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and considerable learning, who kept a preparatory school for young men destined to the priesthood. Three of his brothers were among the regular clergy, and he was himself educated as a Priest; but having been engaged in a love affair that obtained some notoriety, he was not permitted to enter college, and he betook himself to teaching as a means of living.

Once I heard him allude to this subject: "You know," said he, "that when a boy is set apart for the sacred office, he is a pet with the whole neighbourhood. The embryo Priest is. looked on with reverence already, and is supposed to be invested with some degree of sanctity. He is especially flattered by pious females. His solemn designation to the service of the altar obviates the modest delicacy, and liability to misrepresentation, which, in other cases, influence their conduct. Towards the young "collegian," the current of affection may flow without control, as there is no room to impute a selfish motive. I need not say that the fond familiarity with which he is constantly beset, is peculiarly dangerous. Never does love operate with an influence more fatal to virtue and happiness, than when he borrows the mask of religion. This fact I was doomed to verify in my own experience.

"I loved one every way worthy of my regard. But our dream of happiness was troubled by dark anticipations of the future. We must part! This consideration began daily to throw a darker shade of sadness over all our intercourse, while it bound our hearts still closer together. The religious illusion that had concealed the real nature of our attachment was, in my case, gradually dissipated. "The respectability and influence of the clerical office began to lose their charms in my estimation, and I lamented that celibacy should be the price at which they were procured. The time for going to Maynooth was approaching, and my brother had all matters satisfactorily arranged with the Bishop, for the next vacancy that should occur. My resolution, however, began to fail, and I had serious thoughts of giving up the thing altogether, and this I at length resolved on doing; not, however, without a painful struggle of conscience. Miss S. received the proposal with mingled emotions. The feelings which she had so long endeavoured to disguise, even from herself, she began now to perceive in their true character. But, to be the instrument of inducing a person to renounce the service of the altar, she regarded as a thing so sacrilegious and so infamous, that my offer of marriage filled her mind with

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horror. I saw the tumult of conflicting feelings that agitated her bosom; and my own mind was no less violently exercised by antagonist motives, now heightened to the utmost, and wrought up to the crisis of the struggle. Some days were spent in agonizing deliberation. Resolving and resolving, my heart continued like the pendulum of a clock, to vibrate between Holy orders and matrimony.'

6

"Meantime the circumstances of the case obtained publicity. Certain rash expressions which escaped me in some moment of anguish were reported to the Parish Priest. I soon received a note, signifying that I must dismiss the thought of going to college, for some time; but ordering me to hold myself in readiness, to attend to any future intimation on that subject. Almost immediately after this, Miss S. was, to my utter astonishment, suddenly married to an old farmer in the neighbourhood, of whose mean and selfish habits I often heard her speak with contempt. Attributing to clerical influence this hasty proceeding, so ruinous to the happiness of one whom I felt to be dearer to me than character or life itself, I was filled with indignation and disgust; and, under the influence of those feelings, got married privately, through dint of spite, to a person possessing many amiable qualities, it is

true, but destitute of those higher attributes of talent and sensibility, which had acted with too fatal an influence on my heart.

"On more mature reflection, however, I am inclined to think that Miss S. required no exercise of pastoral authority, to induce her to take the step I have just alluded to. The attraction of wealth exerts a very powerful influence on the female mind, so powerful, indeed, as to overcome the repulsive operations of many things, which would otherwise be quite intolerable. But, besides this, she naturally shrunk from sharing the destiny of one whom she must regard as devoted to disgrace and misery in the present life, and probable perdition in the next. The apostate candidate for the priesthood, is looked on by the Irish peasantry as the most degraded of the children of wretchedness. Their belief on the subject, and the very comparison they employ, may be given in the words of a noble poet :

'They melted like snow in the glance of the Lord!'

It is thought that a curse attends them, and all that concerns them. This conviction prevailing among the people, and operating on the mind of the individual himself, tends naturally to produce the wretchedness in which the characters in ques

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tion are too often involved. Shunned by the respectable portion of society, and regarded with suspicion by all; their energies are relaxed, their hopes are blighted, and they seek in the intoxicating draught a refuge from those corroding cares and dark forebodings, that unnerve the mind and break the heart. Hence it is, that nine out of ten of these unhappy men, become confirmed sots and parish nuisances.

"Two causes," continued my friend, "have contributed to keep me from falling into the slough of despond. I was sustained by the interest of my brothers, who are Priests, and I have had the courage to shake off the yoke of superstition, which is, indeed, a cleaving curse. let it be once removed, and you can laugh at the thunders of the church. Superstition is the conductor of the Papal lightning; it cannot injure him who is clothed in the armour of truth.

But

"Thus have you learned the circumstances that led to my present occupation. I have not the power of converting wafers into God; but I am engaged, Sir, in the very important work of furnishing the rough materials for the fabrication of god-making Priests."

I found my new friend many degrees farther advanced in infidelity than myself. He had acquired a tone of levity on religious subjects,