neat village on the Canada side of the river, I had a few moments' conversation regarding the colony, with the tavern keeper, who was a Scotchman. He, of course, did not know who I was, whence I came, or whither I was going. When I asked him how is the emigration going on this time; and who were principally the emigrants? He replied, They are mostly Irishmen, they will soon have five to one against us,-Scotch and Englishmen.' And, said I, what sort of people are these Irish? 'They are,' he answered, very noisy people when they drink; they hitherto received from government five pounds, with some, rations, each family, as an encouragement to settle and clear the forest; when that allowance is consumed, they almost invariably slip over to the States; there is no stability in their loyalty to our government.' At the other side of the river, which is here about two miles in breadth, we saw a rising village, called, I think, Ogdensburgh. I asked my host whether they held any intercourse with the yonder town?' 'Yes,' said he,' we smuggle across all their commodities, notwithstanding the extreme rigor of the revenue laws.' What, continued I, could they possess that you possess not; is not your climate as good, soil as fertile, and your skill in agriculture equal, if not superior to theirs? All that is true,' replied the loyal Scotchman, but the governments are not alike.' Then he began in the Highlands squeaking, drawling tone, a long history of the enormous duties on tea, the total absence of internal improvements, &c. in the Canadas.' But as the boat is now moving from the wharf, I had with reluctance to break up his curious story.

6

Once more are we carried on the waters of the St. Lawrence. How grand and sublime are sceneries she presents to the traveller. The vast river, the only outlet from the extensive lakes in the north west, spreads out every now and then, from two to ten miles, is bordered all along with thick and gloomy forests, and speckled with islands of various dimensions, that are also vested with wood of all sorts, that never heard the sound of the axe, Myriads of pigeons, grouse, ducks, and geese, on the wing overhead, making the annual migration to the southern climes from the frosty regions below. The waters that was hitherto but one continuation of stagnant pools and lakes, quicken into life, as we

neared the great Rapids, which are not, perhaps, surpassed for sublimity and grandeur by any others in the world.

Here the mighty surges roar with fury for the obstruction of the rocks beneath, and there they heave aloft the glittering spray; then the impetuous current rushes down through the wooded islands that present their pointed beaks, as if, in proud defiance of the angry flood. Meantime, the crew leaning on the uplifted paddles sing the merry song, seeing the giddy barge skipping on nine miles. an hour, without sail or oar. The evening of the third day brought us into Montreal; where I halted four days among my clerical brethren. Now that the ice stretched far into the river; that there were some inches of snow; and that the tinkling bells announced at every side, what I had never seen before,-the trotting sleigh, I forsook the boat and resolved to prosecute my journey by this novel mode of travelling. I was not sorry for the change; for I think it the pleasantest land travelling imaginable. And what added much to my pleasure, I found the genuine Canadians on the route the neatest and the most respectful people to the stranger, that I ever met with in any country. They retain the soft accent and vivacity of France, their mother country; and fortunately, they have kept their religion clear from the rueful philosophy that deluged many parts of Europe.

The report that reached me in New York, with regard to the suppression of usury in Lower Canada, was, as I have learned along the road, founded on fact. The usurer is detested more than the thief or drunkard himself; he is every where pointed at by the finger of scorn, as an infamous wretch that seeks riches in the tears and moans of the distressed; a blood sucker, a traitor that would sell his country as he has sold his God, for gold, if a purchaser could be obtained.

Inspired with confidence from hearing that usury was reprobated in the colony, I went, on my arrival in Quebec, to Dr. Plessis, Arch-bishop of the province; he appeared satisfied with my papers, and expressed his intention to employ me, until he asked where and when I landed from Europe?' I replied that I landed last April in New York; he rejoined, It is notorious that the Bishop of that city, Dr. Connelly, being an Irishman, is remarkably

partial to Irish clergy, and that he is always in need of several missionaries for his extensive diocese. As he gave you no encouragement, nor even allowed you to celebrate mass, I do not see how you could expect it from me. Had you landed in this port, direct from Ireland, I should feel most willing to comply with your request.' Thus was dashed into pieces the cup that I was raising to my lips; thus was frustrated my journey of seven hundred miles through woods, rivers, and lakes ; under rain, frost, and snow. Thy will be done, O God, on earth, as it is in heaven. Seeing that, now in the middle of December, all persons, male and female, were muffled in fur caps, cloaks, vests, and shoes, which gave them much the appearance of standing bears, I felt convinced that my Irish manufactures would not match a Canadian winter. To the Rev. Mr. Desjardin, justly called the good priest' who honored the mission of Quebec since the dispersion of the clergy in 1793, from his native city, Paris, I had a letter of introduction. After having ministered to me for some days the rights of hospitality at his own residence, he gave me a winter billet on the Rev. Thomas McGwire, Curè of St. Michael, thirteen miles down the river.

Mr. McGwire, decendant of respectable emigrants from Kilkenny, Ireland, had great esteem for Irishmen, possessed a good collection of select books; was a man of a fine disposition, superior talents, and extensive infomration, particularly in the sacred science; besides the French, which is the language of the colony, he spoke the English as fluently as any Englishman. His saintly example and conversation for three months that I spent at his house, together with the reading of his valuable books, made an impres sion on my mind that could not be readily effaced. Moreover, it was customary with the clergy of the district to dine every Thursday with the pastors in rotation; not so much for the good cheer as for discussion sake. To these holy entertainments had I always been invited. They were indeed synods wherein were solved questions the most difficult, and from which the pastors carried home wholesome medicine for the spiritual and corporal wants of their respective flocks. The harmony between the shepherds and the sheep was such that it might be truly said of them, I am the good shepherd; and I know mine and mine know me.

Notwithstanding the kind sympathy of my clerical brethren in all places, and having the honor to suffer for justice sake, I must, to my shame, confess that grief and sadness had often overwhelmed my soul, and that my feet had often well nigh slipped, had not thy right hand, O God, upheld me. Three considerations contributed to support me first, the conviction that usury or increase is reprobated in both Testaments, and by the Fathers and Councils of the Church; secondly, learning on my visit to France in 1819, and now to Canada that it is condemned by the clergy of both countries; and lastly, seeing that all persons that practise or defend usury, are actuated by profane or selfish motives; never pretending that the Redeemer or the Apostles lent or borrowed money at interest, nor that he taught the people to practise it.

It

As usury was the source of all my afflictions, the cause why I left the endearments of my native land, crossed the stormy seas and mingled with strange people, it was always uppermost in my mind and ripe on my tongue; the leading subject of my enquiries in all places and companies. My note book is by this time pretty well stuffed with Popes, Fathers, Councils, and historical extracts. was at Mr. McGwire's the first thought occured to me of submiting them to the public. Consequently as soon as the vernal sun tempered the north wind, the furs were partly laid aside, and the sleigh swiftly glided along the snow, I intimated to my pious host my intention to depart for Montreal. He prayed heaven for my protection, and giving me a hearty shake with one hand, he slipped with the other a heavy purse into my side pocket.

In Montreal one room a few feet square at Mr. Lafleur's, a pious Catholic, served for my parlor, bed room, dressing room, and library. Here were spent some weeks in arranging my notes and quotations into a book to be published, if possible, on my arrival in New-York. When I passed down through Albany I signified to the Catholic pastor the low state of my finances; he promptly procured me eighteen dollars. And on the 16th March 1824, I returned after the absence of five months to New-York; where all the streets are in busy bustle and each hotel in requisition by the sons of Erin to celebrate the Anniversary of her patron Saint the next day. On the 18th, when the festive joy subsided and reason resumed her

wonted station, I went round among the Editors with my manuscript. But the keen lads seeing that it militated against usurers, who were their best customers, would neither purchase nor print it on my own account, without prompt payment or solvent security. And how could I, who had not three dollars in the world, nor a friend willing to join me in a note for twenty, surmount this fresh difficulty? It might be justly imagined that my production would never see the light. However, as if Providence would have willed it, a printer of an inferior caste who was absolutely idle, and eager to grasp at any job, threw himself into my way and undertook the work without payment down, or security. The edition that was but 500 copies could never be rescued from this man's hungry grasp, had not a few friendly subscribers paid me in advance for some copies; whereby I redeemed more which I sold and then redeemed others; and so on I continued to act till the whole slipped from his tyrant hands. Here let me observe that two days subsequent to my agreement with him for the publication, I happened to meet a friend who told me that a letter was advertised four months ago for me at the Post-office. When I went to enquire, they found it with difficulty amongst the dead letters. What should it be but the Holy See's Reply to my Appeal of 15th August 1822, as already mentioned in page 15. It was addressed to me in Ross Carberry, and thence re-directed after me to America. Glory be to God. How sweetly he disposes all things! How opportunely had it arrived for being inserted in the book! As it is perhaps the latest Definition that is given by the Vicar of Christ on the subject, to this, or to any other part of Christendom, the reader will undoubtedly peruse it attentively. He will find it quoted at full length both in the original latin and rendered into English, in the body of this book.

The Holy See begins the Definition by acknowledging the receipt of my Appeal; then declares their motive for transmitting to me the five Rules of Benedict XIV; and concludes in the following heavenly strain. 'If you duly weigh the contents of that letter; if you do with docile and humble mind embrace them; if you do in every respect follow them, there is no reason, why the above mentioned prelate could in justice be angry with you on the doc