The Portland daily press., 1883-08-13
Monsignor Capel,

England sends out to America this season
three distinguished guests: Lord Chief JUS
tice Coleridge, Mr.. Matthew Arnold and
Monsignor Capel. The first to arrive is the
famous prelate, whose portrait was sketched
In "Lothar." His personal ascsndency over
the converts whom he has made among the
English aristocracy to the Roman commun-
ion has not been impaired since the publica-
tion of the novel, but his influence is no lon
ger what it once was either at the Papal Cout
or in London. His services are not required
in facilitating the approach of hesitating
Tractarians and enthusiastic Ritualists to
the Roman altar, and his reputation has suf-
fered from the failure of his educational
schemes and his controversies with Cardi-
nal Manning. His charm of manner and
his melodious voice, which have exercised
so strong a fascination over his English
proselytes, have not deserted him, and his
appearance in pulpit or lecture-room in
America will be an interesting event. Mr.
Disraeli's 'Catesby' was chiefly concerned
in the spiritual welfare of his English fol-
lowers, and his sympathies were not en-
listed on the side Of Ireland. In a recent
DdlDpuleL Ndpel argues LlaJ the
resumption of diplomatic relations between
the Papal Court and the Court of st. James
would have a marked effect in reducing
Irish agitation. His view of the question at
issue between England and ireland is
grounded mainly on religious considerations,
and on that account will not prove wholly
satisfactory to the American Irish.
Speaking about the conversions to the
Roman Church which he is said to have
IL No1r
other daY to a Philadelphia Press correspon-
dent: because Lord Butte happens to be a
Marquis and very wealthy there is no reason
why he should not have soul to be saved.
His fortune is large, but that is no particu-
lar benefit to the Church, unless he chooses
to make it so. l also received into the
Church Lord Courtenay, who will some day
wear the coronet of the Earl of Devon
That young nooleman not only has no
money but failed some little time ago for
e60O,0C0 sterling, so that if I brought a
Croesus into the Church, / counterbalanced
it by introducing very great debtor. had
nothing to do with the conversion of the
Marquis of RipOn. The Marquis acted on
his own impulses and sought instruction un-
der an assumed name. He went as a com
plete stranger to call on priest in London,
and asked for advice. The clergyman had
no suspicion of the rank of his visitor, and
the IdcL remained UNKNOWN almost up 10 Jne
day of his reception, when he disclosed his
identity. | personally received Lord Braye
and also the present Duchess of Norfolk.
The Duchess was a daughter of the late
Countess of Loudon, and niece of the late
Marquis of Hastings. The Duke fell in love
with her; but Duchess of Norfolk must be
Catholic, and the Dukes persuasions and
mine had the effect of altering the young la
dy's religious opinions, and she came into
the Church shortly before her marriage
wish you would say that Monsignor Capel
told you he did not convert Mrs. Hicks-Lord
to the Church. That lady came to me from
America with excellent letters of introduc.
ton from persons of prominence in this
country. She was already Catholic, and
being so well vouched for, l, of course, had
pleasure in introducing her in society. The
circumstances may be almost forgotten
now, but L think saw it mentioned recent
ly somewhere in a newspaper that the lady's
conversion was influenced by the social ad-
vantages she might obtain thereby through
me."-New FORK Tribune.