ROMAN CATHOLIC RELIGION. 315 



tipon the society ; and I was the more inchned 

 to take this course, from a strong persuasion that 

 both the principles and the manners of the South 

 Americans have received their deepest stain from 

 this source. 



In preparing the materials, however, for this 

 exposition, the task proved at once revolting and 

 ungracious ; and, after some hesitation, it was de- 

 cided to relinquish the effect which it might pro- 

 duce in supporting this view. I felt, indeed, un- 

 willing to incur the risk of shocking the feelings of 

 many who may agree with me in thinking, that it 

 is scarcely possible to treat such a subject in de- 

 tail — and by details alone can it be done effectu- 

 ally — without a painful and needless degree of in- 

 delicacy. It is sufficient to mention, that, in the 

 practice of the Catholic religion, all its dignity, 

 and much of its utility, have been lost — the minds 

 of those subjected to its perverted institutions, and 

 disgusting forms, have been debased beyond all 

 example — and moral principles, also, and domes- 

 tic manners, have been, in consequence, scandal- 

 ously outraged in practice. Fortunately, however, 

 the real character and dispositions of the Ameri- 



