:

of the Russian cabinet at the time of their suppression the very power which had pertinaciously resisted and proscribed their attempts, received them with open arms when rejected, even from the paternal bosom of the "Holy Father," who disowned his best supporters! It is no wonder that these men look upon themselves as the objects of special Providence, and walk forward, muffled in portentous gloom, to the grand consummation which they still believe will make amends for their past humiliation. But that gloom is a blind only to their enemies: there is a beacon-light in their van,-they fancy, at least, that they see it, and they march on confident of victory.

I confess that I cannot refrain from admiring the unflinching tenacity of these men. To the philosopher there can be but one opinion with regard to their practices, doctrines, and morality; but putting these questions aside, I propose to show them forth in a psychological and social point of view: how they twist and wrench, and bend and dove-tail poor humanity to serve their purposes, that is: "For the greater glory of God"-the standing motto, as every one knows, of the Jesuits.

Bold or submissive-firm as a rock, or pliant as a willow-the Jesuit must know his "time for all things"-when a virtue must be possessed or feigned, or a vice be absent or dissembled. Thus without, he is a Proteus of wonderful versatility-within, always and for ever the same-man of obedience-fashioned

and trained in heart and mind strongly to will, and promptly to act—and yet, if it should seem more expedient, content to bide his time! He has had certain principles of action drilled into him over and over again; he has been made to acquire a perfect mastery over himself; he has been set to study himself before the mirror of perpetual self-examination; he has been humbled to the very dust in ten thousand trials, in all which he has stood firm to the test; he has been "inspired" with the belief-as firm as his belief in God-that obedience to his superior can never be wrong; he has been impressed with the conviction that he has no tie on earth or in society, but to his order: something more than a nominis umbra-indeed, its very name is guaranteed immortality, by the exalted source of its derivation!

Again, the Jesuit is a picked man. No one will be admitted into the Novitiate, who is the least deformed; he must be guiltless of any public or notorious crime; he should be born in lawful wedlock. He must have talent of some kind: rather more than

average abilities. For the rest, it will be shown hereinafter, what care they take to teach the novice the useful art of "behaving himself in company." Talk of "Hints on Etiquette!" The Jesuits can show you a huge folio on the subject, written for the study of the novices by one of their own Society; which, as all the world knows, can boast of writers on every subject from the most trivial to the most important.

I shall have occasion to speak of the origin and progress of this Society, but I have first to narrate the commencement of my personal connection with it.

8

CHAPTER II.

THE INSPIRATION, AND RECEPTION AT STONYHURST.

I SHALL never forget the glow of enthusiasm that sent the blood rushing through my heart when I first conceived the idea of becoming a Jesuit.

It was in London-in Fleet-street. I can point out the very stone of the pavement on which I stood at that eventful moment. Hardly an instant was given for consideration. The idea took complete

possession of my mind, and I believed it to be an inspiration. I turned on my heel, wended my way to street, knocked, was admitted, and stood in the presence of a-Jesuit, for the first time in my life.

My resolve, though it assumed the character of religious enthusiasm, was not, I must confess, wholly free from worldly feelings. My position at that time may be stated in the very words which I addressed to the agent of the Jesuits. I was in a strange land, disappointed in all my hopes, friendless, despairing; and-with every reason, as I thought, to be so-dis

gusted with the world-ay, disgusted with this beautiful world, which offers an equal share of bliss to all, if we would only learn to adapt our minds to the state in which we find ourselves, and would fall back, in the very midst of the worst destiny, on the soothing, and, I may say, proud conviction, that because we are permitted to live, therefore are we the favoured retainers of a beneficent Providence, which has some work for us to do.

The reverend gentleman listened to my animated address apparently with interest. When I concluded, he put several questions to me respecting my former life, the place where I was educated, and finished with assuring me that, if I could get testimonials of my good conduct from the president of the college in which I had been brought up, there was every probability of my being received into the Novitiate. In the mean time he advised me to go to the library of the British Museum and read the "Constitutions of the Society." He promised me that he would write to the Provincial on the subject, but said that some time would elapse before a final answer would be given. "Still," he added, "you

may hope for the best."

If my enthusiasm was great before I entered the house, it was transcendent when I left! Despair was changed into hope! I looked up to Heaven, and breathed a fervent prayer of thanksgiving. I blessed the misfortunes that had hurled me into poverty, apparently but to lead me to the destiny which was appointed for me by Heaven.