The Press.
London, England, 1853-10-22 00:00:00

582

that it was reasonable that it should be answered. The
question having been repeated,
The witness said he could not say that he would submit
to answer it, because it appeared to him perfectly inele•
rant to the point. Ile came there for the purpose of
defending his vote, and not to state the vows that were
solemnly made by religious men. Being further pressed,
he stat.e'd that he had no hesitation in saying that he had
taken a vow of poverty, and chastity also. He declined to
state what was the effect of the vow of poverty. He had
as much right to the property in question au the Duke of
Northumberland had to his landed estates. So far as
related to the property for which they claimed, he and the
other sistmeu lwrsons had full power to sell or do whoa
they pleased with it, notwithstanding their vow of poverty.
The Banister : What is the effect of the vow of poverty

with r•spset•t to property ?
Witness : It means this, that we make use of our pro-
perty for the benefit of our religion, and for the general
good of society.
Mr. Hermit:Lt.: Am I to understand from you that so
far as reaped* property the vow of poverty has ISO effect
whatever ?
Witness : With regard to the law, the law has nothing to
do wit► our vow of poverty.
Mr. Itarmur.u. : I am tweaking with respect to the
rules of the order.
Witness : ion have nothing to do with the rule* of our
order. But those rules ►bon't eioncent this property.
Mr. Ilatisum.t.: Well, but I want to know what is the
effect of the vow of poverty with respect to property in
general ?
Witness: I have come to defend my vote for this pro-
perty, and not to go into the minutia• of my convent. It
it allgiglorolll to ask me suet. a question.
The Barrister: This rather alfeets the credibility of the
witness, because in making the vow of poverty he says he
has no ',ripen, whatever.
Witness : Au ; we most have proiwiiv, or we eannot
exist. We all have property ;we have what is called "
pe•enlium," whieh is a separate thing from the vow of
poverty.
The Barrister: What makes it a " peculium " ?
Witness: t ►ur own n•ivate fortunes, and any exertions of
our own during our lifietimo•s.
The Banister: Then 1 don't see what the vow of poverty

weans.
Witness : It comes to OW, that whatever we have will 1w
left to our convent at our deaths, or to some gold purpose ;
we cannot leave it to our friends or others.
The Barrister: Then you have only a life estate, and
that upon your own account of the matter.
Witness : It frequently happens that when a gentleman
beetients* a monk, with a tort lie rettervess a 'sealant poi,
lion of it, and that he eau distribute as he pleases by his
oval will. On (wing further interrogated the witness said
the proceed* tlf this property which was the soilsteet of the
claim to vote went at present to this support of 11w English
mission, which was under the spiritual control of the
superior. Ile added that the 111110)' with which the Iwo•
petty was' bought was partly borrowed.
In re examinal• ,by Mr. Charlton, witness said that
Mr. Minolta and the other elainemis named in the deed
could dispose of the property nm they tl 'hi proper.
Mr. ItaummEs t. said he apptv.lientled it was lett neeesssry
for him to take up the time of the court on this stistietst.
It appeared that, under the vow of poverty taken by religious
pertains, such persons could not possess any property in
land whatever. Any property which WAS conveyed to them
went to the benefit of the society to which they belonged,
anti they had it in evitlenee that this particular property
WAR efinVey..4l 41 the elnimants as trustees for the benefit of
the English mission. Mr. Lowe had stated that it would
KO hi that mission at the death of the parties, and, sup•
posing that were so, the present claimants hind clearly only
life interest in the prperty, and, instead of an inten•st of
40a. a year each being nap tinito to give them a qutilitlett•
lion, it was necessary and thee isriqwrty should Is• of the
at 1111 l value of 1704. at the least, which was not the ease.
The Barrister said the question was as to the
Is netirial
interest. The elanteints had never reeeivetlatiything front
tlw property. The evidence entirely (141011 1111011 Bud point.
and he should strike Oleo 11111111.:4 of the elotimants out 011
that &vomit. Claim disallowed tweonlingly.

•
11F.1.1(1101.7S TRACTS LICENSED IN ITALY.
THE following is a specimen of the trotettrwhich are
circulated in Tuseany will t let or hindrance:—
" A relation made by slur Lord .11'411M t'hriat to the
Sister* Elizabeth, Martha, and Itrith.tet, desirous to know
%Mlle ptirtit'lllSlN of his 1114.i4.11, who apps ared to them
after they had finished their prayer. and said:
'" My sistem know ye first that I bail 119 Wows in my
face with the palm of the hand. and three blows with a list
on my mouth. When 1 was taken in the garden, and sin
my way to the house of Atms, I fell seven time's, and was
dragged along the gro i 1 110 • i•s. 1 bail !NO blows on
my hawk, and thirty-two strokes on ray leg... I was lifted
up by my beard, and by the hair of my head. thirty-two
times. I hrd one moiled blow. At the pillar I bail 6,0414 i
lashes • I emitted ft ant month 1•21; sighs. I was la.
eerateti in binding thirty-three times. 1 had 100 poaciarep,
in my head. Oit the cross I had three mortal wounds.
They spit in my face thirty-two times. They inflicted
on
me .1,(101) wounds. The soldiers who took me wet.' :I sit.
They who carried ma bound were three. I shed blood
88,411 drops.
""rhotw who shall say seven Paters. or seven Aver
every day, for the spitee of twenty-three yeant and twelve
days, winch finisher tie: number of the drops of my blood,
1 will do for them live graves in favour of their soul.
" The bast : 1 will grant them plenary indulgence, and
remission of all pins.
" "rite twvond: The pains of Purgatory shall not touch
them.
" The third: if they diet lx.fere the time oboe said, I
Mill du as lilt neve finished.