174 PROJECTED BANISHMENT OF ROOKS. 



determined on the total destruction of Chris- 

 tianity, he remarked, that he must begin with 

 the Jesuits. Chiefly by his own intrigues, and 

 those of the kept mistresses in the different 

 courts of Europe, the suppression of this cele- 

 brated order was effected. Very soon after 

 this had taken place, the civilised Indians of 

 America fell off rapidly from their improved 

 state, and ultimately returned to their original 

 wild habits, whilst vice and ignorance took the 

 lead in the European settlements, and have re- 

 tained it to this day. Frederick, the far-famed 

 King of Prussia, foresaw the future evils of 

 this suppression in their true colours, and he 

 made the following remark in a letter to Vol- 

 taire : — ' I have no reason to complain of Gan- 

 ganelli ; he has left me my dear Jesuits, who 

 are the objects of universal persecution. I 

 will preserve a seed of so precious and uncom- 

 mon a plant, to furnish those who may wish to 

 cultivate it hereafter.' In our days, we have 

 lately seen the people of South America apply- 

 ing to Rome for missionaries from the Society 

 of Jesus. 



" I defend my sable friends the rooks here in 

 England on account of their services to the 



