token of public honour which was rendered to this good man in London before his death was the uncovering by the Prince of Wales, in July, of Mr. Story's fine bronze statue of himself, behind the Royal Exchange. Mr. Peabody remained in his native land three years, during which time he largely increased the amount of his donations, and founded more than one or two important institutions. He gave 2,000,000 dols. for the education of blacks and whites in the South; 300,000 dols. for museums of American relics at Yale and Harvard Colleges; 50,000 dols. for a free museum at Salem; 25,000 dols. to Bishop M'Ilvaine, for Kenyon College; and presented a sum of 250,000 dols. to the State of Maryland. He also expended 100,000 dols. on a "Memorial Church" to his mother, and distributed among the members of his family 2,000,000 dols. In recognition of his many large gifts to public institutions in America, he received, in March, 1867, a special vote of thanks from the United States Congress. Mr. Peabody's illness began while in America a few months before, but he seemed to have partially recovered. He returned to this country in order to consult his medical adviser, Dr. Gull, and then to pass the coming winter in the south of France. His death at the house of his friend Sir Curtis Lampson, in Eaton-square, caused universal regret. Having been born February 18, 1795, he was in the seventy-fifth year of his age. SAINTE-BEUVE. Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve, an eminent French poet and critic, who died in the beginning of October, was born at Boulogne-sur-Mer on the 23rd of December, 1801. At the age of fourteen he went to Paris, where he completed a course of study in the College Charlemagne. On leaving College he studied medicine and anatomy, and received the appointment of Out-door Surgeon to the Hôpital St. Louis. The incompatibility of his profession with his poetical tendencies had already given rise to feelings of repugnance, which he has described in his preface to the "Poésies de Joseph Delorme," when the appearance of the "Oles and Ballads" of Victor Hugo de. cided his future course. He resigned his situation as surgeon, and abandoned himself, heart and soul, to poetry and literature. He was presented to Victor Hugo, and allied himself with De Musset and others in the Cénacle. Soon after appeared his "Historical and Critical Picture of French Poetry and of the French Theatre in the Sixteenth Century" (1828). The "Consolation" appeared shortly after, and met with better success. The Cenacle was brushed away by the Revolution of 1830, and SainteBeuve then joined the staff of the Globe, the avowed organ of the Simonian sect; but he soon grew tired of the association, and transferred his services to the Revue des Deux Mondes, in the pages of which he resumed the series of literary "Portraits" commenced in the Revue de Paris. Not long after he joined the National, then under the able management of Armand Carrel, and contributed some excellent papers to that popular journal. In 1837 he made a visit to Switzerland, and there conceived a "History of Port Royal," which took him eight years to complete. In 1840 he accepted a librarianship in the Mazarin Library; and in 1845 he was admitted into the French Academy to fill up the vacancy caused by the death of Casimir Delavigne. In 1850 he joined the Constitutionnel, and in its columns first appeared that charming budget of literary biography and criticism entitled, "Causeries du Lundi," or "Monday Conversations," an improved continuation of his "Portraits," which form a series of volumes. Soon after the Coup d'Etat in December, 1851, he was attached to the Moniteur, and named Professor of Latin Poetry at the College of France; but the insubordination of the students exhibited at his first lecture obliged him to discontinue the course. In 1857 he was appointed Professor at the Normal School. Emperor signalized the occasion of his departure for Algiers at the end of April, 1865, by a graceful tribute of esteem for a distinguished man of letters in the elevation of M. Sainte-Beuve to the dignity of Senator. A list of his writings, historical, critical, and poetical, would occupy considerable space. LORD JUSTICE SELWYN. The The Right Hon. Sir Charles Jasper Selwyn, P.C., LL.D., Q.C., one of the Judges of the Court of Appeal, who died on the 11th of August, at his seat, Pagoda House, Richmond, was the youngest son of William Selwyn, Esq., Q.C., of Richmond, by his wife, Letitia Frances, daughter of Thomas Kynaston, Esq., of Witham, Essex, and was brother of the Right Rev. George Augustus Selwyn, D.D., Bishop of Lichfield. He was born in 1813, and was educated at Eton, and at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A., in 1836, and M.A. in 1839. He was called to the Bar by the Hon. Society of Lincoln's Inn in 1840, and attained great eminence as an equity lawyer. He became a Q.C., and a bencher of Lincoln's Inn in 1856. He was M.P. for Cambridge University from 1859 to 1868, and held the office of Commissary of that University since 1855. He was appointed Solicitor-General in August, 1867, on which occasion he was knighted, and was made Judge of the Court of Appeal in Chancery and sworn of the Privy Council in 1868. Sir Charles married, in 1856, Hester, daughter of H. G. Ravenshaw, Esq., of Richmond, Surrey, which lady died in 1868. Lord Justice Giffard thus alluded to his deceased colleague on the first day of Michaelmas term:-" It is impossible that this Court can resume its sittings without referring to that which on this day is doubtless present to the minds of all in both branches of the profession-namely, the loss we have all sustained by the death of the late Lord Justice Selwyn. Called to the Bar in 1840 he became a Queen's Counsel in 1856, and afterwards attained the office of Solicitor-General, and was raised to the Bench, having had in these Courts a practice extending over twenty-seven years, successful from the commencement of his career, and not, on the whole, inferior to that of any of his contemporaries. It was therefore to be expected that he would administer the law, of which he had so much experience, with ability and with decision, nor was that expectation in any respect disappointed. It was my lot, and, I may add, my happiness, to be associated with the late Lord Justice as his junior on the Bench, and though that was for a few, a very few months only, I may be permitted to say how certain I am that no man could have brought to the discharge of his duties a more complete and ready knowledge, a more manly judgment, a more anxious desire that in every case truth and justice and right should be done. His memory is also dear to all of us as that of a personal friend in all truth and sincerity." VISCOUNT STRANGFORD. The Right Hon. Percy Ellen Algernon Frederick William Sydney Smythe,eighth Viscount Strangford, of Strangford, in the county of Down, in the Peerage of Ireland, and Baron Penshurst, of Penshurst, in the county of Kent, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, a Grandee of Portugal, who died on the 9th of January, at his town house, 58, Great Cumberland-place, Hyde Park, was the youngest son of Percy Clinton Sydney, sixth Viscount Strangford, by his wife, Ellen, youngest daughter of Sir Thomas Burke, the first Baronet, of Marble Hill, in the County of Galway, and widow of Nicholas Brown, Esq., of Mount Hazel, in the county of Galway. He was born November 26, 1825, and was educated at Harrow, and at Merton College, Oxford. He was appointed an Attaché to the Embassy at Constantinople in May, 1845, and ultimately became Oriental Secretary in July, 1857, which post he vacated in October, 1858. He was an eminently accomplished linguist, and was a member of several literary and scientific societies. "The linguistic and philological attainments of Lord Strangford," says the Saturday Review, were something simply amazing. It was wonderful to talk to a man to whom all the languages of Europe and civilized Asia seemed equally familiar. But this was not all. He was a scientific and historical philologer of a high order. He not only knew a vast number of languages, but he knew all about the languages which he knew. 66 It is really sad to think how small is likely to be the permanent fruit of powers which were so diligently exercised, and of a mind which was so richly stored. We know of no published writings of Lord Strangford's, save some contributions to various periodicals, and the chapters which he added to Lady Strangford's book on "The Eastern Shores of the Adriatic." Lord Strangford succeeded his brother, George Augustus Frederick Percy Sydney, seventh Viscount Strangford, a promising and distinguished politician, November 23, 1857. He married, February 6, 1862, Emily Anne, youngest daughter of Admiral Sir F. Beaufort, K.C.B., by whom, who survived him, he had no issue. Lord Strangford's father, Percy Clinton Sydney, sixth Viscount, an eminent diplomatist and a graceful poet, the translator of Camöens, the Portuguese bard, was created, January 26, 1825, Baron Penshurst, of Penshurst, in the county of Kent, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. REMARKABLE TRIALS. I. SAURIN v. STAR. THE CONVENT CASE. THIS was a very extraordinary case, and excited an unusual degree of public interest. The action was brought by a late inmate of a convent at Hull against the Superioress, Mrs. Star, and Mrs. Kennedy, another member of the Order; and the charge was that the defendants wrongfully and maliciously conspired together to compel the plaintiff to cease to be a member, and to procure her expulsion by subjecting her to various indignities, persecutions, and annoyances, by depriving her of the food and clothing to which she was lawfully entitled, by imprisoning her, by preventing her from attending the services of the convent chapel, and by preferring false charges of disobedience, contempt of authority, neglect of duty, and other misconduct. There was a charge for appropriating a watch, wearing apparel, books and papers, and also one for libel, in respect of allegations made against the plaintiff to the Roman Catholic Bishop of Beverley. The damages were laid at 5000l. The defendants pleaded "Not guilty," that the plaintiff was not a member of the Order nor entitled to the privileges and advantages of the institution, and that after the accruing of the matters of complaint and cause of action, the same and all matters of difference were referred to the Bishop, whose award was unfavourable to the plaintiff. The Solicitor-General (Sir J. Coleridge, Q.C.), Mr. Digby Seymour, Q.C., and Mr. A. Wills were counsel for the plaintiff; Mr. Hawkins, Q.C., Mr. Mellish, Q.C., and Mr. Charles Russell for the defendants. The case was tried before the Lord Chief Justice of England, and occupied the Queen's Bench for three weeks. A large number of witnesses were called, and the most trifling details of convent discipline gone into with extraordinary minuteness. The Solicitor-General stated the plaintiff's case to the jury, and Miss Susanna Mary Saurin, the plaintiff, who was attired in deep mourning, was the first witness. She said, I am the daughter of Mr. Michael Saurin, of Garballaugh, near Drogheda. In or about the year 1850 I was desirous of entering a religious house. My parents were opposed at first to my taking such a step, but they ultimately consented. The Convent of Mercy in Baggot-street, Dublin, was selected as the convent which I should enter, I became a postulant M on the 21st of November, 1850, and remained there as a postulant till the 5th of August, 1851, when I became a novice. On the 3rd of October, 1853, I made my profession as a regular sister of the Order, taking the name, in religion, of Sister Mary Scholastica Joseph. The defendant, Mrs. Star, entered Baggotstreet Convent as a postulant a few months before I did, and also made her act of profession a few months before I made mine. She took the name of Sister Mary Joseph. Mrs. Kennedy, who was professed shortly after me, assumed the name of Sister Mary Magdalene. I became very much attached to both of them, and we were associated together in the work of education. In 1857 Mrs. Star left Baggot street on going to be Superioress of a new foundation at Clifford, near Tadcaster, in Yorkshire. I followed her to Clifford on the 16th or 17th of May, 1858. Mrs. Kennedy was at Clifford when I arrived there. I went over with Mrs. Delany, a choir-sister, Mrs. M'Owne, and a lay-sister. Mrs. M'Owne was called Sister Mary Agnes. My father and mother offered great opposition to my going to Clifford, though they ultimately gave their assent. In the course of 1858 there was a convent founded at Hull, and Mrs. Star went there. I afterwards joined her at Hull, but after remaining there a few months I returned to Clifford. From that time to 1864 I was sometimes at Hull, but more frequently at Clifford. During the greater part of that time Mrs. Star was chiefly at Hull, but sometimes she was at Clifford. She was the Superior of both houses. Mrs. Kennedy passed most of her time at Hull, being at one period Mother-Assistant. There was a local Superior appointed by Mrs. Star for Clifford. Mrs. Delany filled that office part of the time, and Mrs. M'Owne the remainder of the time. During the earlier period of my stay at Clifford Mrs. Star and Mrs. Kennedy paid a visit to Ireland. On her return, Mrs. Star told me they had seen my mother. She said she had explained the circumstances in which the convent was placed, and told me my mother was reconciled to my remaining. My mother, she said, expressed a wish that I would write to her once a month. At Clifford I discharged the duties of infirmarian, and was also employed in the housekeeping and in the visitation of the sick. I, with several others, were engaged in the school in the morning and afternoon. These duties necessarily brought me into contact with people in the outer world. At this time I was on the most friendly terms with Mrs. Star and Mrs. M'Owne. Prior to the year 1860 my life was passed very happily. Some time in that year Mrs. Star asked me to tell her what had passed between myself and the priest at confession. I refused to do so, as I doubted it would be contrary to honour and every regulation. I said I did not remember all the priest had said to me. She told me to go away and try to remember and then come back and tell her. I persisted, however, in my refusal to tell her my confession. She asked me several times the same day, and remarked that no member of the community, with the exception of myself, would refuse. I said I thought it would be a breach of honour on my part to repeat any thing that had been said to me in confession. She said I showed great want of confidence in her. Up to then we all had free communication with one another during recreation hours, but after this occurrence Mrs. Star used to go away every day in company with the senior sister, Mrs. M'Owne, while I was left with the novices and postulants. Mrs. Star assigned no reason for wanting to know my confession. Some sisters from Baggot-street afterwards came on a visit to Hull, and on that occasion the Mother-Assistant from Dublin found me alone with the novices and postulants. We had some conversation, and afterwards Mrs. Star told me she had sharply reproved the Mother-Assistant. In 179 1858 or 1859 there was a branch house established in Anlaby-road, Hull. I had much to do with the arrangements for removal, and that necessarily brought me into frequent contact with externs. I was not found fault with at the time for that communication with them. At this period Mrs. Star was rather distant in her manner towards me, but there was nothing remarkable in the manner of Mrs. Kennedy. About twelve months after the ladies came over from Dublin there was a project entertained, though never carried out, for giving up the establishment at Clifford, in consequence of the attendance at the schools there having greatly fallen off. Mrs. Star and Mrs. Kennedy asked me to go to Clifford to get the schools up, as I was a favourite with the girls. I accordingly went back to Clifford and devoted myself to this task. That brought me a good deal into contact with the parents of the children and with Mr. and Mrs. Grimstone, the principal supporters of the convent and schools. In the course of a few months I succeeded in bringing up the schools to their former state. Mrs. Star and Mrs. Kennedy afterwards came over to Clifford to meet the Bishop, when it was arranged that the establishment should be continued. Mrs. Star came to Clifford about May, 1861, and stayed there till the following August Retreat." The August "Retreat" lasts ten days, and at that time the observances are stricter than usual. While Mrs. Star was at Clifford Mrs. Kennedy was at Hull. During this period of 1861 Mrs. Star treated me on every occasion very unkindly. She was dissatisfied with and disapproved almost every thing I did. There was some work brought from Hull which she told me to prepare and cut out on Sundays. I had never known such a thing as a nun working on Sundays. We usually rose at half-past five, and went to bed at ten, but I was required to get up at three o'clock on several mornings in order to finish this work. In August Mrs. Star went to Hull for the "Retreat," and took me with her, I remained at Hull after the "Retreat" had closed. After returning to Clifford in September, I received a visit from my uncle, the Rev. Mr. Mathews, the parish priest of Drogheda. I felt that Mrs. Star's manner was very different towards me to what it had been. Mrs. M'Owne was the Mother-Assistant at Clifford. She appeared to treat me with some reserve. I received very few letters from my friends at that time. When I did receive them I was obliged to return them to Mrs. M'Owne. I never knew that to be done in any other instance. Mrs. M'Owne told me it was done by Mrs. Star's orders. I became anxious to go back to the establishment at Dublin. Accordingly I wrote a letter in March, 1862, to my uncle, Mr. Mathews. I left that letter in my cell. Mrs. Kidd, one of the sisters, found it there and sent it to the Superioress at Hull. (The letter was put in and read.) Some days after this I received a letter from Mrs. Star in reference to what I had done. In that letter, which Mrs. Star subsequently took away with her, she said she supposed I was aware that my letter had been sent to her, and she said it was a breach of rule and vow to write as I had done. She also wished to know whether I desired to return to Baggot-street, and, if so, whether she or I should write to my uncle on the subject. In my reply to her letter I said I did wish, if possible, to return to Baggot-street that night. I don't remember receiving any reply to that letter. I wrote a second letter to my uncle without leave. Soon afterwards I was visited by my mother and my brother, when Mrs. M'owne came into the school-room and ordered me to go into my cell, saying that she could not allow me to see my mother and brother, as Mrs. Star had given her directions to that effect. I was afterwards allowed to see my mother, who clasped me in her arms and said, "My child, are they going to make a prisoner of you?" |