XXU AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF 



ever. About one o'clock in the morning, Monsieur 

 Raquedel, the family chaplain, thought that he 

 heard an unusual noise in the apartment next to his 

 bed-room. He arose, and, on opening the door of 

 the chamber whence the noise had proceeded, he 

 saw me in the act of lifting up the sash ; and he 

 was just in time to save me from going out at a 

 window three stories high. I was fast asleep ; and, 

 as soon as he caught hold of me, I gave a loud 

 shriek. I thought I was on my way to a neigh- 

 bouring wood, in which I knew of a crow's nest. 



I was now shortly to be conducted to a place 

 where at intervals I could attend to birds, without 

 much risk of neglecting books. 



The armies of the French republic having revo- 

 lutionised some of the finest parts of Europe, and 

 scourged the inhabitants ; it was no longer safe for 

 the Fathers of the Society of Jesus to remain in the 

 town of Liege, where they had a celebrated college. 



As the American war had caused a relaxation of 

 the penal laws which had been put in execution 

 against us with the most unrelenting severity, these 

 good fathers ventured to revisit their native land, 

 from which they had retired in early youth. The 

 generous Mr. Weld of Lulworth Castle in Dorset- 

 shire, immediately afforded them a resting place. 

 He well knew their worth, and he gladly stepped 

 forward to offer them his hand, in their utmost need. 

 Having succeeded by inheritance to the stately 

 mansion of Stonyhurst, near Clitheroe, in Lanca- 

 shire, to it he directed their wandering steps, and 

 bade them settle there. My father, who had been 



