The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-05-03

friends, Miss P--B--S< Miss H-of Middlsburv
! and that We might be there in season, we start.
cd al clock, in the morning, as the Ccre,no
mes were to begin at z, and it being understood
that the Chapel would be very much throngcd
/ know you will be anxious to have an accurate
description of this far EI,ned Ceye,nony. hnt i .
not In my power to give you any thing more,
| IMAM an imperfect outline Fur iii this, AS we'll
as m other ceremonies, there is muoh that is
uninteiggible to spectators, (snd should al
| most imagine to themselves too) th,t it il i'm.
possible to form, and much less 10 give. any adj
equatc idea oftbem. However will try.
In the hrst place you must know, that the
Nuns Chapel rs separated from that where the
Priests otiioiate and where spectators are ad.
united ny crate which extends from the cell.
ing over head TO the A or, before which there
IS curtain. which is Withdrawn at pleasure
10 this room was admitted, at Miss Allen,
request, AS were several Others that we m;pht
have better view of their proceedings.
The Novice Miss. A. 1enters this room. hear.
ing IN her hand lighted taper, which is fixed
TO kind OF staff ornamented with wreath of
howers, preceded by the Nuns, carrying each
lighted taper, and chanting a kind of D;rre.
'lnth they kneel and extingush their ,apers.--.
me NOVICE ike wise kncels,'n the middle of the
aisle, where there is CUSHION placed for the
purpose. The priest then says Mass: after which
mere Is sermon.--The preacher arpeared to
ne quite an orator; but the discourse being
m French, IT was. of course to me uninteilipible.
put l am toid. that he painted the world aud
JUS aiiurernen's, IN glowing colours, taking care,
however, to cast shade enough over the picture
to- give 1t y sickening hue, and to render its de-
ior a,'t'es 'rsiy hdeous. After this, little xric-
kef, IN the gfate, was thrown open at which, the
Novice k1elt and rece we'd the sacrament from
the Hisb Priest She then rctreated a re " ma
cess ana prostrated herself upon tile earth, and
was covered with a Pail, suppoyted bv f,ur
Huns, who knelt beside her, while the Priests
read the burial service for the dead which was
succseaed by long chant by the Nuns, calling
on all the Holy Saints to bless and protect her.
She then rose, and was led to the wicket BY the
Anne s., where she received the vosps from the
rries'' VINO ratified them by putting a ring on
her n"ser' winch she IS TO wear till death, and
even then 10 take with her, as o0ssbors to St
Peter He then took the white veil from her
mead, and replaced it with the black upon which
| ~ crown OF sowers. These too are to accom-
pany her into immortslity,or rather to the shades
| below; tor they to be buried with them on
their mead After this, she walks round the
| chapel, carrying the taper, before and salutes
each Other sister Nuns.-She then takes her
pace next the SUPERIOR. and joins in solemn
| lthoush not melodious> chant, which closes the
scene me curtain is then drawn, and the spec
'stors reure, wearied, many of them, if not dis.
gusted' with what appears, to us Puritans, so
nearly aiied to superstition & f.lly.
for the ceremony to begin but were shown into
pleasant room, where the Nuns receive theiI
visitors, and where many of them were assem-
bled. There were several interesting women
but was most pleased with one, who, Miss All
len has since told me, is sister to Madame l.;
framooise, Mrs ID s friend. She speaks We
ry little English, but has more vivacty & ease
than any of them which have seen
Miss Allen appeared with great composure
anu hcmness, though her countenance indicated
that It was not without an effort that she did so
She now seems perfectly cheerful and happy
II have tired your patience, my dear mother
you must give me credit for spishisg amuse
you, and to crafty a curiosity, which 1 know
you feel, to learn something of ceremony
Which so few IN our country have ever witne IS.
1 ed"
some merchants o. This town having memo.
rai'zed the Secrefary ofthe Treasury, on
tne subject OF the impor' alton of go DIS. bona
nae Con .racted and, paid tor in October
last, and lying in England after the Cd Feb.
yesterday received a deter from Mr. Gala
TN, dated The 18th inst in which he Save.
Under the existing law there is no power
Vestedin the executive to permit the i'm.
! portation of he merchandise to which yn,,
allude - entineL
Captain Arbuckle, with two companies the
"a regiment Infantry of the H., States has I'm.
birSed at the Bayou ST. John, for Fort Stod
dsrt--A recruiting RENDEZVOUS is opened here 70
nil up the different corps in this and the ada.
cent ierritory.-Louisiaaa Gazette
New ORLEANS, March %.
On the 18th inst. the governor communicated
70 inc Legislature of this territory the petition
ct Robert K. Livingston and Robert Fulto,
PRAYING for grant Of the exclusive right of nav
igating the waters eff this territory with steam
boats.
New ORLEANS, March 10.
Inc armed brig Viper. capt. cambridge,
sailed from this port lew DAYS sirice -
we understand she is bound to Havana +:
and that capt Baihbridge is charged with
dispatches from gov. Claiborne to the capt.
general OF Cuba. 1t is reported and beiiey
ed that these dispatches relate to those nm
fortunate men of MIR. Kemper's party, who
were made prisoners bv governor Folch
near ne. Mobile and lately sent to Havana for
Trial. '0'
t KNoxvILLE, April g.
COMMUNICATION.
4. IS Understood That the Spanish authority il
| s,iii exercised in the town of Mobile and over
.ne country between that and Perdido-the Or
ieans territorial government is in peaceabe OBJ.
Grafton between Mobile town and the Miss;s.
SIpD The riupIeader 81 4,.-D..t,.