in 1821, and embraces the state of Ohio, and its present bishop is the Right Rev. John B. Purcell.

That of Richmond, which embraces the state of Virginia, was formed in the year 1820. The Most Rev. Samuel Eccleston, Archbishop of Baltimore, has the administration of it during the vacancy of the see. Its present occupant is the Right Rev. R. V. Whelan,

That of Vincennes, which includes the state of Indiana, and the eastern part of Illinois, was created in the year 1834 by Pope Gregory XVI. and the present incumbent is the Right Rev. Celestin De la Hailandière.

That of St. Louis, which embraces the state and territory of Missouri, the state of Arkansas and the western moiety of Illinois, was formed in 1826. The present incumbent is the Right Rev. Bishop Joseph Rosati.

The diocess of New Orleans, which embraces the state of Louisiana, was established in 1793, under the French government, and its present occupant is the Right Rev. Anthony Blanc, D. D.

The diocess of Dubuque comprises Iowa;

it was created by Gregory XVI. in 1837, and the Very Rev. Mathias Loras, vicar general of Mobile, appointed its first bishop, and installed 29th April, 1839.

The diocess of Natchez, which comprises the state of Mississippi, was established by the same pope, 28th July, 1837, and the Right Rev. J. J. Chanche is the present bishop.

The diocess of Mobile comprises the state of Alabama, and the territory of Florida. The Right Rev. Michael Portier was appointed vicar apostolic by Pius VII. in 1825, and was elevated to the episcopal chair in 1829.

The diocess of Charleston, comprising North and South Carolina and Georgia, was established 12th of July, 1820. The present bishop is the Right Rev. John England.*

The diocess of Nashville, which comprises the state of Tennessee, was created by Gregory XVI., and the Right Rev. Richard P.

* The pious and learned occupant of this diocess, departed this life on the 11th April, of the present year, regretted by his own church, and a large circle of admiring acquaintances of all denominations. The public grief was testified at Charleston, where he closed his distinguished and useful career on earth, in the

Miles, provincial of the Dominican order in the United States, was appointed to the see.

Having introduced the foregoing details for the purpose of presenting to our readers some idea of the extraordinary progress of the Roman Catholic faith in the United States, we return to the immediate subject of our remarks.

One of the first objects that engaged the attention of the new vicar general, after he had been thus selected by his own brethren and approved by the head of the Church, afforded a fair presage of his future utility and services. Learned and enlightened himself, he was fully aware of the value of public instruction and education in its general influence upon the moral and religious character of society. Actuated by this sentiment, therefore, and desirous of rendering a lasting service to the religion of which he was so zealous a member, he suggested the idea, and in conjunction with his respectable brethren,

most imposing and honorable manner. Long indeed will the memory of this great and good prelate be preserved in the hearts of those who knew him, and his name be enrolled among the brightest ornaments of the Roman Catholic church in this country.

succeeded in procuring the establishment of a college at Georgetown, on the Potomac, in the year 1791, which, though specially destined for the youth of the Roman Catholic religion in the United States, should, nevertheless, be opened to those of other persuasions, upon the principles set forth in the subjoined extract from the proposals written by him, and used for obtaining subscriptions toward the purchase of the ground and erection of the necessary buildings.

"The object of the proposed institution is," says the prospectus, "to unite the means of communicating science with an effectual provision for guarding and improving the morals of youth. With this view, the seminary will be superintended by those who, having had experience in similar institutions, know that an undivided attention may be given to the cultivation of virtue and literary improvement and that a system of discipline may be introduced and preserved, incompatible with indolence and inattention in the professor, or with incorrigible habits of immorality in the student.

"The benefit of this establishment should be as general as the attainment of its object is **

desirable. It will, therefore, receive pupils, as soon as they have learned the first elements of letters, and will conduct them through the several branches of classical learning, to that stage of education, from which they may proceed with advantage to the study of the higher sciences, in the university of this, or those of the neighboring states. Thus it will be calculated for every class of citizens,-as reading, writing, arithmetic, the easier branches of the mathematics, and the grammar of our native tongue will be attended to no less than the learned languages.

Agreeable to the liberal principle of our constitution, the seminary will be open to students of every religious profession. They, who in this respect differ from the superintendents of the academy, will be at liberty to frequent the places of worship and instruction appointed by their parents: but with respect to their moral conduct, all must be subject to general and uniform discipline.

"In the choice of situation, salubrity of air, convenience and communication and cheapness of living, have been principally consulted-and Georgetown offers these united advantages."