Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1900, volume 4).djvu/537

Rh the building of a church. He also attended various places within a radius of fifty miles, and taught for nearly a year, his parishioners being too poor to pay a teacher. He also began the study of medicine, for which an extensive knowledge of botany served him. While journeying through the forests on his missionary duties he searched for flowers and plants to be used in compounding medicines, and also found means to form a valu- able collection, which he afterward forwarded to the museum at 3Iunich. In 1840 he was prostrated by an intermittent fever, and he then sought admit- tance at the Redemptorist convent in Pittsburg, Pa., on 18 Oct., and two years later he made his vows, being the first Redemptorist that professed in the United States. He spent the two following years in giving missions in Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. He was appointed in 1844 superior of the Redemptorist convent of Pittsburg, and built the church of St. Philomena, the whole super- intendence of which devolved on him. He also wrote a catechism and a Bible history for the use of schools, spending night hours on these com- pilations when the day's work was over. At the same time he composed manuals for the various confraternities of the Redemptorist churches. Be- fore leaving Pittsburg he had nearly finished a new Redemptorist convent and novitiate. He was appointed superior of the American province on 15 Dec, 1846, and during his provincialship Redemp- torist foundations were made and churches were erected under his direction in the chief cities of the United States. In 1847 he intrusted the three female schools under his jurisdiction in Baltimore to the School-sisters of Notre Dame, who had just arrived from Bavaria, and his zeal in spreading this order throughout the United States entitles him to be regarded as its founder in this country. In 1849 he laid down his office and was made con- suitor to the provincial. In 1851 he was made rector of St. Alphonsus's churcli, Baltimore, and in the same year was appointed bishop of Philadel- phia. After vainly endeavoring to decline the office he was consecrated by Archbishop Kenrick on 20 March, 1852. He set about erecting churches wherever they were needed, and during the first five years of his episcopate he opened more than fifty. In some parishes where there was a feeling against ecclesiastical authority he restored peace by his prudence and firmness. At his death paro- chial schools in his diocese had increased from a few to more than a hundred. He also founded St. Joseph's college in Susquehanna county, and various academies and hospitals. The Sisters of the third order of St. Francis owe their existence to Bishop Neumann. They now have twenty-five convents and over 200 professed sisters, who are principally engaged in nursing the sick at their own homes. In 1854 lie visited Rome to take part in the defini- tion of the dogma of the immaculate conception, and after his return he devoted his energies to the completion of the cathedral of Philadelphia, which had been begun by his predecessor. In 1858 it was opened for worship. It was said of him that in the eight years of his episcopate he had accomplished the work of twenty. To a great sanctity of life he added a high degree of learning and scholarship. He could converse freely in at least twelve modern languages. The Roman Catholics of his diocese believed after his death that many wonderful cures were effected through his intercession. In 1884 steps were taken toward his canonization. See " Life of Right Rev. John Neumann, D. D.," by Rev, Eugene Grimm, from the German of Rev. John A. Berger (New York, 1884).

NEUMANN, Joseph, clergyman, b. in Brussels, Belgium, in 1047; d. in Mexico, 1 May, 17;:52. He studied in Olmutz, and afterward entering the Society of Jesus asked to be sent to the American mission, and embarked for Mexico in 1678. He was appointed superior of New Biscay after his arrival, and spent several years in preaching to the Indians of California. He wrote " Brief R. P. Yesephi Neumann S. Y. an P. Franc Stovvasser, geschrieben zu Sisokitschik in Neu-Biscaja in Nord- America," which was published in the '• Weltbott " of Stocklein, and '"Historia Seditionum, quas ad- versus Societatis Jesu Missionarios moverunt na- tiones Indicas " (Prague, 1730).

NEUVILLE, Jean Guillaume, Baron Hyde de, French statesman, b. in the Castle of Neuville, near Charité-sur-Loire, 24 Jan., 1776; d. in Paris, 28 May, 1847. After studying in the College Cardinal Lemoine, in Paris, he entered political life at the age of sixteen. He became one of the most trusted agents of the exiled Bourbon princes, and after the coup d'état of 9 Nov., 1799, he had, under the name of Paul Xavier, an interview with Bonaparte, in which conditions for the restoration of Louis XVIII. were discussed. During the consulate and empire he practised medicine in Lyons under the name of Roland, and obtained a gold medal for the propagation of vaccine; but in 1806 Napoleon consented to refund Neuville's confiscated estate on condition that he should go to the United States, and the latter settled near New Brunswick, N. J., where his house became a place of refuge for French exiles. In 1813 he was instrumental in deciding his friend, Gen. Moreau (q. v.) to accept the propositions of the emperor of Russia. Neuville returned to France in April, 1814, and was given, by Louis XVIII., a mission to London to offer the mediation of France between Great Britain and the United States. In December of the same year he went to Rome and had several secret interviews with Prince Lucien, a brother of Napoleon, the purpose of which was to decide the latter to leave Elba and go to the United States; but the secret transpired through an indiscreet secretary, and Napoleon, taking alarm, left suddenly for France. In 1815 he was elected to the chamber of deputies, and on 14 Jan., 1816, appointed minister and consul-general for the United States. He arrived in Washington in August following, was received with favor by President Madison, and soon became a leader in society. The influence he thus acquired enabled him to negotiate a very favorable treaty of commerce and navigation, which was signed, 24 June, 1822, and several articles of which are still in force. Louis XVIII. created him a baron, and in 1821 gave him the grand cross of the Legion of honor as a reward for his services. He was recalled late in 1821, and re-elected deputy in 1822. In 1823 he became ambassador to Lisbon, where he rescued the old king, John VI., who had been imprisoned by his son, and was created Count de Pembosta. He was returned to the chamber of deputies in 1824 and 1827, and as secretary of the navy in the Martignac cabinet, 1828-'30, greatly improved the colonial system of France, and prohibited the slave-trade in its American possessions. Under Louis Philippe he lived quietly upon his estate of l'Étang, near Sancerre, but in 1837 he took an active part in the discussion of a new treaty of commerce with the United States, and caused several pamphlets to be printed on the subject. He published &ldquo;Éloge historique du Général Moreau&rdquo; (New York, 1814) and &ldquo;Observations sur le commerce de la France avec les États-Unis&rdquo; (Paris, 1837).