The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-25 00:00:00

THE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION.

Yesterday the inquiry into this matter was resumed before
the Select Committee of the House of Commons, Mr.
Candlish presiding. The examination of Colonel Marriot,
secretary to the Bombay Government in connection with
the Abyssinian expedition, was continued. He
said that before Lord Napier left Bombay the discussion
of the organisation of the land transport corps was fully
gone into between the Governor of Bombay, the Emissary-
General, and Lord Napier ; and minutes were drawn up
for Lord Napier's guidance. When Lord Napier got
away every demand, deliberately and formally, made by
him was met by compliance, but sometimes an ex-
planation was required. This inquiry must have
been a restraint upon Lord Napier, who had to explain
every demand. In illustration of his meaning, witness
said that when Lord Napier wished to have the means of
making a railway the whole way in Abyssinia, the
Governor intimated that a similar railway of eight miles
took eight years in carrying it out. On that intimation
being given, Lord Napier thought that a sufficient objec-
tion, and abandoned the idea at once.

PUBLIC RECEPTION OF A POSTULANT.
A ceremony of a highly interesting character took- place
yesterday afternoon in the Church of St. John of Jerusalem
(this bang the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians),
viz., the public reception of a Postulant into the order of
Our Lady of Mercy. The name of the young
lady thus admitted is Miss Gallagher of Derry.
She is about twenty-two years of age. The
beautiful interior of the Roman Catholic Church in Great
Om:mild-street, where the ceremony took place, was
crowded with a distinguished and fashionable
assemblage, which was composed chiefly of
ladies. The altar was exquisitely decorated for the
occasion with choice exotics and flowering plants, ar-
ranged in tasteful harmony of colours. The
officiating minister was the Right Rev. Bishop
Morris; and the preacher, the Very Rev. Monsignore
Capel. The usual formula was gone through with much
impressiveness. The candles were lit and held by those
present in the right hand on the one side, and in the left
on the other. The postulant, attired in a secular dress,
having received the blessing of the Superioress upon her
knees, afterward advanced with the sisters, two
and two in procession, the choir singing the solemn
and beautiful hymn " 0 Gloriosa Virginum." The
Blessed Sacrament was reverenced ; and the celebrant,
after the invocation " Ora pro el, Sancta Dei genetrix,"
proceeded to bless one of the wax candles, which was first
laid on the altar, then sprinkled with holy water, and censed
from the thurible, and then presented lighted to the pos-
tulant. The sermon was then commenced by
Monsignore Capel, who, in his address stated that the
postulant would undergo a probation of two years,
during which at any time she would be at liberty to re-
turn to the world ; but he earnestly exhorted her to per-
severe in the holy cause she had undertaken. The bishop,
who oppeared to be very infirm, put the usual questions.
The postulant, who is a prepossessing young lady,
and was arrayed in a sort of bridal costume,
then retired and donned the sable habiliments as a novice
of the order ; and the psalms having been sung, she was
reconducted to the altar, where the religious habit and
veil were sprinkled with holy water and blessed by the
bishop ; and the service concluded with the " Ecce quam
bonum, et quam jucundum, habit a're fratres in unum."