Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-02-08

credit, merely from the fact, that the con-
duct which she has charged upon the
priests and nuns, is very similar to what
such persons in such establishments, have
been often proved chargeable with in 9TH
er countries. But the ColonePs assertion
,o0uId shotO to person, phO had seen tie
Hotel D1eU, that he had either forgotten
the eridence Of lis oDn senses, or wouId
not 6eLiere them. Col. Stone is essential
y wrong. declare my solemn convic-
ton, from all that could see and learn in
Montreal, that Col. Stone has either been
most egrsgious'y imposed upon By the per.
sons INTERESTED IN sustaining the charac-
ter Of tie Hotel Dicu Content, or he has
ri!fuIiy and deliberately attempted 10 I'M
pose on his readers; and that lis account
Of his rist to Montreal, does in no essen
tIGL particular. diminish The credit other |
toise due 10 Maria Monks "Awful Dis
closures" For this opinion. offer the
following resolutions:
l. Col. Stones report throughout gives
evidence that it is rather intended as
mere production Of the imagination, than
narrative of facts. or references founded
on facts. This is evident to any person
who has ever visited Montreal, or the sur
rounding country. The Col. describes
the Island Of Montreal and the vicinity of
the city, almost as perfect paradise. In
his description ofthe city. he does, indeed,
represent the streets as narrow, and he
might have added generally, almost in
some instances, wholly impossible, on ac-
count OF mud and filth in rainy time
The houses he represents as dark and
massive stone buildings, erected more
with an eye TO comfort and convenience,
than to the qualification of taste or correct
principles of architecture Now it used
to be an admitted doctrine, that our 40
ton Of taste in buildings, and correct prin-
,, clpIes OF architecture, were the effect Of
the ideas, Of the comfort and convenience
which the appearance of buildings produc-
: ed. The truth is, it is the very idea Of
the want OF comfort and convenience
which gives the very city Of Montreal, the
una'tractive appearance TO strangers,
, which Col. Stone notices. The natural
situation is, indeed beautiful and grand
and this appears TO be almost the only
thing in the Coils description, in which he
has not been unfaithful. 1.-The neat white
cottages every where clustering around
the numerous parish churches" which be
saw from the mountain Of Montreal. were
all in his Imagination. If the Col. had
approached them near enough to take a
bona file view Of them, he would have
found his neat white cottages, every where
dwindled into comfortless little log houses,
: having nothing winter on them, in them,
;, or about them, than the mortar that daubs
+ the chinks between the logs The habit
n atoms OF the native Canadians, may be
said to be any thing but neat, clean, and
u comfortable. A description so wide from
= the facts Of the case, show that the writer
has something in view, different f ON that
II Of conveying 10 his readers, correct i'm
Y pressions.
j Another thing casts a suspicious shad-
: ow over the whole article, and impresscs
: the attentive reader with the idea that the
writer was seeking some apology 10 his
own conscience for what be was about 10
= do. That is. the far fetched history OF
e MoH1rehism, with which he introduces
g his notice Of Maria Monks book. Here
u he seems to be laboring to stir up in him
q self good opinion Of Converts and Nun
K nerles, before he would trust himsclfto un.
j. dertake their defence; or to be attempting
: a kind Of trick to decoy the attention OF
e his readers from the main point, the truth
It or faIsehoods Of the Awful Disclosures
I, This is an art which speakers and writers
q too often attempt to practice upon the minds
n OF those they wish to lead. The personal
o remarks, and some others, intersoersed
IS through the whole piece, are of the same
n kind
3 2. Another reason for nv opinion, is
II Col. Stones declaration, THAT the whole
't town and province, people Of every and
It all denominations, men ofinteIligence and
ot unquestioned piety, universally disbelieve
h Maria Monks book" That for his own
/, part, he could hear of but two believers in the
IF Awful Disclosures in Montreal. And
y one Of these" he adds, twas evidently
e afraid to visit the nunnery, les, he should
!. be forced by actual demonstration to change
re his opinion" The individual here refer
le red to, the Rev Mr.. Clary, has, through
'e the press, repealed the Coils ungenerou.
C. insinuntion, and properly rebuked him 70,
IT other misstatemrnts
t. But, either the Col. must have been
IS very partial in his inquiries, or a most un.
At common change must have taken place in
C. a very short time after he left Montreal, il
3 the sentiments ofIhe people. l was in.
E. deed toll the same thing by the two cler.
le gymen friendly to the cause of the hume
W ry, to whom l applied for information.
3 was, however, then able 10 mention tn,
n names Of some eight or ten, with some o
whom they were acquainted, who Lac
c avowed to me their belief in the book. Ii
d my intercourse afterwards with the people