"My Lord,

"Maryborough, June 11, 1823. "In compliance with your request, I send you a statement of the facts relative to Miss Lalor, which I have heard from others, and witnessed myself.

"I am now in the house where she was first deprived of her speech. She is at present in the eighteenth year of her age; and as she is connected with most of the respectable Catholic families in this country, and has had frequent intercourse with them, her privation of speech during six years and five months, is established beyond contradiction. Her hearing and understanding remained unimpaired, and she carried a tablet and pencil to write what she could not communicate by signs.

"Medical aid was tried by Doctor Ferris, of Athy, and surgeon Smith, of Mountrath, but without effect. The latter gentleman (as a similar case never occurred in the course of his practice) resolved to have it submitted to the most eminent physicians in Dublin; eight of whom were consulted by him, and the result was, that no hopes could be entertained of her recovery. This decision was im

parted by Doctor Smith to her father, apart from Mrs. and Miss Lalor; all which circumstances the Doctor recollected on the 14th instant, when he saw Miss Lalor, heard her speak, and declared the cure to be miraculous.

"You, my Lord, are already aware, that according to your directions, written to me on the 1st of June, I waited on Mr. Lalor, and communicated to him and to his family, all that you desired. They observed it with every exactness; and on the morning of the 10th instant, having heard Miss Lalor's confession by signs, and disposed her for receiving the Holy Communion, I read to her again, from your Lordship's letters, the directions of the Prince, namely, that she would excite within her a sincere repentance, a firm resolution of obeying God's commands, a lively faith, and unbounded confidence in his mercy, an entire conformity to his holy will, and a disinterested love of him.

"I had previously requested the clergy of this district to offer up for Miss Lalor the holy sacrifice of the Mass, at twelve minutes before eight o'clock in the morning of the 10th, keeping the matter a secret from most others, as you had recommended; however, as it transpired somewhat, a considerable number collected in the chapel, when my two coadjutors, with myself, began Mass at the hour appointed. I offered the holy sacrifice in the name of the church. I besought the Lord to overlook my own unworthiness, and regard only Jesus Christ the Great High Priest and Victim, who offers himself in the Mass to his Eternal Father, for the living and the dead. I implored the Mother of God, of all the angels and saints, and particularly of St. John Nepomescene. I administered the Sacrament to the young lady, at the usual time; when instantly she heard, as it were, a voice distinctly saying to her, Mary, you are well,'--when she exclaimed, O Lord, am I? and,

overwhelmed with devotion, fell prostrate on her face. She continued in this posture for a considerable time, whilst I hastened to conclude Mass; but was interrupted in my thanksgiving immediately after, by the mother of the child pressing her to speak.

"When at length she was satisfied in pouring out her soul to the Lord, she took her mother by the hand, and said to her, 'Dear mother,' upon which Mrs. Lalor called the clerk, and sent for me, as I had retired to avoid the interruption, and, on coming to where the young lady was, I found her speaking in an agreeable, clear, and distinct voice, such as neither she nor her mother could recognize as her own.

"As she returned home in the afternoon, the doors and windows in the streets through which she passed were crowded with persons, gazing with wonder at this monument of the power and goodness of Almighty God.

"Thus, my lord, in obedience to your commands, I have given you a simple statement of facts, without adding to, or distorting, what I have seen and heard, the truth of which, their very notoriety places beyond all doubt, and which numberless witnesses, as well as myself, could attest by the most solemn appeal to Heaven. I cannot forbear remarking to your lordship, how our Lord confirms now the doctrine of his church, and his own presence upon our altars, by the same miracles to which he referred the disciples of John, saying, 'Go tell John the dumb speak," &c. as a proof that he was the Son of God who came to save the world.

"I remain your lordship's dutiful and affectionate servant in Christ, "N. O'CONNOR.

Upon this marvellous narrative, our limits will allow us to make but a remark or two, just by way of hint, to those who may think the matter worth investigation, in order to the production of further evidence; much that could be brought forward not having yet been stated.

In the first place, then, Miss Lalor's ever having been dumb, rests but upon the assertion of the Catholic Bishop of Kildare, that her father told him, that she had been so; and that of his rural dean, that it was a matter of notoriety in the neighbourhood.

Secondly. Eight physicians in Dublin are said to have been consulted by a Mr. or a Doctor Smith, all of whom declared her cure to be hopeless. The case submitted to them, its date, and their answers to it, are doubtless producable, if they ever had existence; and no reasonable Catholic can wonder at their production being demanded.

Thirdly. A doctor Ferris is said to have himself tried medical remedies upon her: his evidence is, we presume, attainable, and if he is a respectable and disinterested witness, it may be material.

The farcical character of the recovery scene, exhibited at the chapel-the singular recollections of Dr. Smith, after the miracle was said to have been performed-the directions of the bishop to keep the preparations secret-the strong fact of the young lady having formerly spoken for years, and not being born dumb-these are circumstances which must strike every one; and we therefore notice them but in passing. Much more, and better evidence, than has yet been adduced, must surely be requisite, to persuade even bigoted, but intelligent Catholics, to believe this miracle of the nineteenth century. We have hinted at some of the links of this defective chain, which may be supplied; though, far be it from us to lead our readers to suppose, that if these deficiencies did not exist, we should have no other objections to urge, for there are many and cogent ones. All we wish at present, is, to shew, that the evidence adduced would not be sufficient to convict a man of petit larceny, and something more must surely be necessary to establish a miracle. Why it should have been performed, or be said to have been performed, at this precise juncture, the Catholic bishop of Kildare has informed us; but the reason assigned is any thing but calculated to obtain credit for it with the public.

"In our times it is meet that signs and wonders should, in some degree, revive, because error has pervaded the earth, and the very foundations of the faith have been assailed. Hence it is just that the Lord should arise to judge, as it were, his own cause. At this time, and in this place, it is worthy of his Providence that the light of his countenance should be shed upon his faithful people. We have long experienced the truth of his prediction to those who were to walk in his footsteps, and carry after them their cross, namely, 'that the world would rejoice, but that they would be sad;' and the present period has added sorrow to our sorrow, and pressure to our distress. Our religion is traduced-our rights are withheld— our good name is maligned-our best actions are misrepresented— crimes are imputed to us, against which our very nature revoltsour friends are silenced, and our enemies insult us, and glory in our humiliation. It is meet, therefore, and just, that he, for whose name and faith we suffer, should cast upon us a look of compassion, lest we faint in the way, or be overcome by temptation-that he should comfort his people, and renew to them, by visible signs, an assurance that he watches over them." [pp. 5, 6.]

387

AMERICAN LITERATURE AND

INTELLIGENCE.

THE expectation expressed in the commencement of this department of our last number has not been disappointed, for the "Seventh Report of the American Bible Society, presented May 8, 1823," has now for some time been in our possession, and we hasten to present our readers with the most interesting of its contents. The following is its gratifying commencement.

"The Managers of the American Bible Society present their Seventh Report to their constituents, with sincere and fervent gratitude to God for his continued smiles and blessings on the Institution.

"The statements which the Managers are about to make, will shew, that the reasons for thanksgiving and praise are many and strong. During the past year, the pecuniary embarrassments, adverted to in former reports, have not been materially changed in a large section of our country; and their effect, in paralyzing exertion, and diminishing gifts for purposes of benevolence, has perhaps extended itself, and become more manifest. Under these circumstances, it is a matter of rejoicing, and it calls for our grateful acknowledgments, that the receipts into the treasury, and the sales of bibles and testaments, have been so fully maintained, as will appear from this report, and the treasurer's account.

"The Board have felt the responsibility of their situation, and have earnestly endeavoured to discharge the duties of it with prudence, with zeal, with fidelity. They have been called on to decide in cases of much moment, and of great difficulty. But brotherly love has prevailed among them; it has continually iufluenced them; and they have pursued their work, for the glory of 'the God of peace,' with peace and cordiality.

"The Managers have sincere delight in announcing, that the depository of the Society has been completed. The corner-stone was laid shortly after the last anniversary; and the building was finished in the early part of the winter. The expenditure for this object, including the ground, has been about 22,500 dollars. Between 8000 and 9000 dollars were obtained from liberal and benevolent individuals, for the express purpose of paying for the depository; and the remainder of the sum has been temporarily supplied out of the general funds of the Society. The Board earnestly hope to obtain further contributions towards this object. They solicit such contributions from all whom God in his providence has favoured with the means, and who are friendly to the good work. They have adopted a plan of a sinking fund, by the operation of which, the sum VOL. VIL-No. 14.

2 D

advanced from the general funds will be repaid, with interest, in a few years; and the temporary advance will not interfere with the business of the institution, nor result in the diversion of a single dollar from the precise object for which it was paid into the treasury. This depository has now been occupied for a number of months, and a sufficient trial has already been made, to realize the expectations of those who urged its erection. All the business of the Society is now done under one roof. There is the most ready access to every record and every document, to which reference may become necessary on the part of the Managers, or of any of the Committees. The officers of the Society have much more easy and frequent intercourse and opportunities to confer together, and to communicate interesting intelligence. The Managers and the Committees have suitable rooms for their meetings; and the Secretaries and the Agent have convenient offices. It is now practicable to carry on the business of the Society with more regularity and system, and to maintain a more constant oversight of all its operations, particularly in the printing and bookbinding departments. And if the requisite means shall be furnished, the Board will be able greatly to extend the business of those departments, and to multiply the numbers of bibles and testaments issued from the depository.

"The operations of the Society have been, in a very considerable degree, suspended for some weeks of the past year, in consequence of the removal from the old to the new depository, and the delay which was unavoidable, while the arrangements of so large an establishment were making. A much longer suspension was caused by the prevalence of the epidemic fever, in New-York, during a part of the last summer and autumn. This lamentable visitation of Divine Providence did not, indeed, prevent the meetings of the Managers, nor the correspondence of the Society; but it put an entire stop to all issues of books and publications for a period, and it allowed of very little being done by the printer or binder. More than two months of the year passed away, before it was deemed safe to return to the lower parts of the city, and to resume the suspended business of the Society. In the recollection of the recent season of alarm, peril, sickness, and death, the Managers have much pleasure in stating, that the new depository is situated on elevated ground, and in a quarter of the city which is considered as one of those least likely to be afflicted by the ravages of pestilential disease. The Managers hope, that in this new situation, the officers of the Society, and the workmen in the institution, will not again have to flee from the pestilence, and that their operations will be continued, uninterrupted, through all seasons of the year.

"Notwithstanding the serious impediments (which have just been mentioned) there have been printed, at the depository of the American Bible Society, during the seventh year,—