"Unitarianism and unbelief, will, for ages to come, continue to prevent the great mass of the English people from even looking into the merits of the Ca"tholic religion. A comparatively small number will, however, always be "found, who, preferring the happiness of a future life to the interests and en"joyments of this, will seek only for the truth, and will find it in the religion of "their forefathers. The relaxation of the remaining penal laws, the spread of "education, and, perhaps, the change of names between the Sectaries and the “Church of England, would, by diminishing the difficulties of conversion, considerably increase the number of our converts. In the mean time, perhaps the "next greatest advantage that can be conferred upon the Catholic cause, are the "favourable opportunities which such high Churchmen as the Archdeacons of "Bath and Sarum afford to Catholic writers, to make the public acquainted with "our real doctrines, and to expose the misrepresentations under which our religion has been so long obscured."

"I shall now, very Reverend Sir, take my leave of you for a while. To"wards the beginning of November, when myself and other inhabitants of Bath "are returned home, you may expect to hear from me again, on the first and "most important subject discussed in Archdeacon Daubeny's "Protestant's "Companion," viz. WHICH is the true Catholic or universal Church of Christ, and WHO are its ministers; or, as that elegant writer politely expresses it, ""On the usurped supremacy of the Pope, and the boasted universality of the "Church of Rome.' 999 "In the mean time, I have the honour to remain, Very Reverend Sir, Your obedient Servant,

PETER AUGUSTINE BAINES."

Thanks to the Archdeacon of Bath for having called forth the eloquent and powerful pen of Dr. Baines-thanks to Archdeacon Daubeny for inducing his lordship to continue his career in the ever triumphant cause of Catholicity.

CATHOLICITY IN AMERICA.

We noticed in our last number that the Bishop of Cincinnati was shortly expected in town. The following address will explain the purpose of his Lordship's visit to this kingdom.

MISSION OF OHIO.

"The Diocese of Cincinnati embraces an extent of territory more considerable than the entire kingdom of France: it comprises the State of Ohio and territories, Michigan, and NorthWest.

"The Rev. Edward Fenwick traversed those countries in 1808, and at that period found three Catholic families only; but the joy evinced by these few on his arrival, was such as to confirm him in the design of devoting himself to the instruction of the whole population.

"The Rev. E. Fenwick was born in Maryland in the year 1687, and was sent for education to the College of the Dominicans, of Bornheim, in Flanders. Having entered the Order, and made his religious profession, he returned in the year 1804, to his native country, and soon after founded the Convent of St. Rose, in Kentucky:* an undertaking which absorbed the whole of his patrimony.

Though unaided in his labours in Ohio, a state peopled partly by the wild natives, and partly by Protestants, yet he felt not discouraged; for he bore in recollection what Jesus Christ had said to others who had preceded him: I will put into your mouth words which they cannot resist. Encouraged by this assurance, he penetrated into the vast forests of the country. In doing so, his object was two-fold: 1st, To reclaim to the Catholic Church those who had separated from her communion; 2dly, To announce the Gospel of Peace to Infidels. ---The Almighty blessed his labours: for the number of 20 Catholics, whom he found settled in Ohio in the year 1808, had in 1823 increased to 8000, whilst those who inhabited Michigan and North-West had become nearly as numerous.

"This rapid increase of Catholics determined Pope Pius VH. to erect the See of Cincinnati, of which the Rev. Father Fenwick, much against his will, was appointed Bishop, and was consecrated at St. Rose in 1822.-Never, perhaps, were the resources of a Prelate less proportioned to his wants; however, aided by the contributions of the old parishioners in Kentucky, he was enabled to proceed to Cincinnati. Two Ecclesiastics accompanied their Bishop on the occasion; these composed the whole of his Clergy.-Arrived at Cincinnati, obstacles presented themselves on all sides. A house was to be rented, some barely necessary furniture to be purchased; and further, a maintenance to be secured for the generous companions, who had recently shared with him the fatigues of his very long journey.

"At Cincinnati the Prelate found neither Church nor Chapel. A subscription was of course raised, but this proving insufficient for the purpose, the Bishop, (who had previously sacri

• See Catholic Miscellany for 1822, Vol. I. pages 55, 171, 320, 327, &c. &c. also for 1823, Vol. II. p. 19.

fieed his all in founding the Convent at St. Rose,) was constrained to purchase on credit the very ground on which a wooden Chapel has since been erected. This Chapel the Prelate names his Cathedral: but pitiful as is the building, it still in part remains unpaid for.

“Provided with this humble and unadorned Chapel the Prelate had still no Seminary, nor was there a prospect of forming one; when providentially a suitable building, with 56 acres of land, was offered for sale, the whole situate within half a mile of Cincinnati. The sum demanded, payable in seven years, was 7,000 dollars, or L.1575 sterling. The Prelate, who had been assured that the property in question would soon double in value, felt it his duty here to trust to a kind Providence. À something told him, not to let slip an opportunity of promoting God's glory, which might not recur. The purchase was agreed to, and the payment of an instalment will soon become due; a payment (oh! painful thought) to bepunctually made, or the engagement may fall to the ground.-In the mean time, be it remembered, that whilst the American Government offers no aid to Catholic Missionaries who labour in civilizing a savage population, the offerings of the Faithful (themselves indigent) are so scanty, as barely to secure these their Pastors from starvation.

"Thus circumstanced, several Prelates of America who, for Christ's sake, have renounced all that the word comfort implies, strongly exhorted Dr. Fenwick to proceed to Rome, there to represent, to the Sovereign Pontiff, the sad state of a Diocese of which, in obedience to orders received, he had taken the charge.

"In Italy Dr. Fenwick received various presents, consisting of Books, Church Ornaments, and Pictures: for these he feels grateful, but still reflects, with pain, that the very expense of carriage will prove so heavy as scarce to leave wherewith to defray the expenses of his own tedious journey to Cincinnati, still less that of the virtuous Ecclesiastics who have consented to repair to America, there to share the incessant labour with him.

Respecting Catholic American Missionaries, Dr. Fenwick feels it his duty to state, that they are men disinterested indeed

-men, who accept what the humane offer, but who solicit nothing-men, whom a straw bed, food, and garments of the coarsest kind quite satisfy-ready to attend the sick in distant parts, by night as well as by day, no dread of fatigue, no apprehension of danger in regions inhabited by men half savages, ever deters them. As Christ was himself extremely poor, so they glory in resembling their model-it is true, these admirable creatures suffer much; they admit it; but the pain endured is caused exclusively by the reflection that, in their poverty, they can open neither seminaries nor schools in regions where the Divine Word is never preached in vain.

"The inhabitants of Ohio, (in which state slavery is not tolerated) in general, are simple in their manners- -of a firm reflecting character-they covet instruction, and listen with pleasure to Missionaries sent amongst them-tribes of Indians have traversed the Lake Erie, in order to meet a Priest at Malden or Sandwich, who, speaking their lauguage, may marry some among them, and baptize the children of others-they have recently addressed petitions to the President of the United States, to demand Catholic Missionaries. We subjoin that of Magate Pinesinidjigo, Chief of the tribe of the Otawas.

"Father,

"At this present time I desire of thee to listen to me, and to all thy children. From this distant country they extend their arms, to grasp thee by the hand. We, the Chiefs, the Fathers of Families, and other Otawas residing at l'Arbre Croché,* pray eagerly, and supplicate thee, our respectable Father, to procure for us a Magate O gs 8 a (black robe); that is to say, a Missionary, like those who instruct the Indians in the neighbourhood of Montreal.

"Father, be charitable towards thy children; listen to them we desire to be instructed in the same Principles of Religion as our ancestors professed, when the Mission of St. Ignatius existed.

"We address thee, the first and principal Chief of the United States; we pray thee to assist us to build a House of Prayer.

"We will give land to cultivate to the Minister of the Great Spirit, that thou wilt send to instruct us, us and our poor children. We will pledge ourselves to please him, and follow his good advice. We shall find ourselves happy, if thou wilt send to us a man of God, of the Catholic Religion, of the same kind as those who instructed our fathers. Such is the desire of thy devoted children: they have the confidence that

* Crooked Tree.

thou, who art their Father, wilt have the goodness to listen to them. This is all that thy children demand of thee at present.

"All thy children, Father, present thee their hand, and

grasp thine with all the affection of their heart.

(Signed) "MAGATE PINESINIDJIGO," (Blackbird.)*

Many other Marks follow, (Signatures.)

"Encircled by countless tribes of this description, the Bishop of Cincinnati may indeed justly exclaim, The harvest is abundant, but the labourers are few. How often he has, during the last twelve years, administered Baptism he cannot easily state. From twenty to thirty persons, on the same day, have occasionally been regenerated in the Sacred laver. But how is this good work to be consolidated, unless Schools, Seminaries, and Priests are provided?

"Dr. Fenwick, therefore, implores the aid of a charitable Public in favour of his rising his infant Church-he conjures them to bear in mind, that his clients are helpless IndiansBeings the more worthy of compassion, as they are known to hunger and thirst after justice, and prize religion above every other blessing whatever.

"That alms déliver from death is well known to those whom he now addresses. They are pilgrims on earth, and niust, ere long, quit their present abode—their works, and their works only, will follow them-may then, all kindly meet this appeal in favour of fellow-creatures so deserving of pity-may they, at the hour of their respective deaths, recollect that thousands of Indians whom they shall have succoured, will be at the very moment imploring mercy in their favour.

* These Indians are accustomed to take the name of some Animal, and being unacquainted with the use of letters, their signatures are the representation of the Bird, Beast, or Fish, whose name they have assumed. The following are exact copies of some of them.-Ed.

Pakosigare

(First Chief of the Arbre Croché.

Tiguaganui

Macati Benessi

Wabagigui