The Delaware register, or, Farmers', manufacturers' & mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1828-1829, 1829-05-23
NUNNERY IN THE UNITED STATES.
Go0rgctotcn, y. c. Marck I,


the Nun who received me, to view such parts of the
interior as strangers are allowed to visit The
| Nun smiled assent.
The site of this Monastery is in the northwest part
of the town. 1t stands upon the borders of {. the
heights, and overlooks the body of the town below.
1t commands pleasant view of the Potomac, it
rolls its still waters away to the southeast, and also
of the cultivated fields and lawns on its western bank
The enclosure embraces about one acre. On the
north side, is the Academy conducted by the Nuns,
consisting of long range of buildings, three stories
high. In the middle of the front eastern side stands
the chapel On the left of the chapel is the room
of the Father Confessor and also the private apart
merits of tl,e nuns, into which unhallowed tread
of tie worldly and profane is ever admitted.
had not waited long, when the Lady Ahbess, and
Nun of the newly initiated to the mysteries of the
black veil, about eighteen twenty years of age,
whose countenance seemed the abode of an unusual
degree of intelligence, thought and meaning, came
into the hall. / was introduced TO the Lady Ahhess
Ibnd her young and beautiful attendant. We will be
Eyohr conductresses, said the Lady Abboss, at the
sSnieA> time leading the way and inviting me to fol-
l 10y; Ac.1orr or urn soboo, cor r,aio. !. tho
most interesting appendage of the convent 1t con-
tains boarding school OF upwards of one hundred
pupils--and free or charity school of a much lar
ger number of day scholars. What strikes the visi
tor with most pleasure, is the perfect system and or
der with which every thing is DONE All is perfect
clock-work The young Misses who compose the
school, are regularly and rgidly trained 10 do every
thing on plan and method
We first entered long passage. Here were fix
lures prepared for the cloaks, bonnes, &c. of the pu
pills. each numbered from one to hundred and ff-
y; and each pupil has her particular number. The
next room we visited was another long passage, adj
Joining the dormitories. In this was an extended
range of wash stands, reaching through its length
Here the pupils commence their morning toilette
Each stand is furnished with bowl, pitcher, napkin,
soap, combs, brushes &c. and each numbered. The
same is true of the beds or couches in the dormoles
of the departments or divisions of their common
wardrobe-of their seats in the dining and study halls
and even the repositories Of their shoes, &c. Each
pupil has the same number throughout the establish
ment.
The Seminary is divided into four classes. The
hall of the first class contains extensive cabinet Of
minerals to which many and valuable specimens
have been presented by the officers of our Navy; and
by Catholics of the Eastern world 1t has also many
rich specimens of art-the contributions of wealthy
and powerful patrons of the church. The sword,
sheath and belt of Iurbde-the hero of South Amer
ica-two of whose daughters now in this convent,
were recently presented to the cabinet by Commodore
Rogers 1t also claims TO have many sacred relics,
such shreds scraps from the garments of numer
Gus sants-fragments from the church and tomb of
st Peter, and of other santspieces of the wood of