DOM GAUTHEY. 203 According to some French works a Cistercian Father, Dom Gauthey, published in Philadelphia in 1783 a prospectus inviting subscriptions for a system of conveying messages by means of tubes, but investigation has not obtained any proof of the presence in this country of the scientific priest, thus recognized as the inventor of the speaking tube.' The Records of the American Philosophical Society contain no allusion to such a proposal, and no copy of the Prospectus has yet been found. CHAPTER V. THE CLERGY IN THE UNITED STATES SOLICIT A SUPERIOR FROM THE POPE THE FRENCH INTRIGUE-DR. CARROLL'S CON TROVERSY WITH WHARTON-HE IS APPOINTED PREFECT DURING the continuance of the conflict between Great Britain and the United States, direct intercourse between the two countries was, of course, suspended, and from an early period of the Revolutionary war, correspondence, even by way of France or Belgium, became almost impossible. Before the close of the war the venerable Bishop Challoner died on the 10th of January, 1781, and the Rt. Rev. James Talbot, who had been consecrated Bishop of Birtha, on the 24th of August, 1759, and had from that time acted as coadjutor, became Vicar-Apostolic of the London District, with jurisdiction over the faithful in the United States. "But," as Dr. Carroll subsequently wrote, "whether he would hold no correspondence with a country which he perhaps considered as in a state of rebellion, or whether a natural indolence and irresolution restrained him, the fact is, that he held no kind of intercourse with priest or layman in this part of his charge. Before the breaking out of the war, his predecessor had appointed a Vicar, the Rev. Mr. Lewis, and he governed the mission of America during the Bishop's silence." 1 1 Bishop Talbot went further; when in 1783 the Revs. John Boone and Henry Pile, two Maryland priests belonging to the suppressed Society, who had been unable to return to their native land during the war, applied to the Bishop 1 Carroll, "Sketch of Catholicity in the U. S.” ACTION OF THE CLERGY. 205 for faculties, he refused to give them, and declared that he would exercise no jurisdiction in the United States. These two priests apparently then wrote to the Propaganda for faculties, and thus brought the condition of affairs in the United States before the Head of the Church.' The Maryland clergy, fearful of exciting prejudice against themselves, made no attempt to restore the dependence on England; all their writings show that they desired only to have a local Superior chosen from their own body, and subject directly to the Pope. Yet for a few priests, all members of an order so recently suppressed by one of the Sovereign Pontiffs, to obtain a hearing or favor at Rome, seemed almost impossible, the more especially as the country had no ambassador at Rome to lay the matter before the Holy See. But this consideration did not prevent their taking action. Left to themselves, the clergy in Maryland and Pennsylvania, after the suppression of the Society of Jesus was formally notified to them, lived under provisional and informal regulations. The regulations or statutes of the VicariateApostolic of London were not apparently communicated to them or enforced. After Rev. John Carroll arrived in 1774, no other priest came over from Europe, the war which followed preventing further intercourse with England. Rev. Anthony Carroll, who accompanied him, returned to Europe the next year; Rev. Matthias Manners died at Bohemia, June 15, 1775; Rev. Arnold Livers at St. Inigoes, August 16, 1777; Rev. George Hunter at St. Thomas', August 1, 1779; Rev. Peter Morris at Newtown, November 19, 1782. Thus had their little band been fearfully thinned in less than ten years. Roman memorandum on a letter from Maryland to the Propaganda, November 10, 1783. The two priests came over in 1784 (Foley, Treacy). With the peace in 1783 came the Rev. Leonard Neale, destined to exercise a great influence in his native land as priest, Vicar-General, Coadjutor Bishop, and finally Archbishop of Baltimore, as well as founder and director of the first Monastery of Visitation Nuns in this country. Leonard Neale, son of William and Anne Neale, was born October 15, 1746, at their mansion near Port Tobacco, in Charles County, of a family long settled in the Province of Maryland, the founder of this family, Captain James Neale, having arrived here before 1642, when we find him privy councillor. His wife had been one of the maids of honor to Queen Henrietta Maria, and the name of the consort of King Charles I. was perpetuated for generations in the family of Neale. Captain Neale had lived for some years in Spanish and Portuguese territory, and four of his children, born out of England, were naturalized in Maryland after his arrival.1 Young Leonard was sent to Europe at the age of 12 by his widowed mother; he entered the Jesuit College at St. Omer and continued his academic course there and at Bruges and Liege. Feeling, like several of his family, that he was called to serve God in the religious state, he entered the Society of Jesus at Ghent on the 7th of September, 1767. When the Society was suppressed six years afterward he was a priest and pursuing his third year in theology at Liege. He purposed returning to America, but undertook a mission in England. After a time, finding that a field for missionaries was opened in Demerara, he offered to serve in that unhealthy colony, where the authorities allowed no public worship to Catholics. On the 4th of May, 1780, he obtained faculties for the mission from the Most Rev. Ignatius Busca, ' Davis, "Day Star of American Freedom," New York, 1855, pp. 85, 150, 243, 268. ! MEETING AT WHITEMARSH. 207 Archbishop of Emesa and Apostolic Nuncio at Brussels. He probably reached Demerara the same year and labored with zeal among the Indians and the colonists, addressing a report on his labors to the Prefect of the Propaganda in 1782. He is said to have left Demerara in January, 1783, having resolved to labor in his own country. On his home voyage he fell into the hands of British cruisers, but arrived in Maryland in April. He was welcomed by his missionary brethren there, as well as by his kindred, and after attending the meeting called at Whitemarsh, was stationed at Port Tobacco. The priests in Maryland and Pennsylvania had long felt the want of some organization to preserve the property then in the hands of individuals, and to maintain some form of discipline till the Holy See provided for the wants of the Church in the United States. A letter was addressed by several of the clergy to the Rev. John Lewis, who still continued to act as Vicar-General of the Vicar-Apostolic of London. In this they asked him to attend a meeting which they regarded as absolutely necessary for the preservation and well-government of all matters and concerns of the clergy, and the service of religion in this country. As Rev. Mr. Lewis concurred willingly, the meeting was called at Whitemarsh, Maryland, on the 27th of June, 1783. It was attended by the Revs. John Carroll, John Ashton, Charles Sewell, Bernard Diderick, Sylvester Boarman, and Leonard Neale, the last representing also the Revs. Ignatius Matthews, Louis Roels, and John Bolton, who were unable to attend. At this meeting views were interchanged, and the plan of a form of government was submitted. This was then communicated to all the priests in Maryland and Pennsylvania, and as it was found not easy to bring all together, districts were formed, from each of which the clergy were to send |