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

which is, in our calamities, the sweetest of my consolations. I have the
honor to be, with the highest regard, sir, your most obedient, &c.
"L'Abbé de la SEPOUZE.
"_At the Hague, December_ 30, 1794."
During our author's stay at St. Omer's, a thesis was printed and
publicly defended, in a neighboring university, which excited his
attention. Mr. Joseph Berington presided at the defensions of it. It
certainly contained many propositions which were offensive to pious
ears; but respectable persons are said to have declared, that it
contained nothing materially contrary to the faith of the Roman Catholic
church; and the editor feels it a duty incumbent on him to add, that one
of the bishops, to whom our author was grand-vicar, mentioned to the
editor, that he thought his vicar had shown too much vivacity on that
occasion.
Footnotes:
1. Sieni aquila provocans ad volandam pullos suos et super eos
volians expandit alas suas--_Deuteron_. cap. 22.
XIV.
Both from our author's letters, and from what is recollected of his
conversations, it appears that he often explicitly declared that, if
powerful measures were not adopted to prevent it, a _revolution in
France_ would take place, both in church and state. He thought
irreligion, and a general corruption of manners, gained ground
everywhere. On the decay of piety in France, he once mentioned in
confidence to the editor a circumstance so shocking, that even after
what has publicly happened, the editor does not think himself
justifiable in mentioning it in this place. He seems to have augured
well on the change of ministry which took place on the expulsion of the
Choiseuls. He was particularly acquainted with the cardinal de Bernis,
and the mareschal de Muy. Of the latter he writes thus in one of his
letters. "Mr. de Muy, who has sometimes called upon me, and often writes
to me, as the most affectionate of friends, is unanimously called the
most virtuous and upright nobleman in the kingdom. The late dauphin's
projects in favor of religion he will endeavor to execute. He is
minister of war. The most heroic piety will be promoted by him by every
method: if I gave you an account of his life, you would be charmed by so
bright a virtue."
XV.
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