The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-05-06 00:00:00

FI?IDAY MORNING, MAY G, 1836.

A month or two ago this journal was the first to make
the British public acquainted with the case of " MARIA
Moritz," who hae been nun in the convent called the
Hotel Dieu, at Montreal, in Canada. The gentleman

who first furnished us with the information, and some ex-
tracts .from this 'unfortunate woman's book, entitled
" Awful Disclosures," said that the story appeared in-
credible, and would be 'denied; but that, ;rum some-
what long and intimate acquaintance with popish priests
and mysteries of the monastic system, he for one be-
lieved every word of it.

To this hour we-have not seen the book, but we have
perused many and large portions of it as they have from
time to time appeared in ihe New York papers, in which
city, or its vicinity, Miss MONK resided, and, we under-
stand, still resides. Not giving entire credence to the

tale; we still considered it a pAlic duty to publish some
of .he least offensive par is of it, thereby affording the
accused fraternity and sisteiliood as oppoquanity to
lute it if they cook]. It will be remembered that MARIA
illoNK, according to her story, bad fled from the convent
at the 6; st practic.:ble moment, and that she left it under

the pangs of remorse, the unfortunate victim of compul-
sory seduciiiao, tis;;ing her own life LI escaping from its
hori•ors rather than be guilty in the first degree, or by
CON'' . nee, of the -:me a ittfo,),:c*Ce. Hat it?s• provi-
dentii,ily effected her escape, her first practical proof of
her grailiude to GOD was to disclose the atrocious and
abornion'ole practices of the l-lo:el Dieu. S:1?, states
that seduction by the priests and confessots is the almost

inevitable fate of every female IA ho has passed her novi-
ciate in that convent; that chOrt murder is deemed by
them a venial offence ; and that the murder of the nun
herself who resists their unhallowed passions, or, having
y;elded to them, refuses to destroy her helpless progeny,

happens frequently, and is part of the execrable system.
Miss MONK mentions a nnn, a companion of her own,
whose-family name was Dußois, but who was known in
the convent as "La Belle St. Francois"—a lovely and
intesting girl, but Ihe daughter of poor parents in some
distant part of the country—who was put to death for
one of the reasons above assigned, and was actually smo-
thered between two beds by the inmates of the place.
Mis. MONK declares that: she was present in the room
when this foul and hellish deed of blood was perpetrated,
she being compelled to giveherrelnctant assistance in
its accomplishment. She
_Moreover -'states that the re-
mains of the infants as well as of the murdered adults

are tlfrown into some deep vault arc coc; rpd.wiil~ quid:
ii• rrt9ts9.)./

•
Thislast fact. was the one upon Iviiich we founded a
.liortion of our belief in the credibility of the story. It
admits of an easy proof, and,"if a fiction, of an easy de-
tection. Human bones resist the destructibility even of
quick lime, so that if an inforination, based upon Miss
MoN,K's:evidence, were laid before the judicial authori-
ties, they would be bound—if the law in Canada be the
law of England—to institute a search, and either excul-
pate the sisterhood by declaring the statement to be a
fraud, or by apprehending the inmates and bringing them
to jnstice.
We are not aware, however, that the secular arm of
the law has any power or jurisdiction in popish countries
where the affairs of the church are concerned; or where
monastic institutions are tolerated ; and unfortunately
For Montreal, it is in LoWer Canada, whickis a popish
province of the protestant King of England, and its re-
ligions institutions, we fear, are exempt from the right of
visitation by the magistrate which the King.exercises in
almost every other part of •his dominions.
Beihisi however, as it may, we published at all hazard
some of the: leading facts in MARIA MONK'S story, and,
as we expected, they were contradicted by the Journal,
a paper which is under the influence of the Romish
priests of Liverpool, who are chiefly Maynooth-bred
priests, and, consequently, not persons who stick at
trifles. Their contradiction, nevertheless, had some Irish
singularity about it. They denied too lustily and' too
rashly, and, like suborned witnesses, they attempted to
prove-too much. They denied that there was any such
person as MARIA MONK in existence. They asserted
that tile book was the copy of one mote than P. century
old, and that the MARIA MONK of New-York in. 1836
was the _identical nun which was said..io have made simi-
lar disclosures in the time of our great-grandfathers.
Very well ! thought we; if there be no MARIA MONK
there is an end of the case ; meanwhile we shall lay-to
for fresh evidence. But during all this time, and since
the book was published, the holy monks, the faithful mo-
ther, and the pious sisters of the Hotel Dieu, have not
answered one word. The accused have not pleaded. No
Romish bishop has appeared, as in Miss REED'S case, to
declare the girl mad That common defence of the sys-
tern has not been resorted to on the present occasion.
Why ? That; like murder, will come out hereafter.
The popish priests of Liverpool committed an error
when they instructed their organ to deny the existence
of Miss MONK. We perceive, by n New 'York paper,
that her identity has been established by most respecta-
ble and credible witnesses, and, what is equally impor-
tant, some of the statements of Miss MONK are clearly
verified with respect to the indecency of the Montreal
priests and the existence of La Belle St. Francois. But
here is the evidence as we find it:—

AWFUL DISCLOSURES CONFIRMED.

The following ate the attestations of two of the persons of whose
testimony I have availed myself, in the pamphlet lately pub-
lished, entitled, " Desisive Confirmation of the Awful Disclosures of
Maria Monk," &c.

" City and County of New York, SS.
" William Miller, being duly sworn, doth say-71 knew Maria
Monk when she was quite a child, and was acquainted with all her
father's family. My father, Mr, Adam Miller, kept the government
school at St. John's, Lower Canada, for sotee years. Captain William
Monk, Maria's father, lived in the garrison, a short distance from the
village, and she attended the school with me for come months, pro-
bably as much as a year. Nei four brothers also attended with us.
Our families were on terms of intimacy, as my father had a high re-
gard for Captain Monk ; but the temper of his wife was such, even at
that time, as to cause much tremble.' Captain Monk died very sud-
denly, as was reported,' in consequence of being poisoned. Mrs.,
Moat was then keeper of die govetnment house•in Montreal; and re:

ceived a pension, which privilege she has since enjoyed. In the sum-
iner of 1832 I left Canada, and came to this 'city. In about a year
afterwards I visited Montreal, and on the day when the governor
reviewed the troops, I believe about the end of August, 1 called at the
government house, where I saw Mrs. Monk and several of the family,
I inquired where Maria was, and she told me she was in the nunnery.
This fact I well remember, because the information gave me great
pain, as I had unfavourable opinions of the nunneries. On reading
the • Awful Disclosures,' I at once knew she was the eloped nun, but
was unable to find her until r few days since, when we recognised
each other immediately. 1 give with pleasure my testimony in her
favour, as she is among strangers, and exertions haie been made
against her. I declare my personal knowledge of .nany facts stated in
her book, and my full belief in the truth of-her story, which, shock-
ing as it is, cannot appear incredible to those persons acquainted with
Canada. " W ILLIADI MILLER.
•' Sworn before me, this 3d day of March, 1836,
"BENIA3IIN D. K. Cairh.
" Commissioner of Deeda, Sce."

The following is the testimony of a respectable lady now in this
city, and of one, too, who is still a Papist
" I was born in Montreal, and reskied there until within a few
months, and where my frioyds stl! re vain. I was educated aiiiong
the Catholics, and have never separated myself from them.
"I kneti• Maria Monk wl'en quite a child. We went to school to-
gether for abort a year, as near as I can teasember, to Mr. Wo.k man,
Seerareent.sirect, in Montreal. She is aboiri One month youager than
mysetr. We left that school at the same time, and eeteied the Con-
gregational Nunnery neatly to;ether. I could mention many things
which I wittiessA there, ealculat..d to confirm some of her Dement-S.
" I know of i'oe elopement or-a priest named Leclete, who was a
colfessur, wijt a non sent from the Congregational Nunnery, to teach
in a village. They were brought back, after which She gave Lira' to an
infant, and was again employed as a teachee.
" Children were often aunished in the Congregational Nunnery by
being me de to stand with arms extended to imitele Christ's posttreon
the cross ; and when we found vermin in our soup, as was often the
case, we were exhoi ted to overcome our I eppgnance to it, because
Christ died for us. I have seen such belts as are mentioned in the `Aw-
ful Disclosurea,' as well as togs; but never saw theln_applied..
" Maria Monk lea the Congregational Nunnery berme I did, and
became a Novii; in the Hotel Dieu. I remember her entrance into
the latter very well, for we bad a jour de come (holiday) on that
occasion.

" Some short time subsequently after school hours one afternoon,
while :o the school-room in the second story of the Congregational
Nunnery, several of.the girls standing near a window, exclaimed,
` There is Maria Monk.' I sprung to the window to look, and saw
her with several other novices, in the yard in the Hotel. Dieu, among
the plants which grew there. She did not appear to notice us, but I
perfectly recognised her.

"I have frequently visited the public hosnital of the Hotel Dieu.
It is the custom there for some of the nuns amt novice§ to eoifer at
three o'clock p.m. in procession with food and:delicacies for the'sick.
T recollect some of my visits there by circumstances attending thetrt
For instance, I was much struck, on several occasions, by the beauty
of a young novice, whose slender, gracefUl form, and interesting ap-
pearance distinguished her from the rest. On inquiry, I learnt that
her name was Dubois, or something like it, and the daughter of an
old man, who had removed from the country, and lived near the Place
d'Armes. She was so generally admired for her beauty, that she was
called ' la belle St. Francois'—St. Francis being the saint's name she
had assumed in the convent.

" I frequently went to the hospital to see two of my iarticular
friends, who were novices ; and subsequently to visit one who had a
sore throat, and was sick for sonic weeks. I saw Maria Monk there
many times, in the dress of a novice, employed in different ways ;
but we were never allowed to speak to each other.

" Towards the close of the winter of 1833-4, I visited the hospital
of the Hotel Dieu very frequently to see Miss i3nurtte, a friend of
mine, although I was not permitted to speal: with her. 'While there
one day, at the hour of conge,' • collation,' which, as I before stated,
was at three p.m., a procession of nuns and novices entered, and
among the former I saw Maria Monk, with a black veil, &c. She per-
ceived and recognised wie ; but put her finger upon her lips in token
of silence; and knowing how rigidly the rules were enforced, I did
not speak.

" A short time afterwards, I saw her again in the same place, and
undersimilar circumstances.

" i cailfix the year when this occurred, because 1 recollect that the
nuns in the hospital stared at a red dress I wore that season ; and 1. am
certain about the time of year, because 1 left my galo-shoes at the
door before I went in.

" The improper conduct of a priest was the cause of any leaving the
Congregational Nunnery; or my brother saw him kissing a female
one day while he was on a visit to me, and exclaimed—' 0 mon Dieu!
What a place you are in—if father does not take you out of it, I will,
if I have to tear you away.'
" After the last sight I had of Maria Monk in the hospital, I never
saw nor heard of her, until after I had been for some time an inhabit-
ant of New York. I then saw an extract from 'Awful Disclosures,'
published in a newspaper, when I was perfectly satisfied that she was
the authoress, and again at liberty. I was unable for several weeks to
find her residence, but at length visited the house when she was ab-
sent. Seeing an infant among a number of persons who were strangers
to me, as those present will testify, I declared that it must he the
child mentioned in her book, from the striking resemblance it bears
to Father Phelan, whom I well know. This declaration has also been
made by others.

" When Maria Monk entered she passed across the room without
turning towards me; but I recognised her by her gait, and when she
saw me, she knew me at once. I have since spent many hours with
her, and am entirely convinced of the truth of her story, especially as
I knew many things before which tend to Confirm the statements
Which she makes,"

We have endeavoured, but without success, to aseer

tain the names of the, requisitionists at whose instance
the Mayor called the meeting which is to assemble this
day, and the object of which is to present soma.address
o the Commons for the purpose of insoliinv, and calling
in question the constitutional rights and independent in-
tegrity of the lords.

The secrecy thus observ.ed is suspicious. It is not the
custom of the popish members of the radical faction to
be so chary in obtruding their names upon the public,
but in this instance it is probable that they are ashamed
of the paucity of their numbers, the poverty of their cha-
racter, and the mushroom nature of their standing in
this commercial community. The purport of their meet-

iug appears to be to follow up DANIEL O'CONNELL'S
project of "doing justice to Ireland," which justice
means keeping alive agitation, putting money into the
beggar's p'irse, augmenting the influence of his employ-
ers the foetid priests of Maynooth, and conferring upon
diem, by a popis;) municipal bill, supreme power in that
unfortunate island.

They profess to be anxious that the dame measure of
corporation reform should be meted to Ireland which has
been given to England.
.But it is not the lords who have
prevented this. If any one is to blame it is the author
of the bill, their own Irish and popish Attorney-Gene-
ral, acting under the instructions of that poor creature
Lord JOHN RUSSELL. If they will consent. to put Ire-
land in the same conditima as England is, there would
then be no objection to deal similarly with both. In
England no burgess is allowed to vote for a municipal
officer who has not been rated to the poor for P period of
three years, and who has not paid the said rates. Now
in Ireland there are no pool rates ; it is impossible to
distinguish the mendicant from the industrious work-
man, or the defeolier prom the regol.sr contributor.
What claim, then, has Ireland to the same privileges as

the people of England The first step towards civiliza-
tion on the part of a people is to provide. just, liberal,
and generous provision for the poor. This provision, to
fall equitably on all classes, must be compulsory. Has
Ireland made any such approach to civilization by mak-
ing-this provision ? Most certainly not. She is tw•o

.hundred years behind England. She-has not yet emerged
froth' barbarism. The great majority of her -population
are, in body and mind, spiritually and temporally, the
slaves of unprincipled and.tyrannicalyriestS. They are
held in a sort of savage restraint by the terrors of a de-
basing superstition. They canna call their souls, their
substance, pr their thoughts their own. Will any of the
popish requisitionists at the meeting of to-day dare to
deny this ? If any dare, let them speak out at their

Why then should we be bored with Complaints-in a
matter which Lord JOHN RUSSELL has set at rest by
framing a bill which gives political power to the Roman
catholics of Ireland, but which: degrades by withhold-
ing from them the local exercise of judicial func-
tions. Lord JOHN is willing to erect popish corportitioni
in Ireland, but he stigmatises them as being unfit in
their municipal capacity to dispense justice in a question
of meum and tuum, amounting to less than twenty shil-
lings! ! What will Mr. SHIEL say to. this ? PerhapS
the less the better.

But these worthies, of no standing in the town of Li-
verpool, are to censure Ilk lords for. not doing "justice
to Ireland" ! We know not whether to censure most the
silliness or the impudence of this conduct. lt is only
matched by the three tailors of Tooley-street calling
'themselves the people of England. It is the bray of the
jackass in the skin of the lion. It is, like the councillor's
floating tub gurgling the sewer-odoured waters of the
Mersey, compared with a seventy-four in the middle of
the Atlantic: Faugh! it smells rank of tobacco smoke
and radicalisik and we, only regret to see a gentleman
like Mr. 'WALLACE Cuurtti, the Mayor, making himgelf
the tool of a factio.n so worthleis and contimptible..

We beg most earnestly to call attention. to a cneap'
pamphlet just issued from the press entitled, " POPERY!
AS IT WAS AND AS IT is !" The preface states that,
"The object of this publication is to make the humbler
clas's'es of Rothan Catholics in England,. Seotliend; and

Ireland, fully acquainted with the abominable mysteries
of popery by which the mid is kept enslaved, the so-
cial bonds of society are unhinged, tI4 virtaous polluted;
and by which domestic happiness is destroyed."

We hiVe read the work with great interest, although
most of the facts it contains are not new to us, but we
feel persuaded that it is the duty of every family
and individual, partieulaily our Roniart Catholic bre,
thren, to make themselvei conversant with them. The
articles are, first, the trial of a priest at Cori, for as-
saulting an old man for reading his bible. The second
is entitled "The confessional in Ireland," in which the
horrid details of that system are, painted in dark but
true colours. The third contains M. LOUIS Pam, COUR.
RIER'S exposure of the conduct of unmarried priests' in
France. The fourth is entitled "Popery in Canada,"
in which the nunneries of Montreal are most justly held
up td public indignation. The fifth is a description of a
nun taking the veil, by the Rev. Jonx DAVIES, B. D.,
Rector of St. Pancras, Chichester; and the sixth and
last contains the confeSsions of the Rev. DAVID CR4OLY;
a Roman Catholic priest on the subject of the bible;
transubstantiation, and cOnfeSsion.

The work, we understand, is ptiblished as an experi-
ment upon public feeling; and we therefore trust that
the proteStants of Liverpool will not loge a moment, not
only in purchasing it for their own instruction, but for
the purpose of distributing it among the poor Romati
Catholics. No pecuniary profit is. intended to be deriv-
ed from the work, and, as its aim is truth and usefulness;
we reel assured that the religious portion of the com-
munity will give to it their best patronage.
The publiation is sold by Mr. ARNOLD, Postoffice.:.