484 
time so numerous, required a numerous 
clergy. We have no documents before 
us for ascertaining the number of the 
regulars educated on the Continent. 
We learn, however, that there are still 
friars of various religious orders in Tre- 
jand, such as Franeciscaas, Dominicans, 
Carmelites, Augustins, &c. &c. who all 
had their convents abroad, or free access 
to the convents of other nations. The 
two first had very numerous houses in 
Louvain: Prague had an Irish convent of 
ene hundred friars. Lisbon and Rome, 
Lorraine and Flanders had others: in 
short, in almost every Catholic seat of 
léarning, there were Irish friars! It 
would appear their number far exceeded 
that of the secular clergy. They are now 
dying off, andif there be no extraordinary 
supply of well instructed successors, 
their loss will be severely felt by the ca- 
tholic congregations that are under their 
charge. 
Of the secular clergy,* or clergy pro- 
perly so called, brought up on the Con- 
tinent, the following is the statement of 
Dr. Dunn, laid before the House of 
Commons. Scholars. 
In Paris, Coll. des Lombards - 100 
Ditto, Community rue Cheval Vert - 80 
Wantz 9-06 = 254 Xe. = B80 
Bourdeaux - - - = - - -~ = 40 
Douay - = = - = = -'= - 30 
Toulouse. - - - = = = - = 10 
Gales es eka | ot areas 
Total in France 343 
In Louvain 
ey ae eh 
Antwerp - - -i- ~ - = +=’ 36 
Salamanca ‘== se ee SS 88 
Rome! fo se eet Tee ae ae 
eee sie Tar erie St covery ae 
130 
348 
— 
Total 478 
Professors - 27 
‘* The secuar clergy are so called from 
Seculiim, the werld : because from their duties 
they are obliged to intermix with the world. 
The bishop is the only superior ef all the 
secular clergy in his diocese. They are not 
bound by the vow of poverty, nor do they 
‘Jive in communities. The regular clergy, 
so called from Regula, arule, are bound by 
their vows to poverty, chastity, and obedi- 
ence. Where the laws of the country permit 
it, they live in communities, and have su- 
periors of their own, generally chosen by 
themselves, and often exempt from the ju- 
risdiction of the bishop, except in pastoral 
Account of the College’ of St. Patrick, 
[July 1 9 
Of the whole number, about fifty-two 
supported themselves, or were supported 
by their friends. The others were either 
supported by foundations and bursar- 
ships, or lived during their residence at 
the college by the exercise of sacerdotal 
functions. For necessity had introduced 
and sanctioned a practice peculiar to 
Ireland. This was to ordain the youn 
priests previous to their studies, aa 
when they officiated for the first time, a 
collection or otlering was made by the 
congregauion to equip them, and bear 
their expences to the’ Continent, where 
serving the altar, they continued to live 
by the altar, till they finished their re- 
gular course. It may be supposed that 
this method was attended with some in- 
conveniences; the studies were in gene- 
ral hurried over with too much haste; 
but the wants of the Catholic congrega- 
tions were often too urgent to admit of 
more leisure. 
By such resources was the priesthood 
recruived before the French Revolution: 
that event deprived the Irish Catholics 
of almost every means of religious edu- 
cation. The annual supply of about one 
hundred secular priests, and at least an 
equal number of friars, had failed for se- _ 
veral years, and of course the number of 
vacancies had increased to an alarming 
degree, when the Catholics of Ireland 
ventured at last to petition government 
for leave to found a college from their 
own contributions, No farther did their 
petition go: no more did they stand in 
need of: pecuniary aid, however inconsi- 
derable from each, one shilling, nay six- 
pence a head, would from such a popu- 
lation have amounted to more than was 
required. But without permission they 
could not dispose of their own money in 
their own way. By the laws still exis- 
ting, every foundation, every legacy be- 
queathed to the education of Catholics is 
superstitious, null, and of no effect.* 
Here the administration seems to have 
been embarrassed. To refuse the prayer 
of the petition would have been illiberal 
in the extreme, and would have forced - 
functions. They are also called religious 
orders, and of them there is a great variety. 
‘* This is stated as a preamble to the Act, 
‘¢ Whereas by the laws now in force in this 
kingdom, it is not lawful to endow any Col- 
lege or Seminary for the education exclusively 
of persons professing the Roman Catholic 
religion, and it is now become expedient that 
a Seminary be established for that purpose, 
therefore be it enacted, &c.” 36 George Ill. 
Cap. 21. 
g the 
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