New Orleans daily crescent., 1866-10-02
The Old Ursnllne Convent.

quenees such as those to which we have
alluded
4 s-es-
i NJ The Old UrsnlVne Convent.
The above building, now used as the archie
piscopal residence, on Chartres and Ursuline
streets, is one Of the antiquities of the city.
The chapel attached to it was the first re-
ligious edifce that was built in this city or
State.
/ The convent has something to boast of be-
sides its educational and religious associations,
and it was here that for a number of years,
and until 1884, the legislature of the State
held its sittings When it was built by the
French government, in 1733 it stood in cen
trail part of the rising metropolis. But busi-
ness has fled its immediate quarter, and the
cathedral and Jesuit's church now draw to-
gether the larger throng Of the pious.
Attracted recently, during q stroll through
that portion of the city, by the sight of its
slate colored roof, its time stained walls, and
| the general air of antiquity that pervades this
range of buildings, we ventured to penetrate
within the high inclosure that zealously shuts
the grounds from the vulgar gaze We were
politely welcomed by the concierge who occu-
pied two rooms at the entrance the existence
of which latter we had not suspected. We
found ourselves in garden, and passing
through the main building, beheld another Of
still larger extent, in which, doubtless, the
grandmothers of many of our readers played
as children. In the rank growth of the arti-
| fetal trees and plants, some of which, it is
not too much to suppose, have been here for
nearly hundred and fifty years, and with
the branches of the willow, althea, fig tree,
/ and the leaves of the banana, which have
grown in wild luxuriance, the walks have be-
4 come almost impossible. A row of mulberry
trees near the outer wall screened the inmates
/ from the view of the neighboEng houses, and
rendered the place as isolated and retired for
the nuns and their pupils as the building the
latter at present occupy. Still, we presume
| that it was with a view to escape from
worldly influence that induced them to
dispose Of the building and grounds, in
1929, and move to the neighborhood of
the barracks. But the principal object Of
interest about the grounds is the old chapel,
undoubtedly the Oldest building there is in
the State. Religious service is now performed
in church Of more modern origin, and in
deed, all Of the wood work Of the chapers
interior is in a state Of ruin. The flooring
has almost entirely rotted away one or two
pews hint at its former use, and the general
aspect of the interior reminds the observer of
Hoods Haunted House. Some portion Of
the altar is still remaining, and, singularly
enough, o fine painting Of the Virgin, just
above, is but little injured by time. Other
wise the walls Of the building are in good
preservation, and we were pleased to learn
that plan is thought and talked of-as the
present church is insufficient at times for all
of its worshipers to restore the chapelto the
uses of religion. Re-entering the main build
ing you mount to the second story (aN
pre1aiere,) by staircase bordered with old
fashioned iron railing, and on either side are
to be seen the dor1nitories formerly occupied
BY the nuns. But there are no objects at
present in the building which recall the pres
enee of woman, and the furniture generally is
remarkable for its simplicity. In this con-
nection it may not, perhaps, be inappropriate
to remark that the buildings are now under
the charge Of the vicar general, Rev. Father
Gilbert Raymond, who represents the arch
bishop during his temporary absence, a
valuable theological library, with the works
of the Fathers Meditations, Problems, De-
monstrations Evangalique, Vie des Saints,
Lettres Edifants We glanced at before leay-
ing and were also permitted to see the last
report of the vicar general. From it we
learned that there are now 1872 of the resident
Catholic clergy in this city, IA asylums and !
hospitals, IA converts, 80 academies and
schools, and about seven Or eight thousand
pupils Of both sexes; and in the whole State
Sc churches.
Taken as whole, the old convent is in
good repair; the walls are still of great
strength and the building is likely to remain
for many years to come solid monument Of
the olden time
Mr.. George Brown, of 1870 Commerce
street, has favored us with copy Of the
'sCatalogue Of casts Of fossils from the prin-
cipal museums of Europe and America, with