assured will accept, if appointed. This is what I had expected from a clergy whom I know so intimately, and between whom and its bishop there exists such reciprocal confidence and such mutual esteem and affection. I can assure you, from my complete knowledge of the individual alluded to, should he arrive amongst you and occupy the station which he is likely to fill, you will find in him a prelate devoted to his duty and fully meriting your confidence, your affection and your esteem.

During my absence I have not been negligent of the concerns of this diocess. I have endeavoured to interest in its behalf several eminent and dignified personages whom I had the good fortune to meet; and have continued to impress with a conviction of the propriety of continuing their generous aid, the administrations of those societies from which it has previously received valuable succour. In Paris and at Lyons I have conversed with those excellent men who manage the affairs of the Association for Propagating the Faith. This year their grant to this diocess has been larger than usual. I have also had opportunities of communication with some of the council which administers the Austrian Association; they continue to feel an interest in our concerns. The Propaganda in Rome though greatly embarrassed, owing to the former plunder of its funds by rapacious infidels, has this year contributed to our extraordinary expenditure; as has the holy father himself, in the kindest manner, from the scanty stock which constitutes his private allowance; but which he economises to the utmost, for the purpose of being able to devote the savings to works of piety, of charity, and of literature.

In Ireland, you will observe, by the accounts that I shall lay before you, that something has been done. Drenched, as the church of that island has been during centuries, with the waters of bitterness, and submerged in persecution; nobly faithful, and greatly afflicted, her zeal exceeds her ability, because her children have suffered the spoliation of their earthly goods that they might secure their eternal inherit

ance.

But in her we find a resource far preferable to pecuniary contributions. Her prelates have for our churches, a more than ordinary sympathy and feel in all that concerns us, an interest, deep beyond the usual affection of communion. They are ready, as far as our hierarchy shall require their co-operation, to give to them their best exertions in selecting and forwarding from amongst the numerous aspirants to the sacred ministry that are found in the island

of saints a sufficient number of those properly qualified to supply our deficiencies. I have had very many applications, and accepted a few, who I trust have been judiciously selected.

I have also added to our stock of books for the library of the seminary, and procured some necessaries for the church service. Under this head I must mention a kind and generous donation from the noble head of one of the most ancient and faithful English families, the Lord Clifford, who, upon my leaving Italy, enabled me to purchase some more becoming furniture for the altar of our poor cathedral, and which I expect shortly to arrive from Europe.

Amongst the objects which were to me most desirable, and which I have always considered as likely to be most beneficial to this diocess, was one, to the accomplishment of which I had for many years looked forward, as claiming my best attention and continued exertions. After no small solicitude, and by no ordinary efforts, I am happy to inform you, that it has been effected. A colony of religious ladies of the Ursuline order that has accompanied me from Ireland, now occupies the dwelling house and premises which I have some time since purchased adjoining this church. You are aware that one of the great objects of this order is the education of young ladies in the best accomplishments that befit their sex, as also in the practice of that piety which will save them from the seductions of a vicious world, an education that whilst it makes them ornamental to society will prepare them for heaven. The convent from which these young ladies have come, has long been favourably known in Ireland as one of the best houses of female education at the other side of the Atlantic, and one of the best-regulated religious communities. We have been treated with singular favour in the selection of the ladies who now form the Charleston community. I give this testimony upon my own knowledge, because, during several years, I had the opportunity of personal acquaintance with the greater number. They neither desire nor need eulogy: they have made a great and painful sacrifice for the purpose of affording to the young ladies of our communion, and to any others that might be entrusted to their care, those blessings which I am confident will be found to emanate from their institute. Nor have they been deterred from their enterprise by the melancholy accounts of an outrage upon their unoffending, useful, and meritorious sisters near Boston: a crime which has, in Europe, afforded a theme of exultation to the enemy of our country, and of our institu

tions. May God, in his mercy forgive the wretched perpetrators of this deed of darkness! Of one consolation, however, we are not likely to be deprived. The character of our fellow-citizens, however they may differ from us in religious profession, is to us a guarantee that our establishments are safe, and that our city will not exhibit so foul a blot as that which disgraces the vicinity of a monument raised to commemorate a revolution, amongst whose results were the restoration of religious liberty to Maryland and its establishment generally through the other states of our Union.

I have so often dwelt upon the necessity of our establishing in a more permanent way our diocesan seminary, and this necessity is so obvious that I do not urge it upon you farther, on the present occasion, than to request you would give your best consideration to the subject, and endeavour to devise some feasible mode of attaining what is so desirable. You will easily perceive the advantages accruing therefrom, as well as the obligation of its support, from the simple fact that nearly all the clergy have been formed therein.

To this I would add, that we have in some degree been able to extend the benefits of the ministry to several of our scattered brethren who have been long destitute of the bread of life; still a far greater number are, by reason of their distance and our paucity, left in utter destitution, and the visits paid to those who are partially served, are too few and too short to be productive of any great or permanent benefit. It is highly desirable that our clergy should be much more numerous, so that the Catholics should be afforded the opportunities of practising that religion which they know to have come down unchanged and unchangeable from the Apostles; that they who mistake our character and our tenets might be disabused of their errors, that truth might be more generally exhibited in its true colouring, that unity of sentiment and Christian charity might be substituted for discord and prejudice, and that the benefits of redemption might be more widely extended within our borders.

I have alluded to the aid which has been afforded from abroad, but I fear that comparatively little has been effected by us at home; you will examine, upon this head, what has been done in procuring and applying the means which ought to be largely and cheerfully contributed to those for whose benefit so much has been afforded by persons, who though of the household of the faith, yet are to us strangers as respects country. I fear you will find that there has

been serious neglect, and I pray you to use your exertions to rouse the energies of those who should have been more active.

I know not whether it may be in your power at present usefully to turn your attention to a subject which to me is one of considerable interest, and has long occupied my mind,-the destitute condition of the orphans of our communion. Consistently with our tenets, they cannot profit of the provision made by the state, or by any local institution of which I know. A few, sustained by private charity, are occasionally sent to the Sisters of our Lady of Mercy; but the number is exceedingly limited, and the means for their support are very precarious. You will do well in turning your attention to the subject.

There are other topics to which, under other circumstances, I would call your attention, but at present I shall not bring them forward. Should you, however, desire any farther information, in my power to bestow, it shall be given upon your application.

Since I have last met you, it has pleased God to call from this transitory sphere, our late good and venerable archbishop. The American church owes much to Doctor Whitfield for having, at an early period of his administration, chiefly afforded to the hierarchy of this province, an opportunity, long desired by many amongst them, of holding their first council; and thus entering upon the work of organizing their body in union, in symmetry, and of consulting and co-operating for the promotion of religion by their united efforts. It is true that at a subsequent period he was induced to hesitate in the course which he had so usefully begun; but, yielding to the expressed wish of the father of the faithful, his doubts vanished, and he again acquiesced in the principle upon which he originally acted. Sincerely, fervently, and unostentatiously religious, he devoted himself and his means to the welfare of the church, and his death was as edifying as his life was correct. At the late provincial council, foreseeing his term to approach, he consulted his suffrages respecting the choice of a coadjutor who should aid and succeed him, and with a unanimous vote they united with him in that choice which the Holy See has confirmed. It is not my province to speak of the qualifications of Doctor Eccleston; but I feel convinced, that in seeing one of her own sons seated in the archiepiscopal chair, the American church is likely to be reminded of the acquirements, the virtues, and the principles of administration which were so fortunately exhibited by that other of her children who first occupied the same seat.

I regret being under the necessity of also mentioning to you the death of an excellent young priest, from whose talents, whose exertions, and whose virtues our diocess had much to hope, if God had spared him to us. The Rev. Cornelius Ryan, perhaps seen by the Almighty as ripe for heaven, was, in our estimation, fitted to be, for many years, useful upon earth. We are, however, to bow in submission to the holy will of him, without whose permission not the smallest bird can fall to the earth, and who, in the ways of his providence, regulates all things sweetly and powerfully for his own wise purposes.

Another victim has fallen amongst our students, Mr. Fanning, a young man of considerable promise. Let us pray for them, and whilst we commend their souls to the mercy of our Redeemer, let us remember that we are surely to follow them. Let us beseech the Almighty to guide our deliberations to his glory and so to the benefit of his church, and to lead us in the ways of his righteousness here below, that, through the merits of his Son, he may bring us to the enjoyment of his glory above. Yours, affectionately in Christ,

JOHN, Bishop of Charleston.