St. Joseph, I met a company of them; they were going to Washington with one of their chiefs. Their dress was very fanciful; many wearing jewels in their ears, and rings at the nose. By their color, I thought I perceived strong features of resemblance to those Chinese and Tartars, whom I had noticed at Rome or in Germany, when we beheld those swarms of soldiers who burst upon Europe, a few years ago, with the Russians. This proves to me what has often been said, that they themselves originate from Asia. Indeed I recollect to have read in the Lettres edifiantes, that a missionary, who had preached in Tibet, met in North America a woman whom he had known in Asia.

"Our cathedral is advancing; it will be 90 feet long and 45 wide.. The wooden church, which stood here before, was so small, that it could not contain the people who came to attend on our holy solemnities. When Father Hill* exercised his ministry here and preached, it would not contain the Protestants who crowded to it.

"The instruction given here has effected great conversions, and mitigated the fury of a superstitious and ignorant people, often roused against the clergy by ill-meaning persons. After the cathedral, we know not how we shall have the further resources necessary to establish the college. It is difficult to form an idea of our situation.We must have proper clothing, and horses to visit the sick and our congregations, often very distant from each other. It is but a few days since I was called on for a sick man, eighty miles off. I performed the journey in a day; but the heat was so excessive, and the travelling so laborious, that when I reached the person I was sick myself, notwithstanding the assiduous cares of these brave people, who told me with tears that they had never seen a priest in their woods. After midnight I began confession. The sick man had a faith so lively, and was so satisfied after confession, that he was much better for my visit.

"Since Mgr's arrival, a great number of persons have presented themselves for instruction in the true Religion. I hope that, if the Lord blesses our efforts, we shall be able to finish the cathedral and to found our college. We shall see the truth triumph; the temples of idols will be overthrown, and the seat of falsehood will be brought_to silence. This is the reason that we conjure all the Christians of Europe to unite, in order to ask of God the conversion of these unhappy infidels or heretics. What a happiness, if, by our feeble labors and our vows, we shall so merit as to see the savages of this diocese civilized, AND ALL THE UNITED STATES EMBRACED IN THÉ SAME UNITY OF THAT CATHOLIC CHURCH, IN WHICH DWELLS TRUTH, AND TEMPORAL HAPPINESS-while we are expecting to be gathered into that celestial sheepfold, where will exist but one flock and one shep-herd !"

If any of our readers have before this entertained a doubt respecting the wishes and ultimate designs of Romanists, in regard to our

*Since dead. He is said to have been nephew of Rev. Rowland Hill.

country, it is hoped that the fervent desire expressed at the close of this honest, though rather desultory letter, will remove it entirely. In fact, the strong cords and green withes have almost bound our sleeping Samson. Happy will it be if this series of disclosures shall awake him to an effectual exertion of his great strength. For we trust that, when sufficiently roused, he will be able to carry away the doors of this prison gate, posts, bar and all.

It may be useful to put on our record the following letter of acknowledgement, from the "Bishop of Cincinnati" to "His Highness, Monseigneur, the Grand-Almoner." We must then close this number with the account, as published in France, of the Convention held in Baltimore by the clergy of the Romish communion, and a communication of the new Archbishop respecting the situation and prospects of the church under his care.

Bishop Fenwick writes to the Grand Almoner of France, the Prince de Croy, Bishop of Strasburgh, thus:

"MY LORD,

"Permit me to recall myself to your recollection, and renew to your Highness the sentiments of sincere obligation and profound respect, with which the goodness and kindness of your Highness, in dispensing the aids furnished by the Association for the Propogation of the Faith, have filled my heart, and which are the sure pledge of my eternal gratitude.

"I have acknowledged the receipt of twelve thousand five hundred and forty francs,* sent me by M. D-, in the month of September, 1825, after the benevolent distribution, made by the Superior Council, in the month of June of that year, in favor of my poor diocese, which truly stood in need of it, having no other resources but the charity of the faithful in Europe. I flatter myself still, my Lord, that I shall soon be permitted to acknowledge another sum for the year 1826, from a similar munificenee in the Superior Council, under the direction of your noble and beneficient Highness. I venture to flatter myself also that the charity and magnanimity of your Highness, and the generous zeal of the Superior Council will not be restricted, in regard to my poor diocese, to 1826, nor to 1827, since their remains so much good to be done as the bearer of this letter, my worthy secretary and confidant, the Abbe Reze, can convince your Highness. He will give you particulars, in reference to my own actual situation, the progress of religion in this country, and the wonders which the good God has condescended to produce with very feeble instruments.

"Thanks to the Divine Providence and the charity of our benefactors, our cathedral is finished; it is decent, and even beautiful

*It appears that there was assigned to the American Missions, in the years 1824, 1825, 1826, 1827 and 1828, by this Association alone, the sum of 331,536 francs, 90 centimes, making about $61,666. Of the distribution made last year we have not as yet a report.The particular assignments for 1828, were published in our last num

er.

for this country, but it has exhausted my funds. I have no seminary; but am in the greatest need of it. I fear lest my faithful and indefatigable missionaries sink under their excessive toils, and lest this new vine of the Lord be destitute of evangelical husbandmen. The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few.'

"I beg therefore the beneficent charity of your highness, and the continuance of aid, in the distribution of the alms of the Association for the Propagation of the Faith. Condescend, my Lord, to grant me your protection, and your generous influence with the Superior Council, for the love of God, and the salvation of souls; these motives, I know, are dear to you.

"Accept, my Lord, the expression my respectful homage, and of the high consideration, with which I have the honor to be,

"Your Highness's most grateful and most devoted servant, EDWARD FENWICK, Bishop of Cincinnati.”

We would turn now from this courtly epistle to contemplate, as was proposed, an account of the assembly, or "Council" in Baltimore, as it was reported in France. It exhibits an authentic view, doubtless, of the Papal church in the United States, although it repeats several statements which we had made before from other It is contained in the last number of the "Annals," received from Paris, and was published last April, under the head of "Mission of Baltimore."

sources.

"The city of Baltimore, in Maryland," says the Editor, "was founded about the middle of the eighteenth century by Lord Baltimore. Its population is about 80,000 souls, of whom a fifth part are Catholic. When this country belonged to the English, it was subjected to the jurisdiction of the Apostolic Vicar of London; but after the revolution of 1776, the necessity was felt of establishing an episcopal see in the United States, in order that, the centre of authority being less distant, its action might be more prompt and more efficacious. Pope Pius VI., by his bull of Oct. 5, 1789, created a bishopric at Baltimore, and appointed to it John Carroll, an ancient Jesuit. M. Carroll was a native of the country; exercised in it the functions of an apostolic ministry, and sustained a high reputation for zeal and ability; in fine, he had the suffrages of all the missionaries, his brethren, whom the Pope, for this time only had authorised to elect.

"During the administration of Mgr. Carroll, the numbers of Catholics increased greatly in the United States; whether through the conciliatory virtues of the Prelate, and the consideration in which he was held by Protestants themselves, or on account of the emigrations occasioned by the troubles of Europe. In 1791, a synod had been held at Baltimore; in this it was resolved to request of the Sovereign Pontiff a division of the diocese, or the appointment of a coadjutor. The second request Pius VI., some years after, granted, and appointed M. Leonard Neele, an ancient Jesuit, coadjutor of Mgr. Carroll, and bishop of Gortyna, in partibus. M. Neele was consecrated the 7th of December, 1800. At length, the divi

sion of the diocese being judged more and more necessary, Pius VII. by a brief of the 8th of April, 1808, erected Baltimore into a metropolis, and created four new bishoprics, those of Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and Bardstown in Kentucky. Those of Charleston in South Carolina, Richmond in Virginia, and Cincinnati in Ohio, were established, the first two on July 11, 1820. and the third, June 19, 1821." "That of New Orleans," it is remarked in a note, "is the oldest in the United States after the episcopate of Baltimore. It was erected Sept. 12, 1794, by Pius VI., who at the same time ap pointed to it Don Aloysius Penalver-y-Cardenas; but at that period Louisiana belonged to the Spaniards."-"The bishops appointed for Philadelphia, Boston, and Bardstown, were Messrs. Michael Egan, John Cheverus, and Benedict Flaget, missionaries in America for a considerable period. The bishop appointed for New York was M. Luke Concanen, a dominican, who resided at Rome; he died at Naples, whither he had gone with intention of embarking for his diocese. The other three were consecrated at Baltimore, the first on the 28th of October, 1810, the second, on the 1st of November, and the third, on the 4th of that month. The Archbishop profited of the occasion of their meeting to determine with them on certain points respecting the government of their churches. A constitution was formed; it contained eighteen articles, of which we shall cite only the most important. Priests are exhorted to withdraw unbelievers* from plays and other profane diversions, as well as from assemblies of Freemasons; it is prescribed that to the lat ter they shall not administer the sacraments, except they promised to go no more to the lodges.' This regulation, signed by the Archbishop, his coadjutor and the three new Bishops, is dated November 13, 1810. Mgr. Flaget has lately had occasion to execute the article just quoted. An officer of the Freemasons having deceased, at Louisville, without having made the promise required, was buried in the Catholic cemetery during the absence of the missionary.-— The Prelate, regarding the cemetery as profaned, has set it up for sale.

"Mgr. Carroll, died on the 3d of December, 1815, in his 80th year. He was deeply regretted, not only by the Catholics but Protestants also; the public papers went in mourning, as at the death of Washington. M. Neele succeeded Mgr. Carroll in the see of Baltimore, but survived him only a short time; he died in 1817. Foreseeing his approaching end, on account of his age and infirmity, he had requested of the Pope a coadjutor. Pius VII. had granted his desire, and, by a brief of July 24th, 1817, had appointed M. Ambrose Marechal coadjutor of the Archbishop of Baltimore, with the title of Archbishop of Stauropolis. and was

"M. Marechal was born at Ingre, near Orleans, in 1762; a member of the congregation of St. Sulpitius. He departed for America in 1792, returned to France in 1803, and was professor of theology at St. Flour, Aix, and Lyons successively. In 1811, Bona

*Qu. Instead of 'infideles' should it not be read 'fideles'?

parte having compelled the Sulpitians to leave the direction of the seminaries, M. Marechal returned to the United States. During his administration, which continued ten years and a half, he promoted the good which his predecessors had begun. M. Carroll had laid the foundation of a cathedral; M. Marechal has finished this edifice, and had the satisfaction to consecrate it, May 31, 1821. It is a very beautiful temple; there is not in the United States either a Catholic Church or Protestant place of worship that can be compared with it. It is encumbered with a debt of 150,000 francis; but this debt will be gradually extinguished by means of the annual income from the pews and seats. M. Marechal had sailed to Rome in 1822, for the interests of his diocese, and received of Pope Pius VII., several testimonials of esteem and affection; he had even been appointed an attendant on the Pontifical throne.* The Bishop of Richmond in Virginia having been transferred to Waterford in Ireland, the court of Rome did not think proper to give him a successor, and M. Marechal was appointed administrator of the diocese of Richmond. The health of this Prelate was now daily growing feeble; in 1827 he was affected with dropsy in the chest, under which he sunk, January 29th, 1828. By a brief of the same month, Leo XII. had given him for coadjutor, M. James Whitfield, with the title of Bishop of Apollonia; but the brief not arriving in America before the death of M Marechal, M. Whitefield has at once been consecrated Archbishop of Baltimore.

"We may assert," observes the Editor of the Annals,' "that this Prelate although born in England, belongs to the diocese of Lyons; there he pursued his ecclesiastical studies, at the seminary of St. Irenæus, and received there all his orders, even to that of the priesthood. He had been a pupil of M. Marechal, he had followed him to the United States, had become his grand-vicar, and finally his successor after having been formed, by his able master, to the episcopal ministry and to apostolic virtues.

One of the first acts of the new Archbishop has been to make the pastoral visitation of his diocese, which is very flourishing. His clergy is composed of fifty-two Priests, who having been generally educated by the gentleman of St. Sulpitius, are full of zeal and learning. He then convoked a national council, which met at Baltimore in October last. The Prelates present at the council were Messrs. James Whitfield, archbishop of Baltimore; Benedict Joseph Flaget, Bishop of Bardstown; John England, bishop of Charleston and grand-vicar of East Florida; Edward Fenwick, bishop of Boston. Four bishops of the United States failed to attend the council, namely, M. Henry Conwell, bishop of Philadelphia; M. John Dubois, bishop of New York; M. Michael Portier, bishop of Mobile, and M. John David, bishop of Mauricastro and coadjutor of Bardstown. M. Dubois had embarked for Europe the preceding

*Our republican and biblical simplicity may read with admiration of such distinctions among professed disciples of Him who said, My kingdom is not of this world.