by Rev. Aeneas McDonnell Dawson

COMBINATION AGAINST THE FRENCH REVOLUTION—THE 18TH “BRUMAIRE”— BONAPARTE THE EXECUTIVE POWER—THE ELECTION OF PIUS VII. FAVOURED BY THE GREAT POWERS—JOYFUL DEMONSTRATIONS AS HE REPAIRED TO ROME—RUSSIA’S IMPERIAL SALUTE—HOPES OF THE SCOTCH BISHOPS—PECU­NIARY RELIEF—SEMINARY REMOVED TO AQUORTIES—BISHOP HAY FIRST PRESIDENT—HIS PATIENCE IN TEACHING—HIS HABITS—USE OF TOBACCO— HIS KINDNESS TO STUDENTS—STATESMEN RECOMMEND HAVING FEW STUDENTS TOGETHER—HENCE BISHOP CHISHOLM FOUNDS A SEMINARY AT LISMORE—EXCELLENT SITE, PRICE. £4,950

France, stripped of its most brilliant conquests and driven back upon its frontiers, was threat­ened by a most formidable coalition. Great Britain, Germany, Russia, and even Turkey, provoked by the invasion of Egypt, made common cause with the rest of Europe, against France, and prepared to drive the French from Ancona. The people of Italy, disgusted by the impiety of the French Republicans, their pillage of the Sanctuary of Loretto and the persecution of the Pope, welcomed the Austrians and Russians as liberators. The King of Naples had declared himself in favour of the coalition; and the King of Spain, if he had dared, would have done the same. Suwarroff, who, in 1794, had given the last fatal blow to Poland in order that it might be finally partitioned between Russia, Austria and Prussia, would not have been sorry to give a like fate to revolutionary France. The French Republic, thus threatened from without by Europe in arms, was seriously disturbed interiorly by conspiracies, by Vendeans, Chouans, etc. It was sick at heart, and sick to death. Its failure was a prelude to the most despotic monarchy. Napoleon Bonaparte arrived from his Egyptian exile; and the French Revolution, although it enjoyed for a little while the name, was no longer the thing called a Republic. The 18th “Brumaire,” and Napoleon Bonaparte was the sole executive power with the army at his command. This unlooked for event took the world by surprise. A still more astonishing event was in store—the election of another Pope. After the deportation of Pius VI. and the occupation of Rome and Italy by the French, in fidelity, heresy and schism held the opinion, even openly declared, that the Papacy was used up, and Pius VI. would have no successor; and, indeed, what human aid could be counted on? There was not a power that had not shown hostility. All the European powers, meanwhile, including Turkey, had formed a coalition against the revolutionary power of France. Hence, Europe in arms, commanded peace. The conclave assembled at Venice, an Austrian City. The armed powers, not excepting Russia and the sublime Port kept watch at its gates. Peace reigned supreme. Christendom, it is no exaggeration to say, held its breath in expectation of the coming spiritual chief. The Cardinals, undisturbed and without fear of distur­bance, proceeded with their usual slowness and deliberation to the election of a Sovereign Pontiff. Several Cardinals were named and well supported; but for want of the requisite number of votes and other causes their candidature did not succeed. Curiously enough, Cardinal Chiar­amonti was not thought of till Secretary Consalvi suggested that he should be declared a candi­date. To this no Cardinal objected but himself, and a whole fortnight elapsed before his opposition was overcome. This amiable and affectionate dignitary was well known to possess every quality essential to a Pope; and, accordingly, he at once obtained the necessary number of votes, two-thirds of the whole. The rest acceding he was unanimously elected. There was but one opponent, Chiaramonti himself. He could not, however, resist the general will.

The Court of Vienna appeared to be offended by the election of Chiaramonti. They ungraciously refused to let him be crowned in the Church of St. Mark. On the 21st of March, the ceremony of crowning took place in the Church of St. George, Cardinal Anthony Doria, Dean of the Cardi­nals deacon, officiating, The Austrians spoke of retaining the Pope at Venice. They even thought of inducing him to take up his abode at Vienna. When Bonaparte reached the plains of Italy, they no longer opposed the departure of the Pope. He took passage, accordingly, in an Austrian frigate, and landed at Pesaro. He thence journeyed to Rome. He was received at Ancona amid salvos of artillery. The Russian ships stationed at the port, gave an imperial salute according to the orders of their Emperor, Paul I., six hundred Anconians unyoked the horses of his carriage, and, using ropes ornamented with ribbons of different colours, drew it to, the palace of the Cardinal Bishop. About eight months before, the Neapolitans, assisted by some Austrian squadrons and two hundred British infantry, drove the French from Rome. They were now displeased at the arrival of the Pope, who entered Rome on the 3rd of June, 1800, the whole people making excessive demonstrations of joy. The Naples Government was obliged to recall from Rome all its troops; but continued to occupy Benevent and Ponte Corvo, which were prov­inces of the Holy See.

As the Bishops of Scotland had grieved over the deportation of Pius VI., so they now rejoiced on hearing of the advent to Rome of his successor. They hoped, through a continuance of Pius VII.’s prosperity, to derive some benefit from the Roman College, and to obtain the usual aid from Propaganda. Meanwhile their financial difficulties were so far relieved by a timely bequest. Mr. Alexander Menzies, a religious Benedictine of the Pitfodels family, died at Achin­toul, where he had been for some time chaplain. He had formerly been a member of the commu­nity at Ratisbon. He was much and generally regretted; but by none more than by Bishop Hay, who, having the greatest confidence in his judgment and sincerity, often consulted him. The brethren of Ratisbon were not always conspicuous for their liberality. It was otherwise, however, with Mr. Menzies and Abbot Arbuthnot. Mr. Menzies left a letter to be delivered by Bishop Hay to the Abbot, in which he requested that, at least, half of several hundred pounds which he left behind him, should be given to the fund of the secular mission. He also left a will in which Bishop Hay was named sole executor. The Abbot was to have the offer of all his money. The poor were to have what the sale of his clothes might bring. His books and linen, he requested, might be given to his brother monk, Mr. Robertson. Abbot Arbuthnot, in compliance with the deceased brother’s last wishes, and also from a spirit of liberality, for it was fully in his power to do otherwise, consented to a division of Mr. Menzies’ money between the monastery and the mission. The half amounted to something more than £400.

In July, 1799, the seminary was removed from Scalan to Aquorties. The Bishop himself was the first president at the new house, which, at first, could maintain only six students although there was room for thirty, so great had been the expense of preparing the building. This inconvenience was only temporary, and in course of some time the seminary had its full complement of thirty pupils, with a suitable staff of professors and servants. It cost the Bishop a great deal to leave Scalan, to which he was, much attached. It grieved him also to part with the good people of the neighbourhood. The very remoteness and solitude of Scalan had a charm for him. The cultivated and fertile fields around it with its picturesque mountain scenery must be exchanged for the bleak and dreary morass of Aquorties; for, it was not then what it has since become, a beautiful and smiling farm. The charge of a few boys and the tedious labour incident thereto, must have been a serious trial to a man of Bishop Hay’s active habits, who had been so long accustomed to the best social intercourse and intimate relations with the distinguished men of the capital. But he had at heart the founding of an important educational institution and the sacrifice must be made. It was found that the actual cost of the buildings greatly exceeded the estimate. Hence, it came to be necessary that every shilling of his own which he could spare should be called for, before even a commencement could be made. It was not enough for the Bishop to superintend. He also took his share in the daily work, as long as he was able. He taught the classes of mental philosophy and metaphysics, using as his text book Dr. Reid’s Works on the Moral and Intel­lectual Powers. Besides lecturing on those subjects, which he studied to explain with as much clearness as they admitted of, the Bishop has left behind him a monument of his patient and humble industry in a mass of manuscript abridgments from many authors, for the use of his pupils, both at Scalan and Aquorties. It was probably as a relaxation from his more abstruse studies that he taught the rudiments of grammar, and was so fond of this work that he had a class of little boys engaged in it. He took pleasure in being with the students. He went to breakfast, dinner and supper with them in the refectory, and never failed to attend the evening prayers of the community in the chapel, and other religious exercises. All this did not hinder him from devoting several hours of the day to mental prayer and spiritual reading, sometimes in the chapel, sometimes in his room, and pretty often, out of doors. He celebrated Mass every morning, except when the state of his health required that he should take some refection at an early hour, or, perhaps, a little medicine.

The reader may, at first, be shocked when told that a Bishop of unquestioned holiness of life, indulged in the ugly habit of chewing tobacco. But let him have patience. One day the student who acted as sacristan (afterwards well known as the Rev. Mr. Carmichael), asked the Bishop how he came to acquire such a habit. He had no hesitation in satisfying the young man’s curi­osity. “Do you think that for any cause I would continue that nasty habit if I did not find it neces­sary? I will tell you the reason. I was long subject to a state of health which occasioned me violent headaches, and I tried every remedy I could think of to no purpose till I tried the daily use of small twist which keeps me in a much more healthy condition. Were I to give up chewing tobacco my old complaints and their bad effects would follow; I am, therefore, to continue the ugly practice.” Most drugs are unpleasant, but the patient who loves health more than he hates physic will, nevertheless gladly swallow them.

The Bishop was much with the students in recreation hours. They listened with delight to the many stories he could tell relating to bygone times. He thus amused, and, in amusing, instructed them. He often spent the winter evenings among them when they played the Italian game of “cuckoos,” distributed prizes and otherwise contributed to their amusements.

When any of the boys were sick, the Bishop, who had not forgot his medical learning, not only prescribed for them, but also administered medicines to them with his own hands. In the case of their being confined to bed, he often remained in the room with them, saying his prayers and helping them by turns, with the tenderness of a nurse, till he saw they were better.

It had been in contemplation to erect a College on a large scale for both districts. The Govern­ment, however, was opposed to the scheme. So much ill-will, prejudice, jealousy and rancour still prevailed among the lower class of people towards Catholics, that there might be dangerous consequences if many students were assembled in one place. The Lord Advocate, therefore advised the Bishop to begin his seminary with a few pupils, and afterwards increase their numbers when circumstances warranted a change. This wise advice was not lost on the Bishops; and Bishop Chisholm immediately set about establishing a seminary for the Highland district. The Island of Lismore was the locality selected by the Bishop. There was on this island a suit­able site which could be purchased. The proprietor, Campbell, of Dunstaffnage, had erected on it a substantial house some years before. There was also an excellent garden. The land was good and limestone abundant. It was the opinion in Edinburgh that the purchase would be an advan­tageous one at the price demanded, £4,950. It was of easy access from Glasgow, which gave it additional advantages as regarded the conveyance of coal and other things necessary for the use of the establishment. Among the many attractions of the place there was one which could not fail to interest a Catholic purchaser. It had been the residence of the Bishop of Argyle.

    


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