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two years old, she was placed in a convent, in which, when between sixteen and seventeen, she took the veil. When she attained her twenty-sixth year, the Abbé de Sainte Colombe, who was held in very high esteem for sanctity and zeal, was called upon to act as Confessor to sister Rosalie, the name given to Antoinnette on her being professed, in the room of the Vicar General, who was made Bishop of Paniers, From this time the fate of poor Rosalie was doomed, although some time elapsed before it was consummated. The Vicar General was accustomed to call Rosalie to confession once a week, but this did not satisfy the impious Abbé, who required her to perform this duty every other day. What passed at these repeated conferences no one knows, save GOD, but some new and painful sentiments entered the mind of Rosalie, the nature of which, from her long seclusion from the world, she, perhaps, could not herself explain. That they weighed upon her conscience was evident, from her pertinaciously refusing to partake of the holy sacrament. Suspicion fell upon the Abbé de Sainte Colombe; but from his relationship to the Marchioness de P—, a great patroness of the convent, over whom he had acquired, by his assumption of superior sanctity, a predominant influence, no open accusation or inquiry was made. The Bishop, as former Confessor of the obstinate sister, was appealed to. He came, and used all his endeavours to bring her to her duty, but in vain, and was obliged to leave her with an interdiction against further confession to the Abbé, and informing her that unless she returned to her duty, he should be obliged to expel her from the convent at the end of a week. Notwithstanding this denunciation, daily interviews between the Abbé and the Nun, were surreptitiously held through the connivance of the portress of the convent, who thought that nothing could be wrong which the priest required. At the end of the limited week, sister Rosalie retired from the convent to the house of her sister, who being also under the influence of the Abbé, was again disposed to receive her. This arrangement was but temporary, as not suiting the views of the Abbé de Sainte Colombe, who,

although he had shaken, had not then actually destroyed the virtue of his victim. To remove her from the protection of her sister, and render it the more easy for him to accomplish his designs, he gave her books to read calculated to pervert her understanding of the Scriptures, and corrupt her heart. At length his success was complete, and Antoinnette, the NUN, became A MOTHER!!! On this it was necessary for her to have a separate abode, and to provide for the consequent expenses she drew 6,000 francs, which she had placed in the hands of a notary, giving the whole to her seducer. Of this sum, 3,000 francs were laid out in the purchase of plate, furniture, and other articles. The child was born, but what became of it does not appear by the report of the trial. No doubt it was murdered, as is usual in convents on such occasions. Soon after this event the Marchioness de P- became alarmingly ill, and the Abbé, expecting to be inheritor of her property, dared not leave her, for fear other relations might take advantage of his absence, and defeat his hopes. At the same time his guilty passion made him unwilling to be separated from his mistress, and to reconcile both objects, he brought home one of his nieces from school, and took Antoinnette to live in the house with him, as governess to the young lady. Again Antoinnette became enceinte, and was obliged to go to Toulouse to be confined. No mention is made of the fate of this child. It doubtless was murdered as the other had been before it. The Marchioness died, and left the Abbé a portion of 400,000 francs. Antoinnette returned to

live with him as governess to his niece, and for the third time became a mother. At length the illicit intercourse became publicly known, and the Abbé, who, vile hypocrite, had till then continued to maintain all his high reputation for sanctity, was unmasked, and being interdicted from exercising his sacred functions, was obliged to live in retirement and disgrace. This exposure opened the eyes of the wretched Antoinnette to the nature of the life she had been leading, for as a Papist she had been taught that to obey the priest was to obey God in every thing; and she determined to separate for ever from her de

ceiver. This being contrary to his wishes, he thought to overcome her resolution by reducing her and her child to want. Heartless wretch! He refused to pay the 3,000 francs, part of the 6,000 he had in his hands of the mother's own money, and even sold her furniture and plate, putting the produce into his own pocket. Though thus reduced, Antoinnette would not yield, and demanded at least an allowance for the maintenance of his own child. This appeal also the Abbé resisted, but promised to make some sacrifices for her if she would send her child to the Hospice. Her maternal affection revolted against this unnatural cruelty; and she was utterly abandoned by its father. To support herself and child she sold all her own ornaments, alienated a trifling annuity of 100 francs, (the only property she had left,) and the price of this being exhausted, she became absolutely destitute. This state of things she endured for two years, at the end of which, through the mediation of the poor woman's first confessor and her physician, Sainte Colombe was induced to sign a deed, declaring that he held in trust a sum of 30,000 francs for the child, under the name of Gustave Saint Denis, and engaging to pay the interest, (1200 francs,) to the mother, by monthly portions of 100 francs. These payments, however, were not made, and from want of the relief the money would have afforded, the POOR CHILD, who had fallen sick, expired. Driven at length to desperation, Antoinnette commenced an action against the Abbé for the 30,000 francs, in right of her deceased son; for the re-payment of the money she had, but which the Abbé had taken from her; and also for an annuity of 1,500 francs, as damages for her seduction, and being reduced to the abject state in which she then The Tribunal rejected the first part of her demand, on the ground that her maternity to the deceased child had not been legally acknowledged or proved, but allowed her claim to the 3,000 francs lent by her to the Abbé, and also for the annuity of 1,500 francs during her life by way of damages. Appeals against this judgment are said to have been lodged by Antoinnette against the first part, and by the Abbé against the rest."-Morning Herald, Jan. 27, 1843.

was.

THE

CHRISTIAN WATCHMAN

AND

MIDLAND COUNTIES' PROTESTANT MAGAZINE.

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POPERY A RELIGION OF BREAD AND CHEESE. We have already seen that one grand argument in favour of Popish Tradition is founded on the eating of "black-puddings and gravy," (p. 60): from the following, it would seem that Popish charity is to be bribed by a permission to eat meat, eggs, and cheese during Lent!" Is this intended as an exemplification of Philippians, iii. 19." Whose GOD is their BELLY ?"

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LENTEN INDULT OF THE RIGHT REV. THOMAS, BISHOP OF
CAMBYSOPOLIS, V. A. FOR THE YEAR 1843.
Thomas, by the Grace of God and the Favour of the
Apostolic See, Bishop of Cambysopolis, and Vicar Apostolic
of the Central District of England.

"To our Venerable and Beloved Brethren and Children in Jesus Christ, the Clergy, Secular and Regular, and the Faithful of the Central District.

"HEALTH AND BENEDICTION IN THE LORD!

"A merciful and loving God hath spared you, while many have been called to their account, and hath given you time for repentance, and ample space to lay up a store of good works, since last we discharged our pastoral duty of announcing to you the yearly fast of Lent. With some it hath, no doubt, been the gracious dealing of the Lord of the vineyard, who hath consented to allow the barren fig-tree one more year's trial, hath digged and tilled around its roots, and given it ample means of retrieving its past worthlessness; with many, we humbly trust in Him, it hath been a period of virtuous endeavours and sincere efforts to repair past neglects, and secure

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To both this season should be welcome, to both

new graces. most acceptable.

"Oh! you, then, whom sin continues still to hold captives in its wretched bondage, whose passions yet stifle the voice of conscience, whom evil habits and inclinations are dragging on to perdition, who have, since last we addressed you, slumbered on in the neglect of your solemn duty towards your God, and fearless of His judgments, awake and arise, and harden not your hearts, if now again you hear his voice! Another season of repentance and expiation is afforded you—perhaps your last. The Spouse of Christ is about to gird herself with sackcloth, and to scatter ashes on her head, to fast, and weep, and mourn over her prodigal children: she is going to grieve and suffer in spirit with her Beloved in His bitter passion, and on His ignominious Cross. Will you not follow her? Will you not join her, and form part of her sorrowful procession, as those who have cause to mourn, as those who have abundant reason for tears and shame and humiliation and affliction? As those who have need of mercy and forgiveness? As those who have a part and interest beyond others, in the passion and the death of your loving Redeemer? Oh! cast off the load of your past iniquities, break asunder the bonds of your present slavery, say generously, I will return to my Father's House, and entreat Him to receive me again to mercy, and will never more be untrue to His affection, unfaithful to my promises. Welcome the return of Lent, which offers you such blessed opportunities of salvation.

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And you, likewise, who have hitherto profitably used this season of mercy, and who have not wholly fallen away from God, since last you observed it, hail its return as a time in which your failings may be further corrected, and the growth of dangerous inclinations repressed, and fresh vigour and fervour in God's service acquired. Bless your God who hath mercifully given you one more opportunity of looking more searchingly into your own hearts, cleansing them of their remaining frailties; making straight their yet crooked ways;

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