116 WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA 



in his ''History of Brazil," "Missioners, whose 

 zeal the most fanatical was directed by the coolest 

 policy"? 



Was it fanatical to renounce the honours and 

 comforts of this transitory life, in order to gain 

 eternal glory in the next, by denying themselves, 

 and taking up the cross? Was it fanatical to 

 preach salvation to innumerable wild hordes of 

 iVmericans? to clothe the naked! to encourage the 

 repenting sinner? to aid the dying Christian? 

 The fathers of the Society of Jesus did all this. 

 And for this their zeal is pronounced to be the 

 most fanatical, directed by the coolest policy. It 

 will puzzle many a clear brain to comprehend how 

 it is possible, in the nature of things, that zeal the 

 most fanatical should be directed by the coolest 

 policy. Ah, Mr. Laureate, Mr. Laureate, that 

 "quidlibet audendi" of yours, may now and then 

 gild the poet, at the same time that it makes the 

 historian cut a sorry figure ! 



Could Father Nobrega rise from the tomb, he 

 would thus address you: — ** Ungrateful English- 

 man, you have drawn a great part of your in- 

 formation from the writings of the Society of 

 Jesus, and in return you attempt to stain its char- 

 acter by telling your countrymen that 'we taught 

 the idolatry we believed!' In speaking of me, 

 you say, it was my happy fortune to be stationed 

 in a country where none but the good principles 

 of my order were called into action. Ungenerous 

 laureate, the narrow policy of the times has kept 

 your countrymen in the dark with regard to the 

 true character of the Society of Jesus; and you 

 draw the bandage still tighter over their eyes by 



