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guarantee against such tricks, but there is another in the direct and constant operation of that mighty engine of instruction" (the Press) "to which, above all others, their general improvement must be ascribed."-So sovereign is this remedy, that according to the E. R. "To rear up a false religion then has become absolutely impossible: to advance an usurper would be equally useless."-Oh what glorious tidings are these for Church and State, for the friends of orthodoxy and legitimacy!!

We acknowledge with gratitude, the powerful, the splendid advocacy: of the E. R. more than once afforded to the Catholic question; he cannot however expect we should treat him, on this occasion, with a more ceremonious reverence than he has paid to the venerable characters we have presumed to advocate. If on this occasion he has not succeeded, it is because a false proposition will baffle the most consummate art in its support-that art may amuse, astonish, and deceive, but it will persuade those only, who are prepared for seduction by their imbecility, their ignorance, or their prejudices.

PRINCE HOHENLOHE.
AUTHORISED STATEMENT.

In order to prevent the publication of mis-statements and incorrect accounts of a recent extraordinary event, the following particulars are laid before the public on the best authority:-*

Miss Margaret Rorke, daughter of Andrew Rorke of Tyrrel's town, in the county of Dublin, Esq. had been during the last seven years in a very delicate state of health. In November, 1816, whilst at school in the Ursuline Convent of Cork, she was attacked by the measles, which so much affected her constitution, that from that period, up to the

C. S.

morning of the 15th inst. she could not once repose on her left. side, or read or write a line without feeling most violent and acute pain in that side. In January, 1823, her illness considerably encreased, and for the last nine months became so alarming, that little or no hope could be enter tained of her recovery. Two eminent Physicians in England pronounced her consumptive, and during the last six weeks, her lungs were declared by a distinguished professional gentleman+ to be impostumated. An idea of this young lady's situation for

The following Notes to the above "Authorised Statement," are taken by the Editor from an original but a private document of no less authenticity;-details, which as they exemplify the merciful glory of God, he trusts, will ensure the pardon of the Pious Family, for publishing them without their permission.

+"Dr. Crampton:"-Unless the name of the Physician who attend. ed the Patient be given, the Cure will be deemed a private transaction, and subjected to the spurious imputations so vainly applied by the Edinburgh Review, &c. &c. to the Cures of Miss O'Connor, Mrs. Stuart, Miss Lalor, and Miss Dowell.

Ed.

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the last nine months may be formed from these facts-that, during this time she could not remain in a reclined posture for one minute without immediate danger of suffocation-that she had a loathing and distaste for all solid food and nourishment-and for the last two months had not passed one hour in the twenty-four even in uneasy sleep, which was the only intermission of pain she experienced. Such was her state of debility and exhaustion, arising from frequent spasms in the head and chest, that on the first of this month she was considered in immediate danger of death; and on the morning of that day received the last rites of the Roman Ca

tholic Church. However, a slight change took place, and she continued still in a most perilous state, until the evening of the 10th inst. when the symptoms of approaching dissolution became so evident and decided, that a messenger was dispatched at night for the nearest Roman Catholic Clergyman to administer the consolations of religion in her last moments. received the holy viaticum, and at intervals appeared to her afflicted friends to have departed this life.* In this state she continued till about one o'clock on the morning of the 11th. At this hour, she was somewhat relieved and refreshed by a short interval of repose. Yet the fatal moment

She

* "On Wednesday last, at five o'clock P.M. Margaret was attacked with the worst suffocation she had ever experienced; after which she fell into a lethargic slumber, out of which, when she awoke, she appeared to enter into her last agony; her extremities became cold and powerless, her voice was nearly gone, her eyes glassy when open, but generally half closed, and nothing but the whites appearing; her face appeared lengthened for death ;......Mr. **** being the nearest to us, we sent for him, to give her the last absolution, not supposing that she could again receive the viaticum, as she could not swallow even a tea spoonful of liquid. Mr. came and spoke to her, gave her the absolution, and desired her to make an effort to swallow; she obeyed, and got down a little water with difficulty; upon which he desired to kneel down, and he would endeavour to give her communion. She appeared quite gone; Mr. however,

......

succeeded in giving her the Holy Sacrament, after which he exhorted her to go before her God with confidence: she seized a crucifix, which I handed to her, and remained very calm for a quarter of an hour; after which, she raised up her head, to speak to me. I was kneeling at her feet, and her voice was so weak, that I could not understand her. I approached nearer, and saw her smiling very tranquilly.I have been told,' said she, that I am to be well on Monday.' Margaret,' said I, 'you will be in heaven with God and his saints on that day.' 'No,'returned she, although that would be very happy, I am not to go yet. I feel better, but I am to be quite well on Monday. After this, she fell asleep, and got a better night than she has had for weeks."

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of Tyrrelston, &c.

seemed only to bé deferred, but not suspended-On the 13th, an appearance of improvement had taken place on the 14th, and on the morning of the 15th, the alarming symptoms returned. The 15th inst. was appointed by the pious and Rev. Prince Hohenlohe as a day of prayer. Miss Rorke had been preparing for that day. At ten minutes before 8 o'clock, the adorable sacrifice of the mass was offered up in her chamber. She received the holy sacrament, and remained in prayer for more than half an hour after. The clergyman and two of her friends then approached her bedside, and before he could address her, she seized his hand, and exclaimed in these words: glory to God, I am well." countenance glowed, and looked full of health and animation. After a short pause, she continued thus: "At the moment I received the Holy Sacrament, when you made the act of resignation* in these words: not my will, but thine, O Lord,

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Give

Her

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be done!'-I said 'Amen,' and drawing a sigh, I felt myself cured." She then removed the chair which supported her in a sitting posture for the last nine months-reclined at full length on her bed-extended her arms, and immediately got out of bed, and throwing a large cloak over her, fell down her knees, to return thanks to God, and afterwards walked up and down the room unassisted and unsupported. Having dressed herself without assistance, and taken her breakfast, she walked down stairs to the drawing-room, and remained there with her delighted and astonished friends. To this moment, 16th inst. one o'clock, this young lady continues wholly free from pain, and in perfect health. Last night, for the first time during nine months, she enjoyed tranquil and refreshing sleep, and is now in the drawing-room, amidst the joy and congratulations of her assembled family and friends." "16 Dec. 1823."

*Here again, we may learn the value of Resignation to the Divine Will, which the E. R. was incapable of appreciating in Miss O'Connor-without it the firmest Hope is unavailing :-Was it not an act of Resignation that completed the great sacrifice that redeemed mankind!

C. S.

Extract of a Letter from Miss Rorke to a Relative, written on the day she was Cured.

""Twere vain to attempt to express what I feel I know not where to begin; Oh the omnipotence, the mercy of that all-wise Providence! Thank heaven for me-I can say no more-I know not what I have been saying. Pray for me, that I may live only to love and serve that adorable Being!"

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PRINCE HOHENLOHE.

For the Catholic Spectator.

An Account of the Extraordinary Cure of Mademoiselle Van Peteghem, at Ghent, in a Letter from Bruges, dated 17th Nov. 1823.

Mademoiselle Van Peteghem, a sick person, resides near St. Michael's Church, she has been unable to walk for several years, and was deemed incurable by Messrs. Khuyskens, Wouters, and Stockman, the Physicians who attended her.

Her Confessor, the Rev. Mr. Pycke, at her request, wrote to the Prince, who, in reply, proposed a Novena for the Feast of All Saints; which accomplished, she rose at ten in the morning; finding herself perfectly cured, she went forth to meet her Father, who was returning from High Mass. The next day she assisted at a Mass of Thanksgiving for her cure, which her Father caused to be celebrated.

The ALLOCUTION of HIS HOLINESS POPE LEO XII. Pronounced in the first Consistory, held the 17th of November, on the Occasion of his Exaltation.

“Venerable Brethren,

"It being given us to address you from this throne, we were for some moments in doubt whether we ought to return you thanks for the pontifical dignity to which you have raised us, and not rather complain of your having imposed upon us the heavy yoke of the apostolic servitude. In calling us to succeed to our late venerable head, Pius VII. whose memory will be consecrated for ages to come. Was it your wish to make our weakness more conspicuous, by placing it in contrast with his heroic virtues ? There were not wanting among you colleagues endowed with every qualification, and worthy of receiving from your hands the administration of the Universal Church.

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Why, in spite of our resistance, did you honour us with the preference: we, who have no merit of our own? Impressed with these reflections, we cannot but recognize that our election really comes from Him, who

from stones is used to raise up children to Abraham, and who chooses the weak things of the world to confound the strong; you have been the interpreters and ministers of the divine will. Viewing it in this light, instead of complaining, we hasten with eagerness, with zeal, and with love, and in conformity to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, to express the sincere and eternal weight of gratitude we owe you.

Having fulfilled our first duty towards Him, who has raised us from the dust, all weak as we are, to place us on this high degree, we this day convoke you, Brethren, to acquit ourselves towards you in the sincerity of our heart, by offering you that tribute of our humble acknowledg ment, which you justly claim at our hands. In rendering you this testimony, it is our wish, that you should rest persuaded that it shall be realized in effect, whenever an occasion shall present itself.

"As for myself, be assured,

British Catholic Association.

that whatever can contribute to adorn, to augment your high dignity; whatever regards the honours, the advantages, the benefits that each one of you has a right to claim at my hands, we faithfully promise on our part, shall not be neglected, in order to correspond to your desires. But, in return, my venerable Brethren, we demand of you, that the same zeal, attachment, and unanimity which you testified towards us, in conferring upon us the pontifical dignity, may still be exerted in our regard, by helping us to support the heavy burthen of the supreme ministry,

You are not ignorant, venerable Brethren, of the cruel wounds that, in these latter times, have been inflicted upon the Church of Jesus Christ; of the numerous enemies that combat against the orthodox faith; of the great depravity of morals that every where reigns; of the difficulties, obstacles, and perplexities by which the affairs of the Church are on every side surrounded. As for ourselves, both day and night our cares and our labours shall be consecrated to these objects, with a view to stem this torrent of evils: but if

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in this great and difficult enter prise, we are not aided by your counsels and your assistance, we cannot flatter ourselves with deriving from our administration the abundant fruits, which we cease not to implore from the great Bestower of all good gifts.

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Courage, then, venerable Brethren labour with us in the vineyard of the Lord. Every barren and hurtful plant must be rooted out; it must be rendered. fruitful by salutary germs, which must be engrafted according as time and circumstances will permit. Thus will you obtain the infinite recompense which the Divine Husbandman has promised to the zeal and activity of his faithful labourers. We cease not, in the meanwhile, to address to him our fervent prayers, that he would deign to water our labours, and grant us the strength of which we stand in need; for it is not he who ploughs that is any thing, but he who gives the increase."

[We are sorry to mention, that His Holiness has had an attack of a periodical illness to which he is subject, and that the latest accounts have not announced his perfect recovery.]

At a MEETING of the COMMITTEE of the BRITISH CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION, on the 14th of December, 1823.

It was resolved,

That the thanks of the British Catholic Association be given to the Society of Mercy of Stockport, for the admirable sentiments expressed in their Letters to the Secretary, and that the whole correspondence be published in the Orthodox Journal, the Catholic Miscellany, and Catholic Spectator of the ensuing month.

Correspondence referred to in the above Resolution. "Honoured Sir,

"Understanding, from a Supplement to the Orthodox Journal, that you are appointed to fill the situation of Secretary to the Catholie

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