am less than the least of all saints1 and an unprofitable minister of the ,gospel of ,god4 ,this gentleman's language is of the right stamp2 but he does not agree so perfectly1 and arranges for a meeting1 where they are to have a mutual adjustment of ideas4 #ace ,rev4 ,mr4 ,c4--,this is very well at the commencement4 ,i trust the ,lord will add more1 in the best sense of that expression4 ,rev4 ,mr4 ,d4--4444 ,to this ,i will never consent renewing left off discussions1 being satisfied 7as ,i have before stated to you7 that every man who is able and willing and sincerely endeavouring to learn and practise his duty1 ought to be left in the quiet and undisturbed possession of his own conscience1 and not forced from it against his will by others who happen to form a different judgment4 ,in our former conversations1 you told me1 as plainly as language could well do1 though perhaps not entirely at one interview1 that you considered me to be an unconverted sinner1 as destitute of the truth as any heathen could be1 and in a state of perdition2 and you seemed to think that ,i could be recovered from that fearful condition by that horrid system of indiscriminate condemnation and terror which prevails 7,i find7 at ,northampton in its most odious form1 and which ,i believe to be essentially opposed to the principles of the ,christian religion1 as it is repugnant to those natural feelings of kindness and benevolence which ,god has implanted in the human breast4 ,it might be fairer to transcribe his entire letter2 but then the other letters have the same claim1 and that would make a new volume1 for some of the letters extend over fifteen pages of foolscap paper1 closely written4 ,the sum of the remaining part is this1 that he is twenty-one years in holy orders1 and that ,god could not have allowed him to be in error all that time4 ,he says that1 ,i never can for one moment admit that any one is more anxious for my happiness than ,i am myself1 nor that any person has a greater right to decide than ,i have by what means that happiness shall be sought4 ,a man's own conscientious judgment is the proper guide in such cases4 ,he then refers ,mr4 ,spencer to others more learned than he for the discussion of those matters1 and mentions the ,bishop of ,chester and ,john ,rose1 whose qualifications for the task are incomparably superior to mine4 ,this gentleman seems to hesitate between ,mr4 ,spencer's opinions and his own1 and is rather uneasy lest he might be wrong1 yet does not see #acf the use of troubling himself1 as it is all the same in the end1 when one tries to do what his conscience tells him is right4 ,rev4 ,mr4 ,e4 is a doctor1 so let us listen to him4 ,after a rhetorical preface1 in which he would make excuses but would not1 because they were such friends and did not want them1 for handling his friend so summarily1 he thus launches forth3-- ,although there can be but one line of duty marked out in the situation of every clergyman1 and although1 before ,god1 the humblest and the loftiest in that profession are equally bounden to pursue the same line of duty1 and are1 moreover1 equally frail and 'found wanting1'--yet ,i cannot bring myself to consider yours as by any means an ordinary case4 ,after thus magnifying the importance of his subject1 he neither agrees nor disagrees1 but discountenances ,mr4 ,spencer's practices on prudential motives4 ,he staves off the whole matter of doctrine1 and talks about discipline4 ,the next quotation will be from a bishop4 ,he very wisely and keenly observes3-- ,amidst a great deal that is excellent and of right spirit in your observations1 there is a presumption and self-confident tone1 which is altogether new in you1 and in my opinion not very consistent with real humility4 ,in fact1 ,i almost wonder that this symptom1 if you have ever recalled to mind your conversations1 or read over your letters when written1 has not made you doubt the reality of what you call your conversion2 for ,i remember perfectly well your having observed to me1 that the extreme confidence of those who hold ,calvinistic opinions as to their own case1 and their extreme uncharitableness towards1 or rather concerning others1 were strong indications of some radical error in their notions1 and so they will ever be considered by those who take the same view with ,st4 ,paul of ,christian charity4 ,the ,bishop then states the case very clearly at issue between them1 and points how far they agree and disagree upon the point of assurance and reliance on the merits of ,christ1 and proves his side of the question by ,scripture1 ,anglican divines1 and common sense4 #acg ,it is a very singular thing that this bishop1 when he first heard of the manifestations of ,mr4 ,spencers ,calvinistic spirit1 concludes a short letter to him thus3-- ,i recommend to your perusal a most interesting tract1 which ,blanco ,white has just published1 ',the ,poor ,man's ,preservative against ,popery4' ,ever yours affectionately1 9999999999 ,these specimens are picked at random from a heap of letters4 ,it looks incomprehensible to a ,catholic how such a state of things could be possible in a system calling itself a ,church4 ,not one of these1 who were the clergy working with him in the same field and in the same way1 dared to say1 or knew how to say1 ,you have uttered a heresy4 ,some agreed with him1 some applauded him1 some wanted to be left alone in their old doctrines1 and some begged leave very politely to differ from him1 and gave their reasons for so doing4 ,the ,bishop argued warmly against him1 but ,mr4 ,spencer took up his lordship1 and argued quite as warmly for the other side of the question4 ,if he did not put them among the reprobate1 they should very likely have let him alone4 ,such was the state of dogma in the ,establishment in the beginning of #ahbf2 it is scarcely improved1 except in its own way1 in #ahfe4 ,no definite teaching1 nothing positive1 nothing precise1 all mist1 doubt1 uncertainty1 except that ,popery is anti-,christian and subversive of human liberty4 ,it is very hard to imagine1 much less to realize1 how these lukewarm expressions of assent and dissent turned1 in a few months1 into a tempest of opposition4 ,perhaps the following guess would nearly account for it4 ,we may conclude from the letter of ,lady ,spencer to ,dr4 ,blomfield 7given in his life1 page #gj71 on his being appointed to the see of ,chester1 that she and ,lord ,spencer knew something about the making of bishops and the mode of their translation4 ,if she took such an interest in a stranger1 but a friend1 it is not wonderful that she should take a similar1 if not a greater1 interest in seeing a mitre on the head of her own son4 ,lord ,liverpool had not yet retired from the head of the ministry1 #ach and if his politics and ,lord ,spencer's were sufficiently of accord to promote the man whom the ,earl patronized1 they would be able to do a like service to the ,earl's own son in due course4 ,extreme ,low ,church views would never do for the ,episcopal ,bench in those days1 though many were raised to that dignity with little ,high ,church views4 ,whether ,mr4 ,spencer's opinions clouded this bright future1 or that the noble family would feel it a disgrace to have a son so methodistical1 or whether real anxiety for his spiritual welfare1 or an endeavour to prevent a future that the ,bishop's ken seemed to have forecasted1 troubled his parents1 it is difficult to say4 ,at all events1 ,mr4 ,spencer's religious notions caused a great commotion in the family1 whilst those who abetted and encouraged him went on preaching their sermons and reading their services in their position1 with one exception1 and nobody seemed to mind them4 ,lady ,spencer took her son to ,london1 in the beginning of the year #ahbf1 to have his new notions rectified by ,dr4 ,blomfield4 ,this good doctor immediately prescribed for his patient1 for he did not need much feeling of his spiritual pulse after their correspondence4 ,the interview is thus described3-- ,jan4 #bd4--,my mother allowed me her carriage after breakfast1 to go and see the ,bishop of ,chester4 ,i did not find him at home1 and so came directly back again4 ,he was so good as to call on me afterwards1 and sat talking with me a considerable time4 ,his conversation was most pleasing to me1 though ,i could see that we did not fully agree in our view of ,christian doctrine 7sic74 ,he desired me to read ,sumner's ',apostolical ,preaching1' which ,i sent out for and began doing before dinner4 ,his obedience to directors of all kinds was remarkable2 but the results were invariably contrary to their expectations4 ,he began this book at once1 and be it remembered1 he had read it twice before4 ,next day he read on1 and marked many passages which he thought decidedly wrong4 ,he goes out a little1 sees an old friend1 and delights in reading ,cowper's ,task1 exclaiming1 ,it is a great thing to be a true ,christian4 ,he visits the ,bishop in a day or two2 they hold a discussion1 but part in charity2 and the result was1 #aci that ,mr4 ,spencer wrote him the memorable letter which scarcely left his lordship a hope of salvation if he did not at once get assured of his election4 ,a correspondence ensues now1 which terminates in a promise given and accepted of a longer stay in ,london1 where matters may be settled in conversation to their mutual satisfaction4 ,in the mean time1 ,mr4 ,spencer returns to his parish1 and begins reading the ,new ,testament in ,greek 7another of ,dr4 ,blomfield's prescriptions74 ,as he lays down the volume one day he exclaims1 ,how do ,i want the milk of ,god's word6 ,an old lady whom he visits1 in illness1 dozes into a stupor1 and awakens unto ,gospel faith4 ,one evening he says3--,i spent this evening with a mixture of scrupulosities and comforts1 but trust soon to find out what is the true ,gospel freedom4 ,there seem still some relics of the old asceticism left in him1 for on having to go to ,peterborough on some business1 he says3--,i started in a chaise for ,peterborough4 ,i had scruples about the heavy expense of this mode instead of coaches2 but ,i was consoled by the opportunity ,i had on the way of calling at ,titchmarsh1 and having half an hour's conversation with ,lyttelton ,powys4 ,i got to ,peterborough at #d1 dined with the dean and his lady at #f1 and spent the evening in hearing extracts from his intended life of ,bentley4 ,i found myself in a land1 alas6 of spiritual barrenness2 but water-springs may rise in dry ground4 ,it was about this time1 ,march1 #ahbf1 that he seems to have given up reading anything in the way of theology1 except the ,bible4 ,he gives an odd dip into ,cowper's poems1 by way of recreation4 ,he came across a book called ,the ,convent1 but immediately discovered it to be anti-,christian4 ,this apparent quiet is1 however1 disturbed by the play of the clerical artillery around him4 ,the tone of one or two extracts from the letters he received now will give an idea of the vantage-ground these good champions of orthodoxy thought proper to take4 ,one writes3-- ,i know you did think it un-,christian-like to converse or employ the mind much on any subject but religion4 ,to this almost entire exclusion of all other topics ,i decidedly object1 #adj on the ground of its having a strong tendency to engender a pharisaical spirit1 and of its being inconsistent with the common duties and occupations of life marked out for us by ,providence1 and contrary to the true interests of genuine ,christianity4 ,and my opinion in this respect has the sanction of some of the most excellent characters ,i have ever known--persons eminent alike for sound wisdom and discretion1 and for a quiet and unostentatious1 but sincere and fervent piety4 ,i cannot conclude this letter without remarking1 that all your conversations with me1 since you adopted your present views1 have convinced me more and more that my own religious opinions are sound and yours erroneous2 and that every day's experience confirms and strengthens me in the conviction1 that the religious system which your friends at ,northampton are pursuing 7whatever charm it may have for enthusiastic minds7 is not the religion of the ,bible4 ,this is from the grumbler quoted above1 as may be seen by the style and sentiment4 ,our friend the doctor calls him to task in this manner3-- 4444 ,you are endeavouring to make up for past deficiencies1 or to atone for past errors1 by renewed activity or rather extraordinary efforts4 ,this you do in perfect sincerity2 and1 ,i believe1 heartily4 ,in consequence1 instead of one sermon on a ,sunday there are two2 instead of a quarterly there is a monthly sacrament2 and1 in addition1 an evening lecture1 with prayers1 is pronounced every ,wednesday evening4 ,now1 supposing you had not taken this unfavourable opinion of your past feelings and views1 would you have adopted such regulations8 ,i think you would not2 and yet1 be it observed1 the necessity for them was and is a matter totally irrelevant to your own private feelings4 ,the rest of this letter1 the doctor's second1 is to sober down ,mr4 ,spencer's fervour1 and make him go on quietly1 hoping thus to slacken his enthusiasm and bring him to his former frame of mind4 ,it is sad to see a clergyman called to task for not being more worldly and less zealous4 ,he is1 in fact1 too much like a ,catholic ,saint to be endured in the ,establishment4 #ada ,he must eventually abandon it1 or be stoned to death with hard words in it4 ,we see the chink now through which the first alternative gleamed on the ,bishop2 and we see the disposition of ,providence in moving him to confine himself to the ,bible1 when some plausible ,anglican work might have burnished up what he had of ,catholic instinct1 and made it seem gold4 #adb ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,progress ,of ,his ,religious ,views4 ,it must not be supposed that ,mr4 ,spencer broke away from the ,establishment by the religious notions he took up at this time2 on the contrary1 his great hope is that he shall unite all the sects to her1 and he fancies they are being realized now among the ,methodists in his own parish4 ,his cardinal point of opinion at this time was1 that the articles and formularies of the ,anglican ,church required some kind of soul to put life into them and make them touch the heart2 that this life had been allowed to eke out of the ,church in the days bygone1 and that it was high time to bring it back2 the wording of the ,church's text-books gave room for his interpretation1 and his whole line of procedure was but acting upon it4 ,others interpreted differently1 some did not interpret at all2 with both classes of opponents he maintained an opposition so satisfactory to himself that his notions only gained a stronger hold of his mind every day4 ,we shall give some specimens of the arguments urged against him by the second class of opponents1 who were chiefly influential members of his own family4 ,one writes1--his father3-- ,i will commission ,appleyard to get the ,hebrew grammar you mention and send it down1 and ,i am very glad to hear that you intend to revive that study1 which must be so useful to a clergyman1 and which will ,i hope be an advantage to your mind by varying the objects to which you apply it1 and by that means tend to relieve it from the effects of too intense an application to the more difficult and abstruse points of religious study2 which1 if not under the corrective guidance of greater learning and experience than it is possible for you yet to have1 might lead into the #adc wildness of enthusiasm1 instead of the sensible and sound doctrine which it becomes an orthodox minister of an ,established ,church to hold for himself and to preach to others4 ,another1--his mother3-- ,infinite peril attends the setting our duties and religious notions in too austere a point of view1 and seeming mystic and obscure modes of speech when describing religious sentiments2 and disparaging every effort to do right except it tallies exactly with some indescribable rule of faith which cannot be comprehended by simple-minded and quiet-tempered piety1 is of all things the most dangerous1 since the risk is dreadful either of disgusting1 or repelling1 or alarming into despair4 ,nothing proves the perfect ignorance of human character and the art of persuasion than this process4 ,it never can do to terrify into doing right1--stubbornness and hopelessness must ever be the consequence of such ill-judged zeal2 and to the preacher uncharitableness and spiritual pride4 ,milton's beautiful meditation of our ,saviour1 in ',paradise ,regained1' has two lines which exactly fill my idea of what ought to be the mode of doing good by precept3-- ,by winning words to conquer willing hearts1 ,and make persuasion do the work of fear4 4444 ,do not permit yourself to judge uncharitably of the motives of others because their religious sentiments are not always floating on the surface of their words and actions4 ,the remonstrances descend in a graduated scale from these elegant remarks1 through letters from old schoolfellows in an off-hand style2 frisky young matrons twit him in a very airy kind of argument1 and all seems to wind up in a flourish from a young officer1 ,how dy'e do1 my dear old parson2 ever in the dumps1 eh8 ,the long visit to ,london is at length brought about4 ,he writes in the journal3--,april #ac1 #ahbf4 ,at #i set off for ,london4 ,i leave ,althorp for a longer period than ,i have since taking orders4 ,may ,god make it a profitable excursion6 ,this visit was planned by the family and #add ,dr4 ,blomfield1 when they saw letters were unavailing1 in order that ,spencer might be brought1 by conversing with his old master1 into tamer notions on religion4 ,he accordingly dines and speaks with the ,bishop and some clerical friends1 but the result was this note in the journal3--,i feel myself in this great town like ,st4 ,paul in ,athens4 ,not one like-minded man can ,i now think of to whom ,i can resort4 ,but ,god shall raise me some4 ,the next ,sunday after his arrival in ,london he is asked by ,dr4 ,blomfield to preach in ,st4 ,botolph's ,church1 ,bishopsgate street4 ,this sermon was to be a kind of profession of his faith4 ,his own commentaries on it are thus3 ,i had the wonderful glory of preaching a full and free gospel discourse in the afternoon to a ,london congregation1 and ,god gave me perfect composure and boldness2 and although he liked not the doctrine1 the ,bishop was perfectly kind to me afterwards4 ,the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,harvey1 ,rector of ,hornsey1 says1 in a letter he had the kindness to write to one of our fathers3 ,my first acquaintance with ,mr4 ,spencer was about #ahbd or #ahbe1 when ,i was curate of ,st4 ,botolph's1 ,bishopsgate1 of which ,archdeacon ,blomfield1 afterwards ,bishop of ,london1 was rector4 ,mr4 ,spencer had been a pupil of the ,bishop's1 and was always regarded by him with great interest4 ,he generally came to him to stay for a few days in the spring1 and used then to come and see me1 and accompany me in my pastoral visits4 ,he was a person of a most tender and loving spirit1 very distrustful of himself1 and very anxious to arrive at truth4 ,on one occasion ,i remember his preaching on a ,sunday afternoon at ,st4 ,botolph's1 when ,dr4 ,blomfield1 then ,bishop of ,chester1 read prayers4 ,to the surprise of every one he took the opportunity of explaining his particular views of religion1 which were then decidedly evangelical1 intimating to the congregation that they were not accustomed generally to have the ,gospel fully and faithfully preached4 ,the ,bishop of course was pained1 but merely said1 ',george1 how could you preach such a sermon as that8 ,in future ,i must look over your sermon before you go into the pulpit4' ,i do not vouch for the details1 but this is what #ade ,i recollect as far as my memory helps me at this distance of time4 ,mr4 ,spencer went to hear others preach1 and forms his opinions of each according to his way of thinking4 ,here are some specimens3-- ,the ,bishop of ,bristol preached in the morning for the schools1 a sermon worthy of ,plato rather than ,st4 ,paul4 ,another day3 ,went with all speed to ,craven ,chapel1 where ,i heard ,irving1 the ,scotch minister1 preach nearly two hours4 ,i was greatly delighted at his eloquence and stout ,christian doctrine1 though his manner is most blameably extravagant4 ,another day3 ,i went with ,mr4 ,a---- and ,miss ,b---- to hear ,mrs4 ,fry perform1 and was delighted with her expounding to the prisoners in ,newgate4 ,he seems to advance more and more in his own religious views2 and he says his father was wretched about them4 ,he gets an opportunity of preaching in the ,west ,end of ,london1 and writes thereupon3 ,o my ,god1 ,i have testified thy truth to east and west in this horrid ,babylon4 ,he soon after returns home1 and is so far improved that he determines to preach extempore for the future2 in this he succeeds very well4 ,what led him to this resolve was the facility with which he could maintain a conversation on religious topics for any length of time1 and the rational supposition that he might do the same1 as well in the pulpit as in the parlour4 ,a letter to the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,harvey1 which is the only one that we have come across of those written by him at this time1 gives a fair idea of the state of his mind3 it was written on his return to ,althorp after this ,london visit4 ,august #c1 #ahbf4 ,my ,dear ,harvey1--,bishop ,heber's sermon ,i think beautiful4 ,i am also pleased with all that has come of late from ,bishop ,sumner4 ,his apostolic preaching does not fully satisfy me1 and ,i have little doubt1 from his writings1 that he would not consider it as exactly representing his present views4 4444 ,it must be admitted that ,st4 ,paul's sins before his conversion are not so heinous as #adf those of many who have not ignorance and unbelief to plead in their favour4 4444 ,with regard to the question whether we be under guilt and eternal wrath1 or in the favour of ,god and on the way of life1 it seems to me highly dangerous to look to any distinction but this plain one1 ',he that hath the ,son hath life2 and he that hath not the ,son of ,god hath not life4' 4444 ,having thus ventured an opinion to you1 ,i will go on to say that ,i wish ,i could have some conversation with you at large on these matters4 ,i do not wish to introduce discussions on these points with my brethren1 except when ,i am led to it by circumstances1 and therefore ,i never entered on the subject with you during my stay in ,london4 ,i have sometimes blamed myself for it1 because you seemed to me to be so candid and unprejudiced that ,i might have done so without any risk of displeasure4 ,i now tell you that ,i was much pleased always with the spirit of your sermons and with all your feelings1 as far as ,i could judge of them from conversation2 but ,i could plainly perceive that your views of fundamental doctrines were not what1 ,i am convinced1 are the right ones according to the ,word of ,god and the ,articles of our ,church4 ,the ,bishop would have told you1 ,i suppose1 that he and ,i were at variance on these points1 though in mutual regard and attachment ,i humbly trust we never before were so nearly united4 ,indeed1 ,i never had an argument with him which did not leave me in admiration of his genuine meekness and charity4 4444 ,i reckon him very nearly right1 and ,i am sure that he has real humility and an inquiring spirit2 and so ,i firmly trust that1 by ,god's blessing1 he will be led to acknowledge the whole truth1 and that very shortly4 4444 ,all that ,i venture to say is that he has not1 to my mind1 yet taken the right view of the plan of ,redemption4 ,but ,i am so convinced of his being on the right way to it1 that ,i could almost engage to acknowledge my own views wrong 7though ,i have not a single doubt of them now71 if1 before his departure1 which ,god send may be distant1 he does not declare his assent to them4 ,i believe that you are just of the same mind on these things1 as ,i was myself a year or two ago4 #adg ,you probably know that my present views are of comparatively recent date with me4 ,they are1 in fact1 what ,i have at last settled into1 after two or three years of extreme doubts and oscillations and scrupulosities4 ,i thank ,god that from all these ,he has delivered me1 except the trouble and annoyance of my own evil heart1 from which1 however1 ,i do not expect complete freedom1 while in this tabernacle4 ,as to writers on the subject1 ,i have none1 besides the formularies of our ,church1 whose doctrines and principles ,i like better than ,thomas ,scott's4 ,there are some points of discipline1 however1 in which ,i do not go along with him4 ,but ,i now attach myself most exclusively to the ,word of ,god and prayer1 as the method of increasing in knowledge1 and feel delighted in the freedom which ,i have gained from the variety of opinions of learned men1 which used to perplex me so grievously4 ,this is what he looked upon as being in the ,gospel freedom1 that he was free from doctors2 and it is a freedom4 ,if ,anglican doctors were1 like our theologians1 all of a mind in doctrine1 with a certain margin for diversity of opinion in things of minor consequence1 or in the way of clearing up a difficulty1 it might be borne2 but when one has theologians for guides who agree about as much as one living clergyman agrees with another1 it is surely a freedom to be delivered from a yoke that presses on so many sides1 and forces so many ways at once4 #adh ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,some ,of ,the ,practical ,effects ,of ,his ,views4 ,it is high time that we should turn from the abstract consideration of ,mr4 ,spencer's views1 and test their efficiency by the great standard of good and evil--facts4 ,the facts1 bearing upon our subject1 which the ,journal gives up to this period of his life1 the close of #ahbf1 and beginning of the next year1 may be summed up in few words4 ,one old woman was the only one of whom he could say1 she seems fully established in religion2 and it is remarkable that this very person1 ,mrs4 ,wykes1 became a ,catholic later on4 ,all the rest were in different stages of fermentation2 some hopeful1 some promising1 some ripening unto light1 and so forth3 they ripen more and more according to the number of his visits2 but if it should happen that they did not need material help from him1 they very soon got back to their old way again1 and poor ,mr4 ,spencer used to return1 after his day's apostleship1 much humiliated at his want of success4 ,in fact1 his missionary work was a perfect representation of ,protestant missions to the heathen4 ,he distributed ,bibles and blankets1 prayer-books and porridge1 and three of his best and most hopeful proselytes went mad1 and were sent to the county lunatic asylum4 ,of himself1 he tells us that he used to spend from two to three hours daily in godly contemplation4 ,of this he began to get tired after some time1 and gives the following extraordinary notions of his interior state3-- ,sep4 #b4 ,i was employed chiefly in reading ,gr4 ,testament2 but ,i find myself very far yet from that state of real activity of mind which ,i ought to gain4 ,i wish for such experience in ,christ as not to need spiritual exercises as constantly as ,i now do to keep up communion with ,god1 and so have more time for active labour4 #adi ,sep4 #ab4 ,i went to ,nobottle at #ab and returned at #c4 ,i called in every house except ,chapman's1 and1 alas6 ,i found not one soul over whom ,i could rejoice as a true child of ,god4 ,yet there are signs of hope in a few4 ,what an awful scene it would be if ,i had eyes to see it1 or how great is my deliverance1 who1 though not less deserving perdition than any1 am yet planted in the ,house of ,god1 and rejoice through ,christ in the hope of ,his glory4 ,he begins the new year1 #ahbg1 with the following3-- ,i have found my mind so far from settled that ,i never saw myself more in need of ,god's grace4 ,but ,i shall find it4 ,strange prophecy2 he was determined never to rest content until he could feel right with regard to ,god and his salvation1 and it is needless to say that he was far from this1 notwithstanding his great ,calvinistic assurance4 ,every new ,dissenting minister that comes into his parish1 he makes it his business to call upon and see if they could not unite their respective flocks1 even by compromising differences4 ,he sometimes comes home flushed with hope1 and then1 when he tries to persuade his fellow-clergymen of the ,establishment to make advances to ,methodists or ,baptists1 their coldness brings his hopes to nought4 ,nothing disheartened1 he comes to the charge again1 and is buoyed up1 the whole time1 by the hope of one day or other seeing his beloved people in one fold1 under the care of one shepherd4 ,he removes in the middle of this year to the house he built for himself at ,great ,brington1 and he learns the pleasures of housekeeping in a few weeks by the difficulties he encounters in the management of servants4 ,the rest of the year1 until towards ,october1 goes on rather calmly2 no incident of importance occurs except the preaching of his ,visitation ,sermon4 ,the ,bishop of ,peterborough1 ,dr4 ,marsh1 comes to make his diocesan visitation in ,northampton1 and the ,honble4 and ,rev4 ,mr4 ,spencer is asked to preach before him4 ,he does so very nervously1 and although he introduces one passage into that sermon indicative of his peculiar views1 the ,bishop was so pleased with it1 #aej that he ordered him to print it4 ,it was printed accordingly1 and ,mr4 ,spencer sent copies to all the friends he could remember2 he even sent some across the ,atlantic to old schoolfellows4 ,between thanks for the reception of this favour1 and mutual acknowledgments of esteem and regard1 with compliments and returns of the same1 an interval is given him to prepare for another storm on the score of his opinions4 ,the second volume of his diary concludes with some distressing discussions and family animadversions on his ways of thinking4 ,it sounds rather strange in ,catholic ears that lay people should deem themselves qualified to lecture a clergyman on what he ought to believe and teach2 it ought not1 if he remembers that we are speaking of a land of private judgment1 where every one is qualified to think and dictate to his neighbour4 ,the friends take their arguments now from a different point4 ,mr4 ,spencer had built his new rectory and gone to live there2 the architect had done his part so well1 that he would sometimes come off the coach1 when passing near ,brington1 so that he might have another look at this specimen of material comfort4 ,it was furnished1 too1 in a befitting style1 for ,george went even to ,london1 and took counsel with his mother and others on what things were proper and best suited for a parsonage4 ,the best upholsterers were made to contribute from their stock of cupboards1 beds1 mattresses1 chairs1 and tables1 and when the van arrived at ,brington1 there were several connoisseur female relatives invited to give their opinions on the colouring and papering of the rooms1 the hanging and folds of the window curtains1 and the patterns of the carpets4 ,all was finally arranged to the satisfaction of all parties1 and only one thing was wanting1--the partner of his joys1 or troubles1 as they would be now1 poor man4 ,bright ideas struck his friends about this time4 ,it was thought1 in very high and intellectual circles1 that if the young rector of ,brington were married1 he would settle down quietly in the snug parsonage1 and make metaphysical ideas give way to the realities of life4 ,this they concluded was the short road to his settlement1 and he himself used #aea often to tell how long arguments on religious views often ended with1 ,well1 ,george1 get yourself a wife1 and settle down like your neighbours1 and all these dreams will vanish4 ,to their surprise1 however1 they found the young rector as difficult of persuasion in this point as in his other notions2 but experience gave them the advantage over him here1 and they were determined not to be foiled4 ,the want of a house to bring the bride to1 was thought to be the sole objection heretofore1 and perhaps it was2 that was now removed4 ,suggestions to that effect reach him in letters from his friends about this time4 ,the following is a specimen3-- ,it is probable that ,i shall return to ,brington for the winter4 ,if ,n 999999 or ,n 999999 succeeds in a matrimonial alliance on your account1 ,i hope you will speedily let me know2 perhaps an insinuating advertisement in the ,morning ,post might be useful to you4 ,joking apart1 ,i shall be most happy when the time comes for wishing you joy4 ,insinuations and arguments did not avail1 so they had recourse to stratagem4 ,one would not like to suspect that the ,bishop of ,chester was let into the secret1 though he ought to be a capital hand at such things1 as he had the hymeneal knot twice tied upon himself4 ,however that may be1 the plot was laid1 hatched1 and the eggs broken as follows3--,towards the end of ,october1 #ahbg1 he accompanied ,dr4 ,blomfield on a visitation through the diocese of ,chester4 ,he was taken a little out of his way in order to preach in a church near ,warrington4 ,the rector of this place asked him specially2--what was his surprise to find his old flame1 ,miss ,a 9999991 as mentioned in a former chapter1 there ready prepared to be one of his listeners4 ,he walked with her to church1 and was delighted with her company2 he used to say he never preached1 whilst a minister1 with greater satisfaction than on that day4 ,coming home from church he had to hear out compliments about his preaching1 and he spent the evening with a clerical party--one was a clergyman who was about being married to the sister of ,mr4 ,spencer's favourite4 ,it was thought everything would come round then1 and that some kind of arrangement would be made for the future2 but ,mr4 ,spencer1 though pleased1 #aeb was not anywise romantic1 nor apt to put his head into a halter from which it would not be so easy to draw it back4 ,it was well1 however1 that he was pleased1 and he evinces as much himself in his ,journal1 when he says3 ,sunday1 ,oct4 #ba4 ,i begin this volume with one of the most interesting ,sundays ,i have ever spent4 ,after breakfast with ,mr4 999999's family1 we went to church about half a mile from the house1 where ,i preached the first sermon which it has been given me to preach in this diocese2 and ,i am pleased that it should be in this church and before ,n 999999 ,n 999999 among other hearers1 with whom ,i now converse as pleasingly as in former times1 but on higher subjects4 ,with her and her sister ,i walked home1 and again to evening service1 where ,i read prayers and ,mr4 999999 preached4 ,but this argument met the fate of all that had been spent on him for the last three years4 ,it seemed all settled as far as he was concerned2 for there was no doubt on the other side4 ,he got into his carriage to drive up to ,althorp1 and ask his father's consent4 ,when near the door1 he called to the driver to stop1 and turn to the rectory4 ,he had just formed the resolution never to marry4 ,it was not that he did not like the intended partner1 it was an affair of long standing2 but he remembered the words of ,st4 ,paul3 ,he that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the ,lord1 how he may please the ,lord3 ,but he that is married careth for the things that are of the world1 how he may please his wife 7#a ,cor4 vii4 #cb1 #cc1 ,prot4 version74 ,no one was ever able to shake this resolution1 and the repeated attempts of others to do so only strengthened it the more4 ,he often related this incident to us1 and when asked1 if he then thought of the ,catholic priests1 ,oh1 ,i might1 but ,i thought it was some superstitious motive that made them live single2 ,i thought ,i made a new discovery myself2 he would reply4 ,a change takes places now in his finances4 ,he was ,always extremely charitable1 and his housekeeper tells of his equipment1 when going out to make his parish rounds1 of a morning4 ,he would carry a bottle of wine in his coat pocket1 and as much money as he could possibly spare4 #aec ,these he distributed among the sick and the poor4 ,he used also to buy them medicines1 and procure them clothes4 ,of course it was found soon that a very large income would not suffice for the liberality of the son1 so ,lord ,spencer came to an arrangement with him4 ,he allowed him a liberal yearly income2 but ,george feels it rather hard1 and complains of his straitened means in two or three places of his ,journal4 ,however1 he set to make the best of it1 and began by retrenchment from his own table4 ,by way of retrenchment1 ,i have left off wine and puddings or tarts1 and ,i have reduced my quantity of clean linen to wear4 ,ever himself1 what he spared from his own table he brought to the poor4 ,we shall transcribe the simple account of this period of his life given us by ,mrs4 ,wykes1 who knew him from a child4 ,his great charity to the poor and wandering beggars was unbounded4 ,at times he gave them all the money he had1 and stripped himself of his clothes to give them to the distressed2 and when he had nothing to give1 he would thank ,god he had only ,his holy truth to impart1 and would speak of the love of ,god so fervently1 that he would call forth tears from the poor objects of misery who came many miles to beg money or clothes of him4 ,many impostors presented themselves with the rest1 but even those he thanked ,god for1 and thought nothing of relieving them1 as he said he lost nothing by them1 but got a lesson of humility4 ,some poor afflicted mendicants would present themselves with loathsome sores1 and these he would assist in dressing and try to cure4 ,his house was always open for the distressed1 and he often longed to make an hospital of it for the poor4 ,he was all for gaining souls to ,god2 he would often walk to ,northampton to visit the lodging-houses1 and most infamous dens of the dissolute1 to speak to them of ,god's holy law and mercy to sinners4 ,indeed his whole time was devoted to doing good4 ,he did not often allow himself the privilege of riding1 but would walk to ,northampton or further1 carrying his clothes in a knapsack strapped over his shoulders1 and would smile at the jeers and laughs against him1 glorying in following out the practice of the ,apostles4 ,he fasted as well as he knew #aed how1 much stricter than when he became a ,catholic4 ,in fact he allowed nothing to himself but plain living1 and willingly granted better to others4 ,he gave no trouble1 but was always ready to wait upon others1 and make them happy and comfortable4 ,he was always ready to hear complaints1 and turn everything into the goodness of ,god4 ,he was indeed the father of the poor1 and a peace-maker1 though meeting with many contradictions1 particularly among the ,dissenters4 ,he bore all with patience and cheerfulness1 and went on hoping all would end well in due time4 ,the last effect we shall record in this chapter is another passage from his ,journal3--,saturday1 ,nov4 #ag4 ,to-day ,i called on ,mr4 ,griffiths1 ,independent minister at ,long ,buckley1 with whom ,i had one or two hours' conversation of a very interesting kind4 ,i see clearly that all is not right with the ,church4 ,he means the ,church of ,england1 of course4 #aee ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,scruples ,about ,the ,athanasian ,creed4 ,in the ,december of #ahbg the old scruples1 that came into his head some two years before1 about the ,athanasian ,creed revived4 ,perhaps it is better to give the words of the ,journal before going into particulars on this point4 ,he says-- ,tuesday1 ,dec4 #d4--4444 ,thursby came to dine and sleep here4 ,we conversed till nearly #ab1 almost incessantly1 about his concerns first1 then about mine4 ,i let him know my thoughts of resigning my preferment on account of the ,athanasian ,creed4 ,he was at first very much displeased at them1 but seemed better satisfied as ,i explained myself4 ,wed41 ,dec4 #e4--;,i came down after a wakeful night1 and much confirmed in my resolution to take decided steps about declaring against the ,athanasian ,creed4 ,thursby seemed to coincide much more nearly with my views4 ,we talked on this and other topics until #aa or #ab1 when he went away4 ,i went out in ,great ,brington till #b2 dined2 then ran to ,althorp 4444 came back and wrote long letters to my father and the ,bishop of ,chester1 about my intended declaration1 and probable resignation of my living4 ,i here solemnly affirm that before last week ,i had no sort of idea of taking this step4 ,i am now writing on ,friday1 fully determined upon it4 ,the circumstances which led me to this decision are3--#ast4 ,my many conversations of late1 and correspondence with1 dissenting ministers1 by whose words ,i have been led to doubt the perfectness of our ,establishment4 #bndly4 ,my discussions and reflections about retrenchments1 leading me to consider the probability of more preferment1 and how ,i could accept it4 #crdly4 ,the quantity of ,church preferment which has been of late #aef changing hands1 by which ,i have been led to think how ,i should answer an offer myself4 ,and1 #dthly4 ,my thoughts about signing ,baily's boy's testimonial1 which has led me to reckon more highly on the value of my signature4 ,from the letters of those who undertook the setting of ,mr4 ,spencer's troubles at rest1 it appears that his difficulties about the ,athanasian ,creed did not arise from the doctrines there put forth about the ,blessed ,trinity and ,incarnation2 but that he objected to the terminology as un-,scriptural1 and to the condemning clauses in the beginning and end of the ,creed4 ,dr4 ,blomfield is the first to reason with him2 his answer to the letter above-mentioned is couched in the following terms3-- ,the letter which ,i have just received from you astonishes and confounds me2 not that ,i ought to be surprised at anything strange which you may do1 after what ,i have lately witnessed and heard2 but ,i must say1 in plain terms1 that your letter is the letter of an insane person4 ,you profess to be willing to ask advice and hear reasoning1 and yet you take the most decided steps to wound the feelings of your friends and injure the cause of the ,church1 without giving those whom you pretend to consult an opportunity of satisfying your doubts4 ,you suffer your father to be with you two days without giving him a hint that you were meditating a step incomparably the most important of your life1 and most involving his happiness2 and then1 in the midst of his security1 write him a letter1 not to tell him that you are doubtful on certain points and wish to be advised1 but that your mind is made up and you are determined to act4 ,surely common sense and filial duty ought to have suggested the propriety of waiting till you had communicated with me1 although even to me you do not state what your doubts and difficulties are with sufficient precision to enable me to discuss them2 but you write a long panegyric upon your own sincerity and humility1 of which ,i entertained no doubt1 and thus1 after repeated conferences with ,dissenting ministers and ,roman ,catholic priests1 far more astute and subtle reasoners than yourself1 you are worked up into an utter disapprobation of one of the articles of our ,church1 having all along concealed your doubts from your nearest and dearest #aeg friends1 and from me1 who had an especial claim to be made acquainted with them4 ,is this sincere and judicious conduct8 ,he proceeds to some lengths in this style1 then tells him that it is one thing to doubt of the truth of a doctrine1 and another thing to believe it to be false1 and that one should take no step of importance until he thought in the latter way4 ,he tells him to be quiet for some time1 and give him the objections one by one4 ,this ,mr4 ,spencer does1 and the answer is partly1 that given in ,dr4 ,blomfield's life1 page #he1 and partly1 another letter he wrote to him within a fortnight's time4 ,the argument of this good ecclesiastic shapes itself thus3-- ,the general proposition of excluding all from salvation who do not believe the doctrine of the ,trinity and ,incarnation1 as set forth in the ,athanasian ,creed1 is laid down with certain limitations4 ,the ,protestant ,church does lay it down thus1 as is evident from certain quotations from the ,articles4 ,besides1 she never intends to pronounce a condemnation on any1 like the ,church of ,rome4 ,the meaning1 therefore1 of these clauses is an assertion of the truth of the doctrine simply2 and for this he quotes the opinion of some commissioned interpreters and the admission of the most scrupulous and captious ,baxter that such exposition may be received4 ,this is the sum of ,dr4 ,blomfield's argument2 he gives several other authorities for his opinion4 ,we need not be surprised that the argument was not convincing2 and ,mr4 ,spencer says1 in his ,journal3--,i had a letter from the ,bishop of ,chester this morning1 which was weak in argument and flippant2 ,i hope good may result from it4 ,the weakness of the ,bishop's argument arises from the dilemma in which he was placed4 ,if he said the ,anglican ,church does really condemn all who hold not her doctrines1 then she would arrogate to herself the claim of infallibility which she takes good care to disclaim1 and even makes an article to that effect4 ,if she does not condemn1 what is the meaning of allowing the clauses to remain in her formularies1 and require her ministers to subscribe1 read1 and preach them8 ,his only line of argument1 considering his position1 was to #aeh steer a middle course1 and this he endeavoured to do1 and succeeded pretty well4 ,but shifting difficulties by trying to reconcile contradictions1 is a process that may calm an easy-going mind1 previously disposed to indifference1 but never can satisfy a clear1 earnest one1 that seeks the truth in all its terrible reality and straightforward meaning4 ,a ,church composed of a mass of heterogeneous elements in doctrine and practice1 must be very hard set indeed when driven to give an account of herself4 ,the wonder is1 that she cannot see the absence of a ,divine guidance1 even in the admissions she is forced to make1 if not in the very nature of her own human constitution4 ,only a ,catholic can account for a creed1 and if there was not a body of living teachers with the promise of ,divine direction in their formal decisions and utterances1 the ,church that ,christ established would not exist2 and only ,catholics can claim and prove this very hinge of their system1 which pseudo-bishops have their hits at when they writhe under the pressure of difficulties they cannot answer4 ,the letter of this ,bishop did not settle ,mr4 ,spencer's mind--it unsettled him the more4 ,two or three clergymen were invited to talk him back to the old way1 but with similar success4 ,lord ,spencer then gets one of the ,london clergy to undertake the task which foiled so many4 ,we give the father's letter of introduction1 as it is so characteristic of his paternal affection and concern1 and at the same time his due consideration for his son's conscientious difficulties4 ,the ,earl was staying in ,althorp for a few days1 and left this letter for ,george on his departure3 ,your mother writes me word that ,mr4 ,allen1 of ,battersea1 will come and dine with her to-morrow1 and remain here nearly the whole week4 ,i am very happy at this1 because1 if you are sincere 7and ,i do not now mean to question your sincerity7 in wishing for information1 instruction1 and advice1 ,i know of no man--either high or low1 clerical or secular--more able to afford them to you1 more correct in his doctrines and character1 or more affectionately disposed to be of all the service he can to every one connected with #aei us1 and to you in particular4 ,but1 my dear ,george1 in order to enable yourself to derive all the benefit that may unquestionably be derived from serious and confidential communications on a most important subject1 with such a man1 you must be more explicit1 more open1 and more confidential with him than1 ,i am grieved to think1 you have yet been1 either with your excellent friend the ,bishop of ,chester1 or even with me1 though ,i allow that in the conversations we have had together in this visit to you here1 ,i saw rather more disposition to frankness on your part than ,i had before experienced4 ,i should not thus argue with you1 my dear ,george1 if ,i did not from my heart1 as ,god is my judge1 firmly believe that your welfare1 both temporal and eternal1 as well as the health both of your body and mind1 depended upon your taking every possible means to follow a better course of thinking1 and of study1 and of occupation1 than you have hitherto done since you have entered the profession for which1 as ,i fondly hoped1 and you seemed fitted by inclination1 you would have been in due time1 if well directed and well advised1 formed to become as much an ornament to it as your brothers are1 ,god ,almighty be thanked for it1 to those they have entered into4 ,i still venture to hope1 though not without trembling1 but ,i do hope and will encourage myself in the humble hope1 which shall be daily expressed to the ,almighty in my prayers1 that ,i may be permitted1 before ,i go hence1 to witness better things of you2 and ,i even extend my wish that when ,i return hither on ,friday1 ,i may have the satisfaction of learning that your interviews with ,mr4 ,allen1 who ,i have no doubt will be well prepared to hear and to discuss all you have to say1 have had a salutary effect2 and that our private domestic circle here may be relieved from the gloom which1 for some time past1 you must have perceived to overhang it when you made part of it1 and afford us those blessings of home so comfortable and almost necessary to our advancing age4 ,i write all this1 because1 perhaps1 if ,i had had the opportunity1 my spirits1 which are #afj always very sensitive1 might prevent me from speaking it4 ,god bless you1 my dear ,george4 ,your ever affectionate father1 ,spencer4 ,the conferences he held with this ,mr4 ,allen are faithfully noted in the ,journal1 and many and long they were4 ,to-day conversing1 to-morrow reading ,hay and ,waterland together1 on the ,athanasian ,creed4 ,he became no better1 but a good deal worse1 and the finale was that he wrote to his own ,bishop1 ,dr4 ,marsh1 of ,peterborough1 to resign his living or have his doubts settled4 ,this was early in the year #ahbh4 ,this ,bishop answers him thus3-- ,in reference to the doubts which you expressed in a former letter1 you say3 ',all that ,i was anxious about was to avoid any just imputation of dishonesty1 by keeping an office and emoluments in the ,established ,church1 while ,i felt that ,i could not heartily assent to her formularies4' ,if this difficulty had occurred to you when you were a candidate for ,holy ,orders1 it would certainly have been your duty1 either to wait till your doubts had been removed1 or1 if they could not be removed1 to choose some other profession or employment4 ,whoever is persuaded that our ,liturgy and ,articles are not founded on ,holy ,scripture cannot conscientiously subscribe to the latter1 or declare his assent to the former4 ,to enter1 therefore1 on a profession which requires such subscription and assent1 with the previous belief that such assent is not warranted by ,scripture1 is undoubtedly a sacrifice of principle made in the expectation of future advantage4 ,but you did not make such a sacrifice of principle4 444 ,whatever doubts you now entertain1 they have been imbibed since you became ,rector of ,brington2 and you are apprehensive that it may be considered as a mark of dishonesty1 if1 oppressed with these difficulties1 you retain your preferment4 ,i know not at present the kind or the extent of these difficulties1 and therefore can only reply in general terms4 ,i have already stated my opinion on the impropriety of #afa entering the ,church with the previous belief that our ,liturgy and ,articles are not founded on ,scripture4 ,but if a clergyman who believed that they were so at the time of his ordination1 and continued that belief till after he had obtained preferment in the ,church1 begins at some future period to entertain doubts about certain parts either of the ,liturgy or the ,articles1 we have a case which presents a very different question from that which was considered in the former paragraph4 ,in the former case there was a choice of professions1 in the latter case there is not4 ,by the laws of this country a clergyman cannot divest himself of the character acquired by the admission to ,holy ,orders4 ,he can hold no office in the ,state which is inconsistent with the character of a clergyman4 ,to relinquish preferment1 therefore1 without being able to relinquish the character by which that preferment was acquired1 is quite a different question from that which relates to the original assumption of that character3 ,nor must it be forgotten that a clergyman may have a numerous family altogether dependent on the income of his benefice1 whom he would bring therefore to utter ruin if he resigned it4 ,on the other hand1 ,i do not think that even a clergyman so situated is at liberty to substitute his own doctrine for that to which he objects4 ,by so doing he would directly impugn the ,articles of our ,church1 he would make himself liable to deprivation1 and would justly deserve it4 ,for he would violate a solemn contract1 and destroy the very tenure by which he holds his preferment4 ,but is there no medium between an open attack on our ,liturgy and ,articles and the entertaining of doubts on certain points1 which a clergyman may communicate in confidence to a friend1 in the hope of having them removed8 ,if1 in the mean time1 he is unwilling to inculcate in the pulpit doctrines to which his doubts apply1 he will at the same time conscientiously abstain from inculcating doctrines of an opposite tendency4 ,now1 if ,i mistake not1 this is precisely your case4 ,and happy shall ,i be if ,i can be instrumental to the removal of the doubts which oppress you4 ,i am now at leisure2 the engagements which ,i had at ,cambridge #afb respecting my lectures are finished2 you may now fully and freely unburden your mind1 and ,i will give to all your difficulties the best consideration in my power4 ,i am1 my dear ,sir1 ,very truly yours1 ,herbert ,peterborough4 ,this letter evoked a statement of the precise points1 and the following was the answer3-- 4444 ,i now venture to approach the difficulties under which you labour1 and ,i will take them from the words you yourself have used in your letter of ,april #cj4 ,in that letter1 speaking of the ,church1 you say1 ',i cannot at this time state any paragraph in her formularies and ordinances with which ,i cannot conscientiously comply1 except the ,athanasian ,creed4' ,you then proceed in the following words3 'and now ,i must go on to state wherein ,i differ from this ,creed3 not in the parts which may be called doctrinal2 that is1 where the doctrine itself is stated and explained4' ,and you conclude by saying1 'the parts of the ,creed to which ,i object are the condemning clauses4' ,and you object to the clauses on the grounds that they are not warranted by the declaration of our ,saviour recorded in ,mark xvi4 #af1 on which passage those clauses are generally supposed to have been founded4 ,whether they are so warranted or not depends on the extent of their application in this ,creed1 which begins with the following words3--',whosoever will be saved1 before all things1 it is necessary that he hold the ,catholic faith1 which faith1 except every one do keep whole and undefiled 7entire and unviolated1 ,cath4 trans471 without doubt he shall perish everlastingly4 ,now the ,catholic faith is this1 that we worship one ,god in ,trinity1 and ,trinity in ,unity4' ,so far1 then1 it is evident that they only are declared to be excluded from salvation who do not hold the ,catholic faith1 that is1 as the term is there explicitly defined1 who do not hold the doctrine of the ,trinity in ,unity4 ,now this doctrine has been maintained1 with very few exceptions1 by ,christians in general from the earliest to the present age4 ,it was the doctrine of the ,greek ,church #afc 444444 and all the ,reformed churches4 ,to exclude from salvation1 therefore1 only those who reject a doctrine which is received by ,christians in general1 is a very different thing from the denial of salvation to every one who does not believe in all the tenets of a particular ,church4 ,the doctrine1 nulla salus nisi credas in ,trinitatem1 bears no resemblance to the sweeping declaration nulla salus extra ,ecclesiam ,romonam4 ,surely1 then1 we may appeal to ,mark xvi4 #af1 combined with ,matthew xxviii4 #ai1 in order to prove that a belief in the ,trinity is necessary to salvation1 and consequently to prove that those two passages warrant the deduction1 that they who reject the doctrine of the ,trinity will not be saved4 ,the two passages must be taken together1 in order to learn the whole of our ,saviour's last command to his ,apostles4 ,if1 then1 our ,saviour himself commanded his ,apostles to baptize 'in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost1' and then added1 'he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved2 but he that believeth not shall be damned2' it really does appear that our ,saviour himself has warranted the opinion that a belief in the doctrine of the ,trinity is such a fundamental article of the ,christian faith that they who reject it do so at their own peril4 ,but you think that the anathema of our ,saviour in ,mark xvi4 #af1 had a different application from the corresponding anathema in the ,athanasian ,creed4 ,our ,saviour spoke of those to whom the ,gospel had been preached1 as appears from ,mark xvi4 #ae4 ,and if the anathema in the ,athanasian ,creed had a more extensive application1 or if it were meant to include not only those who wilfully rejected the doctrine of the ,trinity when it had been duly explained to them1 but those also to whom the doctrine had never been preached1 and whose want of belief arose merely from a want of knowledge1 ,i should likewise admit that the anathema of the ,athanasian ,creed derived no authority from ,mark xvi4 #af4 ,but ,i see no reason whatever for the opinion that the anathema of the ,athanasian ,creed includes those who have never heard of the doctrine4 ,neither the ,creed itself1 nor the circumstances under which it was #afd composed1 warrant such an opinion4 ,whoever was the author of it1 the ,creed was framed during the controversy which then distracted the whole of the ,christian ,church4 ,it applied1 therefore1 immediately and exclusively to those who were partakers in or acquainted with the controversy4 ,it could not have been originally intended to apply to those who had never heard of the controversy or the doctrine controverted4 ,it would be1 therefore1 quite uncritical to apply it at present in a way which was not originally intended4 ,nor does the language of the ,creed itself warrant any other application4 ,when it is declared necessary to hold the ,catholic faith1 and to keep the ,catholic faith1 that necessity can apply only to those to whom the ,catholic faith has been presented4 ,unless a man is previously put in possession of a thing1 he cannot be said either to hold it or to keep it4 ,surely the most conscientious clergyman who believes in our ,saviour's declaration1 recorded in ,mark xvi4 #af1 may read without scruple the similar declaration in the ,athanasian ,creed4 ,and if1 on the authority of our ,saviour1 he may read the anathema in the beginning of the ,creed1 he may1 without scruple1 read the less strongly expressed anathema in the end4 ,in the hope that1 after reading this letter1 your mind will become at ease1 ,i subscribe myself1 dear ,sir1 ,very truly yours1 ,herbert ,peterborough4 ,this letter is a tolerable specimen of the ,bishop's power of reasoning1 and very sharp it is too2 but it does not exactly meet ,mr4 ,spencer's difficulties4 ,he might object3--,what passage of ,scripture warrants our uniting together the two passages from ,st4 ,mark and ,st4 ,matthew8 ,and being presented with a thing is not exactly the same as being in possession of a thing4 ,we should have the same warrant for the remaining clauses of the ,creed as for the first three1 otherwise1 according to the ,articles1 we are not bound to receive them2 then why not erase them8' ,the ,bishop would have no resource here1 except to fall back #afe upon the ,church1 and that was not the point at issue2 so perhaps he did well not to try4 ,he uses tradition1 and ,dr4 ,blomfield authority2 but these could have no weight against a ,bible ,christian1 as ,mr4 ,spencer was then4 ,a ,catholic could very easily solve the difficulty4 ,the ,church has used these terms to express her doctrine1 and she says this is the revealed doctrine2 therefore it must be4 ,no one can be saved who does not believe the ,trinity and ,incarnation1 implicitly or explicitly2 those to whom it has never been properly proposed1 implicitly1 and those to whom it has1 explicitly4 ,some theologians will have explicit credence required of both classes1 and say that ,god would even send an angel to a savage1 if he placed no obstacle1 and reveal this mystery to him rather than that he should die without it4 ,and now it will seem very strange to say that this doctrine is less terrible than the ,protestant open-arm theory4 ,yet1 so it is1 for we allow many ,socinians and ignorant ,protestants and others to be in good faith1 and perhaps never have had this doctrine properly proposed to them4 ,we suspend our judgments with regard to them1 and say if they live well they may be saved4 ,that is more than the ,bishop of ,peterborough could allow1 according to his principles4 #aff ,,chapter ,x4 ,incidents ,and ,state ,of ,mind ,in #ahbg-bh4 ,his life1 though perpetually floating on religious discussions and doctrinal scruples1 found other matters to check its course and employ it otherwise for a few days more4 ,the family were all in a great glow of delight towards the close of the year #ahbg1 in consequence of the ,honourable ,frederick ,spencer1 who was commander of the ,talbot man-of-war1 having distinguished himself at the battle of ,navarino4 ,george1 of course1 was overjoyed2 here was his brother1 who pored over the same lesson1 played at the same games1 and contended about the same trifles as himself1 crowned with laurels and in the flush of victory4 ,george loved him dearly1 and these well-earned honours imparted a season of sunshine to the clergyman1 which all his gospel fervour had failed to do up to this4 ,lord ,spencer alludes to it in the touching letter given in a former chapter2 but like everything human1 this rose had its thorns4 ,after the letters announcing the startling determination which called forth the efforts of ecclesiastical learning quoted in the last chapter1 a great dulness fell over the family circle4 ,mr4 ,allen did not clear the atmosphere1 and ,mr4 ,spencer tells us feelingly in his ,journal that his mother did not exchange one cordial sentence with him during the whole term of her ,christmas stay at ,althorp4 ,this he felt1 but bore in the spirit of a martyr2 it was inflicted upon him for what he thought right before ,god1 and he tried to make the best of it1 wishing1 but unable1 to change the aspect of things4 ,the ,bishop of ,peterborough's letter had the effect of quieting him for some time1 in so far as he did not feel himself called #afg upon to preach against what he did not assent to1 but was content with letting it remain in abeyance4 ,the old way of settling him is again revived4 ,during the last week of ,february1 #ahbh1 he notices three or four long conversations about matrimony2 he takes the subject into consideration1 and reads the ,epistles to ,st4 ,timothy for light3 but he is not convinced1 and continues in his determination4 ,he might foresee the settlement of ideas that would result from this step1 if he considered the trouble of setting his money affairs in order1 which forced itself upon him now4 ,he says3 ,i was employed almost all day till three o'clock in putting my papers to rights4 ,i feel that ,i have been careless in all matters of business1 and this is wrong2 for it leads me to be chargeable and dependent on others1 and that a minister especially must guard himself against4 ,it greatly shortens my powers of liberality1 and it makes men despise me4 ,on all these accounts ,i trust ,i shall overcome the evil1 and be a good man of business4 ,he is as good as his word4 ,he sends a full and clear account of his affairs to his father1 and his lordship makes an arrangement that places his son in independence1 whilst he is able at the same time to get clear of all difficulties and debts incurred by his building4 ,to turn to his spiritual progress4 ,he is not a whit nearer ,catholic faith now than he was when he returned from ,italy1 except that the time is shorter4 ,on ,june #bi he says3 ,it was ,st4 ,peter's day1 and ,i preached on the pretensions of the ,pope4 ,he also holdeth a tea-party in the true ,evangelical style1 and says3 ,to-day the candle of the ,lord burnt brightly within me4 ,he buys a mare about this time1 which does not seem to be as amenable as her master would wish1 and he says thereupon3 ,this mare disappoints me rather1 and puts to shame my boasting of ,god's blessing in buying her4 ,yet ,i shall not be ashamed of my faith some day or other4 ,it was usual with him at this time1 when he had a servant to choose1 a journey to take1 or anything special to get through1 to seek the ,lord in prayer therefor1 and proceed according to the inspirations he might get at the moment4 ,bishop ,blomfield scolds him #afh heartily about this1 and shows him the folly of using one faculty for a thing which ,god has given him another for1 and proceeding in his ordinary actions without the ordinary means placed in his way4 ,this was1 of course1 a delusion of his2 but two or three disappointments convinced him of its being akin to tempting ,god4 ,he accompanies ,dr4 ,blomfield in his visitation this year also1 and he gets very severely handled by him on the score of his religious views1 in the presence also of two other clergymen4 ,the lecture turned chiefly upon the inculcation of humility1 and the subduing of that spiritual pride which the ,bishop noticed in a former communication4 ,a few days after this lecture1 which sank deeply into ,mr4 ,spencer's mind1 as a whole company were seated at dinner with the ,bishop1 a letter arrived from the ,duke of ,wellington1 announcing the translation of ,dr4 ,blomfield from ,chester to ,london4 ,this was ,july #be1 #ahbh4 ,his reflections upon this news are3 ,god be praised2 and the next day he says3 ,i wrote a sermon for to-morrow1 and spent much time in prayer for a quiet mind and superiority to the snares of ambition4 ,it was a most boisterous day1 almost continual thunder and pouring rain4 ,i found fault with a good deal said by the ,bishop in regard to his promotion1 but ,i pray that ,i may judge myself and not others4 ,he now relaxes a little in his ,puritanism2 he gives dinners1 invites guests1 and notes that he has to pray against being too particular with regard to his guests4 ,a pretty large company dine at the rectory4 ,this is an essay in parties1 and ladies are invited for the first time since he commenced housekeeping4 ,he had the ominous number of thirteen at table1 and it could not pass off without some mishap or other4 ,contrary to old wives' rules1 the servant was the unfortunate one4 ,we will let himself tell the story4 ,mrs4 ,nicholls was in great misery about breaking the dish1 which made her send up the haunch of venison upside down4 ,i have cause to be thankful for this1 as the means by which ,god will humble her4 ,the evening passed off well1 and thank ,god ,i was not careful or shy4 ,he comes across a ,baptist minister1 who so far outdid #afi him in the ,methodistic way of talking1 that he writes3 ,i consider him a very bad specimen of cant4 ,after this1 his outlandish gospelling comments upon trifles and iotas begin to disappear4 ,he becomes more rational1 gets into the ways of the world1 reads newspapers1 and is a very sensible kind of man altogether4 ,he notes in his ,journal1 here and there1 that he carries his own bundle1 and works a part of the day at manual labour in his garden4 ,he also remarks that1 the coldest day he ever remembered1 he went out without gloves or great-coat1 and was unable from numbness to write his sermon when he came home4 ,he goes on the coach next day in the same trim1 and says he wants to give an example to the poor1 and that ,god preserved him from catching cold4 ,very likely he had given the great-coat to some poor man the day before4 ,after a few complaints of quarrels among the clergy1 and the manner in which he has been treated by his family for the last three years on account of his religious scruples1 he concludes the year #ahbh with the following reflection3--,i now look back to this time a year ago1 and observe what ,i felt and wrote then1 that ,god only knows where ,i should be at present4 ,wondrously am ,i now placed still where ,i was1 and in all respects more firmly settled4 ,yet only confirmed in my disagreement with the powers of the ,church2 but they have not been willing to attend to me1 and so when my thoughts become known1 they will be more sound and influential4 ,what ,i now pray is1 that ,i may be led to a state of heart above the world1 and may live the rest of my time always longing for the presence of ,christ1 which ,i shall one day see4 ,while ,i abide in the flesh1 may it be to no purpose but the good of ,god's flock1 and may ,i be led to suffer and to do many and great things for ,his sake4 ,at this time he extends his correspondence to ,mr4 ,irving1 the founder of the ,irvingites1 and is so struck by what that gentleman says on the second coming of our ,lord1 that he begins to prepare himself for it4 ,he never let us know how far he went on in this preparation4 ,so far is he now1 ,february #ahbi1 from ,catholicity in his opinions1 that his father thinks it necessary to rebuke him #agj for the violence of a sermon he preached on the ,catholic question2 against them1 of course1 for his father was always a stanch advocate of ,emancipation4 ,little he knew that on that day twelve months he would be a ,catholic himself4 ,it is recorded in the ,journal here1 that thieves broke into the parsonage one night4 ,mr4 ,spencer heard them2 he arose1 called a servant or two1 pursued the delinquents1 and captured them4 ,this feat tells rather in favour of his bravery1 and might qualify the opinion he had of himself on this point4 ,we shall give the result of the ,creed question in his own words1 as given in the account of his conversion3-- ,my scruples about the ,athanasian ,creed returned after a sermon which ,i preached on ,trinity ,sunday1 #ahbg1 in defence of that very ,creed4 ,i observed that the arguments by which ,i defended the doctrine of the ,trinity itself were indeed founded on ,scripture1 but in attempting to prove to my hearers that a belief of this doctrine was absolutely necessary for man's salvation1 ,i had recourse to arguments independent of ,scripture1 and that no passage in ,scripture could be found which declares that whosoever will be saved must hold the orthodox faith on the ,trinity4 ,i had this difficulty on my mind for eight or nine months1 after which1 finding that ,i could not satisfy myself upon it1 ,i gave notice to my superiors that ,i could not conscientiously declare my full assent to the ,thirty-nine ,articles4 ,they attempted at first to satisfy me by arguments2 but the more ,i discussed the subject the more convinced ,i became that the ,article in question was not defensible1 and after fifteen months' further pause1 ,i made up my mind to leave off reading the ,creed in the service of my ,church1 and informed my ,bishop of my final resolution4 ,of course1 he might have taken measures to oblige me to resign my benefice1 but he thought it more prudent to take no notice of my letter2 and thus ,i remained in possession of my place till ,i embraced the ,catholic faith4 ,the point on which ,i thus found myself opposed to the ,church of ,england appears a trifling one2 but here was enough to hinder all my prospects of advancement1 and to #aga put it in the power of the ,bishop1 if at any time he had chosen to do so1 to call on me to give up my benefice4 ,it is easy to conceive that under these circumstances my mind was set free1 beyond what could be imagined in any other way1 to follow without prejudice my researches after truth4 ,i lost no opportunity of discoursing with ministers of all persuasions4 ,i called upon them all to join with me in the inquiry where was the truth1 which could be but one1 and therefore could not be in any two contrary systems of religion1 much less in all the variety of sects into which ,christians are divided in ,england4 ,i found little encouragement in any quarter to this way of proceeding1 at least among ,protestants4 ,those sectarians of a contrary persuasion to myself1 to whom ,i proposed an inquiry with me after truth1 ,i found generally ready to speak with me2 but they did not even pretend to have any disposition to examine the grounds of their own principles1 which they were determined to abide by without further hesitation4 ,my brethren of the ,established ,church equally declined joining me in my discussions with persons of other persuasions1 and disapproved of my pursuit1 saying that ,i should never convert them to our side1 and that ,i only ran the risk of being shaken myself4 ,their objections only incited me to greater diligence4 ,i considered that if what ,i held were truth1 charity required that ,i should never give over my attempts to bring others into the same way1 though ,i were to labour all my life in vain4 ,if1 on the contrary1 ,i was in any degree of error1 the sooner ,i was shaken the better4 ,i was convinced1 by the numberless exhortations of ,st4 ,paul to his disciples1 that they should be of one mind and have no divisions2 that the object which ,i had before me1 that is1 the reunion of the differing bodies of ,christians1 was pleasing to ,god2 and ,i had full confidence that ,i was in no danger of being led into error1 or suffering any harm in following it up1 as long as ,i studied nothing but to do the will of ,god in it1 and trusted to ,his ,holy ,spirit to direct me4 ,the result of all these discussions with different sects of ,protestants was a conviction that no one of us had a correct view of ,christianity4 ,we all appeared right thus far1 in #agb acknowledging ,christ as the ,son of ,god1 whose doctrines and commandments we were to follow as the way to happiness both in time and eternity2 but it seemed as if the form of doctrine and discipline established by the ,apostles had been lost sight of all through the ,church4 ,i wished1 therefore1 to see ,christians in general united in the resolution to find the way of truth and peace1 convinced that ,god would not fail to point it out to them4 ,whether or not others would seek ,his blessing with me1 ,i had great confidence that1 before long1 ,god would clear up my doubts1 and therefore my mind was not made uneasy by them4 ,i must here notice a conversation ,i had with a ,protestant minister about a year before ,i was a ,catholic1 by which my views of the use of the ,scriptures were much enlightened1 and by which1 as it will be clearly seen1 ,i was yet farther prepared to come to a right understanding of the true rule of ,christian faith proposed by the ,catholic ,church4 ,this gentleman was a zealous defender of the authority of the ,church of ,england against the various sects of ,protestant ,dissenters1 who have of late years gained so much advantage against her4 ,he perceived that while men were allowed to claim a right of interpreting the ,scriptures according to their own judgment there never could be an end of schism2 and1 therefore1 he zealously insisted on the duty of our submitting to ecclesiastical authority in controversies of faith1 maintaining that the ,spirit of ,god spoke to us through the voice of the ,church1 as well as in the written word4 ,had ,i been convinced by this part of his argument1 it would have led me to submit to the ,catholic ,church1 and not to the ,church of ,england2 and1 indeed1 ,i am acquainted with one young man1 who actually became a ,catholic through the preaching of this gentleman--following these true principles1 as he was bound to do1 to their legitimate consequences4 ,but ,i did not1 at this time1 perceive the truth of the position2 ,i yet had no idea of the existence of ,divine1 unwritten ,tradition in the ,church4 ,i could imagine no way for the discovery of the truth but persevering study of the ,scriptures1 which1 as they were the only ,divine rule of faith with which ,i was acquainted1 ,i thought must of course be sufficient for our #agc guidance1 if used with an humble and tractable spirit2 but the discourse of this clergyman led me at least to make an observation which had never struck my mind before as being of any importance1--namely1 that the system of religion which ,christ taught the ,apostles1 and which they delivered to the ,church1 was something distinct from our volume of ,scriptures4 ,the ,new ,testament ,i perceived to be a collection of accidental writings1 which1 as coming from the pens of inspired men1 ,i was assured must1 in every point1 be agreeable to the true faith2 but they neither were1 nor anywhere professed to be1 a complete and systematic account of ,christian faith and practice4 ,i was1 therefore1 in want of some further guidance on which ,i could depend4 ,i knew not that it was in the ,catholic ,church that ,i was at length to find what ,i was in search of2 but every ,catholic will see1 if ,i have sufficiently explained my case1 how well ,i was prepared to accept with joy the direction of the ,catholic ,church1 when once ,i should be convinced that she still preserved unchanged and inviolate the very form of faith taught by the ,apostles1 the knowledge of which is1 as it were1 the key to the right and sure interpretation of the written word4 ,it was in ,april1 #ahbi1 that he wrote the letter to the ,bishop which was not taken notice of4 ,he next withdrew his name from some societies--such as the ,society for ,promoting ,christian ,knowledge1 c4 ,this act so displeased ,dr4 ,blomfield1 that he writes to say ,mr4 ,spencer is no longer his chaplain4 ,at the suggestion of some member of his family1 he wrote an apology1 and was restored again to favour and to his office4 ,on ,may #bb1 #ahbi1 the ,journal suddenly breaks off1 and he did not resume it again until the #ast of ,may1 #ahdf4 ,the events of the seventeen years intervening can be gathered from his correspondence1 though1 perhaps1 not with the precision that would be desirable4 #agd ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,the ,maid ,of ,lille4 ,incidents overlapped each other so thickly1 and were of such different tendencies during the last two years of ,mr4 ,spencer's life as a minister1 that we have judged it better to give them singly1 even at the expense of a little sacrifice of the order of time4 ,one of these1 and an important one1 is selected for the subject of this chapter4 ,on the #bcrd of ,november1 #ahbg1 just before his ,athanasian scruples had risen to their height1 as he returned from his pastoral visitation1 he found a letter1 purporting to be from a gentleman in ,lille1 who was grievously troubled about the arguments for ,popery4 ,this letter contains little more than a statement of tendencies towards ,catholicity in the writer1 with extracts from ,papin1 ,de la ,tolrance des ,protestants1 to account for them4 ,the extracts draw a parallel between the ,church and a well-regulated kingdom1 in many of her doctrines and chief points of her discipline4 ,it was anonymous1 and reasons were assigned for withholding the writer's name4 ,mr4 ,spencer1 ever anxious to counsel the doubtful1 lost no time in answering1 and sent off a long letter to his unknown friend by that evening's post4 ,it was shortly after this that he wrote the letters to his father and ,dr4 ,blomfield about the resignation of his preferment1 and whether the ,lille letter had anything to do with increasing his doubts1 or not1 is a question4 ,it had1 however1 one effect3 it made him anxious to find out what kind of people ,catholics were2 and an incident that occurred about the same time aided this curiosity4 ,there were some soldiers quartered in ,northampton1 and1 as ,mr4 ,spencer was talking to some of the officers in the court-yard of the barracks1 the #age ,catholic priest entered1 to look after such of the soldiers as might require his spiritual care4 ,he saw the priest1 and spoke to him2 and1 finding out the object of his mission1 kindly introduced him to one of the officers1 who1 in consideration of ,mr4 ,spencer1 got all due attention paid to the priest2 and the good parson was assured that he succeeded to his satisfaction before he left the place4 ,a few days afterwards he met the priest1 who thanked him for his charity1 and said it was ,providence sent him there at such a time1 and arranged that his duty could be discharged among the soldiers with ease and honour1 which had often-times to be done amid insults1 or at least coldness on the part of the military authorities4 ,mr4 ,spencer began to think1 ,really these ,papists believe in ,providence6 ,this wonderful discovery made him think they believed a little more also1 and that they were not quite such idolaters as he had been taught to suppose4 ,another letter from the ,lille correspondent confirmed him in this1 and shook him in many of his older notions4 ,he dines1 in a few days after this despatch1 with the celebrated ,dr4 ,fletcher and a ,miss ,armytage1 at ,lady ,throckmorton's4 ,he has a long conversation with the last of the ,douay controversialists after dinner2 but the only effect produced is this3 ,i am thankful for the kindness of both those ,papists4 ,the ,lord reward them by showing them ,his truth4 ,he invites ,dr4 ,fletcher to dinner at ,brington--a favour the ,doctor avails himself of on the #bgth ,march1 #ahbh4 ,another letter from his friend at ,lille makes him acknowledge that he has not had proper notions of ,catholicity2 in his own words3 ,i expected easily to convince him that the ,catholic ,church was full of errors2 but he answered my arguments4 4444 ,i discovered by means of this correspondence that ,i had never duly considered the principles of our ,reformation2 that my objections to the ,catholic ,church were prejudices adopted from the sayings of others1 not the result of my own observation4 ,instead of gaming the advantage in this controversy1 ,i saw1 and ,i owned to my correspondent1 that a great change had been produced in myself4 ,i no longer desired to persuade him to keep in the communion of the ,protestant ,church1 #agf but rather determined and promised to follow up the same inquiries with him1 if he would make his name known to me1 and only pause awhile before he joined the ,catholics4 ,but ,i heard no more of him till after my conversion and arrival at ,rome1 when ,i discovered that my correspondent was a lady1 who had herself been converted a short time before she wrote to me4 ,i never heard her name before1 ,footnote #g nor am ,i aware that she had ever seen my person2 but ,god moved her to desire and pray for my salvation1 which she also undertook to bring about in the way ,i have related4 ,i cannot say that ,i entirely approve of the stratagem to which she had recourse1 but her motive was good1 and ,god gave success to her attempt3 for it was this which first directed my attention particularly to inquire about the ,catholic religion1 though she lived not to know the accomplishment of her wishes and prayers4 ,she died at ,paris1 a year before my conversion1 when about to take the veil as a nun of the ,sacred ,heart2 and ,i trust ,i have in her an intercessor in ,heaven1 as she prayed for me so fervently on earth4 ,footnote #g3 ,the lady's name was ,miss ,dolling4 ,this was the last of ,f4 ,ignatius's romances1 and a beautiful one it was4 ,as it may be interesting to see what was in those famous letters1 we think it well to give a few extracts3-- ,the line of the lady's argument is this4 ,that ,scripture without ,tradition is quite insufficient for salvation4 ,we cannot know anything about the ,scriptures themselves1 their composition1 inspiration1 interpretation1 without ,tradition4 ,besides the ,new ,testament was not the text-book of the ,apostles--it is a collection of some things they were inspired to write for the edification of the first ,christians and others who had not seen our ,lord2 and the ,epistles are a number of letters from inspired men bound up together in one volume4 ,the body of doctrine1 with its bearings1 symmetry1 extent1 and obligation1 was delivered orally by the ,apostles1 and the ,epistles must be consonant to that system as well as explanatory of portions of it4 ,only by the unbroken succession of pastors from the ,apostles to the present time1 can we have any safeguard as #agg to what we are to believe1 and how we are to believe4 ,the ,apostles and their successors were to teach all nations1 and ,christ promised them and them alone the unerring guidance of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,she then assigns to tradition the office of bearing testimony to what the doctrines of the ,church have been1 and are at present4 ,the definitions of ,councils are simple declarations that such and such is the belief then and from the beginning of the ,catholic ,church4 ,they state what is1 not invent what is to be4 ,now history1 or written tradition1 as contra-distinguished from ,scripture1 testifies to every single tenet of the ,catholic ,church--her creeds1 liturgy1 sacraments1 jurisdiction4 ,it testifies unerringly1 too1 even from the objections of heretics1 to the fact that this ,church has been always believed divine in her origin1 divine in her teaching1 infallible and unerring in her solemn pronouncements4 ,this is fact1 and who can gainsay it8 ,this peculiar way of arguing1 by making tradition or history bear witness to the existence of the ,church1 as well as to what she always declared to be her doctrine1 is a very felicitous shape to cast her arguments into4 ,it draws the line between faith and the evidence of faith4 ,evidence1 human evidence of the first grade of moral certainty1 says3 ,the ,church believed this1 and that1 and the other1 at such and such times1 and not as a new1 but as an old doctrine1 that came down from age to age since the ,apostles4 ,the same evidence says3 that she believed them as revealed by ,god1 and that she could not be mistaken on account of ,his promise4 ,that she never swerved1 and never will swerve1 from one single article which she has once believed4 ,if this ,church be not ,the ,church of ,christ1 ,i ask you where is it to be found8 ,in the second letter she says3 ,after much reflection ,i must confess to you their system appears reasonable1 natural1 and convincing4 ,with us1 they consider the ,holy ,scriptures as the most respectable testimony of our faith1 and they profess a strict adherence to them2 they have for them the greatest respect2 and the ,catholic priests support from the ,bible what they #agh teach the people1 and ,i am certain that they study and understand the ,scriptures as much as our ministers4 ,the principal difference ,i remark is1 that they do not undertake to interpret them according to their own opinions3 they say that the inspired writings are replete with mysteries1 which the eye of man cannot penetrate2 and that ,he alone who gave them is able to comprehend their sublimity2 consequently1 to follow the impulse of reason in explaining them1 would be incurring the danger of falling into error1 and leading others into the same path4 ,for this cause the ,catholic minister will not suffer the ,holy ,scriptures to be separated from the instruction of their predecessors up to the ,apostles2 not that they by any means give the word of man precedence to the ,word of ,god1 since they believe that man alone cannot explain it1 for 'who1' they ask1 'assisted at the council of the ,almighty8' ,but they believe that those who heard the ,apostles preach1 understood the true meaning of their words2 and that their immediate successors1 especially1 educated by them1 and who taught the ,gospel during the life of their instructors1 necessarily understood the meaning of their writings1 the doctrine of which was undoubtedly conformable to what they taught verbally4 4444 ,st4 ,paul1 in his ,epistles to the ,colossians1 informs us that the ,gospel was preached to all the world4 ,this being the case1 ,i see no possibility of introducing any new doctrine4 ,the ,apostles threatened with eternal punishment those who did not believe what they taught in the name of ,jesus ,christ4 ,and whoever would have the temerity to add to the primitive doctrine they visited with a like anathema4 ,tell me1 now1 how could the ,church have introduced such a doctrine as that of the ,real ,presence1 after a priest has pronounced the words1 ,this is my body8 ,how is it possible that the faithful could reconcile themselves to the idea of acknowledging and adoring ,jesus ,christ present on the altar1 as ,he was in the manger at ,bethlehem1 and as ,he is in ,heaven at the right hand of ,his ,father1 if this doctrine had not always been received and believed as it is at present by the ,roman ,catholic ,church8 #agi ,christians who knew the value of salvation could not so easily be deceived2 several among them would have remonstrated against this superstition and idolatry4 ,do we find that they have done so8 ,i imagine myself in idea at the period of the ,reformation1 and consider the belief and customs of that time4 ,all ,europe1 the provinces of ,asia and ,africa which had not embraced ,mahomedanism1 admitted and believed the contrary to what ,calvin taught1 especially concerning the ,lord's ,supper4 ,i should be glad to hear your impartial opinion on this subject4 ,where did ,calvin find this doctrine8 ,as ,i observe1 he did not learn it in the schools1 nor in any book1 nor in his own family1 nor in the temple of ,god2 the innovation was universally opposed2 a million voices remonstrated against his impiety4 ,what right had he to be believed8 ,he proposed only the interpretation which he gave to the words of ,jesus ,christ1 ,this is my body4 ,he supported his opinion in no other way1 he proved it by no miracles1 and therefore did not deserve belief1 since he gave no proofs of a divine mission4 ,he was but a man1 and1 what is more1 one of whom historians do not speak as being virtuous4 ,tell me1 then1 how can ,i acknowledge that he possessed the ,holy ,spirit1 knew the meaning of ,scripture4 4444 listen to and follow a young man in his opinion and oppose the rest of the world4 ,could that be wisdom8 ,but supposing1 my dear sir1 the ,church to be in error1 or even liable to err1 how can we possibly profess to believe any mystery8 ,for to have faith1 it is impossible to doubt or hesitate4 ,and if ,i believe not1 ,i am lost4 ,i am already condemned4 ',he that believeth not is already judged4' ,if the ,church be liable to error1 may ,i not reply to our ministers3--',i doubt the truth of what you preach3 ,i am not obliged to believe you'8 ,you tell me ,i am not obliged to believe what you so charitably wrote to me1 and many passages of which letter have sensibly affected me3 to whom1 then1 must ,i have recourse8 ,you give me reason to conclude that you are not certain of the assistance of the ,holy ,ghost1 as you do not oblige me to believe what you #ahj say1 but you desire me to compare your words with the ,scriptures1 and to reject them if ,i don't find them conformable to the ,word of ,god4 ,how can ,i imagine myself more certain than you that ,i rightly interpret them1 or that ,i have the assistance of ,heaven8 ,i must continue to doubt during the rest of my life1 and remain an unbeliever4 ,you say1 'if a man will do ,his will1 he shall know of the doctrine whether it be of ,god4' ,to do the will of ,god is certainly to listen to those ,god has sent to teach us4 4444 ,she quotes several authorities bearing witness in their day that the supremacy of the ,pope was then believed to be of divine right1 and closes the list with ,sir ,thomas ,more4 ,by the grace of ,god ,i have always professed the ,catholic religion4 ,having1 however1 often heard the power of the ,pope was of human institution1 ,i resolved to weigh the matter without1 at the same time1 injuring my faith4 ,for seven years ,i followed up this study3 ,i drank at the fountain head3 ,i went to the origin of things4 ,at length ,i found that the pontifical power is not only useful and necessary--but1 strictly lawful and of divine appointment4 444 ,i cannot admit the system of particular inspiration1 since ,i see many1 pretending to be inspired1 fall into manifest contradictions1 and consequently into error4 4444 ,i admit with you that divine authority must fix the faith of men4 ,where am ,i to find it8 ,it must exist somewhere4 4444 ,the third letter is partly a continuation of the second1 and partly on a new plan2 so a few extracts from it must be welcome1 especially as it really did such work upon poor ,mr4 ,spencer's mind4 4444 ,it is certain that ,jesus ,christ founded a ,church upon earth for the salvation of man2 where1 then1 is it8 ,this is certainly the whole question among the different sects opposed to each other4 4444 ,i must necessarily enter the true ,church1 for ,i cannot be saved in that which is false4 4444 4444 ,i am persuaded the ,catholics do not found their belief on the opinions and interpretations of men2 #aha their authority is ,jesus ,christ1 ,god ,himself2 certainly that must be infallible1 and the reason of man ought to bend to it4 ,they believe in such and such doctrines because ,jesus ,christ and ,his ,apostles taught them2 this is the simple and reasonable motive of their faith4 ,the doctrine of ,jesus' and ,his ,apostles is not an opinion1 but a fact1 which ,i see so completely proved by an assemblage of facts and circumstances so striking1 that1 not to be convinced of its truth1 would be to renounce all common sense4 4444 ,the fact that the ,catholic ,church is in possession of the true doctrine is a fact proved like all other historical facts2 it is proved by a weight of testimony given by persons who saw and heard themselves4 ,observe1 it is not the opinions or interpretations given by those persons which are advanced as proofs1 as you suppose in your letter2 but all these holy persons have shed their blood to support and defend the truth1 not of their opinions1 but of what they have seen or heard4 ,i can understand that fanaticism would induce a man to sacrifice his life to support a favourite opinion1 but it has never yet been seen that any one would lose his life to prove that he had seen or heard things which he1 in fact1 had not4 ,tradition is not1 therefore1 as you suppose1 the opinions and interpretations of the ,fathers1 but their testimony to what they saw1 heard1 taught1 and practised4 ,in the same way1 the general ,councils have fixed the sense of ,scripture only by declaring the fact that such has been the universal doctrine since the ,apostles4 ,it is the assemblage of these proofs that brings conviction to the soul2 they must all be seen united and compared1 and this is undoubtedly a laborious study4 ,the ,catholics believe that their ,church is in possession of the doctrine taught by ,christ1 and listen to it as they would to ,him4 ,judge from this how strong and lively must be the faith of a ,catholic1 how firm and immovable1 since the voice of their ,church is the voice of their ,saviour1 and the interval of eighteen hundred years disappears as they every day hear the voice of ,jesus4 ,there cannot be any division in this ,church4 ,it being an historical fact that the same doctrine has been taught from the beginning by the #ahb infallible mouth of ,jesus ,christ and ,his ,apostles1 it follows that all must yield to that authority1 and that the rash individual who would dispute1 disputes as it were with ,jesus ,christ1 and consequently ought to be driven from the flock4 4444 ,the ,catholics say3--without the ,scriptures we should not hear the ,saviour speak1 but without tradition we should not know what ,he says4 4444 ,why are not our eyes opened--having every day proof that private interpretation is at fault8--let us try4 ,take your ,bible1 and read whatever passage you please2 ,i also will read it4 ,let us both1 then1 invoke the assistance of ,god1 and do you candidly think our inspirations would agree as to the sense of the passage8 ,i think not4 ,however1 should we differ1 who is to decide which is in error8 4444 ,i see by your letters you have not always had the same opinion on all points that you have at this time4 444 ,what warrant have you that you are better inspired now than before8 ,inspiration does not cause change of opinion4 4444 ,we have in our country written laws of ancient date4 ,suppose some persons1 even of great learning1 were to give them a different interpretation to that hitherto received1 would not they be confounded by showing them1 by means of history or tradition1 that the ,king himself who made these laws1 his ministers and successors1 have always understood and executed them in a different sense4 ,that is the way ,catholics avoid all difficulty4 4444 ,you are in error as to the ,pope if you suppose that formerly1 or now1 ,catholics give him their faith1 as ,calvinists do to ,calvin1 c4 ,i thought the same4 ,the ,pope is simply the chief administrator2 the doctrines he has the stewardship of do not come from him or any other ,pope1 as that of ,calvinism from ,calvin2 it comes from ,jesus ,christ1 from ,his ,apostles1 and from their churches throughout the world4 ,an administrator is not the master of the doctrines with which he is entrusted4 ,the ,pope and ,bishops are charged to preserve the doctrine1 to propagate it and #ahc defend it against all attacks of the enemies of ,jesus ,christ4 4444 ,you interpret the text1 'lo6 ,i am with you always1' that ,god promised ,his ,holy ,spirit to every individual2 but that ,i am inclined by no means to admit4 ,the whole of the passage must be considered4 ,it was not to every one ,he addressed these words2 it was only to ,his ,apostles that ,he said1 ',go and teach all nations 4444 behold1 ,i am with you4' ,from this it is clearly to the ,apostles and their successors that ,he promised the ,holy ,spirit4 ,i see in these words that they received from ,god himself the formal order or mission to go and preach1 not what they found written1 but what ,he had taught4 4444 ,i see also by these words that sovereigns of this world have not received the power of sending ministers to teach the ,gospel1 and certainly by so doing they usurp the power given to the ,apostles and their successors4 ,what we have to find is1 to whom ,god has said1 ',go and teach4' ,it is physically impossible that it should concern our ministers1 since they are established by temporal authority4 ,about the ,reformers she says3-- ,can man reform the work of his ,creator8 ,you say you will never claim any name but that of ,christian1 but still it is not with you a matter of indifference what communion you belong to2 therefore1 this being the case1 it is not sufficient to bear the name of ,christian1 and say we trust in ,jesus2 we must be sure that the doctrines we adopt are really his4 ,for it is not being a ,christian to embrace doctrines contrary to those given by our ,saviour2 it is assuming the name of ,christian without being certain we are so2 we must find if we are in communion with ,his ,church4 ,without faith there is no salvation2 this cannot mean a faith of our own choosing1 but what ,god has been pleased to command we should believe4 4444 ,many of our ministers are ignorant or wicked enough to accuse ,catholics of idolatry4 ,it is ,jesus ,christ they adore really present though invisible in the ,eucharist4 ,they very loudly exclaim among us against images1 c4 ,all this is nothing2 on all sides that ,church presents images to #ahd render their faith more lively1 and to induce them thereby to adore ,god the more truly in spirit and in truth4 ,these are arguments of no little strength1 to say the least of them4 ,it would be a pleasure to transcribe the letters in extenso1 but the three cover thirty-two pages of closely-written letter-paper1 and would consequently take up too much room in a biography4 ,some sceptically-inclined person will probably say1--she had some ,jesuit or other astute ,romish priest at her elbow when she wrote these letters4 ,the writer can only tell his reader that he verily suspects as much himself4 ,but before any of us jump at a conclusion1 it might be well to consider this sentence which occurs towards the end of the third letter4 ,do not think ,i am under the influence of some priests who have induced me to undertake this examination4 ,it was a lawyer first awakened my curiosity1 telling me you may read in vain and argue--you will not1 you cannot find the truth unless you pray for it as the free gift of ,god2 and to obtain this you must be humble1 your conscience must be as pure as you can make it3 ,god alone can be your help2 pray to ,him unceasingly4 ,however we may think about their real author1 the matter itself is very good1 and their consequence to ,mr4 ,spencer was of vital importance4 ,there are no rough copies of his answers to the unknown to be found among his papers1 or it would be very interesting to place them side by side with what we have quoted4 ,the result of these letters we have in his account of his conversion3-- ,after this period ,i entertained the opinion that the ,reformers had done wrong in separating from the original body of the ,church2 at any rate1 ,i was convinced that ,protestants who succeeded them were bound to make a reunion with it4 ,i still conceived that many errors and corruptions had been introduced among ,catholics1 and ,i did not imagine that ,i could ever conform to their faith1 or join in their practices1 without some alterations on their part2 but ,i trusted that the time might not be distant when ,god would inspire all ,christians with a spirit of peace and concord1 which would make ,protestants anxiously seek to be #ahe re-united to their brethren1 and ,catholics willing to listen to reason1 and to correct those abuses in faith1 and discipline which kept their brethren from joining them4 ,to the procuring such a happy termination to the miserable schisms which had rent the ,church1 ,i determined to devote my life4 ,i now lost no opportunity of conversations with ,protestants and ,catholics4 ,my object with both was to awaken them to a desire of unity with each other2 to satisfy myself the more clearly where was the exact path of truth in which it was desirable that we should all walk together2 and then to persuade all to correct their respective errors in conformity with the perfect rule1 which ,i had no doubt the ,lord would in due time point out to me1 and to all who were ready to follow ,his will disinterestedly4 ,i thought that when ,catholics were at length willing to enter with me on these discussions with candour1 they would at once begin to see the errors which to me appeared so palpable in their system3 but ,i was greatly surprised to find them all so fixed in their principles1 that they gave me no prospect of re-union except on condition of others submitting unreservedly to them2 and1 at the same time1 ,i could see in their ordinary conduct and manner of disputing with me nothing to make one suspect them of insincerity1 or of want of sufficient information of the grounds of their belief4 ,these repeated conversations increased more and more my desire to discover the true road1 which ,i saw that ,i1 at least for one1 was ignorant of3 but ,i still imagined that ,i could see such plain marks of difference between the ,catholic ,church of the present day and the ,church of the primitive ages as described in ,scripture1 that ,i repeatedly put aside the impression which the arguments of ,catholics1 and1 yet more1 my observation of their character1 made upon me1 and ,i still held up my head in the controversy4 #ahf ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,ambrose ,lisle ,phillipps4 ,the close and warm friendship between ,father ,ignatius and ,mr4 ,phillipps has scarcely a parallel in ancient or modern history4 ,they became acquainted in #ahbi2 and until death suspended their mutual communication for awhile1 they ever wrote1 spoke1 and thought1 with more than a brotherly--ay1 more than any human or natural affection4 ,the ,christian patriotism of each1 which prayed and laboured to bring their countrymen to the blessings they themselves had received1 may have fostered this beautiful love2 and even the different spheres in1 as well as means by1 which they felt themselves called to prosecute the work of their predilection may have helped to keep it ever warm and new2 but there was a something in it which reminds one of ,david and ,jonathan1 that spread over it a grace and splendour far above what it is given us now and then to behold4 ,this chapter will show the rise of their mutual affection1 and show where lay the basis of the edifice gratitude and charity helped to fashion4 ,father ,ignatius says1 in the account of his conversion3-- ,near the end of the year #ahbi ,i was introduced to young ,mr4 ,phillipps1 eldest son of a rich gentleman in ,leicestershire1 whom ,i had often heard spoken of as a convert to the ,catholic religion4 ,i had for a long time been curious to see him1 that ,i might observe the mode of reasoning by which he had been persuaded into what ,i still thought so great an error4 ,we spent five hours together in the house of the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,foley1 ,catholic ,missionary in my neighbourhood1 with whom ,i had already had much intercourse4 ,i was interested by the ardent zeal of this #ahg young man in the cause of his faith4 ,i had previously imagined that he must have been ignorant on the subject of religion1 and that he had suffered himself to be led blindly by others2 but he answered all my objections about his own conversion with readiness and intelligence4 ,i could not but see that it had been in him the result of his own diligent investigations4 ,i was delighted with what ,i could observe of his character4 ,i was more than ever inflamed with a desire to be united in communion with persons in whom ,i saw such clear signs of the ,spirit of ,god2 but yet my time was not fully come4 ,i fancied1 by his conversation1 that he had principles and ideas inconsistent with what ,i had learned from ,scripture2 and in a few days ,i again put aside the uneasiness which this meeting had occasioned1 and continued to follow my former purpose1 only with increased resolution to come at satisfaction4 ,he was1 in the meanwhile1 much interested in my case4 ,he recommended me to the prayers of some religious communities1 and soon after invited me to his father's house that we might continue our discourses4 ,i was happy at the prospect of this meeting1 and full of hopes that it would prove satisfactory to me2 but ,i left home without any idea of the conclusion to which it pleased ,god to bring me so soon4 ,mr4 ,phillipps wrote to him3-- ,my ,dear ,sir1--,we expect the ,bishop of ,lichfield here on the #beth ,january1 and ,i have ventured to hope that ,i might be able to induce you to come here at that time1 to meet him and stay the week4 ,i hope so the more1 as ,i think your conversation might induce him1 as well as my father1 to think more seriously on that awful subject on which we conversed when ,i had the great happiness of being introduced to you at ,northampton4 ,i assure you1 a day has not passed without my offering up my unworthy prayers to ,almighty ,god in your behalf2 and ,i cannot refrain from again saying1 that ,i hope one day we shall be united in the same faith of the ,one ,holy and ,apostolic ,church of ,jesus ,christ4 ,how great is the consolation to belong to that holy ,church which alone ,jesus ,christ has founded1 which alone ,he has illustrated with a never-failing succession of #ahh pastors and of miracles1 from which all others have separated1 and out of which ,i find in the ,holy ,scriptures no covenanted promise of salvation6 ,the ,catholic ,church alone has converted those nations which have been brought to the faith of ,christ2 and as1 on the one hand1 no man could at this moment be a ,protestant had not ,luther and the other ,reformers existed1 so1 on the other1 neither ,luther nor any succeeding ,protestant could derive any knowledge of ,christianity but from the ,catholic ,church4 ,how sublime are the promises of ,christ1 ',upon this ,rock ,i will build ,my ,church1 and the gates of ,hell shall not prevail against it4' 4444 ',going1 therefore1 teach ye all nations4' 4444 ',and lo6 ,i am with you all days1 even unto the end of the world4' ,now to what ,church was this promise made 7a promise which involves infallibility2 for it would be blasphemy to say that the ,god of ,truth could commission a ,church to teach the world1 if that ,church could possibly teach error78 ,certainly not to ,churches 7sects1 ,i should say7 which separated from the parent ,church fifteen hundred years after the promise was given1 and therefore came into existence fifteen hundred years too late to be the ,church of ,christ4 ,and to what do the sects have recourse8 ,to groundless accusations of the ,church of ,god1 involving the charge of idolatry2 but this very charge condemns them1 'ex ore tuo judico te4' for1 by saying that the ,church fell into idolatry1 and that that justifies their separation1 they admit that there was a time when the ,church was not guilty of idolatry4 ,now how are the promises of ,christ verified1 if ,his ,church could ever become idolatrous8 ,i find in no part of ,scripture any prediction that the ,church of ,christ should ever become idolatrous1 and that then it should be lawful to separate from her4 ,christ said simply1 ',i am with you all days1' and 'he that believeth and is baptised shall be saved1 and he that believeth not shall be condemned4' ,it is in vain to urge that ,st4 ,paul speaks of the 'man of sin1' and of 'a falling away1'--he speaks not of the ,church2 and the very expression 'a falling away' shows that it is not the ,church1 but sects1 to which he alludes--for the ,church never fell away from any previous ,church1--this is matter of #ahi history2 but all the sects1 all schismatics1 all heretics1 fell away from the ,catholic ,church of ,christ1--this is equally matter of history4 ,no4 ,st4 ,paul1 the ever-glorious apostle and doctor of the ,gentiles1 spoke of ,arius1 ,luther1 ,calvin1 ,knox1 and ,henry ,,viii41 and all other heresiarchs1 all of whom did apostatize and 'fall away1' and have by their schisms and endless divisions1 and the spirit of infidelity resulting from them1 paved the way for the ,man of ,sin1 the great ,antichrist1 who may perhaps shortly appear1 the last development of ,heresy and ,liberalism4 ,but how shall sectaries take refuge in the mysterious predictions of the ,apocalypse8 ,as well might that atrocious assassin who killed ,henry ,,iv4 find some excuse in the hidden words of that volume4 ,but ,i might pursue the question still further4 ,what right have sects to the ,bible8 ,jesus ,christ gave it to us1 and these men have stolen our book4 ,if they say ,he did not give it to us1 ,i reply1 then they ought to cease to believe that ,jesus ,christ ever existed1 for that is no more a matter of history1 nor a more certain fact1 than ,his commission to ,his ,church to teach all nations all truth4 ,but ,i must conclude4 ,i have not written all this without some fear2 but1 my dear ,mr4 ,spencer1 ,i know it is a subject which is deeply interesting to you1 and1 therefore1 however ill ,i may have said it1 ,i have said it with the less hesitation4 ,will you write me a line to say if you can come here8 ,i do hope you will4 ,my father says he had the pleasure once of meeting you at ,mr4 ,thornton's4 ,believe me1 my dear ,mr4 ,spencer1 ,most sincerely yours1 ,ambrose ,lisle ,phillipps4 ,clarendon ,park1 ,loughbro'1 ,dec4 #cj4 ,the letter in which ,father ,ignatius signified his acceptance of this invitation is still extant1 and was lent by ,mr4 ,phillipps to the ,passionists for this ,life4 ,it is interesting1 as the last vibration of the needle to the pole of ,catholic truth1 as well as for the idea it gives of his state of mind at that time4 ,we give it1 therefore1 in full4 ,he wrote it from #aij ,althorp1 where the family were assembled1 as usual1 for the ,christmas holidays4 ,althorp1 ,jan4 #d1 #ahcj4 ,my ,dear ,sir1--,i received your kind invitation to ,garendon on ,saturday2 but ,i thought it best to postpone answering it for a day or two1 that ,i might consider what ,i had better do4 ,if the visit which you propose to me had been an ordinary one1 ,i suppose ,i should have declined it for the present1 as ,i believe my father and mother will be at ,althorp till about the #beth ,january1 and ,i seldom go out when they are here4 ,but as you invite me in the hope1 and with a desire1 that good may be done by my going1 ,i believe ,i should be sorry afterwards if ,i refused4 ,i therefore have told my father of my intention1 and1 if nothing happens to prevent me1 ,i will be with you on ,monday the #beth4 ,as to the hour of my arrival1 ,i cannot just now tell how the coaches run between ,northampton and ,loughborough2 but ,i conclude ,i shall be with you in good time4 ,and now that ,i have determined to go1 ,i am really thankful that another opportunity of conversing with you is given me so soon2 and ,i trust that our intercourse will be blessed for our own good and that of others4 ,and if the step you have taken in becoming a ,roman ,catholic is correct1 according to the will of ,christ1 ,i have no doubt that my conversation with you will be of use in drawing me nearer to the right point4 ,if1 as ,i still am convinced1 there is some error in your views1 let us agree in hoping that our intercourse may be likewise profitable to you4 ,i have been confirmed1 by every conversation which ,i have had with ,roman ,catholics1 in the persuasion that there is something materially wrong in what we may call the ,protestant system2 and ,i have spoken my mind to this effect as often as occasion has been given me4 ,but if our union with the ,roman ,catholic ,church involves a declaration of my belief of all that she teaches1 and a submission to all her authority1 as their subjects are set forth in ,bossuet's ,exposition and ,catechism1 ,i am not as yet one of the body2 and ,i am reduced to the conviction that somewhere or other there is an error among #aia you4 ,one thing ,i have learnt in the course of these inquiries is that the ,scriptures of the ,new ,testament are not1 as ,i formerly used to regard them through want of consideration1 the formal canon of the ,christian faith4 ,it is as clear to me as ,i suppose you could wish it to be1 that the oral tradition of ,christ to ,peter and the other ,apostles1 and that of the ,apostles to the ,churches1 is the rule of ,christian doctrine1 and with all my heart ,i seek for the knowledge of what they taught1 and have been frequently struck with the desirableness of a clear and definite authority to which we might refer1 when ,i have observed the mischief into which ,christians have fallen by following each his own judgment4 ,i do not see how ,i should be stopped from at once becoming ,catholic1 under this impression1 if it was not that on comparing the state of the doctrine and discipline of the ,roman ,church with what the ,scriptures plainly teach me of the state of the ,apostolic ,church1 and the method of their doctrine1 ,i see such an obvious and plain difference1 and ,i cannot be convinced but that1 between their time and that of the ,council of ,trent1 improper use has been made of the ,church's authority4 ,i am waiting to learn what is the right way1 which ,god knows and ,he alone2 and ,i can only hope for ,his guidance of me into the right way by standing ready for conviction when the means of it are offered to me4 ,i declare myself to be in doubt4 ,but that doubt gives me no uneasiness1 for my hope of salvation is simply founded on ,jesus ,christ crucified2 whom ,i expect to meet1 as one of ,his redeemed ones1 when ,he returns4 ,it is not any works of righteousness which ,i can do1 nor any outward profession of doctrine which ,i can make1 that can justify me4 ,i am justified freely by the grace of ,god through faith in ,jesus ,christ1 to whom ,i give myself1 to learn of ,him and follow ,him whithersoever ,he leadeth4 ,you will find me as open to instruction and conviction as you seemed to think me at ,mr4 ,foley's2 and ,i will weigh what you say1 though you should decline to meet me on the same terms1 and declare yourself determined to give your mind no more to inquiry4 ,yet1 for your own sake and the sake of others1 who will of course be more disposed to attend to you if they see you #aib candid and still humble and doubtful of your own judgment1 ,i wish you to resolve that you will meet me as ,i come to you1 determined that we will1 with the blessing of ,god1 come to one mind1 at the cost of all our respective prejudices4 ,we should not meet as polemics determined on victory1 but in the spirit of meekness and mutual forbearance4 ,then ,god1 who sees the heart1 if he sees us truly thus disposed1 will know how to make his truth shine clearly to us both4 ,above all1 let us pray for each other1 and for all1 but especially those who most nearly belong to us1 and be encouraged by the promise1 ',if any two of you shall agree as touching anything that ye shall ask1 on earth it shall be done for them of ,my ,father1 who is in heaven4' ,pray give my respectful compliments to your father1 whom ,i remember well meeting once at ,brock ,hall1 and of whom ,i have often heard the ,thorntons speak with great regard2 and to carry to him my best thanks for his kind permission to you to receive me in his house4 ,perhaps ,i shall write to the ,bishop of ,lichfield1 to tell him that ,i expect to meet him there4 ,i hope nothing will prevent his coming4 ,and if we are allowed to have freedom of conversation with him on these things1 which ,i pray to ,god may be given us1 ,i must particularly interest you to hear and consider what he says with meekness and humility1 though you may have the clearest conviction that he is in error4 ,surely his age and rank1 and the work to which he has sincerely devoted himself1 and his relation to you1 make this a double duty2 and1 by acting so1 you will not be hurt1 for though you may be perplexed for awhile1 ,god will not suffer you to lose one point of what is really good1 but will finally establish you the more firmly for acting in this humble spirit4 ,believe me1 dear ,sir1 ,yours most sincerely1 ,george ,spencer4 ,he relates1 in the ,account of his ,conversion1 the effects of this visit3-- ,on ,sunday1 #bdth ,january1 #ahcj1 ,i preached in my church1 and in the evening took leave of my family for the #aic week1 intending to return on the ,saturday following to my ordinary duties at home4 ,but our ,lord ordered better for me4 ,during the week ,i spent on this visit ,i passed many hours daily in conversation with ,phillipps1 and was satisfied beyond all my expectations with the answers he gave to the different questions ,i proposed1 about the principal tenets and practices of ,catholics4 ,during the week we were in company with several other ,protestants1 and among them some distinguished clergymen of the ,church of ,england1 who occasionally joined in our discussions4 ,i was struck with observing how the advantage always appeared on his side in the arguments which took place between them1 notwithstanding their superior age and experience2,footnote #h and ,i saw how weak was the cause in behalf of which ,i had hitherto been engaged2 ,i felt ashamed of arguing any longer against what ,i began to see clearly could not be fairly disproved4 ,i now openly declared myself completely shaken1 and1 though ,i determined to take no decided step until ,i was entirely convinced1 ,i determined to give myself no rest till ,i was satisfied1 and had little doubt now of what the result would be4 ,but yet ,i thought not how soon ,god would make the truth clear to me4 ,i was to return home1 as ,i have said1 on ,saturday4 ,phillipps agreed to accompany me on the day previous to ,leicester1 where we might have further conversation with ,father ,caestryck1 the ,catholic missionary established in that place4 ,i imagined that ,i might take some weeks longer for consideration1 but ,mr4 ,caestryck's conversation that afternoon overcame all my opposition4 ,he explained to me1 and made me see1 that the way to come at the knowledge of the true religion is not to contend1 as men are disposed to do1 about each individual point1 but to submit implicitly to the authority of ,christ1 and of those to whom ,he has committed the charge of ,his flock4 ,he set before me the undeniable but wonderful fact of the agreement of the ,catholic ,church all over the world1 in one faith1 under one head2 he showed me the assertions of ,protestants1 that the ,catholic ,church had altered her doctrines1 were #aid not supported by evidence2 he pointed out the wonderful1 unbroken chain of the ,roman ,pontiffs2 he observed to me how in all ages the ,church1 under their guidance1 had exercised an authority1 undisputed by her children1 of cutting off from her communion all who opposed her faith and disobeyed her discipline4 ,i saw that her assumption of this power was consistent with ,christ's commission to ,his ,apostles to teach all men to the end of the world2 and ,his declaration that those who would not hear the pastors of ,his ,church rejected ,him4 ,what right1 then1 thought ,i1 had ,luther and his companions to set themselves against the united voice of the ,church8 ,i saw that he rebelled against the authority of ,god when he set himself up as an independent guide4 ,he was bound to obey the ,catholic ,church--how then should ,i not be equally bound to return to it8 ,and need ,i fear that ,i should be led into error by trusting to those guides to whom ,christ himself thus directed me8 ,no6 ,i thought this impossible4 ,full of these impressions1 ,i left ,mr4 ,caestryck's house to go to my inn1 whence ,i was to return home next morning4 ,phillipps accompanied me1 and took this last occasion to impress on me the awful importance of the decision which ,i was called upon to make4 ,at length ,i answered3-- ,footnote #h3 ,phillipps was then about #ag years of age4 ',i am overcome4 ,there is no doubt of the truth4 ,one more ,sunday ,i will preach to my congregation1 and then put myself into ,mr4 ,foley's hands1 and conclude this business4' ,it may be thought with what joyful ardour he embraced this declaration1 and warned me to declare my sentiments faithfully in these my last discourses4 ,the next minute led me to the reflection1--,have ,i any right to stand in that pulpit1 being once convinced that the ,church is heretical to which it belongs8 ,am ,i safe in exposing myself to the danger which may attend one day's travelling1 while ,i turn my back on the ,church of ,god1 which now calls me to unite myself to her for ever8 ,i said to ,phillipps3 ',if this step is right for me to take next week1 it is my duty to take it now4 ,my resolution is made2 to-morrow ,i will be received into the ,church4' ,we lost no time in despatching a messenger to #aie my father1 to inform him of this unexpected event4 ,as ,i was forming my last resolution1 the thought of him came across me2 will it not be said that ,i endanger his very life by so sudden and severe a shock8 ,the words of our ,lord rose before me1 and answered all my doubts3 ',he that hateth not father and mother1 and brothers and sisters1 and houses and lands1 and his own life too1 cannot be my disciple4' ,to the ,lord1 then1 ,i trusted for the support and comfort of my dear father under the trial which1 in obedience to ,his call1 ,i was about to inflict upon him4 ,i had no further anxiety to disturb me4 ,god alone knows the peace and joy with which ,i laid me down that night to rest4 ,the next day1 at nine o'clock1 the ,church received me for her child4 #aif #aig ,,book ,,iii ,f4 ,ignatius1 a ,secular ,priest4 #aih #aii ,,book ,,iii4 ,f4 ,ignatius1 a ,secular ,priest4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,his ,first ,days ,in ,the ,church4 ,conversions to ,catholicism were not such every-day occurrences1 some thirty years ago1 as they are now4 ,the disabilities under which ,catholics laboured politically1 before #ahbi1 made them hide their heads1 except when forced into public notice by efforts to break their shackles4 ,the religion that civilized ,england1 and consecrated every remarkable spot in it to the service of ,god1 had become a thing of the past1 and the relics of ,catholic piety that studded the land were looked upon as the gravestones of its corse1 or the trophies of vanquishing ,protestantism4 ,not only was ,catholicity supposed to be dead in ,england1 but its memory was in execration2 nurses frightened the children with phantoms of monks1 and mountebank preachers took their inspiration from the prejudices they had imbibed in childhood4 ,the agitation about the ,veto1 and the ,debates on the ,catholic question1 which filled the public mind about the year #ahcj1 and for some ten years before1 showed that ,catholicity had not died1 but only slept4 ,the ,catholics emerged from their dens and caverns2 they bought and sold1 spoke and listened1 like their neighbours2 and the ,king was not afraid of a ,catholic ball when he took his next airing #bjj in ,hyde ,park4 ,the ,catholic ,church had been barely given leave to eke out its declining days1 with something like the indulgence allowed a condemned criminal1 when1 to the astonishment of all1 it sprung up with new vigour1 and waxed and throve in numbers and in position4 ,it was considered worth a hearing now1 and faith came by hearing to many1 who would have been horrified before at opening by chance such an antichristian thing as a ,catholic book4 ,a conversion1 then1 rather stunned than embittered the relatives of the convert4 ,the full tide of ,tractarianism had not yet set in1 and the systematic pitchforks of private persecution and stately rebuke1 that were afterwards invented to stop it1 were not so much as thought of4 ,the conversion of the ,honourable ,george ,spencer happened in those peculiar times4 ,his family were partially prepared for it1 for fluctuating between so many religious opinions as he had been for so long1 and earnest1 too1 in pushing arguments to their furthest length1 it was often half suspected that he would go to ,popery at last4 ,there he was now1 a child of the ,catholic ,church1 shrived and baptized according to her ritual4 ,his die was cast4 ,he was fixed for ever4 ,his wandering was at an end4 ,with the exception of his house-keeper1 who laid her down to die for sheer affliction at the news1 we are not aware that many others were much moved by what they considered his defection4 ,doubtless1 his father and the immediate family circle felt it deeply2 his ,protestant vagaries had caused them sleepless nights and silent afternoons1 and the ,church of which he became a member was not likely to seem less absurd to them than it once seemed to himself4 ,but then he was incorrigible2 there was no use talking to him2 he would have his own way1 and there was what it led to4 ,lord ,spencer was always favourable to ,catholics1 but it was in the spirit of generosity to a fallen1 or justice to an injured people4 ,he never dreamt his own son would be one of the first to reap the benefit of the measures he advocated in ,parliament4 ,the letter he received from ,leicester in ,january1 #ahcj1 must have been a shock indeed4 ,besides1 a member of this aristocratic house descending to such a level #bja must be considered a family disgrace--an event to be wept over as long as there was one to glory in the name of ,spencer1 or feel for its prestige4 ,taking all these things into account1 and many other minor considerations1 it would be no wonder if ,mr4 ,spencer was treated with harshness1 and banished ,althorp for ever4 ,nothing of the kind4 ,his father was very considerate2 and liberal1 too1 in making a provision for his son's future maintenance4 ,george himself was received on friendly terms by every branch of the family1 and1 so far from avoiding him or mortifying him1 they seemed all to have respected his sincerity4 ,he wrote to ,dr4 ,walsh1 the ,vicar ,apostolic of the central district1 immediately after his reception into the ,church1 placing himself as a subject at his lordship's disposition4 ,mr4 ,spencer's idea was to be ordained as soon as possible1 and come back to his own parish to preach1 like ,st4 ,paul1 against his former teaching4 ,this intention was checked by the ,bishop's writing word for him to put off his first ,communion a little longer1 and to come and meet his ,lordship in ,wolverhampton towards the middle of ,february4 ,this letter he received in ,f4 ,caestryck's1 in ,leicester1 three days after his reception4 ,he thinks the arrangement excellent4 ,he spent a fortnight in the priest's house at ,leicester1 and he used often to say that this good priest's way of settling difficulties1 though it might look unsatisfactory1 was the very best thing that ever occurred to him4 ,he made ,mr4 ,spencer fully aware of the great dogma of the ,church's infallibility before he received him4 ,f4 ,caestryck was one of those good emigre priests who were well up in the ,church's positive and moral theology1 but cared very little for polemics4 ,whenever ,mr4 ,spencer asked him ,why was anything such a way in ,catholic teaching8 the old man simply replied3 ,the ,church says so4 ,this was very wise at such a time2 the period for reasoning and discussion was passed1 and the neophyte had to be taught to exercise the faith he had adopted now4 ,he learnt the lesson very well1 and was saved from the danger of arguing himself out of the ,church again1 as some do who do not leave their private judgment outside the ,church-door1 at their conversion4 #bjb ,scarcely anything is so remarkable as the readiness with which1 on his reception1 he laid down all notions of his being a minister of ,god4 ,one short extract from a letter to his housekeeper1 enclosing money from ,leicester1 to pay bills1 will illustrate this3 ,if you have an opportunity1 tell those who choose to attend1 that ,i have acknowledged the authority of the ,catholic ,church1 and therefore resigned my ministry for the present4 ,if they care for my advice1 tell them to send for ,mr4 ,foley 7the priest at ,northampton71 and hear him as the minister of ,god4 ,this letter was written before he was a week a ,catholic1 and it promises well for his future that he does not arrogate to himself the office of teacher before he is commissioned1 much less before he is sufficiently instructed4 ,many1 in their first fervour1 make false steps in the way he avoided which it is often difficult to retrace4 ,the glow of happiness at finding one's self in the ,church ought to be allowed to subside1 and to allow the newborn judgment to be capable of discretion1 before beginning to dabble in theology4 ,he pays a visit to ,brington in a few days1 in company with ,f4 ,caestryck1 and writes beforehand to his housekeeper to collect a few of his faithful listeners1 that he may get them a few words of advice from a real live priest4 ,it seems1 from hints thrown out here and there in his letters1 that ,bishop ,walsh was for his going to ,rome to prepare himself for ,orders4 ,this was a drawback to his own plan1 but events will show how wisely the ,bishop arranged4 ,mr4 ,spencer's anxiety to be ordained at once and sent out to preach is an evidence of the strength of his faith4 ,he imagined the ,sacrament of ,orders would have infused all ecclesiastical knowledge into his soul1 and it was only when he had to work hard at the study of theology that he perceived the wisdom of blind submission to the judgment of his superiors4 ,he goes to ,london to consult ,dr4 ,bramston as to what he had better do1 and he gives the result in a letter to ,mr4 ,phillipps4 ,london1 ,feb4 #ah1 #ahcj4 ,my ,dear ,ambrose1--,i write from ,bishop ,bramston's study2 he has left me there1 and is gone to transact a little #bjc business in another room4 ,i have passed through my interview with my father1 and thank ,god for it4 ,his kindness was very great1 joined with great depth of feeling4 ,i will tell you more of it soon1 when we meet4 ,i shall leave ,london on ,saturday for ,northampton1 where ,i am to be at ,lady ,throckmorton's till ,monday4 ,i shall then proceed to ,birmingham by a coach which passes through ,northampton from ,cambridge1 at one or two o'clock4 ,on the next day1 ,tuesday1 ,i will go to ,wolverhampton1 where ,i hope to meet you1 my dear brother4 ,i shall have plenty more to tell you then4 ,now1 let it suffice to say that all my family and ,bishop ,bramston are decidedly for the ,roman plan4 ,i suppose the ,lord so intends it4 ,his will be done and ,his glory advanced2 ,i will be as wax in ,his hand4 ,my father has made me quite comfortable for money1 and in the most prudent way4 ,farewell1 my brother1 and believe me1 ,your affectionate ,george ,spencer4 ,he expressed his gratitude1 again and again1 for the manner in which his family received him1 especially as he knew that his late step was looked upon by them as an unmixed evil4 ,they were even willing to receive him as a guest wherever they might be staying except at ,althorp2 and1 at ,dr4 ,bramston's suggestion1 he agreed to these terms1 as well as made up his mind not to go to ,brington again1 in compliance with his father's wishes4 ,these matters he arranged in a few days2 he pensioned off one or two of his servants1 he made his will about his stock of sermons1 and it was1 ,give them to the new incumbent1 and let him do what he likes with them4 ,he had some difficulty in obeying his ,bishop with regard to the ,roman plan1 as he calls it4 ,it was the first test of his obedience4 ,he thought it was because the ,bishop was weak enough to yield to the wishes of his family that he was sent4 ,these wishes appeared to him to proceed from principles to which the ,church's policy should not suit itself4 ,there would be a noise made in the papers about his conversion1 and his friends would have to answer #bjd questions about him in inquisitive circles4 ,his father did not wish him to go to ,brington1 and he himself was most anxious to use the influence he possessed over his dependants in order to their conversion4 ,to avoid these inconveniences and clashing of motives they desired he might be absent from ,england for some time4 ,some of his friends also thought going to ,rome would make him ,protestant again2 for1 he says in a letter written a few days after his arrival in ,rome1 ,you see now that coming to ,rome does not open my eyes and make me wish myself a ,protestant again4 ,you may tell all ,protestants that ,i am under no charm1 and if anything occurs to make me see that ours is an apostate ,church1 ,i shall not1 ,i trust1 perversely suffer my fate to be bound up with hers1 and consent to die in her plagues4 ,the public parade of ,catholic ceremonial had not formerly produced the best of effects upon him1 and perhaps it was expected the old feelings would be revived by seeing the same things once more4 ,the very reasons his friends had for detaining him might urge the ,bishop to hasten his departure4 ,his anxiety to go and preach ,catholicity in ,brington was not quite according to prudence1 for though he might know the principal dogmas of faith and believe them firmly1 he still needed that ,catholic instinct and mode of thought which can nowhere be imbibed so quickly or so surely as in ,rome4 ,there are many traits of ,protestant viewiness to be seen in his letters at this period1 but1 ,quo semel imbuta est recens servabit odorem1 ,testa din4 ,it would not have been so easy to bring these properly into subjection whilst he had the thousand-and-one forms of ,protestant errors seething around him1 and would be forced by his zeal to seek out ways of making ,catholic truth approach them4 ,where everything was ,catholic to the very core1 in might and majesty1 was the best school for tutoring him into ,catholic feelings and ideas4 ,it was well also to let him see the force of prejudice1 by making him experience in himself how differently things seem according #bje to the state of one's mind4 ,if he was shocked at ,rome as a ,protestant1 it was well to let him know that it was because he was unable to understand as a ,protestant what gave him so much joy and edification1 when he could see with ,catholic eyes4 ,a courier was leaving ,london for ,ancona1 and as he did not see any reason for delay1 he took a seat with him1 and started for ,rome on the #ast ,march1 and arrived on the #abth1 the feast of ,st4 ,gregory4 ,he contrived to make the acquaintance of ,mr4 ,digby in ,paris1 and hear mass three times during his journey1 which was considered a very quickly made one in those days4 ,he also had a very pleasing interview with ,cardinal ,mezzofanti in passing through ,bologna4 #bjf ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,mr4 ,spencer ,in ,the ,english ,college1 ,rome4 ,on the evening of his arrival in ,rome he went to the ,english ,college and presented himself to ,dr4 ,wiseman1 the late ,cardinal1 who was the rector4 ,dr4 ,wiseman had heard of his conversion1 but did not expect to see him so soon1 and while they were conversing and giving and receiving explanations1 two letters arrived by post from ,bishops ,bramston and ,walsh1 which put everything in its proper place4 ,here then we have this distinguished convert lodged in a student's cell to prepare for receiving real ,orders in due time4 ,he gives his impressions of the college in a letter to ,mr4 ,phillipps1 written about a week after his arrival1 as follows3-- ,i have felt most completely comfortable and happy ever since ,i have been here4 ,the life of the college is of course regular and strict4 ,i could not have believed in the existence of a society for education such as this1 half a year ago4 ,such discipline and obedience1 united with perfect freedom and cordiality1 is the fruit of the ,catholic religion alone1 in which we learn really to look on men as bearing rule in ,god's name1 so that they need not keep up their influence by affectation of superiority and mysterious reserve4 ,i do not know all the members of the college by name even yet1 but1 as far as ,i do1 ,i can speak only in one language of them all4 ,i have kept company principally with the rector and vice-rector1 as ,i am not put on the footing of the ordinary students1 being a convictor1 that is1 paying my own way1 and also brought here under such peculiarity of circumstances as warrants some distinction1 though ,i desire to make that as little as possible4 ,i do not go with the others to the public schools1 but am to study at home under ,dr4 ,wiseman and ,dr4 ,errington4 ,the rules #bjg of the house ,i observe1 and indeed so do the rectors as the rest4 ,the peace of sober college life could not long remain unalloyed1 if it were to be lasting4 ,whilst ,mr4 ,spencer was studying his ,moral or ,dogma by the little lamp1 and unmoved except by the anxiety to read faster1 in order to be sooner in the field to work for ,god1 the world outside was not disposed to forget him4 ,various rumours were set afloat about ,northampton concerning him2 one would account for his sudden disappearance1 another for his resignation of his living1 a third would set about unravelling the popish plots of which he must have been a dupe4 ,these were trifling pastimes1 which could be ungrudgingly permitted for the better savouring of devout tea-parties3 but surmise will not be content with all this4 ,there was his housekeeper1 who became ill immediately1 and was near dying4 ,what did that mean8 ,slanderous reports were set on foot1 and the answer to them is the most complete refutation that could possibly be given1 while it is at the same time a proof of his virtue4 ,on ,may #agth1 #ahcj1 he thus writes from the ,english college to the housekeeper1 who had mentioned the matter in a letter to him3 4444 ,i see that it has pleased ,god that you should suffer under calumny2 thank ,god1 most undeserved4 ,it is evident that this slander affects my character as much as yours1 and there is hardly a state of life to be conceived where such imputations are more injurious than a priest's2 yet if all men should believe it1 and ,i should live and die under this evil report1 ,god forbid ,i should willingly repine4 ,it would be no trial to suffer calumny1 if it was not at first a painful thing2 and therefore ,i do not wonder1 nor find fault with you1 at your being greatly afflicted when you were so insulted and abused as you describe2 but1 my dear girl1 you should not have allowed this to weigh upon your mind4 ,you have more reason to grieve for this proof of how weak your faith and love to ,god is1 than for the slander4 ,i think it was a mistake that you did not tell me of this at ,northampton4 ,i trust ,i should then and shall always #bjh rejoice1 when ,i am counted worthy to suffer reproach for the sake of ,christ2 and ,i thank ,god that such is this reproach4 ,i deserve reproach enough1 it is true2 and both you and ,i1 if we look through our past lives1 shall see that we deserve this and much more for our sins4 ,let us then learn to accept the bitter words of unfeeling men1 as ,david did the curses of ,semei1 as ordered by ,god for our chastening1 that we may be purified by them1 and ,he will then turn their calumnies into greater honour one day or other4 ,though you had better have told me1 as ,i might have helped you at once to overcome your annoyance1 yet it may have been better for you to suffer it thus long1 that you may learn how much you do care for character1 and may henceforth give that up as well as everything besides that you love on earth4 ,if you are so afflicted at a false reproach against you1 what would your feelings have been if the ,lord had seen fit to prove you1 by suffering you indeed to fall2 and where is your strength or mine1 that we should be innocent in anything for a day1 except through ,his grace8 ,just think over the matter with yourself1 and let this word of advice be sufficient1 and let me have the happiness of knowing that you are again what ,i remember you1 patient1 and meek1 and cheerful1 and allowing nothing to concern you but to please ,god more and more1 and work out your salvation4 ,i see by your letter1 which ,i look at again1 that you certainly would have told me of this at ,northampton1 had you judged for yourself1 and perhaps it was right that you should act in it as you were advised4 ,therefore1 do not take what ,i say now as if ,i had anything but the sincerest love and respect for you2 ,i only speak to warn you of your spiritual wants1 in which ,i partake with you4 ,a woman's feelings are more tender1 of course1 under such cruel insults4 ,when my feelings are hurt ,i find the same proof that ,i do not love ,god as ,i ought to do1 and surely we never can have too much of that love4 ,how infinitely blessed are you that you are singled out from the herd of those who prosper in the world1 and have all men speaking well of them1 and are permitted to walk in the way by which alone we can attain to the kingdom set before us4 ,remember the most blessed and #bji glorious ,virgin1 ,mary1 of all creatures the most beloved and most worthy to be loved of ,god1 who was saluted by an angel as full of grace1 and is now in heaven1 ,queen of ,angels1 and ,prophets1 and ,apostles1 and ,martyrs4 ,how was her infinite honour of being mother of ,god made the occasion of most cruel suspicions against her heavenly purity4 ,if she was content to bear this with perfect meekness and humility for ,god's sake1 surely you may say with her1 'be it done unto me according to thy word1' whether ,he shall order you to bear this or any other trouble4 ,if occasion is put before you to prove yourself undeserving of such imputations1 do not neglect to use it1 for ,god's honour1 which suffers by our being supposed guilty1 and for the good of your slanderers1 who may be brought to repentance by a due reproof2 but take no pains about it1 except in prayer to ,god1 and in examining throughout all your past ways1 what may be the cause of the affliction as ordered by ,him4 ,i am sure ,i can hardly find anything to accuse you of4 ,i used to delight in your conversation1 and you did in mine2 but1 thank ,god1 great as my sins have been1 ,i never1 ,i believe1 said a word to wound your delicacy1 and you never transgressed the bounds of respect which a servant ought to show towards a master4 ,but those who1 for their own sorrow1 will not learn what the joys of spiritual friendship are1 cannot understand any intimacy but that which is sensual and gross4 ,as1 therefore1 ,i left home so suddenly1 and they could not again understand the possibility that my faith should be so suddenly established1 and that1 for the sake of it1 ,i was willing to give up my home1 and as you showed such emotion at learning that ,i was to leave you1 these people had no way to account for the whole matter but imputing to us shameful guilt4 ,from ,mr4 ,spencer's charity before he became a ,catholic we may conclude what it must have been now4 ,it would seem that1 in temporals1 he had not those difficulties in the way of his conversion that beset many ,protestant clergymen who depend solely on their livings4 ,but1 the sacrifices he willingly made1 prove that the prospect of sheer want even would not have deterred him from following ,god's #baj call4 ,a few days after his conversion he went to see the ,dominican ,fathers at ,hinckley1 and said1 in conversation1 ,i suppose it is not lawful for me to receive the fruits of my benefice1 now that ,i have ceased to be a minister of the ,establishment4 ,one of them said1 ,certainly not4 ,whereupon he asked for a sheet of paper1 wrote a letter to the ,protestant bishop in a few minutes1 resigning his cure1 and simply said1 as he impressed the seal1 ,there goes #c1jjj a year4 ,he was then wholly dependent on his father's bounty1 and if unworthy motives had had any force with ,earl ,spencer1 his son might have found himself penniless4 ,from the allowance granted him he received monthly whilst in ,rome much more than was sufficient to pay his way in the college4 ,it was remarked1 however1 that the day after he got his money he had not a farthing in his possession1 and on inquiry it was found that what remained from the college pension he distributed regularly among the poor4 ,dr4 ,wiseman turned the channel of his charity to a more profitable object1 knowing how much he would be imposed on by the ,roman beggars1 and several monuments still look fresh in the chapel of the ,english ,college1 which were repaired by what remained over and above what was absolutely necessary of his income4 ,it seems as if he never could bear to be the possessor of money2 he would scruple having it about him4 ,he was known1 even when a minister1 to draw money out of the bank in ,northampton1 and give the last sixpence of it to the poor before he got to ,brington4 ,before ,august1 #ahcj1 he received minor orders1 and immediately after hears the news that ,mary ,wykes1 his housekeeper1 has become a ,catholic4 ,it is a singular fact that she took his conversion so to heart that she nearly died1 and was yet the first to follow his example4 ,she was delicate in health1 of a respectable family in his parish1 and ,mr4 ,spencer acknowledges that he is under many obligations to her father4 ,he settles an annuity of #be or #cj a year upon her for life1 and writes to her from the ,english ,college thus3 ,pray to ,god to give you a tender devotion to her whom ,he loves above all creatures1 and who of all creatures is the most pure1 amiable1 and exalted4 ,i dare say you will #baa have found difficulty1 as ,i have done1 in overcoming the prejudices in which we have been brought up against devotion to the ,saints of ,god2 but let this very thing make you the more diligent in asking of ,god to give you that devotion to them which ,he delights in seeing us cultivate4 ,on the #acth of ,march1 ,sabbato ,sitientis1 #ahca1 he received the ,subdiaconate1 ,this is the great step1 as ,catholics know1 in the life of one destined for the priesthood4 ,the ,subdiaconate imposes perpetual celibacy1 with the obligation of daily reciting the divine office1 and it is then the young cleric is first styled ,reverend4 ,it is said that a few days after his receiving this sacred order1 a message was sent him by his family not to become a priest1 as it was feared his brother would have no issue1 and ,george was looked to as the only source whence an heir presumptive could arise for the earldom4 ,he simply answered1 ,you spoke too late1 an answer he would have given whether or no1 as he had long ago determined never to marry4 ,it was at this time also he wrote1 at the request of the ,bishop of ,oppido1 the ,account of my ,conversion1--a work well known to ,english readers4 #bab ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,f4 ,spencer ,is ,ordained ,priest4 ,father ,spencer1 ever since he first turned completely to the service of ,god1 was determined to do whatever he knew to be more perfect4 ,he did not understand serving ,god by halves2 he thought ,he deserved to be loved with all our strength1 all our mind1 and above all things4 ,this he knew to be a precept1 a strict command given by our divine ,lord4 ,how it was to be observed was his difficulty4 ,he was groping in the dark hitherto1 and though not making many false steps1 still far from clearly seeing his way to perfection4 ,the exactness of ,catholic theology1 which sifts every question to the last atom1 made him meet this one face to face4 ,the first difficulty he had to master was the received axiom that the religious state is more perfect than the secular4 ,he could not see how a vow1 which apparently takes away a man's liberty1 could increase the merit of actions done under it4 ,as the vow of obedience is the principal one in religion1 so much so that in some orders subjects are professed by promising obedience according to the rule1 its explanation would remove the difficulty4 ,two things principally constitute the superiority of vowed actions4 ,one1 that they must be of a better good2 the second1 that the will is confirmed in the doing of them4 ,a vow must be of a good better than another good--such as celibacy better than marriage1 poverty better than riches1 obedience to proper authority better than absolute liberty4 ,the state of religion which takes these three walks of life as essential to its constitution is insomuch better than any other state4 ,but the question comes1 why not observe poverty1 chastity1 and obedience1 without vowing them8 ,would it not be better that #bac the practice of these virtues should be spontaneous1 than that a person should put himself under the moral necessity of not deviating from it8 ,no2 because it is a weak will which reserves to itself the right of refusing to persevere in a sacrifice4 ,if a man intends to observe chastity1 but reserves to himself the right to marry whenever he pleases1 he signifies by his state of mind that he may some day repent of his choice1 and makes provision for that defalcation4 ,that is a want of generosity1 it is a safety valve by which trusting to ,god's grace escapes1 and perfection can never be attained while one has the least notion of the possibility of doing less for ,god than he does4 ,he that puts his hand to the plough and turns back is not worthy4 ,by a vow1 a person not only resolves to do for the present what is perfect1 but to continue doing it for life1 and as the person knows right well that his natural strength will not carry him through1 he trusts the issue to ,god's goodness4 ,this fixing of the will1 and narrowing1 as far as possible1 the range of our liberty1 is an assimilation of the present state to the state of the blessed4 ,they do the will of ,god and cannot help doing it1 they have no liberty of sinning1 and the vow of obedience by which a man binds himself to do ,god's will1 manifested to him through his superiors or his rule1 takes away from him the least rational inclination for liberty to sin4 ,not only that1 but he makes it a sin to recede from ,god one step1 and he sacrifices to his ,creator a portion of the liberty that is granted to us all4 ,it is a sin for a man who has a vow of chastity to marry1 though naturally he was perfectly free to do so4 ,he sacrificed that freedom to ,god1 and lest he might be inclined to backslide at any future day he put the barrier of this moral obligation behind him4 ,the person under vow is ,god's peculiar property2 all his actions are in a certain sense sacred1 and of double merit in ,his sight4 ,be it remembered that a religious makes this sacrifice freely1 and it is in this free dedication to ,god's service perpetually of body1 soul1 and possessions1 without reserving the right to claim back anything for self1 that the special excellence of the religious state consists4 #bad ,there are several other less cogent arguments in favour of the religious state1 as that without it we should not have the ,evangelical virtues practised which form the principal part of the note of holiness in the ,church4 ,that it is easier to practice great virtue in a monastery than in the world1 and that more religious have been canonized than seculars since the time of the martyrs4 ,father ,spencer came to understand that the religious state is more perfect than the secular1 though he knew that many seculars are far more perfect than some religious1 but one point he could never get over1 and that was since vows undoubtedly do raise the merit of one's actions1 why cannot people take and observe vows without shutting themselves up within the walls of a convent8 ,he consulted many grave theologians1 doctors1 and even cardinals1 for the solution of this problem4 ,he was told1 to be sure1 that it was quite possible in the abstract to have a people observing vows1 but that in practice it proved to be chimerical and ,utopian4 ,what is possible can be done1 was his maxim1 and he resolved to begin with himself4 ,he was told by ,dr4 ,wiseman and ,cardinal ,weld that he seemed to have a religious vocation4 ,he wrote accordingly to his diocesan1 ,dr4 ,walsh1 who dissuaded him from becoming a religious by saying that1 though it was a better state1 a secular priest could be more useful in ,england4 ,others differed from this opinion1 but ,f4 ,spencer heard in it the voice of his ,superior1 and resolved to obey it for the present4 ,this settled matters for the time1 but his view could never be got out of his head4 ,he gets thoroughly engrossed now with his approaching ordination4 ,it grieves him to see souls lost in heresy and sin in a way that few grieve2 for1 the concern he felt for the spiritual destitution of his country began to tell upon his health4 ,it is feared he will die2 he begins to spit blood1 and several consumptive symptoms alarm his physicians4 ,he is removed to ,fiumicino1 and writes a long letter from his sick bed there to ,mr4 ,phillipps4 ,in this letter he hopes his friend may be caught into the ,church like his patron1 ,st4 ,ambrose4 ,here we have the first evidence of his getting thoroughly into a ,catholic way of thinking4 #bae ,nothing strikes a cold1 careful1 ,catholic1 who has been brought up in a ,protestant atmosphere1 so much as the wonderful familiarity of ,spanish and ,italian boys with the lives of the ,saints4 ,they quote a ,saint for everything1 and they can tell you directly how ,st4 ,peter of ,alcantara would season his dinner1 or how ,st4 ,rose of ,lima would make use of ornaments4 ,father ,spencer has paragraphs in every letter at this time full of hints taken from ,saints' lives1 showing that he evidently gave a great portion of his time to learn ascetic theology in these remarkable volumes4 ,he is wishing also that ,mr4 ,digby should become a priest1 but in both cases he was doomed to be disappointed so far1 though both his friends graced1 by their virtues1 the state of life in which they remained4 ,he was ordained ,deacon on the #agth ,december1 ,quater tense1 #ahca2 and on the #bfth of ,may1 #ahcb1 two years and four months after his reception into the ,church1 he was ordained ,priest by ,cardinal ,zurla4 ,he thus writes to ,mr4 ,phillipps on the event3 ,i made my arrangements directly 7on being called off suddenly to ,england7 for ordination to the priesthood on ,st4 ,philip ,neri's ,day1 and saying my first mass on the day following1 which was ,sunday4 ,how will you sympathise with my joy when1 in the middle of my retreat1 ,dr4 ,wiseman told me1 what none of us had observed at first1 that the #bfth ,may was not only ,st4 ,philip's feast at ,rome1 but in ,england that of ,st4 ,augustine1 our ,apostle1 and that he should ask ,cardinal ,zurla to ordain me in ,st4 ,gregory's ,church1 which his ,eminence did4 ,it was at ,st4 ,gregory's only that we learned from the monks that the next day was the deposition of ,venerable ,bede4 ,the coincidences are really remarkable with regard to his destination for the ,english mission4 ,he was born on the feast of the ,apostle ,st4 ,thomas2 he arrived in ,rome1 as a ,catholic1 on the feast of ,st4 ,gregory2 he was ordained on the feast of ,st4 ,augustine of ,canterbury2 he said his first mass of ,st4 ,bede1 by special leave from the ,pope1 on that ,saint's day4 ,he was ordained by a ,cardinal of the ,camaldolese branch of the ,benedictine ,order1 to which ,st4 ,augustine belonged2 and he got the blessing and commission of #baf ,pope ,gregory ,,xvi41 a member of the same order2 and under all these auspices set out directly for ,england4 ,during his stay in ,rome he made the acquaintance of our ,father ,dominic4 ,this was a great happiness to him4 ,father ,dominic was on fire for the conversion of ,england1 and ,father ,spencer echoed back1 with additions1 every sentiment of his zealous soul4 ,they spoke together1 they wrote to each other1 they got devout people to pray1 and prayed themselves every day1 for the conversion of ,england4 ,we cannot know how far prayers go1 we only know that the continual prayer of the just man availeth much2 and therefore1 it might not seem safe reasoning1 to attribute effects that can be traced to other causes to the prayers of some devout servants of ,god4 ,without attempting to assign causes1 we cannot help remarking the fact that these two holy souls began to pray1 and enlist others in praying1 for ,england's conversion in #ahcb1 and that the first number of the ,tracts for the ,times appeared before the end of #ahcc4 ,neither of them had anything to do with the ,tracts1 if we except a few letters from ,father ,dominic in a ,belgian newspaper1 as writers or suggestors of matter2 but both took a deep interest in them1 and fed their hopes1 as each appeared more ,catholic than the one before4 ,he spends a week with ,father ,dominic in ,lucca1 on his way to ,england1 and in ,geneva happened one of those interesting events with which his life was chequered4 ,he thus tells it in a letter to the ,catholic ,standard in #ahec3-- ,i went one day1 at ,genoa 7see ,chap4 ,,ix41 ,bk4 i471 in #ahbj1 to see the great relics in the treasury of the ,cathedral4 ,relics1 indeed1 were little to me2 but to get at these1 three keys from various first-rate dignitaries1 ecclesiastical and civil1 were necessary4 ,this was enough to make a young ,english sight-seer determined to get at them4 ,a young priest1 the sacristan of the ,cathedral1 received me and the party ,i had made up to accompany me1 and showed us the precious treasures4 ,i did nothing but despise2 and yet why should ,i1 or other ,protestants1 look on it as a kind of impossibility that any relic can be genuine8 ,however1 so ,i did2 and ,i let the sacristan plainly know it4 ,yet he was not vexed4 ,nay1 he treated #bag me with great affection1 and said1 among other things1 ',the ,english are a worthy1 good people1 brava nazione2 if only it had not been for that moment1 that unhappy moment6' ',what moment do you mean8' said ,i4 ',ah6 surely1' he replied1 'when ,henry ,,viii4 resolved on revolting against the ,church4' ,i did not answer1 but ,i thought within myself1 ',poor man1 what ignorance6 what infatuation6 ,and what were my thoughts of that moment of which he spoke8 ,my thoughts on this head had been formed in my young days1 and1 oh6 how deep are first young thoughts allowed to take firm root undisturbed6 ,when ,i was a child---- ,here he relates the discourse of his sisters' governess about the ,english ,reformation1 given in a former chapter4 ,when1 accordingly1 the ,genoese priest thus spoke ,i thought1 ,poor1 blind man6 little he knows what ,england gained at that same moment for which he pities it4 444 ,i cannot but add to this last circumstance1 that twelve years later ,i was returning from ,rome--a priest6 ,i came by sea4 ,stopping one day in the harbour of ,genoa1 ,i went on shore to say mass at the ,cathedral1 and found the same priest still at the head of the sacristy--the same benign features ,i saw1 but somewhat marked with age4 ,i asked him did he remember and recognise the young ,english disputer8 ,o altitudo6 4444 ,and is it ,i whom they would expect to give up my poor countrymen for hopeless8 ,no6 leave this to others1 who have not tasted like me the fruits of the tender mercies of ,god4 ,as soon as he arrived in ,england1 he went to see his family1 who were in ,ryde for the summer1 according to their custom4 ,he was cordially welcomed2 but it must seem a cold thing for a newly-ordained priest to come to a home where not a brother or sister would kneel to get his blessing1 nor father nor mother be in ecstacy of joy at hearing him say mass for the first time4 ,this was in ,july1 #ahcb4 ,early in ,august he met several priests at ,sir ,edward ,doughty's1 ,upton ,house1 ,dorsetshire2 and ,lady ,doughty says3--,mr4 ,spencer greatly edified all who then met him by his humility1 fervour1 and earnest desire for the conversion of ,england4 ,on the #aath of ,august he left ,upton1 #bah accompanied by ,dr4 ,logan1 for ,prior ,park4 ,on that morning1 as the coach from ,poole passed at an early hour1 ,mr4 ,spencer engaged one of the men servants to serve his mass at five o'clock4 ,the servant went to call him soon after four1 but finding the room apparently undisturbed1 he proceeded to the little domestic chapel1 and there he found ,mr4 ,spencer prostrate before the altar in fervent prayer1 and he then rose and said mass2 the servant's conviction being1 that he had been there in prayer all night4 ,an incident occurred1 as ,father ,spencer was passing through ,bordeaux on his way to ,england1 which deserves especial mention1 if only to recall the droll pleasure he used to experience himself1 and create in others1 while relating it4 ,he met there a great1 big1 fat convert1 who had just made his abjuration and been baptised4 ,father ,spencer questioned him about his first communion1 and the trouble of preparing himself in his then state of body seemed an awful exertion4 ,however1 after a great deal of what the gentleman termed painful goading1 ,father ,spencer succeeded in bringing him to the altar4 ,the fat gentleman sat him down afterwards to melt in the shade of a midsummer ,june day in ,bordeaux1 grumbling yet delighted at the exertion he had made4 ,the ,bishop of ,bordeaux was giving confirmation in some of the churches in the town1 and ,father ,spencer thought he should not lose the opportunity of getting his fat friend to the sacrament4 ,he knew how hateful exertion of any kind was to the neophyte1 who1 though he believed all the ,catholic doctrines in a kind of a heap1 was not over-inclined for works of supererogation4 ,he resolved to do what he could4 ,he went to him1 and boldly told him that he ought to prepare himself for confirmation4 ,what6 exclaimed the gentleman1 making an effort to yawn1 have ,i not done yet8 ,is there more to be got through before ,i am a perfect ,catholic8 ,oh1 dear6 ,and he moved himself4 ,he was brought through1 however1 to the no small inconvenience of himself and others1 and many was the moral ,father ,ignatius pointed afterwards with this first essay of his in missionary work4 #bai ,at ,prior ,park1 ,father ,spencer met ,dr4 ,walsh1 and he was appointed to begin a new mission in ,west ,bromwich2 he sets about it immediately1 and gets an altar for it from ,lord ,dormer in ,walsall4 ,he met ,dr4 ,wiseman1 who came to ,england about this time1 and they are both invited by ,earl ,spencer to spend a day at ,althorp4 ,the ,earl was charmed with ,dr4 ,wiseman1 and ,father ,spencer exclaims1 in a letter1 ,what a grand point was this6 ,a ,catholic priest1 and a ,d4,d41 rector of a ,catholic college1 received with distinction at a ,protestant nobleman's6 ,he met some of his old parishioners1 and was welcomed by them with love and kind remembrances4 ,his church in ,west ,bromwich was opened on the #bast ,november1 #ahcb1 and he was settled down as a ,catholic pastor near where he hunted as a ,protestant layman1 and preached heresy as a ,protestant minister4 #bbj ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,f4 ,spencer ,begins ,his ,missionary ,life4 ,far different is the position on which ,mr4 ,spencer enters towards the close of #ahcb1 from that which he was promoted to in #ahbe4 ,then he took the cure of souls with vague notions of his precise duty2 now he took the cure of souls as a clearly defined duty1 for the fulfilment of which he knew he should render a severe account4 ,then he received a large income from the bare fact of his being put in possession of his post2 now he has to expend even what he has in trying to provide a place of worship for his flock4 ,then1 there were eight hundred souls under his charge1 most of them wealthy and comfortable1 and all looking up to him with respect for being his father's son2 now he could scarcely count half that number as his own1 scattered among hovels and garrets2 amid their more opulent neighbours1 who mocked him for being a priest4 ,he then dwelt with pleasure on his rich benefice1 and on the rising walls of his handsome rectory2 now he prayed the bishop to put him into the poorest mission in the diocese1 and delighted in being housed like the poor4 ,the life he led as a priest in ,west ,bromwich is worthy of the ancient solitaries4 ,he began by placing all his property in the bishop's hands1 and his lordship appointed an ,econome1 who gave him now and again such sums as he needed to keep himself alive1 give something to the poor1 and supply his church with necessaries4 ,he keeps an account of every farthing he spends1 and shows it to the ,bishop at the end of the quarter1 to see if his lordship approves1 or wishes anything to be retrenched for the future4 ,his ordinary course of life was--rise at six1 #bba ,meditation ,office and ,mass1 hear some confessions1 and1 after breakfast1 at ten1 go out through the parish until six1 when he came home to dinner1 and spent the time that was left till supper in instructing catechumens1 reading1 praying1 or writing4 ,he had no luxuries1 no comforts1 he scarcely allowed himself any recreation1 except in doing pastoral work4 ,he leaves two rooms of his little house unfurnished1 and says he has something else to do with the money that might be thus spent4 ,much as he loved ,mr4 ,phillipps1 he did not go to see him after his marriage1 because he thought it was not necessary to spend money in that way which could alleviate the poverty of a parishioner2 and because he did not like to be a day absent from his parish work as long as ,god gave him strength4 ,during the first year of his residence at ,west ,bromwich he opens three schools2 one of them had been a pork-shop1 and was bought for him by a ,catholic tradesman4 ,here he used to come and lecture once or twice a week1 and is surprised and pleased to find a well-ordered assembly ready to listen to him4 ,he says in a letter at this time3 ,i go to bed weary every night1 and enjoy my sleep more than great people do theirs2 for it is the sleep of the labourer4 ,he is rather sanguine in his hopes of converting ,protestants2 but1 although he receives a good many into the ,church1 he finds error more difficult to root out than he imagined4 ,he bears up1 however1 and a letter to ,mr4 ,phillipps will tell us what he thought2 he says3 ,keep ,england's conversion always next your heart4 ,it is no small matter to overturn a dynasty so settled and rooted as that of error in this country2 and how are we possibly to expect that we shall be made instruments to effect this1 unless we become in some measure conformable to the characters of the ,saints who have done such things before us8 ,yet let us not give up the undertaking1 for as1 on the one hand1 no one has succeeded without wonderful labour and patience1 so1 on the other1 none ever has failed when duly followed up4 ,let us not be discouraged by opposition1 but work the more earnestly3 and as we see people about some hard bodily exertion begin with their clothes on1 but1 when they find #bbb the difficulty of their job1 strip first the coat1 then the waistcoat1 then turn up their sleeves1 and so on1 we must do the same4 ,god does not give success at once1 because ,he wishes us better than to remain as we are1 fettered and attached to the world4 ,if we succeeded before all this encumbrance is stripped off1 we should certainly not get rid of it afterwards4 ,he did turn up his sleeves1 and toil1 no doubt1 at converting his neighbours2 he opened a new mission in ,dudley towards the ,christmas of #ahcc2 he first began in an old warehouse1 which he fitted up with a chapel and seats1 and turned one or two little houses adjoining into a sacristy and sitting-room for the priest who might come there to officiate4 ,he goes on in this even course for the whole of the two first years of his life in ,west ,bromwich1 without any striking event to bring one part more prominently forward than another4 ,his every day work was not1 however1 all plain sailing2 in proportion as his holiness of life increased the reverence ,catholics began to conceive for him1 it provoked the persecution and contempt of the ,protestants4 ,he was pensive generally1 and yet had a keen relish for wit and humour4 ,he was one day speaking with a brother priest in his sacristy1 with sad earnestness1 about the spiritual destitution of the poor people around him1 who neither knew ,god1 nor would listen to those who were willing to teach them4 ,a poor woman knocked at the sacristy door1 and was ordered to come in2 she fell on her knees very reverently1 to get ,father ,spencer's blessing1 as soon as she approached him4 ,his companion observed that this poor woman reminded him of the mother of the sons of ,zebedee1 who came to ,our ,saviour adorans4 ,yes1 replied ,father ,spencer1 with a very arch smile1 and not only adorans1 but petens aliquid ah eo ,such was his usual way2 he would season his discourse on the most important subject--even go a little out of his way for that purpose--with a pointed anecdote1 or witty remark4 ,all did not feel inclined to follow the old woman's example in the first part of the above scene1 though many were led #bbc to do so through their love and practice of the second4 ,a person sent us the following letter1 who still lives on the spot that was blessed by this holy priest's labours1 and as it bears evidence to some of the statements we have made from other sources1 it may be well to give it insertion3-- ,i was one of his first converts at ,west ,bromwich1 and a fearful battle ,i had2 but his sublime instructions taught me how to pray for the grace of ,god to guide me to his true ,church4 ,he was ever persecuted1 and nobly overcame his enemies4 ,i remember one morning when he was going his accustomed rounds to visit the poor and sick1 he had to pass a boys' school1 at ,hill ,top2 they used to hoot after him low names1 but1 seeing he did not take any notice1 they came into the road and threw mud and stones at him2 he took no notice4 ,then they took hold of his coat1 and ripped it up the back4 ,he did not mind1 but went on all day1 as usual1 through ,oldbury1 ,tipton ,oudley1 and ,hill ,top1 visiting his poor people4 ,he used to leave home every morning1 and fill his pockets with wine and food for the poor sick1 and return home about six in the evening1 without taking any refreshment all day1 though he might have walked twenty miles in the heat of summer4 ,one winter's day he gave all his clothes away to the poor1 except those that were on him4 ,he used to say two ,masses on ,sunday1 in ,west ,bromwich1 and preach4 ,i never saw him use a conveyance of any kind in his visits through his parish4 ,it could not be expected that the newspapers would keep silence about him4 ,he gets a little in that way1 which he writes about1 as follow3--,eliot 7an apostate7 has been writing in divers quarters that ,i know of1 and ,i dare say in many others 7for he was very fond of letter-writing71 the most violent abuse of the ,catholic ,church1 and of all her priests1 excepting me1 whom he pities as a wretched victim of priest-craft4 ,i still hope there is some strange infatuation about him which may dissipate1 and let him return2 but if not1 the ,church has ramparts enough to stand his battering1 and ,i am not afraid of my little castle being shaken by him4 ,i feel desirous rather than not that he should publish the #bbd worst he can about me and mine in the ,protestant papers4 ,it will help to correct us of some faults1 and bring to light1 perhaps1 at the same time1 something creditable to our cause4 ,he must have felt the extraordinary change in his state of mind and duty now to what he experienced some four or five years before4 ,there are no doubts about doctrines1 nor difficulties about ,dissenters2 his way is plain and clear1 without mist or equivocal clause2 there is but one way for ,catholics of being united with heretics--their unconditional submission to the ,church4 ,there is no going half-way to meet them1 or sacrificing of principles to soothe their scruples2 either all or none--the last definition of the ,council of ,trent1 as well as the first article of the ,apostles' ,creed4 ,if he has difficulties about any matter1 he will not find ,bishops giving him shifting answers1 and seemingly ignorant themselves of what is the received interpretation of a point of faith4 ,he will be told at once by the next priest what is the doctrine of the ,church1 and if he refuses to assent to it he ceases to be a ,catholic4 ,this looks an iron rule in the ,church of ,god1 and those outside her cannot understand how its very unbending firmness consoles the doubtful1 cheers the desponding1 strengthens the will and expands and nourishes the intellect4 ,a priest has many consolations in his little country parish that few can understand or appreciate4 ,it is not the number and efficiency of his schools1 the round of his visits1 or the frequency of his instructions4 ,no2 it is the offering of the ,victim of ,salvation every morning for his own and his people's sins1 and it is the conveying the precious blood of his ,saviour to their souls1 through the ,sacraments he administers4 ,only a priest can understand what it is to feel that a creature kneels before him1 steeped in vice and sin1 and1 after a good confession1 rises from his knees1 restored to ,god's grace and friendship4 ,all his labours have this one object--the putting of his people into the grace of ,god1 and keeping them in it until they reach to their reward4 ,there is a reality in all this which faith alone can give that makes #bbe him taste and feel the good he is doing4 ,a reality that will make him fly without hesitation to the pestilential deathbed1 and glory in inhaling a poison that may end his own days1 in the discharge of his duty4 ,he must be ever ready to give his life for his sheep1 not in fancy or in words1 but in very deed1 and thus seal by his martyrdom both the truth which he professes1 and his love for the ,master whom he has been chosen to serve4 ,the number of priests who die every year1 and the average of a missionary priest's life1 prove but too clearly how often the sacrifice is accepted4 #bbf ,,chapter ,v4 ,prospects ,of ,widening ,his ,sphere ,of ,action4 ,towards the close of the year #ahcd1 ,earl ,spencer died4 ,george1 of course1 felt it deeply2 he loved his father with1 if possible1 more than filial affection1 for he could look up since his childhood to his paternal example2 and all the virtue he was able to practise during his younger days1 despite the occasions into which he was cast1 he attributed chiefly to the influence of his father's authority4 ,the country lost a statesman1 and the ,catholics an advocate in the noble earl2 his death was therefore regretted by more than his immediate family2 but there was one great reason why his son felt so deeply--his father had not died a ,catholic4 ,there were many things to make up for his exclusion from the mementoes of his son in the mass1 as not being one of those qui nos praecesserunt cum signo fidei2 such as1 his real natural goodness1 his acting up to his lights1 and his kind treatment of his son2 but they were1 of course1 poor1 weak assuagements to the stern fact that he could not pray publicly for the repose of his soul1 and only1 by the merest conditional permission1 even privately4 ,father ,spencer goes shortly after to ,althorp4 ,the new earl thinks proper to prohibit his brother speaking to any except those of his own rank while visiting there4 ,he had1 of course1 his reasons1 but it was a sore trial to ,father ,spencer1 who ever loved the poor1 and never felt so happy as when exercising his patience in listening to the detailed account of their sufferings1 or in trying to relieve them by words or alms4 ,he put up with it1 and a thank ,god soon made him at home amid lords and ladies for the time of his short stay4 #bbg ,it may strike some person as a very strange thing that this illustrious convert and great saint1 as he really was and appeared to be1 should be shut up in a poor hamlet whose name does not appear even on railway maps1 and not located in some resort of pride and fashion4 ,but the ,honourable and ,reverend ,george ,spencer had seen enough of fashion and gentility to be thoroughly disgusted with both the one and the other4 ,he understood no way of going to heaven except that which ,our ,lord pointed out to us and went ,himself first for us to follow1 the way of the cross in poverty and humility4 ,hence he applied to ,bishop ,walsh for the poorest and worst mission in the diocese4 ,if one will not be inclined to give this good ,bishop credit for forwarding the apostolical intentions of his young priest1 let him know that there might be also a more inferior motive why he should accede to his request4 ,priests with private incomes can better subsist in poor missions than those who depend on the charity of their flocks2 and we find at present that many1 who have property of their own1 are appointed1 notwithstanding the honourable and creditable prefixes to their names1 to missions which are not able to support a priest from their internal resources4 ,these two reasons put together will account for the placing of the ,hon4 and ,rev4 ,george ,spencer in the mission of ,west ,bromwich4 ,st4 ,thomas defines zeal1 an intense love by which one is moved against and repels whatever is detrimental to the good of his friend1 and does his best to prevent whatever is against the honour or the will of ,god4 ,alphonsus ,rodrigues says3 ,it is the love of ,god on fire1 and a vehement desire that ,he should be loved1 honoured1 and adored by all2 and so intense is it1 that he who burns therewith tries to communicate its heat to every one4 ,this effect of zeal is the special gleam by which the shining of great saints can be distinguished from ordinary servants of ,god4 ,they are filled with the love of ,god1 they overflow with it1 and dash off floods that sweep down vice and sin by their impetuosity4 ,when obstacles occur to show that the time is not opportune1 or that the sluices should not yet be drawn1 the saints are far from languishing into ordinary ways4 ,no2 the springs are open afresh1 their hearts are filling the more #bbh they are pent up1 and seek avenues on every side and in every way in which they may possibly allow some heavenly water to escape4 ,such was the zeal of ,st4 ,chrysostom1 who would be blind if his audience could but see4 ,such was the love of ,st4 ,francis ,xavier1 who went through unknown and almost inaccessible regions to convert the heathen4 ,such was the love of ,st4 ,teresa1 who sighed that she was not a man1 because her sex and state forbade her to be an apostle4 ,such was the ,psalmist1 when he said1 ,the zeal of ,thy house has eaten me up4 ,the difference between heavenly zeal and fanaticism is1 that one is willing to be directed1 the other breaks the bonds of authority4 ,one acts sweetly and consistently1 the other intemperately and rashly4 ,one distrusts self1 the other begins and ends with self4 ,father ,spencer was full of zeal4 ,it was1 in fact1 his zeal that brought him into the ,church4 ,now that he found himself commissioned to propagate ,god's kingdom1 his zeal arose to that of the saints1 and began to burst forth and devise means by which that kingdom could be speedily and perfectly spread4 ,he devised plans for the sanctification of the clergy by introducing a kind of religious life amongst them2 he formed plans for the perfection of the laity1 after an old but abandoned model1 which will be described2 he had conceived plans of founding a religious institute1 of which a devout soul he knew was to be first rev4 mother2 he had plans of preaching1 away at some place or places which he does not tell us about2 he had plans for finding out the secret by which the ,jesuits became such successful missionaries2 he had plans of going to ,cambridge for an installation1 and bearding the lion of heresy and error in his very den2--and all these he proposed from time to time to his director and diocesan superior1 but all met the one fate of being drowned by the cold water thrown upon them4 ,he complains a little1 in a letter he wrote at this time1 of the slowness of ,catholic prelates with regard to schemes2 but after being told to lay them aside1 he resigns himself with perfect submission4 ,he finds out1 in a short time1 that the ,catholic prelates were right1 and he drops his wings completely1 by saying3 ,i am resolved to give up forming plans #bbi for the future1 and ,i shall try to gain more love of ,god and devotion to the ,blessed ,virgin4 ,this again ,he must give me1 and ,mary must gain it for me2 or rather1 ,i must charge her to persevere in making this request for me1 whether ,i forget it occasionally or not4 ,besides the crossing of his plans1 he has another cross to endure2 he loves to visit ,hagley1 where ,lady ,lyttelton1 his sister1 generally lived1 and he is received only on condition that he will not speak of religion4 ,this he feels hard1 as he loved this sister very much1 and thought he could not show a greater proof of his affection than that of communicating to her1 if possible1 what he prized more than his life--his faith4 ,one plan he forms1 however1 which does not meet with the disapproval of his superiors1 and that was1 to go to ,london and beg among his aristocratic friends for funds for a new church he intended building at ,dudley4 ,he seems to have succeeded pretty well1 as there is a nice gothic church there at present1 which was built by him4 ,we have only one peculiar incident of his first begging tour4 ,he took it into his head to go and ask a subscription of the ,duchess of ,kent1 mother to our ,queen4 ,he was received kindly by the ,duchess1 and the ,princess ,victoria was allowed to be present at the conversation4 ,father ,spencer spoke for some time about the lamentable state of ,england1 on account of its religious divisions2 he gave a short account of his own conversion1 and wound up by putting forward the claims of the ,catholic ,church to the obedience of all ,christians1 as there ought to be but one fold under one shepherd4 ,it may be said that he formed a very favourable opinion of the ,princess from this meeting2 he said once1 when relating the story3 ,i considered the ,princess very sensible and thoughtful4 ,she listened with great attention to everything ,i said1 and maintained a respectful silence1 because she sat beside her mother4 ,i had great hopes of her then1 and so far they have not been disappointed4 ,i hope ye will all pray for her1 and we may one day have the pleasure of seeing her a ,catholic4 ,this he said in #ahfc1 and then he was firmly convinced that the ,duchess herself had died a ,catholic4 ,he returned soon to his mission in ,west ,bromwich1 and #bcj writes1 in a letter to ,mr4 ,phillipps3 ,i had a project in my head when ,i returned1 more extensive than any that filled it of late4 ,that is1 going to ,dublin to see if there ,i might find some unknown mine out of which ,i could draw what ,i want for ,dudley4 ,this soon grew into the thought of a tour round ,ireland1 and the subject of collecting alms for ,dudley soon began to look trivial and secondary4 ,i could hardly contain myself at the thoughts of preaching all over ,ireland the conversion of ,england1 and exhorting them all to forget their earthly miseries in the view of our spiritual ones1 and to begin to retaliate the evils they have endured in the way of the true ,christian1 not by violent opposition1 but by rendering good a thousandfold1 or rather beyond reckoning4 ,this scheme was put off for some time1 by the advice of the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,martyn1 who seems to have been his director4 ,in the beginning of ,august1 #ahce1 ,father ,spencer got a severe attack of illness3 it proceeded principally from over-exertion4 ,he began to spit blood1 and as soon as his friends heard of it1 his sister1 ,lady ,lyttelton1 and his brother-in-law1 ,lord ,george ,quin1 came for him and took him to ,hagley1 where he might be carefully nursed until he should recover4 ,they set him down to say mass in ,stourbridge1 and allowed him all the spiritual aid he wished for1 even going so far as to invite a priest to come and stay with him1 and make ,hagley his home for the time4 ,this was in keeping with their usual kindness1 and ,father ,spencer never forgot it2 nay1 he would treasure up the least act of kindness done him by any one1 much more so when received from those who differed from him in religious matters4 ,he writes now1 apparently under the shadow of death3 one thing looks strange to him when he thinks of dying1 that he cannot see why ,god gives him such a strong desire for an apostolic life if it be not sometime carried into effect4 ,it may be that ,he will give me the merit of the desires without their accomplishment1 but this seems less probable4 ,his will be done4 ,i only mention this to prevent your being discouraged on my account4 ,what is an illness in ,his sight8 ,it is easier to restore me my vigour than at first to give it to me4 ,let us only wait prepared for quick #bca obedience to ,his call1 whether for this world or the next4 ,in another letter1 written about the same time1 he says3 ,what ,i am further to do must be decided by my present bodily director1 ,dr4 ,johnstone1 to whom for my correction and humiliation the ,bishop has committed me4 ,it seems most likely that he wrote the autobiography during this illness2 it has the marks and tokens of his then state of mind upon the first part of it at least4 ,after his recovery there is talk of his being made a bishop1 and some of his friends are doing their best1 by writing and so forth1 to help his promotion to the mitre4 ,no better idea can be given of the way he felt with regard to this matter1 than by introducing a letter he wrote at the time to one of his friends3 ,i know you are as eager about everything that concerns me as about your own matters2 and that you are now boiling to come and be busy about this most interesting affair4 ,yet it will prove better to go on quietly4 ,to be sure ,i should exult if it please ,god of ,his own will to enlarge my powers and faculties of advancing ,his kingdom1 trusting to ,him to furnish me with graces sufficient2 but the call must be clear1 and ,his will manifest1 or1 ,i thank ,god1 ,i have made up my mind to answer1 ,i stir not4 ,and how can ,i know this but by the rule of obedience8 ,many reasons strike me pro and con4 immediately2 but these ,i had better not meditate upon4 ,i shall leave it to ,dr4 ,walsh to decide whether ,i accept or do not4 ,i cannot be right any other way4 ,if he chooses to hear me plead the cause for myself1 stating what ,i think are the motives pro and con41 ,i will do it when he likes2 if not1 it is certainly better not to go against him4 ,i was at ,prior ,park three years ago1 when ,dr4 ,baines knows that ,i refused the offer of an ,irish clergyman to propose me for an ,irish bishopric1 on ,dr4 ,walsh's judgment1 and he approved of that decision4 ,no doubt he will of this4 ,we hear nothing further of this1 so it is likely ,dr4 ,walsh judged it proper for him to refuse the contemplated honour4 #bcb ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,newspaper ,discussions1 ,etc4 ,from the end of the year #ahce to the middle of #ahcf1 ,father ,spencer was more or less engaged in newspaper controversy with some ministers4 ,the first champion of ,protestantism1 or rather assailant of ,catholicism1 he condescended to argue with was a ,mr4 ,gideon ,ouseley4 ,this gentleman is described in a letter written at the time as a ,low ,church parson1 or ,methodist1 of ,armagh4 ,there may be some distinction between the two characters1 but it is only fair to say that we freely grant him the benefit of the doubt4 ,they had a paper fight about the usual topics of controversy1 beginning with mis-statements of doctrine from ,mr4 ,ouseley and explanations from ,mr4 ,spencer1 and continuing through a very brisk parrying of logical thrusts to a conclusion which ended by the newspaper refusing to insert any more letters4 ,some good effects may have been produced by the controversy1 which seldom happens1 and also some breaches of charity2 but there is one circumstance worthy to be mentioned1 though perhaps it cannot well be traced back to ,the ,watchman newspaper1 that this same ,rev4 ,gideon ,ouseley is1 at the time these pages are writing1 the officiating chaplain of the soi-disant monks of ,norwich1 ,br4 ,ignatius and his companions4 ,the next adversary was a ,mr4 ,dalton4 ,father ,spencer expends some very good arguments on him1 among others1 the following in the first letter3 ,you and other ,protestants may say that they consider this doctrine 7transubstantiation7 unscriptural2 but the arguments by which you endeavour to impugn it never are scriptural4 ,i once used to argue against it myself1 and the best arguments ,i could find were from #bcc reason4 ,there may be fault found with this argument1 because a thing could be unscriptural1 though its denial or refutation were not2 but ,f4 ,spencer establishes the positive side of the question afterwards4 ,and the argument was good thus far that its denial is an ,article of the #ci1 which should be proved by sure warranty of ,scripture4 ,he does so in a passage which begins thus3 ,if ,scripture be appealed to simply1 ,i know not how any one can deny that it speaks altogether in our favour1 whenever the ,eucharist is mentioned or alluded to4 ,when we are asked for proofs of our doctrine we invariably begin by an appeal to the simple words of ,christ given in ,scripture4 ',this is my body1' ',this is my blood1' which1 taken as they stand1 can agree with no doctrine but the ,catholic4 ,f4 ,spencer thought he had a gentleman to deal with in his adversary1 but found that he had overrated the attributes his charity supposed him to possess4 ,he pointed an argument upon the unity of our teachers as contradistinguished from sectarian ones1 by bringing in ,mr4 ,dalton and his brother us an example4 ,at this ,dalton took offence1 and ,f4 ,spencer made a most ample and beautiful apology4 ,this evoked all the bile of his opponent in a flourish of trumpets1 by which he boasted of a post relinquished in the argument1 which really argued gain in ,f4 ,spencer as a ,christian antagonist4 ,he flung out then in glorious confusion--imperfect councils1 bad popes1 ,spanish inquisitions1 just as they came to hand4 ,when ,spencer saw this1 he thought of answering him according to his folly1 and instead of analyzing his concentrated lozenge1 wrote something in the style of cudgelling him for the fun of the thing next time4 ,here is an extract from his next letter1 which is produced more as a specimen of his humour than of his logic3-- ,a sentence of ,mr4 ,dalton's letter ran thus3 ,but let me first remind you what our view of private judgment is4 ,do we mean that every man may set up as an interpreter of ,scripture1 that every shoemaker and ploughman 7as ,catholics say7 may become a preacher8 ,by no means2 we recognise authority when it is scriptural1 and believe that an authorized ministry is ,god's mode of extending the ,bible4 #bcd ,father ,spencer replies3-- ,now this sentence suggests so many reflections to me that ,i hardly know which way to begin with it4 ,i will first try what a little paraphrase will do1 and explain what ,i think might perchance have been in your mind when you wrote it1 and you may tell me whether ,i am near the mark before ,i make further comments on it4 ,i would figure you to myself as reasoning thus with your self3--,the right of private judgment must be maintained in some form1 or else even we ministers shall not be able to stand our ground against the ,romanists4 ,if we allow of any reasonable notion of ,church authority when we talk to them1 they will hook us up again1 and we shall not be able to assert even our own liberty to interpret as we like4 ,but1 on the other hand1 if we put away talking of ,church authority when we mount our pulpits1 and impart the word to our hitherto obedient poor followers1 they will begin to ask themselves1 what need1 then1 is there of our reverend guides8 ,why should we pay any more tithes1 and seat rents1 and church rates1 and ,easter offerings1 and the like8 ,yea6 then would be sad danger that our craft would come to be set at nought1 and the ,temple of ,great ,diana 7the ,church of ,great ,elizabeth7 would be reputed for nothing1 and therefore we must teach people that there is such a thing as ministerial authority at least1 if we cannot make much of an attempt to prove ecclesiastical authority2 we must take care to maintain that to be capable of being a minister1 a man must be able to read the ,new ,testament in ,greek1 and the ,old in ,hebrew1 at least1 have a smattering of ,hebrew1 or else we shall have shoemakers and plough-men setting up opposition without being able to put them down2 for they will be able to match us in what we must hold forth as the grand proof of the ministry1 viz41 that a man should be able to quote texts at pleasure1 and talk about them so rapidly and unintelligibly as to make a congregation think him mighty wise and deeply spiritual4 ,such are the men who must be proclaimed worthy of great honour and admiration1 but1 above all1 of ample revenues4 ,never mind how many contradictory systems enter into their respective reverend heads1 we must persuade the #bce people1 as long as they will swallow it1 that they all speak by the ,holy ,ghost4 ,it would1 indeed1 be more according to ,scripture and reason1 if all who professed to be led by the ,spirit taught one doctrine2 but this we can never bring about1 unless we all get back to popery3 and1 indeed1 it is not needful1 nor even expedient1 for the purpose we have before us1 which is not to speak sound words which cannot be reproved1 but such words as will keep together our congregation1 and suit their tastes4 ,now as the tastes of men are so various1 it is absolutely necessary that the doctrines we give them should vary too1 and1 therefore1 as we know that ,bible truth is but one1 and the ,bible1 nevertheless1 is the book out of which we must all pretend to teach1 we cannot sufficiently praise the cleverness of those gifted individuals1 who1 by organizing a sort of skirmishing ministry1 to take the place of the old uniform heavy phalanx of the ,romanists1 one fit to extend the truth of the ,bible1 so as to suit the tastes of all sorts of men1 have enabled so many of us to extract from the pockets of all a genteel maintenance for our wives and families4 ,i have in this paraphrase found myself obliged to pass over one word when you speak of ,god's mode of extending the truth of the ,bible4 ,this operation1 ,i think1 ,god had never anything to do with4 ,i believe that #a1hjj years ago1 ,god did1 by his only ,son1 institute a ministry as his mode of preserving the truth of the ,bible1 but extending the truth of the ,bible is a very different sort of affair4 ,these words1 though rather obscure1 yet seem to convey very felicitiously the idea of what the ,gospel ministers of the present day have accomplished1 that is1 making the ,bible truth so extensive as to embrace all the various contradictory systems--,church of ,england1 ,high1 ,low1 ,evangelical1 et hoc genus omne4 ,but the time would fail me to tell a tenth part of the glorious variety which the spiritual bill of fare of the nineteenth century presents to the dainty taste of our countrymen4 ,this plan of truth extension is a wonder which was reserved for the wisdom of our preachers to contrive and to develope1 under the guidance of a wiser spirit than that of man1 and yet certainly not the spirit of ,god4 ,the ancient saints had no #bcf more idea of it than ,archimedes had of a hydraulic press4 ,i have taken the liberty of playing upon your exposition of authority1 to show how vain it is to attempt to uphold anything like a legitimate authority1 and the right of private judgment together4 ,i do not wonder that you got rather into a perplexity in trying to explain how they may be reconciled4 ,the ,church of ,england has tried to explain this matter in her #bjth ,article1 but finds it too hard4 ,she just says1 'the ,church hath authority in controversies of faith1' but leaves it to her children to guess whether this authority be divine or human1 infallible or fallible1 granted her by the ,king of ,heaven or the king of ,england4 ,she intimates1 indeed1 that it is not quite to be depended on1 by the next words1 in which it is said1 'it is not lawful for the ,church to ordain anything contrary to ,god's word written3' but again we are left to divine who the judge is1 who is to keep the ,church in order3 is it the king1 or every licensed preacher1 or every single ,christian8 44444 ,ah6 these ,articles are troublesome things4 ,i have known what it is to be under those shackles1 and what it is to be set free from them4 ,in the next letter1 his opponent complains that ,father ,spencer has hurt his feelings1 and made his heart sicken1 which complaint the wily priest1 as he was termed1 began to answer thus3-- ,i have heard of certain ladies who have recourse to a method something like this to escape being kept in order by their husbands1 and who silence everything that is said against their humours by falling into hysterics4 ,a tender husband will once or twice perhaps be melted by the alarming spectacle2 he will run and fetch the smelling-bottle1 ring for the servants1 beg pardon1 and say pretty things to compose his dear partner's mind again4 ,but when he finds that as soon as she has gained her point she gets well directly1 and is more saucy and wilful than before--if he wishes to be happy1 or to make her so--he will be what she calls cruel next time1 and let her get well by herself till she is tired of fainting fits4 ,now1 sir1 ,i have once been tender-hearted over you 4444 ,i apologized 4444 #bcg ,in the next letter you took advantage of this to make an impertinent remark4 ,this discovered to me that your feelings need not be so tenderly dealt with1 and ,i proceeded with my disagreeable questions1 and shall still do so at the risk of your telling me in the next letter that ,i have not only sickened you1 but made you quite faint away4 ,after thus sickening his delicate friend1 he sums up in the last letter and answers the difficulties objected to him very well indeed4 ,we forbear introducing purely controversial matter1 except in as far as it bears upon the peculiar gifts or manner of ,father ,spencer4 ,there is nothing but what any ordinary priest of fair acquirements could have said in defence of our doctrines in the remainder1 except that the answer to the hackneyed objection about some councils being of doubtful authority is very clearly and forcibly given4 ,a third champion entered the lists before these had been conquered enough to think themselves qualified to argue still4 ,this was a ,rev4 ,w4 ,riland ,bedford4 ,indeed1 he was so impatient of distinguishing himself by the honour of having once engaged with so respectable a foe1 that he could not wait until ,mr4 ,dalton was ousted4 ,besides1 it is very likely he thought ,mr4 ,dalton was missing fine opportunities of giving clever strokes1 by spending too much time in quarrelling with the ungenerous hits of his adversary or1 perhaps1 he thought he did not take the proper instruments of warfare4 ,however1 he made a grand stroke1 and aimed also at what he believed to be the most vulnerable1 as well as the most defenceless1 spot in the person of ,f4 ,spencer's system4 ,here we might be corrected by the ,maid of ,lille1 who said1 very pertly1 to ,mr4 ,spencer once3 ,catholics have no systems4 ,they have doctrines4 ,at all events1 ,mr4 ,riland ,bedford did attack ,f4 ,spencer1 and lest he might lose by being single-handed1 a brace of them--,revs4 ,messrs4 ,m',ghee and himself--made an onslaught on ,revs4 ,messrs4 ,m',donnel and ,spencer1 thereby intending1 of course1 to make a grand breach in ,popery4 ,the subject of their letters was the treating of certain sins by our moral theologians4 ,f4 ,spencer made use of the usual line of defence here1 but #bch he added also an argumentum ad hominem4 ,st4 ,paul1 in the chapter above referred to 7,rom4 i471 tells us that there were no sins more prevalent in his day1 and none more destructive1 than that grievous class of sins to which these questions relate4 ,the afflicting experience of the pastors of the ,church leads them to fear that no less awfully in these times and in this country1 do habits of the like crimes make ruin of thousands of souls2 and your own recollection of the ,university1 where1 ,i suppose1 you were educated for holy orders1 must convince you that our fears are not unfounded4 ,for what must be expected in the body of the people1 when1 among those who are preparing to be their pastors1 at the most critical time of their life1 there are so few who dare openly to withstand the prevailing fashion of iniquity1 and so many who profess to despise morality and chastity as a thing to be ashamed of4 ,f4 ,spencer was tripped up in some allusions he made to a ,protestant attempt at a prayer-book1 of which there were two or three editions2 but1 since he happened not to be correct as to one edition1 and to miss something about another1 still1 though his argument was not thereby weakened1 but ,rev4 ,mr4 ,riland ,bedford thought it was1 and so1 or nearly so1 the matter ended4 ,f4 ,spencer was induced to begin this paper controversy by the hope of conveying some information about ,catholic dogmas to those who would not read ,catholic books1 but would1 and did1 read newspapers4 ,shortly after1 he learnt1 by one instance1 what little good generally comes of this kind of contention4 ,he paid a visit to ,hagley1 and1 in a conversation with ,lord ,lyttelton1 asked him if he had seen the ,birmingham ,gazette lately4 ,yes1 replied the other1 but delicacy forbade me to allude to your share in that concern4 ,the sum of it was that his lordship thought ,george under a perfect delusion1 and wondered he was not confounded at such powerful refutations as his adversary's were4 ,all ,f4 ,spencer wrote looked to him perfectly trifling2 so much so1 that he had made up his mind to take ,george in hand himself1 and convert him back again1 and was then #bci actually getting up some little theology to aid him in doing so more summarily4 ,this ,george took in very good humour1 and hoped good from1 especially as ,lord ,lyttelton appeared to be the leader in the family in point of religion4 ,he was doomed to a sad disappointment2 for ,lord ,lyttelton died shortly after this conversation1 and1 as far as documentary evidence goes1 without having had another conversation with ,father ,spencer4 #bdj ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,private ,life ,and ,crosses ,of ,f4 ,spencer4 ,it could scarcely be supposed that the self-denying1 laborious life of ,f4 ,spencer in ,west ,bromwich1 which has been already alluded to1 could be one of those effervescent fits that pass away with the newness of change1 when one remembers his life as a ,protestant minister4 ,he did not abate one iota of his mortifications or labours1 but he became systematized with them1 and managed1 under the advice of his director1 to keep from extremes4 ,he no longer scrupled paying for a conveyance1 if he thought the object of his journey was worth more than the coach-fare4 ,for letters1 he followed the same rule1 though1 as he was in a position to obtain franks very frequently1 he had not so much difficulty to put up with in the matter of paying heavy postage4 ,to bear these remarks out1 we have some of his own letters1 but the letter of a lady1 who made his acquaintance some time about #ahce1 and had frequent opportunities of observing him up to the time of his becoming a ,passionist1 will be more satisfactory than snatches of sentences here and there1 which accidentally tell what he was doing4 ,in the year #ahce ,i first became acquainted with the ,catholic religion1 and1 in consequence1 with the ,hon4 and ,rev4 ,george ,spencer1 who instructed and afterwards received me into the ,church4 ,from that time till the present ,i never for a moment doubted of his extraordinary sanctity4 ,he never in all his discourses with me1 which were numerous1 spoke of anything but with an aim to the glory of ,god4 ,i knew his housekeeper at ,west ,bromwich1 a very good woman1 who has been dead many years4 ,she told me that she many times found him1 very early in the morning1 #bda cleaning his own shoes1 and she dare not let him see her for fear of confusion4 ,she often remarked that he spent a very long time in the exercise of prayer and meditation4 ,he was so zealous for the salvation of souls that whenever he saw any new comer in his chapel he would find them out1 go to their houses and speak with them2 he thus brought many into the ,church4 ,although he was insulted in all kinds of ways1 on his walks1 he rejoiced and thanked ,god for all4 ,when he opened his mission in ,dudley1 rather than go to a public inn he slept1 wrapped up in a large rough cloak1 on the bare floor of what served as for sacristy1 and continued to do so for some time until he had a proper place prepared4 ,many nights at his own home he used to disturb the bed a little1 but it was found that he had not lain in it at all for the whole night4 ,when he was instructing me in the year #ahcf1 he broke a blood-vessel1 and though the blood literally flowed from his head into a dish1 he continued on the instructions4 ,he visited the sick constantly4 ,on one occasion he went to see a poor woman1 who had not one to attend her2 she became very restless whilst he was there1 and wanted to go downstairs2 he wrapped her up in a blanket and carried her down4 ,she was no sooner down than she wanted to be brought up again2 he brought her up1 too2 she got quiet then1 listened to him1 and after a short time expired before he left the room4 ,at one house where he visited1 a child was suffering from a bad mouth1 so that it was quite distressing to look at it4 ,father ,spencer laid his finger on the child's tongue1 and said1 ',it will be well2' in a half-an-hour afterwards it was quite well4 ,once my grandmother was at the point of death2 he came and blessed her1 and in a day or two she was quite well4 ,miraculous cures are wrought very frequently by priests' blessings4 ,whatever thou blessest shall be blessed1 is not pronounced in vain at their ordination2 and we must1 as ,father ,ignatius would say pointedly to those who reflected little on them1 remember that our ,lord's words do deserve some little attention4 ,faith can remove mountains1 and it is only proper and just that faith could do something less4 ,since the faith of the person #bdb made whole is often as powerful as the faith of the servant of ,god1 each side escapes the vanity of having wrought wonders1 by attributing the effect to the other4 ,he generally went to the kitchen himself1 or other places1 to get what he wanted1 and would often do without a thing1 rather than trouble his housekeeper or a servant1 if he knew them to be engaged4 ,he wished to be not only his own servant1 but the servant of everybody as far as he could4 ,he used to beg of my father and me to pray that he might become poorer than the poorest man we ever knew4 ,he even once asked my father to pray that he might become so poor as to be compelled to lie down and die in a ditch4 ,i never saw him out of heart or in the least discouraged1 however difficult a case he might come across3 he would generally say1 ',we must go on1 rejoice and thank ,god2 it will all come right in the end4' ,one of his former high-up friends and he were walking by a lunatic asylum once1 and his friend remarked that he should soon be fit for admission there4 ,this he used to relate with as great glee as if he had received a first-rate compliment1 perhaps greater4 ,when he visited our house in the country once1 he struck his head against a beam somewhere1 and ,i was astonished at hearing him exclaim1 ',served me right4' ,several dear friends die about this time1 and the conflict between affection and religious detachment is beautifully pourtrayed in the yielding of the former to the latter by several remarks of his own and others1 which we subjoin4 ,he hears of the death of ,cardinal ,weld about the beginning of the year #ahcg1 and thus writes to ,mr4 ,phillipps about it3 ,you have heard1 of course1 of ,cardinal ,weld's death4 ,i have felt that it is to me like the loss of a father almost2 for he treated me as a child1 as no doubt he did a great many more4 ,but we must not give way to sorrows1 for we have enough to do with our feelings in the battle against present evils1 without wasting them on evils which are irremediable4 ,the next death he heard of was that of the ,honourable ,george ,quin1 a nephew of his1 and he wrote to ,mr4 ,phillipps3 ,that is another warning to us to pray better for the remainder1 when one of our four families is #bdc carried off before the fruit of our prayers appears4 ,somewhere about this time ,lord ,lyttelton dies also1 without having succeeded in the project he formed last year1 nor did poor ,father ,spencer succeed much in bringing him over to his side4 ,he always respected this good brother-in-law1 and the feeling was returned4 ,he felt greatly for his loss1 as well as for the bereavement of his sister4 ,to add to his trials1 a change comes over the relations between him and his family4 ,hitherto it was stipulated that ,father ,spencer was to be always received as a welcome guest provided he never spoke on religious subjects4 ,the ,bishop thinks it1 as of course it was1 unfair to place restrictions upon him1 and not leave the matter to his own discretion4 ,it was not quite becoming for a priest to pay visits1 and keep his lips closed by contract on everything that was proper to his sacred character4 ,on the other hand1 the family did not like to have their agreeable parties disturbed by controversy1 which was likely to draw out hotter words than was suitable to the state of things4 ,both sides had some kind of reason to show1 and ,father ,spencer was placed between them4 ,he communicated the decision of his bishop to the more influential members of the ,spencer family1 but he found they would not bend4 ,he cheerfully gives up visiting1 and even consoles some of his friends who manifest their concern that he should be debarred a pleasure so innocent and apparently so justifiable4 ,how much he felt this1 notwithstanding his cheerful resignation1 may be seen from the following testimony1 of one who knew him well1 to the affection he had for ,lady ,lyttelton1 his sister1 who still survives3-- ,in the year #ahcg ,mr4 ,mackey 7,mrs4 ,mackey writes the letter7 was engaged painting a picture for ,father ,ignatius1 for his chapel at ,west ,bromwich1 and we saw a great deal of him4 ,he was devotedly attached to his sister1 ,lady ,lyttelton1 and he often used to speak of her loving care of him when a boy2 and once1 when ,i quoted those lines of ,gray3-- #bdd ',see the wretch that long was toss'd ,on the stormy bed of pain1 ,at once regain his vigour lost1 ,and breathe and walk again4 ,the meanest note that swells the gale1 ,the simplest flower that scents the dale1 ,the common sun1 the air1 the skies1 ,to him are opening ,paradise--' he was much affected1 and said he had not heard them since his sister1 ,lady ,lyttelton1 repeated them to him after recovering from an illness when he was young4 ,there was1 also1 a song he sang occasionally at our house1 because she liked it1 and had taught it to him4 ,he sang it with such feeling that it always moved me to tears1 and as soon as ,i heard of his death ,i began to sing it1 and it kept recurring to me all day4 ,i seemed to rejoice for him in the song4 ,these are the words3 they are ,moore's3-- ',the bird1 let loose in ,eastern skies1 ,when hastening fondly home1 ,ne'er stoops to earth her wing1 nor flies ,where idle warblers roam4 ,but high she shoots through air and light1 ,above all low delay3 ,where nothing earthly bounds her flight1 ,nor shadow dims her way4 ,so grant me1 ,lord1 from ev'ry care1 ,and stain of passion free1 ,aloft through virtue's nobler air1 ,to wing my course to thee4 ,no sin to cloud1 no lure to stay1 ,my soul as home she springs1 ,thy sunshine on her joyful way1 ,thy freedom on her wings4' ,he was always very much moved when speaking of ,lady ,lyttelton4 ,it was no small sacrifice to submit with cheerfulness to the circumstances which prevented him visiting this sister1 now that she had become a widow and had need of a consoler to help herself and children to bear their affliction4 ,he simply says3 ,i find all my crosses and vexations to be blessings2 and directly ,i made the sacrifice of feeling to duty1 ,god sent me the best set of catechumens ,i have had yet4 #bde ,among others1 a man and wife who have been male and female preachers1 among the ,primitive ,methodists1 or ,ranters4 ,his great friend and director1 the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,martyn1 was the next of whose death he heard4 ,this good and virtuous priest was more than a friend to ,father ,spencer4 ,he served his novitiate to the work of the ,english mission1 under his direction in ,walsall1 for three months before he came to ,west ,bromwich4 ,he had been his confessor and guide in all his practices of piety until now4 ,he managed his affairs with as much interest as if they were his own2 he was ever ready with his counsel and assistance1 and seems to have taken the ,dudley mission as soon as ,father ,spencer had built the church there4 ,father ,spencer preached his funeral oration1 and paid the last tribute of respect to his mortal remains in the very spot where he so often profited by his counsels4 ,here there was no cause of regret1 except for the good priest's widowed flock1 for his saintly life gave strong hopes of a blessed eternity4 ,it was said1 in a former chapter1 that he gave all his money to the ,bishop1 and had sums given him now and again1 of which he returned an account at stated times1 to see if the way in which he spent them would be approved of4 ,it may be interesting to know how he kept these accounts4 ,fortunately a few leaves of the book in which they were noted have been found among his papers1 and from them we make the following extract3-- #bdf #ahch4 s4 d4 ,dec4 #a4 ,mrs4 ,nicholl's rent paid up to ,nov4 #ab #a #j #j ,advanced to ,mr4 ,elves #j #aj #j ,mr4 ,davis1 for a walk to ,walsall #j #a #j #b4 ,letter to ,paris #j #a #e #c4 ,omnibus to and from ,birmingham #j #b #j ,given to ,bridget ,cullinge #j #b #j ,shoe-string #j #j #f ,mrs4 ,cooper4 ,housekeeping #a #a #g ,washing #j #e #h ,postage #a #a #i ,watchman #j #j #i ,mr4 ,elves #j #c #f ,betsy ,hawkins1 quarter's wages #j #ae #j ,mrs4 ,cooper1 towards wages #e #j #j ,advanced to ,mr4 ,elves #e #j #j #d4 ,mrs4 ,whelan #j #aj #j ,john and ,barney ,white1 for a message #j #a #j ,elizabeth ,morley #j #a #j #e4 ,armytage1 #f;d42 ,mrs4 ,brown1 #as4 #j #a #f ,coals1 paid ,mr4 ,pearse #a #f #c #f4 ,p4 ,o',brien1 #bs42 ,peggy1 #as4 #j #c #j ,boy who brought horse #j #a #j ,gordon1 butcher's bill #e #ai #j ,sealing-wax #j #j #f ,letter to ,dr4 ,wiseman #j #b #c #g4 ,mrs4 ,cottril1 #as4 #f;d42 ,mrs4 ,gale1 #as4 #j #b #f ,turnpike1 #h;d42 ,chs4 ,gordon1 #f;d4 #j #a #b #h4 ,gig-whip1 #bs4 #f;d42 turnpike1 #h;d4 #j #c #b ,morris1 for ,mrs4 ,callaghan's rent #j #ae #j ,shenton1 for holding the mare #j #a #j ,clothes-brush #j #b #f #i4 ,conway1 #gs4#f;d42 school-window mended1#f;d #j #h #j #aj4 ,turnpike1 #d;d42 horse at ,dudley1 #fs4 #j #f #d ,hat at ,domely's #a #a #j ,mrs4 ,brown1 tailor's #j #b #j ,gloves #j #a #aj ,armytage1 #f;d42 lucifers1 #b;d4 #j #j #h #aa4 ,stuff to make a collar1 c4 #j #c #i ,two dozen ,douay ,catechisms #j #d #j ,carriage of parcel to ,dr4 ,fletcher #j #a #b #ab4 ,john ,collinge1 #as42 ,p4 ,o',brien1 #bs4 #j #c #j ,adv4 to ,mr4 ,elves #j #a #j #ac4 ,adv4 to ,mrs4 ,cooper1 for wages #f #j #j ,housekeeping #j #ag #aj ,ribbon for stole #j #e #b ,parcel1 #hs4 #b;d42 postage1 #cs4 #h;d4 #j #aa #aj ,washing1 #ds4 #i;d42 ,mr4 ,elves1 #h;d4 #j #e #e ,to this may be added1 that on the credit side he puts his instalments from the ,bishop1 and every single penny he gets in the shape of offerings1 seat-rents1 alms1 c41 c4 ,there have also remained1 between some of the leaves of this account-book1 a few little slips of paper1 on which he pencilled whatever he paid or received when away from home1 so as to be able to note it down when he came back4 ,it #bdg may be well to remark that the extract given above cannot be taken as an average of his expenditure1 as ,december is a month when bills come in thicker than in other months of the year4 ,it will be remembered that this mode of managing his household affairs1 was the result of the trial ,father ,spencer made of the vows of religion in his secular state1 which has been alluded to in a former chapter4 #bdh ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,association ,of ,prayers ,for ,the ,conversion ,of ,england4 ,it was in the year #ahch that he began the great work to which his life and energies were afterwards devoted--the moving of the ,catholics everywhere to pray conjointly for the conversion of ,england4 ,before this time he and a few of his friends prayed privately1 said or heard masses for this intention1 and encouraged one another by letters and conversations to perseverance in so holy a practice4 ,now he went to work on a larger scale4 ,how this change in the working of his zeal was brought about will be best seen from a letter he wrote to ,dr4 ,briggs in ,november1 #ahch4 ,before1 however1 quoting it1 it may be well to remark that the cause of his going to ,france with ,mr4 ,phillipps was that he was breaking down in health1 hard-worked by two laborious missions1 for which he had no assistant since ,mr4 ,martyn's death1 and that his doctor advised change of air and rest4 ,here is the letter3-- ,london1 ,nov4 #e1 #ahch4 ,my ,dear ,lord1--,i hope ,i shall be doing right to explain to your lordship the real circumstances of the transaction which1 you may perhaps have been told1 has been adverted to in ,the ,times newspaper of ,nov4 #c1 and some other paper since2 which states1 from the ,gazette de ,france1 that ,i have been at ,paris1 with ,mr4 ,ambrose ,phillipps1 busy in establishing an association of prayers for the conversion of ,england to the ,roman faith4 ,i am certainly ready to plead guilty on this charge2 but ,i do not find cause to repent of it4 ,however1 a good thing may be done so out of place and out of time as to make it not worth much1 and it may be necessary1 therefore1 that ,i should explain myself before ,i am approved of in what ,i have been #bdi doing in ,paris4 ,in the first visit which ,i paid to the ,archbishop on my arrival at ,paris1 ,i was saying1 what ,i say continually1 that what we want above all in ,england is good prayers2 and that it would be a great benefit if the ,french would undertake to unite in prayer for us4 ,i did not think of making any proposal for an actual arrangement of the kind till the ,archbishop himself 7then ,monseigneur ,quelin7 encouraged1 and almost obliged1 me to do all ,i could by the zealous manner in which he took up the idea4 ,he appointed that ,i should meet him after two days at ,st4 ,sulpice1 where seventy or eighty of the clergy of ,paris were to be assembled to offer him an address of thanks for a retreat which he had given them4 ,after the business was concluded1 he introduced me to them1 and having explained how ,i came to be there1 he proposed that they should undertake to pray for the conversion of ,england on every ,thursday4 ,the proposal was most favourably received1 and ,i heard of its being acted upon by many offering their mass on the first ,thursday4 ,this encouraged me to go on4 ,i obtained a circular letter of introduction to the superiors of religious houses1 and visited about twenty of the principal4 ,all of them undertook to offer their prayers as ,i asked them1 and to write to their sister houses through ,france4 ,the ,general of the ,lazarists1 and the ,provincial of the ,jesuits1 undertook to recommend it to their brethren2 but what ,i thought more satisfactory yet was1 that all the ,archbishops and bishops whom ,i could meet with in ,paris promised to recommend the prayers in their dioceses and provinces2 so that it appeared to me that there was reason to say that all ,france would soon be united in this prayer1 and ,i trust other countries of ,europe will follow their example4 ,i remember1 at the time when your lordship received me with much kindness at ,halford ,house1 on our speaking of the importance of prayers being regularly said for the conversion of ,england1 and you told me of what had been done at ,ushaw under your direction4 ,i forget whether ,i said to you that ,i had then lately adopted the practice of offering my mass every ,thursday regularly for that intention4 ,i took this from the nuns of ,mount #bej ,pavilion1 with whom ,i had become acquainted the summer before1 but especially what they do on ,thursday1 when there is high mass and exposition all the day1 and a solemn act of reparation for the outrages committed against the ,divine ,eucharist4 ,it seemed to me that this was a devotion peculiarly suited to the object of obtaining from ,almighty ,god graces for ,england1 one of whose most crying sins is2 the blasphemy of the ,blessed ,sacrament authorized by law for three centuries4 ,i had only proposed the idea1 however1 to a few priests of my acquaintance1 to unite in saying mass for ,england on that day1 and was rather waiting for some plan to be suggested for a general union of prayers in ,england by some one of authority4 ,but1 as nothing had been done1 and when ,i found myself engaged in this pursuit at ,paris1 it was necessary to propose something definite1 ,i have nothing better than to request prayers from all the faithful for ,england1 all days and at all times1 but especially to offer mass on ,thursday1 if they be priests and at liberty1 or communion1 or assistance at mass1 or visits to the ,blessed ,sacrament1 or1 in short1 whatever they did for ,god1 particularly on that day1 for ,england's conversion4 ,the manner in which this request was accepted by all the good people whom ,i saw was most consoling to me2 and it appears to me that ,i am bound to make it known in ,england1 to those whose judgment is most important1 and whose approval would most powerfully recommend the ,catholics in ,england to correspond with the zealous spirit exhibited in behalf of our country by ,france4 ,it is not for me to suggest to your lordship what might be done4 ,i only venture to hope that you may think this matter perhaps worthy of your attention1 and will perhaps mention it to the clergy as occasion may present itself4 ,i would add1 that in ,france the superiors of several seminaries were most ready to undertake to recommend it to the students1 and it pleased me particularly to interest those communities in behalf of ,england1 because the devotion might so well spread in that way through all classes4 ,would your lordship think fit to mention the subject at ,ushaw8 #bea ,i have nowhere asked for any particular prayers to be said as that might be burdensome2 but simply that this intention might be thought of at least1 if nothing more was done in reference to it4 ,i beg again to be excused for my boldness in thus addressing you1 and am your lordship's ,obedient humble servant1 ,george ,spencer4 ,the passage he alludes to in ,the ,times was as follows3-- ,the ,hon4 and ,rev4 ,george ,spencer1 brother to the present ,earl1 who was converted from ,protestantism to the ,catholic faith some years ago1 has lately been passing some time at ,paris1 with ,mr4 ,ambrose ,phillipps1 a gentleman of distinction of ,leicestershire1 eldest son of the late member for the northern division of the county4 ,they have been busily occupied there in establishing an association of prayers for the conversion of this country to the ,roman faith4 ,they have had several interviews with the ,archbishop of ,paris on this subject1 who has ordered all the clergy to say special prayers for this object in the memento4 ,a number of the religious communities in ,france have already begun to follow the same practice4 ,this paragraph was taken up1 of course1 and commented upon by the second-rate papers4 ,to be sure1 the whole thing was magnified into nothing less than a grand stir for a ,papal aggression1 which1 if it did not make the ,english shore glitter some day with ,french bayonets1 was certain to cram every workshop and church with ,jesuits in disguise4 ,the ,bishops were all favourable to ,father ,spencer's zealous ideas2 they gave him leave to speak on the subject with all the priests2 they mentioned it in their pastorals3 but they did not wish him to go too publicly to work1 as they rather feared the spirit of the times1 and did not know when another ,gordon riot might arise and overthrow what they had been building up since the ,emancipation4 ,in the meantime1 the work was progressing rapidly4 ,a ,dutch journal reached him which let him know that all the seminaries and convents in ,holland had given their ,thursday devotions for ,england4 ,a good #beb priest wrote from ,geneva to say that the programme should be widened1 and that all heretics and separatists ought to be included as well as ,england4 ,to this ,father ,spencer consented after some deliberation1 and in the space of about six months all the ,continent were sending up prayers for ,england's conversion4 ,he makes speeches at formal dinners and public meetings1 and always introduces this topic2 whereupon the reporters conceive a terrible rage1 and puff the matter into all the taverns and offices of ,london1 ,liverpool1 and ,manchester4 ,of course1 all this is accompanied with gross misrepresentations and personal abuse4 ,of the former point he thus speaks in a letter3--,the misrepresentations1 as far as ,i have seen them in the public papers1 by which they have endeavoured to obstruct the proposed good1 are so glaring that ,i think all thinking persons must be benefited by reading them4 ,my notion was to ignore the ,english public altogether1 and go on with my work as if it did not exist4 ,the opposite papers have certainly helped me and well1 in making the matter as public as ,i could wish1 without a farthing's cost to me1 and in a way in which ,i cannot be accused of being the immediate agent of its publicity1 as it was put about as though to annoy me1 but they are pleasing me without intending it4 ,this was the good-humoured way in which he took all that was personal in the journalistic tirades4 ,it gives one an idea both of his great zeal and the great virtue with which he accompanied it4 ,he now writes to the ,irish ,archbishops1 and receives very encouraging answers4 ,so much did they enter into his sentiments that1 in a meeting of the ,irish episcopate in ,dublin1 they gave his proposals a good share of their attention1 and approved of them4 ,this he accounted great gain4 ,it was the prayer of the martyr for his persecutor1 of ,stephen for ,saul1 and of ,our ,lord for the ,jews4 ,poor ,ireland had groaned and writhed in ,saxon bondage for centuries4 ,she saw her children scattered to the winds1 or ground by famine and injustice beneath the feet of the destroyer2 and1 at the voice of a ,saxon priest1 she turned round1 wiped the tear from her eye1 #bec pitied the blindness of her oppressor1 and offered up her sufferings to ,heaven to plead for mercy for her persecutor4 ,the cry was a solemn universal prayer1 framed by her spiritual leaders1 and carried to every fireside where the voice of the ,church could drown the utterings of complaint4 ,f4 ,spencer thought more of the prayers of the ,irish than of all the ,continent put together2 these were good1 but those were heroic4 ,he began to love ,ireland thenceforward with an ever-increasing love1 and trusted chiefly to the faith and sanctity of her children for the fulfilment of his zealous intentions4 ,he pushed his exertions to ,rome also1 by writing to ,dr4 ,wiseman1 and asking him to see the devotion carried out in the ,eternal ,city and the provinces4 ,it met the same success as in ,france1 ,belgium1 ,holland1 and ,ireland4 ,there is a letter extant which ,dr4 ,wiseman wrote to ,f4 ,spencer about this time 7it is dated ,ash ,wednesday1 #ahci71 and it must be interesting1 both for its intrinsic merit as well as the giving an evidence of the harmony of feeling and sentiment that bound the great cardinal and the zealous priest together since their first acquaintance until they both went1 within a few months of each other1 to enjoy the eternal reward of their labours in ,england and elsewhere1 for ,god's glory3-- ,rome1 ,ash ,wednesday1 #ahci4 ,my ,dear ,friend1--,i must not delay any longer answering your kind and interesting letter4 ,its subject is one which has long occupied my thoughts1 though ,i never contemplated the possibility of enlisting foreign ,churches in prayer for it1 but turned my attention more to exciting a spirit of prayer among ourselves4 ,i will enter on the matter in hand with the most insignificant part of it1 that is1 my own feelings and endeavours1 because ,i think they may encourage you and suggest some thoughts upon the subject4 ,in our conference this time last year1 ,i spoke very strongly to the students upon the wants of ,england1 and the necessity of a new system in many things4 ,one of the points on which ,i insisted was the want of systematic prayer for the conversion of ,england1 and1 at the same time1 of reparation for her defection4 ,i observed that it is the only country #bed which has persisted in and renewed1 in every generation1 formal acts of apostacy1 exacting from every sovereign1 in the name of the nation1 and from all that aspired to office or dignity1 specific declarations of their holding ,catholic truths to be superstitious and idolatrous4 ,this1 therefore1 assumes the form of a national sin of blasphemy and heresy--not habitual1 but actual2 it is a bar to the ,divine blessing1 an obstacle of a positive nature to ,god's grace4 ,it calls for contrary acts1 as explicit and as formal1 to remove its bad effects4 ,now what are the points on which this blasphemous repetition of national apostacy has fastened8 ,they are chiefly two3 ,transubstantiation and the worship of the ,blessed ,virgin4 ,these1 consequently1 are the points towards which the reparation and1 for it1 the devotion of ,catholics should be directed in ,england4 ,i therefore proposed1 and have continued to inculcate this two-fold devotion1 to our students on every occasion4 ,i have for a year made it my daily prayer that ,i might be instrumental in bringing back devotion to the ,blessed ,eucharist1 its daily celebration1 frequent ,communion1 and public worship in ,england2 and1 at the same time1 devotion to the ,blessed ,virgin1 chiefly through the propagation of the ,rosary4 7,my reasons for the choice of the ,rosary ,i shall1 perhaps1 not be able to explain in this letter47 ,allow me to mention1 as ,i write to you1 quite confidentially1 that the idea struck me one afternoon that ,i happened to be alone in the ,church of ,st4 ,eustachio1 observing that the altar of the ,blessed ,sacrament was that of the ,madonna2 this led me to earnestly praying on the subject of uniting those two objects in a common devotion in ,england1 and offering myself to promote it4 ,several things led me to feel strongly on the subject which1 being trifles to others if not to myself1 ,i omit4 ,first1 as to the ,blessed ,eucharist1 my plan was different from yours in one respect1 that1 instead of fixing on one day1 ,i proposed to engage priests to say mass for the conversion of ,england on different days1 so that every day twenty or thirty masses might be said for its conversion1 and in expiation to the ,blessed ,sacrament4 ,at such a distance from the field of action1 ,i could do but little2 ,i therefore made the few priests who have left since last #bec year at this time put down their names for two days a month1 for mass for these purposes1 intending to fill up my list as ,i could4 ,one of them1 ,mr4 ,abraham1 writes that he observes his engagement most punctually4 ,with all deference1 ,i submit to you whether1 while ,thursday remains the day for general prayer1 every priest 7for ,i should think none would refuse7 would choose a couple of days a month1 or a day each week1 for these purposes4 ,in a sermon in the ,ges e ,maria1 last spring1 ,i alluded to a hope ,i fondly cherished1 that public reparation would before long be made in ,england to the ,blessed ,sacrament1 and this brought me a letter from a devout lady1 earnestly begging ,i would try to have something done in that way1 and naming persons in ,england most anxious to cooperate in anything of the sort4 ,my idea was borrowed from my excellent friend1 ,charles ,weld1 and consisted in ,quarant' ,ore1 not confined to one town1 but making the circuit of all ,england1 so that by day and night the ,adorable ,sacrament might be worshipped through the year4 ,i have proposed it to ,lord ,shrewsbury1 for ,i think it should commence with the colleges1 convents1 gentlemen's chapels1 and large towns1 in which ,i trust each chapel would consent4 ,as the ,exposition at each place lasts two days1 it would require #ahb changes in the year1 or1 if each would take it twice a year1 #ia4 ,there are about twenty-five religious communities and colleges2 the chapels in large towns could afford to make up other twenty-five4 ,i think that many pious people would like to have the ,exposition1 and gladly contribute the expense1 and the giro might be published for the year in each directory4 ,i must say ,i should set myself against the common practice of keeping the ,blessed ,sacrament in a cupboard in the vestry1 without a light even1 and never having an act of adoration paid to it1 except at mass4 ,security from sacrilege must be purchased1 but not by a sort of sacrilege which it always looked to me2 the faithful should be encouraged to visit the ,blessed ,sacrament during the day4 ,secondly1 as to the devotion to the ,blessed ,virgin1 ,i proposed the forming of ,confraternities of the ,rosary1 and1 while ,saturday should be the general day for the devotion1 ,i would have different congregations #bef fix on different days1 so that each day the powerful intercession of the ,blessed ,virgin might be invoked upon us and upon our labours1 and reparation be made to her for the outrages committed against her4 ,i offered ,mr4 ,oxley and ,mr4 ,procter to write a little treatise on the ,rosary1 if they would disseminate it4 ,one of my reasons for preferring the ,rosary1 both for myself and ,english ,catholics1 is what ordinarily forms an objection to it4 ,pride1 when we come to pray1 is our most dangerous enemy1 and ,i think no better security can be given against it than to pray as the poor and ignorant do4 ,do we then wish that ,god should judge us by the standard of the wise who know their duty1 or by that of the poor little ones8 ,if by the latter1 why spurn the prayers instituted for them1 and say1 ',we will not use them1 but the prayers better suited to the learned4' ,the ',our ,father' was appointed and drawn up for men who said ',lord1 teach us how to pray4' ,it is a prayer for the ignorant1 as is the ,rosary4 ,but more of this another time4 ,it was my intention to have begun daily prayers for ,england last ,st4 ,george's ,day2 ,i was prevented from drawing them up1 but hope to begin this year4 ,in the meantime1 ,i took out of our archives a printed paper1 of which ,i enclose a copy1 showing that prayers for the conversion of ,england1 c41 have in former times occupied the attention of our college1 which blessed beads1 c41 for the purpose of encouraging them1 and that the ,holy ,see conferred ample spiritual privileges upon the practice4 ,you will see how the ,rosary is particularly privileged4 ,this paper1 through ,giustiniani1 ,i laid before the ,congregation of ,indulgences to get them renewed for prayers for ,england1 and was told that it would be better to draw up something new1 suited to present times1 when ,indulgences would be granted4 ,so far as to my views and ideas before your better ones reached me1 and ,i willingly resign all my views and intentions in favour of yours4 ,now1 as to what is doing here4 ,on the ,feast of ,st4 ,thomas we distributed to all the cardinals that came1 a copy of your sermon received that morning1 with a beautiful lithograph of ,st4 ,thomas1 ,cant41 executed in the house at some of the students' expense1 to propagate devotion to him4 #beg ,cardinal ,orioli declared that he had for years made a memento for ,england in his mass1 and ,cardinal ,giustiniani told me the other day that every ,thursday he offers up mass for its conversion4 ,there is a little religious weekly journal published here for distribution among the poor1 and it has lately been in almost every number soliciting prayers for the same purpose4 ,its principal editor1 an ex-,jesuit1 ,padre ,basiaco1 called on me the other evening1 and told me1 as a singular coincidence1 that since he was in his noviciate he has made it a practice to pray on ,thursday for that object4 ,to show you to what an extent the pious custom is spreading1 the ,austrian ,ambassador the other evening told me that his little boys 7about seven and eight years old7 prayed every ,thursday morning for the conversion of ,england2 and that having been asked by their mother on that day if he had prayed for it1 one of the little fellows replied1 ',no1 mamma2 it is not ,thursday4' ,surely ,god must intend to grant a mercy when ,he stirs up so many to pray for it1 and that1 too1 persons having no connection with the object1 except by zeal or charity4 ,i am going1 in a day or two1 to concert with ,pallotta the best means of propagating this devotion1 both in communities and among the people4 ,i perfectly approve of enlarging your original plan so as to embrace all that are in error4 ,i am in favour of giving expansion to charities in any way1 and ,catholicising our feelings as much as our faith4 ,we are too insular in ,england in religion as in social ideas4 ,this was one of my reasons for wishing to have the oeuvre unconnected with domestic purposes1 which would1 however1 be benefited by the greater energy which the spirit of charity would receive by being extended4 ,i am endeavouring to excite in the students as much as ,i can the missionary spirit2 all the meditations are directed to this4 ,by the missionary spirit ,i do not mean merely a parochial1 but an apostolic spirit1 where each one1 besides his own especial flock1 takes an interest in1 and exerts himself for the benefit of the entire country1 according to the gifts he has received4 ,remember me in your prayers1 and believe me your sincere and affectionate friend1 ,n4 ,wiseman4 #beh ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,his ,last ,days ,in ,west ,bromwich4 ,the account given of ,father ,spencer's zealous labours for the conversion of ,england would be incomplete if something were not added to show how he succeeded in bringing persons into the ,church in the locality of which he had the spiritual charge4 ,there is no record of the number he received1 and only from stray notes1 from various sources1 can some instances of his way of working be given4 ,he was not a great preacher1 as all knew2 but there was a peculiar spirit in what he said which seemed to impress his discourse upon the hearer as if it came not from himself4 ,this want of human eloquence was a drawback to him inasmuch as it was not likely to bring crowds to hear him4 ,an anecdote or two will illustrate this4 ,once he was asked to preach in ,manchester1 and many ,catholics who heard of it went1 of course1 to hear the convert who was talked and written about so much4 ,among the rest1 one young man who had beforehand built castles in his own mind about the glowing eloquence he should hear4 ,to his disappointment1 the preacher was cold1 dry1 and tame4 ,he was not too pleased1 but some way or another every word took effect upon him1 and he could not quit thinking of the sermon1 and the peculiar way in which many things were said4 ,the end of it was1 that he became1 some time after1 a ,passionist1 and was one of those in whom ,father ,ignatius found great consolation1 on account of the zeal he showed and continues still to show1 in the pursuit of the darling objects of ,father ,ignatius's life4 ,a lady was more pointed in her remarks4 ,she went to hear him on some other great occasion1 and she said3--,i saw him go into the pulpit2 ,i heard him address #bei the people1 and ,i was waiting all the time thinking when will he have done talking and begin to preach1 until1 to my surprise1 ,i found what purported to be a sermon coming to a conclusion1 yet ,i can remember to this day almost everything he said4 ,from the little weight ,father ,spencer laid upon human learning in the work of conversion1 one would be tempted to suppose he undervalued what he did not possess4 ,no greater mistake could be made4 ,he was a ,cambridge first-class man1 and must therefore be a good mathematical and classical scholar4 ,he spoke ,italian and ,french almost without a grammatical fault1 and conversed very well in ,german4 ,he was well read in the ,english ,protestant divines1 and knew ,catholic theology with accuracy1 and to an extent which his academical course would not lead us to expect4 ,it may be said that his youth and manhood were spent over the pages of the best ,english writers1 and in the company often of the best living authors4 ,althorp and ,spencer ,house were famous for their literary coteries1 and the son of an earl who patronized men of talent1 and gave unmistakable proofs of great talent himself1 was not one to let such opportunities pass without profit4 ,he trusted little1 however1 to the sway of intellect1 and put his hope in fervent petitions for divine grace4 ,he told ,dr4 ,wiseman that he should apply his mind to something more practical than ,syriac manuscripts1 or treatises on geology1 and that he would rather see him taken up with what suited a priest on the ,english mission as it then was4 ,the rector1 of course1 took the rebuke as humility dictated2 but we should certainly be sorry that he had not written his ,connexion between ,science and ,revealed ,religion1 and his ,lectures on the ,eucharist4 ,spencer1 to be sure1 was mistaken in this2 but the idea gave a bent to his mind1 which he could hardly be expected to change when hampered with the work of a parish4 ,they who knew him well can give testimony to his high attainments1 and all who ever heard him speak of himself can bear a more ample testimony still to the very low opinion he had of his own acquirements4 ,it is no wonder that he #bfj wrote no books2 the little he did publish in the way of newspaper letters and sermons during his last years in ,west ,bromwich1 did not produce much apparent effect4 ,it is not our province to review these here1 but it is well to say that the sermons rank far above his spoken ones in point of style and matter1 especially the ,french sermon he preached in ,dieppe in #ahch4 ,the prayers1 to which he chiefly trusted for the conversion of his countrymen1 did not bring much evident gain4 ,others reaped what he sowed in this way1 and he tells us in the ,dieppe sermon that during a confirmation ,dr4 ,walsh gave in that year he had #fjj new converts to impose hands upon4 ,his field at this time was confined mostly to his conversation and example2 to both of which his name and reputation added something in the eyes of the world4 ,these gave him leave to speak at least1 and procured him listeners where other priests would not obtain a hearing4 ,and he had no small power in word and example1 as all who knew him are aware1 and a few incidents may serve to illustrate4 ,as to his conversation1 its peculiar charm consisted in the importance of its drift1 and the nice sweet humour by which he rendered it agreeable4 ,besides1 it may be safely said1 that there scarcely ever was a man so happy in his illustrations1 or in the homely way in which he put an argument1 or answered an objection4 ,this last property can be seen from the following passage1 which is quoted from one of his letters to a newspaper3-- ,i was once attacked by a stanch ,church of ,england man1 who had been an old sailor1 and had lost an arm in the service1 for what he thought was unworthy of my character and family1 leaving my colours and changing sides4 ,i answered him thus3 ,suppose you1 my friend1 had entered a ship bearing the ,king of ,england's flag and pennant1 and gone out and fought many a battle against ,french cruisers1 but then found out by chance that the captain of the ship was an outlawed pirate1 who had no right to the colours which he wore1 and was making you fight for himself1 not for your king1 would you let me call you a deserter if the next time you came within hail of a #bfa true king's ship you jumped overboard and swam to her8 ,the good sailor seemed to understand me1 and said no more about leaving my colours4 ,it was remarked that very few ever went to speak with him in earnest about their soul with any kind of docility1 whom he did not succeed in bringing into the ,church4 ,then his example was a continual sermon4 ,he preferred the poor1 not as poor wretches on whom he thought it was heroic to spend a few kind words of mawkish pity1 but1 in order to make them feel as if they were his brothers and sisters4 ,he would come into their hovels1 sit down with them1 and even take a cup of tea there1 which he might have refused at a richer place4 ,they represented to him the person of ,jesus ,christ1 who said1 ,the poor you have always with you1 as a substitute for ,himself4 ,his patience was no less wonderful4 ,one day he was walking with a sort of bag on his shoulder1 when an insolent fellow came out before him and spat in his face4 ,his housekeeper was with him1 helping to carry some articles1 for he was then going to say mass in one of the little places he had opened near ,bromwich4 ,she of course fired with indignation at once1 and said3 ,you wicked man6 how dare you spit in the face of ,lord ,spencer's son1 and he such a good gentleman8 ,mr4 ,spencer took out his handkerchief1 wiped his face1 and only said to the housekeeper3 ,and how dare you be angry8 ,i am proud of being treated as my dear ,lord was2 and went on his way as if nothing had happened4 ,he did not even allude to it again4 ,he was also very abstemious1 and never took wine or spirits for a number of years2 indeed1 he may be said to have tasted none except as medicine since he became a ,catholic1 and for sometime before4 ,his bishop told a very curious anecdote about this4 ,father ,spencer took very little sleep1 and in fact he so shortened his time of rest that often1 when returning home from a sick call1 he would be nodding asleep up the street1 and walk like a man who had taken a little more than was good for him4 ,he was reported to the bishop as being seen in this state4 ,the bishop was amused first1 and then surprised2 but when he found #bfb out the cause1 notwithstanding that he was edified1 he made the good priest sleep a little longer every night4 ,this only shows how captious were the people he had to deal with1 and how easily they might have been scandalized4 ,yet he was venerated by all ,catholics as a saint1 and ,protestants began to respect him after some time as a really good man1 and a server of the ,lord according to his conscience4 ,the opinion of his sanctity was not merely superficial hearsay2 his brother priests1 who knew him most intimately1 and were not the persons to take the appearance of holiness for the reality1 are all of one opinion1 that his life was the life of a great saint4 ,a student writes to ,father ,spencer's assistant1 ,rev4 ,mr4 ,elves1 in #ahch1 from ,rome1 in the following terms3 ,it must be a very great source of edification to you to be the companion of ,mr4 ,spencer1 and ,i well know he has got in you a friend willing and ready to imitate his holy example4 ,i am sorry that illness obliges him to retire from you for the present1 but it will be a consolation for you to think that he has gone to gather more strength for the contest4 ,many a time ,i have dwelt with delight on the idea of being at some future period his fellow missioner1 for ,i feel it would be a source of zeal and fervour to me to live with such a person1 and ,i hope and pray ,god my wishes may be fulfilled1 and that ,i may have such a companion1 or rather such a director1 during the first years of my missionary career4 ,this letter must have been an answer to the account the priest sent his young friend of the holiness of his companion4 ,again1 ,father ,spencer never heeded what we call the public1 as he said himself he wished to ignore its existence2 and strange enough by that very means he gained its esteem4 ,this is best illustrated by what happened on his return from ,france1 in '#ch4 ,he saw the clergy there of course go about in their soutanes and full ecclesiastical costume2 and he did not see why he might not do the same4 ,he ignored the public1 put on his cassock1 and went in full priestly costume everywhere4 ,he went to towns1 into trains and omnibuses1 walks the streets1 and he gives the result in a letter to a friend thus3 ,this has not procured me one #bfc disrespectful word1 which is worthy of remark here1 for ,i do not think ,i ever passed two or three weeks in this place without being hooted after by boys or men somewhere4 ,thus we have the servant following his ,master1 drinking in insults as sweet draughts in silence and humility2 and when he was supposed to be ground to the very earth by ignominy1 gaining a respect1 a love1 and a reputation that is as fresh to-day in his old parish among not only those who knew him but their children who heard of him4 ,yes1 this day1 more than #be years in distance of time1 he is1 if possible1 more venerated and more regretted than the day he resigned the pastoral charge of ,west ,bromwich4 #bfd ,,chapter ,x4 ,father ,spencer ,comes ,to ,oscott4 ,the ,bishop1 ,dr4 ,walsh1 calls ,mr4 ,spencer to ,oscott ,college towards the end of ,april or perhaps in the beginning of ,may1 #ahci4 ,the object of this change was1 to give him the spiritual care of the students1 in order that he might shape their characters1 and infuse into them that apostolic spirit of which he had already given such proofs4 ,here is one other instance of the true way to real distinction in greatness in the ,catholic ,church1 lying through the road humility and its concomitant virtues points out4 ,father ,spencer sought to be unknown2 he petitioned for the poorest and the most unprovided mission4 ,in his little parish he found his earthly paradise1 and the toils and troubles he went through1 to make his practice keep pace with his fervour1 formed the links of his happiness4 ,he prayed1 he lectured1 he heard confessions2 he sought the stragglers in their haunts of idleness2 he had no idea of extending his sphere of action beyond the limits of his mission1 and1 he even made the half of that over to another1 that his working could be the more effectual as its space was narrowed4 ,every plan he devised for doing good on a large scale was fated to become abortive4 ,his natural means of influence he had cast aside2 he gave up writing in newspapers1 and let dogs bark at him without stooping to notice them2 his high connections were virtually sundered when he gave up paying visits to his family2 his property he divested himself of altogether1 and grieved that the steward who was appointed to look after him took too much care of him1 and did not let him feel what it was to be poor indeed4 ,here then is the young nobleman transformed into the #bfe priest1 and stripped of everything1 which priests who were not noble often pursue as necessary for their position2 ay1 thoroughly shorn to the bare condition of a priest4 ,he was a priest and nothing more1 and that is saying a great deal4 ,if priests were always mere priests they would always be great saints4 ,but when a priest dips his sacred character into worldly pursuits1 riches1 human aims and ways2 when that sublime dignity he has received is trampled upon by his own self1 and is saturated in the deep dye of worldliness1 he ceases to be great1 inasmuch as he ceases to be a priest in sentiment and action4 ,it is often supposed that a priest has to do many things in consideration of his cloth4 ,many actions that humility dictates are considered infra dig4 ,it would be so1 for instance1 to carry one's own bundle1 polish one's shoes1 allow a navvy to spit in one's face1 or a ragamuffin to tear one's coat1 without handing him over to the police4 ,st4 ,francis ,xavier did not think it infra dig to wash his own shirt1 and ,father ,spencer was very much of that saint's way of thinking on this and kindred points4 ,when1 however1 he had arrived at the lowest depth of humiliation he could possibly reach1 like his ,divine ,master1 he began to shine forth and to move the whole world4 ,we have traced above how this change came about4 ,he used to speak to every one1 merely as agreeable matter of hopeful conversation1 about the conversion of ,england1 and get them also to pray for it4 ,his crusade was quite accidental as far as his own preconceived notions were concerned4 ,he went to ,france with ,mr4 ,phillipps1 much against his will1 and found himself all of a sudden launched into the great work of his life1 by the encouraging words of ,french prelates4 ,he was not the man to lose an opportunity of doing good through lack of energy or fear of opposition4 ,he could brave everything for ,god's glory4 ,if there was anything that helped him best in his work1 it was the opposition he encountered4 ,he knew that1 and therefore every new stroke levelled against him from friends or foes was a fresh impetus to new exertions4 ,hence he is now the correspondent of the heads of the ,catholic ,church at home #bff and on the continent2 all the religious orders have heard of him and his zeal for ,england2 seculars have heard2 priests1 nuns1 monks1 all chime in with his notions2 many because they were glad to have the opportunity1 many because they did not wish to be behind their neighbours1 and all because it was a good1 holy1 and laudable thing to pray for the conversion of heretics4 ,he says little about his property or what is being done with it in any of the letters that remain after him2 but a bishop in whose diocese he lived has told us something4 ,mr4 ,spencer had from his father's will and testament #c1fjj in some funds1 besides an annuity of #cjj for life1 to which #cjj were added ad beneplacitum dantis4 ,his moderate way of living took very little from this sum every year1 so all the remainder1 with the interest of some years1 was at the bishop's disposal4 ,two missions1 ,dudley and ,west ,bromwich1 were founded by him with this property1 at least for the greater part2 and the ground upon which the present college of ,oscott stands was bought chiefly with what ,father ,spencer gave the bishop4 ,he gave a pension to his old housekeeper1 which she still receives1 and whilst his property was thus doing good for others and the ,church1 he would not travel in a first-class carriage on the railway1 and often walked from ,oscott to ,birmingham1 in order to be able to give the fare for his journey to some persons along the way4 ,he had done more than this3 he was in close correspondence with ,dr4 ,gentili and ,father ,dominic4 ,he paved their way1 and worked upon the opinions of many whose influence was required for their introduction into ,england4 ,dr4 ,gentili was a personal friend of his1 and so was ,father ,dominic2 but ,father ,spencer thought the claims of the former somewhat stronger for reasons which can only be surmised4 ,mrs4 ,gaming1 his cousin1 to whose letters we owe a great deal of the information we are able to glean concerning their transactions1 was the great advocate of the ,passsionists4 ,she so pressed the matter upon him that he gets rather impatient1 and tells her to mind her prayers and leave these things to others4 ,our ,fathers agreed in ,general #bfg ,chapter1 in #ahci1 to send a colony to ,england2 but as there was no provision made nor opening offered1 for some years more this decision1 was not carried into effect4 ,the ,passionists refer their coming to ,england1 under ,god1 to ,cardinal ,wiseman1 acknowledging at the same time that ,father ,spencer did something towards the work4 ,he also had a good deal to do with the coming of the ,trappists to ,loughborough1 near ,mr4 ,phillipps's4 ,in all these three events he works in his own quiet way1 beneath the surface1 writing and advising1 and doing what lay in his power consistent with other duties4 ,he keeps up correspondence by letter with some of his old friends at college1 and with one or two of the ,tractarians1 ,mr4 ,palmer1 the author of the ,church of ,christ1 among the number4 ,an old friend of his writes to him from among the ,irvingites1 and ,father ,spencer writes to another in these terms3--,the supposed miraculous voice1 to which that party 7the ,irvingites7 attend1 has named #ab men as ,apostles1 who expect shortly to be endued with miraculous powers to enable them to restore the ,church in its perfect beauty4 ,drummond the banker is one4 ,spencer ,percival1 and my great friend ,henry ,bridgman1 ,lord ,bradford's brother1 others4 ,it is not a little strange that this ,mr4 ,bridgman comes into the journal of ,father ,ignatius's ,cambridge life very frequently1 and mostly in the character of a ,mentor4 ,father ,ignatius never gained much from correspondence1 sought on his part1 with leading men in the great religious movements of the period4 ,but whenever others sought his advice1 they generally became ,catholics4 ,they were disposed for truth1 and he could remove objections1 tell them of books1 and pray for them4 ,he broke off this kind of unasked-for correspondence at this time1 but he resumed it again on a different footing1 as shall be related in its place4 ,he had another means of doing good now1 which could not come into his line while simple pastor of a country district4 ,the college of ,oscott was a place worth seeing1 if not as a specimen of architecture1 at least as being the stronghold of ,catholicism1 and the centre of a great deal of #bfh intellectual and moral training4 ,many of his great friends1 who could not hitherto devise any plausible plea for visiting him in his retirement1 could find one immediately now1 from the place he dwelt in as well as the position he there held4 ,his name was also noised abroad1 and persons would feel some curiosity for the acquaintance of one who was moving heaven and earth for their conversion4 ,accordingly1 we find that he entertains his two brothers1 the then earl and his successor1 on one day2 ,lord ,lyttelton and ,mr4 ,gladstone on another day1 and so forth4 ,thus1 that particular power he possessed in his conversation had a field upon which it could be brought into requisition1 in a manner which former arrangements had debarred to him4 ,several of the sermons he preached were published and distributed4 ,there was no faculty of his1 natural or supernatural1 no good deed he was capable of doing1 that did not come into play far better by his late transfer to ,oscott4 ,he was also practised in the drudgery of a missionary priest--that sphere of action which fills up a priest's ordinary life2 and he was able from experience to teach others1 not only how to prepare themselves1 but how to succeed with profit to themselves and others in this work4 ,he had also peculiar advantages here2 he could give the young ecclesiastics not only the abstract rules for missionary labour1 but a taste and relish for it1 for very seldom can one succeed well if his tastes run counter to his duties4 ,he did this by continuing in ,oscott his old parish work2 he visited the sick1 brought them the sacraments2 he gave a portion of every day to his favourite work1 and by the incidents he came across1 and the results of his labours1 he raised up the young gentlemen's notions to the looking upon that as the poetic side of their ministry which is generally supposed to be the most prosaic4 ,this is a great secret in the training of young men2 to tell them best is best1 and prove it to them1 will convince them of course2 but it will not lead them2 there must be some grace1 some romantic aspect put upon the thing1 and then it entices them of itself4 ,this was ,father ,spencer's secret1 and1 indeed1 it might be said that it was his rule4 ,he writes in a letter now1 that he condemns asperity in controversy1 #bfi and that civility and good breeding1 with pity and love1 is the way to confound opponents2 and that he would rather see a clever argument unanswered than met with pungency and acrimony4 ,this might be quarrelled with1 for in war all things are lawful2 but the real state of opinion to which he came on these matters was1 that opponents were surer to be conquered by being enticed than driven4 ,let the ,catholic religion but be seen in its native beauty1 and thousands will be led to examine it4 #bgj ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,some ,of ,his ,doings ,in ,oscott ,college4 ,father ,spencer's way of training young men has been already hinted at4 ,he carried it out while he remained in his new office2 he would go heartily into all their sports1 make up their matches for cricket1 and even give the younger ones instructions in the art4 ,they had all a high opinion of his sanctity1 and therefore the keeping of their juvenile spirits in order was not always a difficult matter4 ,oscott contained at the time #adj students1 #cj only of whom were ecclesiastics4 ,among the lay students1 who are mostly younger than the others1 and have a notion too that because they do not intend to be priests they are not obliged to be so guarded as the rest1 there were several who were not very manageable4 ,one day a class he had in hand were rather uproarious2 he quietly advised them to come to better sentiments2 his words were1 however1 lost1 and the noise was not abated4 ,he remonstrated again1 but all to no purpose4 ,at length he got a hearing1 and said3 ,since ,i cannot correct you1 and do not wish to chastise you1 ,i shall pray to ,god to chastise you ,himself4 ,this1 said in his sad mood1 had such an effect upon the boys that it was never forgotten1 and he never had the least difficulty with his class again4 ,on another occasion he did something in execution of his duty1 which gave great offence to one of the young men4 ,this young man grossly insulted him1 in words that shocked all who were within hearing1 and particularly reflected on the ,father's character as a gentleman and a man of honour4 ,the insult must have been the more galling as the person who was guilty of it was by birth and education in the position of a gentleman4 ,one calm and placid look was the #bga only answer from ,father ,spencer1 which reminded many present of our ,lord's look at ,peter after his denial4 ,for this anecdote and the next we are indebted to the ,right ,rev4 ,dr4 ,amherst4 ,when he 7,father ,spencer7 was a superior at ,oscott1 ,i had the good fortune to be under him4 ,he frequently visited me and several of my companions in our rooms1 where he would talk with greatest earnestness of the conversion of ,england1 of the sanctification of the priesthood1 and of the entire devotedness which should characterize a priest4 ,sometimes his visits took place late at night after we were gone to bed1 when1 if we were not asleep1 he would sit upon a chair1 a table1 or the edge of the bed1 and speak of his favourite themes for an hour4 ,once ,i remember awaking in the morning1 after one of these visits1 and expecting to find the father still seated on my bed1 not perceiving that the night had passed4 ,he had1 no doubt1 found that ,i had gone asleep1 and went away quietly4 ,another time one of the students1 a young man about #ag1 who is now a zealous priest in the ,english ,mission1 happened to be out shooting somewhere4 ,he took a shot at a blackbird1 and some poor old woman was within range1 and received a shot just over the eye4 ,she cried out that she was shot1 and one may imagine the embarrassment of the young student4 ,she recovered1 however2 but in a year or two after the occurrence1 a quack doctor applied some remedies to a new swelling in the eye1 and swelling and remedies resulted in her death4 ,there was an inquest held in ,birmingham1 to which the student was summoned4 ,whilst awaiting the day1 the poor fellow was in very low spirits1 as might be expected4 ,father ,spencer went to his room to console him1 and said that he had no reason to be cast down1 that it was quite accidental1 and permitted by ,god as a trial1 with a great deal more4 ,it was of little use1 the poor student said1 but they might transport me4 ,beautiful1 beautiful1 exclaimed the good ,father2 fine field for the exercise of apostolic zeal among the poor convicts4 ,but then they might even hang me1 rejoined the student4 ,glorious sacrifice1 said ,father ,spencer2 you #bgb can offer your life1 though innocent in this case1 in satisfaction for your other sins4 ,well1 the student1 though he thought the sentiments very high for his grade of spirituality1 did not fail to profit by them1 and tells the story to this day with a great deal of interest4 ,thus did ,father ,spencer work among the students1 a model in all virtues1 and so sweet and holy in his manner that his words went to the very heart with effect4 ,this was how he went on in the ordinary routine of the work allotted to him2 but his zeal could not be bounded by such a sphere1 he had tried what expansion could do1 and he sought by grand schemes to get other ways of doing good4 ,his great notion was perfection for all4 ,be ye perfect as your heavenly ,father is perfect1 was ever ringing in his ears1 and he desired to see that great counsel of our ,divine ,lord acted upon with more earnestness4 ,he would do his share2 he had long been living like a religious1 and practising the three evangelical counsels with success4 ,he wanted now to extend the same rule to others4 ,of course1 he did not find many to adopt his notions1 but lest priests might be considered to assume too much in condemning his plans1 he was advised to put his ideas on paper1 and send them to ,rome4 ,he did so1 and the answer of the ,roman ,censor was unfavourable4 ,this was a heavy blow1 but he submitted at once1 and thanked ,god he had superiors who could find out his faults1 and knew how to correct him without human respect4 ,we have reason to suppose this censor was no other than ,dr4 ,wiseman1 for he and ,father ,spencer differed a little about the introduction of religious orders into ,england4 ,father ,spencer said his hope was not in religious orders1 but in secular priests living the lives of religious4 ,this was why he took no leading part in bringing ,passionists or others into his country2 he had a great opinion of their holiness1 and wished to see them working for the conversion of ,england1 but rather at a distance than in the field4 ,to add to his crosses1 ,dr4 ,baines published a pastoral towards the end of the year #ahci1 in which he gave no hopes of the conversion of ,england1 and prohibited public #bgc prayers being made for that end4 ,this was a terrible blow to poor ,father ,spencer2 he wrote as if he did not well understand what he had to say1 and the thing looked to him so uncalled-for and so uncharitable1 that he was unable to explain himself4 ,he was1 however1 pleased to find out afterwards that this very opposition gave new strength to the cause4 ,in a sermon which ,father ,spencer preached in ,manchester1 in ,may1 #ahci1 he used some expressions that gave offence to ,catholic principles4 ,the drift of the discourse is that ,catholics and ,protestants should sacrifice everything except truth itself for peace sake4 ,in bringing this principle into application1 he says the ,catholics should offer themselves open to conviction1 and be ready to lay down their belief1 if it could be proved not true4 ,he uses the following words3-- ,the truth of my faith as a ,christian and a ,catholic is1 to my mind1 a certainty1 because ,i have evidence that it was taught by ,god1 who cannot deceive nor be deceived4 ,will that evidence be weakened by fresh examination and discussion8 and do ,i anyways make an unholy or a perilous concession1 when ,i declare myself ready to renounce my belief1 if it were sufficiently shown to me that the evidences on which ,i believe it to be divine are wrong8 ,i embraced and hold it now1 because the evidence of its truth1 was1 and is to my mind unanswerable4 ,i show no doubting of its truth1 but1 on the contrary1 ,i declare how little doubt ,i have of its truth1 when ,i profess myself with all my heart willing to renounce it if proved not true1 and to embrace any form of doctrine which shall be presented in its place on sufficient grounds of credibility4 ,this is the spirit in which ,i wish all ,catholics would offer themselves to discussion with our ,protestant brethren4 ,if he meant this as a bold assertion of the certainty with which he held the ,catholic faith1 and would offer these terms because convinced of the utter impossibility of proving him to be wrong1 it might be barely tolerated4 ,it is a form of speech that has sometimes been used by controversialists--,maguire1 for instance--but it has none the less been always considered rash4 ,that this was the sense in which #bgd ,father ,spencer used it1 is abundantly evident from other parts of the sermon4 ,however1 the proposition that a ,catholic and a ,protestant may meet on equal terms to discuss their tenets1 each open to conviction by the other's arguments1 is simply erroneous and scandalous1 to say nothing more4 ,we cannot do such a thing without denying the very basis of our faith4 ,our faith is not opinion1 nor is it certainty simply4 ,it is something more4 ,it is a divine virtue infused into our souls1 whereby we believe certain things4 ,we must use reason to come to the evidence of faith1 but faith once obtained must never be left at the mercy of the fickleness and weakness of any individual's understanding or power of argument4 ,to lay down the proposition we animadvert on1 would be equivalent to denying the objectivity of faith altogether4 ,whether a ,catholic reasons well or ill1 answers arguments or is confounded1 his faith is the same2 it is not his faith simply1 but the faith of the ,catholic ,church1 the faith given by ,god1 which no man can add to or take from4 ,nay1 the very putting of oneself in the position here mentioned is a real tempting ,god1 if not undermining faith itself1 by laying it open to the possibility of doubt4 ,there is no use in deceiving ,protestants1 therefore1 by apparent concessions like the rash offer which we said might be tolerated4 ,it is impossible2 our terms are fixed1 and we are fixed in them1 so that it is merely an exaggeration1 in its mildest form4 ,when1 therefore1 ,father ,spencer lays it down thus1 and says that it is the spirit in which he would wish all ,catholics to discuss1 he may be fairly taxed with the second interpretation4 ,whether or no1 it was wrong to preach it to all ,catholics4 ,fancy a poor woman1 who could scarcely read1 entering into a discussion with an educated ,protestant on these terms4 ,he was of course called to order for this sermon1 but his ,catholic spirit was his safeguard4 ,he first wondered how he had been wrong1 but even laymen point out his mistake to him1 and a word from the ,bishop is enough to make him retract4 ,thus he soon found out the keenness of ,catholic instinct to anything coming from a priest that even grazes the brink of error4 #bge ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,some ,events ,of ,interest4 ,in the year #ahdj ,father ,spencer had the happiness of hearing that his great friend1 ,dr4 ,wiseman1 was consecrated bishop1 and was coming from ,rome to be coadjutor to ,dr4 ,walsh1 and take up his residence in the very ,college of ,oscott where he himself was4 ,another event occurred1 of no less interest4 ,one of his brother priests1 ,dr4 ,wareing1 was consecrated ,bishop of ,ariopolis1 and ,vicar-,apostolic of a new district1 the ,eastern district in ,england4 ,father ,spencer preached the consecration sermon2 and these two additional bishops in ,england raised his hopes of the spread of the ,catholic faith4 ,it may not be out of place to insert a sentence or two from a letter this venerable bishop1 who has retired from his pastoral duties in consequence of ill health for some time past1 has written to one of our fathers4 ,on many occasions1 while at ,oscott ,college1 the ,superior1 and myself among the rest1 often thought his zeal too unbounded and rather imprudent1 and could not sanction some of his projects and undertakings4 ,though it cost him much1 he always obeyed1 and used to pray that ,heaven would direct his superiors1 whose direction he never refused to obey4 ,i believe he never wished for anything but the will of ,god1 and waited patiently for its accomplishment4 ,i remember also on one occasion hearing him say1 ',how beautiful it would be to die in a ditch1 unseen and unknown4' ,footnote #i ,these were his very words2 and ,i was forcibly struck when ,i #bgf heard of the exact circumstances of his holy death1 to see how his wish and prayer were granted to him4 ,footnote #i3 ,this was his continual aspiration4 ,he wished to die like his ,lord1 deprived of human aid and sympathy4 ,he receives news in the beginning of the year #ahda of six nuns having bound themselves by vow to pray for the conversion of ,england4 ,but a more beautiful and consolatory piece of information still was1 that a ,french missioner had formed an association in ,persia of prayers for the same object4 ,he goes to ,london and preaches in several churches1 among others1 in ,lincoln's-,inn ,fields1 of course about the conversion of ,england1 for he scarcely ever preached a sermon in which he did not introduce this topic2 nay1 he never held a half-hour's conversation without introducing it4 ,it was about this time1 too1 that he came across ,mr4 ,pugin the elder4 ,his first meeting was rather characteristic of both4 ,father ,spencer had preached a sermon somewhere on the conversion of ,england1 and he gave benediction after it4 ,pugin came into the sacristy4 ,the famous ,goth saw ,father ,spencer in a ,roman cope1 and he comes up to him in a kind of nettlesome mood1 saying1 ,what6 convert ,england with such a cope as that8 ,father ,spencer says in a letter written at this time1 ,i am not possessed with the enthusiastic zeal for correct forms 7,gothic7 which some are4 ,it is not my special calling 4444 ,mr4 ,pugin is the authority to which ,i would defer in these matters4 ,the only other opinion of ,pugin's he records in his letters1 is that he said to ,father ,spencer one time1 ,it is absurd to expect to get anything for one's works from booksellers or publishers4 ,another event that gave him joy1 and afterwards a good deal of sorrow1 was the conversion of a well-known1 clergyman4 ,this remarkable convert lived some time in ,oscott after his conversion4 ,father ,spencer took him with him sometimes on his parish duties1 and had great hopes of him4 ,these were all disappointed when1 in a couple of years1 he went back again after being ordained priest and having said mass4 ,father ,ignatius often spoke of him1 often visited him1 and asked others to pray for him4 ,he used to tell us one curious anecdote about him4 ,shortly after his apostasy1 #bgg he was invited to a tea-party where ,evangelical ladies assembled to congratulate themselves1 and sip their tea with new relish by having it sugared with some telling remarks of the lately-rescued slave from ,popery4 ,he was put several questions1 such as ,what do you think of ,transubstantiation8 ,he answered1 ,oh1 that's as plain as possible in the ,bible1 and so forth4 ,they were1 of course1 egregiously disappointed4 ,father ,ignatius used to lament with peculiar anguish over this sad case4 ,he always hoped for his return to the ,catholic faith1 and1 strange enough1 one of the first pieces of news in the way of conversion which we heard after ,father ,ignatius's death1 was his return to the faith he had deserted4 ,in the middle of the year #ahdb1 he visits ,ireland for the first time2 he preaches in several places1 in ,dublin2 especially for the ,jesuits1 in ,gardiner ,street2 the ,franciscans1 ,merchant's ,quay4 ,all1 of course1 about the conversion of ,england4 ,he says3 ,my argument was1 that the ,irish having been specially victims of oppression under ,england1 if ,i could gain the ,irish to pray for ,england1 prayers springing from such charity would be irresistible4 ,he made a kind of a tour through ,ireland1 and got as far as ,tuam4 ,he feared the ,archbishop of ,tuam1 knowing his opposition to ,england1 and his detestation of ,english rule4 ,for that very reason ,father ,spencer was the more anxious to convert him1 or make him return good for evil4 ,what was his surprise when he found the ,archbishop not only kind and ,irish in his hospitality1 but really favourable to his projects4 ,his grace got ,father ,spencer to preach1 and promised him that he would give the substance of the same sermon to his people in their own sweet ancient tongue on the next ,sunday4 ,he was so enchanted at this1 that he wrote off almost to every friend he had in the world about it4 ,though he often felt afterwards the powerful blows ,dr4 ,mc,hale delivered at ,england's doings1 he never could forget his kind reception of himself1 and always mentioned his grace's name with gratitude and reverence1 only wishing that he would not be so hard on ,england4 ,the next event he writes about was the arrival in ,england #bgh of ,father ,dominic of the ,mother of ,god 7,passionist71 and his staying at ,oscott for some time in order to learn ,english and wait for an opening in ,aston to begin the first retreat of the ,english province4 ,before we quote his account of ,father ,dominic1 it may be well to give a rather characteristic remark of his which occurs in the letter to ,mrs4 ,canning1 who was a great promoter1 in the letter-writing way1 of ,father ,dominic's coming4 ,he says1 ,your accounts of yourself are always interesting1 as they must be in all cases where a person knows how to delineate accurately his own interior2 for1 in seeing the picture of another well drawn1 we always may discern little touches of our own portraiture which had before perhaps escaped us1 and that gives all the pleasure of sympathy1 which is one of the realest pleasures4 ,further on in the same letter he writes3-- ,padre ,domenico has had his cross to bear with us1 all this time2 it is not like what usually makes crosses for people4 ,he mourns over having plenty to eat1 having windows which keep the weather out1 having chairs to sit on1 and tables to sit at1 and longs to be in his house1 which ,i suppose will not have much of all this to trouble him4 ,i have to try to console him now and then1 which ,i do by telling him that ,i never hear of anything brought about in our ecclesiastical arrangements without long delay1 and yet all comes right at last1 with patience4 ,i tell him also that he must have known enough of the deliberativeness with which things of the kind are settled by the known slowness of all things at ,rome4 ,however1 why should you have to bear this burden with us8 ,you will1 ,i hope1 be consoled before long by hearing that they are settled1 and going on1 and have first a chair1 then a table1 then a kettle1 and likely to have a smoke-jack1 toasting-fork1 and such like in due course1 and1 what will be not less interesting in its way1 having good novices1 and plenty of converts4 ,the next thing he speaks about is not one event1 but a series1 though all only items in a great result for which he continually prayed and laboured--the conversions1 which multiplied every day4 ,in #ahdc he says that converts are #bgi received in ,birmingham at the rate of one a day1 and many more elsewhere4 ,he also mentions with great satisfaction that within the last year1 #ahdb1 three ,anglican clergymen1 four ,oxford students1 two countesses1 and two earls' daughters had become converts4 ,although ,father ,spencer mentions these particularly1 it is not to undervalue conversions from an humbler grade of life he does it4 ,the soul of the beggar is as precious in the eyes of ,god1 apud quern non est acceptatio personarum1 as the soul of the king4 ,father ,spencer did not undervalue the conversions of the middle and lower classes on the contrary1 he worked hard to get as many as possible from them4 ,he had always notions of a great move towards ,catholicity1 and he thought that if the higher ranks took the lead in this1 the others would follow4 ,in #ahdd1 he mentions his going to ,nottingham with a large party1 among whom is ,mr4 ,ward1 one of the most advanced ,oxford clergy4 ,oh6 that he would come a little further1 but at present he seems to have no thoughts of it4 ,god knows whether he may not soon get a little help onwards4 ,make a good prayer for this4 ,mr4 ,ward did get certainly onwards4 ,here and there we find sighs escape him about his beloved people of ,northampton and ,brington4 ,he did assuredly love his native place intensely1 and it must have been a trial to his feelings that he could do nothing externally towards alleviating its spiritual destitution4 #bhj ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,his ,tour ,on ,the ,continent ,in #ahdd4 ,in #ahdd he became so nervous and weak that he was forbidden exertion of any kind2 his ailment is manifest in his tremulous handwriting4 ,on medical advice1 he takes a tour on the ,continent with ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,phillipps and their children4 ,his account of this tour is preserved in a ,journal1 and we think it well to give it entire1 without any compression4 ,on ,wednesday1 ,july #crd1 #ahdd1 ,i set off from ,grace ,dieu ,manor for a tour on the ,continent with my dear friend1 ,ambrose ,phillipps1 his wife1 his two eldest boys1 ,ambrose and ,edward1 and ,john ,squires1 his servant4 ,he took his carriage1 in which he and his family sat on the railway from ,loughborough to ,london1 while ,i went in a second-class carriage4 ,we arrived at the ,burlington ,hotel1 and dined about #g o'clock4 ,afterwards we went out different ways4 ,i called at ,dr4 ,griffiths1 but he was not at home4 ,i had tea with ,dr4 ,maguire1 whom ,i found at home2 we had an hour's talk1 about the ,oxford men principally4 ,got home about #aj4 ,thursday1 ,july #d4--,went with the ,phillippses to ,father ,lythgoe's1 in ,bolton ,street1 where ,i said mass1 and breakfasted at #aj4 ,i went to see ,dr4 ,chambers1 in ,brook ,street1 being ordered by ,dr4 ,wiseman to consult him as to the propriety of taking a long tour1 as is proposed by ,phillipps4 ,dr4 ,chambers recognized me at once1 as ,i used in #ahbd or #ahbe to follow his visits to the patients in ,st4 ,george's ,hospital1 with a view to learn medicine4 ,he judged it quite necessary that ,i should have at least three months' absence from work1 and approved of my travelling with #bha moderate exertion4 ,so ,i am fixed at last to set off4 ,god knows how ,i shall go through4 ,the present plan is to go through ,belgium1 to ,munich1 the ,tyrol1 ,venice1 ,milan1 ,turin1 ,lyons1 ,paris1 and home2 and my purpose is to get prayers for ,england's conversion1 and to see men rather than places and things4 ,after ,dr4 ,chambers1 ,i went to the ,bank1 to get my letter of credit1 then to ,buckingham ,palace1 to see my sister4 ,after ,i had waited a half-hour she returned from her drive1 and took me to her nursery apartments at the top of the house4 ,i had my first glance at ,prince ,albert1 going out to ride with ,colonel ,bouverie4 ,from ,sarah1 ,i went to ,lyttelton's house1 #ci1 ,grosvenor ,place1 where ,i found ,caroline ,lyttelton was expected home in an hour1 and so ,i went on to call on ,sisk1 who was out1 and ,i came back and saw ,lyttelton1 with whom ,i went in his carriage towards the ,house of ,lords1 and was set down in ,st4 ,james's ,street4 ,on the table in ,grosvenor ,place ,i saw what ,i was #ba years ago1 in a miniature painted by ,ross--a blooming rosy youth4 ,i did not believe it till ,caroline told me4 ,i came to dine with ,sarah at #h1 and staid till #aj4 ,our conversation was most interesting1 about the ,queen and the children1 and the great people from abroad1 c41 whom she saw2 above all1 the ,czar and the ,duke of ,wellington4 ,she set me down at our hotel at #aj1 after calling at ,neville ,grenville's1 where ,i saw ,lady ,charlotte and a large family4 ,friday1 ,july #eth4--,mass and breakfast as yesterday4 ,about #aa started for ,dover1 in the same order as from ,loughborough2 arrived at #e4 ,i went to call on ,mr4 ,savage1 the priest1 my old companion at ,rome4 ,he does not seem a movement man4 ,he came to tea with us4 ,saturday1 ,july #fth4--,as the packet was to start at #g1 ,i missed saying mass4 ,as it happened1 we had to wait on board till #i for the mail4 ,we had intended to cross to ,ostend1 but ,phillipps1 getting afraid of the long crossing for sickness1 so we all agreed to prefer the shorter-by-half passage to ,calais4 ,we had a good passage1 but we all were miserable2 the two boys were very sick4 ,however1 as the ,french boatmen assured us1 the tread of the dry land of #bhb ,france worked wonders to cure us all4 ,we went to ,dessin's ,hotel4 ,i was full well reminded of ,september1 #ahai1 my first landing in ,france1 and of divers other epochs1 ,sept4 #ahbj1 ,nov4 #ahbj1 and ,feb4 #ahcj4 ,before dinner we went to the church to give thanks1 and commend our future to ,god4 ,i asked le ,suisse de l',eglise 7the verger7 to pray for ,england4 ,nothing else done at ,calais4 ,we started in the afternoon for ,s4 ,omer1 which we reached late4 ,the country we passed was very fertile2 for the first time ,i have seen cultivation which struck me as superior to ,english2 the state of the people is manifestly more happy and prosperous4 ,after tea ,i went to the ,grand ,vicaire1 ,m4 ,dumez1 to ask leave for mass1 c4 ,i had forgotten to get credentials from ,dr4 ,wiseman1 and so he hesitated1 but gave the celebret4 ,i went on1 though tired1 to ,m4 ,durier1 ,cur de ,notre ,dame1 who received me most cordially1 and on my stating my errand1 pressed me to preach at the high mass on the morrow4 ,i hesitated1 but he came with me to our hotel1 and ,phillipps joined in pressing it1 and so ,i wrote a quarter of an hour's worth before going to bed1 hoping ,i was not out of rule1 but doubting4 ,sunday1 ,july #g4--,said mass at ,notre ,dame1 a fine ,gothic church2 went home to breakfast1 and back to high mass at #i4 ,after the ,gospel1 ,m4 ,durier first read the annonces1 the ,epistle1 and the ,gospel1 and introduced my object to the people4 ,then ,i went into the pulpit1 and made my address without any difficulty4 ,he then rose opposite to me1 and pledged himself and his flock to pray for ,england4 ,after mass1 ,i went a round of the convents of the town with an old man sent from one of them with me4 ,the convents which promised their prayers were the following3 ,les ,ursulines1 #cg nuns2 #cjj scholars4 ,les ,soeurs ,hospitalires de ,s4 ,louis4 ,l',hospice de ,s4 ,jean1 served by nuns4 ,l',hpital ,gnral des enfants trouvs1 c4 ,les ,religieuses de la ,sainte famille4 ,le ,couvent du ,saint ,sacrement1 where are only #c nuns1 the ,superioress an ,englishwoman1 who observed that in her profession1 when prostrate--a time when it is said the chosen prayer is sure to be granted--the first thing she asked was ,england's conversion4 ,les ,frres des coles ,chrtiennes4 ,the ,superior promised to recommend the prayers to his brethren of #cj houses in this district1 who meet in ,august for a retreat4 #bhc ,we proceeded at #c to ,lille1 stopping at the exit from ,st4 ,omer to see the ruined ,abbaye de ,st4 ,bertin4 ,we stopped at ,cussel1 a place on the top of a mountain commanding a grand prospect over a vast plain richly wooded and cultivated4 ,the matre d'htel wanted us sadly to stay1 but we went on1 after a walk to the top of the mount1 and to the church4 ,we came late to ,lille1 and not finding room at l',htel de l',europe1 we put up at l',htel de ,gand1 not a very nice one1 in the ,grande ,place4 ,monday1 ,july #h4--;,i first went to the ,church of ,st4 ,catherine1 to see ,abbe ,bernard1 my friend1 introduced by ,mrs4 ,canning4 ,he was gone1 yesterday1 to ,paris4 ,i then went to ,rue ,royale1 ,no4 #fa1 memorable for ever as the direction to which my letters from ,brington to ,miss ,dolling were addressed4 ,m4 ,friot ,chombard1 who lives there1 was also absent from ,lille4 ,i then went to the ,church of ,st4 tienne1 where the ,grand ,doyen lived2 and1 having seen him1 ,i said mass4 ,i then called on him in his house1 and obtained his promise to advocate the cause of ,england4 ,after breakfast1 ,i went to the ,church of ,st4 ,maurice1 which is called the ,cathedral4 ,it is the first ,i have seen with four aisles4 ,i saw nothing more in ,lille2 we left it about #ab1 and reached ,tournay about #b4 ,i went at once to the vch1 where ,i found the ,bishop's ,secretary1 who took me to a great convent of nuns1 which the ,bishop has founded1 and is building this house for4 ,it is to contain sixty nuns1 and a great number of pensionnaires4 ,i was presented to his lordship in the garden1 and obtained a full promise of his patronage of the cause of ,england4 ,i came back to dine at the ,hotel 7du ,singe d',or72 to my surprise and pleasure1 ,talbot came in with ,phillipps1 who had met him in the ,cathedral4 ,after dinner1 he and ,i took a #bhd carriage and went to see the ,passionists au ,chteau d',ere1 about three miles off4 ,le ,pre ,pierre1 ,superior of the house1 received us with all kindness4 ,he has three companions priests1 and three brothers4 ,they were building a church of good size1 and seem to prosper2 but he complains that no postulants come2 they have received not one cleric yet4 ,he thinks they fear the bare feet4 ,he came back with us to ,tournay1 to see ,phillipps4 ,soon after1 we started on our way to ,brussels2 still by post horses1 as all the way from ,calais4 ,we stopped at ,alte to sleep4 ,the hotel was one of the most agreeable and cheapest1 though small4 ,tuesday1 ,july #i4--,there are two churches at ,alte4 ,i went to ,st4 ,julien's1 and said mass4 ,afterwards ,i introduced ,phillipps and ,madame to the ,doyen1 ,m4 ,picquart1 who was most pleasing and full of knowledge1 and promised all for ,england4 ,we here had a contest with ,john1 which threatened his being sent home1 but he came round before the day was out4 ,we started at #aj for ,brussels4 ,the country not equal to ,france4 ,we came to the ,htel de ,belle ,vue1 in the ,place ,royale4 ,having engaged a suite of rooms1 we sat down at once at the table d'hte4 ,after it1 ,i went to seek for the ,abb ,donnet1 to whom ,i had a note from ,seager4 ,he was out4 ,i then went to ,ste4 ,gudule1 the cathedral1 and saw the ,vicaire1 a ,dutch priest1 with whom ,i settled to say mass to-morrow4 ,then ,i took a vigilante 7i4e4 a cab7 to the ,college de ,st4 ,michel1 of the ,jesuits1 where ,i saw the ,second ,superior4 ,then to the ,redemptorists1 where the ,superior took up the cause warmly4 ,home to tea4 ,wednesday1 ,july #aj4--,went at #g to ,abb ,donnet2 then to mass at ,ste4 ,gudule4 ,at #i1 ,abb 7,chanoine7 ,donnet called1 and1 after an hour's talk about ,oxford1 took us to ,monsignor ,pacci1 the ,pope's ,nuncio1 ,archbishop of ,damietta4 ,he is a most holy-looking man2 conversed with us most kindly2 knew much about the ,oxford people2 promised his help4 ,i then let the ,phillippses go their way1 intending to make a day of canvassing convents4 ,but ,m4 ,donnet took me only to three1 and then had to go his way at #ab4 ,the three were3-- ,soeurs de ,notre ,dame1 ,rue de l'toile1 #ad nuns4 ,pauvres ,claires1 ,rue de ,manige1 ,maison ,mre a ,bruges1 #ac nuns4 ,couvent de ,bellaymont4 ,chanoinesses ,rgulires de ,st4 ,augustin4 ,unique ,maison4 #bhe ,after this1 ,i went to ,ste4 ,gudule1 and met ,phillipps1 with whom ,i went to the ,jardin ,botanique1 and to the hospital for old men4 ,it is a grand establishment1 by private charity4 ,it contains #gjj old men1 of whom #ajj pay for themselves2 the rest are kept free1 and with wonderful regard to their comforts4 ,i called on a cur close by1 thinking to get the prayers of these vielliards2 but he took me for a begging priest1 and turned me out of doors4 ,deo gratias4 ,thence to the ,muse1 a collection of pictures1 which hardly paid the trouble of looking at4 ,after dinner at the table d'hte1 we took a carriage to go to ,jette ,st4 ,pierre1 to meet the ,cardinal ,archbishop of ,malines1 at the ,convent of the ,sacr ,coeur there4 ,on the way we saw an interesting church2 outside was a tomb of ,madame ,malibren4 ,at ,jette1 ,madame de ,wall1 my friend of #ahcb at ,bordeaux1 introduced us to the ,cardinal4 ,this was a consolation indeed4 ,he undertook to recommend ,england to all the ,bishops of ,belgium1 invited me to their meeting on the #bith ,july1 and promised that all their priests and convents should engage in the cause4 ,this is a noble convent4 ,madame de ,wall said they prayed for ,england every half-hour in the day4 ,thursday1 ,july #aa4--,said mass at ,st4 ,jacques1 in the ,place ,royale4 ,went to ,malines by the chemin du fer1 ,phillipps in the carriage on a truck1 ,i in a char--banc4 ,arrived at l',htel de la ,grue just in time for the table d'hte1 on which ,i only remark the immense length of time taken to dine4 ,after it1 we went to the ,petit ,sminaire1 where we were warmly greeted by the ,abb ,bonquan1 our friend of ,oscott and ,grace ,dieu4 ,he took us about to a few places2 and at #e to the ,salut1 at the ,cathedral2 after which he introduced ,miss ,young1 the convert1 sister to ,isabella4 ,she went with us to ,hanicq's1 the printer's1 and to a fine old church1 c4 ,i visited no convents1 reserving this for my return4 ,opposite our hotel1 the grand #bhf ,theatre des ,lapons forced itself to be noticed till late at night4 ,friday1 ,july #ab4--;,after mass and breakfast1 we went to visit the ,cardinal ,archbishop1 who graciously gave me a paper of testimonial1 which will1 ,i hope1 save some trouble4 ,his countenance and manner are highly prepossessing4 ,at #ab we started for ,antwerp1 by railway1 leaving the carriage at the station at ,malines4 ,we arrived at the ,htel ,st4 ,antoine1 just in time for the table d'hte at #b4 ,there ,i met ,mr4 ,blore1 with his daughter1 now grown a fine young woman4 ,after dinner1 to the ,cathedral4 ,i need not speak of the glorious tower1 #dff feet high4 ,what attracted our attention most was the wonderfully beautiful restoration of the stalls in oak carved work2 #dj1jjj francs have been spent in this already1 and not half the stalls are finished1 and this actually in process of work is more pleasing to see than the most beautiful morsels of ancient work1 for the promise it gives of better days4 ,the pulpit is a mass of exquisite carving1 in a style seemingly favourite in this part of ,belgium4 ,the most beautiful we saw was at ,brussels1 ,ste4 ,gudule1 where1 below the preacher1 are seen ,adam and ,eve banished from ,paradise2 and above1 the head of the serpent1 who winds round the pulpit1 crushed by ,mary4 ,the same style of carving is around the pulpit at ,marines1 ,louvain1 c41 but is seen no more at ,lige4 ,after seeing the cathedral1 we went to the ,muse1 containing first-rate specimens of ,rubens1 citizen of ,antwerp2 as also of ,van ,dyke and ,quintin ,matsys1 of whom there is an excellent picture of the ,descent from the ,cross4 ,finding myself near the ,college of the ,jesuits1 ,i went in and saw the ,rector1 who took up our cause zealously4 ,he walked home with me to see ,phillipps1 and they soon got intimate4 ,saturday1 ,july #ac4--;,after mass in the cathedral1 we went1 by last night's appointment1 to visit the ,superior of the ,jesuits1 who showed us his house4 ,then1 ,phillipps going to see some churches1 c41 ,i went with a lay brother1 given me for guide by the ,superior1 to visit convents4 #bhg ,we called at the following3-- ,coletines1 prs la ,porte ,rouge1 #bh nuns ,dames de l',instruction ,chrtienne1 #ag nuns ,soeurs de ,notre ,dame1 #bj nuns ,soeurs ,grises1 #cd nuns ,soeurs ,noires1 #di nuns ,apostolines1 in two houses1 #fg nuns ,soeurs de ,charit1 #ab nuns ,bguinage 7that is1 a collection of houses1 in which ,sisters live under a ,superioress1 not bound by vows for life7 #ed nuns ,except the latter1 where ,i was referred to the ,director1 who was not so attentive1 all received the proposal warmly4 ,the brother was my interpreter with many1 who did not know ,french4 ,at #a we got home1 and ,i took the ,phillippses to the cur of the cathedral1 who introduced to us ,m4 ,durlet1 the young architect1 who1 with a partner at ,louvain1 is doing the beautiful work in the choir4 ,we went into the cathedral again1 and ,i was prevented going to two remaining convents1 but the cur promised to do it for me4 ,m4 ,durlet came to dine with us at the table d'hte4 ,i just called at l',htel du ,park1 to see ,miss ,dalton1 who is ill there4 ,mr4 ,turpin and ,mr4 ,crowe1 two ,lancashire priests1 are with her4 ,the former accosted me in the cathedral4 ,we set off then to ,malines by the railway2 there met ,abb ,bonquan2 had tea1 and went on to ,louvain4 ,we got in late1 in heavy rain2 ,phillipps had to walk from the railway a mile in the rain4 ,i went first to the ,htel de ,suide1 where ,i found ,dr4 ,ullathorne and ,mr4 ,hansom1 his architect4 #gth ,sunday af4 ,pent4 ,july #ad4--;,i had my palpitation worse than ever to-day4 ,i wish to attribute it to my two days' abstinence1 and not to my walking after convents4 ,it went off after breakfast4 ,i said mass at the ,cathedral ,st4 ,pierre4 ,high mass at #aj4 ,it was one of extreme opposition to plain chant1 with drums and orchestra4 ,in this church remember the beautiful tabernacle1 a stone pinnacle1 on the ,gospel side of the altar4 ,there was no prne1 and a second high mass immediately after4 ,the ,htel de ,ville is a famous piece of ,gothic1 not so admirable to my view as #bhh that at ,brussels1 which is much larger1 not so highly wrought1 and has a beautiful spire4 ,after dinner1 at #a1 with ,dr4 ,ullathorne1 and at the table-d'hte1 we went to see ,m4 and ,madame de ,coux4 ,we got into interesting talk with him on matters religions1 ecclesiastical1 and political4 ,he is a professor of political economy1 a ,frenchman1 brought up in ,england under old ,dr4 ,woods4 ,we went on till after #e1 and so missed the salut1 sermon1 and procession at the church4 ,he took us to the ,university1 where we saw ,abb ,malou1 who claimed me as an old acquaintance1 one of the three at the ,collegio ,nobile whom ,i knew at ,rome4 ,he is ,professor of ,dogmatic ,theology1 most learned1 high bred1 and amiable4 ,m4 ,bonquan came kindly to meet us from ,malines1 and was with us till #f4 ,after having spent nearly an hour with ,m4 ,malou1 who showed us the library 7#aj1jjj vols47 of which he is keeper1 we went to tea with ,m4 de ,coux1 and came home at #i4 ,monday1 ,july #ae4 ,st4 ,swithin4--,mass at ,st4 ,pierre1 for the ,feast de ,divisione ,apostolorum4 ,after breakfast ,i went again to ,m4 de ,coux1 who took me to see a ,m4 ,mhler1 whom he recommended as tutor to ,john ,beaumont4 ,at #ab1 railway to ,liege4 ,dined at #e1 at l',htel de ,france4 ,at #f1 salut at ,st4 ,denys4 ,before dinner ,i went to the ,redemptorists1 but found ,pre ,van ,held and ,deschamps out of town4 ,the ,bishop also away4 ,we went at #g a walk to a bookseller's1 from which ,i went in quest of the ,grand ,vicaire4 ,i met an old priest in the street1 ,abb ,marsomme1 who took me to ,m4 ,jacquenot1 the second ,grand ,vicaire1 and then walked home and took tea with us4 ,these two promised to spread prayer for ,england through ,liege4 ,i wrote to ,mrs4 ,beaumont before bed4 ,tuesday1 ,july #af4--,our ,lady of ,mount ,carmel4--,mass at ,st4 ,denys1 where is a beautiful piece of old oak carving4 ,phillippses received communion4 ,after breakfast1 at #i1 we went to high mass at the cathedral4 ,it was solemn plain chant4 ,the church has many stained-glass windows1 like those of ,ste4 ,gudule1 ,brussels1 of #aeej1 much gone off from the older time4 ,the pulpit is new carved oak1 with a beautiful tower with pinnacles above1 a great improvement on #bhi the carved pulpit above named1 though not so costly perhaps4 ,the church is much debased1 as usual1 in other parts4 ,we met ,chanoine ,erroye1 who took us to the other great church1 ,st4 ,jacques1 which rivals or surpasses the cathedral4 ,the ceiling coloured1 though like the cathedral4 ,they are doing a great deal to restore this church4 ,the ,doyen was there overlooking the work4 ,the stained glass was much better than at ,brussels1 but not the best 7date #aebg72 not so far down hill4 ,the ,chanoine then took us to the ,abb ,marsomme1 who is ,director of an hospice with #ai nuns1 taking care of #ahj old women1 beautifully kept4 ,the ,quarant' ,ore was being celebrated in this church4 ,it is kept up in ,lige all the year round1 and comes four times to each church4 ,we then went with the ,chanoine ,erroye to the ,grand ,sminaire4 ,the library is beautiful4 ,there are here #abj students2 and at the ,petit ,sminaire1 #cfj4 ,they go through nine courses at the ,petit1 and three at the ,grand1 so that #dj are sent on the mission every year1 and #dj more come on below4 ,came home to table d'hte at #a4 ,after it we made an attempt to go to ,angleur1 #c miles off1 where ,mrs4 ,ambrose's father1 ,hon4 ,thomas ,clifford1 who died at ,lige in #ahag1 is buried4 ,we were stopped by mud and rain1 and came back1 seeing the church of ,ste4 ,croix1 which was not very remarkable 7,mem4 a dog carrying the keys as porter71 and ,st4 ,martin1 a fine church of second rate1 but famous as the place where1 at one of the side altars1 the feast of ,corpus ,christi was celebrated for the first time1 owing to the inspirations received by a nun called ,soeur ,julienne4 ,the #fth ,centenary will be held in #ahdf4 ,we met a young1 amiable-looking priest in the church4 ,he promised to think of ,england at the altar1 in the special mass of the ,blessed ,sacrament1 which is celebrated at it every ,thursday1 whatever feast may interpose4 ,it was heavy rain1 and we came home to salut at ,st4 ,denys1 and thence to the hotel4 ,i wrote up a good deal of this journal4 ,wednesday1 ,july #ag4 ,st4 ,osmond4--,we took a stouter equipage1 and got to ,angleur early4 ,i said mass1 and the ,phillippses communicated over the place of her father's repose4 ,the boys served the mass4 ,the ,cur1 ,matthias ,jn4 ,convardy1 who remembered ,mr4 ,clifford while himself quite #bij young1 gave us breakfast after1 very kindly4 ,all these priests were warm for ,england4 ,we returned to ,lige1 and ,i went to the banker2 then home to dinner at #a4 ,then went off by railway to ,aix-la-,chapelle4 ,it passes through beautiful romantic scenery4 ,there is no railway with so many tunnels in the distance4 ,i got into conversation with a party of ,oxonians going to spend the long vacation at ,baden4 ,one of them1 ,mr4 ,g4 ,f4 ,brown1 of ,trinity1 was full of information1 and quite moving on1 a great friend of ,w4 ,palmer1 of ,magdalen4 ,he promised to visit ,oscott4 ,we came to the ,htel ,nuelleus1 a very grand one4 ,i went to the ,chief ,canon1 the ,grand ,vicaire being gone to ,cologne1 and got leave for mass to-morrow4 ,we are now in ,prussia1 and all on a sudden all ,german--hardly a word of ,french spoken4 ,we had tea1 and ,i finished my ,journal up1 in my room1 after saying matins4 ,thursday1 ,july #ah4--;,i went to the cathedral1 and after mass1 saw the wonderful relics which are preserved in the sacristy of the cathedral4 ,this cathedral consists of a round ,byzantine building1 which was built by ,charlemagne as the chapel to his palace2 and a high ,gothic choir1 which was added to it after the palace had been burnt down4 ,a young priest showed the relics2 he is always in waiting for the purpose1 except for the time of high mass and office4 ,the great relics--viz41 the dress of the ,blessed ,virgin1 the clothes which our ,lord had on ,him on the cross1 and the cloth into which ,john ,baptist's head fell--are kept in a magnificent chest1 which is shown1 but is only opened every seven years1 and when a crowned head comes4 ,the next time is ,july #aj1 #ahdf4 ,above this chest is one containing the bones of ,charlemagne1 whose skull and spine-bone1 and even hunting-horn1 are shown in separate reliquaries4 ,his crown and sword are at ,vienna4 ,here is shown also the girdle of our ,lord1 of leather1 with ,constantine's seal upon it2 the rope with which he was tied to the pillar2 the girdle of ,our ,lady2 and many other glorious relics less important4 ,the interior of the doors enfolding these treasures is lined most beautifully with paintings of ,albert ,durer1 and many admirable ,byzantine paintings4 #bia ,these relics were principally given to ,charlemagne by the ,caliph1 ,haroun ,alraschid4 ,the cases were gifts of several emperors1 c41 as ,lothaire1 ,charles ,v41 ,philip ,,ii4 ,they were preserved in the ,french ,revolution by a priest1 who conveyed them to ,paderborn and hid them4 ,after breakfast ,i returned to the cathedral with ,phillipps for high mass1 which was in solemn plain chant1 and then saw the relics again at #aa1 after going to the ,palais de ,justice4 ,at #ab ,i got a little dinner1 and went by the railway to ,grand1 parting from the ,phillippses1 please ,god1 for a fortnight only4 ,i went to bed at the ,htel de ,flandre1 leaving no luggage--all left at ,malines4 ,friday1 ,july #ai4--,went to the cathedral to say mass4 ,my morning was taken up with going to the railway about my poor luggage1 which at last ,i saw1 and visiting the ,provincial of the ,jesuits1 to see about my retreat4 ,i dined at the hotel4 ,the cathedral is a most beautiful specimen of the ,greek fittings in a ,gothic church4 ,i did not stop to have the finest pictures uncovered1 for ,i had my business to see after4 ,two other beautiful churches1 ,st4 ,nicholas and ,st4 ,michael4 ,no signs here of ,gothic restorations4 ,at #c ,i went with the ,provincial to ,franchismes1 where they have bought an ancient ,prmontr ,abbey1 which does not preserve much of the abbey still1 except some corridors1 once1 as it seems1 cloisters4 ,it is1 however1 a beautiful establishment for its end4 ,i saw and spoke to two ,english and one ,irish novice1 of course about ,england4 ,i went back to ,gand2 and there ,pre ,coultins1 by desire of the ,provincial1 went with me to the ,recollets1 a reform of the ,franciscans2 their chief house is at ,st4 ,froud4 ,then to the ,pauvres ,claires2 and then to one of the two ,bguinages4 ,here are establishments1 in one of which #hjj1 and in the other #cjj1 quasi nuns live in a cluster of separate houses4 ,their origin is immemorial4 ,they are bound by vows of obedience and chastity1 not poverty1 for the time that they remain4 ,hardly ever does one return to the world4 ,the ,pre ,coultins promised to visit for me the other convents of the town4 ,this is what ,i could do for ,ghent4 ,at #f1 ,i started by railway to ,louvain1 where ,i was received as an #bib old acquaintance at the ,htel de ,suide4 ,the ,provincial sends me here for my retreat4 ,in the train to ,malines1 ,i had ,mr4 ,maude and ,mr4 ,perry4 ,finished ,journal1 and to bed at near #ab4 ,saturday1 ,july #bj4--;,after mass at the cathedral1 and breakfast1 ,i went to the ,seminary of the ,jesuits1 with a letter from the ,provincial to ,pre ,rosa1 the rector4 ,he introduced me to ,pre ,vanderghote1 who is to direct my retreat1 and left me with him4 ,we went to walk about the town1 called on ,m4 ,malou1 who undertook to translate a prayer from ,dr4 ,wiseman's prayers for ,england1 into ,french4 ,i called on ,mr4 ,de ,coux1 and at ,i dined with these two fathers1 and we went into the garden4 ,i then wrote to ,dr4 ,wiseman1 ,phillipps1 and ,m4 ,bonquan1 and at to #e began my retreat for eight days please ,god1 till the end of which my present journal intermits4 ,orate pro me omnes qui diligitis ,deum4 ,monday1 ,july #bi4--;,i rose this morning out of my retreat1 hoping that by the help of ,almighty ,god ,i may preserve some of its fruit durably4 ,i said mass once more at #g in the private chapel1 then after a conversation with my kind ,father ,vanderghote1 ,i went to the ,college du ,saint ,esprit1 where ,i saw ,m4 ,malou1 and then went into the hall1 where theses were defended by a young priest called ,bacten1 and then degrees conferred1 and a discourse in ,latin pronounced by ,abb ,malou4 ,the ,nuncio and the ,bishop of ,amiens were there1 with many others4 ,at #b ,i dined with ,m4 ,malou4 ,the chief guests were the ,grand ,vicaire de ,bruges1 a monseigneur1 and ,abb ,marais1 of the ,sorbonne2 much conversation was on ,england1 and some good interest excited4 ,i went again to see ,pre ,rosa1 and ,vanderghote1 and at #f was on the railway to ,malines with a multitude of priests4 ,i went to the ,petit ,sminaire1 and supped1 and ,m4 ,bonquan walked with me to the ,grue4 ,tuesday1 ,july #cj4--,said mass at the cathedral1 and then at #h went to the ,archbishop's palace1 where1 with much trouble1 ,i got at the ,chanoine's private secretary1 who introduced me to the ,cardinal and his five suffragan ,belgian #bic ,bishops of ,bruges1 ,tournay1 ,gand1 ,namur1 and ,liege1 sitting after breakfast4 ,i sat down1 and in a short conversation a great deal seemed to be done for the cause4 ,i was desired to draw up documents with ,m4 ,bonquan to-day1 and to dine with the prelates at #a to-morrow1 to hear their conclusion4 ,laus ,deo semper4 ,at #aj ,i went to ,m4 ,bonquan1 where ,i found two young ,oxford men1 whom ,i afterwards found were ,christie of ,oriel and his brother4 ,they went with ,m4 ,bonquan and me on all our rounds to the convents of the town to-day4 ,at #ab ,i dined at the ,petit ,sminaire1 then1 with ,m4 ,bonquan and ,m4 ,vandervelde1 who was very zealous for ,england1 ,i began to prepare for to-morrow2 at #d the ,christies came1 and we walked till #g4 ,the convents which we went to1 and which all promised1 and 7except one which was cold7 all with great warmth1 were3-- ,les ,soeurs ,hospitalires de ,ste4 ,elisabeth1 #ba nuns4 ,les ,marie ,colae #ag nuns4 ,soeurs de ,charit1 not ,st4 ,vincent's1 but a house under the direction of the ,grand ,sminaire1 #bc nuns4 ,soeurs de ,notre ,dame1 ,abb ,bonquan is ,director here2 we saw an interesting ,english novice1 and stayed some time1 #cj nuns4 ,les ,soeurs ,apostolines1 #bd nuns4 ,les ,pauvres ,claires1 not so zealous1 #be nuns4 ,lastly1 we visited a new house and institute called ,frres de la ,misricorde1 lately founded by a canon of the cathedral1 by name ,scheppers4 ,there are now #bg brothers1 of whom #be are on their mission1 which is to enter1 several together1 the prisons of the country1 and devote themselves to the spiritual and bodily care and cure of the prisoners4 ,the ,government favours them remarkably2 it seems a most notable institution1 and the founder was a most interesting man4 ,he promised warmly to engage all his brethren4 ,at #g ,i went to the station1 and met ,elwes1 on his way home from ,kissengen4 ,i brought him up1 and we had supper at the ,grue4 ,i went to bed after a good bit of work to be got up1 office1 ,journal1 account1 c4 #bid ,wednesday1 ,july #ca4 ,st4 ,ignatius4--,elwes and ,i said mass at the cathedral4 ,from #aj till near #a he and ,i were both at work copying an address for the ,bishops1 of which ,i thought to give each a copy4 ,at one ,i went to dine at the ,cardinal's4 ,there were there six ,bishops and the ,nuncio1 and many of the chief clergy4 ,i sat next to ,mgr4 de ,namur2 afterwards ,i took an hour's walk in the garden1 and at #d attended the meeting of the ,bishops1 who came to a happy resolution of granting an indulgence of #dj days for every mass1 every communion1 even hearing mass1 or saying it with a memento for ,england1 and reciting a prayer which they determined on4 ,the ,cardinal was full of noble kindness4 ,this grant was more than ,i had proposed in my paper1 and so my morning's work and ,elwes's was useless in a very agreeable way4 ,i went to the ,grue and found ,m4 ,bonquan and the ,christies with ,elwes4 ,in packing up ,i found my passport was lost1 and went off1 therefore1 uncertain whether ,i could pass the frontier without writing for one to ,brussels4 ,the ,christies travelled with me4 ,i had some interesting conversation with each about their position in the ,church of ,england4 ,they took it with great gentleness1 and answered well4 ,they seem not to have thought of coming over1 and yet to be in good disposition to do what they shall see right4 ,we met very agreeably with the very priest of whom we have heard so much1 who learnt ,english to instruct a lady in his parish near ,bruges1 whose daughter was already a convert1 and writes letters to ,dr4 ,wiseman for publication in ,england 7,miss ,heron74 ,we became great friends1 and he1 with another young priest1 his neighbour1 who are taking a little tour together1 came with us to the ,aigle ,noir1 nearer the ,redemptorists than l',htel de ,france4 ,we were very nearly upset in the omnibus1 as we came up from the station2 it was overloaded with luggage1 and struck the wheels on the right in the sand1 having got off the paving4 ,we got out1 unhurt1 into another omnibus passing by2 supper1 and to bed4 ,thursday1 ,august #a4--,said mass at the ,redemptorists4 ,le ,pre ,van ,held invited us all to breakfast1 i4e41 the ,christies #bie and the priests1 our new friends4 ,i met there the ,bishop's secretary1 who gave me a letter to the ,governor of ,liege1 ,baron ,van der ,stein1 who1 happily1 was come this morning into town1 and gave me my passport4 ,i then went on with my vigilante to see the ,miss ,nicholls1 who have been living two years at the ,benedictine convent1 ,quai d',avroy4 ,i met them last at ,boulogne1 in #ahch4 ,they promised to be busy in getting prayers4 ,i then visited the ,jesuits' ,college1 and ,abb ,marsomme4 ,dined at #a at the table d'hte with the ,christies1 whom ,pre ,van ,held had sent about sight-seeing with one of his priests4 ,at #b4de we took the convoy to ,cologne1 which we reached duly at #i1 and went to the ,htel du ,douane1 ,gasthof zum ,klner ,dom1 close to the cathedral2 we took a walk round the cathedral by moonlight after supper4 ,friday1 ,august #b4--;,i went to say mass in the cathedral1 which we then looked round4 ,it gives a melancholy spectacle of what miserable times have been gone through while it remained thus unfinished so long2 but it is a consolation to see the glorious restoration now going on4 ,the most beautiful points of the decoration of the choir are the fresco paintings above the pillars1 and the rich gilded diapering on the lower part of them round the choir1 in which one column alone is finished2 and beautiful figures under canopies on each column1 half-way to the top4 ,the building is surrounded with great masses of stones for the completing of it4 ,it is expected that it will be finished1 fit for consecration1 in four years1 but not quite complete till twenty years hence1 please ,god1 if we have peace4 ,after breakfast we went to call on ,professor ,michel1 at the ,seminary4 ,he could not come with us4 ,we saw the ,jesuits' church1 and returned to assist at part of a requiem mass at the cathedral1 the anniversary of the ,archbishop ,ferdinand4 ,i spoke to the ,vicar-,general about ,england1 then went home1 wrote to ,m4 ,malou1 dined alone2 and at #a set off by a steamboat on the ,rhine for ,koenigswinter1 parting from the ,christies in the boat4 ,i had nothing very remarkable in the passage2 reached ,koenigswinter at #e4 ,i took up my lodgings at the ,htel de ,berlin1 where the ,phillippses had been for twelve days4 #bif ,they came in from a ride in the mountains about #f1 and we went to tea with ,count and ,countess ,kurtzrock4 ,he is ,mrs4 ,ambrose's second cousin4 ,their daughter ,marie and her governess gave us music4 ,saturday1 ,august #c4--,said mass at the little church at ,sta4 ,maria4 ,the altar with altar-cloth only over the altar stone4 ,the rest of the altar was brown wood4 ,we breakfasted with ,mrs4 ,p4's aunt1 ,la ,baronne de ,veich1 whom they are visiting4 ,she lives in a small house with two nieces1 ,antoinette and ,fanny ,lutzou4 ,at #aj we went across the ,rhine to ,gothsburg1 a watering-place1 where ,mrs4 ,amherst and daughter have been staying2 but they are gone to ,italy4 ,we walked up to a castle battered into ruin in the ,thirty ,years' war1 overhanging the town4 ,the little church half-way up the hill is a bad specimen of taste enough inside4 ,we came back to dinner at the ,baroness's at #b4 ,i went home for two hours1 then walked with ,phillipps and ,tony1 as they call ,antoinette1 to see a house which she is undertaking to form into an asylum for old poor women2 back to tea1 and home to the hotel at #i4 ,sunday1 ,august #d4 #ajth after ,pentecost1 here marked #ith4--,i heard mass at #g with the famous ,kirchen ,gesang1 of whom ,i heard from ,dr4 ,sweers while translating ,overbury's ,life4 ,all the people sang ,german hymns through the whole mass with wonderful unison4 ,after it ,i said mass4 ,at #aj was the high mass1 i4e41 another mass with ,kirchen ,gesang1 rather more solemn2 and a sermon4 ,i came home then and wrote a letter to the ,vicar-,general at ,cologne4 ,i received from ,m4 ,bonquan my book of papers pro ,anglia1 which ,i had left at ,malines4 ,at #a1 dinner4 ,professor ,schutz1 of the ,university of ,bonn1 came to dine4 ,we saw him off at #c1 and then found that some one must go to ,bonn to get money from the bank2 so ,i took the charge1 that ,i might see ,bonn4 ,i crossed the ,rhine in a boat1 and met an omnibus which took me on the road ,i travelled in #ahbj4 ,the cathedral at ,bonn1 called the ,mnster1 is of a style older than ,gothic1 but not quite ,byzantine1 something like our ,saxon churches4 ,the choir is elevated high above the nave1 which sinks below the level outside1 or the outside #big must have risen4 ,some arches are ,gothic4 ,the ,university is a large building1 what would be called ,grecian4 ,in front of it is a handsome promenade or park4 ,at #g ,i called a second time at ,professor ,schutz's house1 and found him with ,m4 ,marais1 of the ,sorbonne4 ,he gave me coffee1 c4 ,his rooms are full of curiosities from ,palestine and ,egypt4 ,in #ahai1 #ahbj1 and #ahba1 he was travelling1 commissioned by ,government1 a literary journey through ,egypt1 ,abyssinia1 c4 ,he is ,professor of ,scripture1 a great ,orientalist1 a friend of ,dr4 ,wiseman's4 ,we spoke about ,humanarianism and ,overbury1 and the ,paris ,university1 c4 ,i went out and met my omnibus at a to #i1 crossed the ,rhine1 and got home at #aj4 ,monday1 ,august #e4 ,sta4 ,maria ad ,nives4--,mass at #g2 at #i we went to a high mass de requiem4 ,they always sing one for every person who dies2 and when the family can afford it1 bread is given to the poor1 as was done to-day4 ,i stayed at home nearly1 till one1 then dinner at la ,baronne's4 ,mr4 ,ambrose was not there1 having had a fall yesterday1 and taking rest for precaution4 ,after dinner1 looked over the ,life of ,napoleon in ,german2 came home till ,i went to tea4 ,the ,count and ,countess ,kurtzrock and daughters came4 ,the ,countess promised to be an associate for ,england1 and to spread it at ,hamburg1 where they live4 ,friday1 ,august #fth4--,mass at #f4 ,i started at #g4cj by a steamer for ,mayence4 ,we passed ,coblentz 7lat4 confluentia71 at the confluence of the ,moselle and the ,rhine1 at #a1 and then dined 7table d'hte7 on deck4 ,we made agreeable acquaintance with two priests1 ,m4 ,bandry1 ,chanoine of ,cologne1 and ,m4 ,steigmeier1 a ,p4,p4 in the ,black ,forest4 ,the first went off at ,coblentz1 the second spoke only ,latin2 both were highly interested for ,england4 ,i was busy a good deal with reading ,german1 with a dictionary4 ,the weather was beautiful till about #f1 when suddenly a terrible squall of wind1 and thunder and lightning came on4 ,the steamer was driven aground on a sand-bank1 and seemed likely to capsize with the wind and waves4 ,terrible fright and crying among ladies and children4 ,we seemed to think little of the rain and lightning which gleamed on every side #bih of us4 ,it was very frightful2 at least1 it appeared so1 and ,i saw what a warning was given here to be ready at a moment4 ,no great preparation1 ,i found1 would be likely to be made in a time like that4 ,it brought on me a palpitation which lasted till morning4 ,we got off after ten minutes1 as the storm blew over1 and got to the ,htel du ,rhine at ,mayence 7,mainz7 about #i4 ,my greatest alarm since ,messina4 ,wednesday1 ,aug4 #g4 ,san4 ,gaetano4 ,remembered ,affi1 #ahbj4--,said mass at the cathedral4 ,this is a venerable old church1 ,st4 ,boniface's see4 ,it is something like our ,norman style of architecture2 at the west end is a remarkable baptistery1 with a high vaulted roof now opening to the church4 ,there are many fine monuments1 and many more of the worst style2 fauns and dragons supporting archbishops1 c4 ,they showed us a holy-water stoup1 where ,gustavus ,adolphus1 having ridden into the church1 made his horse drink6 ,near the church is a statue of ,guttenburg1 the first printer1 claimed as a citizen of ,mainz2 bas-reliefs by ,thorwaldsen4 ,we had not time to see more4 ,i was not disposed1 with my palpitation just subsiding1 to go after the ,archbishop or others4 ,we started past for ,manheim2 on the way we looked at the torn-down cathedral of ,worms1 in a later style than ,mayence1 and very venerable4 ,this place was famous in the contests between ,charles ,v4 and ,luther4 ,we dined at ,manheim1 then took the railway to ,heidelberg1 where we put up at the ,badische ,hof4 ,we saw nothing at ,manheim but the appearance of the town1 which is very handsome4 ,a ,french gentleman whom ,i met in the town1 ,girardon1 of ,lyons1 said the ducal palace was very grand4 ,thursday1 ,aug4 #h4--;,i went out at #i1 having had rather a bad night1 and said mass at the ,jesuits' old church1 which is now the only exclusively ,catholic church in ,heidelberg4 ,the cur lives in an old college2 the church was dreary and empty1 and things seem to be at a low point4 ,we went after breakfast in a carriage to the ruins of the castle1 which are fine in their way1 but not of the right style4 ,luther was fostered here by the ,elector ,palatine4 ,it was burnt by #bii lightning in #agfd4 ,in the altar we saw the great tun1 which is no wonder to my mind4 ,at #aa we took the railway to ,baden1 through ,carlsruhe4 ,there we took a walk before dinner1 saw the gaming-table1 which is a famous occupation here2 ,i never saw one before in a public saloon4 ,i met ,mr4 ,woollett4 a ,catholic of ,london1 and his two daughters4 ,he wants confession to an ,english priest1 and ,i went with him to the convent of the ,sepulchrines to see about it4 ,they promised prayers for ,england4 #ab nuns2 the same order as ,new ,hall2 dinner at #e4 ,then we took a carriage to the ruins of the old castle1 much grander than at ,heidelberg4 ,i did not venture to go up the castle1 as ,i felt myself not fit4 ,we came back to tea with ,mrs4 ,craven1 ne ,la ,ferronaye1 wife of the ,english ,charg d'affaires1 who is a convert4 ,we met l',abb ,martin de ,nerlieu1 cur de ,s4 ,jaques ,paris1 and his vicaire1 and ,miss ,jane ,young4 ,home at #i4 ,friday1 ,august #i4--;,i had to take a carriage and go at #f o'clock to ,lichtenthal1 a mile or two from ,baden1 where the ,herr ,landherr is cur1 and has power to give leave to hear confessions4 ,there is a convent there of #ah nuns1 ,bernardines1 who promised to pray for ,england4 ,i returned and said mass at the convent in ,baden1 having first heard the confessions of ,mr4 ,woollett and ,miss ,young's maid4 ,i thought that night1 as ,i lay in bed with my heart beating1 that ,i must see a doctor to-day1 and consult about the propriety of travelling2 but the ,phillippses both reasoned against this1 and ,i saw it differently by daylight4 ,we dined at the table d'hte at #a1 and then set off on our way towards ,munich4 ,we travelled to-day through the grand scenery of the ,black ,forest1 and arrived at #i at ,neuenburg1 where there was a very civil host1 and a nice inn1 though a second rate4 ,saturday1 ,august #aj4 ,st4 ,lawrence4--,the first1 ,i think1 7no1 except #ahce71 on which ,i have lost mass since my priesthood2 but there was no ,catholic church4 ,we made a slow day's journey2 we began badly by going the first stage to ,wildbad1 from which we returned nearly to ,neuenburg1 as it seemed on our road right4 ,the reason was1 as we #cjj thought1 that they directed us wrong yesterday1 and sent us a longer road1 whereas we should have got straight to ,wildbad1 without going to ,neuenburg4 ,we should have had a chapel at ,wildbad1 where a priest came during the season only4 ,we got to ,stuttgard at #e1 and had a splendid dinner at the hotel4 ,we met an old courier of ,mr4 ,phillipps's1 afterwards clerk at the ,foreign ,office1 who lives here on a pension from ,england4 ,he knew ,cavani4 ,he lives now at this hotel4 ,stuttgard seems an uninteresting place for a capital2 has #d1jjj inhabitants only4 ,it is well to have seen it4 ,we went on again in the evening to get to ,gppingen1 where we we were told there was a ,catholic church1 and we did not get to bed till #b2 ,i fasting for to-morrow1 and fearing a bad night4 ,htel de la ,poste1 ,sunday1 ,aug4 #aa4--;,i slept well1 after all4 ,i got up at #h1 and we started directly in heavy rain for ,gross ,eplingen1 two miles on our way1 where the nearest ,catholic church was4 ,there was none in ,gppingen4 ,we arrived at the middle of the parochial mass4 ,the ,kirchen ,gesangen are very impressive4 ,after it ,i said mass1 and after visiting the pastor1 we went on to ,ulm1 which we reached at #e about4 ,radhoff 7,wheat7 ,hotel4 ,before dinner we went and spent a long time in the old cathedral1 now a ,lutheran church1 and for that reason1 however strangely1 preserved wonderfully from spoiling4 ,it was most magnificent2 the aisles divided by most elegant pillars1 a most glorious tabernacle1 still standing1 far surpassing ,louvain4 ,the old triptic1 with a beautiful group in wood-carving1 still over the altar2 a beautiful pulpit in the style of the tabernacle2 the screen was gone2 and the stained glass preserved only in the choir and one or two more places2 but so far1 ,i thought it the richest ,i knew4 ,it was wonderful how much better was the appearance of the church than if it had been in ,catholic hands4 ,after dinner was busy upstairs till #aj4 ,monday1 ,aug4 #ab4--;,got up at #e2 we were taken to the ,catholic church1 a poor thing1 compared with the ancient one4 ,i said mass there at #h2 at #i we started for ,augsburg4 ,there was nothing remarkable on the way but the #cja excessive slowness of the ,bavarian post-boys2 they are remarkable1 ,i believe1 among the ,germans4 ,we dined about #e1 at a small town called ,tusmarchausan1 a neat1 clean1 country town4 ,talked ,french with an old ,italian who attends at the inn1 and ,latin with a ,dominican priest1 in a blue great-coat and ,hessian boots4 ,we set off again at #g1 and reached ,augsburg at #i or #aj4 ,put up at the ,three ,moors1--,drei ,mohren4 ,tuesday1 ,aug4 #ac4--,went to say mass at the ,church of ,st4 ,ulrick1 at the altar of ,st4 ,afra1 whose body was shown in a glass case over it1 as it is within the octave of her feast4 ,she was martyred at ,augsburg1 under ,domitian4 ,after breakfast1 ,i went to the bank1 then to the cathedral1 where there was a high mass de requiem2 then ,i went to seek the ,chanoine ,stadler1 a great friend of the ,english4 ,i first saw another canon1 and the ,dean1 at the consistorium2 spoke about ,england4 ,i found ,canon ,stadler at a convent called of the ,english nuns1 because founded by ,english #bjj years ago2 an examination of the girls under education was going on4 ,the ,regierung's ,president and other personages were there4 ,i sat near the canon at this for half an hour2 then went home to dinner4 ,there came to dine a ,scotch ,kirk minister1 who was at the convent which ,i visited1 ,mr4 ---- ,he is almost a ,catholic in doctrine1 but is connected with the ,apostolics in ,england1 and so has1 ,i think1 no disposition to turn now4 ,canon ,stadler came late to dinner1 and persuaded me to put off our journey to ,munich from the three to the seven o'clock train4 ,he took us to the ,church of the ,holy ,cross1 to see the miraculous ,host1 which1 in #aaid1 was stolen by a woman of ,augsburg1 taken home1 and wrapped in wax4 ,after five years1 she confessed it1 and brought it back4 ,on opening the wax1 the priest found the appearance changed into that of flesh and blood4 ,it has been preserved ever since1 and has been the means of many miracles4 ,we saw it in an ostensoire1 quite bright-red4 ,the choir of the church is surrounded with pictures on the subject4 ,we then went to the convent again1 from1 whence the ,scotch gentleman took me to the bishop1 whom we found near the cathedral4 ,he talked no ,french1 and ,i #cjb recommended ,england as ,i could in ,latin4 ,we went to the ,canon ,stadler's house1 where the ,phillippses were waiting2 we parted from him1 and came and had tea at the ,hof1 and then took railway to ,munich4 ,we reached the ,bayerische ,hof1 ,htel de ,bavire1 at #i #c_/d4 ,this is one of the largest hotels in ,europe1 they say4 ,wednesday1 ,aug4 #ad4 ,vigil of the ,assumption4--,i said mass in the cathedral1 which is near our hotel4 ,it is a high1 large building1 but very much disfigured4 ,we all stayed at home till #ab2 then ,phillipps and ,i went to call on ,dr4 ,dllinger1 who was out4 ,i had to dine alone1 as it is reckoned wrong for a priest to manger gras on a fasting day in public4 ,after dinner1 we all went to see the new ,church of ,st4 ,louis1 decorated splendidly by the ,king4 ,then the ,church of ,st4 ,blaise in the faubourg1 also decorated by him1 both built by the town4 ,we thought them very beautiful1 but decidedly falling short of the right mark in point of style4 ,in ,ludwig ,church is a chef d'oeuvre of ,cornelius1 ,the ,last ,judgment4 ,it is not to our taste1 nor to the king's2 for ,cornelius went away to ,berlin1 disgusted with the king's not admiring it4 ,among other defects1 there are no real altars1 only portable stones to be let into scagliola altars1 which in ,ludwig ,kirche are all exactly one like the other4 ,at #g1 ,i went to the ,franciscan convent1 to confess to ,pre ,constantius4 ,he introduced me to the ,provincial and community at supper4 ,i spoke of ,england in lame ,latin4 ,at supper1 in the hotel1 we were joined by ,mr4 ,wake1 son of the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,wake1 of ,courtene ,hall1 who recognised me1 after about seventeen years4 ,he alarmed us with his idea that a war will break out between ,france and ,england about ,pritchard4 ,what a war would this be6 ,thursday1 ,aug4 #ae4 ,assumption of the ,blessed ,virgin ,mary4--,i had some difficulty in getting leave to hear the ,phillippses' confessions1 but ,i succeeded1 and said mass at nine1 during the high mass1 with drums and all sort of music4 ,we went again to mass at #aa2 then ,phillipps and ,i went and found ,dllinger1 who came back and dined with us at the table d'hte4 ,then we walked with him to see ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,phillipps4 ,he is a ,professor of law1 son of an ,englishman #cjc in ,prussia4 ,then we went to see old ,mr4 ,gorres1 one of the first minds in ,germany4 ,at #h1 we went to tea with ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,rio1 the sister to ,jones of ,llanarth4 ,we found there ,mr4 ,dugdale1 a northern ,english priest1 and others4 ,the conversation was very agreeable4 ,mrs4 ,rio is very infirm with sciatica1 or settled pains like it4 ,friday1 ,aug4 #af4--,mass at the cathedral at #aa4 ,we went with ,mr4 ,dugdale to the ,pinacotheke1 a grand building of this king1 containing the vast collection of pictures which ,i saw with ,lefevre at ,schlussheim in #ahbj4 ,what struck me most was the gallery on one side of the building1 ornamented like ,raphael's1 in the ,vatican4 ,we dined at two2 then went to see the new palace1 which is opened at times regularly to all visitors4 ,we went among a party of all sorts4 ,i was recognised by ,lady ,lowther--that was1 at least4 ,this was from ,lowther ,castle1 #ahaf4 ,in the palace1 the floors are beautiful wood-work1 inlaid4 ,some rooms have fine pictures of the former ,german history1 of ,charlemagne1 ,barbarossa1 ,rodolph of ,hapsburg1 c4 ,the hall of audience is surrounded with striking colossal statues of ancient dukes of ,bavaria4 ,we cannot say much for the two rooms of ,bavarian beauties2 the king's fondness for them is not edifying1 they say4 ,from the palace we went to the studios2 at half-past #g went to tea at ,dr4 ,dllinger's1 and met almost all whom we visited yesterday1 and1 besides1 ,mr4 ,windischmann1 canon of the cathedral4 ,i got a long conversation with him in ,english4 ,he became very zealous for promoting the prayers for ,england4 ,there was there ,mr4 ,raby1 of ,leicester1 who was at ,munich with his mother2 his sister is become a nun at ,nymphenburg4 ,saturday1 ,aug4 #ag4--,said mass at the cathedral at #h4 ,after breakfast1 ,i visited ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,farrell and their family1 who are in this hotel4 ,he is uncle to ,john ,farrell4 ,she said she had seen me at ,leamington with ,mr4 ,martyn4 ,then ,count de ,senufft ,pilsach1 ,austrian ambassador1 to whom ,mr4 ,phillipps brought a note from ,father ,lythgoe1 called4 ,we then walked to the palace1 and saw the rich chapel1 in which many relics are kept in cases of gold and silver1 with pearls and jewels1 some carved by ,benvenuto ,cellini2 the right hand #cjd of ,st4 ,john ,baptist and ,st4 ,chrysostom among them1 and some earth stained with the blood of ,our ,lord4 ,a little triptic used on the scaffold by ,mary ,queen of ,scots4 ,we then went to the palace of the ,duc de ,leuchtenberg1 son of ,eugene ,beauharnais4 ,one room full of modern paintings1 and another much larger1 with a very choice collection of the ,italian and ,flemish schools1 struck me4 ,dr4 ,dllinger dined with us1 and then took us to the ,public ,library1 a magnificent building1 calculated for #a1jjj1jjj volumes1 and containing now #ejj1jjj1 lately built by ,ludwig ,i4 ,we stayed a long time looking about it1 and then went on to the ,university1 another new building1 very splendid4 ,dr4 ,dllinger is rector this next year4 ,the library here is of #bjj1jjj vols42 he is the chief librarian of it4 ,we returned at #h1 looking in1 en passant1 to the ,ludwig ,kirche4 ,a beautiful sunset4 ,sunday1 ,august #ah4--;,i went by invitation to say mass at the ,auer ,kirche1 i4e41 the new ,gothic church in the suburb ,au4 ,trusting to the fine sunset of last night1 ,i took no umbrella1 and very nearly got a wetting before ,i got home4 ,at #i1 ,mr4 ,schlager called on me4 ,he is studying the law1 and looks so smart that ,i did not of myself recognize him4 ,we went to high mass at the ,theatine church4 ,at #ab1 ,i went with ,mr4 ,windischmann1 to be presented to the ,nuncio1 ,mgr4 ,vichi1 to plead for ,england4 ,i could not do much1 as other visitors came in4 ,after dinner1 we went to seek vespers unsuccessfully at the ,theatine church4 ,at #e1 we took a carriage1 and went to the ,sisters of ,charity1 where we got on badly for want of ,german1 and saw nothing but the church1 where service was going on4 ,we then went to the public cemetery1 near it4 ,it is in the style of ,pre la ,chaise1 but inferior4 ,what is remarkable is the place where the bodies newly dead are exposed for three days before burial4 ,we saw several behind glass windows1 dressed out and adorned with flowers4 ,after coming home1 ,i went at #g to ,professor ,grres's4 ,he has open house for the circle of his friends every ,sunday evening4 ,dr4 ,dllinger wished us all to go1 but ,phillipps thought it hardly proper without an invitation4 ,there were twelve at supper2 among them ,dr4 #cje ,dllinger1 ,phillipps1 ,moy4 ,the party was very agreeable1 though ,i knew nothing of the ,german conversation1 except what ,dr4 ,dllinger translated to me4 ,i came home at half-past #aj4 ,monday1 ,august #ai4--,said mass at the cathedral4 ,mrs4 ,dugdale came after breakfast1 and went with us to the ,glyptotheke1 where are some fine pieces of ancient sculpture4 ,i suppose the ,a,egina marbles are among the most valued4 ,they are of an earlier style than the perfect models of ,greek sculpture1 finely designed but stiff4 ,the whole thing is too heathenish and so immodest4 ,it is a mystery to me how all these sights are consistent with ,catholic principle1 especially the ,venuses and ,adonises by ,christian masters1 like ,canova4 ,the building is very noble4 ,we went thence to what was far more satisfactory1 the ,basilica1 built on the plan of the old church of ,st4 ,paul1 at ,rome1 #cjj feet long1 with two ranges of glorious holy pictures1 one range being the whole history of our ,english ,st4 ,boniface4 ,i hope this is there as a memorial of what ,germany owes to ,england1 and as an excitement to pray for us4 ,i came back to receive ,mr4 ,schlager to dine with me at the table d'hte4 ,phillipps dined at ,mr4 ,rio's1 where ,i joined them at #c1 having first gone with ,mr4 ,schlager to his lodgings4 ,rio talked splendidly about ,england1 and ,dr4 ,dllinger promised to write articles to call to prayer for it4 ,i came home at #e1 said office in the cathedral1 and at #g we went to supper with ,dr4 and ,mrs4 ,phillipps1 where we met all the circle1 the ,grreses1 ,windischman1 ,dllinger1 ,rios1 ,mrs4 ,raby1 ,mrs4 ,dugdale1 c4 ,tuesday1 ,august #bj4 ,st4 ,bernard4--,mass at the cathedral at #aj4 ,i took a carriage and went with ,mrs4 ,dugdale and ,mrs4 ,raby to ,nymphenburg1 where is the principal convent of the ,english nuns1 of which ,i saw a house at ,augsburg4 ,there are ten houses in ,bavaria2 ,mrs4 ,raby's daughter is a novice there4 ,we stopped a good while1 and ,i hope a good step was taken in my work4 ,mr4 ,dugdale promises to follow up ardently the begging prayers4 ,i came home before #b1 and stayed at home till #e1 when we went with the two boys to a grand dinner with le ,comte de ,zeuft1 #cjf the ,austrian ambassador4 ,there were twenty at table3 the ,nuncio1 ,mr4 ,aebel1 minister of the interior1 the chief ,catholic physician1 a ,polish ,countess ,kitzka1 and all our friends the ,professors were there4 ,i sat between ,dr4 ,phillipps and ,windischman4 ,we stayed till near #aj4 ,the ,comte de ,zeuft promised great help for ,england4 ,it is my first opening in ,austria4 ,mrs4 ,aebel assured me that the ,government would be well pleased with whatever was done in this way1 which is a great point secured4 ,i also had an interesting talk on the subject with the ,countess ,kitzka1 who proposed prayer for ,poland also on ,saturdays4 ,this was1 in short1 a productive evening4 ,wednesday1 ,august #ba4--,mass at the cathedral4 ,i walked with ,mr4 ,dugdale to the convent of ,sisters of ,providence joining the great hospital we failed in entering on ,sunday4 ,we got one nun who spoke a little ,french to show us over the hospital1 but we made little of gaining prayers4 ,i found palpitations coming from the walk1 and so ,i came home and stayed till ,i went with ,phillipps to dine at #d with the ,nuncio4 ,the chief guests were ,comte de ,zeuft and ,baron ,frujberg1 conseilleur d'tat1 and twelve or fourteen more4 ,the ,nuncio took charge of the little prayer for ,england adopted by the ,belgian bishops1 and promised to get ample indulgences at ,rome for the masses1 communions1 and prayers for ,england4 ,we came home and took ,mrs4 ,phillipps to tea at ,dr4 ,dllinger's1 ,baron ,frujberg1 ,rio1 ,hffler1 the historian of the ,german popes of the #aath century4 ,thursday1 ,august #bb4--,mass at #h4 ,i stayed at home writing to ,dr4 ,wiseman from #aa to #ab2 then went with ,dr4 ,dllinger to be presented to ,madame di ,frujberg1 and her sister ,amelia de ,mongeras4 ,talked about ,england and prayers4 ,at home ,i found ,comte de ,zeuft and the ,nuncio paying a visit4 ,then dinner at #b4 ,mr4 ,windischman took me to see the ,archbishop1 #hd years old4 ,he has his intellect quite sound1 and was favourable to the prayers1 but not very zealous4 ,i came home and stayed till #g1 writing to ,mrs4 ,beaumont and ,mrs4 ,canning1 saying office1 c4 ,at #g ,mr4 and ,mrs4 ,rio and two children1 ,dr4 ,phillipps1 #cjg ,dllinger1 and ,windischman came to tea and supper1 so a parting visit4 ,little ,miss ,rio got sick with the smoke in the salon4 ,friday1 ,august #bc4--,mass at #g in the cathedral for the last time4 ,after breakfast a visit from ,mr4 ,dugdale and old ,grres1 and a talk with ,mr4 ,woodwich1 a very nice young ,anglican1 whom ,phillipps met at ,cologne1 and came yesterday to ,munich4 ,the horses came for our departure at #aa1 but we did not start till to #a4 ,i sat in the carriage saying office4 ,we had a pretty journey1 approaching a line of fine mountains4 ,we reached a town called ,tegern ,see1 and we put up at ,le ,troitteur ,hof4 ,when we came to dine1 we found ourselves worse off than we have yet been4 ,no bread without aniseed1 and hardly enough to eat for all but me1 who took meat4 ,however1 this is an interesting spot4 ,out of my window ,i have a sweet view of the lake and mountains opposite1 with a bright moon upon them4 ,saturday1 ,august #bd4--;,i went before #g to find the old priest to say mass4 ,the church is a handsome one attached to a large building which once was a ,benedictine convent1 but was turned by the old king1 my former acquaintance1 into a country palace4 ,prince ,charles lives here now4 ,the old priest was one of the monks4 ,there are four now alive out of forty-three4 ,we started at #i1 and went through beautiful mountain scenery1 especially that part of the road which lies along the bank of ,achensee1 a beautiful blue lake4 ,we dined at about #b1 at ,achenthal1 just before coming to the lake4 ,we were delayed by a spring breaking1 and only reached ,schwartz1 a town of #d1ejj people4 ,the inn ,la ,pote is kept by ,anthony ,reiner1 one of a family of three men and a sister1 who about #ahcj were #b years in ,england1 singing ,tyrolese songs1 and made #d1jjj4 ,mrs4 ,ambrose heard them at ,sir ,thomas ,acland's4 ,we had tea in the billiard-room1 and saw some beautiful play4 ,sunday1 ,aug4 #be4--;,i said mass at #f1 at the ,franciscan church4 ,in the convent are twenty-one priests and twenty-five students1 besides lay brothers4 ,i recommended ,england and was kindly heard4 ,after breakfast we went together to the parish church2 at #h a sermon begins--we heard the end of it1 preached by a ,franciscan4 ,mass follows the #cjh sermon4 ,the style of music1 both here and in the ,franciscan church1 where ,i heard part of the high mass1 is high figured4 ,we set off for ,innspruck after4 ,it was raining all the way4 ,we arrived at #b at the ,golden ,sun 7die goldene ,sonne71 in a fine wide street4 ,we had dinner1 during which we were surprised and pleased by a visit from ,mrs4 ,amherst and ,mary4 ,she has a house in this street1 and saw us pass by4 ,three daughters are with her4 ,soon after we went to see the ,franciscan church1 in which is the famous monument of ,maximilian1 and round it bronze figures of illustrious personages1 and on the side a marble monument of ,hoffa4 ,they are not all saints1 and it is thought to be an unbecoming ornament to a church4 ,they certainly cause distractions by the number of people who come to see the sculpture1 which makes this small church almost like a ,glyptotheke4 ,after this1 ,mrs4 ,amherst took me to the ,redemptorists1 where ,father ,prost talks ,english1 and received me most cordially1 and presented me to the ,rector4 ,i then went to the ,franciscan convent1 where1 as at ,munich1 ,i saw the fathers at supper1 and recommended ,england to the ,provincial1 who promised to convey my wishes to the #cjj subjects of the #aj houses of his province4 ,in this little house there are eight priests4 ,he sent a man to take me to the ,decanus1 living near the parish church1 to ask for leave to hear confessions to-morrow4 ,he was a most amiable1 kind old man1 and promised to speak for me to all the clergy4 ,i went to meet our party at tea with the ,amhersts at #g1 and had a very pleasant evening4 ,home at #i4 ,monday1 ,aug4 #bfth4--,father ,prost gave himself to me all to-day4 ,i went to say mass at the ,redemptorist church2 breakfasted there2 then went out with him to the hospital of the ,sisters of ,charity1 where there are #ae nuns1 and it is the mother house of about eight houses in all4 ,they are under the direction of the ,redemptorists4 ,then to the ,jesuits' college1 where we saw the ,rector2 then to dine with the ,redemptorists at #ab4 ,they are about ten in number4 ,the ,rector is most zealous for my cause4 ,at #b we walked out of the town to a fine ,premonstratensian #cji abbey to which belong #db monks2 but about half are employed as coadjutors to parish priests4 ,the ,abbot received us very kindly1 and showed us all over his house1 which has a great suite of fine rooms1 full of pictures of great personages4 ,we came back to settle for my departure to-morrow2 and lastly visited the ,servites4 ,they have a fine large house in the great street4 ,their number is only fifteen4 ,lastly1 we called on a lady who can talk ,english1 having learned it1 where ,father ,prost did1 in ,america4 ,i went at #f to tea with the ,amhersts1 among whom ,i also found ,william just come4 ,i went home to stay at the ,redemptorists1 in order to be able to say mass to-morrow4 ,the ,rector and ,father ,prost sat some time with me4 ,tuesday1 ,aug4 #bgth4--,said mass at #c2 at #d1 ,father ,prost saw me in the still-wagen1 or omnibus1 for ,brixen4 ,i forgot to say that ,phillipps agreed with me to meet at ,caldaron on ,thursday4 ,they went off yesterday by ,landeck1 ,marenn1 c41 for finer scenery4 ,i took my way to see the ,bishop of ,brixen4 ,my principal companions were four students at the ,inspruck ,university1 going out for their vacations4 ,they were two couples of brothers1 one called ,ehrhart1 the other ,benz1 all of ,inspruck4 ,the weather was become beautiful1 and we went through splendid scenery4 ,we went over the ,brenner mountain1 and were going till #h o'clock at night4 ,we stopped three times for refreshment3 at ,matraey1 ,strarzing1 and ,mittewald4 ,we came to the ,kreutz ,hof--the ,cross ,inn--at ,brixen1 where ,i took my bed4 ,first1 ,i went to see a pleasing old priest1 by name ,graffanara1 who is ,domscholasticus here1 and whom ,i saw by chance at ,inspruck4 ,he told of the ,bishop being gone to ,botzen1 and introduced me to the ,decanus and ,parish ,priest1 to settle for mass to-morrow4 ,wednesday1 ,aug4 #bhth4 ,great ,st4 ,augustine's4--,i was up soon after #c1 and went to the ,pffarr-,kirche1 where ,i said mass at #d4 ,the ,pffarr treated me with extraordinary respect and kindness1 and came back with me to my inn1 where ,i started again1 with the same company1 to ,botzen1 in another still-wagen1 at #e4 ,we followed the downward course of a beautiful torrent1 through rocks and mountains #caj all the way1 till we reached ,botzen1 at #ab4 ,i went to the ,kaiser's ,krone1 and dined at the table d'hte at #ab1 next to an ,english gentleman1 by name ,harley1 who was chiefly taken up with attacks on cookery out of ,england4 ,he was a man of much information1 and gave gloomy accounts of the prospect of war with ,france4 ,his father was an admiral4 ,i stayed at home till #d1 then went out to the ,capuchins and then to the ,capellani--the ,paroco being out4 ,the chief ,capellano came back with me to the hotel1 and waited till the ,bishop of ,brixen came in4 ,he had been out in the country4 ,i was admitted to see him1 but quite disappointed in my hopes of finding help from him4 ,he gave me no signs of zeal1 and hardly spoke of ,england4 ,perhaps it may be for the better some way4 ,no doubt disappointments are good for me1 and so thank ,god for this one4 ,i afterwards went to the ,franciscans1 where ,i found real sympathy in one of the fathers1 with whom ,i walked in the garden4 ,this was a refreshment after the ,bishop4 ,in the evening ,i had a visit from the young ,baron ,giovanelli1 whose father has some authority about sending people to see ,maria ,mrl4 ,he could hardly speak ,italian1 and though very civil1 did not help me much4 ,thursday1 #bith4--,the good ,bishop sent me to-day a present of a large number of religious prints1 with ,german instructions1 and showed thus his good will to me2 and ,i hope it may be well for my cause4 ,at #g ,i said mass in the cathedral4 ,at #aj ,i went in a one-horse carriage to ,calddaron1 or more rightly ,caltern4 ,i went directly to see ,father ,capistrano1 confessor to ,maria ,mrl1 at a ,franciscan convent1 and then dined at the ,white ,horse inn4 ,at #d1 according to his direction1 ,i went to the convent of the ,tertiariae1 where ,maria ,mrl has been for ten years1 being removed from her father's house by the ,bishop1 at her own request1 to avoid being seen by so many people4 ,i waited in the convent church till ,father ,capistrano1 who is a tall and venerable monk1 ,i suppose of forty-five years old1 came to call me1 with eight or nine other persons1 to see the estatica4 7,n4,b4 ,father ,capistrano told me that the ,bishop of ,brixen is very deaf1 and probably understood nothing of #caa what ,i talked about1 which explains all my disappointment47 ,we went into a small room within her convent1 rather darkened1 where the first sight of ,maria on her knees upon her bed was most striking4 ,she kneels with her head and eyes fixed upwards1 her hands joined before her breast1 just below the chin1 and her body leaning forwards in a position out of the centre of gravity1 in which1 ordinarily1 no one could continue without support4 ,it is most moving to see her thus--,i think more so than in any of the other positions which she assumed4 ,this was the time when on every ,thursday she goes through the contemplation of the ,agony of ,our ,lord2 and so1 soon after we came in1 she being quite unconscious of what goes on around her1 began to make signs in her throat of earnest emotion1 and then1 clenching her hands together1 she dropped her head over them1 her long1 flowing hair being thrown forward over her face1 as it were accompanying our ,lord in the commencement of ,his prayer in the garden2 after about five minutes thus1 she suddenly bends down1 placing her face between her knees1 as when our ,lord was prostrate in ,his agony4 ,after another five minutes1 she rises1 her face again fixed with expression of intense earnestness on heaven1 and her arms extended back downwards1 as expressing perfect resignation4 ,after five or ten minutes thus1 she returns calmly to her original attitude of prayer1 and thus remained till ,father ,capistrano spoke to her by name1 saying a few words almost indistinctly1 and she instantly returned to herself1 reclined back on her bed1 and1 without exertion of moving her limbs1 appeared simply recumbent1 with the bed-cover over her whole body4 ,i did not see her rise again1 but this is done instantly without effort1 in the same way4 ,the moment that she was thus awakened from the ecstasy1 she looked round on us all with great good-humour1 and smiled2 and1 being forbidden to speak1 she made many signs1 asking questions of some whom she knew before4 ,one priest1 il ,conte ,passi1 offered her some cotton perfumed from the body of ,sta4 ,maria ,maddalena di ,pazzi2 but she would not have it1 nor smell it1 refusing it in a truly pleasant way4 ,i spoke of praying for ,england1 and she nodded graciously1 but did not take much #cab apparent notice4 ,i suppose she does it about nothing but what comes by obedience4 ,if the conversation had a pause1 she immediately became again absorbed in ,god till ,father ,capistrano recalled her again4 ,after a proper time1 he gave us signs to retire2 on which she earnestly made signs for a cartoon-box full of holy prints to be brought1 and she began with great earnestness to turn them over1 seeming to recollect herself very intently4 ,she then gave me two1 and afterwards another4 ,i was struck when ,i saw the first was a figure of ,st4 ,george1 as she had not heard my name ,i knew4 ,afterwards1 ,i supposed she might allude only to ,england1 as she knew ,i was ,english4 ,soon after1 she fell back into ecstasy as she lay1 and we went away4 ,i walked down to the inn with ,conte ,passi and a priest of the place1 who visits her nearly every day4 ,i began a letter1 when1 about #f1 ,i was agreeably surprised by seeing ,phillipps and his party drive up4 ,he and ,i went to the ,franciscan convent1 but could not see ,father ,capistrano4 ,conte ,passi and ,i slept in the same room1 and into a third bed tumbled some one else1 ,i thought1 like the ostler1 after we were in bed4 ,i slept none the worse1 and why should ,i8 ,friday1 ,aug4 #cj4--,said mass in the parish church at eight4 ,phillipps after breakfast went and had a long conversation with ,father ,capistrano1 who received to-day a letter from the ,bishop of ,trent1 to give leave for all of us to see the estatica4 ,phillipps came back with wonderful accounts of ,father ,capistrano's views of the future in the ,church4 ,he has no bright anticipations4 ,i wrote all the morning1 letters to ,dr4 ,dllinger1 ,signor ,giovanelli1 and ,mr4 ,le,sage ,ten ,broek4 ,we dined at #a4 ,at #b we all went to the convent church1 where1 as yesterday1 ,p4 ,capistrano came to take us to la ,mrl4 ,three o'clock1 being the time of ,our ,lord's death1 this is the subject of her contemplation at that time every ,friday4 ,soon after we came in1 from the attitude of prayer in which we found her as yesterday2 she again clasped her hands1 and1 looking up with an expression of suffering1 she continued for some time to make a sort of sobbing noise1 and stertation1 as ,i have seen people dying of apoplexy2 this grew more painful till1 exactly at #cac three1 she dropped her head forward1 and her hands yet clasped hung down before her and so she remained quite motionless1 still leaning forward beyond the perpendicular1 inclinato capite emisit spiritum4 ,this continued till1 at one of those almost inaudible suggestions of the confessor1 she fell back on the bed1 as yesterday1 but still in ecstasy1 and extended her hands in the form of a crucifix4 ,the fingers were guttered over the palm of the hands1 but yet we saw plainly in the palm the sacred stigma4 ,i saw it yesterday outside both her hands1 quite plainly1 as she was distributing the prints4 ,the marks are not as of an open wound1 but red cicatrices like those represented in pictures of ,our ,saviour when risen from the dead4 ,father ,capistrano said that she eats a little bread and fruit occasionally1 not every day2 she communicates three or four times a week2 she sleeps generally in the night1 ,i understood1 but her spirit still continues in a less degree of contemplation4 ,she had a younger sister with her in the convent1 to wait on her4 ,the ,emperor allows her #djj florins a year4 ,on more solemn feasts1 the ecstasy is more intense1 and she then appears for a time raised above the bed1 touching it only with the tips of her feet4 ,the priest whom ,i saw yesterday says that he has himself passed his hand at those times under her knees without touching them4 ,it is a rule that no money is given by visitors either to her or the convent4 ,we went away1 and prepared for our departure about #d4 ,i engaged a small one-horse carriage to go to ,egna in ,italian1 in ,german ,neumarkt1 intending to see the ,addolorata1 and to meet the ,phillippses again at ,venice4 ,i began to have a distaste to the rude-looking driver1 at the first sight1 still more1 when ,i found that the carriage belonged to a priest who had come from ,egna this morning4 ,i made it straight for time by taking him with me4 ,a second nuisance was1 finding1 when ,i set off1 that ,phillipps had to go to the same place1 as his first stage towards ,trent4 ,in a narrow road down the hill1 out of ,caldaro1 we met an immense number of carts1 loaded with hay1 and drawn by oxen1 from eighty to a hundred1 which was a good delay1 and ,phillipps's carriage got terribly scratched in passing one4 ,at #cad ,egna1 ,i put up at the ,krono4 ,i went out to see a priest1 who took me to the ,franciscans about saying mass tomorrow4 ,i preached ,england4 ,saturday1 ,aug4 #ca4--;,i fell into the hands of the sulky driver of yesterday1 who undertook to find me a mule to go over the mountains at once to ,capriana1 but he came last night to say none was to be found2 ,i heard before that there was danger of this in harvest time4 ,i therefore first said mass at the ,franciscans'1 at #c o'clock1 doubtful whether it was not uncanonically early1 and at #d went with my friend driving me1 with one horse on the left of the pole1 to ,cavallesi1 a small town in the mountains1 which we reached at #h o'clock4 ,there ,i saw the physician of ,dominica ,lazzari1 whom ,count ,passi told me to go to4 ,he was very civil1 and recommended me a pleasant guide1 who at #i set off1 walking by the pony which ,i rode to ,cavallesi4 ,the day was beautiful1 and not too hot for me1 though it was for him on foot4 ,it was a most interesting1 picturesque ride of #b hours1 reminding me of my ,sicilian and other rides long since1 and ,i was surprised how this seemed to agree with me now4 ,capriana is a little very poor village1 occupying a spot on an open space1 high among the mountains4 ,the very first cottage in the body of the town1 and one of the poorest1 is where this wonderful being spends her suffering days4 ,the ,medico ,yoris had written me a note to the primissario1 or second priest to the curate1 who is ,dominica's confessor1 who might have helped me about seeing her2 but he was not at home1 so we went to the house at once4 ,the door of the little place1 a part of a building1 where ,dominica lives with her sister1 was locked4 ,the sister was out4 ,i heard her groaning slightly at every breath4 ,she made something of an answer when my guide knocked4 ,he went to seek her sister1 and came back saying that she begged us to delay a little1 as others had been with her1 and she was much fatigued4 ,so we went to the ,osteria1 and got the best they could give1 which was a brodo d'acqua1 in ,english1 ,i fancy1 tea-kettle broth4 ,this shows that the place is not chosen for its riches to be honoured by ,god with ,his wonders4 ,after this pause we returned to the little house1 #cae which has a ,tyrolese roof overhanging1 and a little gallery outside her door4 ,the sister1 who is married and has her children about her1 took us in1 and in an inner room we saw the ,addolorata in her bed4 ,her appearance naturally will not have been interesting1 like that of ,maria ,mrl1 but rather of an ordinary young countrywoman1 of low stature1 like her sister4 ,she has ordinarily the appearance of great pain and suffering2 but when ,i spoke to her about ,england1 she lifted her eyes and moved her hands in a way more earnest than l'estatica1 and showed great feeling at the thought of its conversion4 ,now for her appearance3 her face was almost all covered with clotted blood1 which flowed1 ,i suppose1 yesterday morning1 for so it does every ,friday1 from the punctures as of thorns on her brow4 ,these were not1 as ,i expected1 irregularly placed as by a crown of thorns made at hazard1 but they formed a line close together on the forehead1 and do not go round the head to the back part4 ,her legs were gathered up as if the sinews were contracted2 her body1 the doctor told me1 is all covered with sores1 which1 the more that is done to cure1 the worse they grow4 ,she keeps her hands clenched before her heart1 and groans slightly with every breath4 ,on her hands were seen stigmata1 much more marked than ,maria ,mrl1 like fresh wounds by a nail passing through and sinking into the flesh4 ,her sister said the same was the case with her side and feet4 ,i only spoke to her a little about ,england1 and was delighted at her manner then1 which shows how superior she is to her pains4 ,it seems to distress her to be too near her1 and as ,i have learned since it does4 ,she is always hot2 her sister was fanning her all the time1 and in the depth of winter it is the same thing1 when snow drives into her room4 ,she also gives her prints2 she made her sister show her prints out of a little case1 and when she has chosen them she kisses them and gives them to each with great kindness4 ,there were a young man and woman there1 who offered money for them to her sister1 but she will take nothing4 ,the sight of her is not at first so striking and pleasing as of la ,mrl1 but the remembrance is more impressive4 ,it seems a state more meritorious1 more humble4 ,it is more poor1 and patient4 #caf ,having been delayed so long1 ,i could not get to ,cavallesi till #c2 the sulky face of the driver betokened no good for my return2 the horse1 too1 he said was ill1 and in fine1 he brought me to ,egna just too late for the still-wagen to ,lavorno1 and ,i was not so patient as ,i ought to have been after seeing that example1 but ,i was helped by it a little4 ,i had to take a carriage for myself and the same miserable driver1 who was going to sleep all the way1 and grunted at me once when ,i awoke him4 ,i got to a nice inn at ,lavorno1 the white house again4 ,sunday1 ,sept4 #a4--;,i started at #e by a still-wagen for ,trent1 all alone in it4 ,i came to the ,rose ,inn1 and waited to say mass at the ,church di ,s4 ,maria ,maggiora1 where the ,council of ,trent was held1 and prayed1 as usual on ,sundays1 for the gift of ,faith1 which was appropriate here4 ,the church is quite uninteresting in appearance4 ,i breakfasted at a cafe1 and went about my way of travelling2 then at to #aa went and heard the end of a high mass4 ,i thought to be in time for all4 ,after it ,i was very happy in getting myself introduced to the ,bishop1 who was extremely agreeable1 and said he prayed daily for ,england1 and promised to recommend it to ,maria la ,mrl1 and to all the clergy4 ,i left1 as if ,i need take no more trouble about ,trent4 ,i went to the ,rosa1 and stayed there quiet till dinner at #ab1 and then till #d1 writing my long days of late in the ,journal4 ,at #d1 ,i got into a carriage carrying four inside to ,roveredo1 where ,i got to the ,corona1 and went to bed at #h or #i4 ,monday1 ,sept4 #b4--;,i set off soon after #c with an old vetturino1 who rather displeased me last night in making his bargain1 by his flattering way2 but ,i found him a nice old man1 and very civil4 ,we got to ,bosketto1 on the banks of the ,adige 7which indeed we followed all day71 at #g4 ,i said mass and breakfasted4 ,then we went on to dine at a single house1 called ,ospitaletto4 ,we stayed from #ab to #b2 ,i wrote two letters4 ,we then started and got to ,verona at #d1 to the ,hotel di ,londra4 ,i took a laquais de place1 and walked to ,count ,persico's house4 ,i was sorry to find him in the country4 ,then to the ,jesuit ,noviciate1 where ,i #cag thought ,i might possibly find ,connolly4 ,the ,superior showed me ,padre ,odescalchi's room1 where he passed his noviciate4 ,i recommended myself to his prayers4 ,i had been reading on the road his memoirs1 given me at ,louvain4 ,the ,superior promised to recommend ,england4 ,i went then to the cathedral1 and the ,bishop being out1 ,i saw the ,vicario1 who kindly promised to speak for me to the ,bishop4 ,i then went into the cathedral1 where there was a brilliant illumination1 and a most solemn benediction1 and then a litany before the altar of the ,blessed ,virgin1 which reminded me of the holy litanies of ,rome4 ,i have seen nothing like this on the ,continent1 nor have ,i seen a town so full of respectable clergy in every part4 ,came home and to bed at #h4 ,tuesday1 ,sept4 #crd4--,started at #d with my new vetturino1 who cheated me as usual1 but was civil4 ,it rained almost all day4 ,i said mass at a place called ,montebello1 and got to ,vicenza to dine at #aa4 ,then started for ,padua with a new vetturino1 and had for company an old and a young ,roman priest4 ,the old one was ,bighi1 a well-known professor1 who taught ,dr4 ,wiseman and ,s4 ,sharples1 c41 and was full of kindness to me4 ,i talked myself almost hoarse with him4 ,they stopped at ,padua4 ,i went on railroad to ,venice4 ,i sat by a priest of ,illyricum of the scuole pie of ,st4 ,joseph ,calasanctius2 but what was wonderful was my being in the midst of ,mrs4 ,neville and her family1 whom ,mrs4 ,rio desired me to see1 coming back from a visit to ,vicenza4 ,we kept together all across the ,sayburne1 and made a great acquaintance4 ,i got into a gondola1 and had to go a great round to put down another young man1 who had already engaged it4 ,i had a great battle about my fare1 and for a wonder ,i conquered4 ,i waited a little1 having my chocolate1 when ,phillipps and all came in1 and we made a happy meeting1 giving an account of our respective travels4 ,wednesday1 ,sept4 #dth4--,i went at #g to say mass at ,san ,marco1 but was obliged to wait till #h1 as they are very strict here not to allow a priest to mass without leave from the ,patriarch1 except the first day1 when1 as to me1 leave #cah is given4 ,i breakfasted at a cafe1 then went with ,phillipps to ,st4 ,georgio dei ,greci1 and heard a high mass of the schismatic ,greeks1 of whom there is a colony at ,venice2 the occasion was the octave of the ,assumption1 old style4 ,the mass was all celebrated behind a close screen2 which is open part of the time1 but not during the most solemn part4 ,after the consecration1 the host and chalice are carried outside this screen in procession1 and presented for adoration2 one man before us was making his prostrations all the time4 ,the priests had chasubles1 hanging evenly all round to near the ankles2 they lifted them to use their hands2 there is no musical instrument1 but singing all the time4 ,i then went to the ,cancellaria to get my licence to say mass1 and then to ,mrs4 ,neville at the ,corte dell' ,albero4 ,she soon after took me to the ,armenian ,college1 where the examinations were just finished4 ,there are eighteen scholars1 with two priests over them1 in an old grand palace of a ruined family of ,pesaro4 ,the vicario and several others from the island were there4 ,we talked much about ,england4 ,i came to dinner at the ,tavola1 returned at #d1 ,then we went to the ,island of ,st4 ,lazzaro1 to see ,padre ,pasquale and the ,archbishop ,sutrio ,somal 7as the name sounds71 great friends of ,phillipps at ,rome in #ahca1 and of mine1 too4 ,when we came back4 ,i went in a gondola to ,mrs4 ,neville1 and back to tea4 ,tuesday1 ,sept4 #e4--,this being the feast of ,st4 ,lorenzo ,giustiniani1 ,i went out at #f to find the church where his body is laid4 ,he died in the very hotel where we are4 ,the church ,i went to in a gondola in rain to ,st4 ,pietro at ,castello--the ancient patriarchal church--and said mass at the high altar1 where he lies4 ,i walked back in rain1 without umbrella1 as ,i lost mine yesterday4 ,i bought another4 ,at #ab1 ,padre ,raffaelle1 an ,armenian priest1 ,mrs4 ,neville's confessor1 to whom she introduced me yesterday1 called and took me to the patriarch1 ,cardinal ,monico1 who received most graciously my propositions for ,england4 ,i am to call again with the ,phillippses on ,saturday1 and get something more exactly settled about the prayers2 we then went across the ,great ,canal to the ,del ,redentore1 where #cai is a convent of eighty ,capuchins4 ,the church is reckoned a chef d'oeuvre of ,palladio1 built ex voto by the ,republic1 after a plague4 ,we saw the guardian1 who is also provincial2 he learned our want1 and promised for his own house and ten others of the province4 ,i came back to dinner4 ,a ,greek priest whom ,phillipps got acquainted with the other day1 came to dine with us1 and sat till #i4 ,his conversation was very interesting as showing the ideas of the ,greeks about the ,roman ,church1 and their doctrines on many points varying from ours4 ,what a terrible evil is that of separation of nearly half of ,christendom6 ,the greater reasons to hasten the reunion of ,england1 that we may draw the others4 ,friday1 ,sept4 #f4--,the two ,neville boys came with me to ,st4 ,marco1 and served my mass1 as their mother had desired4 ,after breakfast1 ,i called on ,mrs4 ,neville1 who was not up1 then went to ,palazzo ,pasaro1 to ,padre ,raffaelle4 ,he came with me first to the ,franciscans2 the guardian promised for his house of fifty1 and for three or four at some distance from him4 ,then to the ,dominicans1 who are fifteen1 a new establishment a year old4 ,then to the ,jesuits1 who are eight in number1 only this summer returned to their old church1 which is one of the most remarkable for its ornaments in ,venice1 white marble inlaid with black4 ,i remembered it well from twenty-six years ago4 ,the superior1 ,padre ,ferrario1 is going to ,rome to-morrow1 and promised to see about my matters there with ,cardinal ,acton and the general of the ,jesuits4 ,i came home in haste1 and found ,phillipps1 and ,mrs4 ,neville and her friends with her1 gone to ,st4 ,marco1 where we followed them to see the treasury--i4e41 the inestimably rich treasures brought by ,doge ,dandolo from ,constantinople1 just before it was taken by the ,turks4 ,the chief thing is an antependium and a reredos of massive gold1 with splendid pearls and enamels4 ,mrs4 ,neville took us to the ,convent of the ,visitation1 where is preserved the heart of ,st4 ,francis of ,sales1 which was brought from ,france when the ,revolution drove off all religious4 ,they could not show this relic2 but promised prayers1 and to write to other houses4 ,there were there #cbj forty nuns4 ,back to dinner at the table d'hte4 ,after dinner we went all together to see the only large ,gothic church in ,venice1 called ,st4 ---- di ,frari1 which is the ,venetian for ,frati2 it used to be the ,franciscan church1 and their house is turned into a public ,archivium4 ,phillipps said they deserved it for having such a palace4 ,the church is a fine one1 and has some good morsels2 but what is most startling1 or rather glaring1 is the immense marble monument to ,canova--a pyramid1 with a heathen procession into it4 ,his heart is here4 ,his right hand in an urn at the ,arcadinia4 ,we tried at ,st4 ,sitorstro 7,silvestro7 to assist at the #dj ore1 but all was over4 ,we came back by a fine star light1 and went to ,st4 ,marco1 where we had ices at ,floriano's caf1 and heard military music4 ,canonico ,pio ,bighi1 and his young companion ,don ,giovanni ,moneti1 joined us1 ad cor4 sat4 ,we came home at #i4 ,sept4 #gth4--,said mass at ,st4 ,marco1 on the altar where the miraculous picture of ,our ,lady is1 by ,st4 ,luke4 ,the ,greek priest told us there existed seventy-five of them4 ,i went at #h to the ,jesuits1 to give a letter for ,cardinal ,acton1 about indulgences for prayers for ,england1 to ,padre ,ferrarrio1 the ,superior1 who sets off to-day for ,rome4 ,i found ,mrs4 ,neville and ,father ,raffaelle talking to him4 ,the latter kindly went around with me to-day again4 ,we went first to the ,institute of ,st4 ,dorothea1 founded lately by ,conte ,passi and his brother1 which we desired to see4 ,the ,superioress was out1 but another made excellent promises4--#ae nuns4 ,then to ,st4 ,lucia1 to the ,sisters of ,charity1 and another house dependent on them4 ,in the latter was an ,armenian lady who spoke ,english1 having been six years at ,hammersmith ,convent4 ,the ,superioress of the chief house spoke of ,gentili with great respect2 she knew him when she was at the house at ,verona4 ,she promised me for thirteen houses under her authority4 ,then we went past the ,jesuits to a house of ,reformed ,franciscans 7,zoccolanti74 ,st4 ,michele di ,marano4 ,promised for three houses as large as this1 about twenty-six1 and many more smaller4 ,this is where ,gregory ,,xvi4 was educated1 made his novitiate1 and was ,superior4 ,we saw the outside of his room2 the key could #cba not be got4 ,we got back at #ab4 ,i went with ,phillipps to the ,cardinal ,patriarch1 as appointed before4 ,i gave him the prayer for ,england which ,i gave to ,padre ,ferrario1 and he promised to speak with him also4 ,thence to the ,accademia1 where for two hours we looked at the pictures and statues4 ,it did not greatly answer me4 ,thence left our cards on the ,duc de ,levis1 who1 with his master the ,due de ,bordeaux1 is at the ,albergo ,reale4 ,then dined4 ,another maigre4 ,after ,i did not go out with them1 as ,i had office to say4 ,at #g we had a party to tea--the ,greek priest1 with ,mrs4 ,neville and three children4 ,they stayed till past #aa4 ,monday1 ,sept4 #h4 ,nativity of ,blessed ,virgin4--,i said mass at ,s4 ,marco4 ,we went to the high ,armenian mass at ,s4 ,lazzaro at #aj4 ,we were a little late4 ,after it we stayed there with our friends the fathers till vespers and benediction1 at #c4 ,and after that1 dinner at #d4 ,mrs4 ,neville and family were there too4 ,it was an interesting day for seeing and conversing4 ,i saw1 in the visitors' book1 my name under ,lefevre's1 written by him ,july1 #ahbj4 ,we sat in the cloister1 with the old ,archbishop1 c41 till twilight4 ,he made us presents of many handsome books printed there4 ,we came back to ,s4 ,marco1 and sat to hear the band1 c4 ,on coming home1 at #g1 we were in great demand with cards and notes1 left by the ,duc de ,levis1 to invite us to the ,duc de ,bordeaux's 7,comte de ,chombard7 salon at #g4 ,we were all thrown back by ,phillipps having no dresses to go in4 ,so we had to keep easy at home4 ,sunday1 ,sept4 #i4--,mass at the cathedral 7,s4 ,marco74 ,p4 ,raffaele and the ,greek priest came to breakfast4 ,at #aj ,i had a visit from the ,superioress of the ,institute of ,sta4 ,dorothea and a companion4 ,at #aj we went to visit the ,duc de ,bordeaux1 who gave us a quarter of an hour's most affable conversation1 spoke with great kindness of his reception in ,england1 and asked after ,dr4 ,wiseman1 c4 ,his confessor1 the ,abb ,trlouquet1 was introduced to us1 and came in our gondola to ,mrs4 ,neville1 of whom we took leave4 ,mr4 ,trlouquet promised to engage the ,french royal #cbb family in prayers for ,england4 ,he said1 the ,duc de ,bordeaux had spoken of my asking him at ,oscott4 ,we went then to ,s4 ,tommaso1 where ,i left the ,phillippses and went to the banker1 ,holme1 who is ,armenian consul4 ,then back to ,s4 ,tommaso1 where ,i found them looking at an extraordinary collection of relics made by a priest1 who devoted himself to the work when all things were in confusion in the revolution4 ,he gave the collection to the church1 on condition of their being open to the public for veneration4 ,the chief relic is some of the blood of ,our ,lord1 in a beautiful gold or gilt reliquary4 ,i found there ,monsignor ,arfi1 the ,pope's ,caudatario1 and invited for ,england4 ,i then went to ,padre ,raffaele1 at the college1 and went with him to see the two brothers1 priests ,cavanis1 founders of an excellent institute of ,scuole di ,carit4 ,they are in a poor house1 with a few companions2 one of them complained that no one helped them2 but they are like their patron ,s4 ,joseph ,calasanctius1 losing ground in old age1 but with hope of better things4 ,p4 ,raffaele1 who has indeed been an angel to me in ,venice1 came with me to the inn where they were at dinner4 ,at #d we left ,venice1 with pleasant remembrances4 ,we crossed the lagune in a procession of boats1 and got into the railway carriage1 which took us to ,padua about #g4 ,at the ,stella d',oro ,i went out to try to find the ,bishop2 but he was not in town4 ,tuesday1 ,sept1 #aj4--;,i went to ,st4 ,antony's church at #g to say mass4 ,before going ,i met ,dr4 ,roskell1 of ,manchester1 just come with a ,manchester party on a rapid tour4 ,i could not have the altar of ,st4 ,antony1 which seems always occupied4 ,i spoke to the ,superior of the house of ,conventual ,franciscans attached to the church1 #ej in number1 who promised to recommend my cause4 ,i came back in a little carriage with ,phillipps4 ,we started at #i for ,verona1 dined at ,vicenza2 then ,i took a carriage and called on the ,bishop1 ,monsignor ,capellari1 a good old man1 who received me graciously4 ,we stopped in going out of ,vicenza to see ,palladio's ,olympic ,theatre1 built to act the ,o,edipus ,tyrannus in #aehe4 ,this pretends to nothing but paganism4 ,we reached ,verona at #g4 ,i went out to see #cbc the ,bishop1 who was quite gracious2 he begins his retreat with his clergy to-morrow1 and promised to begin then and recommend ,england4 ,i then called at ,conte ,persico's1 who is in town1 but was just gone to the theatre4 ,home1 and to bed at #i4 ,wednesday1 ,sept4 #aa4--,up soon after #e1 and at #g said mass in ,st4 ,anastasius1 a large church close to the hotel4 ,soon after ,conte ,persico came to return my visit1 and sat a good while with me1 then with the ,phillippses1 to whom ,i introduced him4 ,he is grown very old1 being now #fg4 ,he said he was married two years after ,i had seen him before1 and was now by accident in town with his wife4 ,i thought him very like his old father4 ,at #aj we went in a carriage to see the tombs of the ,scaligeri1 formerly tyrants of ,verona1 fine ,gothic structure2 then the ,amphitheatre1 and the church of ,st4 ,zenone1 where ,i saw the image of the saint again which ,i before laughed at1 as a thing so to be treated1 in #ahbj4 ,i then called at ,conte ,persico's1 and saw his lady4 ,at #ab we set off for ,dezenzano1 a beautiful spot at the town end of the ,lake di ,garda4 ,we arrived at #f1 and had a pleasant evening in a little room of the ,albergo ,imperiale1 looking over the lake4 ,i wrote to ,mrs4 ,neville and ,abb de ,baudry4 ,thursday1 ,sept4 #ab4--,there was rain in the night1 leaving us a fine day without dust4 ,i said mass at #f in the parish church4 ,we went to dine at the ,duc ,torri1 at ,brescia4 ,i went to see the ,bishop1 who received me very courteously4 ,there ,i met a ,philippine lay-brother1 who introduced me to the church of his order1 ,sta4 ,maria della ,pace1 then to five or six of the fathers sitting together4 ,i had a fine opportunity of recommending ,england4 ,they are the only religious house in ,brescia 7of men at least74 ,after dinner at #c we set off for ,bergamo1 when we came to ,albergo ,reale at #i o'clock4 ,i got up to my knees in a stream near the road at the wet stage1 but hope no harm from it4 ,friday1 ,sept4 #ac4--;,anniversary of my first coming abroad1 #ahai4 ,i got up soon after #e1 said mass in a church opposite the inn1 breakfasted at a caf1 then walked up the beautiful road to the high town called the ,citt1 where our #cbd inn was is the borga4 ,between them there are about #cf1jjj4 ,in the ,citt ,i met a priest1 by name ,giuseppe ,caffi1 belonging to the collegiate church1 who1 when ,i asked him for ,count ,papi1 volunteered to be my guide altogether4 ,he showed me the cathedral1 his own church1 ,sta4 ,maria1 and a little convent church1 ,church of the ,benedictine ,nuns1 beautifully gilt4 ,he also went with me to the ,bishop1 who gave me one of the best receptions4 ,by the same good hap as at ,verona1 the priests were in retreat4 ,he introduced me to the ,abbate ,vittadini1 conductor of the retreat1 who promised to speak of ,england to the clergy4 ,he was already full of zeal for it2 he knew a good deal of the state of things with us4 ,when ,i wrote my name1 he knew it well1 and it had a good effect4 ,i went with ,abb ,caffi to the palace of ,count ,papi2 all were away4 ,he came with us to the hotel1 and soon we started for ,milan4 ,we arrived at #c1 and found rooms in the best hotel 7de la ,ville74 ,tables d'hte at #e4 ,i said office1 and just got time to look in the cathedral before dinner1 and again after we all went4 ,it was beyond my recollections of old4 ,i admired the ceiling1 which seemed all beautiful openwork2 ,i did not remember this4 ,it seemed to be only painted so4 ,how ,i remember ,lord ,kinnaird taking my mother to it4 ,we tried two other churches to find ,benediction in vain4 ,then ,i went with ,phillipps to a bookseller's4 ,saturday1 ,sept4 #ad4--,up at #e4 ,i went to say mass at the cathedral1 and finding that the ,roman rite is not allowed in the church alone1 ,i was in the happy necessity of celebrating in the chapel of ,st4 ,charles1 in the crypt1 which is almost reserved for strangers4 ,i waited over two masses4 ,after breakfast we had a visit from ,count ,mellerio1 ,rosinini's great friend4 ,phillipps and ,i went with him to his palace1 and saw ,abbate ,polidori1 who lives there4 ,mrs4 ,ambrose came with the carriage to pick us up1 and ,i went to the ,church of ,st4 ,celso1 and to the great hospital fitted up for #c1jjj patients2 then to vespers at the ,duomo1 and at #c to dine with ,count ,mellerio4 ,i sat near ,polidori4 ,before we parted he and ,signer ,mercati seemed gained for ,england4 ,at #f we went to a ,benediction at the ,duomo1 only of relics #cbe of the ,passion1 and not very solemn4 ,this was by occasion of the ,feast of the ,exaltation of the ,cross to-day4 ,i then went to the ,archbishop's palace to find the ,grand ,vicar1 to get leave for confessions to-morrow1 and without expecting it saw the ,cardinal himself instead4 ,as ,count ,mellerio was to prepare my way to-morrow1 ,i did not speak of ,england4 ,when ,i got home ,i found ,mellerio at the inn1 bringing a permission from the ,grand ,vicar4 ,to bed after #aj4 ,i have got unwell to-day in the inside1--between yesterday's maigre and the fruit1 ,i suppose4 ,sunday1 ,sept4 #ae4--,we went together this morning to the old basilica of ,st4 ,ambrose1 where ,i said mass at the saint's tomb1 in the crypt4 ,the ,phillippses received communion4 ,then we saw the splendid covering of the altar above1 in the church4 ,it is exposed only on three days at mass--,st4 ,ambrose1 ,,ss4 ,gervase and ,protase1 and ,corpus ,christi4 ,,ss4 ,gervase and ,protase's relics are there1 with ,st4 ,ambrose's4 ,this altar cost to a bishop who gave it1 #hj1jjj sequins of gold1 about the year #ajjj4 ,i spoke to the ,directeur du ,sminaire de ,chamberry1 who was there1 and he promised to speak of ,england4 ,we went home to breakfast at #aj4 ,assisted at high mass in the ,duomo again2 not so solemn as yesterday4 ,the procession of the ,blessed ,sacrament before it did not please me much4 ,after high mass ,i went to call on the ,cardinal again4 ,i was not so much disappointed as in the case of the ,bishop of ,brixen1 for ,i had heard nothing promising about this interview as in the other cases2 but ,i felt as one defeated when ,i went away4 ,i went to the ,piazza del ,castello to see the ,contessa del ,verme and her sister1 ,english people1 converts to whom ,abbate ,vittadini1 at ,bergamo1 recommended me4 ,her sister1 ,miss ,mary ,webster1 is just about entering the order of the ,visitation here4 ,the ,count came in just when ,i was gone out1 and followed me to ,s4 ,alessandro1 of the ,barnabites1 which he had heard me ask for as ,i left his house4 ,i brought him to see ,phillipps4 ,we dined at #c1 and at #d went to the ,arena1 or ,amphitheatre1 where there was a grand spettacolo nautico e pirotecnico4 ,the arena was full of water1 and we had five races of boats1 three of men1 one of #cbf women1 and one of boys rowing2 then a procession of two great illuminated galleys filled with musicians2 then what struck me most1 as most new to me1 the ascent of fifty fine balloons2 then of one very large one2 then a splendid display of fireworks1 ending as often with an illuminated palace1 with an inscription alle scienze1 alle letters1 alle arti1 as the spectacle was in honour of the ,sixth ,italian ,scientific ,congress1 now being held here4 ,we got home at to #i2 ,i almost well again4 ,monday1 ,september #af4--;,i said mass at ,st4 ,fidele1 formerly one of the three ,jesuit churches4 ,at #h we set off in a carriage to see the ,certosa of ,pavia4 ,we got to it at #aj1 and were two hours examining its beautiful details4 ,women are now forbidden entrance into the choir1 and so ,mrs4 ,ambrose had to stay in the body of the church1 while we1 with other people who had come to see it1 saw the rich high altar and many of the finest things4 ,there are not many precious stones1 like rubies1 emeralds1 c41 but a profusion of altar-fronts of ,pietra-dura1 beautiful alto relievos in marble1 and many fine pictures4 ,the convent is but lately reinhabited4 ,count ,mellerio was the means of replacing monks there4 ,they are all ,french4 ,we saw the ,prior1 who knew ,michael ,mac,mahon4 ,he promised to recommend ,england not only here1 but by letter in other houses4 ,we dined at an inn half a mile from the church1 called ,albergo della ,certosa1 and came back to ,milan by #e4 ,i got off near the ,contrada ,s4 ,maria ,falconeria1 to call at a convent of ,sisters of ,charity of the same order as those of ,sta4 ,lucia1 at ,venice4 ,i saw the ,superioress4 ,then ,i went to the ,count del ,verme's palace4 ,la ,contessa was confined this morning4 ,i saw ,miss ,webster1 who spoke about two ,english girls whom they are instructing1 wishing me to receive the confession of one who cannot speak ,italian4 ,i went out with the priest who instructs them1 ,don ,gaetano ,fumagalli1 to see them4 ,we first went to the convent of the ,salesiani1 #ed nuns 7visitation71 into which ,miss ,webster is about to enter1 and though the time was past1 we saw the mistress of novices through the grate1 who was very gracious about ,england4 ,then we went to a high story in a house where these girls lodge1 paid #cbg for by the ,cardinal4 ,after coming home ,i went1 on an invitation obtained by the ,conte del ,verme1 to a grand assembly and concert at the ,accademia1 or the ,nobil ,societ4 ,the gayest rooms ,i have seen a long time4 ,i came home soon after ten1 for ,i knew nobody there1 and was almost the only priest ,i saw2 certainly the only one in a cassock4 ,tuesday1 ,september #ag4--,mass at ,st4 ,fidele4 ,at #h ,count ,mellerio came1 and we started for his villa at ,gernetto1 beyond ,monza4 ,he took ,mrs4 ,a4 and ,amb41 and ,i and a boy went in our carriage1 with four vetturino horses4 ,we stopped at ,monza to see the glorious relic of the ,iron ,crown given by the ,empress ,helena to ,constantine1 in which is inserted1 as a ring of iron within a larger ring of gold1 one of the nails of ,our ,lord's crucifixion beat out into that form4 ,it has crowned from thirty to forty kings of ,italy4 ,among them1 ,napoleon last but one4 ,other grand relics of the ,passion are with it1 two thorns1 and a piece of the sponge4 ,other relics are in the sacristy4 ,this is kept over an altar within rich doors4 ,the ,canonico1 who was with us in the church1 promised to recommend ,england4 ,we went on to the palace of the ,archduke1 surrounded by a park fifteen miles round1 dressed like an ,english park1 a noble palace4 ,then on to ,gernetto1 where we were for two or three hours before dinner walking gaily with the ,count round his beautiful grounds4 ,the villa is very handsome4 ,two priests of the neighbourhood dined with us at #c4 ,one told me that ,count ,mellerio is one of the richest1 or rather the richest nobleman in ,milan1--about #ae1jjj a year of our money4 ,he is alone1 having lost his wife and four children4 ,he came back with us to our hotel1 where ,i found ,count del ,verme to tell me that the confession of the girls was put off4 ,they have been left here by their mother4 ,their parents1 ---- and ,ann ,carraway1 live at ,newcastle-under-,lyne4 ,their grandfather and mother1 ,james and ,mary ,freakley1 at ,cheapside1 ,handley4 ,i went with the ,count to the assembly of the learned men who are now met in ,milan1--not so smart as yesterday1 but very numerous4 ,then to a caf1 to read news about the effects of ,o',connell's liberation4 #cbh ,wednesday1 ,september #ah4--;,i went with ,phillippses to the ,duomo to say mass for them at ,st4 ,charles's tomb1 but ,i found it occupied1 and so ,i went to ,san ,fidele again1 came back to breakfast1 and saw ,conte ,mellerio1 who had called4 ,then went with them to the ,brera1 where ,i went quickly through the gallery1 and left them1 taking the carriage to go to the hospital of the ,fate-bene ,fratelli1 which is a fine establishment for #ajj sick4 ,the ,vicario1 whom ,i saw1 promised to recommend ,england to the ,provincial1 who is here1 and through him to the thirty brothers here1 and five houses in ,lombardy--vento4 ,then ,i went to the bank4 ,dined at #a1 and at #b we started with a ,swiss voiturier1 whom we had engaged to take us to ,geneva4 ,we passed the beautiful triumphal arch1 ,l',arco della ,pace1 reckoned the finest in the world1 ancient and modern4 ,we got to sleep at a nice inn1 in a place called ,casiua buon ,jesu4 ,i wrote a letter to ,dr4 ,wiseman4 ,thursday1 ,september #ai4 ,san ,januarius4--,i said mass at the little oratory of the village4 ,there is mass here only on ,sundays generally1 but the bell rung three times for my mass1 and we had a full chapel4 ,this chapel not very neat2 it seemed used for a school-room4 ,we started at past #g1 and reached ,avona at #ab to dine4 ,how ,i was struck with the remembrance of the last time in this place with my father and mother1 after coming in a boat with ,dr4 ,wilson from ,bavino4 ,the inn is a fine new house since then4 ,we saw a steamboat pass1 which plies daily the whole length of the lake4 ,i missed going to ,st4 ,charles's statue and the seminary near it1 belonging to the diocese of ,novara1 where ,i should have liked to go to preach ,england4 ,after dinner we started and went round to ,strass1 where we stopped and went up the mountain's side to see ,rosmini's ,novitiate1 which overlooks the village4 ,it is a large house1 without beauty or character1 unhappily4 ,we knew we should not find ,rosinini1 who is at ,roveredo4 ,we saw ,segnini and two other priests1 ,paoli and ,gagliardi4 ,they have thirty novices4 ,the situation is beautiful4 ,the ground belonged before to ,madame ,bolognaro1 who has a large house in the town1 where1 while we were at the convent1 the ,bishop of #cbi ,novara came4 ,i would not have failed to ask an audience had ,i been alone1 but ,i made the priests promise to speak to him of ,england4 ,we took a boat to go to the ,isola ,bella1 to see the palace and gardens on our way to ,bavino1 the carriage going on there by itself4 ,it was almost dark when we got there1 and we could only see the suite of grand rooms and pictures1 and the chapel with the old family tombs brought from ,milan1 by candlelight4 ,mem4 ,a room of rockwork underneath the chief suite1 where ,bonaparte dined1 and the bedroom he slept in4 ,the whole of this grandeur is made worse than worthless by the indecent statues and pictures which are all about the place4 ,we got to ,bavino at #h2 a nice new inn4 ,friday1 ,sept4 #bj4--;,ember ,day1 but no fast for me6 ,i got to say mass at #d1 and we started at #f to ascend the ,simplon4 ,the day was beautiful4 ,we got to ,domodossola at #aa4 ,we went up the beautiful road to the ,monte ,calvario1 of which ,gentili has made me think so much1 first having taken a look at their college in the town1 where there are #ai boarders and more than #bjj out-students4 ,at the ,calvary two priests received us kindly4 ,along the road to it are chapels with the stations represented in groups of figures as large as life1 well executed2 only two or three are complete4 ,the situation here again is admirable4 ,the house and church not remarkable4 ,i was well received for ,england4 ,coming down1 which ,i did after the rest1 ,i visited a pretty ,capuchin convent1 half-way up1 of fifteen friars1 and had a good reception 7promise to write to the other houses74 ,after dinner at #b we set off for ,simplon1 which we reached after #h4 ,the voiturier 7coachman71 to spare his horses1 put us on post-horses at his own expense4 ,the road on the ,piedmontese side is sadly dilapidated4 ,it was broken down 7by water1 as it seems7 six years ago1 and the ,king of ,sardinia will not have his part repaired1 to make people go by ,mount ,cenis and ,turin4 ,put up at the ,simplon ,inn4 ,saturday1 ,sept4 #ba4 ,st4 ,matthew4--,i said mass at #g1 spoke to the cur after1 who promised for ,england4 ,we started at #h2 we still had two hours going up the hill4 #ccj ,about the summit is the ,hospice de ,st4 ,bernard1 begun by ,bonaparte4 ,i remember it in an unfinished state4 ,it now contains four or five priests1 and some brothers4 ,we stopped and saw the ,prior1 ,m4 ,barras1 who promised kindly to recommend ,england to the mother house4 ,phillipps bought a puppy of the famous breed1 three months old1 who was added to our company in the carriage4 ,we reached ,brigy between #ab and #a4 ,i went out before dinner1 and saw the ,superior of the ,jesuits' ,college here1 who is a nice old man1 and received us very kindly4 ,i hurried away quickly1 thinking to return again after dinner1 but the dinner was long after time1 and we had at once to set off for ,turtinan1 which we reached at #f4 ,we went out before tea to see a waterfall3 it was a dark1 wet walk1 for rain was beginning4 ,sunday1 ,sept4 #bb4--;,i said mass at #e4 ,soon after #f we set off for ,sion4 ,arrived at #aj1 and found a grand military pontifical high mass begun in the cathedral4 ,i never heard drums and cannon and the word of command in a mass before4 ,the music was not military1 but noisy figured4 ,the occasion of the solemn mass was the feast of ,st4 ,maurice1 patron of the ,valais4 ,after mass the ,bishop walked with a great procession about the town1 with a feretrum1 with relics of ,st4 ,maurice4 ,the chief part are at the town of the name1 which we are to pass to-morrow4 ,the procession had an excellent effect4 ,i went then to the ,jesuits' ,college1 and spoke to the ,rector1 who told me the first ,i had heard of the attempt at revolution in the month of ,may here1 which was defeated in a gallant style by the inhabitants of the ,valais arming to the number of #aj1jjj1 from a population of #gj1jjj1 under an old ,french officer1 i4e41 a ,swiss1 trained in the ,french army1 who repelled the party of the ,jeune ,suisse1 who otherwise would have overturned religious order1 and perhaps1 as he said1 have massacred all the religious4 ,young ,bodenham was in their house when the danger threatened4 ,the ,rector was very kind1 but did not promise much4 ,i went then to dine at a table d'hte1 but soon got off1 and went to the ,bishop lately consecrated1 who came from table to speak with me4 ,he was educated at the ,collegio ,germanico2 knew ,baldacconi and ,father ,daniel4 #cca ,he promised his help4 ,i then went to a ,capuchin convent outside the town4 ,the guardian1 a young man1 was rather cold1 but said meanwhile that he always prayed for ,england1 as ordered in the ,confrrie de l',immacul ,coeur4 ,then to a convent of ,ursulines1 close to the ,bishop's2 eleven nuns 7well received72 then in a hurry to an hospital outside the town on the other side1 with eight nuns4 ,the director gave me one of my most favourable receptions1 and promised that the nuns should change their day of communion from ,friday to ,thursday to meet my wishes4 ,we set off at #b for ,martigny1 which we reached at #e4 ,it has a different look from #ahai1 the year after the inundation4 ,i called on the cur1 who is one of the monks of ,grand ,st4 ,bernard1 with the white linen scapular to represent the surplice1 which they always wear as canons regular of ,st4 ,augustine1 to which they belong4 ,he was very good about ,england4 ,from thence1 ,i went to an hospital kept by six ,french nuns1 to receive poor travellers1 female ,st4 ,bernardites4 ,the ,superioress was very agreeable and zealous4 ,they are going directly to ,france to make their retreat with #fjj other nuns1 assembled under the ,bishop of ,belley4 ,she promised to get him to recommend it to them all4 ,i came back to tea after a happy1 successful day 7,htel de la ,cigne74 ,alpine strawberries at tea4 ,monday1 ,september #bc4--;,i said mass at #f4 ,came away1 fearing it would be too late1 without saying farewell to the ,prior1 which was mortifying1 as there was time enough4 ,we went to dine at ,st4 ,gingolph1 beautifully placed on the bank of the ,lake of ,geneva4 ,on the way we stopped at ,st4 ,maurice1 where we saw in the church the rich shrine of ,st4 ,maurice1 containing his body1 and several others2 two of the sons of ,sigismund1 ,king of ,burgundy1 who did penance here1 after putting them to death4 ,in the abbey1 which is of the ,canons ,regular of ,st4 ,augustine1 ,i saw the superior1 who is a bishop in partibus2 he spoke very kindly about ,england4 ,i also met a nun there of a convent of ,sisters of ,charity1 who promised for ,thursdays at ,st4 ,gingolph4 ,i went to the cur1 where the ,vicar introduced me to several priests dining with him1 who became greatly interested1 and #ccb promised to speak to the ,bishop of ,annecy1 and to their confrres at ,thonon1 where we came to sleep4 ,i called on the cur1 who promised1 but ,i could not quite satisfy myself about him2 but was quite satisfied with the brothers of the ,christian ,doctrine2 there are eight4 ,the ,superior promised well1 and sent two brothers home with me to the inn4 ,the names of the priests at ,st4 ,gingolph were3--,m4 ,veuillet1 ,cur de ,dsingy2 ,m4 ,maitre1 ,cur de ,novel2 ,m4 ,la ,croix1 ,vicaire de ,chilly2 and ,m4 ,pollien1 ,vicaire de ,st4 ,gingolph4 ,the first most interesting3 the last extremely tall4 ,tuesday1 ,sept4 #bd4 ,b4,m4,v4 di ,mercede4--,at #e ,i went to the ,convent of the ,visitation1 where there are thirty-four nuns1 who have recovered their house after the ,revolution4 ,the ,superioress received me most kindly1 and promised all4 ,i then went to the ,sisters of ,charity1 who have two houses--a pensionnat and an hospital4 ,the ,superioress was not up4 ,i left my card with a lay sister4 ,i then went and said mass at the parish church4 ,the ,phillippses went to communion4 ,it was at the altar of ,st4 ,francis of ,sales1 in this1 the first church which he 7or any other one7 regained from the ,calvinists--,st4 ,hippolyte4 ,i offered the mass for the recovery of our dear cathedrals4 ,the cur spoke to me again1 and much more zealously promised all for ,thonon1 ,m4 ,de la ,millire4 ,we ought to have gone to the ,chteau d',allinges1 where ,st4 ,francis lodged when he began the holy work4 ,the chapel has been wonderfully preserved1 and lately reopened1 ,sept4 #ad1 #ahcf4 ,on our way to ,geneva1 where we arrived at #ab1 we read some of the account of his mission4 ,we came to the ,hotel de ,bergues1 a new grand house in a new part of the town1 built out on the lake about #ahcd4 ,i took a carriage to ,plainpalais1 and brought back my good friend l',abb de ,baudry4 ,i dined after at the table d'hte4 ,he is a tall1 venerable old man1 dressed in his cassock1 as all the priests are4 ,his account of things here was better than ,i thought4 ,we set off at #c1 and could not get farther than ,nyon1 where ,phillipps and ,i went to see the cur and his church1 all new4 ,there was no mission here till #ahca4 ,we interested him for ,england1 ,i hope4 ,the hotel is de la ,couronne4 ,in #ccc every room1 as at ,geneva1 is a ,new ,testament of the ,geneva ,bible ,society4 ,wednesday1 ,sept4 #be4--;,i went at #e to say mass at the new church2 the cur1 ,m4 ,rossiaud1 got up to serve it1 and came with me to see us off4 ,we went up the ,jura2 but the grand view of ,mont ,blanc was clouded1 so we have but once seen it dimly4 ,yesterday evening we had a troublesome sorting of all our baggage at ,les ,rousses4 ,we dined at ,st4 ,laurent4 ,i went to the cur1 ,m4 ,gottez1 who spoke painfully of the state of ,france 7,i think too much so71 but brightened up when we were about ,england4 ,we went on to ,champagnole1 at the ,htel de la ,poste1 a nice little inn4 ,phillipps and ,i went to the church2 and ,i called and saw the cur1 like ,dr4 ,rock in looks4 ,he accepted my appeal agreeably4 ,thursday1 ,sept4 #bf4--;,i got to say mass at the parish church1 at #e4 ,the cur1 ,m4 ,patit1 and the vicaire1 ,m4 ,bouvet1 were both up1 and the latter walked back with me to the inn1 la ,poste4 ,we started at #f2 dined at #a at l',htel de ,france1 at ,dole3 we got there at #ab4 ,i went out and saw a father at the ,jesuits'1 who received me very agreeably2 and then a nun at the ,visitation ,convent4 ,the ,jesuit promised for all the convents himself4 ,the ,prince and ,princess ,doria were come to the inn1 on their way to ,italy4 ,when we came back1 ,i went to see them after our dinner4 ,we went on through ,auxonne1 where ,phillipps and ,i went to see the church1--diligence to ,dijon4 ,arrived at the ,htel de la ,cloche at #g4 ,i went out to see the ,bishop1 but he was out4 ,i called at the ,sminaire1 and saw the ,superior and others1 who were very kind1 and spoke of ,brother ,luke asking them2 then back to supper2 after which ,i went again to the vch1 and waited in the porter's lodge1 talking to a nice old man of eighty about the ,revolution1 c41 till the ,bishop came in4 ,he1 ,monseigneur ,rivet1 promised his help very graciously4 ,i got home at #aj1 having also tried in vain to get at the sacristan for mass tomorrow4 ,friday1 ,sept4 #bg4--;,i went out at ten minutes to #d1 to try once more the sacristan's bell1 but no answer1 and so ,i had #ccd to come back and give up mass1 as we were to start at #e4 ,we took provisions in the carriage1 and we had no mind to stop all day1 till at #g we reached ,st4 ,florentin1 a town of #b1djj people1 in the diocese of ,sens4 ,the weather was beautiful1 and we admired the high cultivation and seeming prosperity of the country4 ,we passed a fine chteau at ,aucy le ,franc1 of the ,duce or ,marquis de ,clermont-,tonnerre4 ,at ,st4 ,florentin ,i went out and saw the cur and the sacristan1 to provide better for mass to-morrow than today4 ,htel de la ,poste4 ,saturday1 ,sept4 #bh4--;,got up about #c4 ,at a quarter to #d ,i went to the sacristan1 and with him to the church1 and said mass2 a pretty little ,gothic church4 ,we set off at a quarter to #e1 with provisions again1 for ,paris1 which we entered about #aa at night4 ,we stopped at ,sens to see the cathedral4 ,i first went to the archvch1 and was most graciously received by the ,archbishop1 ,monseigneur ,mellon ,jolly1 a young man translated here from ,sez last ,march4 ,he said he had introduced prayers for ,england at ,sez1 and would begin again now4 ,he took me into the cathedral1 and left me to see the trsor1 where the ,phillippses already were4 ,the most precious relic was of the true cross1 as the sacristan said1 the largest in the world2 but he could not know of ,rome and ,jerusalem4 ,it was given by ,charlemagne4 ,there are two pieces1 placed in a cross under crystal2 ,i should say the upright piece of nine or ten inches1 the transverse of four or five1 well polished4 ,what was perhaps most interesting to us was the case containing ,st4 ,thomas of ,canterbury's chasuble1 alb with apparel1 stole1 c41 from which the late ,archbishop separated what he gave to ,dr4 ,wiseman4 ,there is also an arm of ,st4 ,lupus1 a case of ,st4 ,gregory's relics1 from which some have been begged for ,rome4 ,we stopped again at ,fontainebleau1 and took a rapid view of the palace4 ,the servant who led said it was the finest in the world4 ,i think he must be partial1 as the sacristan this morning about the relic of the cross4 ,louis-,philippe has done a good deal here2 spent #hjj1jjj fr4 in ornamenting one room4 ,i was much pleased with the gallery with pictures of the history of ,france4 ,this is the #cce finest matter for a palace4 ,there was much very indecent4 ,after this it began to rain till we got to ,paris4 ,we got rooms at the ,htel de l',europe1 just opposite the gardens of the ,tuileries4 ,nothing could be better4 ,sunday1 ,sept4 #bi4--;,i went at #g to say mass at the ,madeleine1 that glorious church for its style4 ,then home to breakfast1 and then1 with the rest1 to high mass at ,notre-,dame2 one of the grandest plain chant masses ,i ever was at4 ,there ,i met ,mr4 ,moore1 of ,birmingham2 and ,i went with him after1 in his hackney-coach1 on a few errands1 and at last to the ,english convent1 from whence he takes one of the ,misses ,bingham to the convent at ,handsworth4 ,then ,i went again to ,notre-,dame1 and very much to my loss3 ,i came too late for vespers4 ,after1 ,i went to ,st4 ,jacques1 but did not find the ,cur de ,noirlieu1 nor his vicaire4 ,i came back by the omnibus to dine at the restaurant1 and directly we went to ,notre-,dame des ,victoires1 where we assisted at the service1 from #g to #bj minutes to #aj4 ,it was wonderful to see the attention of the people all this time4 ,the old cur1 after the sermon by another priest1 gave the annonces in an interesting way4 ,we heard him recommend ,england4 ,i went in to ask him4 ,monday1 ,sept4 #cj4--;,i said mass at the ,madeleine4 ,after breakfast1 ,i went to ,mr4 ,blount1 the banker1 who told me that ,heneage was to be in ,paris on ,thursday1 the very day we go away4 ,then to the post1 and find no letters2 then by omnibus to ,st4 ,sulpice 7where the retreat of the clergy begins to-day71 to see the ,archbishop4 ,i was introduced to him in a room1 where he was among several priests4 ,i got on but poorly4 ,he was gracious1 but made little of the affair4 ,the secretary of ,mgr4 ,quelin was there4 ,he testified to his recommending the thing before1 but no effect followed4 ,this was damping enough1 though ,i knew something to the contrary4 ,the ,archbishop sent me to ,m4 ,vollemaux 7,mr4 ,hand's friend71 who conducts the retreat1 and he promised to recommend ,england this evening4 ,so the point is gained2 though1 judging from the tone in which he spoke of ,england1 it is not so promising a prospect as some4 ,but among #fjj priests some will be inspired1 let #ccf him speak as he may4 ,i then went to the rue de ,chaillot1 to seek ,captain ,cooke1 to know about ,john ,beaumont4 ,had to come back empty1 and stopped at home1 not very well1 till #e1 when ,phillippses came in from ,st4 ,denis to dinner4 ,after dinner ,mr4 ,gordon1 of the ,univers1 came to tea1 and stopped till #aj nearly4 ,tuesday1 ,oct4 #a4--;,i went to say mass at ,notre-,dame des ,victoires1 in les ,petits ,pres1 at #h4 ,i breakfasted near them1 and had a talk with ,abb ,desgenettes4 ,then went to breakfast la fourchette1 at #aa1 with ,m4 ,noirlieu1 ,cur of ,st4 ,jacques1 and his vicaire1 ,bourjant4 ,the latter forced me1 against my will1 to have some papers with an image and a prayer for ,england printed4 ,it is the like case with ,belgium4 ,i hope it may be well1 as it certainly was not my will1 and so the denial of my will may be a blessing4 ,we then went to call on the nuncio1 ,mgr4 ,fornari2 and then to the engravers for this said work4 ,mgr4 ,fornari is grown very stout and unwieldy1 but was very kind and pleasing2 he encouraged my pursuit and this printing4 ,we went home again to ,st4 ,jacques to rdiger the prayers1 when again my friend would have his way against my mind in a point or two4 ,i came thence to the ,bank1 ,m4 ,blount's1 then home1 and dined alone2 then went to call on ,captain ,cooke1 to ask about ,john ,beaumont1 who1 it seems1 does not come to ,paris at all2 then home1 where ,i found the ,phillippses going out to a spectacle1 and so ,i had to go off and try to stop at l',abb ,desgenettes'1 who was to come to see him1 but he was already from home1 and so ,i came back and received his visit1 when ,i pressed him for ,england1 and he took it well4 ,wednesday1 ,oct4 #b4--;,by desire of ,m4 ,gallard1 ,vicaire of the ,madeleine1 expressed by ,m4 ,bourgoiner1 ,i said mass there4 ,after breakfast1 ,i called on ,mrs4 ,heneage and her daughter1 #ag1 rue ,st4 ,florentin2 then took omnibus to ,st4 ,denis1 where ,i looked through the church below ground and above4 ,it is greatly altered since #ahch--wonderful work of painting and stained glass1 yet a very little is done of what has to be done4 ,i came back by omnibus to ,porte ,st4 ,martin2 then walked home at #f4 ,i dined with ,captain ,cooke--a family dinner1 purely ,english1 as he is himself4 #ccg ,i liked his conversation much1 blunt and plain as it is4 ,he talked of his twenty years' service--,egypt--,america4 ,i came home at #h to meet ,,mm4 ,noirlieu and ,bourgoigne and ,gordon1 who came to tea and made interesting company till #aa1 ,i think4 ,thursday1 ,oct4 #c4--,said mass at ,st4 ,roch2 after1 ,i went to the ,jesuits1 ,rue des ,postes1 and saw the ,provincial1 ,m4 ,boulanger2 then to the ,sisters of ,charity1 ,rue de ,bac2 the ,sacr ,coeur1 where ,mad4 de ,gramont gave me a most amiable reception2 the ,lazarists1 ,rue de ,sevres2 then ,i tried to see one of the ,society of ,st4 ,vincent de ,paul1 and went with a zealous young clerk from their office1 #cg1 ,rue de ,seine1 ,st4 ,germain1 to seek an avocat at the ,palais de ,justice4 ,i was handing about the engravings1 which were ordered on ,tuesday1 and which are well received4 ,the sister1 deputed to see me at the ,sisters of ,charity1 alone1 was cold4 ,she was the same as six years ago1 when she was very gracious4 ,i came home to dine at #a alone2 at #b ,i went to see ,heneage1 just arrived at his father and mother's from ,dieppe4 ,i sat an hour very happily with him1 and came home at the time appointed to go away1 but it was deferred till to-morrow4 ,so ,i went to the chief house of the ,ecoles ,chrtiennes1 about #abf1 ,rue du ,faubourg ,st4 ,martin4 ,the ,superior-,general was very favourable1 and promised to recommend ,england to his community of #cjj1 and to the #djj houses of his order4 ,i then took omnibus to the ,rue de ,bac1 and had an interesting conversation with ,abb ,dubois1 now eighty years old4 ,ever since #ahch1 he prays for ,england every day in the mass4 ,he is in retreat4 ,he receives a pension of #ajj a year from ,england4 ,i went again and had tea with him1 and so finished the day happily4 ,friday1 ,oct4 #d4--,mass at ,st4 ,roch4 ,we started for ,boulogne at #i4 ,we stopped on the way to see the ,church of ,st4 ,vincent de ,paul1 building in most splendid style1 in form of a basilica inside1 but with a portico without4 ,then ,i stopped at ,st4 ,denis1 and walked round it again2 saw in addition the winter choir most richly adorned4 ,mem4--,the twelve ,apostles holding the consecration crosses round the walls4 ,we went on to dine at ,beauvais4 ,we went1 when #cch it was growing dark1 to take a look at the cathedral4 ,the choir alone complete--the finest in the world4 ,we said that the ,french1 with their present zeal and prosperity1 would finish this cathedral if the peace lasts ten more years4 ,i left them in the church1 and went to see the ,bishop4 ,he was at dinner1 but came out and introduced me to the party1 namely1 the directors of the ,seminary 7among them my acquaintance1 ,m4 ,bareau71 and some ,jesuits4 ,he was most kind and favourable1 and promised before them all that he would say mass for ,england once a week for a year4 ,the others all sympathised4 ,after this beautiful incident1 ,i came home1 and we dined at the cu de ,france4 ,we afterwards drove on to ,grandvilliers2 arrived at #aa4 ,the ,king of the ,french dined there yesterday2 the landlady was in raptures at it2 there was the ,queen1 and in all twenty-six1 at table4 ,saturday1 ,oct4 #e4--;,as they failed to awake me1 ,i missed saying mass4 ,we set off at #f1 and went1 almost without a stop1 dining in the carriage 7#ace kilometres1 about #he miles71 to ,boulogne1 where we stopped at the ,htel des ,bains4 ,i went directly to see the ,grand ,doyen1 who was very kind4 ,returning1 ,i found ,mr4 ,digby with them4 ,louis-,philippe's birthday--#ga years old4 ,sunday1 ,october #f4--;,i said mass at #h2 got back to breakfast1 and then we went together to the high mass1 sung by ,dr4 ,walsh1 ,bishop of ,halifax4 ,he had no mitre4 ,after this1 ,mrs4 ,canning met me in the sacristy1 and we went to her house1 ,no4 #e1 ,rue de ,doyen4 ,at #b we walked to the ,haute ,ville1 where we visited the ,visitation ,nuns in their grand new house1 twenty-seven in number1 and the ,ursulines1 fifty-two in number2 then to ,m4 ,haffreingue4 ,at #f ,i went to dine with the ,digbys2 saw ,mrs4 ,digby for the first time4 ,the ,phillippses were there1 and four or five more4 ,i walked back with the ,doyen in heavy rain at #aj1 and entered my lodgings with ,l',abb ,daniel1 #gc1 ,grande ,rue4 ,monday1 ,october #g4--;,i went with ,mrs4 ,canning to the ,visitation ,convent1 and said the community mass at #i4 ,after it we breakfasted in the parlour at #aa4 ,m4 ,haffreingue came in with the ,phillippses1 who had breakfasted #cci with him1 and the ,superioress1 an ,english lady of the name of ,muller1 and other nuns1 showed us round the house1 which is most stately and beautiful1 though it would have been wonderfully better had the money been spent on ,gothic work4 ,mrs4 ,canning and ,i left at #ab1 and called on ,mr4 ,errington4 ,we came down to dine at #b4 ,the ,doyen and ,m4 ,daniel came4 ,the ,bishop also came to luncheon at #h4 ,i went up to the ,haute ,ville1 and first called on ,m4 ,gillies1 a ,scotch gentleman1 converted last year2 then went to ,digby's for the evening4 ,besides ,phillippses1 c41 ,i saw ,nicholas ,ball4 ,came back at #aj4 ,tuesday1 ,october #h4--,said mass at #g2 then went to breakfast with ,mrs4 ,canning4 ,about #aa we set off for the ,haute ,ville1 and went once more to the ,visitation ,convent1 where we were allowed to see the whole community through their grate for three quarters of an hour1 that ,i might do my best to recommend ,england1 which ,i tried to do4 ,then ,i visited ,m4 ,gillies1 and got down to dinner at #b4 ,m4 ,le ,cointe1 ,m4 ,le ,roy1 and ,m4 ,daniel1 dined with us4 ,after dinner we went out and visited1 first1 the ,soeurs ,grises1 an austere convent of poor nuns1 who teach school4 ,they have #ijj girls under care4 ,the ,superioress promised for all2 if she fulfils it1 it is a fine gain4 ,then to the ,ecoles ,chrtiennes4 ,they are seventeen brothers1 teaching #a1ajj boys in different schools4 ,they were very encouraging2 promised for themselves and the boys4 ,after an hour's office and tea1 ,i went to the ,haute ,ville to see ,phillipps and his party at ,digby's for the last time1 as they go to-morrow4 ,met ,mr4 ,w4 ,jones and wife1 and others4 ,then at #i ,i went to visit ,judge ,ball at the ,htel de ,londres4 ,the ,bishop and others were there4 ,the family was ,mr4 ,ball1 ,nicholas1 and ,alexander1 and a daughter4 ,wednesday1 ,october #i4--;,i said mass at the ,ursulines at #g1 first addressing them on ,england for a quarter of an hour4 ,then breakfasted1 during which six ,english nuns were in attendance1 and ,miss ,swift4 ,then my cousin and ,i walked to the ,annonciades1 when we could not see the ,superioress2 then to the ,dames de ,notre-,dame du bon ,secours 7gardes malades1 seventeen nuns74 ,then in the ,basse ,ville #cdj to the ,hospitalieres 7thirteen nuns72 these promised well4 ,then ,i went home to office till dinner at #b4 ,mrs4 ,canning and ,m4 ,tallier1 ,cur de ,nemfchatel1 who takes care of them1 came over to meet me4 ,at #d ,m4 ,thillay came4 ,these two promised to do all they could4 ,at #e ,mrs4 ,c4 and ,i walked to the steamboat office1 post-office1 c4 ,came back to office and tea4 ,then ,i went up to change my quarters1 and pass some days at the college with ,m4 ,haffreingue4 ,i first called and saw ,mrs4 ,gillies4 ,i sat some time with ,m4 ,haffreingue1 and to bed at #aj4 ,thursday1 ,october #aj4--,said mass at to #h4 ,at #aj ,dr4 ,walsh came up and sung mass de ,spiritu ,sancto1 for the opening of studies4 ,the boys came back yesterday4 ,i assisted him as ,assistant ,deacon4 ,at #a we dined4 ,the ,bishop1 ,m4 ,o',reilly1 and a ,m4 ,cardham1 a ,london convert1 were all the strangers4 ,the rest were the professors of the house4 ,after dinner we had toasts1 cheers1 and speeches1 on ,england1 ,mr4 ,o',reilly leading it4 ,at #aj1 ,i went and saw ,abbate ,melia at ,mrs4 ,errington's4 ,he is going to replace ,baldacconi in ,london4 ,then to ,mrs4 ,canning's to tea4 ,returned for night prayers at #g4 ,supper comes after4 ,i talked to ,m4 ,haffreingue about architecture4 ,friday1 ,october #aa4--;,i said mass at #g in the chapel of ,notre-,dame de ,boulogne2 breakfasted with ,m4 ,haffreingue4 ,at #aj ,i called on ,digby1 then ,mrs4 ,canning1 and ,mrs4 ,gillies4 ,i dined in the ,infirmary1 to eat meat with ,m4 ,grettan1 the ,english teacher1 and little ,rosamel1 grandson of a great admiral4 ,m4 ,haffreingue and ,i took a walk1 and went through the crypt of the cathedral4 ,night prayers and supper in the refectory at #g4 ,after it1 ,m4 ,haffreingue and ,i went to call on ,mrs4 ,muller and ,digby4 ,saturday1 ,october #ab4--,said mass in the ,chapelle de ,notre-,dame4 ,miss ,muller breakfasted with us4 ,she is the great support of ,m4 ,haffreingue's great work of building the cathedral1 having begged for it for years past4 ,i asked her to have prayers made for ,england1 as ,m4 ,haffreingue announces the cathedral to be undertaken mainly for that enterprise4 ,she promised to interest the poor4 ,i thought of my sermon1 and did other things till near #ab4 ,when ,i #cda went out1 called on ,mr4 ,stewart1 a ,scotch pastrycook1 lately converted and received by ,sisk4 ,at #a1 ,i dined 7gras7 with ,mrs4 ,canning4 ,after1 called on ,lady ,burke and her two daughters1 near the ,porte4 ,came back after2 walked an hour in the ,grande ,salle with ,haffreingue1 talking over projects for ,england and ,france4 ,sunday1 ,october #ac4--;,got up after #g1 and sung high mass in the chapel at #i4 ,after it ,i went to ,mrs4 ,canning's till dinner time1 when ,i returned and dined in the refectory4 ,the afternoon was mostly preparing my sermon1 which ,i preached on the conversion of ,england at the salut at #g4 ,the boys clapped their hands to my surprise when ,i entered the refectory to supper2 in token of acceptance1 ,i hope4 ,i got on better than ,i could have thought1 and was not a bit tired4 ,after supper ,i went with ,m4 ,haffreingue and ,m4 ,le ,roy2 a farewell visit to ,digby4 ,it blows hard1 and ,i fear it will be a bad passage to-morrow1 or none at all4 ,monday1 ,october #ad4--,the ,abbate ,melia1 ,dr4 ,baldacconi's intended successor1 came to sing songs1 and breakfast at the college1 and went down with me to the port4 ,mr4 ,bodenham came with us1 too4 ,we waited from #i till #aj4bj before they set off4 ,they seemed to fear the wind4 ,when we got out it was a most stormy passage to ,folkestone1 of three hours4 ,i stood up all the way1 holding on1 talking with ,m4 ,crawley1 of the ,hotel1 ,albemarle ,street1 except we were nearly sick4 ,we swung through the narrow walk of ,folkestone ,harbour1 and were at once smooth1 and soon on ,england's soil4 ,it was a long work passing the ,custom ,house1 but we got off by a train at #c4di4 ,i set ,mr4 ,melia down at ,pagliano's1 where we found ,dr4 ,walsh 7of ,halifax71 and had tea4 ,sisk and ,mgr4 ,eyre came in by good fortune1 and ,i went with them home to their quarters at the ,chelsea chapel-house4 ,tuesday1 ,october #ae4--,said mass at #h4 ,then went to try ,dr4 ,chambers1 who is out of town4 ,then to ,spence ,house1 and saw ,appleyard4 ,by his advice1 ,i determined to go to ,windsor to-day1 the ,queen being just now away4 ,i called on ,father ,lithgoe1 and attended a meeting of ladies at ,sisk's1 then off by the ,great ,western ,railway to ,slough1 #cdb and so to ,windsor4 ,i saw ,caroline at ,lady ,grant's1 where she lodges1 close to the ,castle1 where ,i dined at #h1 first having seen ,sarah at the ,castle1 and the ,prince of ,wales1 with whom she was playing4 ,he is a weakly-looking child of four1 but noble and clever looking4 ,he behaved prettily to us all in going off to bed4 ,wednesday1 ,october #af4--;,after sleeping at the ,castle ,inn1 ,i walked to the ,catholic chapel at ,chrom1 attended last ,sunday by ,louis-,philippe1 who charmed them all4 ,i said mass1 and then ,mr4 ,wilson took me in a gig a mile on to call on ,mr4 ,riley1 at ,forest ,hill4 ,he was out4 ,i thence called to ,windsor1 and was with ,sarah from #ab to #a1 while the children were asleep4 ,then went down to ,eton1 called on ,mr4 ,coleridge1 then walked about the well-known places1 the chapel1 the cloisters1 where ,i left a card on ,wilder1 now a fellow4 ,i went and mused over the place which once was ,godley's1 but all is levelled4 ,i stood by the oak-tree there1 saw the boys assembling for #c o'clock school1 and talked to some4 ,i brought back many a scene thirty years and more ago4 ,at #c1 started back and dined with ,sisk4 ,after dinner we went to see ,mrs4 ,bagshawe and ,mrs4 ,jauch back in an omnibus4 ,thursday1 ,october #ag4--,mass at #h4 ,went to see ,dr4 ,watson1 whom ,i found to be my former friend1 fellow of ,st4 ,john's4 ,it was a good account of me1 thank ,god4 ,then to ,mr4 ,nerincx1 at ,somers ,town4 ,then to ,mr4 ,morel1 at ,hampstead1 and ,mrs4 ,sankey1 near him2 then called at the ,sardinian ,chapel1 and home to dine1 and sit the evening with ,sisk4 ,friday1 ,october #ah4 7,this journal breaks off here1 and is not resumed47 #cdc ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,close ,of ,his ,career ,in ,oscott2 ,and ,his ,religious ,vocation4 ,during the year #ahde his attention was greatly occupied with the converts that were coming daily into the ,church through the ,oxford movement4 ,as ,father ,spencer was not a mover in it1 and as its history has been written over and over by different members of it1 it would be superfluous to give anything like a sketch of it in such a work as this4 ,father ,spencer seemed to have great interest in ,dr4 ,newman1 as also ,dr4 ,ward1 ,canon ,oakeley1 and ,father ,faber4 ,many of them go to ,oscott1 some to be received1 and some to make their studies for the ,church2 and in the beginning of the year #ahdf he writes that he had twelve who were ,anglican clergymen assisting at his mass one day in ,oscott1 and that there were three more who might have been1 but were unable to come4 ,he takes advantage of the ,feast of ,st4 ,pius ,v4 to preach his famous sermon on ,ezekiel's vision of the dry bones4 ,in a few days he assists at the ordination of the present ,bishop of ,northampton1 the ,right ,rev4 ,dr4 ,amherst4 ,a number of converts received orders at the same time1 and ,father ,spencer had the pleasure of assisting at the ceremony4 ,he resumes his ,journal in ,may1 #ahdf1 and we find these two entries in it3 ,tuesday1 ,june #i4--,we had news to-day of the death of ,pope ,gregory ,,xvi4 on the #ast of ,june1 after fifteen years and four months' pontificate4 ,god grant a holy successor1 full of fortitude and love1 especially for ,england4 ,june #bb4 ,news of ,cardinal ,feretti being ,pope 7,pius ,,ix474 ,the brave ,bishop of ,imola1 who stopped the progress of the insurgents in #ahca4 ,i am perfectly satisfied4 #cdd ,he went into retreat at ,hodder under the direction of ,father ,clarke1 ,s4,j41 and the result of that retreat was that he became a ,passionist4 ,we shall give a letter he wrote to ,mr4 ,phillipps at the time1 in which he gives a full account of how this was brought about4 ,st4 ,benedict's ,priory1 ,feast of ,st4 ,john ,cantius1 ,oct4 #bb1 #ahdf4 ,my ,dear ,ambrose1--,yesterday1 for the first time this long time1 ,i heard where you were1 and that you were within reach again of a ,queen's head4 ,this was from ,mrs4 ,henry ,whitgrave1 next to whom ,i sat at dinner yesterday1 at the ,clifford ,arms1 ,great ,heywood1 after the opening high mass of the new chapel there1 which she and her husband came from ,rugeley to attend4 ,i determined not to lose another day in writing to you1 lest you should hear from others1 which ,i should not be pleased with1 the news ,i have to give about myself4 ,perhaps you have already heard of it2 but it is not my fault that you have not had the news from me4 ,the news in question is that ,i am going to become a ,passionist4 ,you have frequently told me your persuasion1 that what would be for my happiness would be to join a religious institute1 and therefore ,i am confident you will rejoice with me at my prejudices being overcome1 my fond schemes of other plans of my own set aside1 and this good step at length determined on2 though ,i can imagine that you will perhaps regret that the body which ,i join is not that with which you are most connected yourself1 the ,institute of ,charity4 ,surprised ,i dare say you will not be much4 ,many others have received the declaration of this intention without any surprise1 and only told me that they had been used to wonder how ,i did not long ago take such a step4 ,you will only be surprised and wonder how ,i have come to this mind1 after such decided purposes1 as ,i have always expressed the contrary way4 ,i can only say1 ,glory be to ,god1 to our ,blessed ,lady1 and ,st4 ,ignatius4 ,it was entirely owing to the spiritual exercises of ,st4 ,ignatius1 which ,i have gone through twice1 and only twice1 in private and alone in the effective way4 ,once was at ,louvain1 where #cde you parted from me two years ago to go to ,knigswinter1 and the other time was this summer1 when ,i went for a retreat at ,hodder ,place1 under your friend ,father ,thomas ,clarke1 who is ,master of ,novices there4 ,for two or three days in the course of the former of these retreats1 ,i was brought 7for the first time7 to doubt whether ,i ought not to give up my own ideas1 and take to the regular established course of entering religion2 and the old ,jesuit who directed me in that retreat1 when ,i expressed these new ideas1 seemed at first to think they would lead to this conclusion4 ,but ,i suppose ,i was not ripe for it1 or ,god's time was not come4 ,it ended by his telling me to put aside all those thoughts1 and go on as ,i was4 ,so ,i did1 and was without any idea of the kind till the middle of this second retreat1 which ,i entered with no view but to get on better where ,i was for another year4 ,the same meditations raised up again the same battle within me as at ,louvain1 and ,i saw no way but to go into the matter1 and make my election according to the rules given by ,st4 ,ignatius2 which1 if they were applied more often to questions of importance which people have to settle1 ah6 we should have many resolutions come to different to what are come to in the world4 ,i soon came to determine for a change of state2 then came the question which body to choose1 and for a whole day nearly this was working my thoughts up and down4 ,i could see no prospect of deciding between the two which came before me at first and for which ,i found my feelings and my judgment alternately inclining me--these were the ,jesuits and the ,institute of ,charity4 ,i saw no prospect of making up my mind that day1 though ,father ,clarke told me now was the time for such a choice1 and not when ,i had gone out again into the world1 and ,i knew that ,god whom ,i had sought in solitude would give me light4 ,at last1 when ,i had just finished my last meditation of that portion of the retreat1 and still could not settle1 ,i thought ,i must have recourse after the retreat was over to ,father ,dominic1 as a neutral judge1 to help me to choose between the other two2 when1 in a minute1 as in the fable of the two men who found the oyster and called in the third to judge between #cdf them1 ,i saw that ,father ,dominic himself was to have me1 such as ,i was1 and all my doubts vanished4 ,father ,clarke came soon afterwards to pay me his daily visit1 and confirmed my choice with a manner and tone as unhesitating as the choice itself had been1 and would not let me afterwards give way to the fear of any difficulties1 saying1 once for all1 when ,i was questioning how ,i could get over some of them1 ',well1 if you do not get over them1 ,god has been deceiving you4' ,how ,i extol now and praise the practice of spiritual exercises1 and ,st4 ,ignatius1 the great founder of the system of them1 and the ,jesuits in their conduct of them1 as exemplified in ,father ,clarke1 whose way with me so completely gave the lie to what people are disposed to think1 that the ,jesuits must bring everything and everybody to themselves when they get them into their hands4 ,i intend to express my sense of obligation to them and ,st4 ,ignatius1 by taking his name as my future designation1 after ,i am admitted to the religious habit4 ,so ,i hope in time ,i may come to be known no more by my own name1 but by that of ,ignatius of ,st4 ,paul4 ,and as ,god gives me this nomen novum may he add the manna absconditum1 and make me in spirit as different from what ,i have been as in name4 ,it is a great satisfaction that all this was settled without ,father ,dominic or any ,passionist having a hint of it1 till ,i went up to ,london three days after the retreat1 to tell him of the determination ,i had made4 ,the next day ,i came back to ,oscott1 and told ,dr4 ,wiseman4 ,he was1 of course1 surprised at the news1 and at first seemed to think ,i could not be really in earnest1 but ever since has acted in the most considerate and kind manner towards me4 ,my move1 ,i am sorry to think1 must entail on him and dear ,bishop ,walsh serious inconveniences1 not so much for the loss of my services where they had placed me1 for ,i hope if ,i live ,i may serve them better as ,i shall be circumstanced hereafter1 as ,i was doing little at ,oscott1 but from the withdrawal of my funds1 which ,i fear may take place perhaps even to their entire amount1 but certainly in great part4 ,not that any part goes to the congregation 7of the ,passion72 thank ,god1 ,i am received there in form pauperis and all #cdg which remains to me would be left to the ,bishop2 but my dear brother seems quite determined to make my vow of poverty as much one in earnest as it can be2 and so1 bitter as that part of the trial is1 ,god bless him for it6 ,i think ,i must have told you how my income came to me4 ,my father left me a certain capital quite independently1 which went long ago to building churches1 and #cjj a year to be paid to me as long as ,i did not put it out of my own power1 in which case it was to be in the power of my brother1 now living1 and other trustees1 to be employed to my advantage4 ,my late brother gave me as much more of his own free will1 and this brother has hitherto continued this1 but now says that he cannot give it to support ,catholicity2 and as he will not use it himself1 it is to go for my lifetime to religious and charitable purposes such as he thinks fit4 ,so half of my money is clean gone1 and the other half depends upon what interpretation the law puts on the terms of my father's will4 ,bishop ,wiseman takes this so beautifully and disinterestedly1 that ,i trust the loss he thus bears for ,god's sake will be more than amply compensated to him4 ,my sister1 ,lady ,lyttelton1 takes my change beautifully4 ,the pecuniary losses his ecclesiastical superiors would sustain prevented them giving him the opposition they otherwise would4 ,it would not look well to try to keep him out of religion1 under the circumstances2 and besides1 ,cardinal ,wiseman was not the person to prevent his priests becoming religious1 if he were only convinced they had a vocation4 ,when ,father ,spencer was on his way to ,london to consult with ,father ,dominic about his reception1 a musket went off by accident in the carriage he was in1 and the ball passed through the skylight4 ,this gave him rather a start1 and made him think a little about the shortness of life4 ,he appears to have found ,father ,dominic giving a retreat to the nuns of the ,sacr ,coeur1 who are now at ,roehampton4 ,the saintly ,passionist was delighted with the news1 and ,father ,ignatius used to say that he seemed to be more delighted still at the fact that he was not bringing a penny to the order4 ,on his return to ,oscott1 the first thing we heard #cdh was that a ,quaker had been converted by a sermon he preached in ,birkenhead1 which sermon he thought himself was about the worst he ever delivered4 ,he meets a little opposition1 however2 they wish him to stay until his thoughts get settled into their original state after the retreat4 ,he fears this to be a stratagem of the enemy1 and1 lest it might make him lose his vocation1 he makes a vow of entering religion at or before ,christmas4 ,when this became known1 nobody could in conscience oppose him1 for only the ,pope could dispense him from entering now4 ,at length everything is settled4 ,his #cjj income remains to the ,bishop and his brother promises to provide for his pensioners4 ,all things being thus arranged1 he visits all the poor people about ,oscott and ,west ,bromwich1 to give them a parting advice and blessing1 spiritual and temporal4 ,he writes to all his friends1 packs up his books and other smaller movables1 receives two converts--,laing and ,walker--gets ,dr4 ,wiseman's blessing1 and has his carriage to the train1 takes third class to ,stafford1 and on his birthday1 #bast ,december1 #ahdf1 at #h o'clock in the evening1 arrives at ,aston ,hall1 to enter the ,passionists' noviciate4 #cdi ,,book ,,iv4 ,f4 ,ignatius1 a ,passionist4 #cej ,,book ,,iv4 ,f4 ,ignatius1 a ,passionist4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,the ,noviciate4 ,religious orders in the ,church may be compared to a vast army1 composed of different regiments1 with different uniforms1 different tactics1 and different posts in the kingdom of ,god1 offensive and defensive1 against the kingdom of ,satan4 ,the ,pope is the head of all1 and various generals bear rule1 in his name1 over the forces who have chosen them for their leaders4 ,some religious orders fill chairs in universities2 others are charged with the instruction of youth4 ,some watch by the sickbed2 others ransom captive slaves1 or bring consolation to the miserable in prisons and asylums4 ,some1 again1 work at the rooting out of sin and disorders at home1 whilst others carry the light of the ,gospel to the heathen4 ,some pitch their tents in deserts or mountain fastnesses1 whilst a more numerous body take up their abode in the abandoned purlieus of crowded cities4 ,every religious order has some one characteristic spirit1 a mark by which it may be distinguished from the others4 ,this may be called the genius of the order4 ,it is mostly the spirit that animated the founder when he gathered his first companions around him1 and drew up the code by which #ceb their lives were to be regulated4 ,this spirit may be suited to one age and not to another2 it may be local or universal2 on its scope depends the existence and spread of the order2 its decay or unsuitableness will portend the extinction of the body it animated4 ,this spirit may take in the whole battle-field of religion1 and then we see members of that order in every post in which an advantage may be gained1 or a blow dealt upon the enemy4 ,it may take in some parts and leave the rest to the different battalions that are already in charge1 prepared to render assistance in any department as soon as its services may be needed4 ,the religious order known as the ,congregation of the ,passion has a peculiar spirit and a special work4 ,it was founded by ,blessed ,paul of the ,cross in the middle of the last century1 and approved by ,benedict ,,xiv41 ,clement ,,xiv41 and ,pius ,,vi4 ,its object is to work in whatever portion of the ,church it may have a house established1 for the uprooting of sin1 and the planting of virtue in the hearts of the faithful4 ,the means it brings to this1 in addition to the usual ones of preaching and hearing confessions1 is a spreading among ,christians a devotion to and a grateful1 lively remembrance of the ,passion of our ,lord4 ,the ,passionists carry out this work by missions and retreats1 as well as parish work in their own houses4 ,if circumstances need it1 they take charge of a parish2 if not1 they do the work of missioners in their own churches4 ,they teach none except their own younger members1 and they go on foreign missions when sent by ,his ,holiness or the ,propaganda4 ,to keep the members of an order always ready for their out-door work1 there are certain rules for their interior life which may be likened to the drill or parade of soldiers in their quarters4 ,this discipline varies according to the spirit of each order4 ,the idea of a ,passionist's work will lead us to expect what his discipline must be4 ,the spirit of a ,passionist is a spirit of atonement2 he says1 with ,st4 ,paul3 ,i rejoice in my sufferings1 and fill up those things that are wanting of the sufferings of ,christ1 in my flesh for ,his body1 which is the #cec ,church4 ,coloss4 i4 #bd4 ,for this cause1 the interior life of a ,passionist is rather austere4 ,he has to rise shortly after midnight1 from a bed of straw1 to chaunt matins and lauds1 and spend some time in meditation4 ,he has two hours more meditation during the day1 and altogether about five hours of choir-work in the twenty-four4 ,he fasts and abstains from flesh meat three days in the week1 all the year round1 besides ,lent and ,advent4 ,he is clad in a coarse black garment2 wears sandals instead of shoes2 and practises other acts of penance of minor importance4 ,this seems rather a hard life2 but an ordinary constitution does not find the least difficulty in complying with the letter of the rule4 ,it is withal a happy1 cheerful life2 for it seems the nature of penance to make the heart of the penitent light and gladsome1 rejoicing in suffering4 ,two facts are proved by experience4 ,first1 that scarcely one ever left the order on account of the corporal austerities1 though they are used as a plea to justify the step by those who lose the religious spirit4 ,secondly1 longevity is more common amongst us than any other order1 except perhaps the ,cistercians1 whose rule is far more severe than ours4 ,a ,passionist is bound by this rule only within the retreat1 as houses of the order are called2 outside1 he follows the ,gospel ordinance of partaking of what is set before him1 and suiting himself to the circumstances in which he is placed4 ,the ,superior1 moreover1 has a discretionary power of granting exemptions1 in favour of those who require some indulgence in consequence of illness or extra labour4 ,it will be seen1 from this sketch1 that ,passionists have to lay up a stock of virtue1 by a monastic life at home1 in order that their ministrations for their neighbour may be attended with more abundant fruit4 ,they unite the active and contemplative spirit1 that both may help to the saving of their own souls by qualifying them better for aiding in the salvation of others4 ,this was the kind of life ,father ,spencer began to lead on his forty-seventh birthday4 ,for a man of his age1 with habits formed1 with health subject to occasional shocks1 it was certainly a formidable undertaking4 ,there was little of #ced human glory to eclipse those difficulties in the community he entered4 ,four foreign fathers1 living in a wretched house1 as yet unable to speak passable ,english1 without a church1 without friends1 without funds1 without influence1 formed the principal portion of the community of ,aston ,hall4 ,these were1 ,father ,dominic1 ,father ,gaudentius1 ,father ,constantine1 and ,father ,vincent4 ,none of these four fathers are in the province at present4 ,fathers ,dominic and ,constantine are dead4 ,father ,gaudentius is a member of the ,american province2 and ,father ,vincent1 after many years of zealous missionary work in these countries1 was called to ,rome1 where he now holds the office of ,procurator-,general4 ,they had one student1 two lay brothers1 and ,father ,spencer was to be the second of two novices4 ,the ,passionists had already been four years in ,england1 and1 through trials and difficulties1 from poverty and misunderstandings1 had worked their way up to the precarious position in which he found them4 ,he was1 therefore1 a great acquisition to the struggling community4 ,true1 he brought no earthly riches2 but he brought what was more valued1 an unearthly spirit--he brought humility1 docility1 and burning zeal4 ,the fathers knew him for a long time1 and scarcely required proofs to convince them of his having a religious vocation1 since he had practised the vows before then in a very perfect way1 considering his state4 ,he gave clear proofs of his spirit on the eve of his coming to ,aston4 ,he came1 as he glories in telling ,mr4 ,phillipps1 in form pauperis4 ,some of his friends wished to give him the price of his habit by way of alms2 he would not accept of it4 ,he then reflected on the poverty of the ,passionists1 and thought it would be well if he brought even so much1 whereupon he proposed to beg the money4 ,the largest alms he intended to receive was half-a-crown4 ,he was forbidden to do this by his director1 and obeyed at once3 thus giving a proof of his spirit of poverty and obedience4 ,notwithstanding all this1 the fathers were determined to judge for themselves1 and try by experiment if any aristocratic hauteur might yet lurk in the corners of his #cee disposition4 ,our rule1 moreover1 requires that postulants be tried by humiliations before being admitted to the habit2 and many and various are the tests applied1 depending1 as they do1 on the judgment of the master of novices4 ,one clause of the rule was especially applicable to ,father ,spencer3 ,qui nobili ortus est genere1 accuratiore et diuturniore experimento probetur2 and the strict ,father ,constantine1 who was then the master1 resolved that not a word of it should be unfulfilled4 ,a day or two after his arrival1 he was ordered to wash down an old1 rusty flight of stairs4 ,he tucked up his sleeves and fell to1 using his brush1 tub1 and soapsuds with as much zest and good will as if he had been just hired as a maid-of-all-work4 ,of course1 he was no great adept at this kind of employment1 and probably his want of skill drew down some sharp rebukes from his overseer4 ,some tender-hearted religious never could forget the sight of this venerable ecclesiastic trying to scour the crevices and crannies to the satisfaction of his new master4 ,he got through it well1 and took the corrections so beautifully1 that in a few days he was voted to the habit4 ,on the afternoon of the #eth ,january1 #ahdg1 vespers are just concluded1 and the bell is rung for another function4 ,people are hurrying up to the little chapel1 and whispering to each other about the scene they are going to witness4 ,the altar is prepared as for a feast4 ,the thurifers and acolytes head the procession from the sacristy2 next follow the religious2 then ,father ,dominic arrayed in surplice and cope4 ,after him follows ,father ,spencer1 in the costume of a secular priest4 ,he kneels on the altar step2 he has laid aside long before all that the world could give him2 he has thrown its greatness and its folly away as vanities to be despised1 and now asks for the penitential garb of the sons of the ,passion1 with all its concomitant hardships4 ,he had not yet experienced the happiness it brings3 he had only begun to earn it by broken rest1 fasts1 and humiliations4 ,father ,dominic blesses the habit1 mantle1 and cincture2 he addresses a few touching words to the postulant1 and prepares to vest him4 ,in the presence of all he takes off the cassock1 the habit is put on and bound with a leathern #cef girdle1 a cross is placed upon his shoulder1 a crown of thorns on his head1 benedictions are invoked upon him according to the ritual1 the religious intone the ,ecce quam bonum1 ,our ,lord gives ,his blessing from the ,monstrance1 and the ,honourable and ,reverend-,george ,spencer is greeted as a brother and companion by ,father ,dominic1 under the new name of ,father ,ignatius of ,st4 ,paul4 ,thus ended the function of that day1 and the benisons of the rite were not pronounced in vain4 ,it is the custom with us to drop the family name on our reception1 to signify the cutting away of all carnal ties1 except inasmuch as they may help to benefit souls4 ,a religious should be dead to nature1 and his relationship henceforth is with the saints4 ,this is why1 among many religious orders of men1 and nearly all of women1 some saint or some mystery of religion to which the novice is specially devoted is substituted instead of the family name4 ,in most cases1 also1 the ,christian name is changed2 this1 following the example of our ,lord1 who changed the names of some of the ,apostles1 is useful in many ways1 as well to typify newness of life as to help in distinguishing one from another when the aid of family names is taken away4 ,father ,ignatius gave his reasons above for preferring this name1 and events1 both before and after1 make us applaud the fitness of the choice4 ,a novice's life is a very eventless one2 it has little in it of importance to others1 though it is of so much consequence to himself4 ,the coming of a postulant1 the going away of a newly-made brother1 the mistakes of a tyro at bell-ringing1 chanting1 or ceremonies1 are of interest enough to occupy several recreations4 ,the absence of soul-stirring news from without gives these trifles room to swell into importance4 ,when the little incidents are invested with ludicrous or peculiar circumstances1 they often have a sheet of the chronicles dedicated to their history by the most witty or least busy of the novices4 ,a postulant ran away the day after ,father ,ignatius was clothed2 he heard the religious take the discipline1 and no amount of explanations or coaxing could induce him to #ceg accustom his ear to the noise1 much less his body to the stripes1 of this function4 ,the senior novice left at the same time2 he was a priest1 and died on the ,london mission the very same year as ,father ,ignatius4 ,in a few days more ,father ,dominic caught a novice dressing his hair and giving himself airs before a looking-glass4 ,his habit was stripped off1 and he was sent to the outer world1 where1 perhaps1 the adorning of his good looks was of more service to him than it was at ,aston ,hall4 ,it is a received tradition in the religious life that vocations which are not tried by difficulties seldom prove sea-worthy1 so to speak4 ,before or after the novice enters1 he must be opposed and disappointed in some way2 he has to pay dear for the favour of serving ,god in this state of life1 if he be destined to act any important part in the ,church as a religious4 ,father ,ignatius had his trials4 ,he found it difficult to pick up all the minutiae of novice discipline3 he suffered a little from homesickness1 and these1 joined to chilled feet1 a hard bed1 and meagre food1 did not allow him to enjoy to any great extent the delightful sensation known as fervor novitiorum4 ,he got over all this1 as we see from a letter he wrote to a friend in ,march3-- ,i am here in a state in which not a shadow of trouble seems to come1 but what ,i cause for myself4 ,with a little humility there is peace enough4 ,i suppose ,i shall have some more troubles hereafter if ,i live4 ,i have not been so well for several years4 ,some would have thought a ,lent without a bit of meat would not have done for me2 but ,i have seen now since ,shrove ,tuesday1 and1 in ,lent or out of it1 ,i never have been better4 ,so in that respect1 viz41 my health1 ,i suppose my trial here is satisfactory4 ,a rude shock was in store for his health which he little anticipated when he wrote those lines4 ,this was the terrible year of famine in ,ireland1 that year which will be remembered for ever by those who lived in the midst of the harrowing scenes that overspread that unhappy country4 ,poor famishing creatures1 who had laid their fathers or mothers1 and perhaps their children1 in coffinless graves1 begged their way to ,england1 and began that tide of #ceh emigration which has since peopled ,liverpool1 ,manchester1 ,birmingham1 and ,london1 with such crowds of ,catholics4 ,every ship brought its cargo of misery1 and the hapless victims were forced by their poverty to seek for lodgings in dens of vice1 or employment where virtue was not paramount4 ,they thus imbibed a poison to their morals which has not yet been completely purged out of the thousands who have had to follow the footsteps of their famine-stricken predecessors4 ,numbers of the poor ,irish gathered around ,stone and ,aston2 fever broke out amongst them1 and the wards of the workhouse infirmaries were unable to contain even a moiety of the sufferers4 ,every hovel and barn had their burning occupants1 and even charity itself seemed frightened from giving assistance4 ,the priest was1 of course1 busy2 and1 fortunately for ,aston1 more than one priest could be had to attend the dying4 ,all our fathers were at the bed of death many times in the day4 ,father ,gaudentius was struck down with fever1 ,father ,vincent followed next4 ,the duties now devolved upon ,father ,dominic and ,father ,ignatius4 ,the poor novice was prostrated by the pestilence1 after administering the last rites of the ,church to many4 ,he gets a very malignant attack1 and in a few days is at the point of death4 ,he prepared for his last passage with the most beautiful dispositions4 ,he thanked ,god for the privilege of his state1 and was particularly delighted at the prospect of dying a martyr to his charity4 ,he receives the ,viaticum and ,extreme ,unction1 makes his profession as on death-bed1 becomes insensible1 and is given an hour to live by the doctors4 ,the religious commence a novena1 in which they are joined by the people1 for his recovery4 ,god preserved him to his brethren and their flock1 for he began immediately to mend4 ,we may form an idea of this poor community1 all the active members1 except ,father ,dominic1 dying1 or in feeble convalescence2 their resources1 perhaps1 run out2 and all the energy they had left taxed to its utmost to answer the calls of duty4 ,few as they were1 they had not the least idea of sparing themselves4 ,they still hoped to increase and multiply2 but1 after the example #cei of ,him who increased by dying1 and likened the progress of ,his ,church to the dying of the grain of corn in the soil of its growth4 ,charitable friends came to their assistance1 and amongst the rest1 ,earl ,spencer sent a handsome sum to pay doctors' expenses for his brother4 ,this was considerate1 indeed1 and as soon as ,father ,ignatius could manage a pen1 he wrote to thank him for his charity4 ,numbers were deeply concerned for our novice1 and two or three ,catholic nobles invited him to come and stay with them during his convalescence4 ,father ,dominic did not think him sufficiently ill to warrant his sleeping out of the house1 so their kind offers were thankfully declined4 ,this illness was a double blow to ,father ,ignatius3 he had just received orders from his ,superior to prepare for the missions when it came on4 ,an end was put to his preparation for the time1 but he resumed the task as soon as the doctors allowed him4 ,during his noviciate he had two kinds of trials to endure1 besides those mentioned already4 ,father ,constantine was remarkable for his meekness and charity2 but he put on extra severity for ,father ,ignatius4 ,his companions tried to show him some marks of distinction1 and would offer to relieve him from works that were humiliating1 or likely to be galling to one of his standing4 ,the latter trial he complained of1 and he was troubled at the other because some of of the religious complained of the novice-master's severity towards him4 ,he had some more mortifications of the kind he playfully told us a few chapters back1 as affecting ,father ,dominic in ,oscott4 ,he was troubled with chilblains1 and was obliged1 in consequence1 to wear shoes and stockings for a great part of his noviciate4 ,this he looked upon as a great grievance1 inasmuch as he could not live like the others4 ,when at last the chilblains got well1 and he was allowed to put on the sandals1 he felt overjoyed1 and even writes a letter to congratulate himself on his happiness4 ,he writes two or three letters1 in which he notes his astonishment at the ,irish being so negligent in ,england1 who had been so regular at home4 ,he says1 they all send #cfj for the priest1 and show great signs of repentance when dying2 but1 out of a number he attended1 only one returned to the ,church after recovery4 ,still1 he says1 it would be long till one of them would answer as the ,english pensioner is reported to have done on his death-bed4 ,the minister talked much about ,heaven and its happiness1 but the patient coolly replied1 ',it's all very well1 sir2 but old ,england and ,king ,george for me6' ,his noviciate glides quietly on to its end2 and except his ordinary work of attending to a mission in ,stone besides his home duties1 nothing occurs to break the monotony4 ,at length1 on the #fth of ,january1 #ahdh1 ,father ,ignatius and ,father ,dominic remain up after matins4 ,we are told in the ,journal1 that the novice made his confession and had a long conference with his director1 in preparation for the great event of his profession4 ,father ,dominic was going off that day1 but the conveyance disappointed him1 he was obliged to wait till the next4 ,that evening ,father ,ignatius is once more in the midst of a moving ceremony3 on his knees1 with his hands placed in ,father ,dominic's he pronounces his irrevocable consecration by the vows of his religious profession4,footnote #aj ,the badges are affixed to his breast1 the sacrifice is completed--and well and worthily was it carried out4 ,it is easier to imagine than to describe the joy of the two holy friends1 so long united in the bonds of heavenly charity1 as they spoke that day about their first acquaintance1 and wondered at the dispositions of ,providence1 which now made them more than brothers4 ,footnote #aj3 ,the profession on death-bed is conditional1 so that if a novice recovers1 after thus pronouncing his vows1 he has to go on as if they had not been made4 #cfa ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,his ,first ,year ,as ,a ,passionist4 ,shortly after his profession1 ,father ,ignatius was sent out on missions4 ,the first mission he gave1 with ,father ,gaudentius1 was to his old parishioners of ,west ,bromwich4 ,crowds came to hear him2 some to have another affectionate look1 and hear once more the well-known voice of their old pastor2 others from curiosity to see what he had been transformed into by the monks4 ,this mission was very successful1 for1 besides the usual work of the reconciliation of sinners1 and the helping on of the fervent1 there were fifteen ,protestants received into the ,church before its close4 ,he gives another mission somewhere in the ,borough1 ,london1 with the same companion4 ,during this mission he hears that his style of preaching is not liked much by the ,irish2 he feels a little sad at this1 as he fears the work may fail of success through his deficiency4 ,the preaching of ,father ,ignatius was peculiar to himself2 he cannot be said to possess the gifts of human eloquence in the highest degree1 but there was a something like inspiration in his most commonplace discourse4 ,he put the point of his sermon clearly before his audience1 and he proved it most admirably4 ,his acquaintance with the ,scriptures was something marvellous2 not only could he quote texts in support of doctrines1 but he applied the facts of the sacred volume in such a happy way1 with such a flood of new ideas1 that one would imagine he lived in the midst of them1 or had been told by the sacred writers what they were intended for4 ,besides this1 he brought a fund of illustrations to carry conviction through and through the mind4 ,his illustrations were taken from every phase of life1 and every kind of #cfb employment2 persons listening to him always found the practical gist of his discourse carried into their very homestead2 nay1 the objections they themselves were prepared to advance against it1 were answered before they could have been thought out4 ,to add to this1 there was an earnestness in his manner that made you see his whole soul1 as it were1 bent upon your spiritual good4 ,his holiness of life1 which report published before him1 and one look was enough to convince you of its being true1 compelled you to set a value on what he said1 far above the dicta of ordinary priests4 ,his style was formed on the ,gospel4 ,he loved the parables and the similes of ,our ,lord1 and rightly judged that the style of his ,divine ,master was the most worthy of imitation4 ,so far as the matter of his discourses were concerned1 he was inimitable2 his manner was peculiar to himself1 deeply earnest and touching4 ,he abstained from the rousing1 thundering style1 and his attempts that way to suit the taste and thus work upon the convictions of certain congregations1 showed him that his fort did not lie there4 ,the consequence was1 that when the words of what he jocosely termed a crack preacher would die with the sound of his own voice1 or the exclamations of the multitude1 ,father ,ignatius's words lived with their lives1 and helped them to bear trials that came thirty years after they had heard him4 ,towards the end of his life1 he became rather tiresome to those who knew not his spirit2 but it was the tiresomeness of ,st4 ,john the ,evangelist4 ,we are told that the disciple whom ,jesus loved used to be carried in his old age before the people1 and that his only sermon was ,my little children1 love one another4 ,he preached no more1 and no less1 but kept perpetually repeating these few words4 ,father ,ignatius1 in like manner1 was continually repeating the conversion of ,england4 ,no matter what the subject of his sermon was1 he brought this in4 ,he told us often that it became a second nature to him2 that he could not quit thinking or speaking of it1 even if he tried1 and believed he could speak for ten days consecutively on the conversion of ,england1 without having to repeat an idea4 #cfc ,he got on very well in the missions3 he took all the different parts as they were assigned him2 but he was more successful in the lectures than in the great sermons of the evening4 ,his confessional was always besieged with penitents1 and he never spared himself4 ,the late ,cardinal1 who was the chief mover in bringing the ,passionists to ,england1 wished to have a house of the order in the diocese of ,westminster 7then the ,london ,district71 to which he had been recently translated4 ,father ,dominic entered heartily into the project1 and ,father ,ignatius with him4 ,after a few weeks' negotiation1 they took possession of ,poplar ,house1 in the west end of ,hampstead1 towards the end of ,june1 #ahdh4 ,a new foundation was1 in those days1 as it is still1 a formidable undertaking4 ,the ground has generally to be bought2 a church and house built upon it2 the necessary machinery to set it going to be provided1 and all this from nothing but the ,providence of ,god1 and the charity of benefactors4 ,under a more than ordinary pressure of their difficulties1 the house was opened1 and after many changes and removals1 it has finally fixed itself on the brow of ,highgate ,hill1 under the name of ,st4 ,joseph's ,retreat4 ,he notes in his ,journal that the place in ,hampstead brought some sad thoughts into his mind1 as it was within sight of where his sister1 ,lady ,georgiana ,quin1 died in #ahbc4 ,he tells us also that he was benighted somewhere in ,london1 and had to beg for a bed for the first time in his life4 ,on a fine summer's day he sauntered leisurely through the grounds of ,eton1 ruminating over the scenes of forty years before1 when he first became a child of what proved to him a novercal institution4 ,he was not destined to labour much1 this time1 for the ,london house4 ,father ,dominic took the charge of it1 and appointed ,father ,ignatius ,rector of ,st4 ,michael's1 ,aston ,hall1 a post that became vacant by the death of ,father ,constantine4 ,father ,ignatius thus mentions the matter in one of his letters3-- ,it was just such a death as one might expect of him 7,father ,constantine74 ,i was thinking and saying to some one before1 he would be attending to his duties and giving directions in the house to the last4 ,in his #cfd agony1 he heard the clock strike1 and1 mistaking the hour for another when some bell has to ring1 he asked why the bell did not ring for such a duty4 ,it is recorded that what was most remarkable in him was his gentleness and patience2 and that indeed was very striking4 ,he must have suffered heavily to die in a lingering way by a cancer1 but he never was disturbed1 and went on saying mass1 and doing all that was to be done1 as long as he could stand to it4 ,his loss makes1 as you have heard1 a great change in my position4 ,i never dreamt of being a ,superior for years to come1 and thought ,i had come to an end1 almost for life1 of keeping accounts and ruling household affairs4 ,but ,god's will be done4 ,it is a great comfort1 as ,i find1 to be in the rule of good religious1 to what it would be to have people under one who seek their own gain and pleasure4 ,ruling1 even thus1 did not turn out so easy a matter2 for it is recorded in the ,journal1 that ,father ,dominic gave him a long lecture about the proper way of ruling1 which he seems to have drawn down upon himself by some mistakes4 ,in the beginning of ,september1 this year1 he gave his first retreat4 ,it was to the students of ,carlow ,college4 ,this event gave him a fresh start in his great work4 ,since #ahdd1 when he made the tour on the ,continent1 procuring prayers for ,england1 his zeal in the cause seems to have slumbered somewhat4 ,not that he was the less anxious for the return of his countrymen to the faith of their fathers1 but he did not1 perhaps1 see any opportunity open for moving others in a general way to help the work by their prayers4 ,it is rather a wonderful disposition of ,providence that his energies should be renewed in ,ireland1 and that1 too1 in '#dh4 ,extracts from a few letters will show how it happened4 ,in a letter to ,mrs4 ,canning1 he says3-- ,my last journey to ,ireland was1 in the first place1 to preach a retreat in ,carlow ,college1 which was the first and only retreat ,i have been on alone2 secondly1 to beg in ,dublin for our church and house2 thirdly1 ,i got full into the pursuit of prayers for ,england again4 ,i had hardly expected anything could be done in this last way under the excited state of feelings in ,ireland against ,england4 ,i began1 #cfe however1 speaking in a convent in ,carlow1 and so warm and beautiful was the way in which these nuns took it up1 that ,i lost no occasion after of saying mass in some convents every morning1 and preaching to them upon it2 and the zeal which they showed has given me a new spring to push it on in ,england4 ,accordingly1 ,i have been preaching many times on it since ,i have been this time in ,lancashire4 ,i only ask now one ,hail ,mary a day to be said by every ,catholic for the conversion of ,england4 ,here is a great field to work upon4 ,you want to be doing something for ,england1 ,i know2 why not take up this object1 and in every letter you write abroad or at home make people promise to do this1 and make every man1 woman1 and child do it too4 ,if millions would do as much as this1 we should have thousands who would offer themselves up as victims to be immolated for the object1 and we should have grand results4 ,above all1 let it be done in schools at home2 so that all the young may be trained to pant for this object1 as young ,hannibal for the destruction of ,rome2 and a foundation will be laid for the work to go on after we are all dead1 if no fruit appears before4 ,in a letter to ,father ,vincent1 he writes almost in the same strain3-- ,my journey to ,ireland was satisfactory in several respects to a certain degree4 ,it answered well for begging purposes4 ,with all their poverty1 they are so generous that ,i made one of my best week's begging in ,dublin4 ,i hope for a great deal more in ,november1 when ,i am going again to preach in ,dublin1 and will stay as long as ,i can4 ,i picked up also one novice1 not a cleric1 but1 ,i hope1 a very promising lay brother4 ,i think there will be many good subjects for us in ,ireland1 when we are better known there4' 7,in this his expectations were most signally realized47 ,i also got into the pursuit of prayers for ,england again4 ,i said mass1 and preached after mass ten times in convents on the subject1 and the zeal and charity with which it was taken up by the good religious quite gave me a new spring in that cause4 ,i have begun preaching in ,england for prayers4 ,will you help me in this8 ,i have been writing1 with ,father #cff ,dominic's approval1 to our ,general1 to obtain some indulgences for those who will join in those prayers4 ,in this year1 ,father ,ignatius lost two great friends by death1 ,dr4 ,gentili and the ,rev4 ,wm4 ,richmond4 ,he had several conversations with the former1 who was then giving his last mission in ,dublin1 and assisted on his return to ,england1 at the death-bed of ,mr4 ,richmond4 ,he used to relate how this worthy man became a ,catholic1 as an instance of the ways of ,god in conversion4 ,when ,richmond was a boy1 he went to see an uncle of his1 who was a priest4 ,one day he saw candles lit in the church in clear daylight4 ,on entering1 to satisfy himself that nothing was wrong1 he saw his uncle issuing from the sacristy1 in the most fantastic garb he ever beheld4 ,he ran out of the church in a fright1 and scarcely came near his uncle for three days4 ,he did sum up courage enough to approach at length1 and the end was that he became a priest himself1 and outshone his uncle4 ,during the visit ,father ,ignatius paid to ,ireland1 according to promise1 in the ,november of this year1 he preached in several places on the conversion of ,england4 ,he went to ,maynooth1 and addressed the junior students at night prayer and the seniors at morning prayer1 on the same subject4 ,he remains nearly a month in ,ireland this time4 ,he meets a few secular people who are not so kind and generous in listening to him as nuns and students4 ,one day he begged of a gentleman1 who immediately began to grope in his pocket for a coin which he should consider worthy of offering4 ,whilst the search was going on1 ,father ,ignatius ventured to ask prayers for the conversion of ,england4 ,england6 said the gentleman2 ,i pray for ,england6 ,not ,i4 ,and he turned off with a refusal1 and left his petitioner to find another benefactor4 ,when he returned to ,england1 he preached everywhere1 to priests1 nuns1 and people2 he wrote and spoke continually for prayers for ,england4 ,the only change in his system since the former crusade was1 that the prayer he asked for was defined4 ,it was only one ,hail ,mary daily4 ,this prayer he was especially fond of using2 he said it for every person and everything4 ,the antiphon of the ,church1 #cfg ,rejoice1 ,virgin ,mary1 thou alone hast destroyed all heresies throughout the world1 was continually in his heart4 ,the devotion of the people of ,ireland to our ,blessed ,lady brought this out2 and it was remarked by himself and others1 that when once he had put the great object of his endeavours under the protection of ,mary1 he never cooled or slackened1 but always progressed with blessings4 ,the last day of this year was spent as all such days of his life1 since he turned thoroughly to ,god's service1 in being awake and in prayer at midnight4 #cfh ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,a ,peculiar ,mission4 ,father ,ignatius had an idea in his mind for a number of years1 and saw no practical way in which it might be realized4 ,he looked forward1 with a pleasing anticipation1 to the prospect of going about from parish to parish on a kind of itinerary mission4 ,the thing was unusual in our day1 and he saw no plea by which it could be justified to others1 or he should have gone on it long before4 ,he proposed it at last to his ,superiors1 and the circumstances of his position wonderfully favoured its prosecution4 ,voluntary poverty was raised to a virtue by the example and teaching of our ,divine ,lord1 and poverty must always have a counterpart4 ,to be poor is to be dependent1 and want is ordained for the sanctification of plenty4 ,when our ,divine ,master said that it was difficult for the rich man to be saved1 ,he subjoined that with ,god all things are possible4 ,the miseries of the poor are the channels through which riches can flow into ,heaven1 and make friends to their possessors of the mammon of iniquity4 ,in the dispensation of ,providence1 the ,church watches over the interests of all her children1 and whilst she proclaims the severity of the ,gospel maxims1 she provides for their observance4 ,she must preach poverty of spirit1 from the text of the sermon on the ,mount1 and she manages to make kings who are richer than ,david live after ,god's own heart4 ,the beautiful harmony between rank and lowliness1 authority and submission1 prosperity and adversity1 has long ago been arranged by the practice of the ages of faith1 and by the ,pontifical constitutions which impress the seal of the ,fisherman upon the usages of ,catholicity4 #cfi ,in no department of ,catholic polity is this superior wisdom so well exemplified as in the rules of mendicant orders4 ,the ,church takes the noble from his seat of power1 she makes him cast his coronet at the feet of ,peter1 and stretch out his hand to his former vassal for the paltry morsel that is to sustain his future existence4 ,she forbids him to accumulate2 she makes him give back a thousand-fold what he receives4 ,by thus bringing down the pride of power and making it pay court to the discontented child of penury1 she reconciles man with ,providence and suffuses reverence through the crowd1 who might grumble at greatness1 by making their lord according to the world their servant according to the ,gospel4 ,the constitutions of the ,congregation of the ,passion are framed upon the spirit of the ,church4 ,if a man of property joins our poor institute1 he cannot bring his possessions with him to enrich the community he enters2 for ,blessed ,paul has not allowed them to have any fixed revenue4 ,he may1 indeed1 give a donation towards the building of their church1 the furnishing of their poor schools1 or the paying off the debts they were obliged to contract to secure the ground upon which their monastery is built2 but that is left to his own charity4 ,he is supposed by our rule to hand over his property to a relative or a charitable institution1 and reserve to himself the right to take it back1 in case he may not persevere in his vocation1 or abandon the life he has embraced4 ,thus deprived of stable funds1 we are to rely upon the ,providence of ,god2 and we can give ,him glory by confessing that we never yet found ,his word to fail1 ,seek ye first the kingdom of ,god and his justice1 and all these things shall be added unto you4 ,betimes we may have to send a brother to ask for some assistance from kind benefactors2 but1 as a rule1 ,god inspires many to befriend us without our asking4 ,the duties of missions and retreats1 and the preparation for them1 prevent us from digging a livelihood out of the earth2 but the sweat of our brow that is thus spent earns our bread by procuring us friends4 ,people crowd to our churches1 and leave thank-offerings there to prove the reality of their devotion2 and1 as an ancient #cgj father of ours once said1 our support comes in through the choir-windows4 ,when we have to build a church or a house1 we must follow the custom of surrounding priests2 but1 as our working is not purely local1 we send a father or brother to distant countries1 and try not to be too burthensome to our neighbours4 ,charity endureth all things2 but the branch of charity which is exercised in the giving of alms is not always content to be too much importuned1 or called upon too often4 ,charity therefore requires that those who plead for the exercise of one arm do not strain the other1 and it makes provision against provoking anger or ill-feeling from the weaknesses it tries to cure by stirring to activity4 ,in the year #ahdh the fathers at ,aston ,hall stood in sore need of a church4 ,hitherto they had turned a room upstairs into a temporary chapel2 and1 inconvenient as it might be to have people going so far into a religious house1 they would have borne up longer1 had not a builder told them that anything like a crowd would bring the whole place down about their ears4 ,father ,ignatius mentions this in a letter he wrote to ,mrs4 ,canning4 ,it will1 he says1 be a great addition to us to have a respectable church1 instead of our chapel up-stairs2 but we should not have had a plea for asking for it1 if this chapel had not been so good as to give us notice to quit1 by becoming cracky a little4 ,here1 then1 was an opportunity4 ,some one should go out and beg4 ,father ,ignatius was commissioned to write letters1 but though the first was answered by a cheque for #ajj1 with a promise of more1 there was not enough forthcoming to enable them to build4 ,could he not do two things at once8 ,could he not ask for prayers as well as alms8 ,did not the very plea of begging give him a right to go to different places1 even from parish to parish1 and speak publicly and privately8 ,it did4 ,and he was forthwith sent out to carry into execution the dreams of half a life1 which he scarcely ever expected to realize4 ,he first began this peculiar mission of his by going through the towns with a guide1 like ordinary questers3 in a few years the plan developed itself into the little missions4 #cga ,his first begging tour was through ,birmingham1 ,derby1 ,nottingham1 ,oscott1 ,leamington1 and ,wolverhampton4 ,in a few months he sallies forth again1 and ,liverpool is the theatre of his labours4 ,many and rude were the trials he had to endure in this humiliating work4 ,he thus playfully alludes to some of them3 ,i am on a begging mission here at ,liverpool1 in which ,i find rough and smooth1 ups and downs1 every day4 ,the general result is very fair4 ,i have been here since ,monday1 the #hth of ,may 7he writes on the #bjth71 and have got more than #ajj1 but with hard walking4 ,i am1 however1 quite well1 and the inflammation of my eye quite gone--nothing left but a little haziness4 ,it lasted five weeks without relenting at all4 ,if it had gone on1 ,i must have stayed at home2 but it just began to improve before ,i started1 and has got well1 tout en marchant4 ,my present life is very pleasant when money comes kindly2 but when ,i get refused1 or walk a long way and find every one out1 it is a bit mortifying4 ,that is best gain for me1 ,i suppose1 though not what ,i am travelling for4 4444 ,i should not have had the time this morning to write to you1 had it not been for a disappointment in meeting a young man1 who was to have been my begging-guide for part of the day2 and so ,i had to come home1 and stay till it is time to go and try my fortune in the enormous market-house1 where there are innumerable stalls with poultry1 eggs1 fruit1 meat1 c41 kept in great part by ,irish men and women1 on whom ,i have to-day1 presently1 to go and dance attendance1 as this is the great market-day4 ,i feel1 when going out for a job like this1 as a poor child going in a bathing machine to be dipped in the sea1 frisonnant2 but the ,irish are so good-natured and generous that they generally make the work among them full of pleasure1 when once ,i am in it4 ,one sees a vast difference between begging of the rich and of the poor4 ,if the latter have nothing to give1 they will at least show a kind face1 and will not presume to question the priest about his business2 whereas some of the former1 because they have something which they will not give1 either absent themselves or treat the priest unkindly for #cgb asking4 ,for what8 ,because he begs4 ,it is not for himself3 he even retrenches necessaries from his own table in order to spare something for the house of ,god4 ,and what1 after all1 does he ask8 ,the price of an hour's recreation1 or an extra ornament1 that may be very well spared4 ,that is all4 ,the priest wants people to look after their own interests1 to send their money before them to heaven1 instead of wasting it on vanity or sin4 ,and because he does this1 and humbles himself for the sake of his ,god1 he must be made to feel it4 ,father ,ignatius was keenly alive to this1 and the way he felt for those who forgot themselves by sending him away empty was far more afflictive than the personal humiliation4 ,he could thank ,god for the latter1 but he could not do so for the former4 ,once he was fiercely abused1 when begging1 and as the reviler had come to a full stop in his froward speech1 ,father ,ignatius quietly retorted3 ,well1 as you have been so generous to myself personally1 perhaps you would be so kind as to give me something now for my community4 ,this had a remarkable effect4 ,it procured him a handsome offering then1 as well as many others ever since4 ,another day he knocked at a door1 and was admitted by a very sumptuously attired footman4 ,father ,ignatius told the servant the object of his visit1 his religious name1 and asked if he could see the lady or gentleman of the house4 ,the servant strode off to see1 and in a few seconds returned to say that the gentleman was out1 and the lady was engaged and could not see him1 neither could she afford to help him4 ,he then remarked that perhaps she was not aware that he was the ,honourable ,mr4 ,spencer4 ,the servant looked at him1 bowed politely and retired4 ,in a minute or two ,father ,ignatius hears a rustling of silks and a tripping of quick steps on the stairs4 ,in came my lady1 and what with blushings and bowings1 and excuses and apologies1 she scarcely knew where she was until she found herself and him tte--tte4 ,she really did not know it was he1 and there were so many impostors4 ,but what will you take1 my dear sir8 and before he could say yea or nay she rung for his friend the footman4 ,father ,ignatius coolly said1 that he did not #cgc then stand in need of anything to eat1 and that he never took wine2 but that he did stand in need of money for a good purpose1 and if she could give him anything in that way he should be very glad to accept it4 ,she handed him a five-pound note at once1 expressing many regrets that something or other prevented its being more4 ,father ,ignatius took the note1 folded it carefully1 made sure of its being safely lodged in his pocket1 and then made thanksgiving in something like the following words3 ,now1 ,i am very sorry to have to tell you that the alms you have given me will do you very little good4 ,if ,i had not been born of a noble family1 you would have turned me away with coldness and contempt4 ,i take the money1 because it will be as useful to me as if it were given with a good motive2 but ,i would advise you1 for the future1 if you have any regard for your soul1 to let the love of ,god1 and not human respect1 prompt your alms-giving4 ,so saying1 he took his hat and bid his benefactress a good morning4 ,many were the anecdotes he told us about his begging adventures2 but it is next to impossible to remember them4 ,in every case1 however1 we could see the saint through the veil his humility tried to cast over himself4 ,whether he was received well or ill1 he always tried to turn his reception to the spiritual benefit of those who received him4 ,he made more friends than any person living1 perhaps1 and never was known to make an enemy2 his very simplicity and holiness disarmed malice4 ,he says1 in a letter1 upon getting his first commission to go and quest3 ,i am to be a great beggar6 ,his prognostication began to be verified4 ,strange fact1 the ,honourable ,george ,spencer a beggar6 ,and happier1 under all the trials and crosses incident to such a life1 than if he had lived in the luxury of ,althorp4 ,religion is carrying out to-day what its ,founder began eighteen hundred years ago4 ,he left the kingdom of heaven to live on the charity of ,his own creatures4 #cgd ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,death ,of ,father ,dominic4 ,we group the incidents of this chapter around this sad event3 some of them were the last these two bosom friends did together1 and the others were occasioned by their separation4 ,early in ,january1 #ahdi1 ,father ,ignatius went1 at the invitation of ,mr4 ,john ,smith1 of ,button1 to see a spot of ground upon which that worthy man intended building a church and house for a community of ,passionists4 ,father ,ignatius did not like the situation2 but as soon as he spoke to ,father ,dominic about it1 they both came to ,st4 ,helen's ,junction to see if two heads might not be wiser than one4 ,father ,dominic landed on the platform a little before ,father ,ignatius1 who had been delayed somewhere on the way4 ,he went immediately to look for the great benefactor4 ,a fine-looking1 open1 plain man saluted him1 and he thought this must be a ,catholic1 and likely he knows the person ,i am looking for4 ,do you know where lives a certain ,mr4 ,smith8 asked ,father ,dominic4 ,i should think ,i did1 answered his new friend1 and after a few minutes' conversation the father was satisfied1 for he was no other than ,mr4 ,smith himself4 ,they both walked over a considerable extent of ground1 within which ,mr4 ,smith told the good father to make his choice of a site4 ,he had selected that whereon ,st4 ,anne's ,retreat now stands1 when ,father ,ignatius arrived4 ,father ,ignatius hesitated a little before giving his consent1 and it was only when ,father ,dominic said emphatically1 ,the house that is to be built here will yet be the largest and best we shall have in ,england1 that he fully agreed4 ,that prophecy is noted in a #cge journal ,father ,ignatius kept at the time1 and he wondered afterwards how the church and monastery that arose on that dreary spot verified it to the letter4 ,it is the best and largest we have in ,england at the present moment1 and ,father ,dominic never saw a stone of its foundations laid4 ,fathers ,dominic1 ,ignatius1 and ,vincent1 give a mission in ,romney ,terrace1 ,westminster1 in ,march4 ,shortly after they give another in ,high ,street1 ,dublin4 ,at this mission they introduced the ,italian ceremonies1 such as peacemakers 7persons appointed to reconcile those at variance71 special sermons for different classes of people1 bell for the five paters1 and public asking of pardon by the missionaries4 ,it fell to ,father ,ignatius to be spokesman in this latter ceremony1 and sore straitened was he to find out in what particular the fathers had offended1 that he might therefrom draw the apology for their act4 ,he searched and searched1 and at last remembered his own proneness to nod asleep when too long in the confessional4 ,this was the plea he made1 and we must say it was a very poor one3 it gives1 however1 a good idea of his candour1 and want of unreality4 ,these demonstrations were found to be unsuited to the genius of the people1 and have been suffered to fall into desuetude ever since4 ,father ,ignatius goes next on a begging tour through ,manchester1 ,sheffield1 and the north of ,england4 ,he called at ,carstairs ,house1 on his way to ,glasgow and ,edinburgh1 to visit his friend ,mr4 ,monteith4 ,mr4 ,monteith was received into the ,church by ,dr4 ,wiseman1 when ,father ,ignatius lived in ,oscott4 ,father ,ignatius was his god-father4 ,a friendship then began between them which never cooled2 they kept up a correspondence from which many important hints have been borrowed for this book1 and it was from ,mr4 ,monteith's place the soul of ,father ,ignatius took its departure for a better world4 ,mr4 ,monteith extended the friendship he had for ,father ,ignatius to his other religious brethren1 and time after time has he given them substantial proofs of its depth and generosity4 ,father ,ignatius and he had been for some time in correspondence about founding a house of ,passionists #cgf somewhere near ,lanark or ,carstairs2 but circumstances over which they had no control prevented them coming to a conclusion4 ,the ,vincentians have well and worthily taken the place1 and the first house of our order founded in ,scotland was ,st4 ,mungo's1 ,glasgow1 a few months after ,father ,ignatius's death4 ,it was he who opened ,mr4 ,monteith's domestic chapel1 and said the first mass in it4 ,and it was in the same chapel the first mass was said for his own soul in presence of the body4 ,he says in the ,journal3-- ,tuesday1 ,aug4 #ad4--,went to ,london with ,father ,dominic4 ,we had a fine talk with ,dr4 ,wiseman4 ,we dined at #ab in ,king ,william ,street with ,faber and the ,oratorians4 ,wednesday1 ,aug4 #ae4--,sung mass at #aj and preached1 ,prepared in a hurry for my journey4 ,went off at #c for the ,continent4 ,he never saw ,father ,dominic in the flesh again4 ,on the #bgth of ,august1 #ahdi1 ,father ,dominic and a brother priest were travelling by railway to ,aston4 ,in the morning1 before leaving ,london1 the companion asked ,father ,dominic to bring him with him2 he had just arrived from ,australia1 and wished to see some of his old companions at ,aston ,hall4 ,father ,dominic thought this was not reason enough for incurring the expense of the journey2 he demurred1 but at length assented4 ,it was fortunate he did4 ,when they came as far as ,reading1 ,father ,dominic became suddenly ill4 ,he was taken out on the platform1 and as the people were afraid of an epidemic1 no one would admit the patient into his house4 ,there lay the worn-out missionary1 who had prayed and toiled so long for the conversion of ,england1 on that bleak desolate-looking platform1 abandoned by all for whose salvation he thirsted1 with only a companion kneeling by his side to prepare him for eternity4 ,but the coldness and want of hospitality of the people gave him no concern3 other thoughts engrossed him4 ,a few minutes he suffered1 and in those few he made his preparation4 ,he made arrangements for the government of our houses1 he gave his last instructions to his companion1 he invoked a blessing upon ,england1 and then placidly #cgg closed his eyes for ever upon this wicked world1 to open them in a brighter one4 ,he died abandoned1 and almost alone1 but he died in the poverty he had practised1 and the solitude he loved4 ,father ,ignatius was in ,holland at the time4 ,on his arrival at our house in ,tournay he heard a rumour of ,father ,dominic's death4 ,he gave no credit to it at first2 a letter written to him about it went astray2 and it was not until about a fortnight after it happened that he saw a paragraph in a newspaper1 giving the full particulars4 ,he hastened home at once to ,england1 and the first thing he heard from ,dr4 ,wiseman was that ,father ,dominic had nominated him his successor4 ,father ,ignatius1 when his provisional appointment had been confirmed in ,rome1 could only look forward to trials and difficulties such as he had never to get through before4 ,we had then three houses of the order in ,england1 and one in ,belgium1 which were united under one ,superior1 acting as ,provincial4 ,the houses were not yet constituted into a canonical province4 ,the fewness of the members1 and their ignorance of the customs and ways of a strange country1 increased the difficulties4 ,that year1 indeed1 four excellent priests1 who have since worked hard on the ,english mission1 came from ,rome2 but they could as yet only say mass1 on account of their imperfect acquaintance with the ,english language4 ,then1 the existence of each house was so precarious that the smallest gust of opposition seemed sufficient to unpeople them4 ,aston ,hall was struggling to build a church1 in which undertaking that mission was destined to exhaust all the life it had2 for it eked out but a dying existence from the time the church was opened1 until it was given up in a few years4 ,the retreat at ,woodchester seemed to have lacked any spirit of vitality from the absence of the cross in its foundation4 ,the generosity of a convert made everything smooth and convenient in the beginning1 but the difficulties that led at length to our leaving it were already threatening to rise4 ,the house in ,london was doomed to be transplanted to the wilderness of ,the ,hyde1 even before #cgh the death of ,father ,dominic1 and ,st4 ,anne's1 ,sutton1 was not yet begun4 ,this was the material position of the ,passionists when ,father ,ignatius became ,superior1 or quasi ,provincial4 ,to add to this1 the fathers were not first-rate men of business4 ,they could pray well1 preach and hear confessions1 but they gave people of the world credit for being better than they were4 ,some of their worldly affairs became1 therefore1 complicated1 and ,father ,ignatius1 unfortunately1 was not the man to rectify matters and put them straight4 ,he was a sage in spirituals1 but the very reverse in temporals4 ,many of the religious became disheartened at the prospect4 ,some lost their vocations4 ,many fought manfully with contending difficulties1 weathered all the storms1 and1 tempered and taught by those days of trouble1 look with smiling placidity on what we should think serious crosses in these days4 ,such is the beginning of every religious institute2 it grows and thrives by contradiction and persecution4 ,human foresight prophesied our destruction then1 and could not believe that in sixteen years we should have seven houses in this province1 with an average of about twenty religious for each4 ,the ways of ,god are wonderful4 ,this kind of confession was necessary1 in order that readers might have an idea of ,father ,ignatius's position after the death of ,father ,dominic4 ,he set to work at once1 first carrying out ,father ,dominic's intentions1 and then trying some special work of his own4 ,the new church at ,woodchester was consecrated by ,dr4 ,hendren and ,dr4 ,ullathorne1 and ,dr4 ,wiseman preached at the opening4 ,the new church of ,st4 ,michael's1 ,aston ,hall1 was opened in the same year4 ,on the #gth of ,november the community of ,poplar ,house1 two priests and a lay brother1 move to ,the ,hyde4 ,father ,ignatius1 with ,fathers ,vincent and ,gaudentius1 give a mission in ,westminster1 and they venture out in their habits through the streets of ,london4 ,this mission brought out some of ,father ,ignatius's peculiarities4 ,in the instruction upon the sanctification of holy days1 which it was his duty to give1 he proposed that the ,irish should make #cgi a general strike1 not for wages1 but for mass on festivals4 ,he went to visit ,father ,faber1 who was ill at the time2 they became engrossed in conversation1 when ,father ,ignatius looked at his watch and said he should get away to prepare his sermon or instruction4 ,father ,faber said this was a very human proceeding1 and was of opinion that missionaries should be able to preach like the ,apostles1 without preparation4 ,father ,ignatius turned the matter over in his mind1 reasoned it out with himself1 and thenceforward never delivered what might be called an elaborate discourse4 ,it may be remarked1 before closing the chapter1 that ,father ,dominic1 at ,father ,ignatius's suggestion1 ordered1 in the beginning of #ahdi1 three ,hail ,marys to be said by us after ,complin for the conversion of ,england4 ,the practice is still continued1 and has been extended to our houses on the ,continent and in ,america4 #chj ,,chapter ,v4 ,spirit ,of ,father ,ignatius ,at ,this ,time4 ,so much has to be said about the exterior actions of ,father ,ignatius1 that one is apt1 in reading them1 to forget the spirit in which they were done4 ,it is true that it is by the nature of the actions themselves a judgment can be formed of what that spirit must have been1 but then they are liable to a false construction4 ,he was chiefly remarkable for his spirit of poverty4 ,it was not alone that he loved poverty1 and tried to observe his vow1 but he refined this observance to an exquisite degree1 by trying to treat himself and get others to treat him like a mean beggar4 ,he wished to feel poverty1 and sought hardships in things that were easy enough1 for that end4 ,when he went by train he always took a third-class ticket1 and was most ingenious in his defence of this proceeding4 ,if some one objected to him that the third-class carriages generally contained rough1 low1 ill-bred1 and coarsely-spoken fellows1 he gently answered3 ,yes2 you may find a thick sprinkling of blackguards there4 ,whether or no1 he would say again1 the third class is the poor man's class1 and it ought to be mine4 ,one time he was expected to preach a grand sermon in some town or other2 the lord of the manor1 a ,catholic1 ordered his carriage1 with livery servants1 and came himself to bring him in state to the priest's house4 ,he waited for the good father on the platform1 looking at the doors of the different first-class carriages1 and condescending to give a glance or two towards the second4 ,what was his surprise when ,father ,ignatius1 habit and sandals and a'1 got out of a third4 ,my dear ,father ,ignatius1 he half indignantly exclaimed1 why do you travel by #cha third class8 ,well1 replied ,father ,ignatius1 because there isn't a fourth4 ,this idea that he was a poor man and ought to live like one he carried out in everything4 ,he might be generally seen with a large blue bag4 ,this bag was not of a respectable make or durable material2 no1 it was made of some kind of drogget1 like an ordinary sack1 and had a thick clumsy tape that gathered in the mouth of it1 and closed it with a big knot4 ,when he had a long journey before him he brought a pair of these1 and tying them together put the knot upon his shoulder1 and would trudge off six or seven miles with one dangling in front and another behind4 ,if somebody offered him a seat in a car or wagon1 he gladly accepted it2 if not1 he did without it4 ,on this same principle he seldom refused a meal when out2 and if he wanted something to eat1 he generally went and begged for it at the first house he came to4 ,at home he usually washed and mended his underclothing and stockings 7the stockings1 by the way1 would have blistered the hardest foot after his mending71 and whilst he was ,superior he would never allow anyone to do a menial service for him4 ,he had a great dread of the slightest attempt at over-nicety in a priest's dress2 it was anguish to him to see a priest1 especially a religious1 with kid gloves1 neat shoes1 or a fashionable hat4 ,his own appearance might be put down as one degree short of slovenliness4 ,be it remembered that this was not his natural bent4 ,we are told by those who knew him when a young man1 that he would walk a dozen streets in ,london1 and enter every hosier's shop1 to find articles that would suit his taste in style and fitting2 it had been almost impossible to please him in this respect2 whereas1 when a religious1 he would as soon wear a cast-off tartan as anything else1 if it did not tend to bring a kind of disrespect upon his order4 ,he wore for several years an old mantle belonging to a religious who died1 and would never leave it off as long as there was room for another patch upon it1 unless the ,provincial gave him strict orders to do so4 ,he was scrupulously exact in fulfilling the rules and regulations of the ,congregation1 so much so that even in #chb those cases in which others would consider themselves dispensed1 he would go through everything4 ,it is our rule to chant the entire of the ,divine ,office in choir2 the rector is supposed to give a homily or two1 called examens1 every week to the religious4 ,when there is not a sufficient number to chant1 of course no law human or divine would require us to do so2 and if there be not a congregation1 one is not expected1 in the ordinary course of things1 to preach to empty benches4 ,father ,ignatius was as keenly aware of the common-sense drift of this kind of reasoning as any one could be1 but he so overcame the promptings of human considerations1 that a literal observance1 in the face of such plain exceptions1 seemed his ordinary way of acting4 ,there are two instances in point that occurred about the year #ahdi4 ,the two priests who formed the choir of the community at ,the ,hyde remained in bed one night1 either from illness or late attendance at sick-calls1 and ,father ,ignatius was the only priest present4 ,he chanted the whole of matins and lauds by himself1 and went through it as formally as if there were twenty religious in choir4 ,another day the priests were out1 and he and two lay brothers only remained at home2 he preached them the examen just the same as if the choir was full4 ,another time the alarum that used to go off at one o'clock1 at that time for matins1 missed4 ,father ,ignatius awoke at three o'clock1 and he immediately sprung the rattle and assembled the religious for matins4 ,at half-past four the night work in choir was over3 half-past five was then the hour of rising for prime4 ,father ,ignatius kept them all in choir until the time1 and had the bells rung1 and everything else in due order4 ,this does not argue a kind of unreasoning observance in him1 out of time and out of place4 ,on the contrary1 he well knew that it was inconvenient1 but he thought ,god would be more glorified by it than by an exemption from what was prescribed4 ,one anecdote he used to relate to us convinced us of that4 ,he often related with particular tact how once in ,aston ,hall1 ,father ,dominic did not hear the bell for matins4 ,he awoke at half-past two2 everything was still4 ,he went and sounded the rattle with a vengeance1 #chc as if every sound was meant to say1 ,i'll give a good penance to the brother that forgot to put up the alarum4 ,when he had done sounding he dropped the instrument at the choir door1 and went in with a taper to light the lamps4 ,what was his mortification to find all the religious just concluding their meditation with a smothered laugh at their ,superior4 ,two other tokens of his spirit at this time must be illustrated together4 ,he was a very cool reasoner2 it might almost be said that he scarcely ever grew hot in dispute1 and always gave his adversary's arguments due consideration4 ,at the same time he was far from being of a sceptical cast of mind4 ,if an argument approved itself to him1 no matter how trifling it might be intrinsically1 he felt bound to admit it1 and adopt it1 if practical1 unless he could refute it completely4 ,again1 he had a thorough disregard of human respect4 ,what will people say8 or ,how will it look8 never entered into the motives of his actions2 and if it did1 he would consider himself bound to go straight and defy them4 ,what did he care about the opinion of the world8 ,it was1 he knew1 seldom led by sound reason1 and therefore beneath his consideration4 ,he found that the ,oratorians began to go about in their soutanes2 he had a talk with ,father ,faber about it1 and forthwith resolved to go about in his habit4 ,cardinal ,wiseman approved of it1 if done with prudence1 and ,father ,ignatius began at once4 ,in a letter to ,mr4 ,monteith he says3--,i court the honour of following the ,oratorians close in this 7confining ourselves to the work of our vocation71 as ,i have done likewise in beginning to wear the habit4 ,he used to relate an amusing adventure he once had in a train with his habit on4 ,at a certain station a middle-aged gentleman1 with his little daughter1 were getting into the carriage which ,father ,ignatius had to himself1 as every one shunned his monkish company4 ,the little girl got afraid1 and would not enter4 ,the gentleman bravely ventured in1 to set an example to his child1 but all to no avail1--the girl was still afraid4 ,at last the man said out loud1 ,come on1 child2 the gentleman won't bite6 meaning ,father ,ignatius4 #chd ,the child summed up courage when she heard the paternal assurance of safety to her skin1 and got to a seat4 ,she bundled herself up in the corner diagonally opposite the monk1 tried to appear as near the invisible as she could1 and stared wildly on the strange spectacle for a long time4 ,her father got into conversation with ,father ,ignatius1 began deciphering the badge by means of all the ,greek and ,latin he could bring to his assistance1 and became quite interested in the genial conversation of the good priest4 ,when the child heard her father laugh1 she began to edge up near the stranger1 and1 before they separated1 father and child were convinced that monks were not such frightful things as they appeared at first sight4 ,we shall have other adventures to relate about his habit further on4 ,another peculiar characteristic of his spirit was his great devotion to the ,blessed ,virgin4 ,he set more value on a ,hail ,mary than any conceivable form of prayer4 ,he went so far in this1 that he had to be reasoned out of its excess afterwards by one of his companions4 ,he did everything by ,hail ,marys2 he would convert ,england by ,hail ,marys2 and in the year #ahej he obtained a plenary indulgence for the three ,hail ,marys for the conversion of ,england4 ,when any one asked him to pray for them1 he promised a ,hail ,mary4 ,this was very praiseworthy in him1 as we know how hard it is even for some to go heart and soul into the ,catholic instinct of devotion to the ,mother of ,god4 ,they must have their qualifications1 and their terms1 and their conditions1 as if1 forsooth1 she ought to be obliged to them for acknowledging her privileges at all4 ,the worst of it is1 that ,catholics often tone down their books of devotion and expressions to suit the morbid tastes of ultra-,protestants1 or the fastidiousness of some whitewashed ,puseyite4 ,it may be thought prudent to do so2 but it is disgraceful1 mean1 and dishonourable1 to say the least of it4 ,these are the most prominent outlines in ,father ,ignatius's spirit at the time we are writing about1 and if we add to them a great devotion to the sacrifice of the mass1 we shall have his soul in a fair way before us4 ,he never missed celebrating1 if he possibly could2 and often he arrived at #che #aa o'clock in the day at one of our houses1 after travelling all night1 and would eat nothing until he had first said mass4 ,a month before he died he travelled all night from ,glasgow to ,london1 and said mass in ,highgate at #aa o'clock4 ,he was jaded1 weak in health1 but he would not lose one sacrifice3 it was of too great a value1 and he had received too many favours through it1 to omit it on light grounds4 ,this was a life-long devotion of his1 and it is the essential one for a priest of ,god4 ,from what has been said1 we can form a fair estimate of his character as a ,passionist4 ,one is so obvious that it requires no mention at all1 and that was his zeal for the conversion and sanctification of souls4 ,so far did this go1 that he seemed led by it blindly and wholly4 ,this was his weak1 or1 perhaps more properly1 his strong point4 ,go with him in that1 and you covered a multitude of sins4 ,another essential was his thanking ,god for everything4 ,this he carried so far that he became perfectly insensible to insults1 mockeries1 and injuries1 and yet he felt them keenly4 ,at one time he used to pass late at night by a lonesome lane that led to our last house at ,the ,hyde4 ,he heard rumours of some evil-disposed wretches having intended to shoot him4 ,one night he heard a rustling in the hedge as he was walking on1 and the thought struck him that perhaps an assassin was lying in ambush for him4 ,the religious asked him what were his thoughts4 ,well1 said he1 ,i hoped that when the bullet struck me ,i would have time to say1 'thank ,god for that' before ,i died4 ,from this rough sketch of his spirit it will be seen that he had too little of the serpent1 in the ,gospel sense1 to make a good ,superior4 ,he was too simple and confiding for that2 he did not know how to suspect1 and any one that knew how to get into his views could do what he pleased4 ,at the same time1 all reverenced him as a saint1 and every day of his religious life increased the estimation in which he was held by his own brethren4 ,this is the more valuable as it is the private life of most men which lowers them in the eyes of those who have the opportunity of observing them4 ,father ,ignatius tried always to make the subject-matter of #chf his conversation as edifying as possible2 it was withal so beautifully interspersed with amusing anecdotes1 that it could not fail to interest all4 ,he had a peculiar tact for relating stories1 and a wonderful memory2 he was unrivalled in his power of mimicry1 and he enjoyed fun with the greatest relish4 ,it was the opinion of every one who knew him intimately1 that nothing came under his notice which he could not turn to pointing the argument of a sermon or furthering the glory of ,god4 ,he christianized everything2 and did so with such grace1 that the love of what he remodelled was increased for its new aspect4 #chg ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,his ,dealings ,with ,protestants ,and ,prayers ,for ,union4 ,the kindly feelings ,father ,ignatius always showed for ,protestants laid him open to the charge of a want of appreciation for the blessings of faith1 or of not hating heresy as saints have hated it4 ,although his whole life and actions amply refute either conclusion1 some of the incidents of this period of his life bring out his conduct in this respect in its real character4 ,he tried to extend the benefit or plea of invincible ignorance as widely as possible4 ,he laboured and reasoned1 with a warmth unusual to him1 to remove the notion some ,catholics have1 that the majority of ,protestants know they are wrong1 but from some unworthy motive will not give up their errors4 ,his proofs of the position he chose to take here were not certainly the most convincing1 for his stock argument was to quote himself4 ,it did of course occur to him that its point could be retorted by the fact of his becoming a ,catholic for his bona fides2 but he took up the argument then by saying we were therefore to hope for the conversion of ,england4 ,his idea of ,england's apostasy was mainly this3 that the body of the people had been swindled out of their religion by the machinations of a few crafty1 unprincipled statesmen1 at the time of the ,reformation4 ,a system of misrepresentation and false colouring of ,catholic doctrines and practices was invented and handed down from generation to generation1 which impregnated the minds of children with the notion that ,catholicity and absurdity were one and the same thing4 ,from this point of view did he look at the millions who groped in the #chh darkness of error1 blaspheming the doctrines of ,jesus ,christ1 and imagining they were thereby doing ,him a service4 ,he took then the side of pity1 which always inclines one to the lessening of faults4 ,he lamented nothing more than the loss of faith in ,england1 and he thought that a harsh1 iron way of dealing with ,englishmen would close their hearts against grace altogether4 ,this led him to use the mildest terms he could find1--nay1 the most respectful1--in speaking of ,protestants4 ,he would never call them heretics1 nor their ministers parsons4 ,separated from the ,church1 ,church of ,england people1 ,dissenters1 ,clergymen1 were his usual terms1 and he would often also speak of them as our separated brethren4 ,this twofold aspect of his bearing towards ,protestants certainly proceeded alike from charity and zeal4 ,it was a common remark with him1 that we ought not to suppose people bad and evil-disposed unless we are certain of it1 neither should we hurt their feelings by opprobrious epithets4 ,and if we intend to do them any good we should be the more cautious still as to our thoughts and words4 ,he used to sigh when he had done speaking of the state of religion in ,england1 but he would immediately start up as if from a reverie and say1 ,shall we not do something to save our poor countrymen8 ,so far was he from sympathizing with the mildest form of error1 that even in scholastic questions he would always take the safer side4 ,in his love for the heretic1 therefore1 no one could ever find the least sympathy with the heresy2 or if he called the error a polite name1 it was only to gain admission to the heart it was corroding1 in order to be allowed to pluck it out4 ,if we take into account his great love for souls1 it will seem wonderful that he did not burst out at times into indignation against what destroyed so many2 but we must remember that such a thing as fierce outbursts of any kind were most unsuitable to his spirit4 ,his love would make him try to eliminate from those who had died external to the ,church1 all the formal heresy he possibly could2 and he felt special delight in the fact that the ,catholic ,church forbids us to judge the #chi damnation of any particular individual as certain4 ,but then let us think for a moment of what he did to uproot heresy4 ,he spoke1 he wrote1 he preached1 he toiled for thirty years incessantly almost for this single object4 ,any one that weighs this well will be far from judging that he had the least sympathy with error4 ,his kindliness1 therefore1 for ,protestants1 and his belief that the vast majority of them were in good faith1 so far from making him sit down at ease and enjoy his own faith1 and not bestir himself unless ,protestants thrust themselves upon him to claim admission into the fold1 produced directly the opposite effect4 ,their not being so bad as was generally imagined1 buoyed his hope in their speedy recovery2 their being so near the truth1 as he charitably supposed1 made him strain every nerve to compel them to come across the barrier that separated them from him4 ,one of the means he adopted for reuniting ,protestants to the ,catholic ,church laid him open to another serious charge1 which was1 if possible1 more groundless than the last4 ,in ,january1 #ahej1 he began to go about and call upon ,protestants of every description--ministers of church and state nobles and plebeians4 ,his object was to get them all to pray for unity4 ,to state plainly his way of action1 it was this3--,he intended to ask all ,protestants to pray for unity in the truth1 wherever ,god knows it to be4 ,this1 he said1 was of course to pray for conversion to ,catholicism unknown to themselves2 it was taking the enemy by stratagem in his own camp4 ,objections were made in different quarters against the proposition4 ,some said it was not acting fairly and candidly2 he then used to qualify it by telling them that he knew very well the truth lay in the ,catholic ,church alone1 and so did every ,catholic1 and that if any ,protestant asked him he would plainly tell him so4 ,others then said1 ,protestants would be all praying for proselytes to their own persuasions1 for they were all in good faith1 and thought themselves in the truth4 ,these and sundry other objections were made to this mode of proceeding2 it was looked upon with suspicion1 as savouring too much of communication with heretics1 and he never got a #cij superior to approve of it1 neither was it condemned4 ,so it remained to the last an agitated question1 which none of us would enter into1 and which himself adopted with a kind of tentative adhesion4 ,there was nothing wrong1 certainly1 in getting ,protestants to pray for unity2 but then1 unity in the truth1 where ,god knew it to exist1 was a very indefinite thing to propose to them4 ,questions might be raised which could only be answered in one way4 ,what kind of unity8 ,external or internal1 or both8 ,where does ,god know the truth to exist8 ,must we all put ourselves in a ,cartesian doubt for a starting-point8 ,and so on4 ,the only answer could be--,the ,catholic ,church4 ,and might he not as well ask them to pray for that at once8 ,father ,ignatius was not at all obstinate in sticking to this proposal as a theory he might reduce to practice1 it came up at times in his conversation1 and was dropped as easily4 ,the mistake it led to was1 however1 rather serious3 it was supposed that ,father ,ignatius looked favourably on1 if he did not entirely coincide with1 a society called ,the ,association for ,promoting the ,unity of ,christendom1 designated by the letters ,a4,p4,u4,c4 ,with this society ,father ,ignatius never had anything to do2 he detested its principles1 although he hoped it would do good in its way4 ,he wished it to be confined to ,protestants4 ,one leading principle of the ,a4,p4,u4,c4 was certainly somewhat akin to some of ,father ,ignatius's dreams--conversions en masse2 but his notions and those of the ,association were widely different4 ,they were for coming over in a great1 respectable body1 whose size and standing would deserve to receive great concessions in the way of discipline1 as the condition of their surrender4 ,father ,ignatius was for an unconditional submission of each individual1 and could not allow any one to wait at the door of the ,church for a companion to enter with him4 ,the en masse of ,father ,ignatius was no more nor less1 then1 than this3 that the people of ,england should throw off their prejudices and begin in a body to examine candidly the grounds of the ,catholic faith4 ,he was glad that the ,association existed1 because it carried out so much of his wishes2 but it #cia went too far for him1 and in a prohibited line1 when it asked for ,catholic prayers and sacrifices1 and for ,catholic members4 ,he never1 therefore1 gave his name to it1 though often and repeatedly solicited to do so4 ,his greatest friend was publicly known to be a member of the ,association1 and much as he loved and honoured him1 ,father ,ignatius had no hesitation in saying of him1 in hoc non laudo4 ,even so late as the year '#fc or '#fd1 he received a bundle of their official papers1 with a private letter from the secretary and a number of the ,union ,review2 he was seen to scan them over1 and then throw them into the fire4 ,about the year '#ej or '#ea1 when he was always going about asking for prayers for unity1 after the new idea that struck him1 an incident occurred to bear out what is here said4 ,he happened to be speaking with a roomful of ,protestant clergymen on this very subject4 ,they listened to him very attentively1 raised objections1 had them answered1 and finally agreed to the justness of his proposals4 ,they agreed1 moreover1 to kneel down then and pray together for unity1 and asked ,father ,ignatius to join them4 ,he refused at once4 ,they pressed him on every side1 and said1 among other things1 that he ought to set them this example4 ,he jumped up with indignation1 and said1 in a manner quite unusual to him1 ,i'd rather be torn in pieces by forty thousand mad dogs than say a prayer with you4 ,he hereupon left the room1 and became more cautious for the future as to how and when he asked them to pray for unity4 ,the reason of this abrupt proceeding was the law that forbids all ,catholics to communicate with heretics in divine things4 ,joint prayer1 of course1 is against this law4 ,it is singular that1 though he has left behind his thoughts drawn out in full upon all the ideas he took up from time to time about the conversion of heretics and the sanctification of ,catholics1 there is nothing left among his papers upon this project4 ,we may conclude from this1 as well as what has been said above1 that while he looked upon the ,unionists with kindness1 he never adopted their principles2 and such of his notions as seemed congenial to theirs will be #cib found1 on examination1 to be totally different4 ,this it was necessary to remark1 as many very well informed ,catholics thought poor ,father ,ignatius came under the censure of the ,inquisition1 in re ,a4,p4,u4,c4 ,it was quite a mistake1 and he should have endorsed that censure himself1 if he lived1 and freely as he avoided what drew it down before he died4 #cic ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,father ,ignatius ,in #ahej4 ,this year was so full of events interesting to ,father ,ignatius1 that there is no leading one round which others may be grouped to head the chapter4 ,he expected to be called to ,rome towards ,easter2 he had even written to the ,general1 and had received letters to that effect4 ,the object of this visit will be best understood from the following extract from a letter written at this time1 dated from #ac1 ,garnault ,place1 ,clerkenwell1 ,london3-- ,i am here on a mission with ,father ,gaudentius1 and as we have not yet great press of work1 ,i will write to tell you of an important feature in my prospects for the present year4 ,it is1 that ,i am going to ,rome about ,easter4 ,about the time ,i saw you last ,i wrote to the ,general1 saying that ,i thought this would be a good step4 ,after that ,i thought no more about it till the other day a letter came from him1 in which he approved the proposal2 and so1 after a mission which we are to give at ,st4 ,george's from the first to the fourth ,sunday in ,lent1 ,i propose starting4 ,i shall be1 ,i expect1 about four months absent4 ,i propose begging my way there1 through ,france or ,germany1 which will make the journey last a month or six weeks2 then1 after stopping six weeks or two months in ,italy1 to make acquaintance with our ,senior ,fathers1 and inform myself1 as much as possible1 of all the ways and spirit of our congregation 7of which1 of course1 now ,i am very ignorant71 ,i hope to bring back the ,general with me to make a visitation of his flock4 ,before giving the mission in ,st4 ,george's1 he wrote to his sister1 ,lady ,lyttelton1 to tell her of his intended journey to ,rome1 and of a visit he would pay her before starting4 ,her #cid ladyship was then in ,windsor ,castle1 and we shall give her reply1 as it shows the genial affection that always existed between them1 and at the same time accounts for his not having gone to ,windsor in his habit1 as was often supposed4 ,windsor ,castle1 ,jan4 #bhth4 ,my ,dear ,brother1--,i am very much obliged to you for your kindly telling me your plans1 and giving me a hope of seeing you before you go to ,rome4 ,the period you mention as the probable one for your mission at ,st4 ,george's1 will most likely be the very best for me to see you1 as we shall probably remove to ,london about the middle of ,february1 and remain till after ,easter2 so ,i shall look forward with much pleasure to an occasional visit4 ,i am much obliged to you for telling me of the intended change in your dress4 ,i should never have guessed its probability1 having erroneously believed it simply illegal2 but ,i find that was a mistake4 ,you will1 ,i hope1 not wonder or blame me1 if ,i beg you to visit me at my own little home1 ,no4 #ch1 ,st4 ,james's ,place1 and not at the ,palace1 when you are looking so remarkable4 ,i don't want to figure in a paragraph1 and so novel a sight in the ,palace might lead to some such catastrophe4 ,a day's notice of your visit will always enable me to meet you1 and ,caroline and ,kitty1 and probably others of those that remain to me of my ancient belongings1 may thereby sometimes get a glimpse of you1 though we should be always able to have our coze in a separate room4 ,i almost wish you would take me under your cowl to ,rome4 ,how ,i should like once more to see the ,colosseum 7and to learn to spell its name71 and the ,vatican6 but hardly at the cost of a long journey1 either4 ,fritz and ,bessy ,footnote #aa are coming here next ,thursday on a two days' visit to the ,queen1 and when ,i have seen them ,i will tell you of their plans4 ,i suppose they will be at ,althorp till after ,easter4 ,believe me1 my dear brother1 ,very affectionately yours1 ,s4 ,lyttelton4 ,footnote #aa3 ,lord and ,lady ,spencer4 #cie ,when ,father ,ignatius went to ,st4 ,james's ,place to pay the visit arranged for in this letter1 he experienced some difficulty in getting as far as his sister4 ,the porter who opened the gate did not know him1 and was1 of course1 astonished to see such a strange figure demanding an interview with his mistress4 ,he would not let him in until he got special orders from ,lady ,lyttelton herself4 ,father ,ignatius used to contrast this servant's mode of acting with that of another who admitted him once to ,althorp4 ,this last servant did not know him either2 but seeing he looked tired1 he took him into his lodge1 got him some bread and cheese and a glass of ale for refreshment4 ,by-and-by the ,earl passed1 and was highly amused at seeing ,george regale himself with such satisfaction on the servant's fare4 ,the servant made some apologies1 but they were quite unnecessary1 for ,father ,ignatius never forgot his kindness1 and used to say that he enjoyed the porter's pittance far more than the viands of the ,big ,house1 as he used to call it4 ,father ,ignatius was seldom at home up to ,june1 when he went to visit our religious in ,belgium1 who were subject to his jurisdiction2 he had given a mission in ,garnault ,street1 a retreat to our religious in ,aston ,hall1 a mission in ,st4 ,george's1 ,southwark1 a retreat to nuns in ,winchester1 a retreat to people in ,blackbrook1 and a retreat in ,sedgley ,park4 ,on his return from ,belgium he remained in ,london1 and preached in different churches1 besides giving a retreat to the people in ,winchester1 and visiting several ,protestant ministers1 until the mission in ,maze ,pond4 ,this was so badly attended that he used to preach in the courts1 beating up for an audience4 ,in giving an account sometimes of the visits above mentioned1 he used to tell about an old minister he and another of our fathers once called upon4 ,this gentleman suffered from gout1 and was consequently rather testy2 he had a lay friend staying with him at the time of the two ,passionists' visit4 ,he called the fathers idolaters1 and insisted1 right or wrong1 that our ,lord used the word represent when he instituted the ,blessed ,sacrament at the ,last ,supper4 ,it was in vain that all three tried to convince him of his mistake4 ,when1 at last1 the passage #cif was pointed out to him1 and that he had assured himself1 by inspecting title-page and royal arms1 that the ,bible was a genuine authorized version1 he was so far from giving in that1 like the wolf in the fable1 he immediately indicted them on another plea4 ,this incident ,father ,ignatius used to recount to show how far ignorance hindered the removal of prejudice4 ,his ,roman plan fell to the ground in the beginning of ,july1 when he received a letter to announce the coming of ,father ,eugene as ,visitor-,general to ,england4 ,father ,ignatius went to meet him to ,tournay1 and escorted him to ,england1 where his passing visit became a fixed residence to the present day4 ,this happened towards the end of ,july4 ,father ,ignatius then gave retreats to the priests in ,ushaw ,college1 to the nuns in ,sunderland1 and came to ,london to arrange about our taking ,st4 ,wilfrid's from the ,oratorians4 ,he went through all this before the end of ,august1 and was in ,carlow on the #dth of ,september1 to give two retreats at the same time to the students of the ,college and the ,presentation nuns4 ,on the #hth of ,september he went to ,thurles4 ,the ,irish bishops were assembled there for the most important synod held since ,henry ,,viii4's proposals were rejected4 ,the synod was held to make canons of discipline1 and laws for the new status the ,church had gained in ,ireland4 ,the rough-and-ready ceremonial that had to be used in times of persecution was laid aside1 after it had done good work in its day1 and one more systematic was decreed for the administration of the sacraments4 ,here the ,irish prelates were assembled1 and ,father ,ignatius thought it a great opportunity for opening his mind and stating his views to ,ireland by letting them known to her hierarchy4 ,his account of the visit to ,thurles is thus recorded in his journal3-- ,sept4 #h4--,mass at #e4 ,railway to ,thurles at #f4 ,put up at the ,christian schools4 ,dined there at #d4 ,saw the ,primate1 c41 at the ,college4 ,begged of the bishops1 c4 ,tuesday1 ,sept4 #i4--,mass at #f1 at the ,monk's ,altar4 ,begged on from the bishops4 ,at #aj1 the great ceremony of concluding the synod1 till #b4 ,the ,primate preached4 ,dr4 ,slattery sang #cig mass4 ,i walked in the procession4 ,at #e1 dined with the bishops1 c41 at the ,college4 ,made a speech after dinner on the ,crusade4 ,after his visit to ,thurles1 he came back to ,carlow and gave a retreat to the lay students in their own oratory4 ,he then went off on a begging tour through ,kildare1 ,carlow1 and ,kilkenny4 ,whilst in ,kilkenny he went to look at the old cathedral 7now in ,protestant hands72 his cicerone was a very talkative old woman1 who gave him a history1 in her own style1 of the crumbling worthies whose names he deciphered on the different monuments4 ,one account she told with especial gusto3 the last moments of an old lady of the ,butlers4 ,this old lady1 according to the cicerone's account1 had once been a ,catholic1 and on her death-bed wished to receive the rites of the ,church4 ,she was told that if she died a ,catholic1 those to whom her property was willed would be disinherited1 and that the property would pass over to others4 ,she hesitated some time on hearing this announcement1 and after a few minutes' reflection expressed her decision as follows1 ,oh1 well2 it is better that one old woman should burn in hell than that the family of the ,butlers should lose their estate4 ,she died shortly after--a ,protestant4 ,father ,ignatius used to say that he never was more surprised than at the manner of his guide as she concluded the climax of her narrative4 ,she seemed to think old ,granny ,butler's resolution showed the highest grade of heroic virtue and self-sacrifice4 ,in ,carrick-on-,suir he says3 ,made the best day's begging in my life up to this1 #ej4 ,he then went to ,tipperary1 ,cork1 visited all the convents and priests1 came to ,birr1 spent an afternoon with ,lord ,ross and his telescope2 begs in ,limerick1 ,drogheda1 ,newry1 ,dundalk1 ,ardee1 ,castle-blaney1 ,carrickmacross1 ,londonderry1 ,strabane1 ,omagh4 ,when he was in ,omagh there was a tenant-right meeting1 and he went to hear ,gavan ,duffy4 ,he begs through ,dungannon1 ,lurgan1 ,enniskillen1 ,ballyshannon1 ,clogher4 ,he then came to ,dublin1 from which he paid flying visits to a few convents1 and to the colleges of ,maynooth and ,all-hallows4 ,he returned to ,england on the #agth of ,november2 #cih and1 during his two months' tour in ,ireland1 he had preached seventy-nine sermons1 on the conversion of ,england chiefly4 ,he heard of the re-establishment of the hierarchy in ,england while travelling in ,ireland1 and one of his first acts1 on returning to ,london1 was to pay his respects to his old friend1 the new ,cardinal4 ,this year we were put in possession of ,st4 ,saviour's ,retreat1 ,broadway1 which has been the noviciate of the order since4 ,st4 ,anne's1 ,sutton1 was also colonized about the same time4 ,father ,ignatius gave a mission in ,glasgow during this ,advent1 and brought two young priests with him to train into the work of the missions4 ,one of them was ,father ,bernard1 and he gives wonderful accounts of ,father ,ignatius's labours4 ,he slept but about four hours in the twenty-four1 and was all the rest of the time busy either in the confessional or on the platform1 with the exception of the time he took to eat a hurried meal or two4 ,in going through ,liverpool on his return from ,glasgow1 in his habit1 a crowd gathered round him to hoot and insult him4 ,in his journal he says3 ,i got two blows on the head1 for which he took good care to thank ,god4 ,the year is concluded by preaching in ,dublin1 and giving the renewal retreat to the ,sisters of ,mercy in ,birr4 ,any one that will glance over this year of his life1 and see him perpetually moving from place to place1 will certainly think he had little time to himself4 ,it was about this time that he made the resolution of never being a moment idle1 a resolve he carried out to the last4 ,during this year and the preceding he was occupied in translating into ,english ,da ,bergamo's ,pensieri ed ,affetti4 ,the greater part of this book1 which was published by ,richardson1 under the name of ,thoughts and ,affections on the ,passion1 was translated by ,father ,ignatius1 on railway stations1 while waiting for trains1 in every place1 before or after dinner1 in intervals between confessions1 in all kinds of out-of-the way places2 and so careful was he to fill up every moment of time that we see noted in his journal his having done some of ,da ,bergamo in the fore cabin of the steamer that took him #cii from ,holyhead to ,kingstown4 ,he wrote it mostly in pencilling1 on the backs of envelopes1 scraps of paper of all sizes1 shapes1 and quality2 so that it was nearly as difficult to put those sibylline leaves in order and copy from them as it was to translate1 if not more so4 ,besides this he wrote a number of letters2 and his letters were no small notes with broken sentences1 but long lectures on difficulties of conscience1 written with a care and consideration that is perfectly surprising when one reflects upon his opportunities4 ,he used to say that no one should ever excuse his not answering a letter for want of time3 ,if the letter is worth answering we ought to get time for it1 for it becomes a kind of duty4 ,he certainly had no time to spare or throw away1 but he had always enough for any purpose in which charity or obedience could claim him4 ,his days were indeed full days1 and he scarcely ever went to bed until he had shaken himself out of nodding asleep over his table three or four times4 ,no one ever heard him say that he was tired and required rest2 rest he never had1 except on his hard bed or in his quiet grave4 ,if any man ever ate his bread in the sweat of his brow1 it was ,father ,ignatius of ,st4 ,paul1 the ever-toiling ,passionist4 #djj ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,a ,new ,form of ,the ,crusade4 ,we find ,father ,ignatius1 at the beginning of the year #ahea1 begging in ,ireland4 ,it was not his custom to go regularly from house to house2 he preferred collecting people together1 and addressing them1 and1 if this were not practicable1 getting permission from the priests to speak to their flocks on ,sundays and festivals4 ,he wanted prayers more than money1 and he was delighted that the plea of begging justified his moving about1 and gave him a kind of faculty to preach on his favourite topic1 the conversion of ,england4 ,oftentimes the spiritual interfered with his temporal interests1 as when an ,irishman1 who was about to give him an alms1 refused it as soon as he spoke about ,england4 ,strange enough1 ,father ,ignatius thought ,england-hating ,irishmen the very best subjects to practise his art of persuasion on4 ,he thought them true souls1 sensitive of their wrongs1 and valued them far more than those who lauded ,england through lack of patriotism4 ,he met many adventures during this begging tour in ,ireland4 ,in one parish1 the priest promised to allow him to preach to his congregation on the ,sunday1 and collect from them4 ,the priest did not seem to possess indifference to earthly things1 or generosity either1 in a very high degree2 for1 when ,father ,ignatius came to his place on ,saturday1 his reverence told him that he intended to claim the collection in the church1 whilst ,father ,ignatius might stand at the door and beg for himself as the people were going out4 ,father ,ignatius thanked ,god1 and was content1 only remarking that1 with the priest's permission1 he would prefer #dja to hold his hat under a large tree that grew near the church-door1 instead of at the door itself4 ,he preached at the last mass1 and never said a word about where or when he was to receive the people's offerings2 the collection was made by the priest1 and a most miserable one it proved to be4 ,father ,ignatius held his hat under the tree1 and1 since the day in ,carrick-on-,suir1 never had such a collection4 ,it was a marvel to him2 he could not account for it1 and he was the more surprised when he compared notes with the parish priest after all was over4 ,he found out the solution of the mystery that same evening4 ,it seems that1 on ,saturday1 he told a respectable lady in the neighbourhood of the priest's decision4 ,she1 without telling him a word of what she intended doing1 went home1 sent her servant through the village1 and collected twelve stalwart active young men2 she harangued them on what the priest was about to do1 and sent them all off to different parts of the parish to tell the people of it1 and also of the spot where ,father ,ignatius would receive their offerings4 ,the people had reason to think their pastor was a little fond of money1 and their indignation at his proceeding helped to increase their liberality4 ,he begged at this time in ,borris ,o',kane1 ,limerick1 ,ennis1 ,gort1 ,galway1 ,loughren1 ,ballinasloe1 ,mullingar1 and preached #aja sermons since the previous #eth ,september4 ,his begging tour ends in ,dublin1 about ,march1 where he begins a new campaign of what he terms his crusade4 ,he preached some controversial lectures in ,dublin1 dined and talked with ,dissenting ministers1 wrote a little newspaper controversy1 and had a meeting in the ,rotundo4 ,this very active kind of work did not seem to suit his taste or spirit1 and he changed very soon to another and a more congenial one--the conversational mode of advancing the ,catholic cause4 ,he visited the leading men both in the ,establishment and in the offices of ,state1 and the conferences he held with them are so interesting that we shall relate a few of them in his own words4 ,the extracts are taken from letters #djb published by him in #ahec1 in the ,catholic ,standard1 now ,the ,weekly ,register3-- ,interview with ,lord ,john ,russell4 ,one day early in ,february1 #ahej1 ,i had been on an expedition down to ,westminster4 ,i look back on all my walks during a certain period1 that is1 while ,i was constantly wearing my ,passionist habit1 as expeditions4 ,indeed they were eventful ones in their way4 ,i was returning through ,parliament ,street2 and having an hour to dispose of1 as ,i passed by ,downing ,street1 ,i thought ,i would now try1 what ,i had long thought of1 to have a conversation with the ,premier4 ,i asked1 ,is ,lord ,john ,russell at home8 ,the messenger query8 who came to the door looked at my figure with some surprise1 then said1 ,yes1 sir1 but he is engaged at present8 ,i said1 ,will you be so good as to say to him that ,lord ,spencer's brother would wish to speak with him8 ,walk in1 sir1 he answered2 and to my surprise1 ,i must say1 ,i found myself at once in a waiting-room1 and five minutes later was introduced to ,lord ,john4 ,he rose to me1 and kindly pointed to a chair4 ,i said1 ,do you remember me1 my ,lord8 ,oh1 yes1 he answered4 ,i then proceeded3 ,i hardly know whether what ,i am now doing is wise or not2 but ,i will explain my reason for asking to see your lordship and you will judge4 ,you are aware1 probably1 that it is now some twenty years since ,i became a ,catholic4 ,ever since that time1 my whole mind has been bent on leading others to the same faith1 and1 in short1 on the conversion of this country to ,catholicity4 ,for this end ,i have endeavoured1 as far as it was possible1 to move all ,catholics throughout the world to pray for the conversion of ,england4 ,i have also spoken with as many as ,i could of the leading men among the clergy of the ,church of ,england and among ,dissenting ministers1 to move them also to pray that ,god would bring this country to unity in the truth wherever he sees it to be4 ,i am almost always received agreeably on these occasions2 for all seem to agree in what ,i think cannot be denied1 that if there is anything which #djc threatens ruin to the power and prosperity of this country it is our religious divisions4 ,his lordship here1 without speaking1 intimated1 as ,i understood1 his assent to this last sentence2 but interrupted me by asking more particularly3 ,what do you propose to ,dissenters8 ,the same1 ,i said1 as to ,anglicans2 ,i conceive this prayer is proper for them all alike4 444 ,i proceeded3 ,among ,catholics ,i find myself constantly met by the objection1 that if they came forward openly1 as ,i wish them to do1 it would offend those in power in ,england4 ,i answer them1 ,i am convinced it would not2 but in order to satisfy others rather than myself1 ,i have at last thought it well to come to the first authority and ask4 ,i will remark to your lordship why ,i say this4 ,among all ,catholics1 ,i am particularly intent on moving the ,catholics of ,ireland to undertake this cause4 ,i first went to ,ireland for the purpose in #ahdb4 ,now ,i look upon it as certain1 that if the ,irish had then undertaken1 as ,i wished them1 to pray for the conversion of ,england1 and had persevered in that work out of charity1 they would not1 in #ahdh1 have thought of making pikes against ,england2 and this would have saved our ,government some millions of pounds1 perhaps4 ,pikes are well enough in their place1 but ,i consider that charity would not have prompted the making of them on this occasion4 ,again1 ,i will say that my favourite individual object in ,ireland is to enlist in my cause your lordship's illustrious correspondent1 ,dr4 ,m',hale2 and it is my opinion that it would improve the style of his letters if there were introduced into them some expressions of charity towards ,england4 ,lord ,john slightly smiled1 and then proceeded with his answer1 as follows3 ,in answering you1 ,i beg to be understood that ,i do not speak as a minister2 but ,i will tell what ,i think as an individual4 ,the entire liberty which exists in this country for every one to think as he pleases1 and to speak what he thinks1 makes it appear to me difficult to conceive how a reunion of all the different religious opinions could be effected4 ,that is at least a distant prospect4 ,but anything which would tend to a diminution of the spirit of acrimony1 and of the disposition of people of opposite opinions to misrepresent one another's views1 must #djd do good4 ,then he added1 in a very pleasing tone3 ,and ,i will tell you1 that ,i consider the body to which you belong is the one which suffers the most from such misrepresentations4 ,i said then3 ,after hearing your lordship's answer1 given with such kindness1 ,i am quite happy at having come2 and ,i think ,i may infer from what you have said1 that you perfectly approve of my proceedings1 for the tendency of them entirely is to remove the misapprehensions which exist1 on both sides1 of the others principles4 ,i am convinced that ,catholics generally have a mistaken idea of what respectable ,protestants are2 and there is no doubt ,protestants are very widely wrong in their opinions of ,catholics4 ,i am working to counteract this error on both sides4 ,to this he did not reply2 and as ,i had gained all that ,i desired1 ,i rose to take my leave1 and said3 ,i frequently say to persons with whom ,i have had conversations like this1 what ,i will now say to your lordship1 that ,i do not promise secrecy concerning them2 but ,i request1 as a favour1 that if they should ever hear of my making what they consider an improper use of anything that they have said1 they would call me to account for it4 ,on this sentence1 likewise1 he made no remark1 but added again3 ,i repeat once more that ,i have not spoken as a minister1 as ,i do not think this is a matter with which ,i have any concern in that character4 ,i replied3 ,i understand you1 my ,lord2 yet ,i will say that it appears to me1 that ,i have reasons to have addressed your lordship in your public character4 ,his lordship smiled1 slightly bowed1 and ,i withdrew4 ,interview with ,lord ,clarendon4 ,i am very happy at finding myself with my pen in hand1 to give an account of my interviews with another distinguished member of our ,government2 at least1 as far as what passed bears on the subject of these letters1 the enterprise of ,england's conversion3--,i mean ,lord ,clarendon1 while he was ,lord-,lieutenant of ,ireland4 ,his lordship and ,i were formerly fellow-collegians and friends at ,cambridge2 #dje but from the year #ahai1 when ,i left ,trinity ,college1 we never saw each other till ,november #ac1 #ahej1 when ,i had an audience from him at the ,viceregal ,lodge in the ,phoenix ,park1 at ,dublin4 ,when ,i had been in ,ireland in #ahdh1 the thought had crossed my mind that ,i should be pleased to have a conversation with him1 but ,i put it away as a strange idea1 not worth entertaining4 ,in #ahej1 ,i returned to ,ireland1 and starting from the ,synod of ,thurles1 at the beginning of ,september1 ,i had what ,i would call my grand campaign among the ,irish people4 ,from the beginning of ,september to the end of ,april1 ,i preached #agj sermons to them on the enterprise of the conversion of ,england1 which at that time ,i used to call the ,crusade for ,england2 besides a number1 past reckoning1 of addresses to convents and schools1 and private conversations to the same intent4 ,this career was interrupted in the middle of ,november1 when ,i came for six weeks to ,england4 ,as ,i was approaching ,dublin to cross the water1 my strange idea revived1 but its aspect was more inviting4 ,the result of my visit to ,lord ,john ,russell had been so encouraging1 that ,i wrote to ,lord ,clarendon1 and asked permission to pay him my respects1 as ,i passed through ,dublin4 ,he sent me a very kind answer to the place which ,i had pointed out1 naming an hour on the day named above--half-past one1 ,november #ac--;at which time ,i was introduced into his private room at the ,lodge4 ,one of his first remarks was that circumstances were greatly changed with us both since our last meeting4 ,indeed1 they were1 as any one would have said who had seen him as ,george ,villiers1 of ,st4 ,john's1 and me as ,george ,spencer1 of ,trinity1 walking together in our college gowns1 at ,cambridge1 and now should see him in his grand ,viceregal ,palace1 and me before him in my poor ,passionist's habit2 and is it not something to be looked upon with satisfaction1 that we should now have a conversation for an hour and a half1 of which1 though the matter was something far more weighty than what would very probably have occupied us then1 the tone which he gave to it was such1 that one might have supposed our familiar acquaintance had never been interrupted8 ,the conversation was throughout very interesting to me2 #djf but this does not seem to me the time nor the place to relate what passed1 excepting those passages which bore directly upon my present subject4 ,i do not remember how1 in the course of it1 ,lord ,clarendon was led to say3 ,i see in the papers that you have been preaching in several places4 ,i answered3 ,yes1 ,i have2 and the principal object of my asking for this interview with your lordship1 was to tell you the subject of my preaching1 and to ask what you think of it4 ,i am preaching to the ,irish people a crusade for the conquest of ,england4 ,i am not clear whether it was before saying these words1 or after1 that ,i related to him the conversation ,i had had with ,lord ,john ,russell in the same way in which it was given in my last letter4 ,however this might be1 ,i perfectly remember the way in which he replied4 ,he appeared at the first moment to be surprised2 then fixed upon me one rather searching look2 and then deliberately said3 ,taking the view of things which you do1 ,i think you are right4 99 99 99 99 ,lord ,clarendon1 knowing that ,i was next day to start for ,england1 concluded by most kindly expressing a wish to see me again1 when ,i should be passing at some future time through ,dublin4 ,after six weeks ,i returned to renew my circuit in ,ireland1 and returning to ,dublin about the middle of ,january1 though ,i had no reason particularly for wishing to speak again with ,lord ,clarendon1 ,i considered that it was in some way a duty of propriety to ask for an interview1 as he had been pleased to request it at the close of the first visit4 ,accordingly1 after some time for reflection1 ,i wrote him a letter to this effect1 and he appointed me half-past eleven on ,saturday1 ,february #h1 #aheb4 ,this time it was in ,dublin ,castle that ,i saw him1 being ushered into his private room through the muskets1 bayonets1 and other arms--not ancient pieces1 for curiosity1 as at ,alton ,towers1 but arms of the most modern style1 ready for use--with which the hall and great staircase seemed to me as though wainscoted throughout4 ,i apologised soon after entering at taking up so much of his time2 and again somewhat later ,i offered to #djg withdraw1 however interesting was the conversation to myself4 ,he answered1 ,oh1 no6 ,i am very glad to see you4 ,they will soon tell me of ,sir ,thomas ,reddington being come for business3 till then ,i am free4 ,i will now relate only one or two passages of this conversation1 as being1 ,i conceive1 of peculiar consequence to my present purpose4 ,i was saying something of my continued endeavours to move the ,irish to pray for ,england1 and ,i suppose remarking that this must have a salutary effect on the feelings of the people4 ,he said with an incredulous smile3 ,and do you think the ,irish pray for ,england8 ,i have no doubt whatever1 ,i answered1 that a great many do1 but it is as yet nothing to what ,i desire to bring them to4 ,with a still more incredulous look1 he added3 ,do you think they pray for ,england at ,maynooth8 ,well1 my ,lord1' ,i only know that whenever ,i visit ,maynooth the superiors appoint me a time for addressing the students assembled 7he looked evidently pleased at hearing this72 and will you listen1 ,i continued1 to a sentence of one of my half-hour's addresses to them8 ,i began it without well knowing what ,i was going to say2 but when ,i had finished ,i said to myself1 ,i have said one good thing at least which ,i shall one day turn to account4 ,it was soon after the publication of ,lord ,john ,russell's ,durham letter4 ,i said to them1 ',will you allow me to offer you one word of advice8 ,you will just now be tempted most probably to say some violent things2 especially some violent things of ,lord ,john ,russell4 ,now ,i would ask you1 ,do you know ,lord ,john ,russell8 ,i suppose one and all would tell me no4 ,the advice ,i was going to offer is that you should not speak evil of what you do not know4' ,lord ,clarendon said3 ,did you say that8 ,i said3 ,yes1 my lord4 ,he added emphatically3 ,that was good4 ,after ,i had risen to leave him1 ,i said3 ,my ,lord1 ,i have been often citing your ,excellency1 since our first conversation1 as one of those who entirely approve of my proceedings4 ,what do you mean8 he quickly answered4 ,did ,i not tell you ,i would shed the last drop of my blood to stop the progress of your religion8 ,i perfectly remember that1 ,i said2 what ,i mean is that you approved of my way of #djh acting1 considering what ,i am4 ,oh1 he replied1 ,i understand you4 ,if every one acted as you do1 we should have nothing to complain of4 ,this conversation lasted from three-quarters of an hour to an hour4 ,interview with ,lord ,palmerston4 ,i am sometimes reminded of a story ,i heard of a groom1 who had to show off one of his master's horses1 which he wished to sell4 ,among all the other good qualities for which he had praised the animal1 as he stood behind him in the stable1 being asked by the intended purchaser1 ,what do you say of his temper8 he had just answered1 ,oh1 he is as quiet as a lamb1 when the horse kicked out1 struck the poor groom full in the pit of the stomach1 and drove the breath out of him4 ,but he must stand to his text1 and with wondrous promptness he was just able to utter1 ,ach--playful toad6 ,so ,i will have our poor people hoped for1 prayed for1 borne with and loved1 with all their effigy burnings1 with all their meetings to hear ,dr4 ,cumming or ,mr4 ,stowell1 with all their awful ,popery sermons1 and1 moreover1 with the two or three thumps on the head1 and other pieces of genteel treatment which ,i met with myself1 while ,i walked about in my habit1 before the ,derby proclamation gave me some time to breathe again4 ,after this preface as an apology1 if it is one1 for my last sentences of last week1 and for standing to my text1 in spite of all that can be urged1 ,i proceed to another of my narratives1 which1 if not the most interesting and important in my eyes1 is not the least so2 and1 after which1 in reply to such as might mention some of the ,english rudenesses to us1 and say to me1 ,what do you say to that8 ,i would just say1 ,what do you say to this8--,i mean my interview with ,lord ,palmerston4 ,through the month of ,may of the year #ahea1 ,i was engaged to preach evening lectures in one of the ,london chapels1 and ,i had my days to devote in a great measure to the pursuit1 so inconceivably interesting to me1 of conversations with leading people on my great topic4 ,i was at #dji that time greatly debilitated1 and could walk but very little1 and to relieve me1 therefore1 as well as to enable me to make the most of my time1 a generous friend1 who was interested in my proceedings1 furnished me with means to go from house to house in a cab4 ,one of these bright forenoons1 ,i turned into ,carlton ,gardens1 and asked to see ,lord ,palmerston4 ,i was not an entire stranger to him1 any more than to the other two noble persons of whom ,i have already written4 ,it will not be foreign to my purpose to relate how my acquaintance with his lordship had been formed4 ,may ,i venture to call it a friendship8 ,it was at the close of a long run with ,lord ,derby's stag-hounds2 ,i mean the grandfather of the present earl1 ,i think in #ahba2 we finished1 ,i think1 twenty-four miles from ,london1 and ,i was making up my mind for a long1 tedious ride home on my tired horse 7for ,i was not up to having second horses and grooms in my suite on those occasions71 when ,lord ,palmerston1 who was likewise in at1 not the death1 but the taking 7,i forget the proper sporting term7 of the stag1 understanding my case1 and knowing me by sight1 though ,i think till then we had never spoken1 gave my horse in charge to his groom1 and took me home with himself in a post-chaise4 ,for the short remaining time of my being known as a young man about town1 as we met at one party or another1 ,lord ,palmerston continued to accost me with a kind word1 to which ,i had good reason1 it will be allowed1 to respond in the best manner ,i knew how4 ,at the close of the ,london season of #ahbb ,i made my bow1 and withdrew from that stage to prepare for taking orders1 and1 except an interview of a few minutes in #ahcd1 we had never met till ,i appeared before the now far-famed and1 by many1 dreaded ,foreign ,secretary1 with my ,passionist habit and sandalled feet for a private audience4 ,like what ,lord ,clarendon said in the ,park ,lodge1 ,dublin1 ,i might have said here1 ,great changes1 my lord1 since we first spoke together6 ,on this occasion1 however1 no time was spent in mere conversation4 ,i had called1 as ,i have said1 in the forenoon4 ,his lordship had sent me a message as being busy1 requesting me to call again at two o'clock4 ,on entering his private room1 ,i found #daj him engaged in looking over what seemed official papers1 which he had upon his knee1 while we spoke1 though without the least sign of impatience or wish to get rid of me2 but ,i saw that what became me was to enter on business at once without waste of time or words4 ,i do not remember all the words which ,i used in this interview so well as what ,i said to ,lord ,john ,russell and ,lord ,clarendon4 ,the position was not now so new and striking to me4 ,i think ,i began without any kind of apology2 for his lordship's looks gave me no feeling that any was needful or expected4 ,i said1 that in coming to speak to his lordship on this subject1 ,i had not so much in view to ascertain more and more that there was no danger of what ,i proposed causing offence to our ,government1 as ,i thought what ,i had heard from others was sufficient proof of this2 but ,i wished to put as many of our public men as ,i could meet with in possession of all my intentions and proceedings1 in order that if1 at last1 ,i succeeded1 as ,i hoped1 in moving the ,catholics to be interested about them1 and these matters came before the public1 they might know from myself in person what ,i really intended1 and might be enabled1 if they thought well1 to do me justice4 ,this was the substance of what ,i said to him4 ,having thus concluded1 ,i awaited his answer1 which was about as follows3--,as you wish to know what ,i think of your doings1 ,i must say ,i do not by any means agree with you in considering it a desirable result that this country should again be brought under subjection to ,rome4 ,i do not profess to take my view from the elevated and sublime ground on which you place yourself2 ,i mean1 ,i speak not with reference to religious interests1 but to political2 and as a politician1 when we consider the way in which the ,pope's government is opposed to the progress of liberty1 and liberal institutions1 ,i cannot say that ,i wish to see ,england again under such influence4 ,thus far1 ,i do not mean to say1 that what ,i heard was anything agreeable to me4 ,neither the matter nor the tone were agreeable to me4 ,there was something sarcastic in his tone4 ,and does that suit my purpose8 it may be asked4 ,i answer1 ,it does very well4 ,could it be expected that he would speak very agreeably and favourably #daa of the end ,i told him ,i was aiming at8 ,if he had1 that would1 ,i conceive1 have just thrown a doubt on the sincerity of what he said immediately after1 in a tone simply and perfectly agreeable1 on the effect likely to result immediately from what ,i was doing3 and this was3 ,but as to what you are doing1 as it must tend to conciliate ,catholic powers towards ,england1 what have ,i to say1 but that it is excellent8 or some such word expressing full and cordial approbation4 ,after this1 he went on with some remarks on the establishment of the ,hierarchy1 which1 of course1 were in accordance with what he had1 ,i think1 been saying a few days previously in ,parliament1 complaining of it as offensive and injurious2 but on this part of the conversation ,i need not dwell1 as it had no bearing on the subject which ,i had proposed to him4 ,with regard to that1 my impression on leaving him was this3 that he had listened with attention to what ,i had said1 had at once perfectly understood me1 had answered me so as to make me perfectly understand him on the subject simply and openly1 and that what he had said was entirely satisfactory to me4 ,i could wish for nothing more2 except1 of course1 what ,st4 ,paul wished for in the presence of ,festus and ,agrippa4 ,i then rose3 so did he2 then shook hands with me1 and most kindly thanked me for having renewed our old acquaintance4 ,to the account of this conversation with ,lord ,palmerston1 ,i will add1 that ,i asked1 in the same bright month of ,may1 for an interview with ,lord ,derby4 ,he requested ,i would rather explain myself in writing3 which ,i did2 and received in answer from him a most condescending and kind letter1 in which1 while he asserted his own steadfast adherence to the ,church of ,england1 he declared his opinion that no one could reasonably find fault with me for exerting myself as ,i did to advance what ,i believed to be the truth4 ,besides these interviews just recorded in his own words1 he had several others with minor celebrities4 ,he met some ,protestant bishops2 among the rest1 ,dr4 ,blomfield1 whom he tried to move to praying for unity4 ,dr4 ,blomfield promised4 ,some of the bishops refuse to see him1 and #dab others are out when he calls4 ,he had an interview with ,dr4 ,cumming1 and the doctor's account of it did not eventually serve to raise that gentleman in the estimation of honourable or sensible people4 ,he records in his journal being sent away ignominiously by ,baptist and ,methodist ministers1 and1 after one of these rebuffs1 on ,may #bd1 #ahea1 he got so fearful a mobbing1 when coming along the ,charter ,house in ,london1 that he was nearly killed4 ,had not some good shopkeeper opened his door for him1 and helped him to a cab by a back passage1 he believed he would certainly have fallen a victim to the fury of the crowd4 ,the day after this adventure1 he assisted in ,warwick-street at the ordination of his ,grace the present ,archbishop of ,westminster1 as sub-deacon4 ,he is a few months on the ,continent again in this year4 ,he preaches in ,french through ,lille1 ,lige1 ,maestricht1 ,aix-la-,chapelle1 always upon the crusade4 ,before arriving in ,cologne he had his address translated into ,german1 in order to be able to speak to the ,prussian children and people upon his favourite theme4 ,as he was walking through ,cologne one day1 he accidentally met his brother1 ,lord ,spencer4 ,lord ,spencer wondered at the figure approaching him1 and thought he recognized the features4 ,at length he exclaimed1 ,hilloa1 ,george1 what are you doing here8 ,begging1 replied ,father ,ignatius4 ,those who knew them were much gratified at seeing the earl and the monk having a little friendly chat about old schoolboy days4 ,both seemed a little embarrassed and surprised at first1 but after a minute or two they were quite at home with each other4 ,he prepared a petition for the ,king of ,prussia1 who was visiting ,cologne1 requesting an audience2 but1 after waiting patiently a few days1 he writes in the journal3 ,the ,king is come and gone1 but no notice of me4 ,i must be content with ,rex regum4 ,he received a letter from ,father ,eugene a day or two before this1 summoning him home to ,england for our ,provincial ,chapter1 and his tour terminates on the #bast ,august4 #dac ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,visit ,to ,home ,and ,the ,association ,of ,prayers4 ,at the ,provincial ,chapter1 ,father ,ignatius was chosen ,rector of ,st4 ,joseph's ,retreat1 ,the ,hyde4 ,it was also arranged that before proceeding further with his projects and schemes for prayers and unity1 he should submit them to the ,roman ,curia4 ,he accordingly starts for ,rome on ,september #d1 and arrives at the ,retreat of ,,ss4 ,john and ,paul on the #acth4 ,we shall let himself relate the events and success of this expedition4 ,i went on then1 taking occasions as they were offered me to move ,catholics to interest themselves in it till ,september1 #ahea1 when ,i went to ,rome4 ,i had other reasons for going2 but it might well be expected that what mainly interested me was to recommend the cause of ,england's conversion in the centre of ,catholicity1 and to obtain from the ,holy ,see sanction and authority for pursuing this end as ,i had been doing before1 or in whatever way would be deemed preferable4 ,i was four months and a half at ,rome1 with the interruption of a fortnight1 during which ,i was engaged on a mission in the country with some of our ,fathers4 ,my affair had to be transacted1 as may be supposed1 chiefly at the ,propaganda1 where the affairs of all ,catholic missions are managed and directed1 much in the way that our ,board of ,admiralty directs all the naval operations of this country1 but under entire dependence on his ,holiness and obedience to him--the secretary of the ,propaganda1 ,monsignor ,barnab1 having regularly once a week1 that is1 every ,sunday evening1 an audience of the ,pope1 to make him reports1 and to receive his orders4 ,for the first six weeks or two months ,i felt my footing at the ,propaganda more or less #dad doubtful and precarious4 ,i did not gain much attention4 ,this was mortifying2 but ,i see1 and ,i saw it then1 to be right4 ,the ,propaganda is a place where all ,catholic schemers and projectors in matters of religion try to get a hearing--as our ,admiralty is besieged1 ,i suppose1 by all who think they have an important proposal to make for naval enterprise or improvement4 ,they must be kept at arm's length for a time1 till it is judged whether their ideas are worth attending to4 ,it was on the #ast of ,november that it happened that ,i dined at the ,college of ,propaganda1 and sat next to ,monsignor ,barnab1 who made me a remark about in these words3 ',surely if you can convert ,england1 we should gain half the world--or all the world1' ,i forget which4 ,i answered1 ',well1 ,monsignor1 and why not try8' ,nothing more was said then2 but it seemed to me as if this was the turning-point of my fortunes at ,rome4 ,certain it is1 that from that time ,monsignor ,barnab1 in the midst of all his pressing affairs1 was invariably ready to listen to me at the office or at his own house1 read through all my long memorials1 spoke for me to the ,pope whenever ,i asked him1 and gained me what ,i asked on this matter1 had my papers printed free of cost at the press of the ,propaganda1 c4 ,it had been told me previously by one of the minutanti 7under secretaries7 of the ,propaganda1 ,monsignor ,vespasiani1 that my proposals would be looked upon more favourably1 if ,england were not mentioned as the only object of interest4 ,he adverted especially with great feeling to the case of the ,greeks1 of whom he spoke as possessing genius and capacity for such great things1 if they were only reunited to the ,church4 ,at his suggestion ,i drew up1 in concert with one of our ,fathers1 a paper of proposals for an ,association for the ,conversion of all separated from the ,church1 giving reasons1 however1 as ,i do in the little paper of admission to our ,association1 why we should direct our immediate aim at the recovery of those nations which have been separated from the ,church by heresy or schism1 and why1 among these1 ,england should still be regarded as the most important and leading object4 ,this document was read by ,mgr4 ,barnab1 who ordered #e1jjj copies to be printed by the press of the #dae ,propaganda--rather1 he told me1 to order as many as ,i wished1 as well as of another shorter paper containing an invitation to prayer and good works for the conversion of all separated from the ,church1 but especially of ,england4 ,this shorter one was prepared at the express desire of the ,cardinal-,vicar of ,rome1 and distributed by his order through all the religious houses of the city4 ,to pass over other details1 it was on the #bfth of ,november that ,i received a letter of recommendation1 addressed by the ,cardinal-,prefect of ,propaganda to all ,bishops1 ,vicars-,apostolic1 and ,superiors of ,missions in the world1 desiring them to receive me favourably and to assist me in my designs to the utmost of their power4 ,the words in ,latin at this part of the letter are the following3--'444 ,proindeque illum sacrae congregationis testimonialibus hisce literis instructum esse volumus1 ut omnes ,episcopi1 ,vicarii ,apostolici1 et ,missionum ,superiores benigne illum excipere1 ac pro viribus piissimis ejusdem votis favere haud omittant4' ,as ,i have not this letter at hand while writing1 ,i quote this part from memory4 ,the former part1 of which ,i have not the words by heart1 expresses why this recommendation was to be given me2 namely1 because my zeal for promoting the ,catholic faith1 especially among my people of ,england1 was highly to be commended4 ,now1 if the ,propaganda should have ever heard anything true about how ,i carried on my ordinary duties in ,england1 they could only have heard that ,i had not incurred suspension1 though ,i might have deserved it2 and that1 in comparison with my brother priests in our great towns1 for instance1 what ,i had done for religion must be put down as next to nothing4 ,the only thing on which they could ever have heard me spoken about as remarkable must have been my exertions1 which1 against my wishes1 ,i must certainly concede to have been singularly active and persevering in calling people's attention to the object of the conversion of ,england and to prayers for it4 ,i was surprised at receiving this letter2 but ,i was not satisfied with it3 it sharpened my appetite to get more4 ,i returned to the ,palace of the ,propaganda to give thanks for it1 and then asked for a special letter to the ,prelates of #daf ,ireland4 ,i do not here enter into details about this3 ,i intend1 if permitted1 explaining all which regards this subject in some letters addressed especially to the ,irish people1 in the ,tablet4 ,i mention it here only to quote from this second letter the words in which is explained more particularly the idea which was formed at the ,propaganda of the object which they were recommending4 ,they call it ',opus quod ,reverendus ,pater ,ignatius promovere satagit1 ut nempe ,catholici pro ,acatholicorum1 praesertim ,angliae1 conversione veluti agmine facto1 ferventiori jugiter ratione preces fundant 4444' which ,i thus translate3 ',the object which the ,rev4 ,father ,ignatius is engaged in promoting1 namely1 that ,catholics should1 as it were1 form themselves into an army set in array1 and with continually increasing fervour pour forth prayers for the conversion of non-,catholics1 but especially of ,england4 ,now1 ,i do not know how these documents may strike others2 but it seems to me that if1 after having taken a journey to ,rome on purpose to plead my cause there1 and after having received letters like these in answer to my appeals1 ,i was just now to relax in my zeal to promote prayers and good works for the conversion of ,protestants1 but especially of ,england1 this would be not falling into the views of the ,holy ,see1 as some seem to think it would1 but rather showing indifference and almost contempt for them1 and repaying with ingratitude the great favours which ,i have received4 ,i must reserve to another letter some account of my interviews with his ,holiness in person4 ,i am1 ,sir1 your faithful servant in ,jesus ,christ1 ,ignatius ,of ,st4 ,paul1 ,passionist4 ,here is the account of the audiences he had with the ,pope on the subject of prayers for the conversion of ,england4 ,it is taken from his letters to the ,catholic ,standard3-- ,audiences ,with ,pope ,pius ,,ix4 ,i beg to give an account of what passed upon the subject of the conversion of ,england in the audiences ,i was allowed #dag by the ,holy ,father4 ,they were three4 ,the first was on ,september #af1 #ahea1 three days after my arrival in ,rome2 the second1 ,december #bc2 the third1 ,january #cj1 #aheb1 the day before ,i left ,rome4 ,it was on my return home in the evening after that last audience that ,i met ,mgr4 ,vespasiani1 the prelate whom ,i have before named as one of the ,minutanti of the ,propaganda1 the first person in office at ,rome who gave full and attentive consideration to my proposals4 ,this was on the #adth of ,october1 #ahea4 ,full of satisfaction as ,i was1 ,i expressed to him anew my gratitude for that favour1 adding that now ,i was leaving ,rome1 ,i felt as if ,i had nothing more to ask4 ,all was gained4 ,such1 indeed1 were my feelings then4 ,he kindly accepted my acknowledgments1 and seemed to sympathize in my satisfaction1 but looked incredulous as to my having nothing more to ask1 and with a smile1 said something to this effect1 ,you will want plenty more2 and1 when you desire1 you will command our services4 ,i suppose he was right4 ,my feeling was then1 and ,i conceive it was well grounded1 that1 as far as regarded the mind of his ,holiness1 ,i had gained all1 on the subject which most engaged me1 and which ,i am now pursuing2 and ,i felt as if in having reached this point all was done4 ,so1 ,i trust1 it will prove in time2 but ,i see plainly enough there is work to be done before the mind of the ,holy ,father will be carried out2 others must be moved to correspond with it4 ,i must explain myself by stating facts4 ,in my first two audiences1 ,i think ,i may say that the principle was approved by his ,holiness1 that ,catholics might be moved all through the world to engage in the enterprise of converting ,england2 but that he must not be represented as caring for ,england exclusively1 as he was father to all4 ,there was no objection here expressed to my being specially interested for my own country4 ,on the contrary1 the ,pope agreed to1 and approved of1 my continuing to urge the ,roman people to join in this cause1 as well as pursuing the same object in ,austria1 whither ,i told him ,i was going1 and elsewhere4 ,in my second audience ,i said to him3 ,holy ,father1 may ,i repeat truly here what ,i am saying outside8 ,i am openly stirring the people of ,rome to a third conquest of ,england4 #dah ,rome conquered ,england once1 under ,julius ,caesar1 by the material sword4 ,rome conquered ,england a second time1 more gloriously1 under ,st4 ,gregory ,i41 by the ,word of ,god4 ,i am calling on ,rome to undertake this conquest again1 under ,pius ,,ix41 when it will be a vastly more important one than heretofore1 and by means more glorious and more divine1 because referring more purely the glory to ,god1 being chiefly holy prayer4 ,the ,pope did not speak in answer to this appeal2 but1 if ,i rightly judged1 his manner and looks expressed his acceptance and approval of the idea better than words could have done4 ,however1 though ,i might say ,i had succeeded as well as ,i could have expected in these first two audiences1 the second of which ,i looked upon as final1 as in it ,i had taken my leave of his ,holiness1 there was yet something wanting4 ,i was preparing to leave ,rome not quite satisfied1 though ,i knew not how to better my position4 ,i will relate how the happy conclusion was brought round4 ,my departure was unexpectedly delayed in order that ,i might assist at a mission to be given by our fathers1 in the town of ,marino1 on the ,alban mountains1 which was in the diocese of the ,cardinal-,vicar1 at whose request the mission was given4 ,i went to the mission1 not so much to work1 as to see1 and hear1 and learn for myself2 but the crowd of penitents was such1 that during the last week of it ,i gave myself entirely to the confessions2 and having no part in the preaching1 ,i never did such a week's work at confessions as that4 ,i returned to ,rome alone on ,january #ah1 to prepare for my departure1 leaving the other ,fathers to begin a second mission at ,albano2 and it struck me my week's work for the ,cardinal-,vicar need not be altogether its own reward4 ,i visited him the next day1 as to make a report of the mission1 which was highly satisfactory4 ,i then said1 ,i have done a heavy week's work for your ,eminence1 and ,i come to claim il mio stipendio 7my pay74 ,and what1 said he1 is that8 ,a few minutes' patience1 ,i replied1 to hear me again on the cause of ,england4 ,i want ,rome to be effectually moved4 ,but1 said he again1 what can we do8 ,i have distributed your papers4 ,i will recommend #dai it again2 what more do you want8 ,perhaps the ,pope could suggest something2 go to him again4 ,i answered1 ,i have had my final audience1 and received his last blessing4 ,can ,i go again8 ,oh1 yes4 ,go2 you may use my name4 ,i went straight to the ,vatican1 and ,monsignor ,talbot placed me1 according to custom1 in a saloon1 through which the ,pope was to pass at three o'clock1 to take his daily drive4 ,i told his ,holiness what had brought me again before him4 ,i had received recommendations to all the world1 but ,i was particularly intent on moving ,rome4 ,surely1 he said1 that is the most important place4 ,write me a memorial1 and we will consult over it4 ,i lost no time in doing so4 ,in it ,i dwelt on two objects2 first1 ,i entreated the ,holy ,father to take such measures as he might in his wisdom think fit1 to move all ,christendom to undertake the recovery of the nations which had been lost to the ,church1 and specially ,england4 ,and with regard to ,rome1 ,i stated the case thus4 ,i had received from the congregations through which his ,holiness intimates his pleasure to the whole ,church1 an earnest recommendation to all ,bishops to support me to the utmost of their power in my enterprise4 ,was it to be conceived1 ,i asked1 that the ,bishop of the first ,see was alone excluded from this recommendation8 ,surely not2 and therefore in the name of his ,holiness1 as head of the ,universal ,church1 ,i appealed to his ,holiness as ,bishop of ,rome1 and entreated that he would give an example to all other ,bishops1 how a mandate of the ,holy ,see ought to be obeyed4 ,it was not for me to offer directions how this should be done2 but if ,i were to make a suggestion1 ,i would ask that a ,prelate should be named1 with an authority to engage the help of other zealous ecclesiastics1 and with them to instruct the people of ,rome in the importance and beauty of the work1 and to engage them in it with persevering zeal4 ,i took this memorial to the ,cardinal-,vicar1 who read through the latter part with me1 and said1 with an air of satisfaction1 ,that will do2 that will do very well--promising to present it to the ,pope4 ,i begged him to say besides1 that the ,prelate ,i had in my mind was ,monsignor ,talbot4 ,this was on ,january #bc4 ,on the #bfth1 ,monsignor #dbj ,barnab told me that all had been favourably received4 ,i thought ,i had nothing to do but to arrange with ,monsignor ,talbot what he might do1 and for this purpose ,i went on the #cjth of ,january to see him1 accompanied by one of our ,fathers4 ,i had bid him farewell1 when my companion said1 ,may we see the ,pope8 ,i was rather annoyed at this3 the sight of the ,pope intended was merely to be once more placed in his way as he would pass one of the saloons3 and ,i felt it would be unreasonable and intrusive for me to be seen there again2 but ,i thought it would be selfish to disappoint my companion1 who had sacrificed so much of his time to gratify me1 and ,i said nothing4 ,we were1 therefore1 taken into the saloon1 as it was just the time for the ,pope's drive4 ,there1 however1 we waited one quarter1 two quarters1 three quarters of an hour4 ,i concluded1 what was the case1 that the ,pope was not going out1 and expected presently to be told to go away4 ,instead of this ,monsignor ,talbot came and beckoned us into the ,pope's private room1 where he was sitting in the window recess perfectly at his ease1 and received us with these words addressed to me3--,well1 ,father ,ignatius1 we have done something now4 ,indeed1 ,holy ,father1 said ,i1 this is true4 ,i see this work now in the way to become the most favoured of all1 entrusted1 as it is1 to a ,prelate who has his time so disposed that one week he is free to work1 and the other he returns to attendance on your ,holiness to make his reports1 and receive new instructions4 ,not only so1 replied the ,pope1 there are four of them4 ,he has but one week entirely engaged with me2 besides the one out of four wholly free1 he has but two or three hours every day on duty in the other two4 ,but remember1 ,i will not have ,england alone thought of4 ,holy ,father1 ,i said1 this alteration has been made4 ,the undertaking is for all separated nations2 ,england being proposed only as the most important point of attack1 on several accounts4 ,i beg1 however1 to ask that the term heretics may not be used as the general designation of those we pray for4 ,i do not confess to wilful heresy before my conversion4 ,i do not confess for this sin for my countrymen at large4 ,ah6 what say you8 answered the ,pope2 then #dba he reflected for a moment and graciously bowed4 ,in accordance with this request1 in my letter from the ,propaganda the term is not haereticorum1 but acatholicorum praesertim ,angliae4 ,i went on3 ,holy ,father1 ,i ask one more favour4 ,cardinal ,fornari has agreed1 if he is named by your ,holiness1 to accept the charge of ,protector to this work4 ,what need of this8 answered the ,pope2 ,i have desired the ,cardinal-,vicar to recommend the work to ,rome1 and ,cardinal ,fornari is a ,roman4 ,is that not enough8 ,holy ,father1 ,i replied1 what is requested is1 that he should be empowered to act in it as ,cardinal4 ,after another pause his ,holiness again graciously bowed and said3 ,well1 be it so4 ,thus the discourse on this subject terminated3 and1 if ,i have intelligibly explained myself1 will it not be allowed that ,i had reason to go home satisfied1 in the reflection that the work of the conversion of ,protestants1 but chiefly ,england1 was now erected--as far as regarded the part which the holy ,father had to take in it--into what may be almost called a congregation in the ,holy ,city1 to be composed of prelates and ecclesiastics1 of whom the first active member was among his ,holiness's domestic attendants2 and the ,cardinal ,protector was one of the most distinguished of the ,sacred ,college1 who in his first conversation with me declared his most lively interest in ,england1 as having himself1 as ,professor in the ,roman ,seminary1 directed the studies in ,theology of ,cardinal ,wiseman1 and four others1 now ,bishops in ,england1 besides two deceased4 ,i must close this long letter with one more fact1 which came to my knowledge1 bringing home to me the consoling conviction1 how deeply the heart of our ,holy ,father is interested in the great work4 ,when ,i was in ,paris1 this cause of ,england was ardently taken up by a gentleman noted for his ,catholic zeal1 a distinguished merchant in ,havre4 ,on my leaving ,paris he begged me to give him a letter of credentials1 that1 in his mercantile travels1 he might in my name interest ,bishops and other leading personages in our favour4 ,in ,november last he enclosed me a letter he had received from the ,vicar-,general of ,nantes1 to whom he had applied to recommend this object to his ,bishop4 ,it was in these #dbb terms3 ,i will gladly perform your commission1 and ,i have no doubt his ,lordship will comply with your wish2 the more so that1 returning from ,rome a few days back1 ,i have brought to him a message to the same effect from his ,holiness4 ,in my first audience the ,pope said to me3 ',tell the ,bishop of ,nantes1 from me1 that ,i desire he will pray1 and cause others to pray1 a great deal for ,england4 ,the position of the ,church in that kingdom interests me deeply2 ,i am always thinking of it4' ,in my second audience the ,holy ,father repeated to me the same words1 and in a tone of feeling such as ,i can never forget4 ,i am convinced this subject occupies his mind continually4 ,is it1 now1 to be supposed that the ,holy ,father is averse to ,english and ,irish ,catholics praying especially for ,england1 and praying much for it8 ,is it not1 on the contrary1 to be inferred from these statements1 and those of my last two letters1 that it would console his heart to see them devotedly engaged in the work8 ,i think this is the conclusion to which we shall all arrive1 and that this happy result may in due time--and why not soon8--be abundantly realized4 ,he says in another letter3-- ,i begin with repeating again the words of ,st4 ,jerome to ,pope ,damasus3 ',he who gathereth not with thee scattereth1' and ,i renew my declaration that if ,i thought that by exerting myself to move the ,catholics of ,england and ,ireland1 and1 in general1 of all the world1 to the enterprise of gaining ,england1 my country1 back to the faith of our fathers1 ,i was not working in accordance with the mind of his ,holiness1 ,i should not dare to proceed4 ,will my dear ,catholic brethren meet me with the assurance that if it appears by facts that this enterprise is according to his mind1 they will heartily devote themselves to the cause and help us8 ,it seems to me still1 as it always did1 impossible to conceive how these efforts1 carried on as they are proposed to be1 in perfect accordance with devoted loyalty to the ,state1 and in a spirit of ardent charity towards our fellow-countrymen1 should not be gratifying to the ,church of ,god and to its ,head4 ,many times have ,i repeated in sermons to the ,irish people during the days of the troubles of his ,holiness3 #dbc ',you have joined with noble generosity in assisting the ,holy ,father by subscriptions of money1 you have entered fervently into prayer for him1 will you not do one thing more to console him8 ,let him hear that you are determined that my country1 with its great resources and power1 shall once more be his4' ,this was1 ,i think1 a reasonable natural suggestion4 ,it was1 accordingly1 a surprise to me1 and at the same time a pain1 when ,i was told by one1 about the beginning of the year #ahea1 that his ,holiness was become almost averse to our efforts in behalf of ,england2 as on being applied to for some new indulgence for certain prayers for ,england1 he would not grant the petition unless ,italy was comprehended in the intention of the prayers4 ,another said positively that the ,pope would give no more indulgences for prayers for ,england4 ,these things were said1 as so many more things have been said1 apparently in a half-joking tone1 to mortify me in what is known to be a tender point4 ,well1 everything may turn to account for good1 if we pay attention4 ,these remarks helped to stimulate me to ascertain perfectly what the truth of the case is1 and they now give me occasion to explain publicly some of the facts on which the matter has to be judged4 ,in ,may1 #ahej1 a student of the ,english ,college at ,rome1 just ordained1 went to receive the ,pope's blessing before his return to ,england4 ,he presented a crucifix to his ,holiness1 and begged for an indulgence of #cjj days for whoever kissed this crucifix1 and said a ,hail ,mary for the conversion of ,england4 ,the ,pope sat down and wrote with his own hand at the foot of the petition1 that he granted #cjj days' indulgence for those who should offer a devout prayer1 as for instance a ,hail ,mary1 for the conversion of ,england4 ,when this was reported to me1 as there appeared some kind of ambiguity in one expression of the ,pope's writing1 ,i wrote to ,monsignor ,talbot1 begging that he would ascertain from his ,holiness whether we were right in interpreting the sentence as granting the indulgence generally without any reference to the crucifix4 ,the answer was1 ',yes4' ,evidently then1 at this time1 the ,pope was disposed to grant more in favour of ,england than he was asked4 ,how are #dbd we to account for the seeming alteration in his dispositions8 ,one way is to suppose that the ,pope had ceased to wish prayers to be made for ,england4 ,monsignor ,talbot1 when ,i saw him at ,rome in ,september1 #ahea1 gave me another reason4 ',the ,pope1' said he1 'is determined he will give no more indulgences for ,england4 ,people seem not to care for them4 ,no account is made of them4 ,let them first show they value what they have4' ,no authority1 on such a point1 could be preferable to that of ,monsignor ,talbot1 who spends his life in personal attendance on his ,holiness2 and according to him1 the ,pope did1 in a tone of some displeasure1 refuse one or two such requests1 the displeasure was not because people prayed too much for ,england1 but because they did not pray enough1 and on this account1 did not deserve any more encouragement4 ,this view ,i maintain with the more confidence1 inasmuch as after that displeasure had been expressed1 a petition was made on ,march #i1 #ahea1 by some ,english ladies in ,rome for a plenary indulgence to be gained once a month by those who should daily pray for the conversion of ,england3 it was granted as stated in our admission papers4 ,i infer from this1 that if only the ,holy ,father perceived that the ,catholics of ,england were really in earnest in the cause1 there would be no bounds to the liberality with which he would encourage them2 but no one likes to go on giving favours to persons who seem not to value them2 and he who has the dispensing of the favours of ,almighty ,god from the treasuries of the ,church1 must not consent to their being undervalued4 ,but now1 it will be asked1 what encouragement did ,i myself receive from his ,holiness during the four months and a half that ,i spent in ,rome1 as a kind of representative of this cause of the conversion of ,england8 ,i need not say that1 in going to ,rome1 ,i was desirous to move all hearts there to an enthusiastic devotion to this enterprise1 as ,i had endeavoured to do in ,ireland1 in ,france1 in ,belgium1 and ,germany4 ,i fain would not have lost an occasion of preaching in churches1 addressing religious communities1 the children of schools1 wherever ,i could find them assembled4 ,i did not expect1 however1 to be able at once to run such a career in #dbe ,rome1 as in ordinary towns1 and ,i was greatly satisfied with what was allowed me4 ,whatever difficulty or check ,i might have met with1 it came not from his ,holiness4 ,the proper authority to apply to in this case was the ,cardinal-,vicar2 that is1 he who administers the very diocese of ,rome as the ,pope's ,vicar-,general4 ,he at once agreed to my visiting convents and schools1 and exhorting them to the great work2 but for preaching in churches1 there must be1 he said1 express sanction from the ,pope4 ,the ,holy ,father was consequently consulted by ,monsignor ,talbot1 and answered that he had no objection1 but left it to me to make arrangements with the rectors of the churches4 ,the number of monasteries and schools in which ,i made my allocutions on the conversion of ,england1 is past my remembrance4 ,almost day by day1 for about two months of my time1 this was my leading pursuit4 ,i wish it to be clearly understood that all this time ,i spoke all that was in my mind with as complete freedom from reserve as ,i am known to exercise here4 ,to the authorities in ,rome1 who are not wanting in vigilance1 all must have been known2 and one word from them of objection to the subject1 or to my manner of treating it1 spoken to my superiors1 would have at once stopped me4 ,the number of churches in which ,i spoke was not so great4 ,i used generally to ask leave myself to address convents and schools4 ,i saw that it would not be becoming to offer myself thus to speak in churches at ,rome2 but among others ,i may mention particularly1 that ,i preached by invitation1 in ,english1 in ,french1 and in ,italian1 in those of the large and frequented churches ,s4 ,andrea della ,valle1 ,s4 ,luigi de' ,francesi1 and ,s4 ,andrea della ,fratte2 and the ,pope himself spoke to me of this last discourse in a tone of satisfaction4 ,he would not have been opposed1 as far as could be observed1 if1 instead of three churches1 ,i could have made up a list of three hundred4 ,another means ,i took for moving the ,roman people was1 by the papers printed for me by the ,propaganda1 of which ,i spoke in my last letter4 ,the first of these was thus headed3--',association of ,prayers and ,good ,works for the ,conversion of those who are separated from the ,holy ,catholic ,church1 but especially of ,england4' ,before this #dbf writing was printed1 ,i gave a copy of it to ,monsignor ,talbot1 to lay before the ,pope4 ,he returned it to me1 with this addition in his own hand3-- ',his ,holiness has deigned to grant to this pious work his special benediction4 ',george ,talbot1 ,cameriere ,segreto4 ',nov4 #ae1 #ahea4' ,to this is appended the petition presented for me by ,monsignor ,barnab1 for the extension of indulgences1 as follows3-- ',most ,blessed ,father1--,ignatius of ,st4 ,paul 7,spencer71 ,passionist1 ,provincial ,consultor in ,england1 prostrate at the feet of your ,holiness1 states that1 being desirous of extending the ,association of ,prayers already existing for ,england1 in favour of all those who are separated from the ,holy ,church1 and being sensible that a fresh spiritual attraction is necessary in order to move all the faithful to enter on this holy enterprise1 most humbly implores your ,holiness1 that you would be pleased to extend the three hundred days' indulgence already granted by your ,holiness to whoever prays for the conversion of ,england1 to this new work1 and moreover grant one hundred days for whatever good work may be done in favour of this ,association4' ,monsignor ,barnab reported1 that though the ,pope adverted to his former declaration1 that he would give no more indulgences on this account1 he granted this petition in the most gracious manner4 ,the date of this grant is ,nov4 #af1 #ahea4 ,it is evidently intimated here1 that while granting his sanction to the extension of the enterprise1 he renewed his sanction to it in its original form4 ,i must here conclude1 and defer again to another letter what ,i promised before1 that is1 some account of what passed in the audiences to which ,i myself was admitted by his ,holiness4 ,an incident happened towards the end of ,father ,ignatius's audiences with the ,holy ,father1 highly characteristic4 ,father ,ignatius had made arrangements for a begging tour in ,germany1 and intended to inaugurate it by trying what #dbg he could do in that line in ,rome itself4 ,our ,general forbade him to beg of his ,holiness1 and ,father ,ignatius had made up his mind before to do so4 ,after the prohibition he began to doubt whether it was binding1 as the ,pope was a higher superior than the ,general4 ,he consulted an astute ,roman theologian on his doubt1 and the answer given was1 ,lay the doubt itself before the ,pope4 ,father ,ignatius had an audience in store for him for a different matter1 and when it was over1 he said1 in the greatest simplicity1 ,holy ,father1 ,i have a scruple on my mind1 which ,i would wish to speak about1 if ,i might be permitted4 ,well1 and what is it8 ,he here told the ,pope just as he was advised4 ,the ,pope smiled1 handed him ten gregorine 7about #be71 and told him not to mind the scruple4 #dbh ,,chapter ,x4 ,a ,tour ,in ,germany4 ,father ,ignatius left ,rome with the ,holy ,fathers blessing on both his spiritual and temporal projects4 ,on his way to ,germany1 whither he was bound for a twofold begging tour1 he preached everywhere to religious1 priests1 nuns1 people1 and children1 upon the conversion of ,england4 ,he went further than mere exhortation1 he tried to get the ,bishops and religious to take up his ideas1 now stamped with the approbation of ,rome1 and propagate them among those under their jurisdiction4 ,he met with kindness and encouragement in every town and hamlet until he came to ,laibach4 ,here the police seized him and sent him away4 ,at ,gratz he met with a better reception4 ,throughout1 the priests and religious receive him with a something approaching to honour1 and so do the nobility1 but government officials and the like treat him rudely enough4 ,when he arrived in ,vienna1 he found a way of conciliating these officers of justice and their subalterns4 ,graf 7,count7 ,o',donnel took him to the ,secretary of ,police1 and procured him a safe-conduct1 whereby this kind of annoyance was put an end to for the future4 ,great personages patronize him--among the chief were ,prince ,esterhazy1 ,counts ,o',donnel and ,litchenstein4 ,through their kindness and his own repute1 he is favoured with interviews from the members of the royal family4 ,a few of these in his own words must be interesting3-- ,while at ,rome1 ,i heard one day the wonderful account of the coup d'tat of the now ,emperor of the ,french4 ,i thought with myself that moment1 here is a man for me--perhaps the man4 ,if he survive the assaults of his enemies1 #dbi and become established in power over ,france1 he is the man evidently for great designs2 the people whom he rules are the people to follow him in them2 and he has a mind1 so ,i conceived1 to understand how utterly insignificant are all enterprises1 in comparison with those which have the glory of ,god and the salvation of souls for their end4 ,but will he1 can he1 be moved to take up the great cause8 ,i got an introduction to the ,french ambassador at ,rome1 in order to open my way to an interview with his chief4 ,this may be in reserve for me some future day2 but ,i was first to see another great man--the young ,emperor of ,austria4 ,i think an account of this audience1 and some accompanying circumstances1 will be interesting in more points of view than one4 ,after leaving ,rome at the beginning of ,february1 ,i went to ,vienna1 and stopped there three weeks before coming home4 ,the ,emperor had just left ,vienna for ,venice when ,i arrived1 and did not return till a fortnight after4 ,in consequence of this1 ,i sought for1 and had audience of all the other members of the royal family then in the town4 ,many may not be aware of the circumstances under which the present ,emperor was raised to the throne4 ,everything connected with this young man is to me full of a kind of poetic interest4 ,he is the eldest son of the ,archduke ,francis ,charles and the ,archduchess ,sophia1 a princess of ,bavaria4 ,his father is brother to the ex-,emperor ,ferdinand4 ,it is said that in #ahdh1 at the time when the insurgents had gained possession of ,vienna1 and the court was in flight1 some one asked the ,empress ,mary ,ann1 a ,sardinian princess1 ',madam1 have you ever thought of an abdication8' ',i have1 indeed1' answered she2 'but what is to follow8' ,the ,emperor had no children1 and his next heir was his brother the ,archduke4 ,both of them have been always highly respected as most amiable and religious men1 but are not of abilities or character to bear the charge of an empire under such circumstances4 ,the abdication1 then1 of the reigning ,emperor would not have been a remedy to existing evils1 unless his brother joined in the sacrifice of his claims1 and made way for the succession of his son4 ,this #dcj arrangement1 however1 was effected2 and1 if what ,i gathered from conversations and observation is correct1 it is to the two ladies whom ,i have mentioned1 that the empire is indebted for it4 ,do not they deserve the admiration of the present and future generations1 and to have their place among the valiant women1 for renouncing the honours of an imperial crown1 for the public good8 ,be this as it may1 the announcement was made to the young prince1 then eighteen years of age1 that the crown was his4 ,it is said that he burst into tears at hearing it1 and begged two days for reflection1 during which he went to confession and communion1 to obtain light from ,god1 and concluded with giving his consent4 ,his career has been conformable with this beginning4 ,among other things1 ,i may mention that one of his first acts was1 of his own mind1 to repeal the oppressive laws of ,joseph ,,ii41 and to restore liberty to the ,church4 ,could ,i do otherwise than long to interest such a soul as this in the great cause ,i was supporting8 ,shall ,i succeed in the end8 ,i had an audience of the ,archduchess ,sophia1 the ,emperor's mother1 before his return from ,venice4 ,it is under her care and guidance1 as ,i was assured1 that his character has been formed2 and it was touching to hear her make me a kind of apology for what might1 perhaps1 be taken as a defect in his manner4 ,i told her ,i was desirous of an audience of his ,majesty4 ,she said1 ',you will certainly obtain it2' and she added1 ,you will perhaps think him cold1 but he is not so4' ,this corresponds with what she said to a friend of mine1 a ,german literary character1 who was likewise about to have his first audience from the ,emperor4 ,the ,archduchess said to him1 ',his manner is not winning1 like that of ,carl meaning her third son1 the ,archduke ,charles1 but he has greater depth of character2 from his childhood upwards ,i never knew him say a word merely to please2 every word is from his heart4' ,these few words of his mother are to me a most precious comment on what passed between the ,emperor and me when ,i had my audience4 ,i was introduced into a large saloon on one of the days of public reception4 ,the ,emperor stood alone in the middle of it2 behind him1 to the left1 was a small table1 on which was a pile of #dca memorials which he had already received4 ,he was in military uniform4 ,i should be glad to convey the impression which his appearance1 and the few words he spoke1 made on me4 ,a young emperor1 ,i suppose1 has great advantage in gaining upon one's feelings1 if he will in any degree do himself justice4 ,in this case1 ,i say1 that ,i never was more satisfied1 not to say captivated1 with my observations on any person4 ,his figure is not in itself commanding2 but there was in his air and manner and tone a union of grace and affability1 dignity1 wisdom1 and modesty1 which ,i do not remember to have seen equalled4 ,i was greatly struck1 on my entrance1 with what appeared to me such a contrast between what ,i witnessed and the receptions usually given by great personages who wish to be gracious4 ,ordinarily1 my impression is that they overwhelm one with many words1 which often mean nothing4 ,the ,emperor was perfectly silent4 ,i had time to think with myself1 after ,i had approached him1 ',am ,i then to speak first8 ,so it was4 ,i have a very clear recollection of what was said4 ',i have requested this audience1' ,i said1 'to represent to your ,majesty the object for which ,i am travelling4 ,it is to move ,catholics throughout the world to interest themselves in obtaining the return of my country to the ,catholic faith4 ,on this1 ,i am deeply convinced1 depends entirely the happiness of my country2 and1 ,i conceive1 nothing would more contribute to the happiness of other nations of the world4' ,the ,emperor seemed to intimate assent to this1 and said with great grace3 ',i am happy to hear that things go on better in ,england in regard to religion than they have done4' ',there is much1' ,i said1 'to encourage hopes2 but we want great help4 ,i am come to ask the help of ,austria4 ,i do not take on me to prescribe what your ,majesty in person might do in this cause4 ,as the principal means to be employed is prayer1 ,i am aware that it belongs rather to ,bishops to direct such movements2 but ,i ask help and sympathy from all4 ,i thought it could not be anything but right to ask your ,majesty's4' #dcb ,he answered3 ',i will interest myself as much at possible4' ,i added3 ',i have said1 ,i did not intend to propose any line of action to your ,majesty2 but ,i may explain myself further4 ,it is to the ,bishops that ,i make my principal appeal to interest the people in this object4 ,now1 ,i am aware that they would and must be averse to any public measures which might seem to involve political inconvenience3 ,i would1 therefore1 ask of your ,majesty1 that if the bishops are pleased to act1 the ,government should not object to it1 as ,i conceive there would be no reason4' ,the ,emperor said something to the effect1 as ,i thought1 that he saw no reason to object to what ,i said4 ,i was aware that my audience could not be a long one1 and ,i now put my hand to the breast of my habit to take out a memorial1 which ,i had been directed to present on this occasion1 for permission to collect subscriptions in the empire4 ,he thought ,i was about to offer him papers on the subject on which ,i had been speaking1 and said3 ',you probably have some papers which will explain your wishes4' ,i said3 ',i have2 but they are not in a becoming form to present to your ,majesty4' ,i had1 in fact1 two little addresses printed on poor paper1 in ,german1 for distribution2 and ,i brought them forward4 ,he immediately put out his hand to take them1 and said1 with a smile and manner of truly high-bred courtesy3 ',oh6 ,i will read them2 'and he laid them on the table by him4 ,i then presented my written memorial1 and then1 on his slightly bowing to me1 ,i withdrew4 ,another letter says3-- ,in my last letter ,i repeated the words in which that wise and excellent ,princess1 the ,archduchess ,sophia1 described the character of two of her sons3 ',the ,emperor seems cold1 but he is not so4 ,he is not winning and amiable like ,carl1 but he has more solidity and depth4' ,i remarked that to me these words were a most interesting commentary #dcc on what passed in the short audience ,i had from the young ,emperor2 and if ,i succeeded in my description of it1 ,i am sure others will think with me4 ,i will now give some account of my audience with the third brother1 the young ,archduke ,charles4 ,the second brother1 whose name ,i do not now remember1 was not in ,vienna at the time4 ,he is a seaman1 and ,i suppose it is intended that under his auspices the ,austrian navy should be advanced to greater vigour and efficiency1 while the ,emperor and ,charles attend mainly to the army4 ,the empire possesses two splendid ports--,trieste and ,venice2 and past history proves what may be done with the latter alone4 ,i made acquaintance with a ,swiss ecclesiastic in ,vienna 7,mgr4 ,mislin71 who bore a part in the education of all three of these princes4 ,i had told him what were my desires concerning them2 that is1 to inspire them with ardent zeal for the great work of the reunion of ,christendom1 but especially the reconquest of ,england for the ,church4 ,one day the ,abb called to see me1 at the palace of the ,pope's ,nuncio1 where ,i was staying2 and as ,i was out1 he left word that he wished to see me without delay4 ,he had to tell me1 as ,i found1 that the ,archduke ,charles1 with whom he regularly goes to dine every ,friday1 had said to him on the last of these occasions1 ',do you know ,father ,ignatius8' ',yes1' he answered1 'very well4' ',do you think1' added the ,prince1 ',i could see him8 ,i wish it very much4' ',oh1' replied the ,abb1 'there will be no difficulty2 'and at once an hour was fixed--two o'clock on the #aath of ,march4 ,it happened1 however1 that notice was received that at this very time the ,emperor was to arrive from ,trieste1 and the ,archduke had to go to the railway terminus to meet him4 ,my audience was deferred till half-past three2 and ,i went with the ,abb to the private entrance of the imperial palace to see them arrive4 ,they were driven up from the station in a light open carriage2 and it was thus1 side by side1 that ,i first saw them both4 ,i may be mistaken1 but in my poetic recollections and visions of ,vienna1 if ,i1 who am no poet1 may so speak1 these two brothers are charmingly conjoined in my mind4 ,at half-past three1 then1 ,i went to #dcd the ,archduke's apartments in the ,burg1 as it is called--a great mass of building1 which includes the ,emperor's town residence1 apartments for all the royal family1 several public offices1 extensive quarters for troops1 c4--and was immediately introduced to him in a large drawing-room1 where he kept me a good half-hour in lively conversation4 ,my impression of him was1 of a bright1 buoyant youth1 full of shining prospects of his future career2 in which1 though1 perhaps1 somewhat unconsciously to himself1 he is both qualified by circumstances and character1 and nobly disposed to exert himself for everything great and good4 ,all this1 however1 is yet to be developed and consolidated by age1 reflection1 and experience4 ,i should say1 not so much that he himself is eagerly grasping at facts with which to store his mind1 to be in due time digested1 matured1 and acted upon1 as that ,providence is turning to account his natural youthful eagerness1 and shall we say1 curiosity1 to do this for him4 ,may it prove that ,i am not forming over bright and groundless visions6 ,the ,archduke was dressed in a plain cavalry uniform4 ,he was then about #ai years old1 and very young-looking for his age4 ,my object was to impress him with the grand importance of the enterprise which ,i was proposing as proper to form the dearest and constant aim of his brother's reign2 that is1 the restoring union to ,christendom1 having peculiarly in view the reconciling ,england to the ,church4 ',i have no wish1' ,i said1 'to see him1 the ,emperor1 less devoted to his army3 let him watch with constant care over all the interests of his ,imperial dignity2 but let him be devoted1 above all and in everything1 to the glory of ,god1 and the repairing the losses of the ,holy ,church2 and if it pleases ,god he should live1 he will have a career more glorious1 and leave a name greater than ,charlemagne4' ,he said1 ',surely what you propose is most important4 ,it is a matter to be deeply deplored that so many ,german states are cut off from the ,church4' 44444 ,i do not remember clearly much more of what passed in this conversation1 and in truth it is not of so much consequence2 for his words are not all weighed1 solid1 and worth recording1 like those of his more #dce sage brother4 ,all have not the same gifts1 natural or spiritual2 and it is not well they should4 ,of course1 it is not well1 because ,god has ordered it thus4 ,but ,i could see in the diversity of these young men what might be wonderfully combined for doing great things4 ,charles would not be the one to govern and control1 and he has not this to do4 ,the ,emperor has2 and he is cut out for it4 ,but then perhaps he is not one to win and conciliate those who do not know how to value all superior qualities like his2 yet this is necessary in such times1 especially when sound1 old-fashioned loyalty is not much known4 ,but let the two brothers work together2 let their hearts be one1 and let that one purpose be directed to noble ends1 and it will be well for them1 for the empire1 and for ,europe4 ,charles will supply what the other wants4 ,i asked ,monsignor ,mislin one day1 with an anxious feeling1 whether they were really affectionate1 loving brothers1 and the answer was satisfactory4 #dcf ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,father ,ignatius ,returns ,to ,england4 ,he lands at ,dover on the #ast ,april1 #aheb1 comes home1 sets his house in order at the ,hyde1 and goes1 after ,holy ,week1 to see ,father ,eugene1 the ,provincial1 at ,st4 ,wilfrid's1 to give an account of himself4 ,his name was about this time in every one's mouth1 his doings were canvassed by friends and foes1 and many and various were the opinions held about him4 ,in the meantime he went on with his ordinary duties4 ,he gives the retreat in ,sedgeley ,park again1 and one to the congregation at ,havant4 ,it was whilst here1 in the house of ,mr4 ,scholfield1 that he read ,lord ,derby's proclamation against appearing abroad in the religious habit4 ,father ,ignatius had to return to ,london next day1 and did not wish to violate this prohibition4 ,he was sadly at a loss2 he had brought no secular clothes with him1 and the gentleman with whom he was staying was short and stout1 so that it was hopeless to think of getting anything suitable from his wardrobe4 ,the butler was taxed for a contribution2 all who had an article to spare gave heartily1 and the ,monk was1 after some ingenuity1 equipped in the following fashion3 ,a pair of very light shoes1 fitting badly and pinching sorely1 a pair of short coloured pantaloons1 a great pilot overcoat1 a ,scotch cap1 cut so as to make it fit his head1 formed the cap--pie of ,father ,ignatius4 ,he took refuge in ,spanish ,place until the darkness of night might save him from his juvenile friends along the ,edgware ,road1 who1 if they recognised him in his new fashion1 would treat him to a more than ordinary share of ridicule4 ,he took off the shoes when outside ,london1 and one may imagine the surprise of #dcg the religious when he entered the choir thus arrayed1 in the middle of matins1 to get ,father ,provincial's permission to change6 ,our ,fathers shortly after were convoked by the ,provincial to a kind of chapter4 ,among other matters submitted to their consideration1 came the doings of ,father ,ignatius4 ,there were cavils on all sides1 from within and without1 and many thought that it was his imprudence that drew forth the proclamation4 ,the nature of the charges against him will be seen from an apologetic letter of his to the ,standard3-- ,to ,the ,editor ,of ,the ,catholic ,standard4 ,jesu ,christi ,passio4 ,sir1--,i remarked in my last1 not as a complaint1 but quite the contrary1 that ,i have often heard that good ,catholics have suspected me to be not right in my head1 because of my strange devotion to the conversion of ,england and of the many strange things which this fancy1 as it seems to them1 has led me to do4 ,so far1 indeed1 am ,i from being surprised at or vexed by them1 that ,i fairly declare that something like a suspicion of this kind sometimes flashes across my own mind4 ,suppose1 for instance1 ,i might hear of any one becoming deranged or being in danger of it1 ,i have felt at times something like a sympathetic chord struck in my own mind1 which seems to say1 ,are people right1 perhaps1 after all8 ,am ,i not really mad on this point8' ,and it may take me a moment's thought to keep my fair even balance4 ,how do ,i keep it8--,not as ,i might have done1 some thirty years ago1 by recollecting1 what when young ,i used to hear said by my relations1 with self-congratulation1 ,well1 thank ,god1 there is no taint of madness in our family6--,no2 ,i get my satisfaction independently of this1 from a twofold consciousness1 to one branch of which ,i could not have referred then--that is1 from the consciousness1 first1 of a yet unimpaired memory concerning what ,i have seen and said and heard within reasonable limits of time2 and secondly1 from the consciousness1 glory be to ,god for #dch it1 of 7may ,i say it without rashness87 a perfect ,catholic1 ,apostolic1 ,roman faith4 ,i remember--,i cannot be mistaken in this--that1 not two years ago1 ,i spent four months in ,rome1 and spoke out there all my thoughts on this subject1 as far as ,i had opportunity given1 without a shadow of reserve1 to the first authorities of the ,church2 and that it ended by my receiving and having in my possession documents fully approving of what ,i had been doing and purposed to do1 from the first authorities of the ,church1 to which ,i may add the mention of testimonials signed by the ,generals of the ,dominicans1 of the ,conventual ,franciscans1 of the ,franciscans ,strictioris ,observantiae1 and of the ,capuchins1 recommending me to all local superiors of their respective orders1 to the end that they should receive me to hospitality in all their houses1 allow the use of their churches to preach in1 and assist me in every possible way in my purposes4 ,i have then said to myself1 ,it would indeed be no ordinary sort of madness breaking out for the first time in a family1 which should have the marvellous power of communicating itself1 infecting and dragging after it such a number of certainly very respectable heads2 to which ,i may add1 that the foundation1 as it were1 of all these testimonials1 was a letter from his ,eminence the ,archbishop of ,westminster1 given me when ,i went into ,germany in the summer of #ahea1 renewed with a fresh signature in #aheb1 after all my vagaries 787 at ,vienna had taken place4 ,in this letter1 written in ,french by the hand of his ,eminence himself--of whom ,i never heard any one express the idea that he was touched in the brain--he states that having perfectly known me from the time of my conversion ,i feel an intimate conviction in myself no one knows me better he does not hesitate to recommend me to all the ,catholics of the ,continent1 particularly to all bishops and ecclesiastics1 secular and regular1 as worthy of all their consideration and of their support1 in the matters about which ,i should be engaged4 ,no2 ,i say1 that on divine principles1 almost as well as human1 it is too much to imagine that ,i have been mad1 thus far2 whatever may be the case hereafter4 ,protestants1 at least some of them1 might say so1 and might #dci think it too4 ,no wonder4 ,but will this remonstrance suffice to put an end to such insinuations from good ,catholics8 ,mind1 ,i am not displeased at them2 nay1 ,i relish these insinuations beyond what ,i can express4 ,i have solid reasons for this2 but ,i desire for the future to forego this personal consolation1 for the sake of the souls of my poor countrymen1 and of hundreds of millions more throughout the world1 which ,i have the conviction might be saved1 if the ,catholics of ,england and ,ireland would at length have done with their objections1 and undertake with all their heart the gaining of this kingdom to ,god and ,his ,church--and a reputed madman is not likely to move them to it4 ,i cannot but think that the authorities under whose sanction ,i have acted might be considered a sufficient defence against objections to the movement which ,i call for so pertinaciously4 ,i will1 however1 proceed to answer one by one the remarks which ,i supposed in my last letter might be passed on my narrative of proceedings at ,vienna4 ,first1 ,i supposed some would smile at my ignorance of the world1 in expecting that in our days young princes like the ,emperor of ,austria and his brother should have any dispositions to enter into ideas like mine4 ,but why not8 ,are they not good ideas8 at least1 ,i think them so2 and am ,i to think a person incapable of great and good designs because he is an emperor--a prince8 ,there is no doubt that because he is a prince1 he is immensely more responsible for the objects which he pursues2 and that the glory of ,god would be incomparably more advanced by his devoting himself to heavenly pursuits than if he were an ordinary person2 and are we tamely to surrender to the service of the world1 and of the ,prince of this world1 all who have power to influence the world1 and be content on ,god's behalf to have none but the poor and weak on the other side8 ,i know it is in the ,word of ,god that not many wise1 not many noble1 c41 are called4 ,god has chosen the poor in this world2 but yet there has been a ,st4 ,henry1 an emperor2 a ,st4 ,stephen1 ,king of ,hungary2 a ,st4 ,louis of ,france2 a ,st4 ,edward the ,confessor1 and so many more2 and what magnificent instruments have such #ddj men been for exalting the ,church1 converting nations1 and saving souls6 ,if they have been few in comparison with kings and emperors whose views have been all temporal1 is that a reason against trying to add one or two more to their number8 ,i think it is a reason why we should try2 and if we are to try1 let us do it in the spirit of hope1 or we shall do it very languidly4 ,if after all we fail1 what have we lost by trying and by hoping8 ,you may answer1 we shall suffer disappointment4 ,ah6 who says that8 ,no6 no disappointment for those who hope in ,god and work for ,him legitimately4 ,it would make my heart bleed1 if ,i had a heart fit for it1 to think of the noble1 truly princely youths in question1 sinking down to the wretched level of worldly1 selfish1 immoral1 useless men of power1 of whom the world has borne so many2 and for a time1 if but for a time1 ,i have indulged bright visions about them2 not mere dreamy visions1 for their education1 the circumstances of their elevation1 the young ,emperor's career hitherto1 his late wonderful deliverance from assassination1 in which he behaved1 as report says1 in away to encourage all such thoughts as mine--all these are reasons on my side2 but suppose ,i am disappointed there2 suppose no one sympathizes in my thoughts2 suppose the ,emperor has forgotten all about my appeal1 and ,i never travel more1 or never more to ,vienna1 and no one else will take any trouble about it--is ,god's arm shortened8 ,are there no other emperors1 or kings1 or queens for ,him to choose among1 if emperors ,he has need of for the work8 ,my friends1 fear not4 ,i do not intend to be disappointed1 and1 what is more1 ,i shall not be1 nor will any of those be who work for the saving of souls1 even on the very largest scale1 unless we are so foolish as to turn back and grow slack4 ,but is it not an error1 it will be asked1 a mistake to wish kings and emperors to interfere in such things8 ,i know many persons of great consideration have this thought2 but the mistake seems to me to lie in not making a distinction between such interference as that of ,constantius1 ,valens1 ,julian1 in old times2 ,henry ,,iv4 and ,joseph ,,ii4 of ,austria1 ,henry ,,viii4 of ,england1 and that of such princes as ,i have named above1 whom the ,church has canonized for #dda what they did for her4 ,this is my opinion1 others have theirs2 how shall we decide8 ,can we here again know the mind of ,rome2 and will not that have some weight in settling the question8 ,i will just relate what took place there relative to this matter4 ,when preparing to leave ,rome for ,vienna1 ,i desired to obtain from the ,austrian ,ambassador there a letter1 which might facilitate my access to the ,emperor1 on which ,i had set my heart4 ,but ,i understood the ,ambassador himself was not easily accessible1 and that ,i had better obtain a note of introduction to him1 and from no one would it be so desirable as from ,cardinal ,antonelli1 the ,pope's ,secretary of ,state4 ,i obtained an audience from him and made my request4 ,he answered3 ,we have a nuncio at ,vienna2 it will do better for you to have a letter from me to him4 ,of course ,i accepted this spontaneous offer most thankfully4 ,the ,cardinal desired me to tell him what ,i wished at ,vienna1 ,i said3 ,an audience of the ,emperor3 and as ,i am asking the favour of your ,eminence to assist me in obtaining it1 it seems right you should know for what end ,i desire it4 ,it is to propose to the ,emperor to take to heart my great object of the conversion of ,england1 and of ,protestants in general1 and to move his subjects to it4 ,the ,cardinal explained to me some circumstances in the position of the ,emperor1 which made it unlikely that he would be led to take any open steps of this kind2 but he gave me the letter without a word of objection to my wish1 on principle2 and it was on my presenting it to the ,nuncio1 that he most graciously desired that ,i should lodge in his palace all the time that ,i was in ,vienna4 ,as ,i have been led to mention this audience with ,cardinal ,antonelli1 ,i think others may share with me in the feelings of satisfaction and admiration with which the remainder of what passed impressed me4 ,i took occasion from finding myself in company with the ,pope's ,secretary of ,state1 to make an additional effort towards moving ,rome in the great cause2 and as1 by his office1 he had to regard the political effect of a decided movement such as ,i was begging1 ,i urged my conviction that no political ill consequences need be feared from the ,holy ,father calling on all ,christendom to #ddb move in this spiritual enterprise4 ,he interrupted me with saying3 ,the ,holy ,father fears no man and nothing in the world4 ,he adverted to the position in which he had seen him at ,gata1 and said3 ,the political power of the ,holy ,see depends on its weakness4 ,i do not remember the exact words2 but they amounted to a noble adoption by the ,apostolic ,see of the famous ,apostolic sentiment3 ,when ,i am weak1 then am ,i strong1 in relation not only to the wielding of its own inalienable spiritual sovereignty1 but to its accidental temporal power1 in the exercise of which we perhaps should not expect always to see the ,divine principle so prominent4 ,this discourse gave me the consoling assurance that when the mind of his ,holiness should be guided by the light which is in him1 to judge that the time is come for a powerful call on ,christendom to move forward in the great enterprise1 no human considerations will check his steps4 ,the ,holy ,father knows no fear of man4 ,i am1 your obedient servant1 ,ignatius ,of ,st4 ,paul1 ,passionist4 ,the joyous way in which he received crosses and mortifications may be seen from this letter4 ,it seemed as if nothing could ruffle his temper4 ,he remarks on the ,proclamation1 in a letter he wrote to make arrangements for saying mass in a private chapel3 ,there ought to be something in the way of a cassock too1 as the ,queen and ,lord ,derby have been pleased to make the country too hot for me to keep on my wearing of the habit for the present4 ,at least so it seems4 ,when he attended the meeting of our ,fathers1 alluded to above1 he travelled by train1 with his habit slung over his shoulder1 and the sign conspicuous1 saying1 ,since they won't let me wear my habit like a religious1 ,i shall carry it like a slave4 #ddc ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,a ,little ,of ,his ,home ,and ,foreign ,work4 ,father ,ignatius gives a retreat to the nuns of ,lingdale ,house1 and comes immediately after to ,oscott1 where the first ,provincial ,synod of the ,english ,hierarchy was being held4 ,he presents a petition to the ,synodal ,fathers1 and receives encouragement to prosecute his work of moving all whom he can to pray for the conversion of ,england4 ,his next mission was to make the visitation of our ,belgian houses for the ,provincial2 when he found himself again abroad1 he took advantage of the opportunity4 ,he goes to different places1 and finds many ,belgian and ,french bishops who preach upon his oeuvre1 and recommend it by circulars to their clergy4 ,these journeys he paid for by begging wherever he went1 and the object he begged for is seen from a letter of his to ,mr4 ,monteith1 dated ,lille1 ,aug4 #bd1 #aheb3-- ,my dear ,mr4 ,monteith1--,here ,i am1 writing to you again1 and you will soon see that what brings me to this is1 as usual1 want of money--auri fames4 ,the case stands thus3 ,i am on travel again1 with commission of finding means to build our house near ,london1 of which ,i am rector1 or rather ,i am rector of a little place which stands on the ground1 and erecter rather than rector ex officio of the house that is to be there4 ,i have my ideas how we might get means for this expense1 and for all other expenses2 and1 moreover1 how means could be got for all the houses in ,england and ,scotland too4 ,i am following the end as well as ,i can1 all alone1 by the way which seems to me the best and only one2 but my being alone makes the progress slow4 ,hitherto1 my ideas are to others like dreams--empty dreams1 #ddd though ,i have a pocket-book full of recommendations from ,rome to support them1 which encourage me to think ,i am not mad1 when1 by the manner in which ,i see people sometimes look at me1 ,i should almost think ,i was4 ,i allude chiefly to the way in which1 in a company of ,english ,catholics1 the mention from me of the idea1 conversion of ,england1 immediately silences a company in the most animated conversation1 as if ,i had said1 ',next week ,i am going to be crowned ,king of ,france6' 444 ,though ,i speak as ,i do1 ,i am not without encouragement and fine prospects2 but ,i want to hasten things1 as souls by thousands and millions perish by delays2 and this ,i will not1 if ,i can help it1 have to answer for4 ,an ,englishman's regular1 natural way to get his matters attended to1 is a steady1 persevering grumble4 ,he grumbles over one step1 then grumbles over the next1 however comfortable and happy he may be over what he has gained4 ,last week ,i was at ,cambrai1 where there was a most remarkable centenary feast1 in honour of ,notre ,dame de ,grce4 ,there is there an old picture of ,our ,lady1 brought from ,rome #djj years ago1 and installed in the cathedral in #adeb1 which has been a centre of devotion ever since4 ,this was the year for the grand solemnity2 pilgrimages coming all the week from the diocese and farther4 ,the most remarkable of the pilgrims unquestionably was ,cardinal ,wiseman1 who came to preside over the procession and solemnities of the last day4 ,he sung mass1 and preached his first sermon in ,france1 which was one of the most eloquent ,i ever heard from him1 or any one1 notwithstanding his imperfect diction4 ,it was all to the point of moving the ,french ,episcopate and nation to prayers for the conversion of ,england4 ,so1 if ,i live1 ,i have little or no doubt of succeeding in time1 but1 meanwhile1 ,i must poke here and poke there for money1 till it begins to come freely of itself4 ,as to what the ,continent could do if their heart was once moved1 ,i am convinced by the history of the ,crusades4 ,if the ,catholic nations were now engaged in a material war1 there would be armies on foot1 and fleets at sea1 the cost of which1 for one week1 would be enough to build cathedrals for all our bishops4 #dde ,why not the same money drawn to effect the spiritual conquest8 ,because they do not care about it4 ,then1 let us make them2 and how8 ,the first step1 of course1 must be to care for it ourselves4 ',si vis me flere1 dolendum est primum ipsi tibi4' ,and what can we do to bring our ,english and ,scotch to this8--,grumble at them1 ,i suppose4 ,on his return from ,france in ,september1 himself and ,father ,eugene came to the determination to move away from ,the ,hyde1 if a more convenient site could be procured4 ,the reason of this was chiefly the unsuitableness of the place to the working of our vocation4 ,it was too solitary for missionaries1 and there was no local work for a number of priests4 ,some of the fathers disguise themselves in secular suits1 less unseemly than that in which they once beheld ,father ,ignatius1 and go in search of a place1 but without success4 ,father ,ignatius gave a mission at this time in ,kentish ,town1 and he little thought1 as he took his walk along the tarred paling in ,maiden ,lane1 that inside lay the grounds of the future ,st4 ,joseph's ,retreat4 ,towards the end of the year #aheb1 ,father ,ignatius accompanies as far as ,london ,bridge a colony of ,passionists1 whom ,dr4 ,o',connor1 the ,bishop of ,pittsburg1 was bringing out to the ,united ,states4 ,these ,passionists have grown in gentem magnam1 and the worthy ,bishop1 like another ,odescalchi1 resigned his crosier1 and became a ,jesuit4 ,he concludes this year and begins the next giving retreats4 ,the scenes of his labours in this department were ,somers ,town1 ,blandford ,square 7,london71 our own house1 ,dudley1 and ,douay4 ,he also assisted at a mission in ,commercial ,road1 ,london1 ,e4 ,the heaviest part of his work1 as a member of ,the ,hyde community1 was attending to the parish1 which1 with the ,barnet ,mission1 then under our charge1 was equal in area to many a diocese in ,catholic countries4 ,father ,ignatius often walked thirty miles in one day on parochial duty4 ,to give an idea of how he went through this work1 one instance will suffice4 ,on one day to went to ,colney ,hatch ,lunatic ,asylum1 and from all the unhappy inmates he was able to get one confession4 ,next day he walked to give #ddf the ,holy ,communion to this single penitent1 and walked afterwards to ,barnet before he broke his fast4 ,this must be a distance of at least fifteen miles4 ,in ,may1 #ahec1 he gives a retreat to his old parishioners of ,west ,bromwich1 another in ,winchester in ,july1 to the nuns in ,wolverhampton in ,august1 and to the people in ,oxburgh in ,october1 and in ,southport1 ,lancashire1 in ,advent4 ,the #afth of ,november this year was a great day for our congregation4 ,it was the first feast of ,blessed ,paul of the ,cross1 our holy founder4 ,there was a great re-union of the chief fathers of the order in ,st4 ,wilfrid's--the ,bishops of ,birmingham and ,southwark1 and ,dr4 ,ullathorne and ,dr4 ,grant assisted at the solemnity4 ,father ,ignatius was there1 of course4 ,father ,paul was beatified on the #bhth ,september1 #aheb4 ,our religious had prayed and worked for the great event1 and had now the happiness of seeing him raised to the altar4 ,he stays at home a great deal now1 as a rector ought to do1 except in intervals of missions and retreats2 and the lion's share of parish work falls to him4 ,he sends one of the priests of his community to ,france to beg for the house2 but he had1 in a very short time1 to send him money for his expenses home4 ,he then concludes that he should himself be considered beggar-in-chief1 and accordingly goes out for a few days to collect alms in ,london4 ,with his alms1 he collects into the ,church a young ,puseyite minister1 who is now a zealous priest on the ,london mission4 ,father ,ignatius visits the neighbouring ministers1 but not as formerly2 he simply goes to see his old acquaintances1 and if the conversation could be transferred from compliments and common-place remarks to matters of higher interest1 he was not the man to let the opportunity pass by4 ,among his old friends in the ,anglican ministry there seemed to have been few for whom he always cherished so kindly a regard as the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,harvey1 ,rector of ,hornsey4 ,that excellent clergyman used to visit ,father ,ignatius1 and receive visits from him on the most friendly terms to the end4 ,thus did he spend his time1 until ,father ,pius1 the brother #ddg of our present ,general1 who died in ,rome in #ahfd1 came to visit the province1 or branch of the order in ,england1 in #ahed4 ,this visit made a change in ,father ,ignatius's position4 ,a number of houses of a religious order are placed under the direction of one superior1 who is styled a ,provincial4 ,with us the ,provincial has two assistants1 who are called ,consultors4 ,the superior of each house is called a ,rector1 and it is his duty to see after the spiritual and temporal concerns of his own community4 ,a rector1 therefore1 has more home work1 by virtue of his office1 than any other superior4 ,a consultor may live in any house of the province1 has no special duty ex officio except to give his advice to the ,provincial when asked1 and may be easily spared for any external employment4 ,this office ,father ,ignatius used to term as otium cum dignitate1 though the otium he never enjoyed1 and felt rather awkward in the dignitas4 ,in #ahed1 he was made first ,consultor1 and relieved from the drudgery of housekeeping for his brethren4 ,before leaving ,the ,hyde for a new field of labour1 he went to see his nephew in ,harrow1 which was only a few miles from our retreat2 but was not admitted4 ,he took another priest with him1 and both were hooted by the boys4 ,it seems pardonable in a set of wild young schoolboys to make game of such unfashionable beings as ,catholic priests2 but it shows a great want of good breeding in schoolboys who are afterwards to hold such a high position in ,english society4 ,this remark is forced upon us by the fact that none of us ever passed through ,harrow without meeting a somewhat similar reception4 ,a school of inferior rank might set ,harrow an example in this point4 ,we have passed ,roger ,cholmley's school in ,highgate1 time after time1 often in a large body1 and have met the boys in threes and fours1 and all together1 and never yet heard a single insult4 ,what makes the difference8 ,on the #hth of ,september1 #ahed1 ,father ,ignatius left ,the ,hyde for ,ireland4 ,he begs this time through the principal towns in ,munster1 and says he was very kindly received by all4 ,he preached sermons during this journey1 all on the #ddh conversion of ,england4 ,he gained more prayers this time than on a former occasion1 because his work came to the people with blessings and indulgences from the ,father of the ,faithful4 ,he used to tell an amusing anecdote in reference to this mission4 ,somewhere he had preached on the conversion of ,england1 and recommended the prayers by the spiritual profit to be derived from them4 ,an old woman accosted him as he was passing by1 and he had just time to hear1 ,father1 ,i say the three ,hail ,marys every day for ,england4 ,father ,ignatius was much pleased1 and made inquiries after the old lady1 doubtless intending to constitute her a kind of apostle in the place4 ,she was brought to see him2 he expressed his thanks and pleasure that she had entered so thoroughly into his views1 and asked her would she try to persuade others to follow her example8 ,me get people to pray for ,england6 she answered2 ,i pray myself three times for the sake of the indulgence1 but ,i curse them #cjj times a day for it1 lest they might get any good of my prayers6 ,he reasoned with her1 to be sure1 but did not tell us if the success of his second discourse was equal to the first4 #ddi ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,sanctification ,of ,ireland4 ,in a letter written by ,father ,ignatius in ,december1 #ahed1 is found the first glimpse of a new idea3 the ,sanctification of ,ireland4 ,this idea was suggested to him by the faith of the ,irish people1 and by their readiness to adopt whatever was for their spiritual profit4 ,his intending the ,sanctification of ,ireland as a step towards the ,conversion of ,england1 laid the scheme open to severe criticism4 ,it was said that ,england was his final object2 that ,ireland was to be used as an instrument for ,england's benefit2 that if his patriotism were less strong1 his sanctity would be greater4 ,if these objections were satisfactorily answered1 they might be given up with a hint that1 it was a very ,irish way to convert ,england1 by preaching in the bogs of ,connaught4 ,the best refutation of these ungenerous remarks will be1 perhaps1 a simple statement of what his ideas were upon the subject4 ,his great desire was that all the world should be perfect4 ,he used to say ,our ,lord had not yet had ,his triumph in this world1 and that it was too bad the devil should still have the majority4 ,this must not be1 he would say2 ,i shall never rest as long as there is a single soul on earth who does not serve ,god perfectly4 ,the practical way of arriving at this end was to begin at home4 ,england had not faith as a nation1 so there was no foundation to build sanctity upon there4 ,england1 however1 had great influence as a nation all over the world2 she showed great zeal also in her abortive attempts to convert the heathen4 ,if her energies could be turned in the right direction1 what grand results might we not anticipate8 ,another reflection was1 ,england has had every means of conversion tried upon her2 #dej let us now see what virtue there is in good example4 ,to set this example1 and to sow the seed of the great universal harvest1 he would find out the best ,catholic nation in the world1 and bring it perfectly up to the maxims of the ,gospel4 ,this nation was ,ireland1 of course1 and it was near enough to ,england to let its light shine before her4 ,what he wished for was1 to have every man1 woman1 and child in ,ireland1 take up the idea that they were to be saints4 ,he would have this caught up with a kind of national move4 ,the practical working of the idea he embodied in a little book which he wrote some time afterwards1 and preached it wherever he addressed an ,irish congregation4 ,the banishing of three great vices--cursing1 company-keeping1 and intemperance--and the practice of daily meditation1 with a frequent approach to the sacraments1 were the means4 ,if ,ireland1 so he argued1 took up this at home1 it would spread to ,england1 the colonies1 and to wherever there was an ,irishman all over the world4 ,all these would be shining lights1 and if their neighbours did not choose at once to follow their example1 we could at least point it out as the best proof of our exhortations4 ,this is a short sketch of the work he now began1 and it was a work his superiors always encouraged1 and which he spent his life in endeavouring to realise4 ,one objection made against this scheme touched him on a tender point--his love of country4 ,many ,catholics1 especially ,english converts1 thought the words of ,ecclesiasticus applicable to ,england3 ,injuries and wrongs will waste riches3 and the house that is very rich shall be brought to nothing by pride3 so the substance of the proud shall be rooted out4--,eccl4 xxi4 #e4 ,these were of opinion that ,england must be humbled as a nation1 and deeply too1 before she could be fit for conversion4 ,this ,father ,ignatius could not stand4 ,he writes1 in a letter to ,mr4 ,monteith3 ,as my unicum necessarium for myself is the salvation and sanctification of my own soul1 so my wishes and designs about ,england1 which1 according to the order of charity1 ,i consider 7in opposition to many ,english ,catholics1 especially converts71 ,i ought to love first of all people1 are1 singly and #dea only1 that she may be brought to ,god1 and in such a way and under such circumstances1 as may enable her to be the greatest possible blessing to the whole world4 ,i have heard plenty1 and much more than plenty1 from ,english and ,irish ,catholics 7very seldom1 comparatively1 from those of the ,continent71 about the impossibility of this1 except by the thorough crushing of the power of ,england4 ,i say to all this1 ,no1 no1 no6 ,god can convert our country with her power and her influence unimpaired1 and ,i insist on people praying for it without imposing conditions on ,almighty ,god1 on whom1 if ,i did impose conditions1 it would be in favour of ,his showing more1 and not less abundant1 mercy to a fallen people4 ,yet1 though ,i have often said ,i will not allow ,miss ,this1 or ,mr4 ,that1 to pronounce sentence on ,england1 still less to wish evil to her 7particularly if it be an ,english ,mr4 or ,miss who talks71 ,i have always said that if ,god sees it fit that the conversion should be through outward humiliations and scourges1 ,i will welcome the rod1 and thank ,him for it1 in behalf of my country1 as ,i would in my own person1 in whatever way ,he might think fit to chastise and humble me4 ,he returned to ,london in the beginning of #ahee1 to give the retreat to our religious4 ,his next work was a mission1 given with ,father ,gaudentius in ,stockport4 ,after that1 he gave a mission with ,father ,vincent in ,hull2 in returning from ,hull1 he stopped at ,lincoln to visit ,mr4 ,sibthorpe4 ,he spends a week in our ,london house1 and then gives a retreat by himself in ,trelawny4 ,his next mission was in ,dungannon1 ,ireland1 and as soon as he came to ,england for another retreat he had to give in ,levenshulme to nuns1 he takes advantage of his week's rest to visit ,grace ,dieu1 and have what he calls a famous talk with ,count de ,montalembert1 who was ,mr4 ,phillipps's guest at the time4 ,the scene of his labours is again transferred4 ,we find him in ,july giving a mission at ,borris ,o',kane1 with ,father ,vincent and ,father ,bernard and another immediately after1 at ,lorrha4 ,at one of these missions1 the crowd about ,father ,ignatius's confession-chair was very great1 and the people were crushing in close to the confessor's knees4 ,one woman1 #deb especially1 of more than ordinary muscular strength1 elbowed back many of those who had taken their places before she came2 she succeeded in getting to the inner circle of penitents1 but so near the person confessing that the good father gently remonstrated with her4 ,all to no purpose4 ,he spoke again1 but she only came nearer4 ,at length he seized her shawl1 rolled it up in a ball1 and flung it over the heads of the crowd2 the poor woman had to relinquish her position1 and go for her shawl1 and left ,father ,ignatius to shrive her less pushing companions4 ,his fellow missioners were highly amused1 and this incident tells wonderfully for his virtue1 for it is almost the only instance we could ever find of his having done anything like losing his temper during his life as a ,passionist4 ,he gives a retreat in ,birr1 in ,grantham ,abbey1 a mission in ,newcastle1 and another in ,st4 ,augustine's1 ,liverpool1 before the end of the year4 ,it was his custom1 since his first turning seriously to ,god's service1 to be awake at midnight on ,new ,year's ,day1 and begin by prayer for passing the coming year perfectly4 ,he is in ,st4 ,anne's1 ,sutton1 ,lancashire1 this year4 ,he begins the new year1 #ahef1 by giving a mission with ,father ,leonard in our church at ,sutton1 with a few sermons at a place called ,peasly ,cross1 an offshoot of the mission we have there4 ,we close this chapter by a notion of ,father ,ignatius's politics4 ,he was neither a ,whig1 a ,tory1 nor a ,radical4 ,he stood aloof from all parties1 and seldom troubled himself about any4 ,he says in a letter to a friend who was a well-read politician3--,how many minds we have speaking in ,england6--,gladstone1 ,palmerston1 ,bright1 ,phillipps1 yourself1 and1 perhaps1 ,i should add myself1 and how many more who knows8 all with minds following tracks which make them travel apart from each other4 ,i want to set a road open1 in which all may walk together if they please--at least with one foot1 if they must have their own particular plank for the other4 #dec ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,another ,tour ,on ,the ,continent4 ,the ,provincial once more sent ,father ,ignatius to beg on the ,continent4 ,he tried to do a double work1 as he did not like to be used up for begging alone1 and the plea of begging would find him access to those he intended to consult4 ,this second work was a form into which he cast his ideas for the sanctification of the world4 ,the way of carrying out these ideas1 which has been detailed1 was what he settled down to after long discussion and many corrections from authority4 ,the pamphlet which he now wrote had been translated into ,german by a lady in ,mnster4 ,in it he proposes a bringing back of ,catholics to the infancy of the ,church1 when the faithful laid the price of their possessions at the feet of the ,apostles4 ,he proposed a kind of ,theocracy1 and the scheme creates about the same sensation as ,utopia1 when one reads it4 ,like ,sir ,thomas ,more1 ,father ,ignatius gives us what he should consider a perfect state of ,christian society2 he goes into all the details of its working1 and meets the objections that might arise as it proceeds4 ,the pamphlet is entitled ,reflectiones ,propositionesque pro fidelium ,sanctificatione4 ,on ,february #ad1 #ahef1 he leaves ,london1 and halts in ,paris only for a few hours1 on his way to ,marseilles4 ,there he sees the ,archbishop1 and begs in the town2 he returns then to ,lyons1 where he has several long conferences with ,cardinal de ,bonald4 ,we find him in ,paris in a few days1 writing circulars to the ,french bishops1 of whom the ,bishop of ,nancy seems to have been his greatest patron4 ,he writes a letter to the ,empress1 and receives an answer that the ,emperor would admit him to an audience4 ,in a day or two #ded ,father ,ignatius stands in the presence of ,napoleon ,,iii41 and it is a loss that he has not left us the particulars of the conference in writing1 because he often reverted to it in conversation with a great deal of interest4 ,he found at his lodgings1 on returning from a qute a few days after1 l1#jjj;f4 sent to him as a donation by the ,emperor4 ,his good success in the ,tuileries gave him a hope of doing great things among the lite of ,parisian society4 ,he is1 however1 sadly disappointed1 and the next day sets off to ,belgium4 ,arrived in ,tournai1 he sends a copy of the ,french circular to the ,belgian bishops4 ,this does not seem to be a petition for alms1 as we find him the same evening travelling in a third-class carriage to ,cologne1 without waiting for their ,lordships' answers4 ,during his begging in ,cologne1 he says mass every morning in ,st4 ,colomba's 7,columb-,kille's7 ,church2 perhaps the spirit of hospitality was bequeathed to the clergy of this ,church by their ,irish patron1 for he appears to have experienced some coldness from the pfarren of ,cologne4 ,in ,mnster he is very well received4 ,the ,bishop is particularly kind to him1 and looks favourably on his ,reflectiones2 besides that1 his lordship deputes a priest to be his guide in begging4 ,father ,ignatius notes in his journal that he preached extempore in ,german to the ,jesuit novices1 and that one of the fathers revises and corrects the ,german translation of the ,reflectiones4 ,the priest deputed for guide by the ,bishop of ,mnster was called away on business of importance1 and ,father ,ignatius finds another4 ,this ,kaplan lost his time smoking1 and our good father gave up1 and went off by ,kln to ,coblentz4 ,he finds the bishop here very kind1 but is allowed to beg only of the clergy2 the ,jesuits give him hospitality4 ,a cold reception in ,mantz1 and a lukewarm one in ,augsburg1 hurry him off to ,munich4 ,he submits the ,reflectiones to ,dr4 ,dllinger1 who corrects them and gives them his approbation4 ,from ,munich he proceeds to ,vienna4 ,a part of this journey1 as far as ,lintz1 had to be performed by an eilwayen #dee or post car4 ,the driver of this vehicle was a tremendous smoker1 and ,father ,ignatius did not at all enjoy the fumes of tobacco4 ,he perceived that the driver forgot the pipe1 which he laid down at a hoff on the way1 while slaking his thirst1 and never told him of it4 ,he was exulting in the hope of being able to travel to the next shop for pipes without inhaling tobacco smoke1 when1 to his mortification1 the driver perceived his loss1 and shouted out like a man in despair1 ,mein pfeiffe6 ,mein pfeiffe6--,my pipe6 ,my pipe6 ,to increase his passenger's disappointment1 he actually turned back a full ,german league1 and then smoked with a vengeance until he came to the next stage4 ,father ,ignatius sends a copy of the ,reflectiones to ,rome1 on his arrival in ,vienna1 and presents it with an address at an assembly of ,bishops that was then being held4 ,he has audiences with the ,emperor and ,archduke ,maximilian1 now ,emperor of ,mexico1 as well as with the ,nunzio1 and all the notabilities1 clerical and secular1 in the city4 ,immediately after1 somehow1 he gets notice to quit from the ,superior of a religious community1 where he had been staying1 and all the other religious houses refuse to take him in4 ,he was about to leave ,vienna in consequence1 as he did not like putting up in an hotel1 when some ,italian priests gave him hospitality1 and welcomed him to stop with them as long as he pleased4 ,as a set-off to his disappointment1 the ,bishop of ,transylvania is very kind to him1 and ,cardinal ,schwartzenberg even begs for him4 ,he met the ,most ,rev4 ,father ,jandel1 ,general of the ,dominicans1 in the ,cardinal's ,palace1 and showed him the ,reflectiones4 ,the good disciple of ,st4 ,thomas examined the document closely1 and ,father ,ignatius records his opinion1 he gave my paper a kick4 ,notwithstanding this sentence1 he went on distributing copies every where2 but his tract-distribution was stopped in a few days by a letter he received from our ,general4 ,when he sent the little pamphlet to ,rome it was handed for criticism to the ,lector 7or ,professor7 of ,theology in our retreat1 who was then ,father ,ignatius ,paoli1 the present ,provincial in ,england4 ,the critique was very long and #def quite unfavourable2 it reached him1 backed by a letter from the ,general1 which forbade to speak about the counsels for the present4 ,he records this sentence in his journal in these words3--,june #ag4 ,a letter from ,padre ,ignazio1 by the ,general--,order to stop speaking of the counsels1 c4 ,stop her1 back her4 ,deo gratias6 ,this was a favourite expression with him whenever a ,superior thwarted any of his projects3 it was borrowed from the steamboats that ply on the ,thames1 and ,father ,ignatius considered himself as in the position of the little boy who echoes the orders of the master to the engineers below4 ,he used to say1 ,what a catastrophe might one expect if the boy undertook to give an order of his own6 ,whilst in ,vienna he received a letter from ,father ,vincent1 telling him of our having established a house of the order near ,harold's ,cross1 ,dublin4 ,father ,ignatius accompanied ,father ,vincent when they were both in ,dublin1 before the ,german tour began1 in his search for a position1 and ,rathmines was selected4 ,the excellent parish priest1 ,monsignor ,meagher1 had just opened his new church1 and laboured hard to have a religious community in his district4 ,he therefore seconded the intentions of our people1 and in a short time a house was taken in his parish1 and every day cements the connexion between us and this venerable ecclesiastic4 ,a splendid edifice has since been built during the ,rectorship of ,father ,osmond1 and chiefly through his exertions4 ,father ,ignatius went to two or three towns1 where the police would not allow him to beg unless patronised by a native priest1 and not being able to fulfil these conditions he was obliged to desist4 ,this was ,father ,ignatius's last visit to ,germany2 he had been there five times during his life4 ,the first was a tour of pleasure1 all the rest were for higher objects4 ,he seems to have had a great regard for the ,germans2 he considered them related by blood to the ,english1 and although he himself was of ,norman descent1 he appears to have a special liking for the ,saxon element in character4 ,he preferred to #deg see it blended certainly1 and would consider a vein of ,celtic or ,norman blood an improvement on the ,teutonic4 ,there were other reasons4 ,st4 ,boniface1 the ,apostle of ,germany1 was an ,englishman2 ,st4 ,columbanus and ,st4 ,gall might be said to have laboured more in ,germany than in their native ,ireland4 ,the ,germans owed something to ,england1 and he wished to have them make a return4 ,besides1 the ,reformation began in ,germany1 and he would have the countrymen of ,luther and of ,cranmer work together to repair the injuries they had suffered from each other4 ,this twofold plea was forced upon him by a ,german periodical1 which advocated the cause of the ,crusade even so far back as #ahch4 ,father ,ignatius also knew how ,german scholarship was tinging the intellect of ,england1 and he thought a spread of devotion would be the best antidote to ,rationalism4 ,the reasons for working in ,france1 which he styled that generous ,catholic nation1 were somewhat different1 but they have been detailed by himself in those portions of the correspondence respecting his crusade4 ,he visits ,raal1 ,resburg1 ,baden1 ,ratisbonne1 and ,munich2 hence he starts for ,london4 ,here he arrives on the #dth of ,october4 ,he did not delay1 but went straight to ,dublin1 and stayed for the first time in ,blessed ,paul's ,retreat1 ,harold's ,cross4 ,this house became his head-quarters for some time1 for we find him returning thither after a mission in ,kenilworth1 and one in ,liverpool1 as well as a retreat for nuns1 which closes his labours for the year #ahef4 #deh ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,father ,ignatius ,in #aheg4 ,seven years1 according to physiologists1 make a total change in the human frame1 such is the extent of the renewal2 and although the laws of spirit do not follow those of matter1 it may be a pleasing problem to find out how far there is an analogy4 ,the chapter of #ahej was headed like this2 let us see if the events of both tell differently upon ,father ,ignatius4 ,the first event he records in the ,journal for this year is the reception of ,mrs4 ,o',neill into the ,church4 ,this good lady had then one son a ,passionist2 she was what might be called a very strict and devoted ,protestant1 although all her children were brought up ,catholics by her husband4 ,she loved the son who first joined our order very tenderly1 and felt his becoming a monk so much that she would never read one of his letters4 ,the son was ordained priest in ,monte-,argentaro1 and the first news he heard after he had for the first time offered up the ,holy ,sacrifice1 was that his mother had been received in our retreat in ,dublin by ,father ,ignatius4 ,she was induced by another son1 who lived in ,dublin1 to attend benediction1 and our ,lord gave her the grace of conversion with ,his blessing4 ,she is now a fervent ,catholic1 and another son and a daughter have since followed the example of their brother4 ,the mother finds her greatest happiness in what once seemed her greatest affliction4 ,such is the power of grace1 always leading to joy through the bitterness of the cross4 ,the next event is the death of ,father ,paul ,mary of ,st4 ,michael4 ,this saintly ,passionist was the ,honourable ,charles ,reginald ,packenham1 son of the ,earl of ,longford4 ,he #dei became a convert when captain in the ,guards1 and shortly after joined our ,institute4 ,he was the first rector of ,blessed ,paul's ,retreat1 and having edified his brethren by his humility and religious virtues for nearly six years1 the term of his life as a ,passionist1 died in the odour of sanctity4 ,he had been ailing for some time1 but still able to do a little in the way of preaching and confessions4 ,it was advertised that he would preach in ,gardiner ,street1 ,dublin1 on ,sunday1 ,march #a4 ,he died that day at one o'clock ,a4,m41 and ,father ,ignatius went to preach in his stead2 it created a sensation when the good father began by asking prayers for the repose of the soul of him whose place he came to fill4 ,in a letter ,father ,ignatius wrote at this time we have his opinion of ,father ,paul ,mary3 4444 ,as to the ,passionists1 ,i do not think those who managed our coming here 7to ,dublin7 which was all done during my absence in ,germany1 had any idea of serving ,england4 ,i believe the prime instigator of the move was ,father ,paul ,mary1 who was born in ,dublin1 and was through and through an ,irishman in his affections1 though trained in ,england4 ,he1 to the last1 had all the anti-,english feelings1 which prevail so much through ,ireland1 and never would give me the least hope of his being interested for ,england4 ,i fall in1 notwithstanding that1 with all the notions of his great virtue and holiness which others have2 and ,i think1 moreover1 that the best ,catholics in ,ireland are to be found among those who have been the most bitterly prejudiced against ,england4 ,but ,i think there is in reserve for them another great step in advance when they lay down this aversion and turn it into divine charity in a heroic degree4 ,father ,ignatius always felt keenly ,father ,paul ,mary's not taking up his ideas about ,england with more warmth4 ,when he was on his death-bed1 ,father ,ignatius spent many hours sitting by him4 ,in one of their last conversations1 ,father ,ignatius urged his pleas for ,england as strongly as he could2 when he had done1 and was waiting for the effect1 ,father ,paul said1 in a dry1 cold manner3 ,i don't think ,ireland has got anything to thank ,england for4 ,these words were perpetually ringing in the ears of ,father #dfj ,ignatius2 they were the last ,father ,paul ever said on the subject1 and the other used to say3 ,oh1 ,i used to enjoy his beautiful conversation so much1 but ,i never could hear one single kind word for ,england4 ,this year a general chapter of our ,congregation was held in ,rome4 ,this is an important event1 and only occurs every six years4 ,it is here the head superiors are elected1 points of rule explained1 and regulations enacted for the better ordering of the different houses all over the world1 according to circumstances of time and place4 ,the ,provincial and the two ,consultors of each ,province are obliged to attend4 ,father ,ignatius was therefore called to travel abroad once more4 ,when in ,rome1 he employed all the time that was left from capitular duties in holding conferences with our students1 and trying to get some papers he brought with him approved4 ,among others1 he brought the paper that was kicked by ,father ,jaudel1 and condemned by one of our theologians4 ,the only one in ,rome who approved of it was the ,abbate ,passaglia4 ,cardinal ,barnab listened to all ,father ,ignatius had to urge in its favour2 but did not approve of it4 ,he had to return without gaining anything this time2 except that the ,roman ,lector was become his ,provincial4 ,in a few years afterwards1 when we read of ,passaglia's fall1 ,father ,ignatius was heard to say3 ,passaglia and ,dllinger were the only theologians who approved of my paper4 ,i suppose ,i need not flatter myself much upon their imprimatur4 ,he was remarked to be often abstracted when he had many crosses to bear4 ,one day he was going through ,rome with one of our ,religious1 and passed by a fountain4 ,he went over and put his hand so far into one of the jets1 that he squirted the water over a number of poor persons who were basking in the sun a few steps beneath him4 ,they made a stir1 and uttered a few oaths as the water kept dashing down on them4 ,the companion awoke ,father ,ignatius out of his reverie1 and so unconscious did he seem of the disturbance he had unwittingly created1 that he passed on without alluding to it4 ,on his return home now1 as ,second ,consultor1 he is sent #dfa to beg again in ,ireland4 ,he makes the circuit of ,connaught this time4 ,he took1 in his journey1 ,roscommon1 ,castlerea1 visits the ,o',connor ,don1 ,boyle1 ,sligo4 ,here he was received very kindly by the ,bishop and clergy4 ,he had for guide in ,sligo1 a ,johnny ,doogan1 who seems to have amused him very much4 ,this good man was chief respondent at the ,rosary1 which used to be said every evening in the church4 ,one night the priest began1 ,incline unto my aid1 ,o ,lord4 ,no answer4 ,where are you1 ,johnny ,doogan8 asked the priest4 ,johnny1 who was a little more than distracted in some corner of the church1 replied1 as if suddenly awoke3 ,here ,i am1 your ,reverence1 and 'my tongue shall announce thy praise4' ,he next passes along through ,easky and ,cullinamore to ,ballina4 ,he gives a retreat to the ,sisters of ,mercy here1 and during it1 makes an excursion to ,enniscrone4 ,he went next to ,ballycastle1 ,killala1 ,castlebar4 ,here he went to visit his cousin1 ,lord ,lucan1 and is very kindly received4 ,during the course of conversation1 he asked ,lord ,lucan if he had not heard of his conversion8 ,oh yes1 he replied1 ,i heard you were wavering some thirty years ago4 ,but ,i have not wavered since1 replied ,father ,ignatius4 ,he then went to ,ballinrobe1 ,westport1 ,tuam1 ,athenry1 and back to ,dublin1 by ,mullingar4 ,this tour took nearly two months4 ,he gives a retreat in the beginning of ,september to the nuns of ,gorey1 and after it1 begs through ,wexford1 and the southwest portion of ,leinster4 ,the only thing remarkable about these excursions is1 that he notes once1 ,i am ashamed to think that ,i have not begged of any poor people to-day4 ,in ,december1 #aheg1 his brother ,frederick1 ,lord ,spencer1 died4 ,this brother was ,father ,ignatius's companion at school1 and it is remarkable that he was the only one of the family who used any kind of severity towards him4 ,he says1 in a letter written at this time1 ,i am twelve years an exile from ,althorp4 ,shortly before the ,earl died1 he relented1 and invited ,father ,ignatius to stay at the family seat a few days4 ,the letter joyfully accepting the invitation was read by the brother on his bed of death4 ,it is only right to observe that the present ,earl has been the kindest #dfb of all1 and treated his uncle with distinguished kindness for the few years he was left to him4 ,he even gave him back the portion of his income which his father diverted to other uses4 ,another letter he wrote in ,december1 gives an idea of his spirit of resignation4 ,it seems a ,rev4 ,mother wrote to him in a state of alarm that some of the sisters were inclined to go away4 ,here is a part of his answer3 ,i will see what ,i can do with the sisters who are in the mood to kick1 bite1 or run away4 ,if they take to running1 never mind how many go1 let them all go1 with ,god bless them1 and thank ,god they are gone1 and we will hope their room will be worth as much as their company4 ,lest the allusion to his exile from ,althorp might be taken in a wrong sense1 it is well to give a passage from a letter ,father ,ignatius wrote after the death of his brother4 ,i dare say you have not heard that just before my brother's death ,i had written to him about a case of distress1 which he had before been acquainted with1 telling him1 at the same time1 of what ,i was about1 and among other things1 that ,i was going to ,london to open a mission in ,bermondsey on the #ajth of ,january4 ,he sent me #c for the person ,i wrote about1 and invited me to stop at ,althorp a couple of nights on my way1 not demanding any positive promise about religion as beforetime1 but only saying that he thought ,i might come as a private friend without seeing it necessary to hold spiritual communications with the people in the neighbourhood4 ,i answered that ,i would come with pleasure on these terms1 and that even if he had said nothing1 prudence would dictate to me to act as he wished4 ,this was a most interesting prospect to me1 after my twelve years' exile from that home1 and ,i intended to come on the #gth of ,january4 ,it was only a day or two before my leaving ,dublin for this journey1 that ,i was shown a notice in the paper of his death1 and the next day had a letter about it from my sister4 ,he must have received my letter on the very day that he was taken ill4 ,these are remarkable circumstances4 ,what will ,providence bring out of them8 #dfc ,he felt the death of this brother very much1 and was known to shed tears in abundance when relating the sad news to some of his friends4 ,he said very sadly1 ,i gave myself up to three days' sorrowing for my dear brother ,frederick1 but ,i took care to thank ,god for the affliction4 #dfd ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,his ,little ,missions4 ,on the #bast of ,june1 #aheh1 ,father ,ignatius began to give short retreats1 which he designated little missions4 ,this was his work the remaining six years of his life2 anything else we find him doing was like an exception4 ,the work proposed in these missions was what has been already described in the chapter on the sanctification of the ,irish people4 ,he wanted to abolish all their vices1 which he reduced to three capital sins1 and sow the seeds of perfect virtue upon the ground of their deep and fertile faith4 ,since he took up the notion that ,ireland was called to keep among the nations the title of ,island of ,saints1 which had once been hers1 he could never rest until he saw it effected4 ,he seems to have been considering for a number of years the means by which this should be brought about1 and he hit upon a happy thought in #aheh4 ,this thought was the way of impregnating the minds of all the ,irish people with his ideas4 ,he found that missions were most powerful means of moving people in a body to reconciliation with ,god1 and an amendment of life4 ,he perceived that the words of the missionaries were treasured up1 and that the advices they gave were followed with a scrupulous exactness4 ,missions were the moving power1 but how were they to enter into all the corners of a kingdom8 ,missions could only be given in large parishes1 and all priests did not set so high a value upon their importance as those who asked for them4 ,if he could concentrate the missionary power into something less solemn1 but of like efficacy1 and succeed in carrying that out1 he thought it would be just #dfe the thing4 ,this train of deliberation resulted in the little missions4 ,a little mission is a new mode of renewing fervour2 ,father ,ignatius was the originator and only worker in it of whom we have any record4 ,it was half a week of missionary work in every parish--that is1 three days and a half of preaching and hearing confessions4 ,two sermons in the day were as much as ever ,father ,ignatius gave1 and the hours in the confessional were as many as he could endure4 ,this kind of work had its difficulties4 ,the whole course of subjects proper to a mission could not be got through1 neither could all the penitents be heard4 ,father ,ignatius met these objections4 ,the eternal truths1 as such1 he did not introduce4 ,he confined himself to seven lectures1 in which the crying evils1 with their antidotes1 were introduced4 ,as far as the confessions were concerned1 he followed the rule of moral theologians that a confessor is responsible only for the penitent kneeling before him1 and not for those whose confession he has not begun4 ,he heard all he could4 ,his routine of daily work on these little missions was to get up at five1 and hear confessions all day until midnight1 except whilst saying mass and office1 giving his lecture and taking his meals4 ,he took no recreation whatever1 and if he chatted any time after dinner with the priest1 the conversation might be considered a continuation of his sermon4 ,at a very moderate calculation he must have spent at least twelve hours a day in the confessional4 ,some of these apostolic visits he prolonged to a week when circumstances required4 ,he gave #bde of these missions from ,june1 #aheh1 to ,september1 #ahfd2 he was on his way to the #bdfth when he died4 ,a rough calculation will show us that he must have spent about twenty-two weeks every year in this employment4 ,let us just think of forty journeys1 in cold and heat1 from parish to parish1 sometimes on foot1 sometimes on conveyances1 which chance put in his way4 ,let us follow him when he has strapped his bags upon his shoulder1 after his mass1 walking off nine or ten miles1 in #dff order to be in time to begin in another parish that evening4 ,let us see the poor man trying to prevent his feeling pain from his sore feet by walking a little faster1 struggling1 with umbrella broken1 against rain and wind1 dust1 a bad road1 and a way unknown to add to his difficulties4 ,he arrives1 he lays down his burden1 puts on his habit1 takes some dinner1 finishes his office1 preaches his first discourse1 and sits in the confessional until half-past eleven o'clock4 ,let us try to realize what this work must have been1 and we shall have an idea of the six last years of ,father ,ignatius ,spencer's life4 ,we give a few extracts from his letters1 as they will convey an idea of how he felt and wrought in this great work4 ,on the #ajth of ,august1 #aheh1 he writes from the convent in ,kells1 where he was helping the nuns through their retreat3-- ,i have an hour and a half before my next sermon at #g2 all the nuns' confessions are finished1 and all my office said2 ,i have therefore time for a letter4 ,i have not had such an afternoon as this for many months4 ,the people of this town seem to think the convent an impregnable fortress1 and do not make an assault upon me in it4 ,if ,i was just to show myself in the church ,i should be quickly surrounded4 ,the reflections which come upon me this quiet afternoon are not so bright and joyous as you might expect1 perhaps1 from the tone of my letter to ,m ----1 but rather of a heavy afflicting character2 but all the better1 all the better4 ,this is wholesome1 and another stage in my thoughts brings me to very great satisfaction out of this heaviness4 ,i do not know whether ,i shall explain myself to you4 ,i see myself here so alone1 though the people come upon me so eagerly1 so warmly1 and1 ,i may say1 so lovingly2 yet ,i have not one on whom ,i can think as sympathising with me4 ,i see the necessity of a complete radical change in the spirit of the people1 the necessity1 ,i mean1 in order to have some prospect of giving the cause of truth its victory in ,england1 and making this ,irish people permanently virtuous and happy4 ,this is what ,i am preaching from place to place1 and aiming at instilling into the people's minds in the confessional1 at #dfg dinner-tables1 in cars on the road1 as well as in preaching2 and1 while ,i aim at it1 the work is bright enough4 ,oct4 #aa1 #ahfj1 he writes3 ,i can hardly understand how ,i can go on for any long time more as ,i am doing1 and not find some capable and willing to enter into them4 ,here ,i am through the #aabth parish1 with the same proposals which no one objects to1 but no one enters into nor seems to understand4 ,may #f1 #ahfa4-- ,it seems my lot to be moving about as long as ,i can move4 ,i am very happy in the work ,i am about when ,i am at it1 but ,i have always to go through regret and sorrow before moving1 particularly when leaving my home4 444 ,i have now gone through #acb parishes4 ,no movement yet1 such as ,i am aiming at4 ,it always goes on in the form of most interesting missionary work1 and is a most agreeable way of doing my begging work4 ,i have been through #abc of these parishes without asking a penny from any one1 but they bring me on an average more than #ba a parish in ,ireland4 ,i have worked through eleven parishes in the diocese of ,salford 7,england7 out of that number1 and these do not yield half the fruit of the ,irish missions in point of money1 but are otherwise very satisfactory4'' ,in a letter written in ,december of the same year3 ,i am preparing for another year's work like the last1 going from parish to parish through ,ireland1 collecting for our ,order1 and at the same time stirring the people to devote themselves to their sanctification4 ,they give their money very generously1 they listen kindly to my sermons1 and ,i never have a minute idle in hearing confessions2 but hitherto there is no attention such as ,i wish paid to my proposals4 ,i have made these little missions now in #afj parishes in ,ireland1 and to eleven ,irish congregations in ,england4 ,i am1 thank ,god1 in as good plight as ever ,i was in my life for this kind of work1 and this seems to give a hope that ,i may at length see the effect of it as ,i wish1 or the fruit may spring up when ,i am dead and buried4 ,if death comes upon me in this way1 ,i will at least rejoice for myself that ,i am dying more like our ,lord than if ,i finished my course #dfh crowned with the most brilliant successes2 for when ,he died people would say ,he had utterly failed1 but ,he was just then achieving ,his victory4 ,whatever way things take we cannot be disappointed if we keep faithful to ,god4 ,the lovingness described as subsisting between himself and his dear ,irish people gave rise to many incidents1 amongst which the following is rather peculiar4 ,at one place1 where he had just concluded a little mission1 the people gathered round him when he was about to go away4 ,he heard many say1 ,what will we do when he is gone8 and several other exclamations betokening their affliction at having to part from him4 ,he turned round and asked all he saw to accompany him to the railway station4 ,when they arrived there he addressed them again in something like these words3 ,now1 stand here until you see the train start1 and when it is out of sight1 ,i want you all to say1 ',thank ,god1 he is gone4' ,he met a great many refusals and cold receptions on these missionary tours1 but in general he was very well received4 ,the exceptions were dear to him1 as they were profitable to himself1 and he seldom spoke of them unless there was some special lesson they were calculated to convey4 #dfi ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,father ,ignatius ,at ,home4 ,the work of the little missions kept ,father ,ignatius very much away from the community4 ,his visits at home were like meteor flashes1 bright and beautiful1 and always made us regret we could not enjoy his edifying company for a longer time4 ,those who are much away on the external duties of the ,order find the rule a little severe when they return2 to ,father ,ignatius it seemed a small heaven of refreshing satisfaction4 ,his coming home was usually announced to the community a day or two before1 and all were promising themselves rare treats from his presence amongst them4 ,it was cheering to see the porter run in1 beaming with joy1 as he announced the glad tidings1 ,father ,ignatius is come4 ,the exuberance of his own delight as he greeted1 first one1 and then another of his companions1 added to our own joy4 ,in fact1 the day ,father ,ignatius came home almost became a holiday by custom4 ,those days were2 and we feel inclined to tire our readers by expatiating on them1 as if writing brought them back4 ,whenever he arrived at one of our houses1 and had a day or two to stay1 it was usual for the younger religious1 such as novices and students1 to go to him1 one by one1 for conference4 ,he liked this very much1 and would write to higher ,superiors for permission to turn off to ,broadway1 for instance1 on his way to ,london1 in order to make acquaintance with the young religious4 ,his counsels had often a lasting effect2 many who were inclined to leave the life they had chosen remained steadfast1 after a conference with him4 ,he did not give common-place solutions to difficulties1 but he had some peculiar phrase1 some quaint axiom1 some droll #dgj piece of spirituality1 to apply to every little trouble that came before him4 ,he was specially happy in his fund of anecdote1 and could tell one1 it was believed1 on any subject that came before him4 ,this extraordinary gift of conversational power made the ,conferences delightful4 ,the novices1 when they assembled in recreation1 and gave their opinions on ,father ,ignatius1 whom many had spoken to for the first time in their life1 nearly all would conclude1 ,if there ever was a saint1 he's one4 ,it was amusing to observe how they prepared themselves for forming their opinion4 ,they all heard of his being a great saint1 and some fancied he would eat nothing at all for one day1 and might attempt a little vegetables on the next4 ,one novice1 in particular1 had made up his mind to this1 and1 to his great surprise1 he saw ,father ,ignatius eat an extra good breakfast2 and1 when about to settle into a rash judgment1 he saw the old man preparing to walk seven miles to a railway station on the strength of his meal4 ,another novice thought such a saint would never laugh nor make anybody else laugh2 to his agreeable disappointment1 he found that ,father ,ignatius brought more cheerfulness into the recreation than had been there for some time4 ,in one thing ,father ,ignatius did not go against anticipation2 he was most exact in the observance of our rules4 ,he would be always the first in for the midnight office4 ,many a time the younger portion of the community used to make arrangements overnight to be in before him1 but it was no use4 ,once1 indeed1 a student arrived in choir before him1 and ,father ,ignatius appeared so crestfallen at being beaten that the student would never be in before him again1 and might delay on the way if he thought ,father ,ignatius had not yet passed4 ,he seemed particularly happy when he could light the lamps or gas for matins4 ,he was childlike in his obedience4 ,he would not transgress the most trifling regulation4 ,it was usual with him to say1 ,i cannot understand persons who say1 ',oh1 ,i am all right if ,i get to ,purgatory4' ,we should be more generous with ,almighty ,god4 ,i don't intend to go to ,purgatory1 and if ,i do1 ,i must know what for4 ,but1 ,father ,ignatius1 a father would say1 #dga we fall into so many imperfections that it seems presumption to attempt to escape scot free4 ,well1 he would reply1 nothing can send us to ,purgatory but a wilful venial sin1 and may the ,lord preserve us from such a thing as that2 a religious ought to die before being guilty of the least wilful fault4 ,we saw from this that he could scarcely imagine how a religious could do so1 or1 at least1 that he was very far from the like himself4 ,one time we were speaking about the ,italian way of pronouncing ,latin1 which we have adopted2 he noticed some imperfections1 and one of the ,italian ,fathers present remarked a few points in which ,father ,ignatius himself failed4 ,one of them was1 that he did not pronounce the letter r strong enough2 and another1 that he did not give a its full sound when it came in the middle of a word4 ,for some time it was observed that he made a most burring sound when he pronounced an r1 and went so far in correcting himself in the other particular as to sin against prosody4 ,sometimes he would forget little rubrics1 but if any one told him of a mistake1 he was scarcely ever seen to commit it again4 ,whenever he had half an hour to spare he wrote letters4 ,we may form an idea of his achievements in this point1 when he tells us in the ,journal that on two days which remained free to him once he wrote seventy-eight4 ,a great number of his letters are preserved4 ,they are very entertaining and instructive2 a nice vein of humour runs through all those he wrote to his familiar friends4 ,these two letters may be looked upon as the extremes of the sober and humorous style in his letter-writing3-- ,when ,i used to call on you1 you seemed to be tottering1 as one might say1 on your last legs4 ,here you are1 after so many years1 without having ever seen health or prosperity1 and with about as much life in you as then1 to all appearance4 ,all has been1 all is1 and all will be1 exactly as it pleases ,god4 ,this is the truth1 the grand truth1 ,i would almost say the whole and only truth4 ,there may be1 and are1 plenty of things besides1 which may be truly affirmed1 yet this is the whole of what it concerns us each to know4 ,for if this is once well understood1 of course it follows that we #dgb have but one affair to attend to1 that is1 to please ,god2 because then1 to a certainty1 all the past1 present1 and future will be found to be perfectly and absolutely ordered for our own greatest good4 ,if this one point be well studied1 ,i think we can steer people easily enough out of all low spirits and melancholy4 ,many people can see the hand of ,god over them in wonderful mercy in their past history1 and so be brought to a knowledge that their anxieties1 and afflictions1 and groans1 in those bygone days were unreasonable then4 ,why do they not learn to leave off groaning over the present troubles8 ,because they do not trust ,god to manage anything right till they have examined ,his work1 and understood all about it4 ,but ,he1 will be more honoured if we agree with ,him1 and approve of what ,he does before we see what the good is which is to come of it4 ,in your case1 if we go back to the days when ,i first saw you at ----1 when your father was in a good way of work1 and you were in health1 there was the prospect then1 ,i suppose1 before you of getting well settled in the world2 and if all had continued smooth and prosperous1 you might now be a rich merchant's wife in ,birmingham1 ,london1 or ,new ,york1 reckoned the ornament of a large circle of wealthy friends1 c4 ,but might there not1 perhaps1 have been written over you as your motto8 ,wo to you rich1 for you have received your consolation4 ,wo to you that laugh now for you shall mourn and weep4 ,you may be disposed to answer1 you do not think you would have been spoiled by prosperity4 ,but if you are more or less troubled or anxious at being in poverty1 sickness1 or adversity1 it shows that you would be1 just in the same measure1 unable to bear prosperity and health unhurt4 ,wealth and prosperity are dangerous to those only who love them and trust in them4 ,if1 when you are in adversity1 you are sorry for it1 and wish for prosperity1 it shows love for this world's goods1 more or less4 ,and if a person loves them when he has them not1 is it likely he would despise them if he had them8 ,god saves multitudes by poverty and afflictions in spite of themselves4 ,the same poverty and afflictions1 if the persons corresponded with ,god's providence and rejoiced in them1 would make them #dgc first-rate saints4 ,the same may be said1 with as great truth1 of interior afflictions1 scruples1 temptations1 darkness1 dryness1 and the rest of the catalogue of such miseries4 ,a person who is disquieted and anxious on account of these1 either does not understand that ,god's gifts are not ,god1 or if they do understand it1 they love the gifts of ,god independently of the giver4 ,and so ,i add that such a one1 if he enjoyed uninterrupted peace and serenity of soul1 would stop very short indeed of the perfection of love to which ,god intends to lead him if he will be docile4 ,now1 as to your case1 if you are still alive and still serving ,god1 and desiring to do so better and better1 it is clear that your afflictions1 exterior and interior1 have not spoiled or ruined you4 ,and as ,god loves our peace and happiness1 we may conclude that he would not have kept you down and low1 if it had not been necessary for your good4 ,what have you to do at last8 ,begin again to thank1 praise1 bless1 adore1 and glorify ,god for all the tribulations1 past and future1 and he may yet strengthen and preserve you to do abundance of good1 and lay up a great treasure in heaven4 ,the next letter is to a nun about a book which was supposed to be lost3-- ,the second perpetual calendar has been found4 ,i had no thought it would2 but took my chance to ask1 and somebody had seen it1 and it was looked for again and found4 ,it has been a clumsy bit of business on our part2 but it ends right4 ,it gives another example of the wisdom of a certain young shepherdess celebrated in the nursery in my early days-- ',little ,bopeep ,has lost her sheep1 ,and doesn't know where to find them4 ,let them alone1 ,and they'll come home1 ,and bring their tails behind them4' ,there is great philosophy in the advice given to the heroine of these lines4 ,it seems by what you said the other day1 that you #dgd expected a long tail to this sheep1 but ,i don't think the tail ever grew4 ,any way1 it never brought a tail so far as this house4 ,however1 if there does exist a tail to it1 ,i recommend to you the calm philosophy of little ,bo-peep1 and it will1 ,i dare say1 follow in time4 ,the little rhyme given above was a favourite with ,father ,ignatius4 ,when he saw any one looking for a thing with anxiety he generally rhymed it out with peculiar emphasis4 ,it might be safely said that he never wrote a letter1 preached a sermon1 or held a conversation without introducing resignation to the will of ,god1 the desire of perfection1 or the conversion of ,england4 ,as he was always a ,superior1 the religious could come to him and speak whenever they pleased4 ,he was ever ready to receive them1 he laid down his pen1 or whatever else he might be at1 directly he saw a brother or father wished to speak to him1 and he listened and spoke as if this conversation was the only duty he had to discharge4 ,in recreation he was a treasure4 ,we gathered round him by a kind of instinct1 and so entertaining was he that one felt it a mortification to be called away from the recreation-room while ,father ,ignatius was in it4 ,he used to recount with peculiar grace and fascinating wit1 scenes he went through in his life4 ,there is scarcely an incident in this volume that we have not heard him relate4 ,he was most ingenuous4 ,ask him what question you pleased1 he would answer it1 if he knew it4 ,in relating an anecdote he often spoke in five or six different tones of voice2 he imitated the manner and action of those he knew to such perfection1 that laughter had to pass into admiration4 ,he seldom laughed outright1 and even when he did1 he would very soon stop4 ,if he came across a number of ,punch1 he ran over some of the sketches at once and then he would be observed to stop1 laugh1 and lay it down directly1 as if to deny himself further enjoyment4 ,it is needless to say there was nothing rollicking1 or off-handed in his wit--never2 it was subdued1 sweet1 delicate1 and lively4 ,he would introduce very often amusing puzzles1 such as passing the poker around1 or the game of ,he can do little who cannot do that1 that1 that4 ,then to see his #dge glee when some one thought he had found out the secret by his keenness of observation1 and was far from it2 and how he laughed at the denouement of the mystery1 when all was over1 was really delightful4 ,he often made us try ,theophilus ,thistlethwick1 and ,peter ,piper1 and used to enjoy the blunders immensely4 ,in fact1 a recreation1 presided over by ,father ,ignatius1 was the most innocent and gladsome one could imagine4 ,he had a few seasons of illness in the closing years of his life2 in #ahfa he was laid up for several days with a sore foot1 in ,highgate4 ,when one of us is ill1 it is customary for the members of the house to take turn about in staying with him1 and we are allowed to go at all times to visit an invalid4 ,whenever ,father ,ignatius was asked how his foot was1 he would say it was very well1 because it brought him some pain1 and that was a valuable thing if we only knew how to turn it to good account4 ,he felt very grateful for the smallest service done him in sickness4 ,it is supposed that he wrote more letters during his illness1 and held more profitable conversations than in any other equal period of his life4 ,no one ever found him idle4 ,he read1 or he wrote1 or he talked1 or he prayed1 or he slept4 ,lying awake and listless in bed1 even when suffering from acute pain1 seemed an imperfection to him4 ,complaint was like a language he had forgotten1 or knew not1 except as one knows sin by the contrary virtue4 ,he suffered greatly from drowsiness4 ,when he went to meditation he would nod asleep1 and the exertions he made to keep himself awake made us pity him4 ,he would stand up1 even sometimes on one foot1 extend his arms in the form of a cross1 and do everything he could possibly think of in order to keep awake4 ,during his rectorship in ,button1 after returning from a sick call on a cold winter's evening1 he was obliged to walk about saying his office4 ,he dared not sit down1 or he would go off asleep1 and had to avoid going near a fire1 or no effort could keep him awake4 ,notwithstanding this1 he was the first to matins1 and seldom went to bed again before prime4 ,when others were ill1 ,father ,ignatius was all charity2 he would make sure first that #dgf they took their sickness in a right spirit1 and thanked ,god for it1 then he would see that all kinds of attention were paid to them4 ,as for sick calls1 no matter at what hour of the day or night they came1 he would be the first to go out and attend them4 ,he liked assisting at death-beds2 he felt particular pleasure in helping people to heaven4 ,he received all kinds of visitors4 ,he went immediately to see any one that wanted to speak to him1 and never kept them a moment waiting if he could possibly help it4 ,when distinguished visitors were coming he did not make the least preparation1 but just treated them like any one else4 ,his sister promised to visit him in ,highgate in ,december1 #ahei4 ,neither she nor any member of his family had ever been in one of our monasteries2 he therefore looked upon this as a kind of event4 ,father ,ignatius had a wretched old mantle1 and one of the students went to him to offer him his1 which was quite new1 for the day4 ,he would not at all accept of it1 and lectured the other upon human respect for his pains4 ,he was very fond of conducting the walk the students take every week4 ,he brought the ,london students often through the ,city1 and wonderful was his knowledge and reminiscences of the different places they passed by4 ,he took them once to the ,zoological ,gardens4 ,they went about looking at the different beasts1 and he had his comments to make on each4 ,he drew a moral reflection from the voraciousness of the lion1 the fierceness of the hyaena1 the vanity of the seal1 and the stupor of the sloth4 ,when he saw the flamingo1 he stayed full ten minutes wondering what might be the use of its long1 thin legs4 ,the hippopotamus amused him beyond all4 ,look at his big mouth1 he would say2 what in the world does he want it for8 ,couldn't he eat enough with a smaller one8 ,during their walks1 a lord1 perhaps1 would turn up1 and address him as1 ,ho1 ,spencer6 is this you8 ,how d'ye do8 ,it is some years since ,i saw you8 ,after a few words they would part1 and then he'd tell his companions about their college days1 or field sports4 #dgg ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,a ,few ,events4 ,in #aheh we procured the place in ,highgate1 known now as ,st4 ,joseph's ,retreat4 ,the ,hyde was never satisfactory2 it was suited neither to our spirit nor its working4 ,at last ,providence guided us to a most suitable position4 ,our rule prescribes that the houses of the ,order should be outside the town1 and near enough to be of service to it4 ,highgate is wonderfully adapted to all the requisitions of our rule and constitutions4 ,situated on the brow of a hill1 it is far enough from the din and noise of ,london to be comparatively free from its turmoil1 and sufficiently near for citizens to come to our church4 ,the grounds are enclosed by trees2 a hospital at one end and two roads meeting at the other1 promise a freedom from intrusion and a continuance of the solitude we now enjoy4 ,father ,ignatius concludes the year #aheh in ,highgate2 it was his first visit to the new house4 ,towards the end of the next year we find him once more in ,france with our ,provincial4 ,they went on business interesting to the ,order1 and were nearly three weeks away4 ,father ,ignatius ends another year in ,highgate4 ,it was then he translated the small ,life of ,blessed ,paul from the ,italian1 a work he accomplished in about one month with the assistance of an amanuensis4 ,he gave a mission with three of the fathers in ,westland ,row1 ,dublin1 in the beginning of the year #ahfj1 and started off immediately after for his circuit of little missions4 ,our ,provincial ,chapter was held this year1 but all were re-elected2 so ,father ,ignatius remained as he was1 second ,consultor4 ,it was this year he visited ,althorp1 after an absence of eighteen years from the home of his childhood4 ,this visit #dgh he looked back to with a great deal of satisfaction1 and his joy was increased when ,lord and ,lady ,sarah ,spencer returned his visit in ,highgate1 when he happened to be there1 the next year4 ,the friendly relations between him and his family seemed1 if possible1 to become closer and more cordial towards the end of his life4 ,he told us one day in recreation1 when some one asked what became of the lady he was disposed to be married to1 once in his life3 ,i passed by her house a few days ago4 ,i believe her husband is a very excellent man1 and that she is happy4 ,in #ahfb he visited ,althorp again4 ,we saw him looking for a lock for one of his bags before he left ,highgate for this visit1 and some one asked him why he was so particular just then4 ,oh1 he said1 don't you know the servant in the big house will open it1 in order to put my shaving tackle1 brush1 and so forth in their proper places1 and ,i should not like to have a general stare at my habit1 beads1 and sandals4 ,there was1 however1 a more general stare at them than he expected4 ,during the visit1 the volunteer corps were entertained by ,lord ,spencer4 ,father ,ignatius was invited to the grand dinner2 he sat next the ,earl1 and nothing would do for the latter but that his uncle should make a speech4 ,father ,ignatius stood up in his regimentals1 habit1 sandals1 c41 and made1 it seems1 a very patriotic one4 ,this visit to ,althorp ,father ,ignatius loved to recall to mind4 ,it was a kind of thing that he could not enjoy at the time1 so far did it go beyond his expectations4 ,he went merely for a friendly visit1 and found a great many old friends invited to increase his pleasure4 ,when the ladies and gentlemen went off to dress for dinner1 it is said that ,father ,ignatius told ,lady ,spencer that he supposed his full dress would not be quite in place at the table2 he was told it would1 and that all would be much delighted to see a specimen of the fashions he had learnt since his days of whist and repartee in the same hall4 ,at the appointed time he presented himself in the dining-room in full ,passionist costume4 ,lord ,spencer was quite proud of his uncle1 and the speech1 and the cheer with which it was greeted at the #dgi ,volunteers' dinner only enhanced the mutual joy of uncle and nephew4 ,as usual1 this joy was tempered1 and the alloy was administered by a clergyman1 who evidently intended to get himself a name by putting himself into print in one of the local papers4 ,this was a ,mr4 ,watkins4 ,he wrote a letter to the ,northampton ,herald1 containing a great deal of shallow criticism and ignorant remarks on ,father ,ignatius1 and a sermon he preached at the opening of the cathedral4 ,a smart paper warfare was carried on for some time between the two1 which earned the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,watkins the disapproval1 if not the disgust1 of his ,protestant clerical and lay neighbours4 ,this was rather a surprise1 as all the old acquaintances of the quondam ,mr4 ,spencer had the highest regard for him2 but this writer seems to have been one who never had the opportunity of forming a just opinion of his abilities or character4 ,ignorance may excuse his blunders1 but the longest stretch of charity can scarcely overlook his manner of committing them4 ,after the visit to ,althorp1 ,father ,ignatius went to see ,mr4 ,de ,lisle at ,grace ,dieu1 and was present at the blessing of the present ,abbot of ,mount ,st4 ,bernard's4 ,the secretary of the ,a4 ,p4 ,u4 ,c4 sent him another letter after this visit1 which met the fate of similar communications on former occasions4 ,we find him in the beginning of the year #ahfc in ,liverpool1 engaged in a mission at ,st4 ,augustine's4 ,after this mission he came to ,highgate1 on his way to ,rome for our general chapter1 and the few days he had on his hands before his departure were spent in visiting ,lord ,palmerston1 ,mr4 ,gladstone1 and other notabilities1 as well as receiving a visit from his nephew4 ,he arrived in ,rome for the last time on the #bbnd ,april1 #ahfc4 ,how strangely do his different visits to this city combine to give an idea of the stages of opinion through which his chequered life was fated to pass4 ,in #ahba1 he entered it1 promising himself a feast of absurdities1 determined to sneer at what he did not understand1 and repel by his thick shield of prejudice whatever might force itself #dhj upon him as praiseworthy4 ,he found something in his next visit in the pagan remains to please his ,protestant taste1 and left it for ,germany with a kind of regret4 ,in less than ten years he is there to despise the glory of the ,caesars1 and thinks more of a chapel which ,peter's successor has endowed or adorned1 than the platforms on which the fangs of the leopard tore the flower of our martyrs4 ,his other visits were mostly official4 ,he came glowing with the fervour of new projects1 and left with only their embers generating a new step in his spiritual progress4 ,rome was always ,rome1 but he was not always the same4 ,any one who takes the trouble to compare his different visits with each other cannot fail to learn a lesson that will be more telling on his mind1 than what comments upon them by another's pen could produce4 ,the ,general ,chapter ,father ,ignatius was called to attend in #ahfc had to deal with subjects that deeply concerned the interests of our ,order4 ,in this ,chapter1 our ,american province was canonically erected in the ,united ,states4 ,a colony of ten ,passionists was sent to ,california1 and the ,hospice of ,st4 ,nicholas1 in ,paris1 established4 ,father ,ignatius had1 as usual1 some papers to submit to the ,roman ,curia4 ,the work to which his little missions were devoted had not yet received the seal of the ,fisherman1 and1 until it was so blessed1 its excellence could be a subject of doubt4 ,he did receive the pontifical benediction for this1 and for the institution of a new congregation of nuns1 and began to enjoy the riches of this twofold blessing before he took his departure from the ,eternal ,city4 ,father ,ignatius1 ever himself1 did not lose sight of lesser claims on his gratitude in the greater ones his zeal proposed to him4 ,there was a family whom he had received into the ,church during the course of his labours on the secular mission4 ,the father1 and four daughters1 and a son1 were all baptized by him4 ,they were his great joy4 ,he first received one girl1 then the father1 then another 7who dreaded to speak to him71 a third1 and a fourth yielded to his charity and meekness in following the workings of grace4 ,for them he always entertained a special regard1 he would stay with #dha them when missionary work called him to a town in which they dwelled1 and delighted to caress their children1 edify themselves1 and make himself at home in their dwellings during his stay4 ,he obtained a rescript granting them a plenary indulgence1 signed by the ,holy ,father himself1 which is still treasured up as a beautiful heirloom in their families4 ,these favoured objects of his predilection were ,mrs4 ,macky1 of ,birmingham2 ,mrs4 ,richardson and ,mrs4 ,marshall1 of ,levenshulme1 ,manchester4 ,before leaving ,rome in #ahfc he preached to nuns and schools1 upon the conversion of ,england1 with the same zeal as he did in #ahej1 if not with greater4 ,that leading star lived with him2 it is to be hoped it has not died with him4 ,if the nineteenth century were an age of faith1 and that the belief in ,god's miraculous interposition would move any to make experiments of holy wonders1 we should expect to find engraved on his heart after death3 ,the ,conversion of ,england6 ,on ,june #ba1 after exactly two months' stay1 he left the terrestrial ,rome1 or city of ,god1 for ever4 ,he arrives in ,london on the #crd ,august1 visits convents for his crusade1 now doubly dear to him2 communicates his glad tidings to the infant congregations of nuns of ,sutton1 and holds himself in readiness for the approaching provincial chapter4 ,the nuns here mentioned are a society established1 a few years before1 by our ,father ,gaudentius4 ,their primary object is the care and instruction of factory girls1 their subsidiary one1 the plain instruction of poor children4 ,father ,ignatius loved this institute4 ,one of his common sayings was1 ,i do not understand how a girl with a wooden leg1 no means and great docility1 cannot make the evangelical vows1 and he found himself at home with a sisterhood where his problem would be solved in part at least4 ,he brought their rules to ,rome1 at this time1 and received all the ,pontifical sanctions he could possibly expect under the circumstances4 ,on ,august #ba of this year1 our ,provincial ,chapter was held at ,broadway4 ,here ,father ,ignatius was elected ,rector of ,st4 ,anne's ,retreat1 ,sutton4 ,he entered on the #dhb office with a great deal of zeal and courage4 ,in his first exhortation to the religious1 he remarked that new brooms sweep clean1 but as he was a broom a little the worse for wear1 which had been trimmed up for action after having so long lain by1 the aphorism could not apply so well to him4 ,it was nine years since he had filled the office of rector before1 and the interval taught him many things regarding religious discipline which he now brought into action4 ,his rule might be called maternal rather than paternal1 for it was characterized by the fondness of holy old age for youth4 ,one change remarked in him1 since his former rectorship1 was1 his spicing his gentle admonitions with a good deal of severity when occasion required it4 ,he spoke to the community1 after the evening recreation1 once upon the conversion of ,england1 and the bright look the horizon of religious opinion wore now in comparison to the time he first began his crusade4 ,he hoped great things for ,england4 ,at this part of his lecture1 some ludicrous occurrence1 which he did not observe1 made one of the younger religious laugh4 ,father ,ignatius turned upon him1 and spoke with such vehemence that all seemed as if struck by a thunderbolt4 ,they never heard him speak in that way before1 and it was thought by many that the meek father could not foam with indignation1 even if he tried4 ,towards the close of #ahfc he professed several of the nuns of the ,holy ,family1 for whom he had procured the indulgences at ,rome1 and he assisted at the deathbed of their first rev4 mother early in #ahfd4 #dhc ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,trials ,and ,crosses4 ,the days of the religious life of ,father ,ignatius might be numbered by his trials and crosses4 ,it was not that a goodly share fell to him1 as became his great holiness2 but he happened to be so very keenly tried1 that what generally assuages the bitterness of ordinary trials served1 by a special disposition of ,providence1 to make his the more galling4 ,his trials were multiplied in their infliction2 the friends to whom he might unburthen himself were often their unconscious cause2 and the remedies proposed for his comfort would be generally an aggravation of his sufferings4 ,he had an abiding notion of his being alone and abandoned1 which followed him like a shadow1 even unto the grave4 ,this feeling arose from his spirit of zeal4 ,he burned to be doing more and more for ,god's glory every day1 and sought to communicate to others some sparks of the flames that consumed himself4 ,his projects for carrying out his ideas seldom met the cordial approval of superiors1 and when he received such sanction1 it was only after his schemes had been considerably toned down4 ,this restraint he had always to bear4 ,when his plans were tolerated1 or even approved1 he could not find one to take them up as warmly as he wished4 ,in fact1 he found no second4 ,catholics have an instinctive aversion to anything that wears the appearance of novelty in their devotions4 ,father ,ignatius's plans for the sanctification of ,ireland1 the conversion of ,england1 and the perfection all should tend to1 were very good things4 ,no one could have the least objection to them2 but1 somehow1 every one could not see his way to working them out4 ,when #dhd ,father ,ignatius proposed the means he intended to adopt1 the old ,catholic shrugged his shoulders as if he had heard a temerarious proposition4 ,it was new2 the good old bishop that gave his life for his flock1 or the saintly priest he had listened to from childhood1 never proposed such a thing4 ,he never read it in his books of piety1 and though it seemed very good1 it did not go down with him4 ,he listened to the holy ,passionist1 because he reverenced him2 but he never encouraged his zeal with more than a cold assent4 ,father ,ignatius found this want of correspondence to his suggestions in every person even his own brethren in religion failed to be of accord with him4 ,he was perpetually speaking upon his favourite topics1 and never seemed satisfied with the work of his fellow-labourers if they did not take up his ideas4 ,he often drew down upon himself severe animadversions on account of this state of mind4 ,when fathers returned to the retreat1 tired and wearied after a number of missions1 they felt it rather hard to be told that they had done very little1 because they had not set about their work in his way4 ,he would be told very sharply that they should wish to see what he had done himself2 that his chimerical notions looked well on paper1 or sounded nicely in talk2 that there was a surer way of guiding people to heaven than talking them into fancies beyond their comprehension4 ,these remarks only served to bring out the virtue and humility of the saintly man4 ,he became silent at once1 or turned the conversation into another channel4 ,he had a still severer trial in this point4 ,he very frequently attributed the caution of his superiors to want of zeal1 and used to lecture them without human respect on what he thought to be their duty4 ,on one occasion he went so far as to complain of this to ,cardinal ,wiseman2 but the explanation was so satisfactory that he gave expression to different sentiments for the future4 ,whenever they spoke positively1 he immediately acquiesced1 and was most exact in carrying out their injunctions4 ,his zeal was unbounded1 and one of his superiors always said3 ,father ,ignatius will become a saint by the very thwarting of his plans4 ,if he had not the virtue of submitting his judgment1 it is hard to #dhe say into what extravagances he might rush4 ,this one trial was the staple of his religious life for more than thirty years4 ,we shall now give a few instances from his letters1 and from anecdotes recorded of him1 to show the spirit with which he bore this and kindred trials and crosses4 ,in #ahec he received a very severe letter from one of our ,belgian fathers1 who is in high repute for learning and virtue4 ,he forwarded the letter to ,father ,eugene1 who was then ,provincial1 accompanied by these remarks3-- ,i thought of answering the enclosed letter from ,father ---- at once1 before sending it to your ,paternity2 but1 on looking it over again1 ,i have changed my mind4 ,the rule which ,i make for myself is1 to mind what my superiors say on this matter and the conversion of ,england1 and to charge them to stop my proceedings if they disapprove of them4 ,i shall take what they say as coming from ,god1 who has a right to dispose of all souls1 and who may judge that the time for grace in ,england is not come1 or never has to come4 ,besides1 they are the proper judges whether my proceedings are correct in toto or in part4 ,your ,paternity has lately expressed your mind upon the matter1 and ,i have no scruple on the subject2 but it is well you should know what others feel4 ,i beg you to take this letter from ,father ---- as kindly meant1 and1 with me1 to be thankful for it4 ,another to his ,provincial3-- ,with regard to the principal topic of your ,paternity's letter1 ,i will first thank you1 and thank ,god that ,i am thought worthy to be spoken and written to1 without dissimulation or reserve1 of what people think of me4 ,if ,i make use with diligence of their remarks1 ,i shall be able to gain ground in the esteem of ,god1 and1 perhaps1 also in men's esteem2 but that is not of consequence4 ,now1 ,i suppose it would be best not to have said so much in explanation of my intentions in time past2 and certainly ,i have said things which were vexing in the course of these explanations4 ,it is no justification of this to allege that your ,paternity's style of writing admonitions and reproofs is more severe than that of some persons1 because ,i ought to receive #dhf all with joy4 ,but the cutting tone of some of your letters excites me to answer more or less in a cutting tone on my side1 and ,i have given way to this temptation4 ,it appears to me1 it would be better if with me and others your tone was not so cutting4 ,but ,god so appoints it for us1 and so ,i had better prefer his judgment to my own1 and persevere correcting myself1 till ,i can answer cutting letters with the same gentle1 affectionate language as ,i might the mildest ones4 ,in this way ,i shall be the greatest gainer4 ,so ,i will conclude with leaving it to your ,paternity to decide in what tone you will correct me--only begging that you will not omit the correction when you see me in the wrong1 and that you will inflict it1 for charity's sake1 at the risk even of suffering pain from my hasty and improper answers1 which ,i cannot expect to correct at once1 though ,i will try to do it4 ,will you let me meet you at the station when you pass through ,london1 and accompany you to the station for the ,dover ,railway8 ,in another letter1 he writes3-- ,i am frequently assailed with black doubts about the prudence of all my proceedings2 but these pass by1 and ,i go on again with brighter spirits than ever1 and1 in the end1 ,i am astonished how ,providence has carried me clear of danger and perplexities when they have threatened me the most4 ,i trust it will be so now4 ,i beg your ,paternity will write to me again what you decide about ,st4 ,wilfrid's functions1 and tell me what ,i can do by writing letters or otherwise4 ,i feel better qualified to do what ,i am told1 than to give advice what others should do4 ,as may be seen from some of the letters introduced above1 ,father ,ignatius had to endure trials from the want of sympathy with his ways1 in many of the ,english converts4 ,one celebrated convert went so far as to prohibit his speaking of the conversion of ,england to any of the members of a community of which he was ,superior4 ,another used to tell him that ,england was already damned1 and that it was no use praying for it4 ,a third treated him to some sharp cuts about the work of his little #dhg missions1 when answering an application of ,father ,ignatius to give one in his parish4 ,these and many other crosses of the like nature1 he used to complain of with deep feeling among his fellow religious4 ,it is remarkable that those who crossed him had great respect for his holiness1 and1 very likely1 their opposition proceeded from not giving him credit for much prudence4 ,an incident that happened to him in one of his journeys in ,ireland will give an idea of how he bore humiliations4 ,he was walking to one of the principal towns in ,tipperary1 and a vehicle overtook him on the road4 ,the man in the car took compassion on the poor old priest1 and asked him to take a lift4 ,father ,ignatius took his seat at once2 before they had proceeded far together1 his companion perceived that he spoke in an ,english accent1 and began to doubt his being a priest4 ,there had been some ugly rows in the town1 lately1 on account of a gang of soupers that infested it1 and it struck the good townsman that his waggon was carrying a veritable souper4 ,what1 thought he1 if the neighbours should see me carrying such a precious cargo8 ,and1 without asking or waiting for an explanation1 he unceremoniously told ,father ,ignatius to get down1 for he suspected he wasn't of the right sort4 ,father ,ignatius complied at once1 without the least murmur4 ,when the man was about a mile ahead of his late fellow-traveller1 and could not stifle the remorse occasioned by his hasty leave-taking1 he resolved to turn back and catechise him4 ,the result satisfied him1 and the good father was invited to take a seat a second time4 ,to atone for his almost unpardonable crime1 as he thought it1 the man invited him to stay at his house for the night1 as it was then late4 ,father ,ignatius said he was due at the priest's house1 but in case he found nobody up there1 he should be happy to avail himself of his friend's hospitality4 ,they parted company in the town2 ,father ,ignatius went to the priest's1 and the other to his home4 ,they were all in bed in the presbytery1 and no answer was returned to the repeated knocks and rings of the benighted traveller4 ,he went to the friend's house1 but found they1 too1 were gone to bed4 ,no word was left about #dhh ,father ,ignatius1 and his strange accent made the housewife refuse him admittance4 ,he went off without saying a word in explanation4 ,the man bethought himself shortly after1 and sent messengers to seek him1 who overtook him outside the town1 walking off to the next1 which he expected to reach before morning4 ,another time he undertook the foundation of a convent in ,staffordshire4 ,with his usual indifference in matters temporal1 he made no material provision whatever for the reception of the sisters1 except a bleak1 unfurnished house4 ,the reverend mother came1 with three or four sisters1 and was rather disconcerted at what she found before them4 ,father ,ignatius was expected in a day or two1 and as the time of his arrival approached1 the reverend mother went into the reception-room1 and there sate-- ,a sullen dame1 ,nursing her wrath to keep it warm4 ,father ,ignatius got a very hot reception4 ,the lady scolded him heartily for his carelessness1 and descanted most eloquently on the wants and grievances she had to endure since her arrival4 ,he replied calmly that it was not his fault1 that that department of the proceedings devolved on the parish priest4 ,this only fired her the more--,why didn't he tell the parish priest8 ,he then waited1 quietly standing until she had exhausted her stock of abuse2 whereupon he asked if she had done1 and on receiving a nod in the affirmative1 he said3 ,oh1 well1 ,i know how ,i must approach your ladyship in future1 ,i must make three bows in the ,turkish fashion4 ,so saying1 he bowed nearly to the ground1 retreated a step and bowed again1 a third step backwards brought him to the door of the apartment1 and when he had bowed still deeper than before1 he stood up straight1 took out a purse with some sovereigns in it1 and spun it to the corner of the room in which the good nun sat petrified with astonishment3--,take that now1 and it may calm you a bit1 was the good morning he bid her1 as he closed the door after him1 and went his way4 ,the tongue of slander assailed him again the last year of #dhi his life4 ,we will give the occurrence in the words of the only one to whom the reverend mother told it in confidence4 ,father ,ignatius himself never spoke of it4 ,as our dear ,lord loved him much1 he wished to try him as he had tried the dearest and best-beloved of his servants4 ,therefore he permitted that his character should be assailed in the most vile manner by one who1 through mistaken zeal1 gave out the most injurious insinuations regarding our dear father and the late reverend mother4 ,when ,father ,ignatius heard of it1 he sent for the reverend mother to exhort her to bear the calumny with love and resignation4 ,in speaking to her he said that ,god had asked all of him1 and he had freely given all but his good name1 and that he was ready now to offer as it had pleased ,god to ask for it2 for all belonged to ,him and he thanked ,him for leaving him nothing4 ',will you not4' he continued1 'do the same8 ,do you not see that ,god is asking you for the dearest thing you can give8 ,give it1 then1 freely1 and thank ,him for taking it1 for don't you see that by this you are resembling ,him more closely8 ,besides1 ,he has permitted this to happen1 and if we do not give up our good name1 which already belongs to ,him1 cheerfully and willingly1 ,he will take it1 in spite of us1 and we shall lose the merit of our offering4 ,how foolish1 therefore1 is it to go against ,god6 ,let us resign ourselves unreservedly into his hands4 ,however1 to remove any scandal that might follow1 and to show this good priest that ,i have no ill-feeling against him1 ,i will go and visit him on friendly terms4' ,and so he did4 ,besides casual attacks of illness brought on by his want of care or great labours1 he suffered during the latter part of his life from chronic ailments4 ,his heart often troubled him1 and medical men told him that he would very likely die of disease of the heart4 ,he had an ulcer in one of his ancles for a number of years1 and was often obliged to keep his bed on account of it4 ,no one ever heard him complain1 and yet his sufferings must have been very acute4 ,we never remarked him rejoice so much over this painful sore1 than when one of the fathers1 who respected him much1 and #dij wanted to test his mortification1 became a ,job's comforter4 ,he said3 ,you deserve to be lame1 ,father ,ignatius1 you made such use of your feet in the days of your dancing and sporting1 that ,almighty ,god is punishing you now1 and the instruments of your pleasure are aptly turned into instruments of pain4 ,he said it was quite true1 and that he believed so himself1 and that his only wish was that he might not lose a particle of the merit it would bring him1 by any kind of complaint on his part4 ,he got a rupture in #ahfc1 and he simply remarked1 ,i have made another step down the hill to-day4 ,whilst labouring under a complication of sufferings he never abated one jot of his round of duties1 though requested to do so by his subjects4 ,he was ,superior1 and exercised his privilege by doing more than any other instead of sparing himself4 ,he did not take more rest nor divide his labours with his companions4 ,during the time of his rectorship in ,sutton1 he used to preach and sing mass after hearing confessions all morning2 attend sick calls1 preach in some distant chapel in the evening1 return at eleven o'clock1 perhaps1 and say his office1 and be the first up to matins at two o'clock again4 ,the only thing that seemed to pain him was a kind of holy envy4 ,he used to say to the young priests3 ,oh1 how well it is for you that are young and buoyant1 ,i am now stiff and old1 and must have but a short time to labour for ,almighty ,god2 still ,i hope to be able to work to the last4 ,this was his ordinary discourse the very year he died1 and the young fathers were much struck by the coincidence between his wishes and their completion4 ,father ,ignatius ,paoli1 the ,provincial1 gave the cook orders to take special care of the indefatigable worn-out ,rector4 ,he was not to heed the fasts of the ,rule1 or at least to give the ,superior the full supply of meagre diet4 ,father ,ignatius took the indulgence thankfully for two or three days after returning from a mission2 but when he saw a better portion served up for himself oftener than was customary for the other missionaries1 he remonstrated with the brother cook4 ,next day he was served in the same manner1 he then gave a prohibition1 and at last scolded him4 #dia ,the good brother then told him that he was only carrying out the ,provincial's orders4 ,father ,ignatius was silent1 but1 after dinner1 posted off to the doctor1 and made him give a certificate of good health and ability to fast1 which he forwarded to the ,provincial4 ,father ,provincial did not wish to deny him the opportunity of acquiring greater merit1 and1 at the same time1 he would prolong so valuable a life4 ,to save both ends he placed him under the obedience1 as far as regarded his health1 of one of the priests of his community1 whom he strictly obeyed in this matter thenceforward4 ,once he went on a sick-call in very wet weather1 and either a cramp or an accident made him fall into a dirty slough1 where he was wetted through and covered with mud4 ,he came home in this state1 and finding a friend of his at the house1 who more or less fell into his way of thinking1 he began to converse with him4 ,the good father began to speak of the conversion of ,england1 and sat in his wet clothes for a couple of hours1 and likely would have stayed longer1 so thoroughly was he engrossed with his favourite topic1 if one of the religious had not come in1 and frightened him off to change garments by his surprise and apprehension4 ,he seemed indifferent to cold2 he would sit in his cell1 the coldest day1 and write until his fingers became numbed1 and then he would warm them by rubbing his hands together rather than allow himself the luxury of a fire4 ,he went to give a retreat somewhere in midwinter1 and the room he had to lodge in was so exposed that the snow came in under the door4 ,here he slept1 without bed or fire1 for the first night of his stay4 ,it was the thoughtlessness of his entertainers that left him in these cold quarters4 ,in the morning some one remarked that very probably ,father ,ignatius slept in the dreary apartment alluded to4 ,a person ran down to see1 and there was the old saint amusing himself by gathering up the snow that came into his room1 and making little balls of it for a kitten to run after4 ,the kitten and himself seem to have become friends by having slept together in his rug the night before1 and both were disappointed by the intrusion of the wondering visitor4 #dib ,his humility was as remarkable to any one who knew him as was his zeal2 and on this point also he was well tried4 ,it is not generally known that in the beginning of his ,passionist life he adopted the custom of praying before his sermons that ,god's glory would be promoted by them and himself be humiliated4 ,at the opening of ,sutton ,church in #aheb1 he was sent for from ,london to preach a grand sermon in the evening4 ,a little before the sermon he was walking up and down the corridor2 the ,provincial met him and asked more in joke than otherwise3 ,well1 ,father ,ignatius1 what are you thinking of now8 ,i am praying1 he replied1 that if it be for the glory of ,god my sermon may be a complete failure as far as human eloquence is concerned4 ,we may imagine the surprise of his ,superior at hearing this extraordinary answer2 it is believed that this was his general practice to the end4 ,contrary to the common notion that prevails among religious orders1 he wished that the ,order would receive humiliations as well as himself4 ,he wished it to come to glory by its humiliations4 ,on one occasion1 he expected that the newspapers would make a noise about something that might be interpreted as humiliating to the community of which he was ,superior4 ,father ,ignatius addressed the community nearly in these words3 ,we shall have something to thank ,god for tomorrow2 the ,protestants will make a great noise in the papers about this affair1 and we must be prepared for a full feast of misrepresentations4 ,let us thank ,god now in anticipation4 ,he was disappointed1 however1 as the papers were content with a bare notice of the matter4 ,many persons did not give him credit for great humility2 they thought his continual quoting of himself1 and his readiness to speak about his doings1 was1 if not egotism1 at least inconsistent with profound humility4 ,we cannot answer this imputation better than by giving ,father ,faber's description of simplicity1 which every one knows to be the very character of genuine humility3-- ,but let us cast an eye at the action of simplicity in the spiritual life4 ,simplicity lives always in a composed consciousness of its own demerit and unworthiness4 ,it is #dic possessed with a constant sense of what the soul is in the sight of ,god4 ,it knows that we are worth no more than we are worth in ,his sight1 and while it never takes its eye off that view of self1 so it does not in any way seek to hide it from others4 ,in fact it desires to be this1 and no more than this1 in the eyes of others2 and it is pained when it is more4 ,every neighbour is1 as it were1 one of ,god's eyes1 multiplying ,his presence2 and simplicity acts as if every one saw us1 knew us1 and judged us as ,god does1 and it has no wounded feeling that it is so4 ,thus1 almost without direct effort1 the soul of self-love is so narrowed that it has comparatively little room for action2 although it never can be destroyed1 nor its annoyance ever cease1 except in the silence of the grave4 ,the chains of human respect1 which in the earlier stages of the spiritual life galled us so intolerably1 now fall off from us1 because simplicity has drawn us into the unclouded and unsetting light of the eye of ,god4 ,there is no longer any hypocrisy4 ,there is no good opinion to lose1 because we know we deserve none1 and doubt if we possess it4 ,we believe we are loved in spite of our faults1 and respected because of the grace which is in us1 and which is not our own and no praise to us4 ,all diplomacy is gone1 for there is no one to circumvent and nothing to appropriate4 ,there is no odious laying ourselves out for edification1 but an inevitable and scarcely conscious letting of our light shine before men in such an obviously innocent and unintentional manner that it is on that account they glorify our ,father who is in ,heaven4--,blessed ,sacrament1 ,book ,,ii41 c4 vii4 ,the secret by which ,father ,ignatius arrived at this perfect way of receiving trials was his thanking ,god for everything4 ,when some one objected to him that we could not thank ,god for a trial when we did not feel grateful1 ,never mind1 he would say1 you take a hammer to break a big stone2 the first stroke has no effect1 the second seemingly no effect1 and the third1 and so on2 but somewhere about the twentieth or hundredth the stone is broken1 and no one stroke was heavier than the other4 ,in the same way1 begin to thank ,god1 no matter about the feeling1 continue1 #did and you will soon break the hardest difficulties4 ,his maxims and sayings on resignation would fill a good-sized volume were they collected together4 ,we shall conclude this chapter with one picked by chance from his letters3 ,in trials and crosses we are like a sick child1 when its mother wants it to take some disagreeable medicine4 ,the child kicks and screams and sprawls1 and spits the medicine in its mother's face4 ,that is just what we do when ,god sends us crosses and trials4 ,but1 like the mother1 who will persevere in giving the medicine until the child has taken enough of it1 ,god will send us crosses and trials until we have sufficient of them for the health of our souls4 #die ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,foreshadowings ,and ,death4 ,father ,ignatius1 for some months before his death1 had a kind of sensation that his dissolution was near4 ,he paid many last visits to his old friends1 and1 in arranging by letter for the greater number of flying visits1 he used generally to say1 ,i suppose ,i shall not be able to pay many more4 ,writing to ,mrs4 ,hutchinson in ,edinburgh from ,st4 ,anne's ,retreat1 ,button1 in ,march1 #ahfd1 he says3 ,when ,i wrote to you some months ago in answer to your kind letter1 ,i think ,i expressed a hope that ,i might again have the pleasure of conversation with you before the closing of our earthly pilgrimage4 ,it was a distant and uncertain prospect then4 ,now it is become a near and likely one1 and ,i write to express my satisfaction at it4 ,he was heard to say by many that the volume of his journal he was writing would last him till the end of his life1 and it is a curious circumstance that the last page of it is just half-written1 and comes up to ,september #ah1 less than a fortnight before his death4 ,our ,father-,general came from ,rome to make the visitation of this province in ,may1 #ahfd1 and ,father ,ignatius acted as interpreter throughout the greater part of the visit4 ,he was as young as ever in his plans for the conversion of ,england1 sanctification of ,ireland1 and advancing all to perfection2 and the approbation of the ,general to the main drift of his projects inflamed him with fresh ardour4 ,a characteristic incident occurred during this visit4 ,the ,father-,general was inspecting the books ,father ,ignatius was obliged to keep1 as ,rector of ,sutton1 and he found them rather irregular4 ,the entries were neither clear nor orderly1 and it was next to an impossibility to obtain any #dif exact notion of the income and expenditure of the house4 ,the ,general called the ,rector to his room1 in order to rebuke him for his carelessness4 ,he began to lecture1 and when he had said something rather warm looked at ,father ,ignatius1 to see what effect it might produce1 when1 to his surprise1 he found that he had nodded off asleep4 ,he awoke up in an instant1 and complimented the ,father-,general on his patience4 ,such was the indifference he had reached to by the many and cutting rebukes he had borne through life4 ,in ,august1 #ahfd1 ,father ,ignatius wrote a long letter to ,father ,ignatius ,paoli1 our ,provincial1 about his doings1 and he seemed as fresh in them as if he had but just commenced his crusade4 ,we shall give one extract from this letter3 ,i could hardly have the spirit to keep up this work 7the sanctification of ,ireland7 if it was not for aiming at a result so greatly for the glory of ,god1 and working with a resolution to conquer4 ,how exceedingly would it add to my spirit if ,i knew that our body was penetrated with the same thought1 and we thus were supporting each other6 ,so late as ,september #h he had prepared a paper embodying his intentions1 which he intended to submit to ,roman authority4 ,ever himself to the last4 ,before leaving the retreat for his raid as he called it1 in ,scotland1 he called all the members of the community1 one by one1 to conference2 he did the same with a convent of nuns1 of which he had spiritual charge4 ,he gave them all special advices1 which are not forgotten1 and his last sermon to his brethren1 a day or two before he left1 on the conversion of ,england through their own sanctification1 was singularly impressive4 ,it moved many to tears2 and1 those who heard him1 say it was the most thrilling ever heard from him on the subject4 ,in talking over some matter of future importance with his ,vicar1 before he left for ,scotland1 he suddenly stopped short1 saying1 ,others will see after this1 or some such words4 ,all those who spoke with him confidentially recall some dubious half-meaning expressions that seemed to come from an inward consciousness of his approaching end4 ,he was remarked to be very sombre and reflective in his #dig last missions1 but now and then his usual pleasant mood would show itself4 ,the ,rev4 ,m4 ,conden1 the priest at ,cartsdyke1 ,greenock1 in whose church he gave a little mission from ,september #adth to the #ahth1 writes as follows about his stay with him3-- ,he preached morning and evening1 heard confessions daily1 pledged #bjj young teetotallers1 and received about #ad in voluntary offerings1 for which he seemed most grateful4 ,this mission1 he said1 was his #bdbnd of the kind2 and the number of his teetotallers1 since he himself took the pledge from ,father ,mathew in #ahdb1 was #fj1jjj4 ,every moment of his time here 7refection hours alone excepted71 from #f a4m4 to #aj p4m41 was employed either in the mission exercises1 or at his office1 or in prayer1 or in writing letters to arrange his future movements4 ,he never rested4 ,he seemed to have vowed all his time to some duty or other4 ,wood ,cottage 7late the ,free ,church ,manse1 but now the priest's house in ,cartsdyke7 rests on an eminence overlooking the town1 harbour1 and bay of ,greenock1 and is at a distance of from five to ten minutes' walk from ,st4 ,laurence's chapel4 ,i noticed that the zigzag uphill walk fatigued him1 and ,i offered to provide a conveyance2 but he would not permit me1 'as he could not read his office so well in the carriage as when walking4' ,as he passed twice or thrice daily to and from my house and the chapel1 his massive form and mild mien1 his habit half concealed by his cloak1 his broad-brimmed hat1 and his breviary in hand1 attracted the attention of the old and the curiosity of the young4 ,one day1 some of the latter followed him and eyed him closely1 through the lattice-work in front of the cottage1 until he had finished his office in the garden4 ,he then turned towards the youngsters1 and riveted his looks on them with intense interest and thoughtfulness4 ,you might have imagined that they never had seen his like before1 and that he had seen children for the first time in his long life4 ,at length one of the lads broke the spell by observing #dih to the others in a subdued and doubting tone1 ',a big ,hie-lander6' ',a ,highlander1' said ,father ,ignatius1 turning to me2 'they take my habit for an elongated kilt4' ,at dinner he was always very happy and communicative1 that day in particular4 ',my religious habit1' said he1 'subjected me to many humorous remarks before the ,ecclesiastical ,titles ,bill1 and to annoyances after it4 ,one time a boy would cry out at me1 ,there's the ,great ,mogul2 another1 ,there goes ,robinson ,crusoe4 ,that's ,napoleon1 a third would shout2 whilst a fourth1 in a strange1 clear1 wild1 musical tone1 would sing out3 ,no1 that's the devil himself4 ,but1 he continued1 'nothing half so sharp was ever said of me as of a very tall1 lath-like ,oratorian1 who stood leaning1 one day1 against a wall1 musing on something or nothing4 ,some ,london wags watched him attentively for some time1 and1 being divided in their opinions about him1 one of them at length ended the dispute by observing1 in a dry and droll way1 ,why1 that fellow must have grown by contract6' ,even after his frugal refection1 ,father ,ignatius would never rest4 ,then1 too1 he must either read his breviary1 or say his rosary1 or write letters4 ,on the day he finished his mission 7,sunday1 ,september #ah71 ,i besought him1 as he had allowed himself little or no sleep since he began it1 before proceeding to ,port-,glasgow1 to commence a new mission there that same evening1 to recline on the sofa1 even for half an hour4 ',oh no6' said he2 ',i shall try to have my nap in the carriage1 on my way4' ,the distance from ,cartsdyke to ,port ,glasgow being no more than two or three miles1 and there being a toll-bar about midway1 he could have very little of his nap4 ,during his mission here1 he remarked repeatedly1 both publicly and in private1 that his health was never better1 and his mind never clearer4 ,he promised himself yet twenty years to work for the conversion of ,england1 the sanctification of ,ireland1 and the unity of all in the faith4 ,might he not live to see this realized8 ,twenty years might #dii do it1 and were not his physical and mental powers fresh enough8 ,but1 with all this hope of heart and soul1 ,i could1 now and then1 notice a shade of apprehension passing over his countenance1 and hear1 not without tears1 his humble1 but earnest self-reproaches at his inability to 'brighten up4' ,the manner in which he did this showed me plainly that he had a strong presentiment of his approaching end4 ,my cottage being at some distance from my chapel1 the bishop had allowed me to fit up in my house a little oratory1 where ,i might keep the ,blessed ,sacrament1 and say mass occasionally4 ,by the time that ,father ,ignatius had concluded his mission1 ,i had completed my oratory1 and asked him to bless it4 ',under what title8' he asked4 ',under that of ,our ,lady of the ,seven ,dolors1 this 7,sunday1 ,september #ah7 being that festival of hers1' ,i replied4 ,father ,ignatius became silent and absorbed for a considerable time and then said3-- ',beautiful title6 and appropriate6 ,here are the stations of the ,cross6 ,and this is the ,feast of the ,seven ,dolors6 ,beautiful title6' ',this1' he continued1 'reminds me of what ,i once read of ,st4 ,thomas of ,canterbury4 ,when passing for the last time through ,france to ,england1 he was asked1 by a gentleman who entertained him1 to bless a little oratory which might be a memorial of his visit4 ,under what title8 asked the ,archbishop4 ,i shall leave the selection to your grace1 said the host4 ,well then1 rejoined the ,archbishop1 let it be to the first ,english martyr4 ,he was himself the first martyr4 ',our ,lady of ,dolors6' ,beautiful ,title6 ,i am a ,passionist4 ,here are the stations of the ,cross2 and this is the ,feast of the ,seven ,dolors1' repeated ,father ,ignatius2 and again he became absorbed and silent1 so long that ,i thought he wanted never to bless my little oratory4 ,he blessed it1 however2 and now is it by mere accident that on this1 the eve of ,st4 ,john of the ,cross1 ,father ,ignatius's disciple and friend1 ,father ,alban1 comes to bless the oratory cross1 #ejj and set up the little memorial tablet which ,i have prepared with the following inscription8-- ,,orate ,,pro ,,anima ,,rev ,,ssmi4 ,,patris ,,ignatii 7,,spencer7 ,,qui ,,die ,,octodecimo ,,septembris1 ,a4,d4 #ahfd4 ,,hoc ,,oratorium ,,sub ,,titulo ',b4 ,v4 ,,mariae ,,de ,,septem ,,doloribus1' ,,benedixit4 ,r4,i4,p4 ,in a letter to ,father ,joseph about this time1 ,father ,ignatius says3-- ,i proceed to say that ,i have two more moves fixed3 for ,sunday the #ahth1 to ,port ,glasgow2 ,thursday the #bbnd1 to ,catholic ,church1 ,east ,shaw ,street1 ,greenock4 ,during the week following ,i shall suspend missionary work1 and make my visit to ,mr4 ,monteith1 and re-commence on ,sunday morning1 ,october #bnd4 ,i have got two places to go to in ,scotland1 ,leith and ,portobello1 and ,i wish to get one more to go to first4 ,this sentence we put in italics1 as it seems to signify a clear foreknowledge of his death4 ,this one other place he did get1 and it was ,coatbridge1 his last mission4 ,his letters1 after this1 are more confused about his future2 it would seem his clear vision failed him4 ,at all events1 this much may be gathered from his words1 that he knew for certain his dissolution was near1 and very probably knew even the day4 ,there is nothing whatever in his plans for the future to militate against this conclusion4 ,the most definite is the following1 which we quote from his last letter to ,father ,provincial1 dated from ,coatbridge1 ,sept4 #bh3 ,i am going on ,saturday to ,leith2 on ,thursday1 ,oct4 #f1 to ,portobello2 on ,monday1 ,oct4 #aj1 to ,carstairs 7,mr4 ,monteith's71 for a visit and repose4 ,did he know that repose was to be eternal8 ,he kept to his first arrangement about the visit2 but we must hear something about his last little mission4 ,we subjoin two accounts of this mission4 ,the first was sent us by a gentleman1 ,mr4 ,m',auley of ,airdrie1 who #eja attended the mission1 and the next by the ,rev4 ,mr4 ,o',keefe1 the priest4 ,mr4 ,m',auley writes3 ,i was witness to his missionary labours for the last five days of his life in this world4 ,on ,sunday1 the #beth ,september1 ,rev4 ,michael ,o',keefe1 ,st4 ,patrick's ,catholic ,chapel1 ,coatbridge 7a large village two miles from ,airdrie1 and eight from ,glasgow71 announced to his flock that ,father ,ignatius would open a mission there on the following ,tuesday evening at eight o'clock1 and close it on ,saturday morning1 #ast ,october4 ,accordingly1 the beautiful little church was crowded on ,tuesday at eight1 when the saintly father made his appearance and addressed the people for upwards of an hour4 ,he gave them a brief outline of his conversion1 his different visits to ,ireland and the ,continent1 the grand objects he had in view--namely1 the conversion of his country to the ,catholic faith1 the faith of their fathers2 as also1 the conversion of ,scotland and the sanctification of ,ireland4 ,he then showed the power of prayer1 and said that the conversion of ,great ,britain could only be attained by prayer4 ,he said the sanctification of ,ireland should begin by rooting out the vices and disorders which prevail4 ,these1 he remarked1 were drunkenness1 cursing1 and company-keeping1 and that they would form the subjects of his discourses for the three following evenings4 ,he then showed the utility of missions1 and mentioned that this was his #bdeth2 and closed1 as he did on the subsequent evenings1 by saying three ,hail ,marys for the conversion of ,england1 one for the conversion of ,scotland1 and one for the sanctification of ,ireland4 ,each of the first three was followed by1 ,help of ,christians1 pray for us2 that for ,scotland by1 ,st4 ,margaret1 pray for us2 and that for ,ireland by1 ,st4 ,patrick1 pray for us4 ,he also mentioned that he had received from his ,holiness1 ,pope ,pius ,,ix41 an indulgence of #cjj days for each ,hail ,mary said for the conversion of ,england4 ,on the following four days he said mass every morning at seven o'clock1 and1 on the three first1 heard confessions from six o'clock in the morning until eleven at night1 with the exception of the time required for #ejb his devotions and meals4 ,on ,saturday morning he heard two confessions before mass4 ,i was the last he heard1 and ,i trust the fatherly advice he then gave me shall never be eradicated from my memory4 ,father ,o',keefe writes3-- ,i am just in receipt of your letter1 and beg to inform you that ,i have not words to express the sorrow ,i feel for the sudden death of the good and holy ,father ,ignatius4 ,deo gratias1 there is one more added to the ,church triumphant4 ,he reached my house about five o'clock on the #bgth ult41 and left this on ,saturday morning at a quarter-past nine o'clock1 during which time he enjoyed excellent health4 ,he told me that he was going direct to ,leith1 to open his little mission there on ,saturday night2 and thence to ,portobello for the same purpose1 after he had done at ,leith4 ,he also told me that1 after finishing his mission at ,portobello1 he would return home to ,st4 ,anne's ,retreat4 ,he intended to pay a visit to ,mr4 ,monteith this week4 ,on ,tuesday1 ,wednesday1 and ,thursday nights he had supper at half-past ten o'clock1 and then returned to the confessional until about a quarter-past eleven4 ,on ,friday night he told me to defer supper till eleven2 yet1 late though it was1 he returned after supper to the confessional1 and remained there until a quarter-past twelve4 ,when he came in1 ,i said3 ',i am afraid1 ,father ,ignatius1 you are over-exerting yourself1 and that you must feel tired and fatigued4' ,he said1 with a smile3 ',no1 no2 ,i am not fatigued4 ,there is no use in saying ,i am tired1 for1 you know1 ,i must be at the same work to-night in ,leith4' ,he retired to his room at half-past twelve o'clock1 and was in the confessional again at six o'clock in the morning4 ,he said mass at seven2 breakfasted at half-past eight2 and1 as ,i have already said1 left this at a quarter-past nine for the train4 ,on seeing him1 after breakfast1 in his secular dress1 ,i remarked that he looked much better and younger than in his religious habit4 ,the remark caused him to laugh very heartily4 ,it was the only time ,i saw him laugh4 ,he said3 ',i wish to tell you what ,father ,thomas ,doyle said when he saw me in my secular dress3 ,father ,ignatius1 you look like a #ejc broken-down old gentleman4 ,and he enjoyed the remark very much4' ,the remainder of his life is easily told4 ,he arrived at ,carstairs ,junction at #aj4ce a4m42 came out of the train1 and gave his luggage in charge of the station master4 ,he then went towards ,carstairs ,house1 the residence of ,mr4 ,monteith4 ,there is a long avenue through the demesne for about half a mile from the station1 crossed then at right angles by another1 which leads to the grand entrance2 this avenue ,father ,ignatius went by4 ,he had just passed the rectangle1 and was coming straight to the grand entrance1 when he turned off on a bye path4 ,he perceived that he had lost his way1 and asked a child which was the right one4 ,he never spoke to mortal again4 ,on a little corner in the avenue1 just within sight of the house1 and about a hundred paces from the door1 he fell suddenly and yielded up his spirit into the hands of his ,creator4 ,may we all die doing ,god's work1 and as well prepared as ,father ,ignatius of ,st4 ,paul6 #ejd ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,the ,obsequies ,of ,father ,ignatius4 ,the divine attribute of ,providence to which he was so fondly devoted during life guided him in his last moments4 ,he did not intend to visit ,carstairs before the #ajth of ,october1 but our ,lord1 who disposes all things sweetly1 had ordained otherwise1 by the circumstances4 ,the train he came by was due at the junction at #aj4ce1 and the train for ,edinburgh would not start before #aa4ej4 ,he had more than an hour to wait1 and he thought perhaps he might as well spend part of that time at ,mr4 ,monteith's as at the ,railway ,station2 besides he could get a fast train to ,edinburgh at #c4j1 which would bring him to ,leith a few minutes after six1 and this would be time enough1 as his mission was to commence on the next day1 ,sunday4 ,such seems to have been the simple combination of circumstances that directed his steps to ,carstairs ,house1 as far as human eye can see4 ,we cannot but admire the dispositions of ,providence2 had he taken any other train1 he might have died in the railway carriage1 or at a station4 ,how convenient that he died within the boundaries of the demesne of a friend by whom he was venerated1 and to whose house he was always welcome6 ,and then how remarkable was that other circumstance of his being alone4 ,servants and workmen were passing up and down the place the whole morning1 but at the moment ,god chose to call his servant1 no human eye saw him1 and no hand was ready to assist him4 ,on measuring the respective distances from where he had turned off the avenue1 to where his body was found1 and to the house1 it was seen that1 had he gone on straight1 he would have #eje fallen just on the threshold4 ,it was ,god's will that angels instead of men should surround his lonely bed of death4 ,he must have arrived at the spot where his body was discovered about #aa o'clock4 ,a few minutes after1 one of the retainers was passing by1 and ran at once to the house to give the alarm that a priest lay dead at such a part of the avenue4 ,mr4 ,monteith1 and ,mr4 ,edmund ,waterton1 who was on a visit there at the time1 were going out to shoot4 ,they laid down their guns1 and went in haste to the spot4 ,monteith did not recognize the features2 they were drawn together by the death-stroke4 ,they searched for something to identify him4 ,what was the good man's surprise when he found among the papers of the deceased a letter he had written himself to ,father ,ignatius a few days before4 ,the truth then flashed across him4 ,it was no other than his own godfather1 his constant friend and counsellor1 the man whom he venerated so much1 ,father ,ignatius the ,passionist4 ,immediately1 a doctor was sent for1 the body1 which all now recognized1 was brought to the nearest shelter1 and every available means tried to restore consciousness1 but to no effect4 ,medical examination showed that he died of disease of the heart1 and in an instant4 ,the spot whereon he lay bore the impress of his knee1 and the brim of his hat was broken by his sudden fall on the left side4 ,as soon as they were certain of life being extinct1 the body was brought into the house1 the luggage was sent for1 a coffin was provided1 the secular dress was taken off1 and the corpse robed in the religious habit4 ,the sacristy was draped in black1 and two flickering tapers showed the mortal remains of a pure and saintly soul1 as they lay there in a kind of religious state for the greater part of three days4 ,telegrams were sent immediately to our principal houses1 and to members of the ,spencer family by ,mr4 ,monteith4 ,the shock was great1 and not knowing the manner of his death did not serve to make it the less felt4 ,fathers of the ,order went from the different retreats to ,carstairs1 and arrived there1 some on ,sunday1 and some on ,monday morning4 ,those who went were struck by the appearance of the corpse2 the marble countenance never looked so noble as in #ejf death1 and we looked with silent wonder on all that now remained of one whom the world was not worthy of possessing longer4 ,about #aj o'clock a sad cortge was formed1 and the coffin was carried by the most worthy persons present to the train that conveyed it to ,button4 ,every one on hearing of his death appeared to have lost a special friend2 no one could lament1 for they felt that he was happy2 few could pray for him1 because they were more inclined to ask his intercession4 ,the greatest respect and attention were shown by the railway officials all along the route1 and special ordinances were made in deference to the respected burthen that was carried4 ,letters were sent to the relatives of ,father ,ignatius by our ,father ,provincial1 and they were told when the funeral would take place4 ,no one came1 and those who were sure to come were unavoidably prevented4 ,lord ,lucan had not time to come from ,west ,connaught1 and ,lord ,spencer was just then in ,copenhagen4 ,his regard for his revered uncle1 and his kindly spirit1 will be seen from the following letter1 which was published in the newspapers at the time1 and is the most graceful tribute paid to the memory of ,father ,ignatius by any member of his noble family4 ,denmark1 ,oct4 #af1 #ahfd4 ,rev4 ,sir1--,i was much shocked to hear of the death of my excellent uncle ,george4 ,i received the sad intelligence last ,sunday1 and subsequently received the letter which you had the goodness to write to me4 ,my absence from ,england prevented my doing what ,i should have much wished to have done1 to have attended to the grave the remains of my uncle1 if it had been so permitted by your ,order4 ,i assure you that1 much as ,i may have differed from my uncle on points of doctrine1 no one could have admired more than ,i did the beautiful simplicity1 earnest religion1 and faith of my uncle4 ,for his ,god he renounced all the pleasures of the world2 his death1 sad as it is to us1 was1 as his life1 apart from the world1 but with ,god4 ,his family will respect his memory as much as ,i am sure you and the brethren of his ,order do4 #ejg ,i should be much obliged to you if you let me know the particulars of the last days of his life1 and also where he is buried1 as ,i should like to place them among family records at ,althorp4 ,i venture to trouble you with these questions1 as ,i suppose you will be able to furnish them better than any one else4 ,yours faithfully1 ,,spencer4 ,the evening before the funeral the coffin was opened1 and the body was found to have already commenced to decompose4 ,the tossing of the long journey from ,scotland and the suddenness of the death caused this change to come on sooner than might be expected4 ,a privileged few were allowed to take a last lingering look at the venerable remains1 many touched the body with objects of devotion1 and others cut off a few relics which their piety valued in proportion to their conception of his sanctity4 ,at #aa o'clock on ,thursday1 ,october #eth1 the ,office of the ,dead commenced4 ,a requiem mass was celebrated1 and the funeral oration preached by the ,right ,rev4 ,dr4 ,ullathorne1 ,lord ,bishop of ,birmingham1 and particular friend of the deceased4 ,we give the following extracts from an account of the funeral as given by the ,northern ,press2 the ,bishop's sermon is taken from the ,weekly ,register4 ,at eleven o'clock the solemn ceremonies commenced4 ,the church1 which was crowded1 was draped in black1 and the coffin 7on which were the stole and cap of the deceased nobleman7 reclined on a raised catafalque immediately outside the sanctuary rails4 ,on each side of the coffin were three wax-lights1 and around were ranged seats for the clergy in attendance4 ,solemn ,office for the ,dead was first chanted1 and amongst the assembled clerics were the following3 ,the ,right ,rev4 ,dr4 ,ullathorne 7,lord ,bishop of ,birmingham72 ,benedictines3 ,right ,rev4 ,dr4 ,burchall 7,lord ,abbot of ,westminster71 ,very ,rev4 ,r4 ,b4 ,vaughan 7,prior of ,st4 ,michael's1 ,hereford71 ,very ,rev4 ,t4 ,cuthbert ,smith 7,prior of ,st4 ,george's1 ,downside71 ,very ,rev4 ,p4 ,p4 ,anderson #ejh 7,prior of ,st4 ,laurence's1 ,ampleforth72 the ,revds4 ,p4 ,a4 ,glassbrooke1 ,r4 ,a4 ,guy1 ,j4 ,p4 ,hall1 and ,bradshaw 7,redemptorists72 the ,very ,rev4 ,canon ,wallwork1 the ,rev4 ,fathers ,walmsley1 ,grimstone1 ,costello1 ,kernane 7,rainhill71 ,m4 ,duggan1 ,m4,r4 7,st4 ,joseph's1 ,liverpool71 ,s4 ,walsh 7of the new mission of ,st4 ,john the ,evangelist1 ,bootle72 ,father ,dougall2 ,father ,fisher1 of ,appleton2 ,father ,o',flynn1 of ,blackbrook1 near ,st4 ,helen's2 and the priests and religious of the ,order of ,passionists1 who were represented by members of the order from ,france1 ,ireland1 and ,england4 ,a number of nuns of the convent of the ,holy ,cross1 ,sutton1 occupied seats beside the altar of the ,blessed ,virgin1 and with them were about twenty young girls apparelled in white dresses and veils1 with black bands round the head1 and wearing also black scarfs4 ,when the ,office for the ,dead had concluded1 a solemn ,requiem ,mass was begun4 ,his ,lordship the ,bishop of ,birmingham occupied a seat on a raised dais at the ,gospel side of the altar2 and the priests who celebrated the ,sacred ,mysteries were3--,celebrant--the ,very ,rev4 ,father ,ignatius 7,paoli71 ,provincial of the ,order of ,passionists in ,england and ,ireland2 ,deacon--the ,very ,rev4 ,father ,eugene1 ,first ,provincial ,consulter2 ,sub-deacon--the ,very ,rev4 ,father ,bernard1 ,second ,provincial ,consulter2 ,master of the ,ceremonies--the ,very ,rev4 ,father ,salvian1 rector of ,st4 ,saviour's ,retreat1 ,broadway1 ,worcestershire4 ,the mass sung was the ,gregorian ,requiem1 and the choir was under the direction of the ,rev4 ,father ,bernardine 7of ,harold's ,cross ,retreat1 ,dublin1 and formerly of ,sutton74 ,immediately after the conclusion of the ,holy ,sacrifice1 the ,right ,rev4 ,dr4 ,ullathorne ascended the pulpit 7which was hung in black7 and preached the funeral sermon4 ,his ,lordship1 who was deeply affected1 said3--,the wailings of the chant have gone into silence1 the cry of prayer is hushed into secret aspiration1 and stillness reigns1 whilst ,i lift my solitary voice1 feeling1 nevertheless1 that it would be better for me to weep over my own soul than to essay to speak the character of him who is gone from the midst of us4 ,a certain oppression weighs upon #eji my heart1 and yet there rises through it a spring of consolation when ,i think upon that strength of holiness which has borne him to his end2 who1 if ,i am a ,religious1 was my brother2 if a ,priest1 he was of the ,holy ,order of ,priesthood2 but he was also1 what ,i am not1 a mortified member of an institute devoted to the ,passion of our ,lord1 who bore conspicuously upon him the character of the meekness and the sufferings of his ,divine ,master4 ,my text lies beneath that pall4 ,for there is all that ,death will ever claim of victory from him4 ,the silver cord is broken1 and the bowl of life is in fragments2 and yet this death is but the rending of the mortal frame that through the open door the soul may go forth to its eternity2 upon the brink of which we stand1 gazing after with our faith1 and trembling for ourselves whilst we gain a glimpse of the ,throne of ,majesty1 on which sits the ,god of infinite purity1 whose insufferable light searches our frailty through4 ,i will not venture to recount a life which would ask days of speech or volumes of writing1 but ,i will endeavour at least to point to some of those principles which animated that life1 and were its stay as well as guidance4 ,for principles are like the luminaries of ,heaven1 or like the eyes that cover the wings of the ,cherubs that sustain the ,chariot of ,god in the vision of ,ezechiel4 ,they are luminous points planted in the midst of our life1 which enable us to see whatever we look upon in a new light1 and to enhance the scene of our existence4 ,listen1 then1 dearly beloved1 and hang your attention on my voice1 whilst ,i speak of him who was once called in the world the ,honourable and ,rev4 ,george ,spencer1 a scion of one of the noblest houses of the nobility of this land1 but who himself preferred to be called ,father ,ignatius of ,st4 ,paul1 of the ,congregation of ,regular ,clerics of our most ,holy ,redeemer's ,passion1 a name by which he was loved by tens of thousands of the poor of these countries1 and known to the ,catholics of all lands4 ,father ,ignatius was born in the last month of the last year of the last century2 at the time when his father was ,first ,lord of the ,admiralty4 ,brought up in the lap of luxury1 and encircled with those social splendours that belong #eaj to our great families1 he was educated as most of our noble youths are2 sent early to ,eton1 and thence to ,cambridge4 ,i will not stay to trace his early life4 ,in his twenty-second year he received ,anglican orders1 and was inducted into the living that adjoined the mansion of his fathers1 where1 for seven years1 he toiled to disseminate to those around him what light of truth had entered his own mind4 ,he himself has recorded that he had about #hjj souls committed to his care4 ,and here we begin to see the opening of that genuine purity and earnestness in his character which he developed with time to such perfection4 ,his simplicity of soul and passionate love of truth enabled him to see some of the leading characteristics of truth in its objective nature4 ,he saw that truth was one1 and that the ,church1 which is the depository and the voice of truth1 must of necessity be one4 ,he found his parish divided by the presence of the sects of ,unitarians1 ,anabaptists1 and ,wesleyans4 ,these he sought out1 conversed with them1 and discussed with them the unity of truth and the authority of the ,church4 ,but the more he urged them with his arguments the more he found that they threw him back upon himself1 forcing him to see1 by the aid of his own sincerity and love of truth1 that he stood upon something like the self-same grounds which he assailed in them4 ,the very sincerity with which he read the ,gospel2 the sincerity with which he prayed2 the sincerity with which he strove to penetrate into those duties and responsibilities which then appeared to him to be laid upon his conscience2 and his sincere love of souls1 drew his own soul gradually and gently towards the one broad horizon of truth and the one authority4 ,he had already1 from reading the ,gospel1 determined on leading a life of celibacy as the most pure and perfect1 and to keep himself from the world for the service of his ,divine ,master4 ,and what effect that resolve had in humbling his heart and bringing down the light and grace of ,god into his spirit1 he himself has told us in that narrative of his conversion which he drew up at the request of a venerable ,italian bishop1 soon after his conversion4 ,the results1 ,i say1 he has told us2 he presumes not to point to any cause as in himself4 #eaa ,but whilst yet perplexed between the new light he was receiving1 and the resistance of the old opinion which he had inherited1 he received a letter from an unknown hand1 inviting him to examine the foundations of his faith2 this led to correspondence1 and so to contact with members of the ,church1 and the errors which had encompassed him from his birth dispersed by degrees1 until at last the daylight dawned upon him1 and grew on even to mid-day1 and he hesitated not1 even for one week1 but closed his ministry1 and entered into the ,church of ,god and the fulness of peace4 ,then it was he found that the correspondent who had awakened him to inquire was a lady1 who1 converted before himself1 was then dying in a convent in ,paris which she had but recently entered2 and he hoped1 as he said1 to have an intercessor in heaven in one who had so fervently prayed for him on earth4 ,no sooner had ,father ,ignatius entered the ,church than he put himself with all simplicity and obedience under the guidance of the venerable prelate1 my predecessor1 ,bishop ,walsh1 who sent him to ,rome1 there to enter on a course of ecclesiastical studies4 ,in #ahcj1 there we find him in the holy city1 imbibing that ,apostolic light1 and bending himself over the written laws of that truth which was to fit him1 not only for the priesthood1 but also for a singular call and an unprecedented vocation4 ,father ,ignatius was marked out by the ,providence of ,god for a special apostleship1 and he had something about him of the spirit of the prophet and of the eye of the seer4 ,he pierced in advance into the work to which ,god called him1 and there were holy souls who instinctively looked to him as an instrument for the fulfilling of their own anticipations4 ,there was in ,italy a ,passionist ,father1 who from his youth had had written in his heart the work of ,england's conversion4 ,it had been the object of all his thoughts1 and prayers1 and hopes4 ,father ,dominic had moved all the souls he could with kindred ardour for this work4 ,and before they had ever beheld each other1 the hearts of those two men were sweetly drawn together4 ,let us hear what ,father ,dominic writes to an ,english gentleman1 himself a convert1 ardent for the conversion of his #eab country1 on the day of ,mr4 ,spencer's first sermon in ,rome1 after being ordained deacon3--,on this day1 he writes1 on this day1 the feast of the ,most ,holy ,name of ,jesus1 ,mr4 ,spencer begins in ,rome his apostolic ministry2 to-day1 he makes his first sermon to the ,roman people in the church of the ,english4 ,oh what a fortunate commencement6 ,certainly that ought to be salutary which commences in the name of the ,saviour4 ,oh1 how great are my expectations6 ,god1 without doubt1 has not shed so many graces on that soul to serve for his own profit alone4 ,i rather believe ,he has done it in order that he might carry the ,holy ,name of ,jesus before kings1 and nations1 and the sons of ,israel4 ,most sweet ,name of ,jesus1 be thou in his mouth as oil poured out1 which may softly and efficaciously penetrate the hardest marble4 ,this was written by a man who had never stepped on ,english soil1 about one whom he had never seen in the flesh1 but whom he felt to have one common object in one common spirit with himself4 ,but it was written by a man in whose heart ,god had written in grace the words--,england's ,conversion4 ,it was whilst yet a ,deacon1 that ,father ,ignatius was visited at the ,roman ,college by a ,bishop who had come to ,rome from the farthest corner of ,italy1 who on his soul had also the impression that great conversions were in store for ,england1 and who asked that his eyes might be blessed with so rare a spectacle as that of a converted ,anglican minister2 and it was at the request of the ,bishop of ,oppido1 for the edification of his flock1 to whom the news had reached1 that ,father ,ignatius wrote the narrative of his conversion2 the translation of which brings us in view of another of those remarkable men who were then preparing themselves for entering on the work of the ,english mission1 for that translation was done in ,rome by ,dr4 ,gentili4 ,it was under the direction of ,cardinal ,wiseman1 then ,president of the ,english ,college1 that ,father ,ignatius was pursuing his studies1 when1 at the end of two years1 he broke a blood-vessel1 and was summoned1 in consequence1 #eac by ,bishop ,walsh1 to hasten his ordination and return to ,england4 ,cardinal ,wiseman arranged that he should receive the order of priesthood from the ,cardinal ,vicar in that very ,church of ,st4 ,gregory1 from which the ,apostles of ,england had been sent to our shores1 and that he should say his first mass on the ,feast of that ,venerable ,bede1 whose name is so intimately entwined with the literature1 the religion1 and the history of ,england4 ,how ,father ,ignatius himself viewed these signs and his approaching ordination1 he himself expressed in a letter to ,father ,dominic1 in these terms3 ,ten days ago ,i received orders from my ,bishop1 ,dr4 ,walsh1 to proceed to ,england without delay4 ,you know the value and security of obedience1 and will agree with me that ,i ought not to doubt of anything4 ,the first festival day that presented itself for ordination was that of ,st4 ,philip ,neri4 ,judge1 then1 what was my joy when1 after that day had been fixed upon1 ,i discovered that it was also the ,feast of ,st4 ,augustine1 the first ,apostle of ,england1 sent by ,st4 ,gregory4 ,it seems to me that ,providence wishes to give me some good omens4 ,it is enough1 if ,i have faith and humility4 ,of the grace of humility1 that virtue of the heroic virtues which had already taken possession of his heart1 ,i cannot give you better proof than his own communing with the heart of ,father ,dominic1 who had hinted rumours of his rising to ecclesiastical dignities4 ,he writes in reply3 ,i can assure you it would give me the greatest displeasure4 ,my prayer is that ,god would grant me a life like that of ,his ,son and the ,apostles1 in poverty and tribulations for the ,gospel4 ,i must submit1 if it be ,his will to raise me to any high worldly dignity2 but it would be to me the same as to say that ,i am unworthy of the heavenly state1 which ,i long for upon earth4 ,jesus ,christ sent the ,apostles in poverty4 ,st4 ,francis ,xavier1 ,st4 ,dominic1 and so many other great missionaries1 preached in poverty1 and ,i wish to do the same1 if it be the will of ,god4 ,here you behold the heart of this ecclesiastic1 so young as yet in the ,church1 yet so mature in spiritual sense4 ,on his return home1 he meets his dear friend ,father ,dominic #ead face to face for the first time1 in the diocese of ,lucca1 and the latter writes to his friend in ,england3-- ,how willingly would ,i go to ,england along with dear ,mr4 ,spencer2 but the time destined by the ,divine mercy for this has not yet arrived4 ,i hope1 however1 that it will arrive4 ,i hope one day to see with my own eyes that kingdom1 which for so many years ,i have borne engraven on my heart4 ,may ,god be merciful to us both1 that so we may meet together in the company of all our dear ,englishmen above in heaven1 to praise and bless the ,divine ,majesty throughout all ages4 ,i have lingered upon the first communing together of these two men1 because it is so instructive to see how it was not merely in the schools1 even where religion was studied under the shadow of the successor of ,st4 ,peter1 but still more by drawing fire from the hearts of saintly men1 that ,father ,ignatius was prepared for his future work4 ,returned to ,england1 he has left it on record how affectionately he was received by his venerable father and his noble brother1 ,lord ,althorp1 then in the midst of his official career as a chief leader of the destinies of his country4 ,who that remembers those days does not recall the amenities of a character of humanity so gentle and true1 that even in the midst of the most intense political strife he embittered no one1 and drew on him no personal attack4 ,by his noble relatives1 ,father ,ignatius was received with the old affection1 and their entire conduct towards him was an exception indeed to the treatment which so many members of other families have experienced in reward for their fidelity to ,god and to their conscience4 ,for fifteen years ,father ,ignatius toiled in the work of the mission in the diocese of ,birmingham1 generously expending both himself and the private funds allowed him by his family in the service of souls4 ,he founded the mission of ,westbromwich1 and the mission of ,dudley2 he raised there churches and schools1 and preached and conversed with the poor unceasingly4 ,he was called to ,oscott1 and a new office was created for him1 that of ,spiritual ,dean1 that he might inspire those young men who were preparing for the ministry with his own #eae missionary ardours4 ,the office began with him1 and ended when he left the establishment1 although unquestionably one of the greatest functions which could be exerted in our colleges would be the office of enkindling in youthful hearts that fire of charity for souls which is the true creator of the missioner4 ,but the time was coming when he was to pass from the ordinary life of a missioner1 led in an extraordinary manner1 and to pass into that religious congregation where he was to carry out his special mission1 his ,apostleship of prayer4 ,during those fifteen past years he had not lost sight of ,father ,dominic4 ,in #ahdj1 that holy man1 with the name of ,england written on his heart1 reached ,boulogne with a community of his brethren4 ,in the same year he visited ,oscott1 where those two men of ,god embraced each other anew2 and in the following year the desire and prayer of so many years was realized4 ,the ,passionist ,fathers were established at ,aston1 in ,staffordshire1 with ,father ,dominic as their head and founder2 and whoever will look over the correspondence1 so deeply interesting at this moment1 which is printed as an appendix to the life of the ,blessed ,paul of the ,cross1 will see how great a part the ,rev4 ,george ,spencer had in the work of bringing the ,passionists into ,england4 ,it was in the year #ahdf1 that1 making a retreat under the ,fathers of the ,society of ,jesus1 ,god revealed to his heart his vocation to join the ,passionists1 and become the companion and fellow worker with ,father ,dominic4 ,he cast himself at the feet of that holy man1 and petitioned for the singular grace of being admitted to the ,order4 ,their joint aspirations for ,england had brought them together1 and their love of the ,cross made them of one mind1 and after the first ironic rebuff with which the spirit of the petitioner was tested1 ,i can imagine the smile with which that man of ,god1 so austere to himself whilst so loving to his neighbour1 recalled the time1 long past1 when they wondered if ever they should meet in the flesh face to face4 ,there before him was the man drawn by his prayers into his very bosom1 of whom he had predicted1 sixteen years ago1 that he would carry the name of ,jesus for the conversion of ,england #eaf before the kings and nations of the earth4 ,in the ,order he was distinguished by his simplicity1 his humility1 his self-mortification1 his patience in suffering1 and his obedience4 ,i would gladly dwell on the traits of those virtues which formed his personal character1 but time urges me to proceed4 ,he filled successively the office of ,consultor1 of ,novice-master1 and of ,rector1 and it was to him that ,father ,dominic provisionally consigned his authority at his death4 ,but his great and singular work was his ,apostleship of prayer for ,england4 ,many had been the questionings in many hearts1 as to whether this country would ever in any serious numbers return to the faith or not4 ,and many had been the speculations as to how this could be accomplished2 some dreamt it must come by missions2 others1 by learned writings2 others1 by the preaching of the ,gospel2 some had one scheme1 some another1 but in each there was something defective1 something not altogether divine2 something that was human1 and resting more or less on the will of man4 ,but ,father ,ignatius consulted the light and grace of his own soul1 he penetrated to the true principle1 he recalled his own history1 he saw that conversion is the work of ,god1 that the work itself is the work of grace1 and that all that man can do1 is to invoke ,god to put forth ,his power4 ,prayer that is pure1 sincere1 earnest1 and of many souls1 ,god always hears and inclines to grant4 ,there are many ways of approaching to ,god1 but there is one which ,he loves for its tender alliance with the ,divine ,humanity1 for its humility and its beautiful faith1 and that is the approach through her who is at once the ,virgin ,mother of ,god and ours4 ,let us plead to ,god through the ,mother of ,god1 and let her plead for her sons on earth to her ,son in ,heaven1 and behold our prayer is tripled in its strength4 ,so ,ignatius looked to ,god through the eyes of ,mary1 prayed to ,god through the heart of ,mary1 and appealed through the purity of ,mary1 for a people who had forgotten her4 ,and he went forth on his ,apostleship of prayer over ,italy and ,france1 and ,hungary and ,austria1 and the rest of ,germany2 and over ,belgium and ,england1 and ,ireland and ,scotland1 and he corresponded with the other kingdoms of ,christendom4 ,he #eag went before emperors and kings1 and before ministers of state1 and asked them to pray for the conversion of his country4 ,he sought the ,bishops in their dioceses1 and the priests in their parishes1 and holy religious in their convents1 and devout lay persons in their houses1 and prayed them to pray to ,god1 and to set other souls to pray for the conversion of ,england4 ,his faith was strong that from her conversion a great radiation of truth would spread forth in the world1 and that all that was needed was the general prayer of believing souls1 that ,god might grant so great a grace to the world4 ,and so the name of ,father ,ignatius grew familiar on the lips of ,christendom4 ,prayer arose in many countries2 the ,bishops issued pastorals1 a day in the week was appointed for prayer for ,england4 ,prelates spoke of it in synods1 and the clergy discussed it in their conferences4 ,and all pious souls added on new prayers to their habitual devotions for the conversion of ,england4 ,and as for the apostle of this prayer1 he went on nourishing the flame which he had enkindled1 and stirring the zeal of his brethren until1 to use his own words1 often repeated to his superior1 this prayer1 and the preaching of this prayer to ,god through ,mary1 had become a part of his nature1 an element inseparable from his existence4 ,he had but recently recommenced the work of this mission in a somewhat altered form1 basing the conversion of the ,english upon the sanctification of the ,irish people1 but still his cry was--,pray for ,england4 ,there can be no doubt1 as sundry facts point out1 but that he had a strong impression of late that his end was drawing near4 ,and not long before his death he called the brethren individually to his room1 and exhorted each with solemn earnestness to be instant in the mission of prayer for ,england4 ,and what has been the result of this ,apostleship8 ,that result ,father ,ignatius himself summed up but a few days before his death4 ,on the #hth of ,september1 he addressed a letter to an ,italian periodical1 from which ,i translate the following passage as the fit conclusion of this subject4 ,he says3-- ,it is more than thirty-four years since a worthy ,bishop of a ,neapolitan diocese came to seek me in the ,english #eah ,college at ,rome1 wishing to look with his own eyes upon a converted ,anglican clergyman2 a sight so grateful to a noble ,catholic heart1 and in those days so rare4 ,on what proof he spoke1 ,i know not1 but he assured me that the first ,carmelite ,scapular ever given1 and given by that ,english ,saint1 ,simon ,stock1 was secretly kept in ,england1 and that he looked on this as a pledge that our country would one day come back to the faith4 ,be this assertion well or ill founded1 the memory of him who made it is dear to me as is the memory of the presence of every one who bespeaks hope and peace for ,england4 ,what have we seen in our days8 ,conversions to the faith so numerous and so important that the whole world speaks of them4 ,and this movement towards ,catholicism is of a character so remarkable1 that the history of the ,church presents nothing like it4 ,it is true that other nations have been converted1 whilst ,england has stood to her ,protestantism2 but a first step has been made in this country1 which1 as far as ,i know1 has no parallel4 ,in other cases1 it was the sovereign who made the first movement1 having had no learned opposition or persecution from his subjects2 and1 as in the instance of ,st4 ,stephen1 of ,hungary1 the conversions which followed came easily1 and as it were naturally2 or conversion began with the poor1 who1 though it cost them persecution and privation1 had yet but little to lose4 ,but this has not been the case in ,england4 ,here the work of conversion grew conspicuous among the ministers of the ,protestant ,church1 of whom hundreds of the most esteemed and learned have been received into the bosom of the ,church1 and also among the noble and the gentle families of the kingdom2 so that it may be said that scarcely is there a family that is not touched by conversion1 in some near or more distant member of it4 ,i say that this order of conversion is new1 this operation of grace is most singular4 ,great numbers of those clergymen had prospects before them by remaining in ,protestantism1 flattering enough1 of earthly felicity1 wealth1 and honour2 and by their conversion they fell upon poverty1 distress1 and contempt1 especially those men who1 by reason #eai of their families1 could not embrace the clerical state4 ,the sacrifices of the lay gentry have not always been so great2 but even here how many have closed against themselves the path of honours and distinctions2 how many have been discarded by their kindred and friends2 how many of the gentle sex have abandoned the prospect of a settlement in life befitting their rank and station2 while all have turned from the world to obey the voice of ,god2 and that1 in a country like this1 where the world holds out allurements so specious and so attractive in every kind4 ,but these great results can neither be attributed to the force1 the eloquence1 or the industry of man4 ,man has positively had no part in the work1 except by prayer1 and this praying has been professedly offered to ,god through ,mary2 through whom all the heresies of the world are destroyed4 ,i have no time to dwell upon this summary of results so beautifully told and so remarkably timed4 ,but it is impossible not to notice that the great tide of conversion that has flowed so unusually1 has passed through the two classes to which ,father ,ignatius himself belonged1 that of the clergy and that of the gentry4 ,it is a wonderful result following a most unprecedented combination of the voices of ,catholic souls of many nations in prayer1 set in motion by the very man who is summing up the result of the work1 before he goes to his reward2 nor do ,i believe1 although his tongue is silent1 and his features settled into cold obstruction1 as we looked on them last night1 that the prayer of his soul has ceased2 no1 his work goes on1 his ,apostleship is not dead4 ,purged by the sacrifice1 ,i seem to see his spirit all this time4 ,for you know that when a holy man quits this life1 and has not loved it as he has loved ,god1 he goes away no further than ,god1 and ,god is very near to us4 ,have you never lost a dear parent or a child1 and have you not found that when freed from the body the spirit of that one had more power over you2 seemed to be freer to be with you at all solemn times1 and to impress you with its purely spiritual qualities and virtues1 all gross things having ceased though the purification of death and the final grace8 and so ,i conceive his #ebj spirit standing by my side and saying still1 at each interval of my voice1--,pray for ,england3 pray for her conversion4 ,to you1 fathers of the rude frieze1 brethren of his ,order1 with the name of ,christ on your breast1 and the love of ,his passion in your heart1 he says--,pray for ,england3 pray for her conversion4 ,superiors of the ,benedictine ,order1 whom a special circumstance has brought here to-day1 ,father ,president-,general1 representative of ,st4 ,benedict1 as of ,st4 ,augustine1 and monastic successor of that first ,apostle of ,england1 to you1 and to you1 ,priors of the ,order1 he says--,fail not from the work of your forefathers1 pray for ,england3 pray for her conversion4 ,to you1 brethren of the priesthood1 men consecrated to this mission1 who know his voice familiarly1 to you he says with the burning desire of his heart1--,pray for ,england3 pray for her conversion4 ,daughters of the virginal veil1 who are his children1 whilst in the inferior soul you suffer the grief of loss1 in your superior soul you rejoice that he is with ,god2 to you also he says3--,pray for ,england3 pray for her conversion4 ,dearly beloved brethren1 how often in his missions and his ministries has he written those words upon your hearts4 ,let them not die out4 ,let them live on with something of his flame of charity4 ,be you as his missioners2 carry these words to your children and your brethren4 ,he prays yet1 and will ever pray until the work be finished4 ,even in the presence of his ,god1 neither the awe nor the majesty of that unspeakable presence can ,i conceive as interrupting the prayer which has become a portion of his nature--,god1 have mercy on ,england4 ,turn1 ,o ,jesus1 ,thy meek eyes upon that people4 ,let pity drop from ,thy glorious wounds1 and mercy from ,thy heart4 ,in what she is blind1 in what she sins1 forgive her1 for she knows not what she does4 ,have mercy on ,england4 ,when joined to his beloved ,dominic1 and with blessed ,paul1 and meeting ,gregory1 and ,augustine1 and ,bede1 ,i conceive him urging them to join yet more earnestly with the prayers he left ascending from the earth1 following his mission still in the heavens2 nay1 even pressing to be heard in the circles of the angels1 whose meekness and purity he loved so well1 and #eba still his cry is3 ,pray for ,england3 pray for her conversion4 ,it remains for us to turn one last look upon his mortal remains1 to consider our own mortality1 and to prepare us for our approaching end4 ,how beautiful1 how sublime was his departure4 ,father ,ignatius had often wished and prayed that1 like his ,divine ,lord1 like ,st4 ,francis ,xavier1 and like his dear friend and master in the spiritual life1 ,father ,dominic1 he might die at his post1 yet deserted and alone4 ,god granted him that prayer4 ,he had just closed one mission and was proceeding to another2 he turned aside for an hour on his way to converse with a dear friend and godson2 he was seen ten minutes before conversing with children4 ,was he only inquiring his way1 or did he utter the last words of his earthly mission to those young hearts8 ,and here alone1 unseen but of ,god and ,his angels1 he fell down1 and that heart which had beaten so long for the love and conversion of ,england stopped in his bosom4 ,crucified was he in his death as in his life to this world1 that he might live to ,god4 ,when his lordship1 the ,bishop1 descended from the pulpit1 the procession to the place of burial was formed1 and issued from the church in the following order1 the choir singing the ,miserere3-- ,the ,children of the ,schools of the ,convent of the ,holy ,child4 ,the ,rev4 ,father ,bernard 7,superior of the ,order of ,passionists1 ,paris71 carrying a ,cross1 and having on each side an ,acolyte1 bearing a lighted candle4 ,the ,thurifer4 ,boys two abreast4 ,the ,regular ,clergy4 ,the ,secular ,clergy4 ,,the ,,coffin4 ,the ,lord ,bishop of ,birmingham4 ,the ,laity4 ,as the melancholy cortge moved along1 the clergy chanted the ,miserere1 and when the procession arrived at the vault1 #ebb the coffin 7which was of deal7 was placed inside a leaden one1 which was again enclosed in an outer shell of oak4 ,upon this was a black plate1 bearing the following inscription3-- ,,father ,,ignatius ,,of ,,st4 ,,paul 7,,the ,,hon4 ,,and ,,rev4 ,,george ,,spencer7 ,,died ,,oct4 #a1 #ahfd1 ,,aged #fe ,,years4 ,r4 ,i4 ,p4 ,placed inside the coffin was a leaden tablet1 on which the following was engraved3-- ,,mortales ,,exuviae ,patris ,ignatii a ,s4 ,paulo1 ,congregationis ,passionis1 de ,comitibus ,spencer4 ,minister ,anglicanus primum2 dein1 ad ,ecclesiam ,catholicam conversus1 sacerdotio ,romae insignitus est anno #ahcb4 ,mirum1 qua animi constantia per triginta et amplius annos pro conversione patriae laboraverat4 ,inter alumnos ,passionis anno #ahdg adscriptus1 omnium virtutum exemplar confratribus semper extitit4 ,angliam1 ,hiberniam1 ,scotiam1 necnon ,italiam1 ,germaniam1 et ,galliam peragravit1 populum exhortans ad propriam sanctificationem1 et ut1 veluti sacro agmine inito1 preces fundant pro conversione ,anglise4 ,dum perjucundum opus in ,scotia prosequeretur1 calendis ,octobris anni #ahfd1 sacrificio missae peracto1 ad invisendum antiquae consuetudinis amicum 7,dom4 ,robertum ,monteith7 pergens1 ante januam amici repentino morbo correptus1 a ,deo cujus gloriam semper quesierat et ab angelis quorum puritatem imitaverat1 opitulatus1 supremam diem clausit1 aetatis suae anno #feto4 ,requiescat in pace4 ,,translation4 ,the mortal remains of ,father ,ignatius of ,st4 ,paul1 belonging to the ,congregation of the ,passion1 and of the noble family of ,spencer4 ,he was at first an ,anglican minister2 then1 having been converted to the ,catholic ,church1 was ordained into the priesthood at ,rome in the year #ahcb4 ,it is wonderful with what constancy of mind for more than thirty years he laboured for the conversion of his country4 #ebc ,he was numbered among the sons of the ,passion in the year #ahdg1 and always presented an example of all virtues to his brethren4 ,he travelled through ,england1 ,ireland1 ,scotland1 and even ,italy1 ,germany1 and ,france1 exhorting the people to their own sanctification1 and forming themselves1 as it were1 into a sacred army1 to pour forth prayers for the conversion of ,england4 ,while he was prosecuting his pleasing work in ,scotland1 on the #ast of ,october1 #ahfd1 and1 having offered up the sacrifice of the mass1 he was going on a visit to a friend he had long been acquainted with 7,mr4 ,robert ,monteith71 when he was carried off by sudden death in front of his friend's door1 being assisted by ,god1 whose glory he had ever sought1 and by the angels whose purity he had imitated4 ,he closed his life in the #feth year of his age4 ,may he rest in peace4 ,when all the arrangements were completed1 the coffin was placed upon the tier appropriated for its reception1 and the bishop and clergy retired4 ,thus has ended the life of one who for fifteen years pursued his missionary work1 as a priest of the ,order of the ,passion1 with an ardour that has seldom been surpassed4 ,truly may it be said of him1 ,dying1 he lives4 ,favours are said to have been obtained from heaven through his intercession1 since his death2 and it is even recorded that miracles have been performed by his relics4 ,these facts have not been1 as yet1 sufficiently authenticated for publication2 and1 therefore1 it is judged better not to insert them4 ,we confidently hope that a few years will see him enrolled in the catalogue of saints1 as the first ,english ,confessor since the ,reformation4 ,every step we make1 as we recede from this last scene1 brings us nearer to the moment when the requiescat ought to be heard over ourselves4 ,for ,the pride of luxury1 the pomp of power1 ,and all that beauty1 all that wealth e'er gave1 ,await alike the inevitable hour2-- ,the paths of glory lead but to the grave4 ,how vain is a life spent in pursuit of riches6 when the #ebd shroud that envelops our bones will have to be given us4 ,how vain are the appliances of comfort and pleasure which wealth can spread around us6 when the body we pamper is to be the food of worms4 ,how vain1 is power and extent of territory6 when the snapping of the thread of our existence will leave us completely in the hands of others1 and confine us to less than seven feet of earth4 ,let the example of the holy ,passionist1 whose life we studied1 make us recognise this truth1 before it is too late--that all is vanity but the service of ,god4 ,he tasted the sweets of this world until he found out their bitterness2 let his example deter others from plunging into the whirl of dissipation1 from which few can come out uninjured4 ,he laid down his honours1 his titles1 his property1 at the foot of the cross1 and he joyfully placed its transverse beams upon his shoulder4 ,there was nothing this world could give him which he did not sacrifice unhesitatingly4 ,he never took back from the altar a single particle of the offerings he placed upon it4 ,since the moment he understood that the end of his existence was the happiness of the blessed1 he went straight to his eternal goal1 and turned not to the right hand nor to the left4 ,god was always in his mind2 ,god was on his lips2 ,god was in his works4 ,we cannot admire his sacrifices1 for it would be a mistake to suppose his mind was not noble enough to feel that all he could give was only a barter of earth for heaven4 ,let the world applaud its heroes1 and raise expensive monuments to remind others of their renown4 ,father ,ignatius sought not the praise of the world2 its frowns were all he desired4 ,he looked not for its sympathy1 he crossed its ways1 he gave the lie to its maxims1 he trampled it under his feet4 ,but the servants of ,god will not forget him4 ,they will turn off the high road to come as pilgrims to the spot where his pure soul left its earthly tenement4 ,to mark out the place1 ,mr4 ,monteith has erected a cross upon the corner of the avenue where the saintly father fell4 ,subjoined is an engraving of the monument1 and it fitly closes up this history1 as it perpetually points to his example4 #ebe ,,on ,,this ,,spot ,,the ,,honble4 ,,and ,,rev4 ,,george ,,spencer1 ,,in ,,religion1 ,,father ,,ignatius ,,of ,,st4 ,,paul1 ,,passionist1 ,,while ,,in ,,the ,,midst ,,of ,,his ,,labours ,,for ,,the ,,salvation ,,of ,,souls1 ,,and ,,the ,,restoration ,,of ,,his ,,countrymen ,,to ,,the ,,unity ,,of ,,the ,,faith1 ,,was ,,suddenly ,,called ,,by ,,his ,,heavenly ,,master ,,to ,,his ,,eternal ,,home4 ,,october #a,,st1 #ahfd4 ,r4,i4,p4 #ebf ,cox ,and ,wyman1 ,classical ,and ,general ,printers1 ,great ,queen ,street1 ,lincoln's ,inn ,fields4 ,transcriber's ,note3 ,the following list contains the words and names flagged by the spell check1 and verified by inspection4 ,a,egina ,a,eolus ,abbate ,abbaye ,abb ,aberdovey ,aberystwyth ,acatholicorum ,accademia ,achensee ,achenthal ,acland ,addolorata ,adige ,adolphus ,adonises ,aebel ,affetti ,affi ,afra ,agneses ,agrippa ,ahamo ,aigle ,airdrie ,aix ,alban ,albano ,albemarle ,albergo ,albero ,alcantara ,alessandro ,alleine ,aloysiuses ,alphonsus ,alraschid ,alte ,althorp ,ambrosian ,amelia ,amhersts ,amiens ,amphitheatre ,ampleforth ,anastasius ,ancona ,angleur ,angliae ,angliam ,anglicanus ,anglise ,annecy ,annonciades ,antonelli ,apostolical ,apostolici ,apostolics ,apostolines ,apostolorum ,appleyard ,arcadinia ,archimedes ,archivium ,ardee ,arfi ,argentaro ,ariopolis ,arius ,armagh ,armytage ,athenry ,aucy ,auer ,augsburg ,augustin ,augustine ,augustus ,auxerre ,auxonne ,avona ,bac ,bacten ,badische ,bagshawe ,baily ,baines ,bains ,baldacconi ,ballina ,ballinasloe ,ballinrobe ,ballycastle ,ballyshannon ,bandry ,barbarossa ,bareau ,barnabites ,barnab ,barnet ,baronne ,barras ,barrington ,basiaco ,basse ,battersea ,baudry ,bavino ,bavire ,bayerische ,beauharnais ,beauvais ,bede ,bella ,bellaymont ,belley ,benvenuto ,berchtesgaden ,bergamo ,bergues ,bermondsey ,bernardine ,bernardines ,bernardites ,bertin ,bessy ,bethusy ,beveridge ,bighi ,bingham ,birkenhead ,birr ,bishopsgate ,blackbrook ,blackstone ,blaise ,blanc ,blanco ,blandford ,blore ,blount ,bobbio ,bodalog ,bodenham ,bolognaro ,bolton ,bonald ,boniface ,bonquan ,bootle ,bopeep ,borris ,bosketto ,bossuet ,botanique ,botolph ,botzen ,boulanger ,boulogne ,bourgoigne ,bourgoiner ,bourjant ,bouverie ,bouvet ,bracebridge ,bradshaw ,brampton ,bramston ,brenner ,brera ,brescia ,bridget ,bridgman ,brigy ,brixen ,brock ,broek ,buckinghamshire ,bunyan ,burchall ,bguinage ,bguinages ,caesars ,caestryck ,caffi ,calasanctius ,caldaro ,caldaron ,calddaron ,callaghan ,caltern ,calvario ,camaldolese ,cambrai ,cameriere ,camperdown ,cancellaria ,canonico ,canova ,cantius ,capellani ,capellano ,capellari ,capistrano ,capitoline ,capriana ,capua ,cardham ,carit ,carlow ,carlsruhe ,carlton ,carnarvon ,carrara ,carraway ,carrick ,carrickmacross ,carstairs ,carthusian ,cartsdyke ,casiua ,castello ,castlebar ,castlerea ,catholicam ,catholici ,catholicising ,catullus ,caudatario ,cavallesi ,cavani ,cavanis ,cavendish ,cellini ,celso ,cenis ,certosa ,chaillot ,chamberry ,chanoine ,chanoinesses ,chapelle ,charg ,charit ,charnpagnole ,cheapside ,childe ,cholmley ,chombard ,christies ,chrom ,chrysostom ,chrtienne ,chrtiennes ,churchism ,cigne ,citt ,claires ,clarendon ,clerkenwell ,clermont ,clogher ,coatbridge ,coblentz ,coeur ,cointe ,colae ,coleridge ,coletines ,collegio ,collinge ,colney ,colomba ,colossians ,columb ,columbanus ,comitibus ,complin ,comte ,conden ,confrrie ,connaught ,connexion ,constantius ,consultors ,conte ,contessa ,contrada ,convardy ,conventual ,cooke ,cornelius ,corte ,costello ,cottril ,coultins ,councillor ,couronne ,courtene ,couvent ,coux ,covent ,cowper ,cranmer ,crawley ,croix ,cromwellian ,crowe ,crusoe ,cullinamore ,cullinge ,cumming ,cussel ,cuthbert ,damasus ,damietta ,dandolo ,daubeny ,decanus ,denison ,denys ,deo ,deschamps ,desgenettes ,dessin ,deum ,devon ,dezenzano ,dieu ,digby ,digbys ,directeur ,divisione ,doddridge ,doge ,dolors ,doluny ,domely ,domenico ,domini ,domitian ,domodossola ,domscholasticus ,donnel ,donnet ,doogan ,doria ,dorsetshire ,douane ,douay ,dougall ,drei ,drogheda ,drummond ,drury ,dubois ,duc ,dudley ,dugdale ,duggan ,dumez ,duncannon ,dundalk ,dundas ,dungannon ,dunton ,duomo ,durer ,durier ,durlet ,dsingy ,dllinger ,,exuviae ,easky ,ecclesiam ,ecclesiasticus ,ecoles ,econome ,edgware ,egna ,ehrhart ,elmesly ,elwes ,ely ,ennis ,enniscrone ,enniskillen ,episcopi ,eplingen ,errington ,erroye ,eryx ,esterhazy ,etonians ,eustachio ,eyre ,ezechiel ,falconeria ,ferdinand ,feretti ,ferrara ,ferrario ,ferrarrio ,ferronaye ,festus ,fidele ,fiumicino ,flandre ,florentin ,floriano ,folkestone ,fontainebleau ,fornari ,francesi ,franchismes ,frari ,fratelli ,frati ,fratte ,freakley ,fremantle ,friot ,froud ,frujberg ,frres ,fumagalli ,gaetano ,gagliardi ,gallard ,galliam ,galway ,gand ,ganymede ,garda ,gardiner ,garendon ,garnault ,gasthof ,gaudentius ,gavan ,gata ,genevese ,genoese ,gentili ,georgiana ,georgio ,germain ,germaniam ,germanico ,gernetto ,gervase ,gesang ,gesangen ,ges ,ghent ,gibbs ,gideon ,gillies ,gingolph ,giovanelli ,girardon ,giuseppe ,giustiniani ,glassbrooke ,gloucester ,glyptotheke ,godley ,gorey ,gorres ,gort ,gothsburg ,gottez ,graf ,graffanara ,grahame ,gramont ,grandvilliers ,grantham ,gratz ,greci ,greenock ,grenville ,grettan ,griffiths ,grimstone ,grirgenti ,grises ,grosvenor ,grue ,grce ,gudule ,gustavus ,guttenburg ,gnral ,gppingen ,grres ,grreses ,haffreingue ,hagley ,halford ,hallein ,hampstead ,handley ,handsworth ,hanicq ,hapsburg ,harleston ,haroun ,havant ,havre ,headfort ,heber ,hendren ,heneage ,heywood ,hiberniam ,highgate ,hilary ,hildersham ,hildyard ,hilloa ,hinckley ,hippolyte ,hodder ,hoffa ,holborn ,holme ,holyhead ,hornby ,hornsey ,hospitalieres ,hospitalires ,howley ,humanarianism ,hyde ,htel ,hffler ,ignatii ,ignatius ,ignazio ,illyricum ,imola ,imperiale ,inglesi ,innspruck ,inspruck ,irvingites ,isabella ,isola ,italiam ,jacquenot ,jandel ,januarius ,jaques ,jardin ,jauch ,jaudel ,jeffreys ,jesu ,jette ,jeune ,johnstone ,julien ,jura ,kells ,kempis ,kenilworth ,kentish ,kernane ,kildare ,kilkenny ,killala ,kille ,kinnaird ,kirche ,kirchen ,kissengen ,kitzka ,knickerbocker ,koenigswinter ,kreutz ,krone ,krono ,kurtzrock ,kln ,klner ,knig ,knigswinter ,l',arco ,l',hospice ,l',hpital ,lago ,laibach ,laing ,lanark ,lancashire ,landeck ,landherr ,lapons ,lateran ,lavinia ,lavorno ,lazarists ,lazzari ,lazzaro ,le,sage ,leamington ,lefevre ,leicestershire ,leinster ,leith ,leuchtenberg ,levenshulme ,lichfield ,lichtenthal ,liguori ,lingdale ,lintz ,litchenstein ,lithgoe ,lige ,lige ,llanarth ,loewenstein ,londonderry ,londra ,londres ,longford ,lorenzo ,lorrha ,lothaire ,loughborough ,loughren ,louvain ,lowther ,lucan ,lucca ,luigi ,lurgan ,lutzou ,lyall ,lyne ,lythgoe ,lyttelton ,m',auley ,m',donnel ,m',ghee ,m',hale ,mac,mahon ,mackey ,macky ,maddalena ,madeleine ,maestricht ,maggiora ,maggiore ,maguire ,mahomedanism ,mai ,maison ,maitland ,malibren ,malines ,malou ,manheim ,manige ,mannering ,mantua ,mantz ,marais ,marano ,marenn ,marlborough ,marsomme ,martigny ,martyn ,marys ,marehal ,matraey ,matsys ,matthias ,maude ,mawman ,maximilian ,mayence ,maynooth ,mc,hale ,meagher ,melia ,mellerio ,mellon ,mercati ,mercede ,merionethshire ,messias ,methodistic ,mezzofanti ,mgr ,mildert ,millire ,mirum ,miserere ,mislin ,missionum ,misricorde ,mittewald ,modena ,mohren ,moneti ,mongeras ,monico ,monreale ,mont ,montalembert ,montebello ,monteith ,montmartre ,montrose ,monza ,morey ,morley ,moselle ,moy ,mullingar ,mungo ,muse ,mre ,mrl ,mhler ,mnster ,namur ,nannette ,nantes ,navarino ,neill ,nemfchatel ,neri ,nerincx ,nerlieu ,neuenburg ,neumarkt ,neuve ,newgate ,newry ,nicholl ,nicholls ,nives ,nobil ,nobottle ,noires ,noirlieu ,nore ,northampton ,northamptonshire ,nottinghamshire ,novara ,nuelleus ,nunzio ,nymphenburg ,nyon ,o',connell ,o',donnel ,o',flynn ,o',kane ,o',keefe ,o',reilly ,o,edipus ,oakeley ,observantiae ,octobris ,odescalchi ,oldbury ,ollivant ,omagh ,omer ,oppido ,oratorian ,oratorians ,orioli ,osmond ,ospitaletto ,ostend ,osteria ,otaheitan ,oudley ,ouseley ,overbury ,ovid ,oxburgh ,oxley ,oxonians ,pacci ,packenham ,paderborn ,padua ,pagliano ,palais ,palladio ,pallotta ,palmerston ,paoli ,papi ,papin ,paroco ,pasaro ,pasquale ,passaglia ,passi ,passio ,passionis ,passionists ,passsionists ,patit ,patris ,pauvres ,pavia ,pazzi ,pearse ,peasly ,pensieri ,peppenheim ,percival ,persico ,perugia ,pesaro ,peterborough ,peterbro ,petits ,pffarr ,phillippses ,picquart ,piedmontese ,pietra ,pietro ,pilsach ,pinacotheke ,pio ,pittsburg ,placentia ,plainpalais ,polidori ,poligny ,pollien ,poole ,porte ,portobello ,poste ,postes ,powys ,poynter ,pote ,premonstratensian ,pritchard ,protase ,prmontr ,pugin ,puseyite ,pre ,pres ,quarant ,quater ,quelin ,quin ,quintin ,raal ,raby ,radhoff ,raffaele ,raffaelle ,rainhill ,rathmines ,ratisbonne ,reale ,recollets ,reddington ,redemptorist ,redemptorists ,redentore ,reggio ,regierung ,reichenbach ,reichenhall ,reiner ,religieuses ,rennel ,resburg ,reverendus ,revolutionnaire ,riland ,rimini ,rios ,riva ,robertum ,roch ,rodolph ,rodrigues ,roehampton ,romae ,romney ,romonam ,rosamel ,roscommon ,rosinini ,roskell ,rosmini ,rossiaud ,rotundo ,rousses ,roveredo ,rovigo ,royale ,rugeley ,ryde ,rgulires ,sabbato ,sacrement ,sacr ,sainte ,salesiani ,salford ,salle ,salut ,salvian ,sancto ,sankey ,saul ,sayburne ,scaligeri ,scheppers ,schlager ,schlussheim ,scholfield ,schutz ,schwartzenberg ,scotiam ,scylla ,seager ,sebastians ,secours ,sedgeley ,sedgley ,segnini ,segreto ,semei ,sens ,senufft ,sepulchrines ,servites ,sestri ,sevres ,sharples ,shenton ,shrewsbury ,sibthorpe ,sigismund ,silvestro ,simeon ,simeonites ,simplon ,sion ,sisk ,sitientis ,sitorstro ,slattery ,sligo ,snowdon ,societ ,socinians ,soeur ,soeurs ,somal ,somers ,sonne ,sophia ,southcote ,southport ,southwark ,spence ,spencers ,spiritu ,spoleto ,sta ,stadler ,stafford ,staffordshire ,ste ,steigmeier ,stockport ,stourbridge ,stowell ,strabane ,strarzing ,strass ,strictioris ,stromboli ,stuttgard ,subdiaconate ,suide ,suir ,suisse ,sulpice ,sumner ,sunderland ,superiores ,superioress ,sutrio ,sweers ,swithin ,syriac ,sez ,sminaire ,tallier ,tavel ,tavola ,tegern ,teresas ,terracina ,tertiariae ,theatine ,theophilus ,thillay ,thistlethwick ,thonon ,thornton ,thorntons ,thorwaldsen ,throckmorton ,thurles ,thursby ,tillotson ,tipperary ,tipton ,titchmarsh ,tivoli ,tolrance ,tomline ,tommaso ,tonnerre ,torri ,tournai ,tournay ,towyn ,tractarianism ,tractarians ,trapani ,trappists ,trelawny ,trieste ,trinitatem ,troitteur ,trlouquet ,tuam ,tubal ,tuileries ,turpin ,turtinan ,tusmarchausan ,tyrannus ,tyrolese ,ullathorne ,ulm ,ulrick ,univers ,upton ,ursulines ,ushaw ,valais ,valens ,valle ,vanderghote ,vandervelde ,veich ,venuses ,verme ,vespasiani ,veuillet ,vicaire ,vicarii ,vicario ,viceregal ,vichi ,victoires ,vigoreux ,ville ,villiers ,vincentians ,vittadini ,vollemaux ,wallwork ,walmsley ,walsall ,wareing ,warrington ,warwick ,waterland ,waterton ,watkinson ,waverly ,wesleyans ,westbromwich ,westland ,westport ,wexford ,wheatley ,whelan ,whitechapel ,whitgrave ,wildbad ,wilfrid ,willoughby ,wilton ,wimbach ,wimbledon ,windischman ,windischmann ,wiseman ,wiseton ,witherall ,wodehouse ,wolverhampton ,woodchester ,woodwich ,woollett ,wrede ,wykes ,wyman ,yarmouth ,yoris ,zebedee ,zeno ,zenone ,zeuft ,zoccolanti ,zurla absconditum acatholicorum acceptatio accuratiore adorans adscriptus advices aetatis agmine alb aliquid alle altitudo alumnos amici amicum amplius ancles angelis animi anni anno annonces annos antependium antichristian antiquae anyways apologised apostacy apostleship apostolical apud arbours archvch ardour ardours argumentum armour arti ascetism athanasian attach auri availeth avocat banc baptised beforetime behaviour believeth bene benedixit beneplacitum benigne blameably blaney blessest blomfield blushings bono bonum borga bowings brava brington brodo bromwich buon burnings burthen burthensome caf calendis candour capite capitular careth catechise catino celebret centre chasse chemin cheque chequered chlets chteau clausit coffinless coloured colouring colours committest confluentia confratribus confrres congregationis connexion conseilleur consistorium constantia consuetudinis contradistinguished controverted conversable conversione conversus convictor correptus corruptions corse cortile cortge counsellor coze cracky credas criticises cudgelling cui cujus cur d',allinges d',avroy d',ere d',oro d'acqua d'affaires d'hte d'htel d'tat dantis decrepid defectible defence dei dein del della des despatch despatching develope diaconate dignitas dignitate diligitis disant disedification disfavour dishonour dishonourable diuturniore dolendum doloribus dost drogget duelling dum dura ecce ecstacy eilwayen ejusdem emisit employments endeavour endeavoured endeavouring endeavours endureth enfants engraven equalled erecter esse est estatica eventless examen examens excipere exhortans experimento expos extenso extitit fames famille fastnesses faubourg favere favour favourable favourably favoured favourite favours faade felicitiously fer feretrum ferventiori fervour fidei fidelium flere foreshadowings form form fourchette fourgon frisonnant froward fulfil fulfilment fulfils fulness fundant funzioni gardes gathereth genere gentem gloriam goldene goldenen gospelling gras gratias gregorine griefs guardia gulph haereticorum hap harbour hast hateth haud heresiarchs hibernian hisce hoff holdeth hominem honour honourable honoured honouring honours hosier humour humoured humours hyaena illum imbuta imitaverat immodesties inclinato inito insignitus instructum interpositions invisendum ipsi januam jocosely judico jugiter kilometres knowest l',abb l',eglise l',europe l',htel l',immacul l',instruction l'estatica l'toile laboraverat labour laboured labourer labourers labouring labours lagune laquais laudo laus leadeth les levelled levelling licence licences lille lionised literis lucifers lustre maccaroni magnam maigre malades maraviglia marchant mariae materfamilias matre mein mementoes methodistical minutanti mio misdemeanour missae mitre mitres monachism monomonia monsignores morbo mortales moulding mle nautico nazione necessarium necnon neighbour neighbourhood neighbouring neighbours nempe nobile nobili nomen novercal noviciate novitiorum novum nulla ne octodecimo odorem odour omittant omne omnes omnium onked opitulatus oratorium ortus oscott ostensoire ostracised otium outstep partibus passeth passionist pastrycook paters patriae patronised pauperis pensionnaires pensionnat peracto peragravit pergens perjucundum personarum petens pfarren pfeiffe phillipps piissimis pirotecnico pleasantest populum pourtrayed practise practised practises practising praecesserunt praesertim prebendary preces primissario primum probetur proindeque promovere promptings propositionesque propriam prosequeretur prostrations prs prne puritatem quam quesierat quod qute ratione realise recens recognise recognised reconquest reductio reflectiones regum reinhabited relaxations reliefs relievos remodelled repentino rudenesses rumour rumours rdiger sacerdotio sacrae sacrificio sacro salus salut sanctificatione sanctificationem sandalled satagit satis savouring sawney scagliola scarfs scattereth sceptical sceptically scepticism schismatics scienze scrupulosities scuole semel semper septem septembris servabit shopman signo souper soupers soutanes spettacolo spiritum splendour splendours stertation stipendio suae suggestors supremam svegliarino sympathise sympathised sympathising temporals tenour testa testimonialibus thurifer thurifers tibi tinging titulo travellings triginta triptic trouvs trsor tuo tte unbaptized unburthen uncanonically unclerical unfavourable unicum unravelling unsetting unviolated ut utterings veluti vento vestiaria vetturino vicaire vicario vielliards viewiness vigour villegiatura viribus virtutum vis voiturier volumus votis voto wagen waggon wailings whithersoever wilful wilfully wrapt zum coles cu tienne vch lite vch ,transcriber's ,note3 ,end spell check list4