himself and his family. These he employed in providing every thing proper to assist him in contending with the misery of a desert, where he might otherwise perish for want. He according furnished himself with the necessary instruments of labour, with grain for sowing, pots for fishing, and a supply of salted meat, on which he depended for subsistence, till the place of his abode was brought into a state to produce food. Such cares as these proceed from a well ordered, calm and powerful mind, that will never debase itself by despair, but feels a capacity to do and suffer every thing: It is the proper courage of man ; if it be true, that he is born to combat and to suffer.

He now left Tobolsk, but always attended by an escort who never lost sight of him, and in an uncovered waggon, drawn by a single horse occasionally relieved by dogs. It employed five months to traverse the immense deserts of Siberia from Tobolsk to Beresow, in which long journey he was exposed to all the inclemencies of the open air, in such a rude and severe climate; nevertheless his health, and that of his children, experienced no diminution. An unalterable patience supported him throughout, and he never appeared to bend for a moment beneath the rigour of his fate.

It was a singular occurrence, that having been admitted into a Siberian hut for the night, he should see a Russian officer enter it whom he knew, as having served under him, and who was returning from Kamschatska, where he had been sent, during the reign of Peter the great, on a commission relative to the discoveries which Captain Bering had been employed to make on the sea of Amur. When Menzicoff saluted him and called him by his name, the officer was astonished to find that he was known by any one in that remote region; but vain would be the attempt to describe his feelings when he found that the person who addressed him was Prince Menzicoff whom he had left in Russia in such a state of grandeur and power, as to render it almost impossible that he should be reduced to his present abject condition-But thus he saw him, and there he beheld his son mending the soles of his boots, and his daughters sitting on the ground and moistening in a wooden bowl of milk, the hard crusts of a black loaf.

That young "lass," said Menzico, pointing to one of them, "had the honour to be betrothed "to our emperor Peter the second."

The officer who knew nothing of what had passed in Russia during the period of his absence naturally expressed his astonishment; when Menzicoff related all that had happened to him, from the death of Peter, to the moment of his own exile. "You will," added he, "find Dolgorouki and Oster

man at the head of the government, and

you may describe to them the state in

"which you found me. Their hatred may "be flattered by it; but assure them that my "mind is more at large, and far more tranquil, than it ever was in the days of my prosperity."

66

Arrived at the place of his residence, Menzicoff, immediately occupied himself in mitigating for his children the horrors of their abode, by making it yield to his labour all the produce that labour could draw from it. He began by grubbing up a piece of ground sufficient to provide for his immediate necessities and there he sowed the seeds which he had brought with him. His cabin was very small, but with the assistance of his servants, he contrived to build a habitable dwelling. Each of his children had a separate department in the interior of the house. The eldest daughter, who had been betrothed to the Emperor, had the care of the kitchen; her sister's employment was to wash the linen and to mend the clothes: and two servants assisted them in the more laborious and fatiguing parts of their work.

He had arrived but a short time at Beresow, when he received a present which was as useful as it was unexpected. It consisted of a bull, and four cows in calf, a ram, and several sheep, and a great number of fowls.' This was a magnificent gift. These were real riches. But he could never discover from whose hand he received this act of real friendship and benignant bounty.

Religion, which is the last asylum of fallen grandeur and a disturbed mind, appeared to be the principal support and occupation of Menzicoff. He had constructed an oratory, and his house, in its religious offices, resembled a cloister. The whole family assembled daily for public worship; in the morning and at noon; in the evening and at midnight.

He had not been six months in the desert, when his eldest daughter was attacked by the small pox; he was her nurse and her physician, but all his care was in vain; he saw her die as he had seen her mother; and he recited over her lifeless form, the prayers which the Greek ritual prescribes for the dead. She was buried in his oratory, and he marked the place where he wished to be interred near her, remains, and which it was appointed by the being who measures out our days and years, that he should shortly occupy. The disease which had carried off his eldest daughter, was communicated to his other children; he had, however, the happiness to see them recover, but it was for a short time that he enjoyed it. Paternal solicitude more pain- ̧ ful and afflicting than the fatigue he under went and the privations he suffered, exhausted his strength; its decay he endeavoured

in vain to conceal. A slow fever brought him to his end. "How happy should I be," said he, at his last hour, s if I had only to "render an account to God, of the period of "myexile." He died in the month of November, 1729, in the arms of his children, exhorting them, while the power of utterance remained to him, to remember his errors and to avoid them.

The officer appointed to guard him took the first opportunity of transmitting the news of his death to Petersburgh; and indulged his children with more liberty than they had hitherto enjoyed. One day when the young Princess Nienzicoff was returning from the church at Beresow, she was astonished to hear herself called by her name, and to see a man, who, from the lattice of a hut covered with snow, made signs for her to approach. How great must have been her astonishment when she recognised Dolgorouki, the most bitter enemy of her father; and who had been the author of all the misfortunes of her family. Another striking example of the instability of human things! The court of Petersburgh had undergone a total change. Peter II. was dead, and Dolgorouki had contrived by his intrigues to place the Princess Anne, the niece of Peter the first, on the throne, to the prejudice of Elizabeth Pertowna, the daughter of that great man, and who afterwards reigned. The Empress Anne, oppressed by the weight of her obligations to him, and having given up herself and the management of her empire to foreigners, banished Dolgorouki, with all his family to the same Siberian deserts, where Menzicoff had finished his days. He had been treated even with greater rigour than Menzicoff; his wife was already dead; and one of his daughters was then dying. He concluded his narrative by uttering the most horrid imprecations against the empress, and her favourites. The violence of his emotions alarmed the princess and she hastily took her leave. When she communicated this adventure to her brother, his vindictive spirit broke forth on the occasion; but the officer who guarded them, threatened to deprive him of the little liberty he enjoyed, if he attempted to insult Dolgorouki in his misfortune, and exhorted him to follow the example of his father.

In a short time after, the minister of the Empress Anne, being informed of the fate of Menzicoff, consented to the return of the children, but more from interest than humanity. All the property of their father had been seized, and in the inventory of his ef fects, it appeared that he had placed considerable sums in the banks of Amsterdam and Venice; which their respective directors refused to pay to any one but the right heirs of Menzicoff, who must also give legal proofs that they had the entire disposition of their

property. The Empress having a desire to make the fortune of Biren, brother of the Count of that name, her chamberlain and favourite, whom she afterwards created Duke of Courland, had it in view to give him in marriage the daughter of Menzicoff, who would now bring a portion amounting to three millions of livres, without the interest. An order for the recal of this unfortunate family was accordingly expedited, and an officer dispatched who had orders to provide every possible accommodation for their jour ney. On receiving this unexpected news, they, in the first effusion of their joy, proceeded to return thanks to God in the church of Beresow; and as they passed by the hut of Dolgorouki, the young Menzicoff, remembering the lesson which he had lately received, spoke to him in terms of compassion and kindness. When he mentioned that they were free and recalled to court, Dolgorouki breathed a profound sigh, and conjured the children of Menzicoff to forget their former enmity, and interest themselves for him at the court of Petersburgh. Remember some, "times," said he to them, "the wretches "whom you leave in the desert; we are

66

sinking beneath the weight of our misery; "look through the lattice we beseech you, "and see my daughter, and my daughter-in"law borne down by disease, stretched "along on planks, and having no expecta"tion but to die; they have not sufficient strength to raise themselves; but refuse "them not the sad consolation of receiving "your adieus."

This spectacle of wretchedness did not fail to excite the most painful and commiserating emotions in the bossom of the young Menzicoff and his sister." We do not promise "you," said the prince," to speak in your "favour at court, as that might be attended "with danger to ourselves; but you may "become the master of that habitation "which we are about to quit; it is provided "with all the necessaries of life; and till a "better fortune is your's, receive this pre"sent, in the same spirit with which we "offer it."

On the following day they departed, after having paid their last visit to the oratory, and wept once more over the grave of their father, They returned to Moscow with all possible" expedition, and were kindly received at court, where they conducted! themselves with that modesty and discretion which they had learned in the school of misfortune. The Empress advanced the brother to the rank of captain in the regiment of guards, and mar ried the sister to Biren. It is confidently said, that Madame de Biren always preserved, but unknown to her husband, the peasant's dress which she had worn in her exile. She kept it in a secret place in her apartment, and

found a pleasure in an occasional contemplation of it. She practised, throughout her life, the virtues which her father had displayed only in the time of his disgrace. He declared, indeed, that he never was more happy than in his exile: but, be that as it may, it may be incontestibly asserted, that he was never so great.

PROPOSITA PHILANTHROPICA.
-homo sum

Humanum nihil a me alienum puto. MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Twelfth Report. May 15, 1806.

The missionaries in Otaheite have made no progress in converting the natives. This mission we understand will be withdrawn. The population of this island is diminishing very rapidly: it is thought that four or five thousand is the utmost number of its inhabitants. Such is the effect of that dreadful disease which poisons the springs of life: and of that inhumanity which steels the heart against the impres sions of parental affection. In Africa, the Hottentots are attentive; and some appear to be serious: but the character of the Dutch hoors, is degraded, by the reports of the missionaries, almost beyond credibility. A mission is sent to Tranquebar. At Madras, the missionaries have received the protection of the Government. At Ceylon, the Hon. the Governor has received the missionaries very favourably. China is in contemplation. This Society patronizes an effort addressed to the Jews.

FUNDS OF THIS SOCIETY.-Receipts. Balance of last year 252 9 11 Collections, Donations, &c. in

Ditto in the country.

Dividend on 16,000. 3 per cent. consols, one year

Ditto on 5,500. 4 per cent. con

London and vicinity.

.

Exchequer bills sofd

sols

220 0

185 0 0 11 9 7 £7273 13 5

1806.

In that part of America, which comprehends the states of Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusets, and the province of Maine, which belongs to the fastmentioned state, there are as yet but three missious established: the chief of them is at Boston, the other two are in the province of Maine. That at Boston, and that of Newcastle are of a recent date; the other is an Indian mission, established long since by the Jesuits of Canada.

Prior to the American revolution, the catholic religion was proscribed in the province of Massachusets, and almost in every other part of New-England: and although the penal laws, dictated by puritan enmity, at the establishment of the first colonies, were in some measure mitigated: they still continued very severe, when the revolution broke out; but at that time, partly from a desire of conciliating France and Canada, and chiefly from policy, and the prevailing philosophical ideas respecting tolerance (which had sprung up among Americans as natural consequences of their principles), a system of universal forbearance was adopted, by virtue of which such laws as were inimical to the catholic religion were repealed in some states, and among others in Massachusets, and its dependencies. In others, the presbyterians have a great superiority, and therefore deprive the catholics, indirectly, of certain civil privileges, and occasion some difficulties in the exercise of the clerical administration, notwithstanding the profession and public exercise of this religion be left entirely free.

re

The

However, when the legal obstacles were removed, others still more powerful, perhaps, prevailed; namely, the prejudices against, and abhorrence of the catholic religion, which the followers of Calvin, and of Knox, tained, and which the policy of England had been attentive to promote on account of the vicinity of the French in Canada. whole people was persuaded that the catholic religion was an abominable perversion, and those who professed it were so many monsters; and, although, the intercourse of the Americans with the French and other European nations, which the revolution contributed to extend, removed or diminished that impression in the minds of a certain number of persons, yet the mass of the people continue to hold it, and it is still predominant in some parts of the interior. The ideas and sentiments which that impression was naturally calculated to produce, prevented most catholics from settling in the country; and others, whom circumstances had brought there, from confessing their religious principles. Even at the period of the French revolution, there were but very few at Boston,

and those not known as such, nor did they so much as know one another. Some of them frequented the meetings, to screen themselves from the suspicion of being catholics, and the ridicule which must have followed that suspicion. The revolutionary horrors at St. Domingo, and other French islands, having brought a certain number of French to Boston, they took it in their heads, (from what motive we cannot certainly tell, not from any zeal for religion) to unite with some Irish catholics, and a French priest, formerly chaplain of a frigate, from which he was a deserter, to read in public the catholic service. But the principles and conduct of these Frenchmen, even of the ecclesiastic himself who was a mere adventurer, together with several quarrels and disputes, rendered those assemblies a gratifying spectacle to the curiosity of the Bostonians, and rather conduced to support their prejudices, than to remove them, and to edify the beholders. Nevertheless, these assemblies somewhat emboldened the few catholics resident at Boston, and those who in their hearts, had always been attached to that persuasion. They were continued under the direction of a second French ecclesiastic, who, having been interdicted by his bishop, and forced to quit France, had sought a refuge in America, at the time of the arrival at Boston of Mr. Thayer, a native of that place; who after having been a dissenting minister, had been made a convert at Rome. He returned to his country in the capacity of a missionary, well instructed, zealous, courageous, living an austere life, and possessed of every qualification adapted to a similar mission. Both in his sermons and in his writings, even in the news-papers, he gave public notice of his conversion; and of the motives which had been the occasion of it. He challenged the puritan clergy, proposed public conferences between himself and one of their ministers, which latter soon gave up the contest, in a manner that shewed him to have been over-matched. The spirit of this missionary and his success, inspired the catholics with confidence, revived their fervour, and even produced a few conversions notwithstanding the calunnies and vexations he had to

encounter.

He

In 1793, the Abbé Matignon professor of divinity at the college of Navarre in Paris, who had long been thinking of performing missions, was induced, on account of the revolution, to begin this new career. sailed for America, and was sent to Boston, by the bishop of Baltimore. There, besides Mr. Thayer, he met with a French ecclesiastic, of a somewhat doubtful character, who fomented dissentions among the few catholics there; taking advantage of the prejudices and prepossessions which the resentment of the projestants against Mr. Thayer spread, or endea

voured to confirm. Mr. Thayer was then sent to preach elsewhere. The eminent talents of Mr. Matignon, his zeal, gentle piety, disinterestedness, constancy, and mildness, reconciled those who were at variance; the other ecclesiastic was entirely forsaken, and Mr. Matignon acquired the universal esteem respect of the inhabitants of Boston, not even excepting the ministers. Fervour and piety prevailed among his adherents; conversions became more frequent, and his flock gradually increased.

and

In-1796, Mr. Cheverai, late rector of Mentz, after having exercised his ecclesiastical functions with great success in London, went over to America, and spent some time at Boston, with his friend Mr. Matignon, till the bishop of Baltimore had assigned him his appointment. Owing to a concurrence of circumstances, which in the issue appears to have been directed by providence for some happy purpose, the letters were lost; he accordingly was detained, and finally settled at Boston. From the moment the two friends were brought together, the mission was carried on with great success, and rapidly advanced towards the present flourishing state. It is now composed of nearly one thousand catholics; the greater part of them are Irishmen; the remainder Americans who have been converted it may be said with truth, that the piety and fervour of the greatest number is really edifying.

Those among the Irish who have been driven to Boston by the unhappy condition of their native country, are most of them ignorant, degraded by the abjection to which they were reduced, and still more by the vices and immorality which are consequent on all rebellions; but soon after their arrival the zeal of the missionaries revived in them sentiments of religion; being instructed, their morals were improved, and they became useful, and respectable members of society. The happy influence of the missionaries over that unfortunate class is generally known; and the important service they rendered to the whole town, is repaid with proportionate grati

tude.

It is rather a remarkable circumstance that the place where the catholics began to assemble, is a small chapel originally built for the use of the French protestants who had retired to Boston. This protestant congregation, which of late had rapidly declined, happened to be entirely dissolved at the time when the catholics thought of meeting in a body; so that this chapel was vacant. The catholics first rented it, and occupied it constantly till last autumn, when they took possession of the church which they had built.

The erection of the catholic church at Bos ton is a kind of miracle. The congregation is poor: yet in less than two years, they have

succeeded in collecting a sum of 100,000 francs, in building, if not the largest, at least the finest church in Boston. The protestants, themselves, have subscribed nearly 25,000 francs; and the catholics of the southern states 4 or 5,000. The remainder was supplied by the members of the congre gation, who have displayed liberality far be yond what could be expected; it is hardly conceivable that mechanic journeymen, and men of the lowest class, which constitute the mass of the congregation could have submitted to so great sacrifices. The church was consecrated on Michaelmas day of last year, by the bishop of Baltimore. There was a prodigious concourse of protestants present; the first people of Boston assisted at the ceremony, and treated our holy prelate with the greatest regard and civility.

This was a glorious event for our good catholics; and a large gilt cross placed on the top of an elegant steeple, in the centre of a town that was the capital of puritanism, and still more averse to our religion than Geneva in Europe; was indeed a triumph, which a few years before could hardly have been expected, and which would not have been believed, had it been foretold.

The church is built in a good taste, and is very neat inside, but void of every decoration, except a picture of the crucifixion, painted by an American artist. This painting, though very defective, produces a wonderful effect on the good people, and a deep impression in the minds of the protestants. Whilst witnessing those effects, we have often wished that the congregation were in circumstances to procure a better piece from Europe. The ornaments and articles of dress are also very indifferent; but it is not possible to get finer ones in this country. If we could be supplied with some formerly used in those churches of Europe that have been stripped, it would afford us the additional consolation to reflect that those same spoils are subservient to the establishment of our religion in a country where it was proscribed. But the distressed situation to which our catholics are reduced will not allow them to think of extra expenses at present.

Prior to this church being built, the little place where they assembled, could only adinit a small number of those protestants who wished to attend divine service, and the preaching; but now we have a great number of them every Sunday. They come with a view of being better acquainted with our mode of worship, and of hearing Mr. Cheverai who is reckoned the best preacher, not only in Boston, but throughout the United States; and I must confess I never heard one who produces more effect. His eloquence is brilliant, sweet and persuasive. Several persons who had, through curiosity, attended to hear

him, went away converts. In addition to his distinguished talents he possesses a loving, amiable, and courteous disposition, which has gained him the esteem and affection of the whole town, and contributed to advance his religious progress. He is still young, of a strong constitution, and zealous; but his exertions are such that we have reason to apprehend he will soon be exhausted. Unfortunate it is, that he cannot put a restraint on himself, and that the prospect of the good he may effect, will not permit him to listen to the daily representations of his friends.

Boston is not the only place where he spends his zeal; he displays the same in a manner no less consoling though less brilliant in his mission at Newcastle, along the river of Damascotti, and in the province of Maine ; a mission which he himself has established, and which offers most interesting particulars.

Two Irish catholics, possessed of a very small fortune had settled in those parts. Being strongly attached to their religion, they invited the ecclesiastics of Boston to visit them, and by their presence to administer spiritual consolation. Mr. Cheverai, as most inured to fatigue, paid them an annual visit, and from thence, as from a central point, he would call on some families, formerly catholic, scattered about the province of Maine, but who, for want of ecclesiastics to instruct them, had nearly lost sight of their religion. Those visits proved serviceable, not only to the catholics, but to those protestants who attended his private instructions and publicpreaching, so that, by degrees, he succeeded in forming a congregation of above two hundred catholics, most part of which are converts from all sects, even quakers, who were for a long time the most tenacious in their opposition. These catholics are dispersed at a distance of 4, 5, 10, 15, and even 20 miles from the little chapel at Newcastle. However, their devotion is such that they seldom fail, let the weather be ever so bad, repairing thither on a Sunday: I have not yet had the pleasure of seeing that congregation, but from what I have been told, the sight is equally pleasing and edifying. The bishop of Baltimore who had visited them, is in raptures whenever he speaks of them.

The chapel which they now occupy, and has been neatly decorated by one of those good catholics who had invited Mr. Cheverai, was originally a large store room.

Provi

dence, which seems to have directed them towards that spot there to introduce the catholic religion, has blessed their undertakings.. They have made a large fortune, in twelve years time; and finding the chapel too small for the admission of the protestants, have proposed to build, at their own cost, a magnificent church with a parsonage house, and to