Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 61.djvu/70

 and they started a little society to read papers on ‘poetry and eloquence.’ He also gained some knowledge of French and Italian literature. He was, however, still studying theology with a view to the priesthood, and had taken the ‘four minor orders’ at the age of fourteen. At twenty-one he took subdeacon's orders, though with some misgivings. Both his parents were very devout, and he complains bitterly of the long services which he had been forced to attend, from the age of eight. From fourteen he had daily to read his breviary and to spend an hour in ‘pious reading’ and meditation. The ‘spiritual exercises’ in which he had afterwards to join had a powerful effect upon him. Though they excited him so far as to suppress his scruples about taking orders, his taste was shocked by the ‘cloying and mawkish devotion,’ and by the material imagery employed to stimulate the emotions.

While a subdeacon Blanco was elected fellow of the college of Maria à Jesu at Seville, a position of trifling emolument, but conferring some social advantages. He became reconciled for a time to his profession, and at Christmas 1800 was ordained priest. He gained some credit by performing public exercises as candidate for a stall in the cathedral of Cadiz; and in 1802 was appointed, in spite of some intrigues, to a chaplaincy in the Chapel Royal of St. Ferdinand at Seville. Meanwhile his religious scruples had been again awakened. He was popular as a confessor, and his experience convinced him that the system had demoralising effects especially upon the nuns. One of his two sisters had taken the veil, fell into bad health, and died in consequence of the unwholesome life in the convent. His indignation increased his doubts, and, though he endeavoured to confirm his faith by preaching a sermon against scepticism, he at last gave up his belief in Christianity. He made the acquaintance of two priests of similar opinions, who lent him freethinking books, carefully hidden for fear of the inquisition. His mental struggles led to a bad illness, and he was profoundly affected by the decision of his younger sister to enter ‘one of the gloomiest nunneries at Seville.’ She had already become hysterical; she soon developed mental and physical disease, and died a few years later. Blanco obtained leave to reside for a time at Madrid in order to escape his painful position. There he was appointed for a time ‘religious instructor’ to a newly founded Pestalozzian school. Meanwhile the French were entering Spain. Blanco hoped that the rule of Joseph Buonaparte would be fatal to the inquisition and the religious orders. He yielded, however, to his patriotic sentiments, and returned to Seville. There he was appointed as co-editor with a Professor Antillon of the ‘Semanario Patriótico,’ a paper established by the central junta. His political philosophy was not approved, and the paper was suppressed. He was appointed, however, to draw up a report on the constitution of the cortes, and compelled the inquisition to hand over to him some of the prohibited books in their possession. When the advance of the French forced the junta to leave Seville, Blanco White resolved to escape from the country and the priesthood. He fled with some of his friends to Cadiz, where he was in some danger, as the patriots thought that fugitives must be traitors. He claimed, however, to be a British subject, and conclusively demonstrated the fact by replying ‘damn your eyes’ to the official who inquired into his character. He was allowed to sail in the English packet, and reached Falmouth on 3 March 1810. A son of the painter, John Hoppner [q. v.], was carrying despatches by the same boat, and brought him to London. Hoppner the elder had just died, and Blanco White was at a loss in a strange city. He had thought of obtaining employment as a musician in a theatre. Some Englishmen who had travelled in Spain, especially Lord Holland, John George Children [q. v.], and Lord John Russell, received him kindly. He applied to Richard, son of Lord Wellesley, for employment at the foreign office. Wellesley introduced him to the French bookseller Dulau, and through Dulau he was introduced to one Juigné, a French refugee priest, who had become a printer in London. Juigné agreed to give him 15l. a month to conduct a monthly periodical to be called the ‘Español.’ Blanco (who now added White to his name) wrote the original matter, and filled the rest up with translated documents, to be circulated in Spain in defence of the national cause. The labour was considerable, and Blanco White gave offence to one party by supporting the independence of the Spanish colonies in America. He says that he was libelled and seriously threatened with assassination. Juigné also had tricked him into a very bad bargain. The paper was partly circulated by the English government, which, however, did not dictate his politics. He constantly consulted Lord Holland and Holland's friend, John Allen. The paper was carried on with success till after the final expulsion