IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) # // v^<^^ <^ ^ 1.0 ^Ki la 2.0 1.1 Hi U u ■IWta 1*0 ^ 1I& L25 ||||U 1 1.6 Photographic Sciences Corporation ^"a <> .'•i* '% ^.1- 1-.-'- / ■ ■^ M JUARIA MONK'8 l!!! S SHOW-UP III p [| OR, THE I III [R ''•^wful Disclosures^''^ ^ m .. A HUMBUG. Jj [Ijl Such Lies arc not lo be (< jBotfi*tte." Ijy] im — @ il 1^ ,P^ 60-AHEAD-PRESS, ^ !»| ISi DIVISION & 85 FULTON-ST. ||J NKW-YORK. J. i 1 ,1' f: '( i ^.s -y^i /i nx i"^) \. ■i'i .. - -■■-,1-- — "V-<.. I I , • M V i . . .rv ; •■-'•.(^ -* VISIT TO MONTREAL, MARIA MONK'S " AWFUL DISCLOSbRES ! I" EXAMINATION OP THE HOTEL DIEU. ' ' In the comse of u recent rtyin^ excursion tliroii<;;Ii a portion of Lower Cmmda, bordering upon tho bt. Lawrence, it waa both cJesiral)lo and convenient to pass a few days in ^lontrcal. The sojourn, in good wealhur,upon that rich and beauiil'iil island of which the city bears the naine,coidd scarce be otiierwiso than pleasant to the ininring traveller, under any cinunistanccs. — Doubly so was it reiulercd to us by the hind allentions and hospitalities of intelligent fritMids, who spared no pains in con- tributing to our comfort, and ministering to our curio:-ity. ' ! To an American who h.is not " been abroad," and whose eye is accu-tomed only to the light and airy towns and cities of our own coiuitry, t!)o narrow streets, and dark, massivi built stone dwellings and store-houses, erected with an eye t. 'jcr to use, conveniiine and C';i,ifuit, tluui to tho gratitiration of taste, or any coni'ct principles of architecture, the city itself presents few external attraction?. IJnt its loci: ion id very beaulit'ul. 'J'he island upon llio soulli-eaatern f-ide of which the city is built, is lormed by the St. La.vrencc on the south, and bj a branch of the Ottawa on the north. It is fliirty miles in length, l)y ten and a half in breadth — constituting a very large sei^iiory, and bidongitig to the lloinan (,'atholic Seminary. \Vith tlie exception of a siiigle mountain rising n(-f croatlon during the warm weather. The groutids arc ample, nomprisiiig spacious gardens and orchards, and all thu mem- born of the seminary, priests, tutors and pupils, resort thither onco n, week in summer. I'rom the summit of this mountain, (he view is exceedingly ^ictuicsque and beautiful. The island itself, nnd the eastern shore of the St. Lawrence— ^pouring the mighty (loods of the great lakes into the Northern Ocean — are Ihiokly inhabited to the extent of many miles. The parish churches arc iiiimcrous, and every where surrounded by the neat white cotlnges of the peasantry clustering around them. The rapids of Lachinc in a perpetual foam above the sweet island of the nuns on the South ; the charming island of St. Helen's, with its fortifica- tions in front of the city, and the lofty mountains of Vermont and Chambly in the azure distance on the cast and south-east ; with a level plain, sprinkled with villages, t'arms, orchards, and gardens, all around from the St. Lawrence to thu Ottawa, spreading beneath the feet of the beholder, combine to nuike up a landscape such as is rarely excelled, either for luxuriance, variety or beauty. But enough — perhaps already too much — of description. I will now proceed to graver matters. Among the religious and other public institutions of Mon- treal demanding the attention of the inquisitive stranger, the monastic establishments of the Roman Catholics arc not the least prominent. The history of JSlonachism, from (he days of Paul, the Egyptian, who leads tlie van in the army of the monastic saints as the first Christian hermit — to sny nothing of the Essenes and Thorapeutes, the rocluses, of Palestine and Egypt before the commencement of the Christian era — is rich in instruction and of absorbing interest. The first mo- nastery was founded, according to the Romish legend — and the tale is a beautiful one — in the deserts of Upper Egypt, by the aforementioned Paul, in connexion with St. Anthony, in the year 303; or thereabout. Female monasteries, or con- vents of nuns, were instituted about a century afterward. Both have been at times eminently useful, and both at other times eminently corrupt. They have served as places of refuge, from persecution, of retirement and repose j'rom the cares of the world, of religious study and meditation, and as schools of learning, benevolence nnd virtue. — They have also at times degenerated into dens of debauchery and crime. Still, when wo consider that it was to them, for many centuries, that the world was indebted for all it knew of letters and religion, and that they were the abodes of such meek and holy spirits as Bede and Thomas-a-Kempis, it is not to be taken for granted by every opponent of the Roman See, that a monastery must necessarily be the vestibule of hell, and every recluse worthy only of such an abode. With auch views and impressions, I was of course glad of = 11 1^' >pportuni(y of looki itablishment of ikia defcrip* tion with my own eyes ; and having irom my youth heard much of the Christian monasticism of Lower Canada, it may well bo conjectured that the excitement recently enkindled in the United States against the priests and nuns of Montreal, bv the startling publications of Maria Monk, in connexion with the writings of several Protestant controversialists of acknowl- edged talents and piety, had not abated the desire, which under any circumstances, I should have felt to visit their communi- ties. — Of the verity or falsehood of the truly " Awful Disclo- sures" of Maria Monk, I had formed no very definite opinion previous to entering the province. Indeed, I had not read the book in any other manner than by an occasional and very cursory glance at a few of its pages. Still I had read nliuch from and of it, and heard much more ; and I am constrained in candor to confess that, although at times a partial believer, and at others a sceptic as to the truth of her fearful revelations of hypocrisy, lust, and blood, I was rather a believer than otherwise, during the earlier part of my Canadian visit. True the tale was most revolting, and it was not a little difficult to bring the mind to believe it possible, that even the most hardened of our species could be guilty, from year to year, if the frightful abominations charged by Miss Monk upon the priests and nuns of Montreal — much less that the professed ministers of the Christian religion,-- of any faith, — however widely they might have strayed from the truth, or however deeply been plunged in error, or however much in- volved in the gross and mystical fanaticism of the '* scarlet lady" — could have been guilty of the horrible successions of crimes imputed to them. Still more difficult was it to sup- pose it possible that woman, gentle woman — who had sought in solitude a protection against the corruptions and tempta- tions of the world — assuming a name indicative of purity as well as its garb — could resign themselves by whole communi- ties, as the ready and willing instruments of lust and murder. But on the other hand, my prejudices against iho Catholic taith were strong. Its monstrous corruptions in the old world were notorious. The work of Maria Monk I knew to hav« been written by one of our most estimable citizens — a gentle- man of character and approved christian piety — who had taken every pains, as he supposed, to record the exact truth. I knew from his own lips, that he was a religious believer of all that he had thus written. I knew that other intelligent and pious gentlemen, had, by repeated examinations, endeavored to detect the girl's imposture, if impostor she was, without success. I knew that these men, and multitudes of others, were firm believers in the truth of her revelations. I had heard that emissaries from the priests were prowling about Iiew-Yock| and that several attempts had beea made to spirit ^ w> J nf~** ard much \y well bo >U in the ntreai, by xion with acknowl- ioh under ommuni- 1 Didclo- e opinion not read and very tad rtiuch nstrained believer, velations iver than it. ot a little even the n year to SB Monk that the f faith,— truth, or much in- ** scarlet Bsiuns of t to sup« id sought I tempta- H>urity as >ni muni- murder. Jatholic Id world to huv« gentle- ad taken ruth. I er of all tent and eavored without ' othera, I bad ig about to apirit the poor girl awny, and bring her once more forcibly within their power at Montreal. I had heard of her repeated ofl'era to go to Montreal and establish the truth of her disclosures by examinations— which propositions had been refused. I had been taught to regard the mysterious silence of the accused aa ominous of evil, and had been assured by numerout publications, that circumstances numerous and strong had transpired, going to show that extensive alterations within the nunnery, had been made, for the purpose of preventing detec- tion, should an examination ever take place. A variety of incidents), moreover had been communic-ited to me us facts, while on the way to Montreal, which had maleriully strength- ened the impression upon my mind, arisinvliich the rrportod enormities were occuriiig, nioro cspucinlly ns those were at lea^t t\vi( thu number on tho Yankee side of the line, (that is to he) who arc most devout hoHevers of tho whoUi. And as for any wuppcscd a(lvanta{,'eH dtrivcd hy the former from their near location and acquaintanceHliip with tlie nccnscd, did not tho increase of numberH on the other side, luinj; the bahuxe to a equapoise ? l*erhaps not : hut I was determined in any event to visit the Calholie ewlablishir.ents ^f iierally, and look as closely into the (eaifid Hotel Dieu as the guardi- ans of its portals would allow mo to come. The frieud-i accompanying; us were A. Frothingh im, Esq. President of tlie Bank of IVhtutreal, ami Iliuirau Fisher, Fsq. to whose kind attentions wc were greatly in do Vouville, as a refuge fur the infirm poor, invaliils, and tho destitute aged. It occupies a space of 1)78 feet along the. little river St. Pierre, by neaily tho same «l(>pth, rontiiining a conv.'iit |\)r th(! residence of the nuns, a depot, ample wards for both se.X(.'s, all the re(pu.',ile oflices lor su< h an extensive es- tablishment, and a detached building, for persons laboring un- der diseases of the mind. Tiiis convent is governed by n su- perior and thirty. four .sisters. We passed through the wards, which were spacious, and well airod and kepi. Hotli depart- ments were fdled with tho lame, the ludt and the blind, and every species of decrepitude, and among the .suhjecis were many who were very old. One of these, with whom wo con- versed, had not oidy been many years nn innnUe, but was choerful at the ndv.uioed age of one hundred and four years — having bceti born in the same year with Waj-hington. Tho eyes of (he old cent«!neriau brightened at the recollection, ns though it was no mean honor even to have drawn his first breath in the sanu) year with such a man. It was a gratifying spec- tacle to observe tho kindness and attention received by ihese aged aud infirm fellow-beings whom misforluno hud thrown upon the benevolence of this comnujtiity, and however much we may dej)!ore the errors of their religious faith, wc coidd not but admire their zeal in alleviating tho distresses of their fel- low-men. From these apartments we were next led into the rooms oc- cupied as an orphan asylum, or foundling hospital, I am not certain which — perhaps both. In the first division we found some twenty or thirty boys of ten years and under, and a like number of girls in the second. The/ were all cheerfuli but much more vivacitjr was exhibited in the second-— charactaris- tic alike of Females and the French. In each of the apart- ments visited, articles of fancj needle-work were producedf ■ales of which are made for the benefit of the institution. , ns breath spec- Shcse hrown much lid not ir fel- Wo ontorod iho Grey Nunnery nl 11 o'clock— jiist as the sisters lind jjotio to dinner. THm nuns, and the |)ri(sts nt the •ominary, dino nt the sumo hour. They take u li^'hl breakfast Qt half piist 4, coiiHisting of u picro of bread and a ctip of toa ; dine at 11, and aru Hunininned to (ho chitpd for their mid-day devotions at 12. VVitb the rinj»in}; of the Ixdl, wc, by request, wero eondiicted to the cbiipcl ; \vh<'re lh(! nuns having entered first, were already upon their knees in a eiiliiimi oflwo deep in lh(! e(!ntre aisle. 'I'hey tub! their bead-^, and repented their prayers in cljorns, and having concluded, ro.-in;i (heir eyes from (Ik; |)obshed floor. They \v(Me ponerally niiddle-iif^ed or youn;; women. The hal)i( of the j^rey si-teis cofisists of a dress of" drab bomba/ine. n)a(le in lh(! fashion of oiu' <^nnker liiciids, only that Ihf! sleeve"! are lonj? and ample, a In liisln^i), (ertniriuted with broad at anti(piity. It \% carefully framed within ylass, together with the cerlilicatcs of authenticity. From the Grey Nunnery we drove to the terrible theatre of the «• Awfid Disclosures"- the Hotel Dieti i(sclf— the portals of whi<'h, from (he publications of Maria Moidi and her colla- borntentH in this city, wo might very well have expected to find guarded by *' gorjjons, hydras and chimeras dire." Rut it was not 80. The broad and ample gate-way into the yard was wido open, as our companions assured ns it always had been during the day-timo, these thirty years — and how much longer thcr could not tell. A very civil-spoken man met us at the door and conducted us into the hospital. This now so celelebrated institution fronts upon St. Paul's street on the cast, extending along that street 324 English feet, by 468 feet in depth on St. Joseph's street, from which latter we entered. I'he whole buildings belonging to, and connected with the establishment, include the hospital, the convent or cloister, a chapel, kitchsn, bake-house, stables and cemetr/. A large garden is likewise fttached. It was founded in 1694, by the Duchess of Bouil- t t I i lon^ai a ho»pital for the reception of the sick and diiCMed poor of both soxoii, and without regard tu religious creeds, and 18 conducted by n superior and thirty-six nuns. Its funds are chiefly derived from some landed estate belonging to it, but tho incoino is scurcely sufliciont, and contributions from other lourcoM, together with their own industry, help to augment their mcnn^ of supply. Notwithstanding tho fiivorohle appearance of nil that we ■aw, niid tho univorsal skopticiHrn betoru spoken of existing among the poopio, 1 cannot deny the fact that the publications already reRrred to, hud in some d<>groe prijudiccd our minds against (li ; inmutus, and rendered us Huspicioiin of almost every thin<^ wo were to see. On entering tho first ward, Mr. F. enquired of iho nurso in attendance for Mism Rcckwith, ono of the sisterhood who speaks En^li^li, and with whom he was ncquaiiited. After a few moments hIio cnme, and wo were introduced to her. Sho received us with great kindness. Her wholo appearance is (utremely agreeable. She conduc- ted us to the chapel, through both wards ol tho hospital, and through the apothecary's apartment. Every variety of dis- ease findb alleviation here — without any questions being nskcd as to sect, or country. If laboring under a disease which is not contngious tho patient is received on application, and when restored, is dismissed without any compensation, or any questions being asked. The beds and rooms were in perfect order, each bearing the numo of a Catholic saint — a malo, if in the men's apartment, and a female in that of tho women. Tho sirk lay quietly in their rer^pectivo beds, neatly curtained — looking as if the hand of friendship and female sympathy had smoothed and arranged them. All was still and serene. Can these walls, tl.ought 1, witness so much self-denial and patience, so much toil and watching, without expectation of feo or reward on earth, and yet the abode of vice and prnflga- cy which it is u shame even to name ? Is it possible for be- int' red. She said putientii were never she hnd not road the book, though she had heard of many things coiitoined in it. Shu iinid Hhu hod hcmoirtukon the veil ten years since, and during thut time had never heord of Maria .Monk. Shu thun obnerved that within the hint few oiontha strangers visiting the huMpital hnd often enquired if there was ii nun with thum nanicd June Uuy. Shu told ihcm ahe nevur hud heard of onu by thut nnmo since she had been there, but the question boing so often put, at length excited Momo curiosity, and induced bur to ask tbu superior, who told her she had never been there, ond thoy ihtn bolbougbt thcm- aelves of making an enquiry of Mrs. M'Duriell, who kept the Mugdalen Asylum. Mrs. M'D. imtncdiutely replied tliat Junu Kay was then in her establishment, and at thesamo time mentioned Maria Monk as having been there also. It wus then for the tirsttimu, and Irom Mrs. McUonell, if! understood Miss Heckwiib correctly, that they reculv(.tl intcl- ligoncu of the *' Awful Disclosures." In continuation, she remarked, that she had never read the book herself; but from what sho hnd y an express order from the Hishop. Thus in part was the New- York story confirmed, that no examination of the nunnery itself — its heavy iron doors and dark passages — its rooms of prostitution and vaults of gloom — would be allowed. In closing this account of our first visit, however, I must bo permitted en paa$anl to note the fine condition and beauti- ful order of the apothecary's apartment. It is extensive and arranged in a manner that would gladden the sight of tho New York college of Pharmacy. Tho jars and gallipots aru all of the ancient translucent drak-blue and white china, of the same size and pattern, rendering the shelves perfectly uniform. Two of the nuns are in constant attendance on the establish- ment, manufacturing and preparing medicine. They also cup and bleed. The physician in attendance merely prescribes, and they execute his orders. Two of the nuns are also in I'V 10 constant attendance upon each ward of the hospital, nighi .jnd day ; they tike their turns, and in a community of only thirty- six, the ofca.sion does not seldom come round. Thus (Muleil our first visit to the Hotel Dieu — having seen nothin.Tof" IMasks, hatchets, racks, and vipers," nor experi- enced any fliinic to remind us of the sayiclinn officiam, of Pope Innoceir. III., or of Toripiemada Still we haJ bcon permit- ted to proc'cod no farther than the hospitals — all beyond was .secret, silent and mysterious. Wo had heard no groans ; but some ol'ilii) believers in Maria Monk may suppose that half a dozen infants mij^ht have been gently smothered, diu'ing our visiit, and some pretty rebellious nu « trodden to death between two leatnei-beds, for all that. Nevertheless, we took our do- parline, and proceeded next to the Cathedral, standing a few rods fiiithcr to the north, on the left of St. Joseph street, front- ing upon Notre Daine-stieet, and directly upon a diagonal li;io '"uni the Hotel l)ien to the Seminaiy of the Priests — liio Cathediiil well nijili tilling the intermediate block be- tween Uu-iw. The Cathedral is a new edifice, and is in some rosp'.M-ls tli.; most splendid tenii)l(j in the new world, and as s nd a late foiei^n traveller, only surpassed by the aid in interior grandenr. lis length is 2'25 feet, and its breadth 234. It was coniineneed in lS2i, liti'shed in 1829, and dedi- eated to i!-.i! Virgin Mary. The height of its walls is 112 feet. Tliearcliiteelnre is of the rich Gothic of the 13th century. It has six massive towers, between which is a promenade along the roof 25 feet wide, elevated 112 feet. There are seven altars, an I flu; ea-t window behind the grand altar is 70 feet high, by iii feet broad. Tlie other windows are 36 feet by 10. Iti s surrounded by a line terrace, the chime of bells, the clocks, altars, c^c, are comparatively rich. IJnt as a whole, the inte- rior is not eipial to the exterior, nor by any means ecjual in point of taste, sph^ndor of decoration, and beauty of its paint- ing'j to t!ie Oathedral ol Baltimore. This structure is larger, however, than ih it of IJaltiniore, being sufficiently capacious to aecomntodale 12,000 persons. My reasons for the particularity ol this description in this place, will a|)pear in the sequel. ] attended high mass in this noble edifice on two Sabbath mornings, before the commence- ment of worship in the proteatant churches. On both occa- sions the Cathedral was tilled l»y as attentive and well ordered a congrej;ation as I have ever seen in New- York. The organ is too°snmll for the place ; but aided by other instruments, and it full choir around the great altar, the music was as deep, rich and solemn as the big '« bass of the ocean." The seminary of St. Sulpice, situated upon the corner of Francais-Xnvier and Notre Dame streets, opening upon the latter, and directly west of the cathedral, was next visited. This is the general residence of the priests of Montreal— 11 ious this this nce- Lcca- Ured [rgan ^eep, |er of sited, jal— whoso practice it is, according to Maria Monk, to be continu' ally visiting the Hotel Dieu, for purposes of seduction and murder, by a subterranean passage, which, if it exists, must lead directly under the stupendous pile of the cathedral, just described. This seminary extends 342 feet upon Notre Dame-strcet, and 44?) on Fiancais-Xavier street. It was founded in 1G;")7, by the Abbe Qnetus, who was sent out by the sciniimiy of St. Sulpice, in Paris. Tho orii;;inal object^of the insiiliition was the education of youth, throiijfh all depart- menlrt, including the higher branchen of philosophy and the mathematics, it has an able superior, and professors of emi- nence in the difleretit science.-^, wh'j are said to pni>uo a judi- cious plan of general instruction. In order to extend ^its useful nc^-?, a new college has been erected by the seminary in the iiecollecl :uiburbs — a large and handsome stiiicturc. I was introduced at the 'seminary, to many of the clergy, and some ol" the dignitaries of the chnrch — umotjg whom were the. lord IJishop M'Donald, of Upper Canada, and tho bishop of iliul Uivi-r, both b inf: on a vi.*it to th* lower pro- vince. I was also intiodiK ed to Father llichard , who tigtires in the " Awful i^isclostires" as one of the most humane of till? [iiiests at th(! murder ol' tho nun St. Francis. Father Riihiuds is a .shoit lUt pfiv-oniigc, has a mild blue eye, and is cxrecdiiigly r.iii s|>okt;n. Ih; was once a nu thodi-t minister in Virgi.iii ; but toncciving tho project of cwnverting tho ca- iholi.; cli.-rgy of Montreal to (!ie true failh, ho proreeded thi- ther for that puipose. IJiit ii\ the end he was as bacliy off as the cnuiit O'lleilly, who weal t) inkv. AlguMs — Abiitsrs took him ; l>t. the cloisters had been denied him ; and he evidently apprehended that the present spontaneous offer had been m-ide to entrap him He said that that let- ter was strictly true, as he had once been promised admis- sion into the Nunnery, but when he subsequi-ntly applied for permission to search the building in company with Mana M »nk, he had been refused He was particularly desirous to know whether it was my intention to take mere- ly a cursory and superficial examination of the premises, or to make thorough work of it. In reply I assured him re- peatedly, that uiy determinntion was indexible, to make as thorough an investigation as could be desired— that the M f priests hod given me to unuerstand that every facility for tliat end should be granted, and that I was resolved to .cru- tinize the whole structure, in all its ramifications, from gar- ret to cellar — to lift ever}* trap door — to inspect every secret vault — unbar every door — search every cellar — and thread every subterranean passage. Mr. Clary did not admit that he was a believer in Miss Monk's book, but he was evident- ly not a disbeli(ver. Among the objections he started was the probability that were we to make the vi.-it, we should be called upon to write upon the subject. To which I replied that 1 could perceive no objection to that ; should the ex- amination be full, and free, and fair, we could say so. And, on the other hand, should we leave the institution un- .satislied, there need be no hesitation in proclaiming that fact likewise. But he intiumtcd his apprelieiisions that we should be deceived by the wiles of those with whom wc were to have to do, and repeated his reluctance to place himself in such u position that would compel him to write any thing upon the subject. We parted belbre he had determined what course to pursue, with un understand- ing that I should call upon him in the course (tf the morning, and apprise him of the hour of entering upon the investiga- tion. This engagement was fullilled, but Mr C. was un- determined whether to go or not. Being wry onxious that he should make one of the party. I urged him to accompa- ny us— but was obliged to leave him again in a state of un- certainty At the hour appointed he culled ut my hotel, and stated that on the whole he thought it best to di dine the invitation. I hinted to him the unpleasant dilemma in which he might be involved by the refusal. But to no pur- pose. He retired, and I saw him no more. The hour ap|>ointed for commencing our researches, was two o'clock, and the residue of the mornmg was devo- ted to the study of the latest edition of the "Awful Disclo- .sures," which is accompanied by the dniwings of the premises as laid down in the tablets of Maria IMonk's memory, and for a copy of which I was indebted to the politeness of Mr. Clary. A f«w passages for special refer- ence were marked in pencil, and the leaves turned down at otiiers. But my detttrminution was to nmkethe examination ijook in hand, and refer to its pages as occasion might re- quire. Such was the course pursued. Punctual to the appointment, we arrived at five minute* after two, and were received in the 'apothecary' by the assistant superior Miss Weeks, an American lady, and two other sisters, who had been designated to attend us. I in- quired for Miss Beckwith, also from the Uitited States, whose parents reside in the neighborhood of Batavia; she was immediately sent for, and soon made her appearance. I 16 cility tor to cm- roin gar- ry secret (1 thread Imit that evident- rtt'd was hould be I replied [| the ex- d say so. ution un- liiig that s that we tvhom wc to place [ iiim to x'tore he derstand- inoriiing» invcsti^a- . was un- xiouB that accompa- iit! of un- liotcl, and chne the anna in o no pur- searches, as devo- il Disclo- of the Monk^s il to the iai refer- down at iiiination night re- minutei y' by the and two 8. I in- I States, IV ia ; she jearance. f)ur meeting was like that of old friends. She is certainly one of the moot pr«*posses8ing ladies with whom I have ever met. Her countenance is full of intelligence, and expres- sive of great tenderness and sympathy, and the tones of her voice harmonise with these qualities. I remarked to them that I presumed from what had been dropped at our former visit, they were fully apprised ot the object of our call — being if possible, to test the truth or falsehood of Maria Monk^s publications in New- York. I informed them that I should be satisAed with nothing short of a minute examination of any and every part of the institution. I said to them, frankly, that I had been admonished of their arts of deception, and had been told that they would mislead me at «very turn, and tlirow dust in my eyes at their own pleasure ; and that consequently I trusted they would be neither displeased nor surprised if the scrutiny I was about to institute should seem «ver-nice and particular. They replied that it was their desin^ to have the investigation satisfactory to me, and that the keys and their assis.stancc were at my disposal. The Lady Superior, they informed me, was confined to her apartment by indii^position — otherwise it would have been her pleasure to receive us in person. She would, howevei, be happy to receive us in her own apartment. We then commenced our travels and researches — being soon joined by several additional members of tlit sisterhood wlio accompanied us thnnigh nur examination. Others we met in their respective apartments, busied in their regular occupations. Having passed through the hospitals as before, •we entered the cloi.««ters, and proceeded through the various apartments of the first story. Every door, of every ioom, closet and pantry, was readily opened at my request, and there was not an upnrtment, in cither story, which I did not examine wiib ilie closest scrutiny, to note whetherihere had or had not been any alterations — any removal of piiriitions, closing of doors, new painting, or suspicious whitewnshing, or any such things — not forpetting one truth, inserted by the amanuensis of !VI«ria, in the sequel of her latest edition, that ** whatever alterations may be attempted, there are changes which no mastni or carpenter can make and effectually con- ceal." But in this stoiy ihern bud been no chiinges of any kind. The work and the fixtures were all, evidently, time worn and ancient. There were, however, trap>doors in several of the apart- ments — several more than are specified in the drawings of Maria Monk. Every one of these trap.doors I opened my. self, and mto every one of the vaults I derirended, sometimes alone, but more frequently accompanied by Messrs. Frnth- tnghHin and Shepurd. These vaults were usnallv store-rooms for the accommodation of the particular npartmenii immedi- il6 I I ■fc- 1 I ately above. Every wall was carefully examined, both a^ to its iippearance, the texture of its inorMi, &c. dtc. After these exHininations were ended, the s-isters tonic iia Into the Viirds, and conducted us intn the cellurs and vauUed rooms. The same scrutiny was every where made, ana the texture of the rntirtar trie I by an iro.i. pointed cane. Kvery door and passage way was opened and examined, with the liUo results. We now re-entered the convent and ascended to the next story, examining every department with the mos* Helilierale and eaglo-e.\ed attention. We visited the cells of the nuns, and examined their furniture. I'he unsophisticated reader may peihaps think these cells are very diirk and gloomy places, with stone floor-*, and lorks, and bars, aiid grates. No such thing. They are neat little apart ments, containing » single bed with green curtains and coiinlerpam s two old- fashioned high backed chairs, a little desk with n small Ciisn for bookd, and within which is also a rruciBx. The books so far as we looked at .hem, were such as good Protestants mis;ht bec> mestill b»>lter by reading. Having ascended to the attick, we had now eXHmitied every pari except one of the long attick rooms, into which I looked carefully thiongh n. I^lass window at the he id of the stairway — Miss Weeks baving foriaroiten lo bring the key to the door. The room was used foi drying clothes, for which purpose, as it was well lighted I saw the necessary fixiu'es, and I did not think it neccdiiafy to send the lady down all the stairs fi>r the key. Soon after we commenced our investigations, we were presented to the Lady Superior, at the duor o^ her apitriment, into which we were admitted. She whs suffering from an attack of rheumatism. She it a|lady of dignity and refin*d to the next OS' deliberate j«>f the nuns, inUed reader k nnd filoomy s, aiid grates. Is, containing im 9 two old- I n srii'dl Ciisn The hooks d Protestants ascended to (xcept one of illy ihioiigh a Miss Weeks The room ose, as it was ind I did not stairs for Ihe ons, we were f>r)ip:irimeDt, ring from ait d rrHnenieiit received U8 and regretted titution. In-i ty, and grace eel. I have in so gieat « (r^hihiy and t\ unlike the the cloister. 1 allow us to hering their e soon to be »rieHt.s of tho ifl'eroiit from bouibHzine, ress consists to itie fhin ; 17 to tiiis is attAched a strap passing: across the top of the had to which the bandeau is fastened. This is a white linen bund bound round the forehead, and reaching down to (he eye- brows, so as to conceal the hnir entirely. To this the black veil is attached, which is made of a large double square of biack Itiilian crape, and reaches from the top of the bandeau half way down th(« skirt behind. The face is not at ail covered by the veil, nor the front ofthe person. The skirts are turr.ed ui) like those of the ^rey nuns. The tout ensem- ble is diirnihed, becoming, and rather graceful. In the recreation room wo were introduced to the novices, some tout or five. 'IMie conversation was gay and cheerful, iind so pleasant was their laughter at soiii« of our remarks, that I asked them in badinage, what riiiht they had to laugh — that ill audi a place their business must be to look grave and ^'loomy, and never sniih; ! The irreater number ot nuns arc advanced in life, undsnnie of them are very aged In the idfirinaiy of the cloiditer we were introduced to quite an •nged member of tho cunnnunity. Although an invalid lor many years, she was cheorl'ul and ngree;ible — leceivmg us with marks of kind consideraiion. indeed 1 have never wit- nessed in any community or litmily more unatTecled cheer- fulness and good humor, nor more satisfactory evidence of entire coiihilence, esteem and h..rinony among eacti other. Among the instances of innocent sportiveness which oc- curred, proving that the nien> mischief of woman did not always leave her on taking the veil, was the following : I had been diligently looking for the '* purgatory," as laid down in Maria Monk's hook. The sisters told me I must find it. At length we came to a senull apartment, less an- cient than the other wood-work, built out from the wall, in which the hired women, seamstresses, spinners, &.c., were at work. The door was locked, and there was no window, except a square hole cut through the partition deals, high up from the Hoor. '* Ah," 1 exclaimed, * Miss Weeks what have you here T' "Mothing"— said she— *' nothing hut a poor nun doing penance !'' *' That spinning wheel," I remarked, *' would lie penance enough for many young ladies in our country. But give us the keys," " No," she said — "you must look for yourself." Taking a chair, 1 thereupon climbed up to the dark hole, nnd thrusting my head through, discovered that tlie mysteriuus cell was a store room fur loaf sugar hanging around the walls, and a few barrels of other family supplies. And this w> s ail the " purgatory" discovered by us. And here, perhaps, 1 may as well remark as elsewhere, that in the course of onr inspection I took frequent oocasiou to refer to the drawings and the pages of the " awful dis-> closures,' ' and I am constrained to say, that I was utterly 19 ; ^ I unable, throttghont, to . ern any mark, or sign, or trace of reaemblauce to aiiytiiinj; she ha« laid down or described, other than the external localities, which nobody could well midtake. . But so fur as regards the whole interior, neither C nor my conipaitions could discover from the drawin^^s, the least evidence that the author had ever been within the walls of the cloister. By wuy of excusinjif the inaccuracies, or rather the total and all but universal dissimilarity of the map — the friends of Maria first assert that ^reat chancres have been niude in the buikling; and if that is not sufficient, they imploringly exclaim — **Uh what can a poor <;irl do! We do not prctentl to perfect accuracy — but she hiis given drawings from reaollection, the best that were in her power." To the first excuse it may be replied, without fear of con- tradiction from unv one but Maria herself, that there have lieen no ch nges. To the second it may he well said that the girl must be an incorrigible b ockhead not to be able to lemember .somewhat of the interior of a house she pretends to have been so king a resident, and in tome apartments of which she maintains that such terrible scenes have been • nocted. But she does not ; and it is a little remarkable that the only internal resemblance to the diagrams she has u'iven, are said to be found in the recent Catholic Magdalen iisylum of Mr . McDonell. which wasdissolv ed abou: a we«>k l>efore our visit, and in which the celebrated Jane Ray remained until the lust. liaving imi ended ngoin to the flpoiliecary, Miss Weeks iiiformtd us that the task was over. 1 titid her that there was iinother cellar ntider the winu in whicli we then were, whicU 1 had not explored. She remarked ihxt ns iha did not pro- l^eriy belong; to the convent, my permisssion did not extend to it. For a moment my suopicions were awiikened. I re- plied that i must explore that cellar, and the trapdoor which I had just disrovered near where we were, or my woik was not done. Miss Beck with was thf^reupon despatched to the superior for permission, which w is iiumediutely and readily granted. The task of exploration whs fonhwiih undertalien and executed, it was most thtironghly done, and we were now about to tako leave, when I discovered another cellar door, leadii'g from the outsit directly into tlint part of the building from beneath which, nrcording to the plan of th* l>ook, the secret subterihnean passnges lead to the seminary one way, and the Congregational (School) Nunnery the other. I asked if I miL'ht examine tiiat cellar? Certainly, ilicy said; but as it is merely the kitchen cellar, we did not .suppose you cared about looking into it. An Irish laborer near by was then directed to go into the kitchen for the keys, and Mr. Froibin^h'im aikd mys< If were inducted by Pat into the receptacle of potatoes and turnips— ioc such it proved t» it , or trace of r dericnhed, ' couid well rior, neither e drawings, 1 within the laccuracins, iirity of the nat chnn^rcx )t suflicient, uor ((irl do! i; hiis given licr power." fear of con- therr have >li said that I be able to he pretends artnients of have been remarkable ims tihe ha8 : Magdalen ;)oui a wf«k Jane Ray isR Weeks at there was ero, whicU id not pro- not extend led. I re- door which woik was hed to the nd readiJy ndertuKeik we were her cellar >art of the Ian of the seminary nnery the Certainly, re did not h laborer the keys, Pat into proved ta ** a great, eloomy iron door !" To be sure, it was in quite a different place from that designated by bar. But ii wn h locked and would not yield to my attempts upon ii. Perhaps, thought I, we shall find thi> range of prison cells here — poor nuns with giigs, au'l a charnel h(ai«e of skeletons. I told Pat he mufli open that door. Well, ho said, be must do it upon the other side — and away he went. In a moniciii more, the massive iron turned upon i'a ponderous bing* .<<, and lo f we were let into the dny litibi on the oilier side, in a store room wliich we had exiuiiined before I 'I'lieto wns also a kilclien well in ibis cellar — sniall, und furiiiislicd with an old lion pump, and otlipr rather dibipidHied fixtures. — JNot 8up|M)»inme vessels, which from her dchcription, must have been carboys of sulphuric acid, us<^d. as she intimates, with lime, to destroy the remains of the murden-d victims, I examined these jugs Frnm the odour of the cvirks, and the scent of the ju^s themselves, I presumed their contents had been syrups, essences, and medicinal decoctions for the sick and the apoth>>eary. The only lime that 1 discovered, was in a hot bed the gardener had been miiking, (for radishes,) 1 believe. Thus ended this examination, in which we were most ac- tively nngaied for about ihreo hours. The result is the most thoM) gh conviction that Maria Moi k is an arrant iinpostor~-ibai she never was a nun, and wns never within the walb ot the cloister of tJio Hotel Dieu- and consequently that her disclosures are wholly and unequivocally, from be- ginning to end, unfrue — either the vngnries of a distempered brain, or a setiet* of calumnies unequalled in the depravity of their inveiilion, and unsurpassed in tlieir enormity. There are those, I am well aware, who will not adopt this conclu- sion, thoiijrh one should arise from the dead and attest it.-. even though" Noah, Daniel, and Job" were to spenk from the slumber of ages uud confirm iL These will ask why,if the "'Mscloaures '' Wfre not true, the nunnery was not at once thrown open to the public- why its (k)0rj, were so long closed, and why did silence as to ' I I k ' I. E I thoso rhnrgcs lo 1nns[ rrign wiihin Us wnlU ? Tliero arn sevenil reisons : in III** 6rr4t phice, the inlea were so imprn. bnbic of ihemselvcii, anil tliu chnnirier of Maria Monk liersclf 80 nitcrly wurllilesH und dc*lesiiil>l«>, timl it was not dremed noces>u tbiiml in (he United Stntro, or eU>*whero, periioiiHiio weak and so crtdidons kh to lendtho least ncdcnco to Ilium. Hut the b<>hi answer is found in the !iensil)lc rc- nmrks of the lunis tlieinsplves '* You see," paid lVli:«8 Weeks, "how impossible it would l>n for um to conduct tlie DHiublisli. niont, if viaiiers were usiuilly admitted into the cloiMior for no other obji'cl thim the gntilication of their own idle curi(^8ity-*-nioro enpeciidiy hu'Ii crowds of visiters as wm should hiive had nficr the pnhliciiiion of the work/' Pro- ceeding with her conv«r«aiiMn, ..Ixi ndd«d--.*' We are con- stantly employed, and eHch has her portion of occu|mtion, If our labourii are inierrupieii, our sick must suffer, and the wholu business of tho estubliHliiiient cotno to an end." Ami besides nil this, n nmn's Iiohko is hiM castle, and what man or woman among u.s—or which of our hospitals, or public instiiutions, would consent lo Hut^pend their labors, and rc- linquush all their comfoiN, lo i^r.itify successive swams of Canadiuns, or others, whose cuiinsiiy might be stiuiuhitcd by the 8' andttious talus of one of Mr. M'Oowcirs pupih? In answer to rny ohj< ciion, tliitt tho drawings furnished by Maria Monk do not, so tar as I or any one else has yet been able to discover, correspond with tho internal tixiures and localities, it hos been said, and will be said again, and again, that great alterations have been made in tho nunnery ••tiiat masons and carpenters and painters, have been at work these nine months, and thut thiMiowly escaped nun— (Krancos Patridge) declares thMt so many nlierations have been mado during that period, that she should scarcely recognize it hera«;lf. To this f answer, most emphatically, it is not TRUE. There have been nti suoh alterations, either in tho building within, oi the vaults beneath, or the walls without. All things remain ns they were. Let it here be borne in mind **that whatever altr rations may be attempted, there are changes which no mason or carpenter can make and ef. fecttuiUy conccat." Impre>( the way she proceeded to ifet out. which, in the first place, the wall she must hovt climbeil, prove ti> have been iiiipn^Hiblf, and to which the internal recnhtions of the house, as I believe, give u posiiivu cnntrHdicion. By the course »\w has niurkod out on the map, she iiiusl hive conic lo within a tew leot of the hrnud gate, aUvayn op*-n in Iht; day tnn(>, loading into St. Jm8< ph street. In the yard where she then w iS, there are vaiions doors opening; intos^'veral parts of the buildit.gs. WelU .li iving been near (he bi'iud Kile, sliu buys she wheeled round to \\\n ri>rht, almost eroMsed her track in turiiini; u ums^, and fnially escaped throiiub the garden grounds into Ji .in liapiisitc sireot. Now iliis wlioh* lulu is not only improhable, but ab. well ndgKl Alderman Wouilmtrsend q bevy of masons !•> bniul up the portals of ihi- (.'iiy Hall, and the people of New-Yoik not know it, as tbat such works could have been cxecuti d in Montreal, anil tin* people of Montreal kept in ignoruiiee of the t;u t. tWii wlit'nie this great ilifiiculty of Pbcaptnsrl I'liere are pleniv of doors and gates, und every nnu has a key nt her siiie. Th^n' restraint is voluntary, ami they can break their vow and retire if they pleafcu Or, if their health will not bear the eonfinement, they cuu l^ave after the white veil, and beforu taking ihq black. Again, as to the sf'eret passage under ground to the Se« niinury. VViienee its necessity, 8inec the ^ate is alwciys open, and the hospitals wiiji communicating doors lo the cloisttifs always accessible ? If such passage hu^ ev^v 32 U %t cxiitrH, it must npcesinrlly hiivo IH iinrlcr the fonndnilon of the stiipiMKloii!! calliodriil bcfMru dcNcnhcd. Tlie foiiiKl'iiont of this Hiructiin* woro laid broud »w\ dorp. ThfY Hug until they ciini'' to wittrr, and had such ii pntliwny t'xiid tlio progroHH uf ilm workriH'ii contiiiuitlly. V( xage \VR8 ever nfvn or lieartl of Ami iln-re hn« bfvu no filling up There wns iiuU>«>tl iiii old piiNHiigo way to the river " rtiap» from iIh) oM FrJtorh church in Notre Diiino mh'mi, now pulled down, roiistriic-tcd nrrordiiig lo triidiiii)n< for use in time of \\,ir---p« rh ipH for tlii» piociircnu'ni ot w.ncr-- but llint liHS loii^ ynus npo Ixrii filled up. It wiis piobubly Bomo reiiiiniscriicu ul iliii uM ii^'iiir, (hut gtivo thu liini fur the 8tory of iho pa.^Ni :<■ t;» ihu suiiiiiiury. Dm no such passtige exi.sis. A|.'inn, 118 to til ' bir*i Monk states, tluii on a certain occuiiion, she discovered a book in the Superior's cusiody, cuntaining the record of the admissions of novices, and of the birihs of infrints who were murdeied. About twenty-five of these pages were written over, conlainini; about fifteen entries on a page. " Several of these pages," nIih says, were occupied with tiie records of th*' births of the murdered infants. And all the records were eitbtr ol iiduiiHuions or births. Now, we will allow twenty pages for the records of adniissions uf novices, and five for the biiths ()f the murdered children. Fifteen entries on n pHge, twen y pages, will give us the number of thrkb hundked ndmission« in two years. Now there are bni thirty«six nuns in all, nnd seldom more than four or five novices, or postulants .—Again, ns to the infants "-\i we allow five pfi^> s to have been devoted to these re- \. ■> of bii i, we have skvi.ntv-kivk births during tho Biino period! ! No>v, as I have uln-ady said, there are but thirty-six nuns; more thtm ono-h«lf are " p'Si ape." Cer- tainly not more than 16 of them c<»uld " in the natural course of hu'oan events,** become mothers. Taking Marin's state- ments, therefore, as correct data, and each of those 15 nuns— striking the avrrage—must give birth to two and a half children every year ! I A most prolific nice, truly 1 1 What 33 noniionso, and how great the popular rrcdii^ity to iwnttow it I — Diit 1 wuury in my «i<. Vur it it neceitriitry to pruc*>w(l further with ihvm. I ii\i)>lit indeed write n volume its liii(;e ah her own, in tho expit'-inu of the inuUitii< inontKiHtt nricfl and coiiltndiciionH uf tho ** Awt'iil l)i.s(-l(igu<) worth tho caiidl*;." All I Itx lies, with tlit^ ampU* refiiiiiiiori I Imva given iJK! ^I'Ratiiml os, Uy ox- preasiiii; rny ilrlii)ur>itc and soloinn opiniitn, foiiiiil(>(| not vniy ii|)')u my own cirf^fi)! cxiiminatioii, t)iit upon llic firmcHt convicthiiis of lUMirlv tl> »Miiiro population of Mitiiroid"- emiM.t in.; tht^. i;i't'tif \un\\ A' {\\*i iiii>!»i itiii llijicnl «>vanv!oliciil CKriM.nns, TilAT \| \Vv 1 \ MONK IS AN AKUANT IMPosroR, AMI iii:r Hook iiv all n.s ks. SEMiAL I'KA'iUJKS, ^ i.S^^UF, Ol' CALUM. NIES. Ilowovr iJ'iiiiy '•>« (. atli^ilicn omy bo in other re- «pe('l)«, or in oih< r • oon », »• i insin < I iioDor .ind profos. »or (.r the Prot.'H „i C ' I ■ losT SOLLMNLY BR- kil:\ i: iiiAr riir. " rs and MiNs aki: INNOCLNT IN IIIIS MATi R. Poftrscutrr. — Siiic(^ tho waa plucoij III I he h.iuds ut lion ofsoii.e of the fruMnIa ui tervicw with ht-r, l()ir<5th(M" w %\\C callH lliT-flf. t'laiiffrt Pan to coiitii'di iiU Mihii'd statctni of le'iror of her own. Tlie re^ mo rcMson to alter u iii(:lc liiif add o ilic fi)rce of iii\ conirudu ed m 'h« " Awhil ninclosiiren," it: fi r if I bofire h.ul orUcrimnotl U .LLfVM L. STONK. ' .10 forrL;oii);r iiiirrativo •r, Hi il.f iii^t'iii solicitn- ii >rui Monk. I h.ivr Imd an in* 10 iitjwiy c.-^capril luin, aa f^y u ho has nrnv(,'(l it season ■•'' have been deceived, this ill rvuiw would havo doiio all iiv>. . The frieinl.s of Maria have I oktd upon the arrival and coinirinaiory siaieinents of Miss V uiridgc as a god-send : but if they ar« ever brought to then liirlii iniiiiis upon this sul'jecl, they will lament ia bitterne > of heart, that they ever had any thiiijr to do with either. It is not necessary to go into the details of i his shorl examinaiun which ( iz^ivo them, in |iresence of some half a dozer, of their iVienHs — clerical and laical. Sr.ffice it to say, tha their iinposiure \wwc in ten mmuies rendered as apparent as the sun at noon-day. I am now more free and bold than ever to declare, thai nf.Uher Maria Alonk nor Frances /' irlrids^ehas ever been wilhin the walls of tht" Convent of the lilt' I l)ku. So iijnorant indeed is Frances Partridge of the infiiuuiion, that ahe located it on the wrong side of a I* 24 -^ very larsfe block of builHin^--iii&r^iri|^h pftiMgeftfirf ^talf-^^ way entruHco into the Hotel Dieu from Noire Dame-street ! Nor was this a mera lapsus lingua. I gave her time to re- cover: Maria— for they assiafed in prompting each other — gave her a kind hint to recover herself, but she did not " take," and three limes distinctly, did she repeat the fatal mistake. In the course of various other questions, "she stated that within her knowledge, a new sione wall had been erected across a purticular cellar, during the late summer. Tho story was untrue. On being asked which of the cellars had been newly white-washed during the present season, she replied that they had all been thoroughly white-wiished throughout, this season — that she had herself assisted in white-washing them — and asked Maria, if they had not formerly been engaged in that work together. To which Maria assented. jVoJt; it is a fact that neither of the cellars of the Hotel Dieu has ever been white washed at all ! neither the present year, nor in years past. Not a particle of white- wash has been used benea\h the first story, and the walls are as bare of lime as when taken from the quarry ! The examination was pursued, especially with Maria, until the proof was as clear as the light, that they were both, in nil respects, lying impostors. Under these circumstances, I gave my views to the gentlemen present, and begged them to discard them at once. Rut as I thought they appeared to place more confidence in their word than in mine, I retired. They urged me to stay longer ; but I told them it would do no good. The f ict was now unque.4tionable ihut they had ^ never been in the Convent, and remain and bandy words with them I would not. One reverend gentleman waxed angry, and said that he had at good a right to pronouoco nie a liar, in seymg that I bad been in the nunnery, •» I had to pronouncf* those women ^iars. Of course I took my leave— pained that men of tsense fhonld show such a spirit, and allow themseUot to be made such egregious dupes of, by two of the most nhallnw impostors that I ever saw. Tho apostle speaks of certain men in latter days, who, among other things, were to ** !nake captive silly women." The case is here reversed. — " Silly women" are *• making cap- tiire** men of sense. How melanehidy to see grave theolo- gians, and intell-pent laymen, thus pinning themselves to the aprons of such iiomen I But enottgh. W. L. S. * ^-'if'" \ % f , % it t