IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) y# ^^ <;^;. 1.0 I.I 1.25 |50 ""'== ■^ IIIIM 2.5 IIIIIM IIIIIM \A. Ill 1.6 p^ <^ /i / '^A a -^ '^# uy^' rtiotograpiiic Sciences Corporation #' V ^ O 23 WE31 MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 379,-4503 ^\^ 'f-. <> ><• # -6' \ <^ '<^ '%' NV- ^.^-^^ ^ject, and given rather an elaborate sketch of the history and progress of the Catholic Church of America— of that institution by which, humanly speaking, the education, the character, the conduct, the material welfare and social position of the Irish and their descendants aro and nmst be profoundly influenced. And, indeed, in giving a history of the growth and progress of tho Catholic Church I was representing the struggles and the diflicultics of the Irish emigrant or settler of tho present century. I was also anxious to ascertain the real nature, that is the strength or the intensity, of the sentiment which I had reason to believe was entertained by the Irish in the United States towards the British Government; as I considered, and I hold rightly, that the existence of a strong sentiment or feeling of hostility is a far more serious cause of danger, in case of future misun- derstanding or complication, than any organisation, however apparent!/ extensive or formidable. I have ▼Ui PR EPA E. given tho results of my impressions and information freely and without disguise. Wliat I have stated will necessarily be judged of from different points of view ; but of this I feel certain, tliat did I not write what I know to be the truth, I should not bo actinjr willi honesty ; and that disguise and concealment would bo far more prejudicial than 'open and advised speaking.' I shall now only express, in one comprehensive ac- knowledgment, my deep sense of gratitude for the many courtesies, and kindnesses, and acts of friendship, which I received on all sides during a protracted and varied tour. The book— TVic Irish in Jimerica—is now delivered up to the judgment of tho reader, with all its imper- fections on its head. London: November 27, 1867. brmation itcd will 3f viow ; 5 wliat I iig wiili k^ould bo )eaHng.' isivo ac- !io many p, 'vliicli i varied clivcred 3 imper- CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. VAO* Difference of the Position of tho Irish hi the Old Country, and the New-Dlirerence hi llio Coiintrifs-Powcr and Dignity of Lubour- Tho Irish Element strong in Ilalifux-Their Progress-Tho Value of a 'Lot'— No Snobbishness -Tho Secret of Prospe-ity— The Poor's Asyhim-Cuuse of Poverty-Catholic Church in' Nova Scotia- Sick 'Calls'- A Martyr to Duty- No State Church-Koal liuligious Equality— Its Advantages-Pictou-My Friend Peter- Peter shows the Lions— At tho Mines— Irish everywhere— A family Party- Nova Scotia as a Home for Emigrants CHAPTER II. Prince Edward Island-How the Irish came- Visit to an Irish Settle- ment-Prosperity of the Irish— A Justice of the Peace— The Land Question— What the Tenant claims— The Tenant League and the Goveromont— •Confiscation' profitable to the Government, and beneficial to the People-A Scotch Bishop's testimony to the Irish —Tho Irish and their Pastors-Tho Sisters of Notre Damo-A graceful Gift CHAPTER III. Scene in the Lords-The Irish Race despaired of-The Settlement a of Johnville, New Brunswick— We enter the Settlement— The First Man and Woman-The Second Man and Woman -Celtic Energy- Jimmy M'Alllster-Mr. Reilly from Bally vourney-How the Man of no Capital gets along—One Cau»e of Success— Mass in the Forest— Neither Rent uor ' Gale '—Other Settlements 60 29 CHAPTER IV. Irish who settle on the Land-Their Success— Their Progress in St. John-Three Irishmen-A Small Beginning-Testimony of a Belfast Independent— Position of Irish Catholics-The Church in New Brunswick-A Sweet Bit-Missionary Zeal-Catholicity in St. John— Past and Present 7q CONTENTS. CHAPTER Y. The Irish in Quebec -Their Progresg and Success -Education en tirely Free— Afontreal—Nuniber aiul position of tlie Irisli— Their Difliculties and Progress— beneficial Influence of good Priests— St. Patricli's Hall rAO]t 91 CHAPTER VI. Upper Canada-Number of th.* Irish -How they came and settled, und how they got along ; Illustrated by the district of Peter- Joiough-Difliculties and Hardships-Calumnies refuted— What the Settlers did in a few Mouths-Early Trials -Progress and Contrast— Father Gordon— Church-building in the Forest— Aa early tiettlor-A Sad Accident-A Long Journey to Mass— A Story strnngo but true-Tho Last Grain of Tea-Father Gordon on the Jiish and their Love of the Faith 103 CHAPTER VII. Woolfe Island— Jimmy Culfe-A Successful Irishman— Simple Pat as an Agriculturist-The Land Question in Canada— Wise Policy of the Canadian Parliament— Happy Results of a AVise Policy 124 CHAPTER VIII. ' The Irish Exodus— The Quarantine at Grosse Isle— The Fever Sheds —Horrors of the Plague-The ' Unknown '-The Irish Orphans —The Good Canadians— Resistless Eloquence— One of the Or- phans—The Forgotten Name— The Plague in Montreal— How the Irish died— The Monument at Point St. Charles— Tho Gravemound m Kingston— An illustrious Victim in Toronto— How tho Survi- vors pushed cn-Tl3 Irish in the Cities of Upper Canada— The Education System— T)ie Durk Shadow— The Poison of Orange- ism— The only drawback 131 CHAPTER IX. Newfoundland— :Monstrous Policy— Bad Times for the Irish Papists -How the Bishop saved the Colony— The Cathedral of St. John's —Evil of having but one Pursuit— Useful Etforts-The Plague of Dogs— Proposal to exterminate the -Noble Newfoundland '—Wise Legislation — Reckless Improvidence — Kindly Relations — Irish Girls 162 CONTENTS. XX FAOlb CHAPTER X an cn- -Their ests — 91 Jttled, Peter- -Wliat ) and — Aa 3S — A >rdoii 103 > Pat 'olicy 124 sheda )han8 ' Or- iv the ound urvi- -The ing'3- 134 plsts )hn'3 le of IVise Irish 162 PA08. The Irish Exodus— Emigration, its Dangers by Sea and Land—Cap- tain and Crew well matched— How Thingfi ^ycre done Twenty Years since— The Emigration Commission and its Woric— Landsharl^s and their Prey-Finding Canal Street-A Scotch Victim-The Sharks and Cormorants-Bogus Tickets-How tha 'Outlaws' resisted Reform-The New System-The days of Bogus Tickets gone— A Word of Advice-Working of the System-Intelligence and Labour Department— Miss Nightingale's Opinion-Necessity for Constant Vigilance— The last Case one of the Worst 179 CHAPTER XI. Evil of remaining in the -reat Cities-Why the City attracts the new Comer — Consequence of Overcrowding — The Tenement Houses of Now York— Important Official Reports-Glimpses of the Reality— An inviting Picture— Misery and Slavery combined —Inducements to Int(.'niperance— Massacre of the Innocents— In the wrong Place— Town and Country 214 CHAPTER XII. The Land the great Resource for the Emigrant— Cases in Point— An Irishman socially redeemed— More Instances of Success on the Land— An Irish Public Opinion wanted— Irish Settlements in Min- nesota and Illinois-The Public Lands of America-The Coal and Iron of America-Down South— A Kildare Man in the South— Tipperary Men in the South— The Climate of the South— California an Illustration of the true Policy 237 CHAPTER XIII. California of the Past and Present— Early Irish Settlers— Death amid the Mountains— Pat Clark. But One Mormon— The Irish wisely settle on the Land-How they Succeeded in the Cities-Successful Thrift. Irish Girls-The Church in San Francisco— What a poor Irishman can do 262 CHAPTER XIV. Drink more injurious to the Irish than to others— Why this is so— Archbishop Spalding's testimony- Drink and Politics— Temperance Organisations- Hope in the Future 281 xn O N T K N T 8 . ClI APTIOU XV. Poor TiInIj OoMiilHy— HonoHl, liihour Tlio Mill«ll-oarned Sti(«c».MH No poor Irish (Jcnlilily honv—A H(«iriniulo Man— How ho bocuino u Mah((>r Hak<>r 'Vho Irish don't do thonifldvcH Junlico - How (lioy uro rcgurdiMl Scotch Irish 292 CH ATT Kli XVII. HiMnilfuncos Homo Sonu>lhin>? of tho An^ol still How tlio Family aro bronglitoni— R(H A • Mercenary' -A Young I'ionoor —A I'oor Irish Widow Soll-Hacrillco -Tlio Amount sont 318 Oil Al'T KU XVIII. Tho Character of Irisli Wouumi In Amorica— An Unwelcome Bap- tism The Universal 'restiniony— Shadows—lVrils to Fcmalo Vir- luo— Irish (J iris ; their Valuo to the Kaco 333 CHAl'TKR XIX. The Catholic (^liurch The Irish The Church not afraid of Freedom — A Contrast Who the IN>rsecutora were- The Am(>ricaji Con- Htitution Wasluiiirtou's K'eply (o the Catholics— Tho First Church in New York-llostou in 17!H) Universality of the Church Early l\!issions — Two (Jreat Orders- Mrs. Seton— Mrs. Selon founds her Order— Early DiflicuUicH and I'rivutions— Irish Sisters 346 C II APT E R XX. Ilishop Connolly's Note-l>ook liaity'a Directory for 1822-I)r. Kir- wan previous to his Apostacy--The Church in lS22--Progress in 1831 — How the Faith was Lost 37O CHATTER XXI. Pr. England. Rishop of Charleston— Pishop England's Diary— Bishop England's Missionary Labours The Bishop's Trials— Bishop Eng- land's growing Fame 38j CHAPTER XXII. Bishop England's Piuceso— • Music hath Charms '—Preaching by the Wayside -William Coorgo Read— ' Mister Paul' — Taking a Fresh Start— Father O'Xoill's Two Hundred Children 392 CONTENTS. zm -oiirned How ho JiiHlicu 202 CHAPTER XXII I. PA OK. 405 Fiunily loiioor 318 (♦ Rap- lo Vir- 333 CIlArTER XXIV. r 7 "'"''"^' "^'■'PP^'^ ^' ''■^ SI'i'-t~ Bishop En.lan.rH DcnUh-Sp.. ual I)eHtit„ilo„-Aa lato as 1847-Tho'sig^ or L CrosH K.ep„., tho Fuith-«ishop nu,hes -liishop I,, .l^ a'c the .Schoo QueHt.on-A Lesson for tho PollUcii -T^o rL; of 1 h,la.ldph.a-Tho xXative American Party-The Biehon and the Mayor-Progross of tho Church. ^ ^ „ 416 00(1 om 1 Con- /hurch Eiu-ly Is hor 346 . Kir- OSS in 370 tishop Euff- 381 y the brosh 392 CHAPTER XXV. The Know Nothing Movement-Jealousy of the Foreigner-Know Nothmgs nulijroront io Religion -Democratic Oratofs Ev^ at the Altm- and .n the Pulpit-Almost Incredible-The Inferna Miscreant-A Strange Confession. . ,,, 444 CHAPTER XXVI. The Catholic CImrch and the Civil War-The True Mission of the WaTTT "r "r' '^"'" '■"■ "--1^-The 'Sisters ' during «t - What n.e Sister behoves I believe '-The Chariot of Mercy- Am to Forgive the Yankees? '-Prejudices Conquered-' That's tll:ZZ^::^. '- '-' '-"- ^-^'^^^ ^^^-^-^ ^^e want to 459 CHAPTER XXVII, Cuthohc Educahon-The Catholic Church in Advance of tho Age --Ca hol.c Teaching favourable to Parental A.ithority-Protestant cil-rV? 'T T""'"'^'' '''''''' American'protestan - Catholic Schools-The Sister in tho Sphooi n,ni fh- i.vlnm -Other Teaching Orders-From the Camp to the School 488 I XIY CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXVIII. PAoa. Juvenile Reformation— Opposition to Catholic Reformatories— The two Systems Illustrated — Christianity Meek and Loving— The Work of the Enemy— Solemn Appeals to Catholic Duty 510 CHAPTER XXIX. The Second Plenary Council of Baltimore— Protestant Tribute to the Catholic Church— Progress of Catholicity— Instances of its Pro- gress—The Past and the Present— The Church in Chicago and New- York— Catholicity in Boston— Anticipations not Realised— Num- ber of Catholics in the States— Circumstances of Protestant abd Catholic Emigrant Different— Loss of Faith and Indifferentism. . . 622 CHAPTER XXX. The Irish in the War- -Irish faithful to either Side— Thomas Francis Meagher — AVhy the Irish joined distinct Organisations — Irish Chivalry— More Irish Chivalry— The Religious Influence— Not knowing what he preached on— Cleanliness of the Irish Soldier— Respect for the Laws of War— A Non combatant defending his Castle— Defended with Brick-bats—' Noblesse Oblige '—Pat's Little Game— Irish Devotedness— The Love of Fight— Testimonies to the Irish Soldier— The Handsomest Thing of the War— Patrick Ronayne Cleburne— General Cleburne and his Opinions— In Me- moriam— After the War— The Grandest of all Spectacles 545 CHAPTER XXXI. Feeling of the Irish in America towards England— A Fatal Mis- take—Not Scamps and Rowdies— Who they really are— Sympathy conquering Irritation— Indifference to Danger— Down in the Mine —One of the Causes of Anti-English Feeling— More of the Cause of Bad Feeling— What Grave and Quiet Men think— If they only could ' see their way'— A Grievance redressed is a Weapon broken —The Irish Element— Belief in England's Decay— War with Eng- land—Why most Injurious to England— Why less Injurious to America— The only Possible Remedy 590 South Carolina — Bishop Lynch's Letter 626 Essential Importance of the Foreign Element to the United States. . 636 Biographical Sk •■cu of Major-Geueral P. K. Cieburne 642 PAoa. ies— The ng— The 510 THE te to the its Pro- md New I — Num- iant ahd itisra . . . 622 Francis i — Irish ce — Not oldier — ling his ;'s Little nies to -Patrick -In Me- TEISH IN AMERICA. 545 tal Mis- mpathy lie Mine } Cause ey only broken ;h Eng- •ious to 590 626 Itates.. 636 642 Chapter i. Difference of the Position of the Irish in the Old Country, and the New— Difference in the Countries— Power and Dij^nity of Labour— The Iris!i Element strong in Ilalltax— Their Proo-ress —The Value of a ' Lot '—No Snobbishness— The Secret of Pros- perity— The Poor's Asylum— Cause of Poverty— Catholic Church in Nova Scotia-Sick 'Calls'— A Martyr to Duty— No ^tate Church— Real Reli<>ious Equality— Its Advantages— Pictou— My Friend Peter— Peter shows the Lions— At the Minos— Irish everywhere— A Family Party— Nova Scotia as a Home for Emigrants. CROSSING the Atlantic, and landing at any city of the American seaboard, one is enabled, almost at a glance, to recognise the marked difference between the position of the Irish race in the old country and in the new. Nor is the condition of the Irish at both sides of the ocean more marked in its dissimilarity than are the circumstances and characteristics of the country from which they emigrated and the country to which they have come. In the old country, stagnation, retrogression, if not actual decay— in the new, life, movement, progress ; in the one, depression, want of confidence, da,rk apprehension of the future— in the other, energy, self-reliance, and a perpetual looking forward to a grander development and .sce„uble in every description of business and in all branches of industry, in every class and in every eonditi;" of hfe from the highest to the lowest. There are in otrer cit.es larger masses of Irish, some in which they are five times, and even ten times as niui^erons as the whole popu! ■ation o Halifax; but it may be doubted if therfa^ they .iffoid hemselves fuller play for the exercise of their gher quaht.e,s than in the capital of Nova Scotia, who™ tlieir moral worth cGPT>s -no ppv'illi fl.-;>. i • ■. 1 • 1 . -Lt^t -s p.ico \vitii tiicir material Drosneritv winch ,s remarkably great, especiaUy when consi'deri'g S TEE IRISH IN AMERICA. liilii circumstances undor which the far greater proportion of thoiii arrived in the new world. Those who are well off at homo do not quit it for a new country ; contented with tlieir present position, they never dream of changing it for one which is sure to be accom- panied with more or less of risk or hardship. The impelling motive that has driven millions across the Atlantic, and that may drive millions more in the same direction, is the desire, so natural to the civiHsed man, of imj)roving his condition, of obtaining the certain means of a decent livelihood — in a word, of maldng a home and a future for himself and his children. It matters little to what portion of America reference is had, the same impelling motive has added to its population, and been one of the principal causes of its progress and development. Instances there have been of people well-to-do in the old country, dchber- ately exchanging it for the new, chiefly with the view of turning their means to better account, and thus securing a larger inheritance for their children ; but when compared with the vast tide of emigration to which America is mainly indebted for the position she this day holds among the nations, these exceptional cases constitute so infinitesimal a minority as to be scarcely appreciable. The mass came because they had no option but to come, because hunger and want were at their heels, and flight was their only chance of safety. Thus the majority landed from the emigrant ship with little beyond a box or bundle of clothes, and the means of procuring a week's or a month's provi- sions—very many with still less. Some had education, intelligence, and knowledge of business ; but of this class few had money— they crossed the ocean to secure that. Therefore , when in Halifax, as in all other parts of America, Irishmen are to be found in the enjoyment of independ- eni;e, and even considerable wealth, it must be evident that their success is attributable to tlieir own exertions and fcheir own merit. portion of for a new they novor be acconi- impclliiijj^ untie, jind -ion, is the roving his a decent future for at portion ig motive ! principal ices there y, dehber- view of "securing* a compared is mainly mong the initesimal lass came ie hunger lieir only from the jt clothes, li's i^rovi- ulucation, this class nire that. America, ndepcnd- B evident tions and THEIR PROGRESS -THE VALUE OF A 'LOT.' Halifax may bo described as a city of solid prosperity and steady progrcjss ; and the Irish not only share in its pros- perity but assist in its progress. Thus, for instance, u large proportion of the houses of business, several of which would bo worthy of the proudest capitals of Europe, have been established by Irish enterprise. One, the most con- spicuous for its appearance and extent, is the property of perhaps the most eminent and honoured Irishman in the colony, who bringing with him from his native country, as his only capital, character, inteUigence, and industry, has not only realised a splendid fortune, but enjoys a reputa- tion for worth and probity which is the pride of his country- men. In the rapid conversion of Halifax from a city of timber to a city of brick and stone, the Irish have their fuU share. Splendid 'stores '-'shops' in the old country —and handsome mansions have been erected by Irishmen- and where the Irish trader adheres to the old place of busmess or the modest dwelling, it is not because he wants the means of erecting something striking or costly, but that he lacks the incHnation to do so, and prefers the' sim- plicity which he associates with his success, and deems in- dispensable to his comfort. In Halifax, as throughout America, the Irish necessarily form the largo proportion of the working population; and when these men landed on the wharf, they had nothing save the implements of their craft, or the capacity and wil- lingness for labour. But whether skilled mechanics or mere day-labourers, their condition is, on the whole, admir- able; and the best proof of their good conduct is the pos- session by a considerable number of them of that which throughout tho British Provinces and the States, is the first step in.advance-'a lot '-meaning thereby a piece of ground on which a house is, or is to be, erected. There is a kind of magic inlluence in the possession of tins first bit of 'real estate.' An evidence of frugahtv and sell-denial, it is an incentive to the continued >.ractice of • THE IRISH IN AMKUICA. tho Htimo virtuoH. It is Mm coiniiKnuuniKMif., and jot sorao- iliiii^»' iiioro tliiin tlio (^oimiu'iKU'inont; it may bo ciillovl ' luilt tlio battle,' ft »r tlui n^st dcipcnds on porHcvoniiuio in tho Hanio conrsc. Tlio Iiouho may bo rudo in conHtruction, ni(>an in appcanmro, miHoral)l(3 in acconunodation, bnt it U a //n/y,sr, in which tho ovvnor and hia family can live ront- froo, for it is tlioir property— 'their own.' With suffioient front and KnlHci(int depth, what is there to prevent tlio owner, in time, from eoverinf-f tho Hpaeo with a line brick honne, with its attraturn for his investment. But in thousands of :n- Htanc'.es throu-^hout America, tho Irish, oven of tho very humbl(>st (class, possess lots on whi(5h they have erected dw(^llin«^-houses which th(\y themselves occui)y; and in every city one may daily behold a happy transformation in the character of tho dwollinji;-, wherever industry is com- bined with thi'ift and frugality. The structure of timber is r(>plac(Hl by a buildino- of brick ; aiul so the family, it may be oi the mechanic, it may bo of the labourer, move up iji iho. social scale ; and the superior education which their (•hildrcn receive enables them to improve the position their father had accjuircnl by his j,n)od (H)nduct r.nd good sense. That 'lot' is a wonderful friend to the Irish in America, and this tho wise of them know full well. The majority of those who now constitute the strength of tho Catholic element in Halifax came without funds or frietxds, some literally without a shilling in their pocket; but with lu)n(\sty, intelligence, and a determination to work. From tho humblest occupations, natural to their lirst etforts in a strange place, many of the Irish in Halifax have risen to wealth and inllueuco. Lidustry and good conduct --these their all, their sword and buckler, NO SNOnniSIINESS-TIIE SECRET OF PROSPKlilTV. T "-il; timy airrmil with tlu,.,., Iho r,.„,,o<.t of the eom- minuty, hy ,vh„.u the «u<;eoKsful ..ivhitcct of his „«■„ pos.tu.n >H justly estinmtocl ut a higher v.Uuc tlum the ortuim e inheritors o( the wculOi of those who ,ve„t iMiioro thorn. It may perhaps bo too mud, to assert that tlie traus- plant^ug of the Irislnnan from his own soil to a new couutry and a healthier atmosphere has been of uumivod ben<.fit to huu in every sense ; but in one respect his im- l.rovemout is „„ TOOOon?," ''°'-"' 2»'00™-' 'this other man is wortii io ! / T ' ;' ''"■"' '" l'''""^'' ^"^ '"=™ i-cpeatodly said me of Irislnnen who made no show .vhatovoi ; but te IS a steady, prudent man,' 'he is a good, worthy man,' THE IllISII IN AMERICA. or, 'tLorn is not a better (toiuhictcd nuiu in tho province.' Tlio fjcoldt-n nilo of huccchh in lil'is wuh thuH froiiucntly cx- prcHKod: ' To j^^ot on hero, a man must be induHtriouH untl wi'll-coniluctod ; ^vith induHtry and j,^ood concbict any man, DO matter what he is, or what ho has, or liow lie begins, can get on here ; but not without theno e8s<'ntiais. But the man who drinks, bid him remahi at home — ho won't do herc>.' Spoken in Nova Scotia, as tlio exiierienee of people of all ranks. (Masses, and occupations, it is equally appli- cable to ev(u-y province of British America, jind every State in the Union. Industry, sobriety, good conduct — these, under favourable circumstances, raise the humblest to the level of the great; and favourable circumstances abound in America. A visit to two institutions of very dilVerent character im- pressed me with a still stronger (!onvicti(,n of the prosperity of Halifax. These institutions, its Poor's Asylum and its. Schools. . The number in the Poor's Asylum, according to the record in the book, was 35J:. This was the gi-oss number ; but the number belonging to the city was only 120, which was small for a population of 3-4,000. The rest had been sent in from various places in the province — some from distances varying fi-om 50 even to 200 miles. Strictly speaking, there was not an able-bodied male pauper in the estabUshment : those who were there were the aged, the infirm, the sick, the helpless, or those waifs and strays that are stranded on the shore of life, 4he victims of their folly and infatuation. Deducting the children, 04 in number, the insane or idiotic, about 50 in all, and tho sick, infirm, and aged, who were the majority, the remaining >vere but few. As the Master said, there was not in the house a man who could perform a dn^y't;' \''ork. What to do with Ow' ' ' n-khouse children — how to deal with those who are brov.;>Lt up in such institutions — is one oi t-iio mosv lormiviao-iG Ciixuciiities "witli w'hicii the aciniiiiitir- s — IS one 1 adniiiiisi- THE POOIi'R ASVLUM-CAUSE OF I'OVKUTV. § trators ,.f tl,o Poor-law in Irc'laiul havo to drul. There ia no iUmcnliy in UrMfax on that score; and .f ihrou.^h.nit AmvYwu tho clul.h. n of tho poor WTe tn-atod in ono oHsontial ruHi)e(;t in tho Hanio spirit of fairnoHH, tlicrc wonld bo fowcr occasions for bitterness tlian nnhappily exist in Borne of the Northern States. Tlio cliildren bein- carefully tauoht, the boys are appenticed out as early as tho aj?o (.£ tw(ave or thirteen, and are indentured till tvvontyroncs due precaution beii.nr ua ^^t only ns to tho means and character of tho master, but for the protection of the reli^aous faith of the child; the latter bein^^ secured l)y bindin<( tho Catholic; child to a Catholic master, and the Protestant child to a Protestant master— a course which commends itself to every fair and impartial mind. The -nrls jwe apprenticted till the a^^e of eifrhteon. By the conditions of the indenture, the child is to be suitably educated, and to bo provided vfith a Sunday suit, at the expense of tho master or mistress. But with very few exceptions, the chddron, boys and girls, become incorporated with tho family, of which, almost from the first, they are looked upon ana treated as members. Of the entire number of inmates in this HaHfax institu- tion, about two thirds are Irish; and according to the united testimony of the secretary and two gentlemen of local eminence, the greater number of them owed their social ruin to the one fruitful cause of evil to the Irish race— that which tracks them across the ocean, and follows ■'lem in o.ery circumstance and condition of hfe— that which mars their virtues and magnifies their faiUngs^ that which is in reahty the only enemy they have occasion to dread, for it is the most insidious, the most seductive, and the most fatal of all—cMnk. Bemarking on the fact mentioned, the gentleman by whom I was accompanied, a man of long and varied experience, said:— 'AH can do well 'here if they only abstain from drink, or if they wiU drink 'm moderation; but drii k is tho ruin of men here, just as 10 THE IRISH IN AMERICA. 'in tho old country. No niattor how a man starts, thon,£Th * witliont a cont in his pocket, lie can nialvo money hero, 'provided he is well-conducted, and does not drink.' Hap- pily, however, the nnml)er of tlio victims was but small. My visits to the Catholic schools, which, as is the rnh; throuj>h()ut America, are conducted by members of reli- ^nous communities, were attended with nnich interest, and left upon my mind the deepest impression, not so mi: Ai of the excellence of the teaching, for of that I had no doubt whatever, but of the substantial prosperity of tlie town, and the solid comfort enjoyed by the least wealthy portion (4 its inhabitants — its working pojiulation. I went through (he schools conducted by the Christian Brothers, wliose system of teaching and discii)lino is in all respects iden- tical with that so well known in those cities of the old country which are blessed by their presence ; my desire being merely to see the children, how they looked, and in what mariner they were clad. Nor was my surprise less gr(\at than agreeable at the spectacle which I beheld. It was heightened by the force of contrast; as but a few days before I left Ireland I had, with others, accompanied certain distinguished Englishmen to the schools of the Christian Brothers of my own city, and the remembrance of what I there witnessed was strong and vivid. There — in Cork — there was much to gratify, much even to astonish, but there was also too much to sadden and depress. The boys bright, quick, intelligent, exhibiting in every Depart- ment extraordinary proficiency, to such a degree indeed as to excite the openly-expressed amazement of the strangers; but too man} of them exhibited the unmistakable evi- dence of intense poverty, not only in their scanty rai- ment but in their pale and anxious faces. What a con- trast to this — in this one respect only — was i)rese]ited by the schools of the Brothers in Halifax ! Not a sin