THE TWO CONVERTS.

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Soon after, a sum of money was procured by the clergyman just mentioned, with a view to send him out to America. He received it with warm professions of gratitude and penitence. But when it was thought that he was on his way to the Western world, he was found one night in the street in a state of intoxication, and not in the most reputable company. Like another SAVAGE or DERMODY, he buried himself in some haunt of vice till his money was all squandered, and then he emerged into the light of day, feeble and squalid. Behold the protégé of Dr. the favoured alumnus of college! From a being so depraved and so wretched, let us turn to one who was his fellow-student in that institution. Mr. pectable farmer in -who spent more than four years in this college, passing through a course of preparation for the Priesthood. But while he sat under the divinity lectures, he began to imbibe doubts of the truth of his religion. These doubts were shared by others, who would have been glad of some means of honourable retreat from their prison. Our young friend obtained leave of absence to visit his parents, whose anger and sorrow knew no bounds when he informed them firmly that he would not return to college again, and was de

is the son of a res

termined never to enter the priesthood. Finding the feelings of his relatives so greatly excited, and seeing that he was hourly assailed with importunities and threats, he left abruptly the paternal roof, and proceeded to London, where he had a wealthy uncle retired from business. The latter received him with great cordiality, thinking that he was already in holy orders. But when informed of his mistake, and of his nephew's determination to abandon the priesthood altogether, his manner became suddenly cold and repulsive, and, without offering the slightest assistance, he bowed him out of the

room.

This resource failing, and his scanty means exhausted, he returned to Dublin, and found himself in the streets of this great metropolis

without a shilling in his pocket.

he do?

What could

There were

Where was he to turn? Priests in town who knew him well, and would have hailed his return to the church with delight, but he carefully shunned them-he was prepared to suffer for conscience' sake.

In this state of extreme destitution, he providentially met in the street the unhappy creature whose weather-cock movements I have described above. After exchanging their congratulations and reminiscences, they proceeded

THE TWO CONVERTS.

to the house of the Rev. Mr.

"

139

a gentleman who has done more, in the true spirit of Christian zeal, to assist converts from Romanism, than any other man in Ireland, though deriving scarcely any emolument from the church. With a nobleness of mind, and a delicacy of sentiment very rarely exhibited, he respects the lacerated feelings of those much-tried individuals, and endeavours so to minister to their necessities, as to leave inviolate

"The glorious privilege of being independent.”

It was he first noticed and fostered the talent of one of these converts a gentleman who has since distinguished himself as one of the ablest writers his country ever produced; whose portraitures of Irish character are unrivalled, except by the inimitable "Sketches" of the generous friend, by whom he was taught to chisel into symmetry, and polish into beauty, the first rude but vigorous essays of his own genius.

The writer of these pages is also much, very much indebted to the same excellent clergyman; but he may not touch farther on this grateful theme, lest he should dwell on it too long.

Mr.

Let us return to the fugitive collegian.received him with his usual kindness, and finding on inquiry that all his statements

were strictly correct—that his character was unimpeachable that he was talented, and every way respectable-he felt towards him an unusual interest. Anxious as well for his spiritual as his temporal advantage, he sent for me, and having introduced us, requested that I might give him as much of my company as possible, in order more fully to instruct him in the way of salvation. I had, therefore, abundant opportunities of knowing him intimately; and I can confidently affirm, that a young man less contaminated by the world, more pure in feeling or upright in principle, I never knew. When passing through — about this time, I visited the college. After some conversation with one of the Professors, now a Bishop, I was conducted through the establishment by one of the senior students. I mentioned the name of my friend, and learned that my guide had been his classfellow. He spoke highly of his character and attainments, and lamented what he called his melancholy aberration from the path of truth, which he accounted for by his superficial acquaintance with the principles of religion. Less than this could not be said in such a quarter.

Now here was a real acquisition to the Protestant cause. How eagerly would the Roman Catholics have received such a person! He

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141

would have sat at the Bishop's table; he would have been honoured and applauded, and put prominently forward to battle in the cause of the Papacy, while fresh laurels would adorn his brow after every contest. But how was he actually treated by the Protestant party? Oh, what a melancholy contrast! After weeks and months of the most agonizing suspense after having his feeling of independence wounded almost beyond endurance, notwithstanding the studious delicacy of his benefactor-he obtained, with much difficulty, some trifling tuitions. He lived for eight or nine months at the table of this clergyman, whose earnest exertions failed to enlist the sympathies of bishops or dignitaries in his favour. The Established Church had no room for him: there was no opening, no school of theology, no situation, no religious employment for any but the legal clergy. Thus the want of adaptation to the circumstances of the times-the unwieldiness of her machinery-the necessity of receiving and retaining agencies that are feeble, and of excluding those which are vigorous and effective, whose forces are thereby thrown off, and left to work in other systems;— this is one of the chief sources of weakness to the Episcopal body in this country. My young.