Page:Awful Disclosures of Maria Monk (Truslove & Bray).djvu/11

9 no very regular parts assigned them in the management of the schools. They were rather unpolished in their manners, often exclaiming, (that's a lie,) and "mon Dieu," (my God,) on the most trivial occasions. Their writing was poor, and they often put a capital letter in the middle of a word. The only book of geography which we studied, was a catechism of geography, from which we learnt by heart a few questions and answers. We were sometimes referred to a map, but it was only to point out Montreal or Quebec, or some other prominent name.

It may be necessary to mention, that there are three Convents in Montreal, founded on different plans, and governed by different rules. Their names are as follows:

1.The Congregational Nunnery.2.The Black Nunnery, or Convent of Sister Bourgeoise.3.The Grey Nunnery.

The first of these professes to be devoted entirely to the education of girls, but with the exception of needle-work, hardly anything is taught but prayer and catechism; the instruction in reading, writing, &c., amounting to very little and often to nothing. This Convent is adjacent to the Grey Nunnery, separated from it only by a wall. The second professes to be a charitable institution for the care of the sick, and the supply of bread and medicines to the poor; and something is done in charity, though but little compared with the size of the buildings, and the number of inmates.

The Grey Nunnery, situated in a distant part of the city, is a large edifice, containing departments for the care of insane persons and foundlings. With this I have less acquaintance than with the others. I have often seen two of the Grey nuns, and know their rules; they do not confine them always within their walls, like those of the Black-Nunnery. These two Convents have their common names (Black and Grey) from the color of the dresses worn by the