friends of his earlier years, rejoicing to see him once more, and particularly on an occasion of so much interest. But among the many near and dear ones present, he met none with more pleasure than the companion of his boyhood, the constant and confidential friend of his riper years-his esteemed correspondent, Father Charles Plowden. This reverend friend was most appropriately selected to deliver the address which usage and propriety requires on so solemn an occasion. From the pious intimacy which these good and great prelates had so long cultivated, we must conclude that the address was most feeling and sincere. Looking at the vast field which this great father and founder of a new Church was to have for his holy labors, and remembering the friendship so long subsisting between them, the preacher exclaimed, in the fervor of his heart: "Glorious is this day, my brethren, for the Church of God, which sees new nations crowding into her bosom. Glorious for the prelate elect, who goes forth to conquer these nations for Jesus Christ, not by the efforts of human power, but in the might with which those weapons have ever triumphed in this divine warfare. He is not armed with the strength of this world; but he is powerful in piety, powerful in zeal, powerful in evangelical poverty, and firm reliance on the God who sends him. Glorious is this event for his numerous spiritual children, to whom his virtues have long endeared him. Comforting is it to us who have long been connected with him by the virtuous ties of education, profession and friendship."*

The short sojourn of our distinguished prelate in England, which followed his consecration, was sedulously and successfully employed in providing for the wants of his new flock. Many of those apostolical exiles whose peaceful homes had been desecrated and demolished by the demons of the French revolution, had sought an asylum in Protestant England, about the time of Dr. Carroll's consecration in that country. The dispersion of these holy men so disastrous to France and themselves, was to England

* Biographical Sketch, p. 117.

and America a most auspicious event. Bishop Carroll seeing so favorable an opportunity to strengthen his infant Church lost no time in endeavoring to avail himself of

He profited by a correspondence with Father Emery, the saintly superior of the Sulpitians, and the great bulwark of the Gallican Church. Through his powerful influence he procured several eminent auxiliaries of that truly apostolical order, to aid him in planting his new Church. Like the Goths of old who received the light of the Gospel through the captive Christians whom they carried into bondage, the Goths of revolutionary France enlarged the sphere of Catholicity in America by the holy exiles whom their barbarity forced into our territories.

To our illustrious pontiff this ecclesiastical reinforcement from the order of St. Sulpice was most important, not less on account of the great learning and activity, than the exemplary piety of its members, who have continued, from their establishment in Baltimore to this hour, to be the pride of the Catholic, and the admiration of all unprejudiced men.

'Tis true, as we have already intimated, that the services of this eminent body were secured for us at a dear and bitter rate. The pious Carroll, while yet in London, thus writes, in a mingled strain of joy and sorrow, of the important aid he had obtained from Father Emery. "This is a great and auspicious event for our diocess, but it is a melancholy reflection, that we owe so great a blessing to the lamentable catastrophe in France."

His return to his native country, which occurred very soon after the above arrangements were completed, spread universal joy through Catholic America. "At my arrival," says the archbishop in a letter to his friend in England, "as my friends in Baltimore got notice of the ship's being in the bay, I was met by a large body of Catholics at the landing and conducted to our house. On the following Sunday, you may believe, the concourse of all sorts of people to our church was very great, though the day proved unfavorable. Five of my brethren were with me. They, with the trustees, or wardens of the Church, received me, vested

in my pontificals, at the door, and walked into the church, processionally. After the Asperges, and whilst the Te Deum was singing, I was conducted to the foot of the altar, and after it was finished, to the pontifical seat or throne, where I received the obeisance of the clergy and some of the laity, in behalf of the rest, they approaching to kiss the episcopal ring."

Guided by the influence of his wisdom and example, his infant Church advanced rapidly in numbers and importance. There was not in the whole range of the United States when Dr. Carroll first entered it as an humble missionary, a convent for the seclusion of holy women, a college for the instruction of Catholic youth, or a single theological seminary. Yet there sprung up around him as his administration progressed, many seminaries, colleges, and convents, all of which owed much to his encouragement and assistance. His ecclesiastical jurisdiction, stretching from Maine to Florida, oppressed him with heavy responsibilities; yet his watchful and paternal eye was ever turned to the wants of his scattered flock, and to the extent of his slender means he cheerfully supplied their spiritual cravings. The Indians that dwelt on our north eastern frontier had, many years before our archbishop's reign, been converted to the true faith by the pious fathers of the Society of Jesus. For a long time they had been deprived of all spiritual comfort, having no priest to attend to their religious wants. When they learned that the American Catholic Church had an independent organization, they addressed a most edifying petition to its chief, asking for religious assistance. The zealous bishop charmed at the good dispositions manifested by them, responded promptly to their memorial, and gave them the consoling assurance that he would soon send a "black gown" to live with them and direct their spiritual affairs.

His anxious solicitude for the integrity of religion induced our active prelate to call a diocesan synod to provide for the discipline of the Church, and to take such measures as would prevent any "schismatical separation from the centre of unity."

The growth of religion which a few

years brought about, together with the multiplying necessities of his flock, appeared to our bishop, active and indefatigable as he was, too onerous for any one pontiff's attention. He applied to Rome for the creation of new bishoprics to relieve him from a part of the burden and responsibility which was daily thickening upon him. The petition of the hierarch and his clergy was favorably received by the sovereign pontiff; and he was so far blessed, ere his holy race was run, as to see four flourishing diocesses formed from his own.

These are some of the very interesting facts portrayed in the work before us. But still we believe that in that part of the author's "Sketch," which has reference to American Church history and which is intimately blended with our archbishop's life, there is a wide hiatus to be filled up. We mention the circumstance rather to lament it, than to impute to the biographer any blame. We know that without any neglect on his part, his means of information were circumscribed. There are many, many facts-deeply interesting to the Catholic-important in our ecclesiastical history-and illustrative of the wisdom and sanctity of our pontiff, yet unnarrated and unfortunately within reach and knowledge of but few among us. Archbishop Carroll's spiritual reign lasted about a quarter of a century; and though perhaps, as prosperous and peaceful as any thing human could well be, it was nevertheless chequered by occasional intervals of trouble and disturbance. He had some turbulent spirits to deal with, some public scandals to rebuke and correct; and though on some occasions he had to proceed with great caution and delicacy, yet such was his firmness and wisdom, that all the disturbances that occurred under his administration were happily and triumphantly suppressed. Many of the details connected with these proceedings we may hope are destined at some future day to be given to the public, that the good may profit by, and all may admire the good sense and great experience of our first archbishop.

Many instances, however, are presented by the author, of the tenacious regard which Dr. Carroll manifested for the civil rights

of his children; many examples of his paternal anxiety for the soundness and integrity of their religious principles, and of the respect which he claimed for episcopal dignity. "Thanks," writes our patriarch, in reply to one of these insidious alarmists, who would have revived the disabilities from which Catholics had just escaped, "thanks to the genuine spirit of Christianity, the United States have banished intolerance from their systems of government, and many of them have done the justice to every denomination of Christians, which ought to be done to them in all, of placing them on the same footing of citizenship, and conferring an equal right of participation in national privileges, freedom and independence, acquired by the united. efforts and cemented with the mingled blood of Protestant and Catholic fellow-citizens. The Jersey state was the first, which, in forming its new constitution, gave the unjust example of reserving to Protestants alone, the prerogatives of government and legislation. At that very time the American army swarmed with Roman Catholic soldiers, and the world would have held them justified had they withdrawn themselves from the defence of a state, which treated them with so much cruelty and injustice, and which they then actually covered from the depredations of the British army. But their patriotism was too disinterested to hearken to the first impulse of even just resentment."

To this pastoral regard for the social happiness of his brethren, was added a still greater solicitude for their spiritual welfare; and when a Rev. Mr. Wharton, who had been a Catholic priest and a college associate of our archbishop, renounced his religion in a published address to the Catholics of Worcester, in England, who had been under his spiritual charge, our venerable hierarch lost no time in warning his people of the dangerous tendencies and gross misrepresentations contained in Mr. Wharton's pamphlet. His pastoral letter on that occasion gave rise to a religious controversy between him and Mr. Wharton, remarkable, as far as our prelate was concerned, for its force and dignity. The "Biographical Sketch" before us, gives us but a few

interesting extracts from this celebrated discussion, and only enough to provoke a most impatient longing for so much of it as has been withheld.

Though one of the most approachable of men, the presence of our venerable pontiff always commanded respect and deference; and he expected from all a due regard for his station and his title. He thus replied to an officious alarmist, who, under the signature of "Liberal," took fire at his title of " John, archbishop of Baltimore." "We read of Clement, bishop of Alexandria, Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, and Alexander, bishop of Alexandria. Where lies the greater difficulty which cost Liberal' so much time before he could ascertain the person meant by John, archbishop of Baltimore."

The renegade bishop of Autun, Talleyrand, falling into disgrace at one period of the French revolution, sought refuge in America, and Baltimore became the asylum of his few years of banishment. The fame of this prince attracted all eyes to him; he was courted by the wealthy, caressed by the learned, and an object of curiosity to the populace. Carroll was among the few that rejected all fellowship with the recreant pastor of Autun, and this he did, though this famous prince struck as most men were by the majesty of his appearance, expressed a wish to have an interview with him. would hold no communion with a man who had disgraced his ecclesiastical character, and was rather offended than flattered by his advances.

He

This is but one of many instances of a loftiness of purpose worthy of the days of an Ambrose or a Gregory. His amiability, however, was not less remarkable than his decision and firmness, and when a pious and most excellent priest in a moment of hastiness addressed him harshly in the presence of a large company, his subdued nature bore the unjust reproof with meekness, and so happy was the effect of his forbearance, that so soon as the sober second thought could return, the noble priest was kneeling at his feet, and publicly soliciting his pardon the impulse of the man had been succeeded by the impulse of the Christian; and two spirits as high-toned as

were ever implanted in the breast of man, were softened down by the precepts of the Gospel into beautiful examples of meekness and humility.

There was a frankness and purity so palpable in every act of Archbishop Carroll, that no one could mistake or impugn his motives, which always seemed to flow from that charity which has its source in the divinity itself, and which true religion always brings to her votaries. While we have represented our pontiff with all the sober attributes of a good and great man, we must not forget to remark, that he was equally cherished for his social qualities. He had his hours of relaxation and innocent enjoyment in which his conversation and his pleasantries were so agreeable, as to make his society widely courted. And why should he not at times have sought to smile away a social hour? For who can better appreciate than one whose spirit knows no reproach, the poet's assurance "Dulce est desipere in loco?" Yet let it not be imagined, that even in the hour of harmless mirth our righteous pontiff could be made to forget what was due to his omnipresent Maker or his own apostolical character. No, that interior recollection which holy men so well understand, was always manifested by him, even in his intervals of greatest relaxation. "Sir," said he to an eminent Protestant divine who observed to him a few days before his happy dissolution, that his hopes were now fixed on another world, "Sir, my hopes have been always fixed on the cross of Christ." A very short time before he expired, he made a similar declaration to Father Grassi, who attended him in his last illness.* "Of those things that give me most consolation at the present moment is that I have always been attached to the practice of devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary; that I have established it among the people under my care, and placed my diocess under her protection."

Thus have we from the lips of our pontiff himself, the assurance that Jesus and Mary were the constant theme of his love and meditations. Well has our holy prelate

*See article "The Rosary," by B. U. Campbell, Esq., p. 310, of this Magazine.

earned by his virtues all that was said of him in the public journals of his day. "The character of Archbishop Carroll," says one of them, "seemed to be filled up with wonderful care. He viewed the manners of different nations, saw the courts of kings, and the meetings of philosophers, and added the liberality of a true philosopher, and the accomplishments of a gentleman, to the apostolic dignity of his calling. Temptation drew forth the purity of his virtue, and like Shadrack he walked erect in the flame." "No being," says another cotemporaneous journal, "that it has been our lot to admire, ever inspired us with so much reverence as Archbishop Carroll. The configuration of his head, his whole mien bespoke the metropolitic. We cannot easily forget the impression which he made a few years before his death, upon a distinguished literary foreigner, (of Scotland), who conversed with him for half an hour immediately after the celebration of the mass, in his parlor, and had seen the most imposing hierarchs in Great Britain. The visiter seemed on leaving the apartment to be strongly moved, and repeatedly exclaimed 'that is indeed a true archbishop.'" The same eulogist assures us that "he bore his superior faculties and acquirements, his well improved opportunities of information and refinement abroad and at home, his professional rank and his daily honors, we will not say meekly, but so courteously, happily, and unaffectedly, that while his general character restrained in others all propensity to indecorum or presumption, his presence added to every one's complacency, and produced a universal sentiment of earnest kindness towards the truly amiable, and truly exalted companion and instructor."

If to such concurrent admiration and eulogy, we find the saintly Cheverus adding his eloquent voice, we shall know at once how richly they were earned. His pious salutation of Archbishop Carroll addressed to him from the pulpit of St. Peter's church in Baltimore, was said by those who heard it to have been most touching, eloquent, and happy. Modesty prevented the good and learned Cheverus from allowing the address to be published; yet we can all unite in the

closing apostrophe he is said then to have pronounced; and feeling that Dr. Carroll was indeed the father of the American faithful; the charioteer whom God had set over the car of the American Church, we can say to his departed memory, what Cheverus said in his living presence: "Pater mi, Pater mi, currus Israel et auriga ejus."

If the brilliant reputation of our most reverend archbishop, had been the offspring of worldly ambition or had had its origin in worldly intrigue, or the love of popular applause, his name must long ago have been forgotten as unworthy of his station. But his fame being a consequence and not a cause of his actions, having followed where it was not sought, being but a radiation of his unobtrusive virtues, his charity, his modesty, his dignity, and his erudition, it will heighten with time and become dearer as generation succeeds generation. His toils and his services in the cause of religion, the fruits of his apostolical labors which are yet multiplying around us, will forever embalm his memory in the hearts of American Catholics, and future annals will rank his pious efforts with a Patrick in Ireland, and an Austin in England.

Many remarkable virtues of our venerable archbishop have not been specially set forth in this article, because it is already swelled beyond the limits designed for it. His tender regard for the poor and the afflicted, which might be illustrated by nu

merous and most affecting examples must on this account be passed over, with the subjoined testimony of a general character furnished by his biographer. "His charities were only bounded by his means, and they fell around him like the dews of heaven hidden and unseen. To those who stood not in need of the comforts of life, he administered the consolation of his counsel. The veil of mourning which hid the tears of the afflicted, covered many a heart not of his own particular flock, which felt that it lost in him an inestimable friend."*

The remains of this great man were followed to their last earthly resting place by as great and orderly a concourse of people as Baltimore had ever before that occasion witnessed together at one time. Business was stopped, schools were closed, and young and old, clergy and laity without distinction of sects mingled in the sorrowing train to pay the last sad tribute to one whom all had loved and esteemed. His death occurred on the 3d of December, 1815, in the year that closed the "late war." Thus it would seem that God rewarded alike the purity of his patriotism and the sanctity of his life. For he was suffered to live to rejoice over the glorious termination of our second struggle with England, and to die by a most happy coincidence on the festival day of the most exalted of modern apostles, St. Francis Xavier.

Biographical Sketch, p. 216.

THE

HE following lines were the fruit of an effort to express in verse some of those feelings which crowd on the soul of a Christian who assists, understandingly, at the mystic rite by which the Saviour commanded his apostles to "show forth" the tremendous expiation on Calvary, till his second coming. Short as human language must ever fall of the object, in such attempts, the indulgent comments attracted by a former

publication of the little poem, if it may aspire to so high a name, have induced this reprint, in the hope that it may possibly excite the curiosity of some separated brother to investigate the deep meaning of every circumstance connected with what, through want of information, he is, perhaps, accustomed to denounce as senseless "mummery," or soul-destroying idolatry.