Sketches of the life, times and character of the Rt. Rev. Benedict Joseph Flaget, First Bishop of Louisville

Front matter

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- r^EZ LEV

M^i.

Preface

If our early missionaries labored much, they wrote but little. Their time was too much occupied in the discharge of severe ministerial duties, to allow them much leisure for recording their proceedings. Hence, our early religious history is involved in no little obscurity ; and the inquirer, who wishes to tracv the origin and progress of our various missions, has to contend with many difficulties. Among these, the principal is the paucity of well ascertained facts and dates. Materials there are, indeed, here and there in abundance ; but they are scattered, unconnected, often vague in their accounts, and, still more frequently, merely local, personal, or otherwise unimportant in their details.

A heavy labor is thus imposed on the historian, who wishes to analyze and condense these documents, to reconcile their various statements, and reduce them to order ; and, above all, to extract from them what is most useful and interesting. Sometimes, when he fancies that he is about to attain his end, by falling on a hidden treasure, his joy is suddenly changed to disappointment, on discovering that some important links are wanting in the narrative, which he has no clue for finding.

VI. PREFACE.

Yet the annals of our Church should be written some dav or another; and the longer the work will be delayed, the more difficult will it become. Alread}7 all of our first Bishops, and all of our earliest missionary priests, — with a single exception. — have descended to the tomb. In this condition of things, the time seems opportune, for *' gathering up the fragments, lest they be lost."

This is what has been attempted, to a certain extent, for our Western missions, in the following Sketches. Besides being a willing labor of filial piety, they are intended, — not, indeed, fullv to meet a want which has been long felt, — but to make an essay in that direction. The life of Bishop Flaget is identified with the early history of the Catholic Church in the West and South, for a period of more than forty years. The first Bishop who came to the West, he labored here for several years alone; and he lived to see eh >•■ n rn w Dioceses — including an Apostolic Vicariate — springing up within the limits of the vast territory, either comprised in his original Diocese, or placed for some time under his episcopal supervision. Two of these became, before his death, archbishoprics ; nor was he at all displeased. to behold the glory of the mother-see thus paling before that of her younger, but more favored daughters.

The principal sources, from which the facts contained in the following pages have been drawn, are the following :

P JK E F A C E . VII.

1. The personal Reminiscences of the prelate himself. These regard chiefly the earlier portion of his life, up to the time of his consecration. During his latter years, he frequently in conversation recurred to this period, of which his recollections were distinct and vivid, in every thing except dates. Copious notes of these conversations were taken clown at the time, without his knowledge, by his private Secretary, Rev. P. J. Lavialle ; and the author has availed himself of the incidents and details contained therein.

2. His own manuscript Journal, commenced in 1812, and continued till 1834 ; with an additional separate account of his visit to Rome in 1836. This Journal, though it deals in general with local details and accounts of personal movements, contains many interesting incidents and important facts ; but it is chiefly valuable, as fixing the dates of several occurrences, oth. erwise involved in doubt. It is written in French, in a pleasing and animated style ; and it abounds in pious remarks and reflections, which, of course, were not intended for publication.

3. His extensive and voluminous Correspondence; containing chiefly the Letters written to him by different persons in Europe and America, with a few copies of important ones, written by himself to Rome, and to some distinguished personages. Nearly three thousand of these Letters have been examined. Every one acquainted with such researches, will understand how difficult and laborious is the process of gleaning a few

importaut facts from a huge mass of correspondence, running through more than forty years, most of which is taken up with details of merely transient interest. Yet, with the valuable assistance and patient labor of the Rev. C. J. Boeswald, the author has been enabled to gather from this correspondence several facts of sufficient interest to deserve preservation. To the same ecclesiastic he is also indebted for an able analysis of the Bishop's Journal, composed of thirty-four small manuscript volumes.

4. The French Life of the holy prelate, written by the Abbe Desgeorge, his traveling companion during his last visit to Europe. This wrork, though beautifully written, is necessarily meagre, and occasionally inexact in what regards some minor details of the Bishop's life and administration in America. The accomplished writer made the most, however, of the scanty materials he had at hand ; and his work has been found valuable, chiefly as containing copious extracts from letters written by the prelate to members of his family, and to other persons in France. Appended to these Sketches will be found a translation from the Second Part of the French Life, devoted to a portraiture of the spirit and virtues of the Bishop ; — those portions only having been selected lor republication, which contained interesting incidents and anecdotes of his foreign travel, or a striking estimate of his character, founded on an intimate acquaintance with him for eighteen months.

PREFACE. IX.

5. The author has also to return his thanks to the Archbishops of Baltimore, St. Louis, Cincinnati, and New Orleans, and to the Bishop of Pittsburgh, for the communication of documents or valuable information on the early history of their respective Dioceses. The details regarding the early religious history of Vincennes were kindly furnished, from the ancient parish Registers, by the Rev. E. Audran, Pastor of the Cathedral of St. Francis Xavier ; while for the facts connected with the early missions lying along the borders of the Mississippi, the author has derived valuable assistance from the researches of the Rev. Edmond Saulnier, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

It is a task of some difficulty, and of no little delicacy, to treat properly of persons and events so near our own times ; and it is quite possible, that the author of these imperfect Sketches has often said either too much or too little ; and that, in such a multiplicity of details, he has fallen into some inaccuracies. The only merit he can claim, is to have bestowed some labor on supplying an acknowledged want; and if his attempt should have the effect of stimulating some one better qualified and gifted with more leisure, to devote himself more successfully to the work of rescuing our early religious history from obscurity, his humble efforts will not have been made wholly in vain.

Louisville, Ky. \ Easter Monday, 1852A

C O.N LENTS.

PAGES.

DEDICATION, . iii.

PREFACE, v-x.

Chapter I

HIS CHILDHOOD, YOUTH, ORDINATION, AND FIRST YEARS OF PRIESTHOOD. 1763—1792, .... 17-26

His Birth — Parentage — Brothers and Aunt — Words of his dying Mother — Love for Orphans — Incident of Childhood — Presentiment— Vocation to the Ministry — Confirmation — Bishop De Bonald — He joins the Sulpicians — Solitude of Issy — He is at Nantes, and at Angers — French Revolution — His calmness amidst its Horrors — Retirement at Billom.

CHAPTER II. THE YEARS OF HIS PRIESTHOOD IN AMERICA— At

French revolution — Exiled French clergy in England and America— Monsieur Flaget sails for America — Sent to Vincennes — Delay in Pittsburgh — General Wayne — Incidents — Journey to Louisville and Vincennes — State of Religion there — His labors — Small-pox. — Improvements in agriculture and manufactures — Early religious history of Vincennes — He is recalled to Baltimore— Goes by New Orleans — Arrival in Baltimore.

CHAPTER III. THE YEARS OF HIS PRIESTHOOD IN AMERICA— At

Georgetown — in Havana — At Baltimore. 1796 — 1808, 47-57

College at Georgetown — College Life — George Washington — M. Flaget is sent to Havana — -Difficulties — Yellow Fever — A Foster Mother — M. Calvo — Obstacles removed — Great rejoicing — Remains in Havana — Louis Philippe — Contemplates a Foreign Tour — Returns to Baltimore — College duties — Attends convicts— Distress about friends — The higher ways of perfection — Wishes to become a Trappist.

Xn. CONTENTS.

Chapter IV. He Is Appointed Bishop Of Bardstown. 1808

1811, 58-96

Increase of Catholics — Bishop Carroll — New Sees — Four new Bishops appointed — M. Flaget named Bishop of Bardstown — He refuses — Interview with Bishop Carroll — Correspondence — Goes to Fraii'- — -M. Emery — Obliged to accept — Singular present — Embarks for America — Incident on voyage — Consecrated — Apostolical poverty — Sets out for his Diocese — Journey from Louisville to Bardstown — Ceremonial of his Inauguration at St. Stephen's — Early Missions of Kentucky recapitulated.

Chapter V

FIRST THREE YEARS OF HIS EPISCOPACY— JOUR- NEY TO BALTIMORE. 1811—1814.. 97-114

Extent of his Diocese — Fewness of priests — First priest ordained in the West — Statistic. — His episcopal palace — Retreats and clerical conferences — Subjects of uneasiness — Resources for comfort and strength — His seminary — Father David — Zeal of seminarians— Thomas Howard — Prospects of the seminary — Severe missionary labors — Visitations and privations — Journey to Baltimore — Visits the Northern portion of his Dioces* — And passes through Ohio — Incidents of travel — His impression of Baltimore— Returns.

Chapter VI

JOURNEY TO VINCENNES AND ST. LOUIS— MISSION- ARY DUTIES. 1814—1816, 115-147

Petition from Catholics of Vincennes — Governor Harrison — Spiritual destitution — Religious history of Vincennes from 1795 to 1814 — M. Rivet — Indian missions — The pro;; lug chief- — M. Olivier— Early history of Kaskaskias and other French settlements— Succession of priests therein — Bishop Flaget visits Vincennes— Cahokias — St. Louis — Florissant — St. Charles — Kaskaskias— St. Genevieve — And Prairie du Rocher — Sets out on his return — Again in Vincennes — Painful rumor and ludicrous incident— Returns to Kentucky — Severe missionary labor. — M. Nerinckx departs for Europe — An inward voice — Discussion with nreacher Tapscott — Two tributes to Archbishop Carroll.

CHAPTER VII. DIOCESE OF NEW ORLEANS— BISHOP FLAGETs

TWO JOURNEYS TO ST. LOUIS. 1M7— LSI*, . 148-176

Early missionaries in the South — De Soto's expedition — The battle of Mavilla — The "dry Mass*' — France and Spain — Founding of

CONTENTS. XIII.

New Orleans — One of the first martyrs— Jesuit missions among the Yazoos, Arkansas, Alihamons, and Choctaws — The Post of Arkansas — Massacre by the Natchez — Death of missionaries — Thrilling adventures and narrow escape — The fate of the Natchez— Ursuline nuns in New Orleans — Orphans — Hospital — Indian chief's opinion of the nuns — Results of the missions — See of New Orleans — Its first Bishop — The second Bishop — History of the see — M. Dubourg appointed administrator — Religious Statistics of Louisiana — Proposed new see at St. Louis, and translation of Bishop Flaget — How the plan was delayed — Bishop Flaget's second journey to St. Louis — Preparing the way — Success— Liberal donation — A curious scene — Disagreeable travel — Adanseuse — Arrival of Bishop Dubourg — Joyful meeting — The steamboat Piqua — A Noah's ark— Solemn installation of Bishop Dubourg — Return to Kentucky.

Chapter VIII. Journey To The Lakes And To Canada. 1818— 1819, 177-205

Bishop Dubourg's kindness — Early religious history of Canada — A golden maxim — The first missionary — First martyrs — The apostle of the Hurons — Glance at the Jesuit missions of the North — Trouble in Detroit — The Bishop departs — Journey through Ohio — Indians — River Raisin — Detroit— Governor Cass and General Macomb — A solemn reconciliation — Falls of Niagara— Montreal— Quebec— The village of the Algonquins — The great Indian treaty of St. Mary's— Colonel Johnson— The Bishop sick with fever — Missionary labors at Detroit and river Raisin — Returns homeward — Swearing boatmen — Pittsburgh — Its early religious history — Cincinnati — Early missions of Ohio — Reception at home.

Chapter IX

COADJUTOR— CATHEDRAL— SEMINARY— CONSECRA- TION OF BISHOP FENAVICK. 1819—1822, . . 206—231

Scruples of conscience — How solved — Father David — His character—Presented for the bishopric of Philadelphia — Escapes the nomination — Appointed Coadjutor — His objections to accepting— The Cathedral — Laying corner-stone, and solemn dedication— Consecration of Bishop David — The seminary removed — Impressions of a clerical traveler — Arrival of a Propagandist — Correspondence concerning Bishops for Cincinnati and Detroit — Father Fenwick appointed Bishop of Cincinnati, and consecra-

XIV. CONTENTS.

ted — llis labors in Ohio Messed — Condition of his Diocese — Jlizeal, and death — Bishop Flaget's love for his priests — Rev. Mr. A hell— Rev. M. Hosten— Rev. M. Derigaud.

Chapter X. Visitations— Administration— New Bishoprics

1819^-1826, 232—255

Pastoral solicitude — In ccelo quies — Journey to Yincennes-^- Amusing incident — Visit to Tennessee- — Religious statistics — Preacher Yardiman — Protestant liberality — Dressing a preacher — Another journey to Yincennes— Administration — Clerical retreats and conferences — Loving the laws of the Church — Matrimonial dispensations — Public penance — Two anecdotes — Reconciling enmities — Management of temporals — Two visits by Bishop Dubourg — Correspondence on new bishopries- — At St. Louis and Pittsburgh — Dr. Gallitzin — New Archbishopric in the West — Bishops of Boston and of New Yor — kBishop Dubourg leaves America — His character— The Propagation of the Faith — • Inijlesi.

CHAPTER XL

THE JUBILEE OF 1825-7— THE CHOLERA— NEW CO- ADJUTOR. 1826—1834, 256-285

Why this Jubilee was solemn — Conferences — Discomfiture of Sneed — Effects of Jubilee — Bishop Flaget consecrates Archbish- Whitfield, and goes to the first Provincial Council — His meeting with Bishop England — Charles Carroll of Carrolton — The Bishop in Court — His speech on the occasion — Offers his resignation — Consecration of Bishop Kenrick — Bishop England in Kentucky — Bishop Flaget's eloquence — He is sad — How consoled — Arrival of the Jesuits — Meets Bishop Rosati at Yincennes — Goes to St. Louis — His resignation accepted — Excitement in Kentucky — He is reinstated — The Cholera — His devotedness — He is seized with the malady — His new Coadjutor consecrated — Consecration of Bishops Purcell, Rese, Brute, Miles, and De Neckere — Anecdote of Bishop England.

Chapter XII. His Religious And Charitable Establish- Ments. 1812—1835, 286-304

The tree and its fruits — A rapid sketch — Dominican convent — And college of St. Thomas Aquinas — The Sisters of St. Dominic — Loretto Society — Its statistics — The Bishop's testimony — Sis-

CONTENTS. XV.

terhood of Charity — Its origin, objects, and subsequent condition — A consoling feature— The Brotherhood— Mount Casino- Bishop Flaget's anticipations— How frustrated— The election of a Guardian — Schools to be every where established — Letter from the Propaganda — Remarks on Christian education — St. Joseph's College— Its rise and history— The Rev. G. A. M. Elder— St. Mary's College— The Rev. fm. Byrne— The theological and the preparatory Seminary — A forged Letter— Statistics of the Diocesan establishments in 1825 — Recapitulation — Consolation at the hour of death.

Chapter XIII. His Journey To Europe And Return. 1835

1839> 305-328

Journey to Europe long contemplated— Gallicanism — Ruse of Bishop David — Taking French leave, and sailing for Europe — He is at Nantes and Angers— Visits Rome— Affecting interview with Gregory XVI. — Is charged with a mission in Franca — Visits the Austrian Emperor and Metternich — Family of Charles X. —Louis Philippe — Travels in France and Sardinia — Charles Albert — Duke de Montmorency — Count de Maistre — Makes the tour of forty-six French Dioceses — Reputation for sanctity — Wonderful cures — Documentary evidence — Fruits of his labors — Consults the Pontiff— The answer of Rome— Resolves to re turn — Bids a final adieu to France— Goes to die "among his own."

Chapter XIV. The Last Years Of His Episcopacy. 1839— 1849> 329-346

He makes the tour of his establishments, and visits his Diocese — Travels six hundred miles on horseback — How he spent his intervals of leisure— Anecdote of Bishop David— The death of the latter— His character— Translation of the see to Louisville- Reasons for and against the change— He regrets to leave Bardstown— Arrival of Sisters of the Good Shepherd— How this colonv was obtained— Nature and objects of the Institute— Health of his Coadjutor impaired — The Coadjutor visits France, and resigns—His present retreat— The Bishop left desolate— The third Coadjutor is consecrated— The Nunc Dimittis— -The Jesuits reenter the Diocese, and take St. Joseph's college — New college in Louisville— Arrival of the Trappists— Character of their institution— Corner-stone of the new Cathedral laid.

XVI. CONTENTS.

Chapter XV. His Death And Character, 347-364

Finishing his course — The day of eternity — The setting sun — His preparation for death — An incident — His estimate of life — Failing of faculties — What privation gave hi^m most concern — Vertigo— The Head of Christ — Forgetting every thing — His favorite expressions and ejaculations — Symptoms of approaching death — He receives the last sacraments — Affecting scene — He "sleeps in the Lord" — His funeral — Description of an eye-witness — Brief sketch of his character — The book of nature — Parable of the hen and chickens — Conclusion.

Appendix

THE CHARACTER AND SPIRIT OF BISHOP FLAGET. Th^anslation, 367-405

I. His Spirit of Prayer, 367

II. His Habitual Peace of Mind, 373

III. His Humility, 377

IV. The Manner in which he received the Honors paid him, 380 V. His Kindness and Gentleness, 384

VI. His Firmness, 387

VII. His Conformity to the Will of God, 390

VIII. His Filial Obedience to the Sovereign Pontiff, . . . .394

IX. His Mortification, 397

X. His Patience in the time of Sickness, 400

XI. His Love for his Diocese, 402

XII. Postcript, 406

SKETCHES

OF THE

LIFE, TIMES AND CHARACTER

OP

BISHOP FLAGET,

Chapter I. His Childhood, Youth, Ordination, And First Years Of

PRIESTHOOD.

176 3 — 17 9 2.

His Birth — Parentage — Brothers and Aunt — Words of his dying Mother — Love for Orphans — Incident of Childhood — Presentiment— Vocation to the Ministry — Confirmation — Bishop De Bonald— Hu joins the Sulpicians— Solitude of Issy — He is at Nantes, and at Angers — French Revolution — His cahnnesB amidst its Horrors — Retirement at Billom.

One of the most striking evidences going to prove the divine origin and character of the Catholic Church is founded on the fact, that, in every age of her eventful history, God has been pleased to raise up men, who were indued with the Spirit which animated the first Apostles, and who brought forth similar fruits of holiness. Looking over the pages of ecclesiastical history, we cannot fail to remark constant and palpable proofs of this ever watchful Providence, directing all things strongly, yet sweetly, to the great purpose for which Christ died on the cross, — the salvation of men. New confessors of the faith, new doctors, and new apostles spring up at the very periods, when their respective services are most required by the emergency ; — ■ whether for the strengthening of the faithful, the confutation of innovators and infidels, or the bringing of new sheep into the One Sheepfold of the One Shepherd.

Among the apostolic men whom God has raised up during these latter times, few have been more distinguished for virtue, long continued labors for the glory of God, and usefulness to the Church of Christ, than the subject of these Sketches. He shines forth conspicuous among the band of devoted missionaries, who have "spent and been spent," in laying the foundations of the Catholic Church in North America.

Bishop Flaget was born on the night of November 7, 1763, in the small town of Contournat, lying in the commune of St. Julien, not far from Billom, in Auvergne, France. His parents were honest cultivators of the soilin humble circumstances, but of respectable family, and distinguished for their sincere and unaffected piety. His father died before his birth, and his bereaved mother was sustained in her heavf affliction by a strong faith in God's holy providence. At the birth of her son, some one present having exclaimed, that " he was a child of benediction" he was called Benedict,* — a name not uncommon in the family.

* " Monseigneur Flaget, eveque de Bardstown et Louisville; — sa Vie, son Esprit, et ses Vertus: par le pretre qui accompagnait le Prelat pendant les voyages qu'il fit en Europe pour l'oeuvre de la Propagation de la Foi. A Paris. 1851/' — p. 4. The name which

His father had been twice married; two daughters had been born to him in the first, and three sons in the second marriage. Of the latter, our Benedict was the youngest. His two elder brothers lived, like himself, to a very advanced age. The oldest became a priest, was a confessor of the faith during the stormy times of the French revolution, and died parish priest of Billom, — which office he filled during the last twenty years of his life, — at the age of eighty-four, universally esteemed and beloved. The second became a notary public ; and, after having amassed a considerable fortune, died in his eighty-eighth year. The youngest was destined to become an apostle in a far distant land.

When the little Benedict was but two years old,* his pious mother departed this life. While on her death bed, an aunt of her children stood by, bathed in tears ; and, holding the youngest in her arms, she lamented that one so tender was so soon to be left a desolate orphan. The mother, raising her eyes to heaven, and pouring forth a fervent prayer, calmly exclaimed: "Be not solicitous ; God will take care of the child ! "f She

the child bore in the Patois of the country was Benuet — a corruption of the French Benoit.

In quoting this work hereafter, we shall simply refer to it as the ' 'French Life."

* Reminiscences of his own Life, by Bishop Flaget; written down, as he narrated the facts, by his secretary, Rev. P. J. Lavialle. The author of the French Life says, that he was in his fourth year at his mother's death. We follow the account of the sainted Bishop himself, whose recollections of the earlier period of his life were distinct and vivid. Unless where another source is indicated, most of the incidents in his youth are taken from these "Reminiscences."

f Reminiscences, &c.

*oon afterwards tranquilly breathed her last ; and God heard her prayer !

The faithful aunt now became the mother of the young orphans ; and she devoted the remainder of her life to rearing them up in the love and fear of God. In this she was assisted by a brother of the deceased father, the Abbe Benedict Flaget, canon of the collegiate church of Billom.* He received the aunt and her adopted children into his house, and lent efficient aid in raising and educating them ; — with what success, their subsequent lives clearly proved.

Having thus become an orphan himself at so early a period of his life, the subject of these Sketches ever afterwards cherished sentiments of the most livelv sympathy for those left by Providence in a similar condition. It was the object dearest to his heart to provide for their temporal and spiritual comfort. He often spoke most feelingly on the subject, in the latter years of his life ; and nothing was more grateful to his feelings, than to see assembled around him those little ones, for whom he had been able to provide a shelter in establishments erected under his auspices.

He never forgot the good aunt, who had taken the place of his mother. In a letter to one of his brothers, written nine years after his arrival in America, he speaks of her in the following terms:

" My heart bounds at the very remembrance of my aunt. If she be yet living, — and I hope that God has preserved her life till now, — I cast myself on her neck, I water it with my tears ; words fail me to express to her my gratitude. * * The idea that she is with

* French Life — p. 4.

CHAKACTEE OF BISHOP FLAGET. 21

you and your virtuous wife, assures me as to her wellbeing. * * * Now that the Americans have free intercourse with the French, please see some banker at Clermont, who has business transactions with a merchant at Bordeaux or Havre, in order that I may be able to contribute something to the comfort of this good aunt. I would despoil myself to clothe her, I would deprive myself of nourishment to feed her ; and I would thus be doing only what she has done a thousand times for me. I think I do not natter myself on this point ; my heart is not ungrateful ; it seeks but the occasion to manifest its gratitude."*

From the reminiscences of the Prelate in his old age, it would appear that this aunt had not spoiled him by over indulgence. She often corrected the waywardness of his childhood; and she was very strict, and sometimes even rigid in her discipline. She was always kind; but, at the same time, she exacted the most punctual obedience to her commands.

On one occasion, when he had left the house without her permission, and had thereby caused her much solicitude for his safety, she sent him supperless to bed, and in a dark room. The afflicted child, while sobbing in his little apartment, fancied that he beheld an apparition of his deceased mother, who, with a calm, but sorrowful countenance, bade him be of good cheer. The aunt, alarmed by his outcry, soon came to his relief; and on hearing his account of the apparition, she relented, took him kindly in her arms, and remitted his punishment. He remembered, also, that she took

* Letter, May 18, 180L French Life— pp, 8, 9.

care to have the holy sacrifice offered up for the repose of his mothers soul.

At a verv early age, the young Benedict was sent to the college of Billom. At the age of seven, he was already so far advanced as to be placed in the grammar class. In this college he continued his studies until he had completed his classical course.

During his childhood, he seems to have had some presentiment of the life to which God afterwards called him; for he was often heard to say, that "he would go far, very far from home, and that they would see him no more."*

Having conceived, from his most tender years, an ardent wish to devote himself to the service of God in the holy ministry, and having taken all the precautions, dictated by Christian prudence, to be enabled to decide wisely in a matter of so much importance, he at length determined to embrace the ecclesiastical state. In order to enjoy greater facilities for pursuing the course of studies required for this sublime vocation, at the age of about seventeen he was sent to the episcopal city of Clermont. Here he made his course of philosophy, and attended the class of theology for two years, in the university ; boarding, in the meantime, with two young men of wealth, towards whom he discharged the office of private tutor, in consideration of their defraying his expenses.

It was here, also, that he had the happiness of receiving the sacrament of confirmation from the hands of Monseigneur De Bonald, Bishop of Clermont, whose age and infirmities had not permitted him to visit

* French Life — p. 5.

Billom. He was, at the time, in his eighteenth yearr Having long cherished a tender devotion towards St. Joseph, the special patron of youth, and especially of orphans, he took his name in confirmation. He received the sacrament with sentiments of the most lively faith, and with those emotions of tender piety for which he was always distinguished. He was thereby greatly strengthened in his purpose of devoting his whole life to the service of God and the salvation of his neighbor. The Sulpicians, so celebrated for their ability in training up youth for the ecclesiastical state, were then conducting in Clermont a seminary for the higher clerical studies. The young candidate for the ministry was forcibly struck by the learning, piety, and strict observance of this body of priests; and he determined to place himself under their direction. He accordingly entered their seminary, having obtained a free scholarship established by Bishop De Bonald.*

* He subsequently returned thanks .for this favor, in a graceful letter written tc the famous philosopher De Bonald, Peer of France, the Bishop's relative, who had presented him with a copy of his works: "Through the aid of the burses established at the Seminary of Clermont by Monseigneur De Bonald, one of which I obtained after the requisite examination, I made my seminary course under -the eyes of that illustrious prelate. It was he who initiated me into the sanctuary; from him I received sub-deaconship ; and by his permission I entered the Society of the Sulpicians. Finally, in .1792, the time at which Monsieur Emery charged me with the mission to the United States, I had the unspeakable pleasure of receiving at Paris the blessing of that holy and wise prelate ; who folding me in his arms, conjured me, in presence of heaven, to go as an apostle to the country to which I had been called ; in order to establish therein that faith, which was tottering, or rather seemed lost, in sFrance. These words sank deeply into my heart; and I have never forgotten them."— Letter, May 19, 1829.