The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1809-05-17
AMUSING MISCELLANY.
Original Letters, from an '.1merican TtuveHe'
in Eurohe, 10 his jfiends IN fhis country.


palaces of the Gods Of the winds in cayerns than
once believed. yrgirs description ofthe cave of 40
ius is ono OF the most whimsical efforts OF human fan
,cy xhich ever read. He represents the deity al
copilnmg the winds in bags and letting them out %
occasion might require, as a retailer would bushel
of peas. r find, however, that he had some ground
to believe, that the winds had their origin in the bow
els OF the earth. On the road from Rome to this city
between Mani and Tern, you pass the little town of
Cesis or Cesutn, an ancient village, romantcaly sit
ueted at the foot of rocky mountain, which appears
tothreaten Il with destruction. From the centre Of
this mountain through certain aperiures cavernss
sues constantly pure, cold, refreshing wind, so cx-
tremely grateful in this warm climate, that the in-
habitans convey in pipes like water, TO their eel
lars, to moderate the heat of their climate and topre
serve their wines and fruit n .e
A few miles on, this side of Folgno you pass the
little town of Assist, famous throughout italy, France,
and Spain, as the birthplace of st Francis III It had
been your good fortune to have been born IN Ro-
man Catholck Tor as they say, ChrisnaD country,
should have no OCCASION to explain to you what ST.
francis has done To render his birth-rlace object
OF so much interest but as you have not had that
happiness, must inform you, that st. Francis was
the founder OF that extensive, rigid, seli-morthyng
order, called FranciscANs III should recur to Caho
lick legends for the works of this extraordinary saint,
who was canonized before his death,I should RECOUNT
succession OF miracles far greater and more aston
isbng, than any which our Saviour or his apostles
thought proper to perform. j should tel you OF his
having preached to swallows, and of his having made
a woman of SNOW, and Thousand other tales, the
recital Of which would dc only repetition of the
many proofs Of human folly and creduty. But what
he did in fact perform, worthy of astonshment, was
to nstitute at the age Of twenty-five years, an order
of monks the most rigid and by his talents, zeal
and real affected psty, to render it popular as
that in ten years after its foundation, IL deputed live
thousand Brethren 10 general convention at Rome,
besides the vast numbers who remained in the con-
vents This order was instituted in 1909, and has
subsisted in full force from that period TO the present,
except in France. There supposed TO be at the
present time forty fifty housan lmorks OF this order
These men lead life of great severity and NORTH
cation at the present day. do not believe the
tales, which generally propagated OF their extreme
licentiousncss. That there are bad men in their So
cety, as in all others, cannot be doubted but as the
smallest deviahons from proprety, are noticed IN
mon who lay claim TO character OF extraordinary
sanctity as we feel shocked 20 see men, who have
separated themselves from the res ot mankind, Tor
the performance of sacred functions acting only with
what should call levity in other men, IL is very
extraordinary that these religious orders should have
retained 50 large alare of publick respect. Gener-
ally speaking, the Capuchins, Francscans, and other
religious orders, still looked up to with respect,
and in some instances, yeneraton. They certainly
have fewer temptations than other they are Sc
cludcd, generally, from objects which allure the SEN
ses, and nhame the passons. They are occupied
more than baf of their time, by plight as well as
by Gav, in acts of devotion and will not think
i'll of human nature, as to believe, that such habits
have tendency to purify the heart and amend the
morals ¥ il they not performed with the most
correct views and impressions.
III the severest weather these monks go headed,
they have stockings, and only sandal on the bot
tom of the foot. Their dress consists OF a coarse
wooden robe, without any linen underit to defend the
skin. In their S4awents they admit but little light
Their windows never look towards the busyworfd.--
Their cells small and their chief ornaments
crucifx and humanskull, Go in at any hour, which
Io fraaIv nd thn,t apJ xyilt
usually find them at their devotions. They abstain
from all animal food Towards their fellow men they
are meek and humble. They assume no airs from
the respectability and wealth of their order They
still preserve the ancient employment of mendicy,
and tho habit ofbegging aims has no tendency to in
fame human pride 1t will occur to you, no doubt,
TO ask, whatmotivcs have these men thus to mortfy
themselves and to lead abstemous lite, in couu-
tries where the doctrines of religion GO not inculcate
il necessary to salvation 2ts ~.
In the frstmsttution ofthe Order they were impel.
led by that enthusiasm which sectarcs pvarabe dis
cover by desire of aggrandizing their order, and
that esprit du corps, inseparable fona all associations
ofmen, more especially religious establishments.
The age in which it originated was filled with en-
<husiasm and superstition. -Crusades, prlgrimages,
and self modification were considered the surest
roads TO heaven. Since these motives which produ-
ced and fAvoTed the order, have ceased to operate
Others less violent but uniform and steady, have
ceeded.
The orders are now wealthy and uowerfaI !. tbey
possess the finest eii6ccs in Europe the noblcst
churches; the most romantick spots the choicest
lands the most valuable rents. They possess every
thing, which crafty the taste or ambition of man
The Carthusians At Naples lately made present to
the king Of 6000O dolls out of their annual revenues
To be amsmbcr Of such powerful bodies, even ON
the condition ospcrsoal modification and selfdenia
is gratifying to human pride. Another powerful
principle in human nature, operates in favour Of these
rstabishinc,dsj Imcanthc love ofidleress The rev.
emcs Of the convent afford certain, and never-f-
principle in favour of entering these orders IS ambt
ion II Is one Of the roa,ls to ecclesiastical prcfcr-
ment, and the only one which is opento the common
people u these countries. lCsnhnusdl