No. XXVI.] APPENDIX. 337 



that the book, which treats of some fifty special interpositions of the 

 Almighty, was written when the unfortunate sufferer was dying of disease 

 of the brain. 



The end is a clue to the melancholy story. Here was the brain active 

 and showing the utmost partial intelligence, gradually being destroyed ; 

 and the same incapacity to judge of the truth of hopping houses, and 

 other concocted miracles, made him incapable to judge of the truth of 

 Faber's pretension to rule his mind. 



Where there is organic disease of the brain, the mind may be active 

 and capable in a high degree of exercising some functions, and yet be 

 damaged and incapable of performing other functions. 



My relative was capable of doing great things, but incapable of resist- 

 ing the unnatural influence which Faber exerted. 



Dalgairns asserts that I want to introduce the principles of foreign 

 legislation. Certainly I do, as far as religious houses are concerned. 

 Many minds seem incapable, as a matter of fact, of resisting the combined 

 action of priests. In foreign Catholic countries they have had more 

 experience of priestly mode of action to secure the property of their 

 members. I believe myself that the Oratory is the most dangerous form 

 of Catholic confraternity. These houses have been suppressed before, and 

 doubtless will be again; and therefore the simple question is, are the 

 monastic houses in England now of sufficient importance to be abolished ? 

 That is a matter for the Legislature to decide. 



Dr. Dalgairns argues that an heir-at-law has no right, but every person 

 in a family has a natural expectancy over the fortune of every other member. 

 He had this natural right to his sister's property, and his sister had a 

 natural right to her brother's. 



These religious houses disturb the natural right, and not only are they 

 destructive by an absorption of the property, but also from the loss of the 

 influence and mutual assistance which takes place by intermarriages. 



Dr. Dalgairns says that he left a small reminder to his oldest and 

 most intimate friend, meaning Dr. Faber. Perhaps the world will estimate 

 Dr. Faber as his deadliest foe ; but why did he leave his property before 

 to the Duke of Norfolk, and why did not Dr. Faber leave the money to 

 his own family, who are known to have paid his college expenses, and are 

 supposed to have supported him at the time immediately preceding his 

 hold over my relative ? 



I will tell Dr. Dalgairns why. The whole transaction is a sham : and 

 the will found within the walls of the Oratory, leaving the money to the 

 head of the Oratory, with witnesses members of the Oratory, and the 

 executor another member of the Oratory, is for their common benefit; 

 that they are all co-partners ; and consequently that Dr. Dalgairns himself 

 is benefited by this legacy. 



The fortune which my relative possessed when Faber obtained his 

 mental rule, was not saved or collected by himself, but by his father and 

 uncle, for the general good of his family. Nothing can tend more to 

 prevent persons from saving money, if the successor, to save his soul, must 

 give it to his confessor, as my relative did. 



It is folly to argue that my relative could do as he pleased with his 

 money. He could not. He was bound by a spell. He had been cajoled 

 into believing that hell was his perpetual doom, if he did not obey Faber. 



Z 



