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any think me too jealous of our Pro- been transmitted to you, in consequence of testant governors, the Canadian In- an intimation from the British government, structions, and a still more recent ocrequiring you, at the approaching season of currence, of which I have received in-which you have been hitherto accustomed to Christmas, to change the form of that dress formation will plead my excuse.—I remain, Mr. Editor, with great respect, yours, CLERICUS.

For the Orthodox Journal.

MR. EDITOR,-In sending you the following letter for insertion in your useful Journal, I beg leave to inform your readers, that during ten days or a fortnight previous to its date, I had frequently heard it reported, that an order had been issued from some of his

wear. Now though I know not which of his Majesty's Ministers has conceived it his duty to issue such an order,-nor who has lent himself as an instrument in its execution, excuse me if I offer myself to your attention as a voluntary advocate and counsel, and advise you to act in this matter entirely for your approbation, and some more fashionable cut selves. If the order in question meet your of dress prove agreeable to your tastes, no objection can be validly made to such ex change of attire. But should you prefer what gaws of the day, permit me to inform you, you at present have, to any other of the gewthat no authority in church or state can.com. pel you to lay it aside.

and even of the British Constitution, that It is an admitted principle in England,

persons may clothe themselves in any colour they like, and cut their dress to any pattern;

and hence our Ladies assume by turns long waists and short waists,-high bonnets and coats,-white veils, green veils, and black flat bonnets.—full petticoats and short petti

Majesty's Ministers to the Catholic Ladies living and boarding in community in England, requiring them to change the form of their dress. This report I absolutely disbelieved, and even severely reproved several persons for gossipping such nonsense. On Sa-veils; in fine, without any reproach, they turday, the 3d of December, however, the report having reached me in a more authentic way, I put the question for mally to a person said to be informed, and was positively assured of its being

fact.

Being determined to recommend opposition to so unconstitutional a proceeding, I waited the following day on the leading persons of the Catholic body, then in London, and was assured by them, that they were wholly ignorant of the proceeding, and that no communication on the subject had been made to them. In these mysterious circumstances of the case, I immediately printed the letter I have the honour of transmitting to you. But have since had the satisfaction to learn that Government had no knowledge of the order issued to the Ladies in question. The insertion of this note will oblige your obedient humble servant, PETER GANDOLPHY.

London, Dec. 9, 1814.

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run through all the oddities of eastern and Parisian finery. They likewise carry crosses in their ears and upon their breasts, and have a particular partiality at present to large strings of black beads. All this I simply the principle is, that every Lady may suit mention, to convince you how constitutional her own fancy when she dresses herself for either home or abroad. Indeed when she remains at home, there is no law that requires

her to dress at all:-as she may sit all day in I have judged it prudent to state, that you her night cap and night gown. These things may be under no anxiety about the legal part of the question.

I have myself a house-keeper, who when she is full dressed, looks exactly like a vene rable Nun. She wears black or brown, and prefers very full petticoats to any others. I mean also to purchase for her, (it being very fastian, about a yard square, which I shall comfortable, and warm), a piece of black desire her to pull over her head, when she stands in my presence, or when she admits strangers. She will then be I conceive a caAnd I am determined that no order from ei nonical attendant, fit for a religious man. ther of his Majesty's Ministers, or from any Ecclesiastical Authority whatever in this kingdom, shall compel me to direct her to assume a different dress. No, nothing but statute law shall suffice, which says, that square pieces of black fustian, of yard measure, and full petticoats, and black gowns, are not to lerated in the British empire. Such a law, both I and my housekeeper will submissively obey.

But perhaps you would like to be in

a vengeance of both civil and ecclesiastical power. Indeed this becomes a strong example, to shew how dangerous it would prove to religion in a Protestant country, to make inferiors too dependent on their Catholic superiors,-since in this manner a Protestant Minister might govern a diocese through a servile Catholic Prelate: for when authority cannot protect, more is to be feared than expected from it.

"On this account, never consider the arti

formed, whether there exists in this land of liberty any law that might banish to Botany Bay, or elsewhere, any honest female, supposed or believed to be a Nun. No, none whatever. For where there is no law that obliges the person to stay at home, in a legal point of view she is no Nun, and therefore she could not be banished as a Nun. In Catholic countries the civil law keeps Nuns at home; and as it recognizes them by its protection, it also enforces conventual discipline, and may banish them for misbehaviour.cle of dress but as a purely civil and tempoBut in England, neither Nuns nor Friars are distinguished by the law-and therefore cannot be punished by the law. Here the religious character of the Nun is only written upon and seen in her own heart; whilst her civil character has no existence whatever.Thus, at the dissolution of the Monasteries in this country, the Monks and Nuns were only caught by the law, when they refused the Oath of Supremacy-against which all are now secured by taking the prescribed Catholic Oath of Allegiance.

"In the next place, you might wish to be informed if any Ecclesiastical Authority, in or out of this country, could oblige you to change your dress, and adopt a pattern less agreeable to yourselves. Certainly noteven were he invested with the authority of a Papal Legate, An authority that cannot authorize you to assume any particular dress, cannot require you to lay one aside. In this matter you would be as independent as my own housekeeper, with her square veil, black gown, and full petticoats. The very circumstances of your unprotected situation qualify you to decide for yourselves. For such a person must either act in quality of a Bishop or in some other character. If as a Bishop, -he cannot interfere in matters of dress, since this is the proper department of taylors,

milliners, and mantua-makers;-neither can he require of you any thing contrary to your own institutions. As a friend, he is at liberty to advise, and you are free to take counsel→ but as an instrument for executing the orders of government, he could act with no episcopal jurisdiction against your natural rights and liberties. This would be the union with

* Mr. Parnell, in his HISTORY OF THE

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PENAL LAWS, describing the various disabilities to which Catholics are still liable, says, p. 124, "And no rites or ceremonies of the religion or habits of their order are permit ted, except within their several places of worship, or in private houses." The English Act of 1791, an. 31. Geo. 3. noticing the same prohibition, says: Save within some place of congregration or assembly for religious worship permitted by this act, or in a PRIVATE HOUSE. "Now though Ecclesiastics, whether Jesuits, Monks, or Friars, be only permitted to wear the habit of their order in places of worship and in private houses, a Nun being no ecclesiastic, would be at liberty to walk or drive about in her carriage in full dress.

ORTHOD. JOUR. VOL. IL

ral concern, in which you are not subject to
the controul of any Ecclesiastical Superior.
Though meekness and obsequiousness are al-
ways commendable in the sex, in this matter
it will be necessary for you to shew a little
firmness and positiveness-be prepared to
bear some persecution from Catholics as well
as Protestants-and endeavour to keep every
one in his own proper walk. And thus a few
females will effectually defeat this unpolite
and ungenerous proceeding of their enemies.
In asserting the rights of your sex, I should
feel happy if you are any ways assisted by
this Letter of

Your obedient humble Servant,
PETER GANDOLPHY.

London, Dec. 7, 1814.

Mr. Editor, one word more. After placing the above letter before your readers, I must inform them, that I have been told by some of the friends of the famous rescript, that I have reason to be ashamed of my epistle. I am ashamed of it, and I own that it is in style and form unworthy of a clergyman, who for years has had the honour of defending all the grand truths and mysteries of religion. But, Sir, have they not much more reason to blush with shame, who could render it necessary for that clergyman to descend from his own station to the level of such low intrigues? Haye they not more reason to feel shame, who could turn their backs upon the defenceless sex, and leave the cause of a few timid women to be advocated by a controvertist? And do these manly antagonists suppose that I would employ against them any thing but ridicule? Since they find that ridicule fits them batter than any other cap, they shall have it; though I admit, that it is painful and unpleasant to myself to dirty my fingers with it.

Again they ask me, if it becomes a clergyman of my character to lower

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66

the authority of a bishop? Certainly | all other marks of being a priest, my not; and on that account I will oppose answer would have been, Sir, if it any bishop's acting under such orders. be your intention to hang me accordI have been taught to distinguishing to law, you must not expect that between the acts of authority, duly I shall agree to put the rope myself and unduly exercised-I have preached round my own neck."-Mr. Editor, this distinction, and shall always con- the grand desideratum with many Ca form in my own conduct to it. When tholics at present is, to prove that re therefore I resist an order originating ligious orders are contrary to law, in a Protestant government, it will be (which they are not) because that difficult to shew that I am guilty of principle once established to the great any disrespect to episcopal authority. satisfaction of government, it would The one ceases when the other appears. be an odious thing to insist on their For would it be likely or possible, being tolerated among other particular that uncommanded by a Protestant societies-and those who dislike them Government, any Catholic Bishop would have the liberty of refusing adwould tear off the sacred veil from mission to these unconstitutional subvirgins consecrated to Jesus Christ? jects into their dioceses as priests and Let Government then execute its own missioners. And thus in a very conorders. Or are we to begin to act stitutional manner, and in a very easy upon the famous rescript before it has way, they would get rid of the relipassed into a law? Is it not singular gious orders, and especially of a society that those gentlemen should only whose enemies are numerous both in preach and practice obedience to epis- and out of Parliament. copal authority in London?

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Sir, I have endeavoured in this last note to avoid the arm of ridicule, (which I had conceived to be the least

I also remain their much hurt and af flicted servant, PETER GANDOLPHY. London, Dec. 14, 1814.

It could not be supposed, that I should either seriously recommend, or that Nuns would openly practice re-offensive) in order to convince those eistance to the positive order of a whom it has offended, that I can also superior. My intention in circu- write seriously. And I can assure lating the letter addressed to them, your Catholic readers that with feel was to pacify their alarms-to shewings of indignation at what has passed, the real state of the question in its legal bearings, and to put their advocates and friends in possession of such arguments as might prove most useful, in contending against either Protestants or Catholics: and in doing this to avoid the danger of betraying the cause I was defending. Though addressed to Nuns, the letter was ra. ther designed for their enemies. I understand however that it has produced this good consequence, that the laws have been rigidly examined, touching the question; and that a first-rate Catholic Barrister has declared that the Ladies cannot be prevented by law from dressing as they please.

P. S. In a day or two I will send you the counterpart of my letter to the Catholic Communities, which like the first, will be also inserted in one of the public papers.

LETTER II.

MR. EDITOR, As: I am now.com pletely placed before the public, by my letter of the 7th inst. and have therein shewn myself the decided ad vocate of Nuns, with your permission I will expose some of those motives Now, Sir, had an order similar to which have induced me to interest the one in question been addressed to myself so warmly in their favour. me by any of his Majesty's Ministers, I must inform you that I am con directing me to lay aside in my own nected with a few of these Catholic house my ecclesiastical cassock, and establishments for education in this

country, by various ties-having sis- | fore the French Revolution, that had ters, cousins, and other particular not received it either in France, Flanfriends among them; and since public, ders, Spain, or Italy. For these reas well as private reasons, make me ligious institutions among Catholics desirous of keeping these communi- have ever enjoyed such an advantage ties in England, I should be extreme- and superiority over every other class ly sorry to see them driven away by of seminaries in the general opinion the cries of prejudice or vexatious in- of our community, that they are only sults. If these religious ladies are to considered theorists and speculators continue, however, in this kingdom, who think otherwise. When these it must be supposed that they will communities, therefore, established only consent to remain as free Eng themselves in this country, after the lish women, on an equality with the continental troubles had commenced, rest of their countrywomen. For with themselves they also established since they solicit no privileges, they the whole education of the Catholic will submit to no indignities from body of England and Ireland.-Now which the rest of their sex are secured. to convince your readers of the imEven hostility in manner will suffice portance that every Government to make them seek a more peaceful should attach to a native education of asylum elsewhere, to which resolution, its subjects, it can only be necessary on public grounds, not less than on for me to allude to the circumstance. private, I should be sorry to see them Nay, such an interest has every Goforced. vernment in rearing up the nestlings of the State in its own bosom, that, in the instance before us, the Crown Minister should be rather disposed to court these institutions, and even to assist them in finally settling themselves amongst us. For let him advert, on another public ground, to the large sums of money their houses for

You are aware, Sir, that from the earliest ages Nuns have been attached to the virgin-practice of wearing a veil, and that they set themselves in opposition to the pride and vanities of the world. With all this, as an advocate, I have no concern; feeling no kind of interest myself, whether they wear it or do not. I merely pre-merly expended abroad, as well as to sume to say with them, that like the Quakers and other societies that clothe themselves particularly, they are free to do it; and should such an insult be offered to their feelings, as to molest them on its account, none could be surprised, shonld they choose to withdraw, which in the eyes of the world at large would be equivalent to a banishment, and regarded as a monument of our intolerance.

But, Sir, there are publie grounds on which I should be exceedingly sorry to see this take place. Your readers must be informed, that until these establishments were settled among us, the whole education of the Catholic community was carried on in the schools of the Continent; so that there is scarcely a Catholic gentleman or lady to be found in this country, whose education was completed be

the number of families which established themselves in their neighbourhood, during the period of the education of their children, many of which, as it often happened, never returned to this country. Now, Sir, as it is a fact that most of these ladies have kept their houses abroad in reserve against any change of circumstances; and as I know that convenient situations have been pointed out to some by their friends now on the Continent; whilst I can say from my own observation, during a late visit to France and the Netherlands, that every encouragement to their return is held out to them, by the towns from whence they had retreated,* I am not afraid to

direct men, that whilst some are eager in this Such are the different feelings which country to suppress these establishments, an English Convent was lately assured, that if

express it as my opinion, that Govern | judice, this measure was not at all

ment should not only not molest these ladies now living peaceably and quietly in this country, but moreover that it should signify to them, through some organ, that they may rest completely confident of protection against every affront: for I can assure you, that the late hostile reports have agitated their fearful minds to a great degree. I have the honour to remain, your obedient humble servant, PETER GANDOLPHY. London, 17th Dec. 1814.

To the Editor of the Orthodox Journal.

called for. The persons who are now required to submit to it, were living in silent seclusion, occupying them. selves, not about the concerns of the political world, not troubling them. selves about the visits of Generals, Kings and Emperors; the route, the ball, the fête; nor yet occupying themselves in complying with the various caprices of ever-shifting fashion; but looking forward to another world, en. deavouring to perfect themselves in virtue, lamenting the progress of vice, but not obtruding themselves as the censorious Reformers of their neigh bours' errors or defects. They lived in happy union with one another; nor gave reason for umbrage or displeasure to any being whatever. While thus sequestered from worldly ambition, pomp and strife, they kept the noise less tenor of their way, with only God and Heaven before their eyes, they were unknown to those who lived at a distance from them; and even to those, in whose vicinity they lived, since they had no wish to receive visits which they could not return, the exterior of their houses was better

SIR, Rumour first divulged, and the public papers afterwards confirmed the intelligence, that Dr. P. on leaving England for Rome, left an order, at the desire of the Ministry, that the English females living in religious communities within his district, should lay aside the form of dress which they had been accustomed to wear, and which their own choice and inclination recommended. An injunction so extraordinary, has excited no uncommon surprise amongst Protestants as well as Catholics; and,I have no doubt,should my letter be admitted into your Jour-known than the interior. Yet those nal, that it will only re-echo sentiments already communicated to you by other Correspondents.

If this order have been produced by the solicitation of any of his Majesty's Ministers, it must astonish every reflecting person, to see them occupying themselves about matters so far beneath the attention of the Rulers of the Nation. Amongst all the projected arrangements to ensure the allegiance of his Majesty's Catholic subjects, this was never mentioned, was never dreamed of; and if it has been sometimes necessary, in relaxing the Penal Statutes in our favour, to shew an outward disposition of severity, in order to suppress the murmurs of

pre

they would return to their former habitations in French Flanders, carriages and an escort would be provided for them, and that the pub ic authorities would put them into immediate possession of their Convent.

who knew them could not but love and respect them; the rich_shewed them civility, the poor blessed them; and if they are to be thus wantonly and fantastically persecuted, their heavenly father will not forget them, neither will he forsake them.

Remote from Man, with God they pass'd their days;

Their bus'ness pray'r, and their Creator's praise.

As to their dress, whether white, black, or grey, there was nothing in it that could displease the eye of the most fastidious censor: all was simplicity, modesty, and neatness. In the form and materials, frugality, convenience, and decency, were consult. ed and attended to: it was neither intended to disfigure the human form divine, nor was it calculated to excite a sentiment of vanity in the wearer, or inspire an unhallowed idea into the

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