"the best opinion of him, and the most affectionate disposition in his regard.

"It is pleasing to us to signify these things to you, and by this method, to put you in possession "of the most certain proof of our most honourable "judgment of this most illustrious prelate, and of our good-will towards you.

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"We most highly commend and receive, with pe"culiar gratification, the significations of reverence, "devotion and attachment, to the chair of Saint "Peter, and to ourselves, who, though unworthy, are "seated in it, which your letter, replete with affec❝tion and duty, most clearly expresses: and answering it, with equal affection and duty, on our part, "we most cordially impart to you all, agreeably to "your earnest requests, our apostolic benediction. "Given at Rome, at Saint Mary Major,

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30th August 1817, the eighteenth year "of our pontificate.

"Pius P. P. VII."

XCVII. 2.

Religious Establishments made by the English Catholics in Foreign Countries.

THE mention of the hierarchy of the English catholic church naturally leads to a consideration of their institutions for education.-It has been stated, in a former part of this work, that, in consequence of the Reformation and the penal enactments, which followed it, the catholics established colleges, and religious communities in different parts of the continent. The summary view of these, given in “A short "Chronological Account of the Religious Establish"ments, made by English Catholics on the Continent of

Europe, by the Abbé Mann, in the 13th volume of the Archæologia," is inserted in the Appendix to the first volume of these memoirs.

The principal establishments for the education of youth, were the college of secular clergy at Douay, and the colleges of the Jesuits at St. Omer and Liege. At Douay, the studies of humanity, of philosophy, and theology; at St. Omers, the studies of humanity; at Liege, the studies of philosophy and theology were cultivated:- and in all were cultivated with success. How deeply the students were instructed in religion is evident from the circumstance, that, during the era of the English persecution, the single college of Douay sent to England, one hundred and twenty priests, who suffered death for their religion.

The education at the colleges, we have mentioned, was very good. "It must be confessed," says, Dr. Pattenson*, "that there be many excellent wits, and "men of great learning, bred in the colleges of Eng"land; yet, this I may truly say, that those beyond "the sea are of no base quality; neither is their edu"cation, in those places, such, as should render them "liable to that character, in time to come. Yea rather, -they are so orderly governed, and their times "of study, devotion, exercise, both scholastical and "spiritual, recreation,-yea even of their most necessary repast and rest,—are all so exactly measured "out to them,-all occasions of idleness, excess and "ill company, so prudently and carefully prevented, "that it is no wonder they appear so civil, so devout,

so religious, temperate, sober, and well-governed, in "outward deportment, as, through the grace of God, they do. They are, as I said, by their superiors,

"strictly kept to their tasks; yet rather won, than "forced into them. They are bridled with a hard bit, "but it is carried with such a gentle hand, as it does "not pinch, but guide them; so that, as their studies, "-blessed be God!--are not altogether unhappy,

so neither, is their life unpleasant; but sweet, agree"able to virtuous minds, and full of the noblest " contents."

In a former part of the work we have inserted the edifying accounts given of these establishments by Dr. Allen and father Persons.

XCVII. 3.

The Charitable Establishments of the English Catholics for the Education of the Poor.

THESE should not be altogether passed in silence. They are numerous, and excellently conducted. They are under the direction of the clergy. In their direction of them, the clergy are generally assisted by several persons, in the middle classes of life, whose meritorious exertions, in these concerns, no pen can adequately celebrate.

Here,—the writer speaks from his own observation: -Numerous are the persons of this description, whose first and latest thought is, how they can best promote the glory of God, and the welfare of their neighbour; how they can best procure raiment for the naked, food for the hungry, instruction and employment for the young, comfort for the aged, and the last blessings of religion for the dying. On the great day of retribution, nothing of what we have described will be forgotten by Him, who will then remember, even a cup of water, given in his name: in the mean time, they wade through a thousand wearisome details, submit to a

thousand rebuffs, and undergo a thousand mortifications. The great but obscure merit of these invaluable individuals, was observed and felt by the sublime Bossuet. "Poor suffering martyrs," exclaims that eminent light of the church of God,-" persist in suffering your lowly martyrdom, without murmur

ing; and sincerely loving those, who make you "suffer!-This was one of the distinctive marks of "Jesus Christ, and you have the honour of bearing "it. For whom I am writing this, I do not know; I "have no man particularly in view, I know there are many such. Dear to them indeed should be their "humiliations, whatever they are, and whoever "occasions them*."

It is pleasing to add, that their exertions are happily seconded by the noble and the wealthy among their brethren. Considering the great pressure of the demands of the state on the landed property of the catholic nobility and gentry; that they bear, in common with their countrymen, all the burthens of the state, and are excluded from every channel, through which, under the various denominations of places, pensions and salaries, a great part, of what is taken from individuals, is returned to them;-that they are deprived of many methods of providing for their younger children, and that, in addition to the support of the national clergy, the support of their own pastors falls heavily upon them,-still, their public and private munificence is great, on every occasion equalling, and often exceeding the most sanguine expectation.

The French Revolution restored the members of the foreign schools of the English catholics to their native country. For the kindness with which they

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were received, and with which they have since been unceasingly treated, they have every reason to be,and they are, truly grateful. Three colleges,-one at Old-hall Green near Puckeridge, one at Ushaw near Durham, and one at Oscot near Birmingham, are under the immediate direction of the prelates, within whose jurisdictions they lie: the college at Stonyhurst, near Blackburne, is a filiation from the college of the English ex-jesuits at Liege, at the time of the commencement of the French Revolution..

That deplorable event sent also several communities of English nuns into this country. To these, the incomparable kindness of this country has equally extended its protection. The edifying regularity of their lives, and the prudence of their conduct, are universally acknowledged. If, among his intelligent countrymen, there be one, who thinks of them slightingly or unkindly,-all the writer requests of him is, to be permitted to attend him to the spot,—to place him, in the chapel, the study, the refectory, or the garden,—and to whisper in his ear, in words like those graven on the tomb of sir Christopher Wren, in St. Paul's church,

Quales sunt, circumspice".

CHAP. XCVIII.

OUTLINE OF THE LITERARY HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH CATHOLICS SINCE THE REFORMATION.

We shall close these pages with an attempt to present the reader with an outline of the literary history • The words on the monument of Sir Christopher Wren,—the architect of that noble pile,-are,

Si quæres monumentum, circumspice.