The Lives of the Saints Volume 1 - St. Patrick's Basilica

exposes in his letters are sometimes the errors of a very young writer.
The letters are written with ease and good-humor; they show various and
extensive learning, a vigorous and candid mind. They met with universal
applause.
V.
In the year 1745, our author accompanied the late earl of Shrewsbury and
the honorable James Talbot and Thomas Talbot on their travels through
France and Italy. He wrote a full, entertaining, and interesting account
of them. As it will be published, the editor makes no extracts from it
in this place. He was always solicitous that the noble personages
committed to his care should see whatever deserved attention, and be
introduced to persons distinguished by their rank, talents, or virtue.
He drew out for them a comparative view of the Greek, Roman, and Gothic
architecture; an account of the different schools of painting; and an
abridgment of the lives, and remarks on the different characters, of the
most eminent painters. These will be found in his travels. He kept them
from all stage entertainments: "The stage entertainments," he says, in
one of his letters, "I can give no account of, as we never would see
any; they being certainly very dangerous, and the school of the passions
and sin, most justly abhorred by the church and the fathers. Among us,
Collier, Law, &c.; among the French, the late prince of Condi, Doctor
Voisin, Nicole, &c., have said enough to satisfy any Christian; though
Tertullian, St. Cyprian, St. Chrysostom, are still more implacable
enemies of the stage. However, we saw the stages for their architecture,
where this was curious." His opinion of the evil tendency of stage
entertainments continued with him through life.
VI.
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On his return from his travels _our author was sent on the English
mission._ He {020} had long been engaged in his great work of the _Lives
of the Saints_, and was then bringing it to a conclusion. He naturally,
therefore, wished to be settled in London, for the convenience of its
public libraries, and the opportunities it affords of intercourse with
men of letters. But the vicar-apostolic of the middle district claimed
him as belonging to that district, and appointed him to a mission in
Staffordshire. This was a severe mortification to our author; he
respectfully remonstrated; but the vicar-apostolic was inexorable, and
required his immediate obedience. A gentleman who lived in the same
house with him at the time, has mentioned to the editor, that he was
with him when the summons came; and that on receiving it, he appeared
much hurt, retired for half an hour to his oratory, and soon after set
off for his country mission.