during my wearisome and doubtful voyage, tossed on the boisterous waves, till at length, through Divine mercy, I cast anchor "within the vail.” Thus will I furnish a chart to guide you on a perilous ocean. I shall point out the sunken rocks, the powerful undercurrents, the adverse winds and treacherous calms to which you may be exposed ere you arrive at the haven of rest.

In the course of these remarks, I trust I shall say nothing indicative of unkind feeling towards my Roman Catholic countrymen. I will endeavour to "speak the truth in love." And you can bear me witness that, as far as truth would permit, I have always defended them, and advocated their just claims to equal civil privileges with their Protestant fellow-subjects. Sympathizing in their sufferings, and indignant at their wrongs, I have sometimes, perhaps, incurred suspicion by vindicating them from the aspersions of bigotry and the misrepresentations of ignorance. Proselytes are accused, and sometimes no doubt justly, of assailing with undiscriminating and implacable hatred the communities which they have forsaken. But the man whose arguments are sound and whose motives are pure— who is fortified by truth and armed with a good conscience, can afford to do justice to the most ungenerous adversaries, and, for denunciations

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

5

and railings, to return only supplications and blessings. I have had, like others, my share of obloquy and unjust reproach; but, I thank Him whose spirit, I trust, I have in some small measure imbibed, that I have not often been betrayed into bitterness of invective against those who impugned my motives and aspersed my character. But neither you nor your neighbours are amongst the number. You have known me too long and too well to doubt my integrity. I may have erred in judgment; but you will give me credit when I declare that I have never adopted the opinions of others, or suppressed my own, at the bidding of self-interest or the frown of authority.

Bear with me, then, while I retrace my steps along that perplexed and gloomy path on which for years I wandered and stumbled, until a light from Heaven shone upon my soul, and led me, like the star in the East, to Him, who is "the way, the truth, and the life.”

Yours, &c. &c

LETTER II.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

In writing to you, it is unnecessary to say any thing as to the devotedness of my attachment to the Church of Rome. You are aware of my scrupulous attention to all her requirements, and that my zeal often surpassed the strict letter of her commands. I went to confession for the most part monthly, and in such cases invariably received absolution. Whenever I had occasion to call on a Priest for a testimony to my character, the warmest expressions of esteem and friendship were elicited; and the latest, and one of the strongest of these testimonials, was obtained from the Parish Priest of T- a brother to one of the Bishops. It is not with a view to the gratification of vanity, but the vindication of truth, that I thus refer to my own character; which, so far from being deemed reprehensible in the sight of man, excited among my acquainknowtance universal regard. According to my ledge, indeed, none could be more sincerely religious, or more scrupulously conscientious. At the of twelve years I received communion, having prepared for this important

age

my

first

FIRST COMMUNION.

event by repeated confessions. It was a very solemn service. Three or four hundred children assembled in the parish chapel on the appointed day. The females were all dressed in white, and for the most part wore veils of the same colour; while the boys presented an appearance as neat as possible. Many a lad strutted in shoes and white stockings that day for the first time. But in the midst of the anxiety for external ornament, the state of the conscience was not forgotten. If an idle word had been uttered during the previous afternoon, or a naughty action inadvertently committed, we were ordered to step in to the vestry and tell the Priest before mass, to avoid a sacrilegious communion. I remember that, just as the mass was about to commence, I stepped up on the altar, and, with trembling anxiety, whispered the Priest that I had thoughtlessly said "faith" once since I received absolution :-his gracious nod of remission eased my conscience.

We were arranged in the following order :The girls knelt in rows on the right side of the altar, and the boys on the left. Each communicant held in the right hand a large lighted candle, ornamented with artificial flowers. The chandelier was also on this occasion brilliantly lighted, and the effect was very imposing. Father S

P.P., said mass, and, after the consecration, proceeded to distribute the wafer. I was then so ignorant, that I thought the figure of a lamb, visible on the transparent host elevated by the Priest for our adoration, was impressed by miraculous power; and I dare say there were some present who fancied that the said lamb was really living. As each row received with palpitating hearts what they regarded as the person of Christ, the candles were extinguished, and taken into the vestry for the use of the chapel. When we had received, the Priest delivered an exhortation suited to the occasion; and we departed, deeming ourselves the most innocent and the happiest creatures in the world.

The rite of confirmation, which occurred soon after, was administered with, if possible, still greater solemnity. About 500 children were arranged in the chapel yard to receive the Bishop. Dr. K., like all great men, kept us waiting long beyond the hour appointed. At length his arrival was announced; and, at a signal from the Priest, we all fell prostrate to do him homage, exclaiming, with one voice-" Your blessing, my Lord—your blessing, my Lord!”

The Bishop delivered a short address, and then proceeded to communicate to each of us what our catechism called "the seven gifts of

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