In order to satisfy inquiries that the readers of even a fragment of autobiography are entitled to narrative of "THE NOVITIATE" refers to a period not more than seven years back, and nine years after that bill was passed. A curious illustration of the activity of the Jesuit mind is found in the fact, that a Review, professing to represent the opinions of our two Universities, Oxford and Cambridge, and conducted by members of both, contained an article, only two months since, extravagantly eulogizing the Jesuits and their institutions. That article, it is now admitted, was written by a student at Stonyhurst. Whether the holy Fathers of the college had not some hand in its concoction, is not yet known.

"As the author of "THE NOVITIATE" frequently has occasion to refer to his personal history, it may gratify the reader's curiosity to know that he is of German extraction, and that he was educated at Durham for the Romish priesthood. He received, from the president of the college, high testimonials of character and ability; but doubtsdoubts of that kind which the Romish faith is certain to engender in every ingenuous and active mind-shook his soul, and he renounced for a time the profession to which he had been educated, and travelled extensively. It was while residing in London, without a settled pursuit, and without friends to advise his course, that one of those fits of enthusiasm seized on him, which the German character is peculiarly liable to, and which, perhaps, his early education may have had some share in producing. He instantly determined on becoming a Jesuit, and it is the results of his experience that he now places before the public.

"Few men can be better qualified to form a sound opinion of the Jesuit system, or to pronounce an impartial judgment on it. He is animated by no personal rancour, and has no other object in his narrative than fair exposition of truth. He has seen much of life in its various states; and has resided in many of the continental states and in America. For some years past he has been quietly settled in England, honourably and usefully engaged in educational duties.

"We mention these particulars not to exalt the importance of his narrative, but merely to show that he may be relied on as an intelligent observer. Satisfied of the authenticity and fairness of his disclosures, we shall know how to deal with any attempts that may be made to impugn them, or any attacks that may be levelled at the writer."Britannia, Nov. 15th, 1845.

make, and have made,-the Author proceeds to give such other information respecting himself as may be necessary for the right appreciation of his noviceyear, and to enable the reader to account for what might otherwise seem inexplicable.

The Author was born in the island of St. Bartholomew, the Swedish colony in the West Indies. At the time of his birth, and long after, his parents were sufficiently wealthy. The family mansion still belongs to the family: but its children have been scattered far and widely apart by the tide of misfortune or the hand of Providence.

The Author's father was of German and English origin; his mother of French and African extraction. The former was a liberal Protestant, the latter not a bigoted Catholic; she was not a communicant, though a regular attendant at Mass on Sundays. Still, of six children five were devoted to the baptism of Rome, and only one conceded to that of Luther.

The Author was one of the five. His early train

* The priests were frequent visitors at our house; they were always welcome. Respecting one of them, an Irishman, the Author remembers an anecdote characteristic of his mother. The priest relished some excellent claret which he drank at our table. My mother offered to supply him with some out of her stock. He asked the price-offered less, adding that he "would pray for her." "Now you shall not have it at any price, sir: whether in jest or in earnest, your offer is equally unbecoming." When he left, she said to me, "I would have given him the wine, but for those offensive words."

ing was more physical than mental. To his seventh year, he was permitted to grow in health and strength, unmolested by study of any kind. Scorched and tanned by the vertical fierce sun of the tropics— battling ever and anon with the wild waves, and borne on their crests as they lashed the rocks of the sea-girt isle—with hook and line, seated on some solitary boulder, the waves breaking around—or with his father sailing in their pleasure-boat far out to sea, on that ocean which he had so often to cross in after life or engaged in some handiwork at home, learning to use every mechanical tool; for his father prided himself in being able to work at every trade, self-taught: such was his childhood.

His father was fond of travelling; generous to excess, and lavish of expenditure: his mother was liberal, charitable*-a mother to all in affliction; a prudent manager of the temporalities, which she always kept in a flourishing condition. The former was only ostensibly a merchant, but the latter was “the man of business."

He has the tenderest remembrances of both his

* The poor asking alms were never "sent empty away;" but she would call one of her children, put her gift in the hand of the child to be given to the beggar,-thus inculcating those words of life-" Go thou and do likewise." Is her child wrong in seeing the reward of her charity in the blessings which Providence has showered upon him by the hands of the gentle hearted? Is it not written "Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days."

SECOND EDITION.

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parents, particularly his mother. Many of their maxims he often calls to mind.

His mother possessed a strong and brilliant mind, though uncultivated by what is commonly called "education." She spoke French and English with the accent of a native, and was fluent and entertaining in conversation. Strict punctuality in all her engagements characterized her no less than ardent feelings: she was a great hater of debts: she left none at her death for her children to pay : scrupulous justice was her rule through life. An anecdote in point may be interesting. The Author, in one of his boyish rambles with a companion, discovered a hen's nest containing a large number of eggs. It was in the centre of a hedge of cactus (or prickly pear), whose formidable spikes seemed to defy a breach; but we pioneered an entrance, and divided the booty. We filled our hats and marched off triumphant. The Author passed by his aunt's house: upon being informed of "his good fortune," she said, "Well, boy, your mother will soon send you back with them." In effect, his mother met him as he entered the door. He stated the case. "Do you know whose hen laid the eggs?" she asked. The question had not occurred to him before. "Now go and take them back at once. Thou shalt not steal.' He obeyed; but not deeming it necessary to observe the same precaution in replacing as he had in abstracting them, he

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pitched them into the nest with "ruinous assault". a perversity for which he feels regret to the present day.

Truth-telling and candour were early inculcations, and were promoted by that confidence-mutual confidence-which enhances filial and parental affec

tion.

To prefer the useful, we were always exhorted; and matter-of-fact was preferred to fiction.*

None of the tales usually scattered in the nursery were read in the family; the Author's companions by choice were grown men: he shunned boys of his own age: he disliked the company of girls and women. He remembers being reprimanded by his mother for his incivility to the fair sex ! Perhaps the scrupulous innocence of his early life had its origin in temperament: but his relish for constant occupation certainly tended to ensure that inestimable boon. God be thanked!

Constant occupation was his delight. He made

*The Author's father was a constant reader of" Plutarch's Lives," and a great admirer of Esop's Fables. The volume of the latter given to him when a boy, with his name written in pencil on the titlepage by his father, the Author has still in his possession; and he continues, in his thirty-first year, to relish its "wise saws and modern instances." The love of "fact" above alluded to was exemplified in his early reading. A friend of the family gave him the use of his library. Whenever he went for a book, his constant question was"Is it true?" A difficult question, certainly, but unless answered with the broad affirmative, the book was always refused. He did not read a novel before his twenty-first year: the above anecdote refers to his tenth.